Disposable cooking utensil

• US 4,971,216 A
• Filed: 10/25/1989
• Issued: 11/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
• Original Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
• Inventors: Fortune, Patrick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pollard, Steven M.
• Application Number:
  US07/427,014
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• Field of Search: 220/85 H, 220/94 R, 220/95, 220/71, 220/72.1, 220/73, 220/401, 220/19, 229/3.5 MF
• US Class Current: 220/756
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/022 Cooking- or baking-vessels or supports thereof for using only once eating- or serving-plates for using only once A47G19/02

Abstract

A disposable cooking utensil is provided which comprises a metal foil pan and a handle assembly therefor. The pan includes a bottom panel, an upright side wall encompassing the periphery of the bottom panel and being connected thereto, and a rim connected to an upper edge of the side wall and extending laterally outwardly therefrom. A reinforcing bead encompasses the outer periphery of the rim. The handle assembly includes a first section and a transverse second section connected thereto. The first section has an elongate base subtending and supporting the pan bottom panel and side segments connected to opposite ends of the base and extending upwardly therefrom. The side segments are in proximity to first exterior portions of the pan side wall. Each side segment is provided with a handle which is adjacent the pan reinforcing bead and extends upwardly therefrom. The handle assembly second segment includes an elongate first member subtending and supporting the pan bottom panel and disposed transversely of and connected to the first section base. Second members are connected to opposite ends of the first member and extend upwardly therefrom and are in proximity to second exterior portions of the pan side wall. Each second member has an upper end portion which extends through an opening formed in the pan rim. Each upper end portion above the pan rim is offset outwardly away from the side wall upper edge into hooking engagement with the pan reinforcing bead.

Claims

1. A disposable cooking utensil comprising a pan of thin gauge material and a handle assembly, said pan including a bottom panel;

an encompassing side wall connected to and extending upwardly from said bottom panel;

a rim connected to and extending laterally outwardly from an upper edge of said side wall; and

a reinforcing bead connected to and encompassing an outer edge of said rim;

said handle assembly having a skeletal configuration and including a first section having an elongate base subtending and supporting said bottom panel, and side segments connected to opposite ends of said base and extending upwardly therefrom and in proximity to first exterior portions of said pan side wall, each side segment being provided with handle means adjacent said pan reinforcing bead and extending upwardly therefrom; and

a second section having an elongate first member subtending and supporting said bottom panel and disposed transversely of and connected to the first section base, and opposing second members connected to opposite ends of said first member and extending upwardly therefrom and in proximity to second exterior portions of said pan side wall, each second member having an upper end portion extending through a rim opening interposed the bead and side wall upper edge, a segment of each upper end portion disposed above said rim opening being offset outwardly away from said upper edge and in substantial hooking engagement with said pan reinforcing bead.

2. The disposable cooking utensil of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly second section is disposed substantially equidistant from the first section side segments.

3. The disposable cooking utensil of claim 1 wherein each opening in the pan rim is formed by the second member upper end portion piercing the rim material prior to said end portion segment being offset outwardly into substantial hooking engagement with said reinforcing bead.

4. The disposable cooking utensil of claim 1 , wherein the base of the first section includes a pair of spaced elongate elements substantially spanning in one direction the pan bottom panel.

5. The disposable cooking utensil of claim 4 wherein the spaced elongate elements are in substantially parallel relation.

6. The disposable cooking utensil of claim 4, wherein the elongate first member of the handle assembly second section substantially spans in a second direction the pan bottom panel and is connected to the elongate elements and retains the latter in said relatively spaced relation.

7. The disposable cooking utensil of claim 4 wherein the handle means of each side segment has an inverted substantially U-shape with depending legs connected to corresponding ends of the elongate elements of the first section base.

8. The disposable cooking utensil of claim 1 wherein the rim openings are disposed in close proximity to the side wall upper edge.

9. The disposable cooking utensil of claim 8 wherein each second member of the second section has a substantially rectilinear portion extending from an end of the first member to the rim opening.