Nested Pans

• US 20150136633A1
• Filed: 11/21/2013
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HFA, INC.
• Original Assignee: Handi-Foil Corporation
• Inventors: Sarnoff, Norton, Sarnoff, Brad, Patel, Raj
• Granted Patent: US 10,499,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/499
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2405 for warming food contained in vessels immersed in a water bath, e.g. chafers or steam tables A47J36/2438 takes precedence

Abstract

There is provided a combination of nested pans for use in warming and cooking foods. The combination includes a first pan and a second pan. The second pan has a base portion terminating to an upwardly extending continuously surrounding sidewall. The sidewall has an upper edge that extend outwardly to a rim. The second pan further has an inside angle defined between the base portion of the upwardly extending sidewall, and wherein the continuously surrounding sidewall defines a pair of oppositely positioned short sides and a pair of oppositely positioned long sides interspaced between the short sides. The length of the short side of the pan is configured to permit at least three pans to nest side by side within the first pan.

Claims

1. A combination of nested pans for use in warming and cooking foods, comprising:

a first pan having a first base portion terminating to an upwardly extending continuously surrounding first sidewall, the first sidewall has an upper edge that extend outwardly to a first rim, and wherein the first sidewall of the first pan has a first height, and wherein and the first pan further having a first inside angle defined between the first base portion of the upwardly extending first sidewall; and

a second pan having second base portion terminating to an upwardly extending continuously surrounding second sidewall, the second sidewall has an upper edge that extend outwardly to a second rim, and the second pan further having a second inside angle defined between the second base portion of the upwardly extending second sidewall, and wherein the continuously surrounding second sidewall defines a pair of oppositely positioned short sides and a pair of oppositely positioned long sides interspaced between the short sides and wherein;

(i) the second sidewall of the second pan has a second height less than the first height of the first pan,

(ii) the second inside angle is within two degrees of the inside angle of the first pan,

(iii) the length of the short side of the second pan is configured to cause a portion of the second rim along the short side of the second pan to rest on a portion of the first rim of the first pan, and

(iv) the length of the short side of the second pan is configured to permit at least three second pans to nest side by side within the bottom pan.

2. A combination of nested pans for use in warming and cooking foods, comprising:

a first pan having a first base portion terminating to an upwardly extending continuously surrounding first sidewall, the first sidewall has an upper edge that extend outwardly to a first rim, and wherein the first sidewall of the first pan has a first height, and wherein and the first pan further having a first inside angle defined between the first base portion of the upwardly extending first sidewall; and

a second pan having second base portion terminating to an upwardly extending continuously surrounding second sidewall, the second sidewall has an upper edge that extend outwardly to a second rim, and the second pan further having a second inside angle defined between the second base portion of the upwardly extending second sidewall, and wherein the continuously surrounding second sidewall defines a pair of oppositely positioned short sides and a pair of oppositely positioned long sides interspaced between the short sides and wherein;

the length of the short side of the second pan is configured to permit at least three second pans to nest side by side within the bottom pan.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the second sidewall of the second pan has a second height less than the first height of the first pan.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein the second inside angle is within two degrees of the inside angle of the first pan.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein the length of the short side of the second pan is configured to cause a portion of the second rim along the short side of the second pan to rest on a portion of the first rim of the first pan.

6. A combination of nested pans for use in warming and cooking foods, comprising:

a first pan having a first base portion terminating to an upwardly extending continuously surrounding first sidewall, the first sidewall has an upper edge that extend outwardly to a first rim, and wherein the first sidewall of the first pan has a first height, and wherein and the first pan further having a first inside angle defined between the first base portion of the upwardly extending first sidewall; and

a second pan having second base portion terminating to an upwardly extending continuously surrounding second sidewall, the second sidewall has an upper edge that extend outwardly to a second rim, and the second pan further having a second inside angle defined between the second base portion of the upwardly extending second sidewall, and wherein the continuously surrounding second sidewall defines a pair of oppositely positioned short sides and a pair of oppositely positioned long sides interspaced between the short sides and wherein;

the length of the short side of the second pan is configured to permit at least three second pans to nest side by side within the bottom pan and wherein the second inside angle is within two degrees of the inside angle of the first pan.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein the second sidewall of the second pan has a second height less than the first height of the first pan.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein the length of the short side of the second pan is configured to cause a portion of the second rim along the short side of the second pan to rest on a portion of the first rim of the first pan.