Stackable cookware

• US 5,253,758 A
• Filed: 10/01/1992
• Issued: 10/19/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Irving J. Bissell II
• Original Assignee: Irving J. Bissell II
• Inventors: Bissell, Irving J. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoap, Allan N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CASTELLANO, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US07/963,682
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 99/426, 220/744, 220/212, 220/23.83, 220/23.86, 220/4.26, 220/574, 220/635, 220/630, 220/636, 220/729, 220/731, 220/380, 220/912, 206/501, 206/502, 206/503, 206/505, 206/508, 206/509, 206/511, 206/518, 206/519, 206/520, 206/821, 206/515
• US Class Current: 206/518
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/12 Multiple-unit cooking vessels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 220/912 Cookware, i.e. pots and pans

Abstract

A stackable device is disclosed comprising a cooking vessel with tapered sidewalls, lid halves and a handle, whereby the lid halves slidably mount to the cookware vessel and contain apertures for draining and pouring excess liquid therefrom, and whereby the lid halves contain locking channels which interlock and mate with stacking leg projections depending downwardly from the bottom surface. Whereby once the lid halves are attached to the projections of the bottom surface, one unit may be placed within the cavity of another unit for stacking to accommodate convenient packaging, storage and display. In addition, by attaching the lid halves to the bottom surface of the cooking container, lids are prevented from being lost.

Claims

1. A cooking apparatus having improved stacking capabilities with similarly shaped cooking apparatuses, said cooking apparatus allowing for compact shipping space when shipping more than one of said similar shaped cooking apparatuses, comprising:

a first container for retaining food and liquids, said container having a bottom surface and a sidewall depending upwardly and tapering outwardly from the bottom surface, said sidewall having a top edge;

said container shaped to easily receive a second container having a similar shape as said first container;

a first lid member operatively associated with a first portion of the top edge of said sidewall and having a first plurality of apertures extending therethrough said first lid member being removable from the top edge of said sidewall;

a second lid member operatively associated with a second portion of the top edge of said sidewall and having a second plurality of apertures extending therethrough, said second lid member being removable from the top edge of said sidewall; and

means for storing said first lid member and said second lid member beneath said first container when said cooking apparatus is not in use.

2. The cooking apparatus of claim 1 further including a handle, operatively associated with said container, for holding said cooking apparatus, said handle having a top portion and a bottom portion.

3. The cooking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for storing said first lid member and said second lid member comprises a plurality of leg members depending downwardly from the bottom surface of said first container, said leg members being received within corresponding apertures of said first lid member and said second lid member to firmly retain said first lid member and said second lid member beneath said first container when said cooking apparatus is not in use.

4. The cooking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first plurality of apertures allow for drainage of any undesirable liquid contents retained by said first container.

5. The cooking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second plurality of apertures allow for drainage of any undesirable liquid contents retained by said first container.

6. The cooking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first plurality of apertures allow for the release of steam from said first container.

7. The cooking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second plurality of apertures allow for the release of steam from said first container.

8. The cooking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cooking apparatus is microwavable.

9. The cooking apparatus of claim 2 wherein said handle having a plurality of ribs longitudinally disposed along and depending downward from the bottom portion of said handle.

10. The cooking apparatus of claim 3 wherein said leg members taper downwardly from the bottom surface to facilitate locking with the apertures of said first lid member and said second lid member.

11. A cooking apparatus having improved stacking capabilities with similarly shaped cooking apparatuses, said cooking apparatus allowing for compact shipping space when shipping more than one of said similar shaped cooking apparatuses, comprising:

a container for retaining foods and liquids having a bottom surface and a sidewall depending upwardly and tapering outwardly from the bottom surface, said container having an open top end having a peripheral protruding lip;

a plurality of leg members depending downwardly from the bottom surface; and

a lid member having a first section and a second section operatively associated with the protruding lip, said first section and said second section each having a plurality of apertures for receiving said leg members in order to store said first section and said second section beneath said bottom surface when said cooking apparatus is not in use.

12. The cooking apparatus of claim 11 further including a handle, operatively associated with said container, for holding said cooking apparatus, said handle having a top portion and a bottom portion.

13. The cooking apparatus of claim 11 wherein said cooking apparatus is microwavable.

14. The cooking apparatus of claim 12 wherein said handle having a plurality of ribs longitudinally disposed along and depending downward from the bottom portion of said handle.

15. The cooking apparatus of claim 11 wherein said leg members taper downwardly from the bottom surface to facilitate locking with the apertures of said first lid section and said second lid section.

16. A cooking apparatus having improved stacking capabilities with similarly shaped cooking apparatuses, said cooking apparatus allowing for compact shipping space when shipping more than one of said similar shaped cooking apparatuses, comprising:

a container for retaining foods and liquids having a bottom surface and a sidewall depending upwardly and tapering outwardly from the bottom surface, said container having an open top end having a peripheral lip forming a ledge which protrudes outwardly from the exterior of said sidewall;

a plurality of legs tapering and depending downwardly from said bottom surface;

a lid having a first lid member and second lid member together substantially covering the entire top end of said container, said first lid member and said second lid member each having a sleeve integrally formed therewith, and adaptable to the ledge formed at the peripheral lid of said container, said first lid member and said second lid member each having a plurality of apertures for receiving said plurality of legs for storing said first lid member and said second lid member beneath said container when said cooking apparatus is not in use; and

a handle protruding outwardly from said container, said handle having a top portion and a bottom portion, said handle having a plurality of ribs longitudinally disposed along the bottom portion of said handle.