Device for securing a lid on a container

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention to apparatus for securing lids on containers. More particularly, in one embodiment, the invention relates to apparatus for securing lids on cookware.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has long been a challenge to secure lids on containers. One example relates to securing lids on cookware, such as ovenware and stoveware. As used herein, the term ovenware includes any type of container adapted for holding a food or beverage during cooking within an oven, and stoveware includes any type of container adapted for holding a food or beverage during cooking on a stove. Some cookware may serve as both ovenware and stoveware.

Often, people wish to transport food in cookware. Such can be the case with both professional caterers, and also with individuals. One challenge in such transportation occurs with beverages or when the food includes a liquid or semi-liquid component, such as a gravy, sauce, puree, broth or the like. In these cases, lids can become unsecured during transportation, causing the food or beverage contained within the cookware to spill. Thus, an object of the invention is to provide a solution to this problem.

This and other objects will be apparent with the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention, in one embodiment, is directed to a device for securing a lid on a container. In one embodiment, the lid securing device includes a first end adapted to interfit over a first handle of a container, a second end adapted to interfit over a second handle of the container, and an intermediate portion extending between the first end and the second end and adapted to engage the lid to exert a securing force between the container and the lid. According to one feature, the first end of the lid securing device includes a tab adapted to aid a user in interfitting the first end over the first handle. According to a related feature, the second end of the lid securing device also includes a tab adapted to facilitate a user interfitting the second end over the second handle. According to another feature, the intermediate portion of the lid securing device is further adapted to fit around a lid handle.

In one embodiment, the intermediate portion includes a first subsection adapted to exert a first force on the lid handle, and a second subsection is adapted to exert a second force on the lid handle, wherein the first force substantially opposes the second force. According to another embodiment, the intermediate portion includes a first subsection and a second subsection, and the first subsection and the second subsection are adapted to independently engage the lid handle. According to a further feature, the first subsection and the second subsection are slidingly mechanically coupled to each other.

According to another embodiment, at least a portion of the lid securing device portion is elastic, enabling the lid securing device to stretch across the lid to enhance the securing force exerted between the lid and the container. In a related embodiment, a subsection of the intermediate portion is elastic in nature. In another related embodiment, at least a part of at least one of the first and second ends is elastic in nature.

In an alternative embodiment, the invention is directed to a lid securing device including a first securing element and a second securing element. The first securing element has, a first end adapted to interfit over a first handle of a container, a second end adapted to interfit over a lid handle, and an intermediate portion extending between the first end and the second end and adapted to engage a portion of the lid, and thus exert a first securing force between the container and the lid. The second securing element has, a first end adapted to interfit over a second handle of the container, a second end adapted to interfit over the lid handle, and an intermediate portion extending between the first end and the second end and adapted to engage a portion of the lid, and thus exert a second securing force between the container and the lid.

According to one feature, the first end of the first securing element includes a first tab adapted to facilitate a user interfitting the first end of the first securing element over the first handle of the container. According to a related feature, the first end of the second securing element includes a second tab, adapted to facilitate a user interfitting the first end of the second securing element over the second handle of the container. According to another feature, at least a part of at least one of the first and second securing elements are elastic, enabling the lid securing device to stretch across the lid to enhance the first and second securing forces exerted between the lid and the container.

According to a further embodiment, the container is cookware. In a further embodiment, the container is stoveware. Alternatively, the container is ovenware.

In another embodiment, the invention is directed to a lid securing device including a first end adapted to interfit over a first handle of a container, a second end adapted to interfit over a lid handle, and an intermediate portion extending between the first end and the second end and adapted to engage a portion of the lid, and thus exert a securing force between the container and the lid.

According to one feature, the first end of the lid securing device includes a tab adapted to facilitate a user interfitting the first end of the securing device over the first handle. According to another feature, at least a portion of the lid securing device is elastic, enabling the lid securing device to stretch across the lid to enhance the securing force between the lid and the container. In one aspect of the invention, the container is ovenware or stoveware.

In further embodiments, the invention provides additional features for securing a lid to a container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and methods of practice, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following illustrative description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like elements, elements may not be depicted to scale, and in which:

FIGS. 1A

is a top view of a lid securing device according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1B

is a top view of a lid securing device according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1C

is a top view a lid securing device according to a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2

is a side view of a lid securing device, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention, securing a lid to a container;

FIG. 3A

is a top view of the device of

FIG. 1A

securing a lid to a container according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3B

is a top view of the device of

FIG. 1B

securing a lid to a container according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3C

is a top view of the device of

FIG. 3C

securing a lid to a container according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

The invention relates to a device for securing a lid to a container. Illustratively, the invention is described in terms of the container being cookware, preferably ovenware or stoveware. However, the invention is applicable for securing a lid on any type of container having handle-like protrusions.

FIGS. 1A-1C

depict top views of lid securing devices according to illustrative embodiments of the invention. More specifically,

FIG. 1A

is a top view of a lid securing device

102

;

FIG. 1B

is a top view of a lid securing device

104

; and

FIG. 1C

is a top view of a lid securing device

106

. The devices

102

,

104

and

106

are preferably fabricated from an elastic material, either organic or synthetic. According to one illustrative feature, the devices

102

,

104

and

106

are fabricated from a rubber or polymer material that is sufficiently heat tolerant to enable a user to bake food in a container with the device

102

,

104

or

106

attached. In an exemplary embodiment, the material from which the devices

102

,

104

and

106

are manufactured is heat tolerant up to about five hundred degrees Fahrenheit. In a further exemplary embodiment, the material from which the devices

102

,

104

and

106

is manufactured is heat tolerant up to about six hundred degrees Fahrenheit. In another exemplary embodiment, the material from which the devices

102

,

104

and

106

is manufactured is heat tolerant up to about seven hundred degrees Fahrenheit.

Referring to

FIG. 1A

, the device

102

has a first end portion

108

, a second end portion

110

, and an intermediate portion

112

. The first end portion

108

includes an aperture

104

and a tab

120

. The second end portion

110

includes an aperture

116

and a tab

122

. The intermediate portion

112

includes an aperture

118

.

FIG. 2

is a side view

200

of a lid

202

secured to cookware (e.g., a pot)

204

by a lid securing device

206

, wherein the lid securing device

206

can be, for example, any of the securing devices

102

,

104

and

106

. As shown, the lid

202

includes a lid handle

208

, and the pot

204

includes two opposing, radially protruding handles

210

a

and

210

b.

FIG. 3A

is a top view of the lid

202

and pot

204

combination of

FIG. 2

, with the lid securing device

102

securing the lid

202

to the pot

204

. Referring to

FIGS. 1A

,

2

and

3

A, when installed, the handle

210

a

fits through the aperture

114

. Similarly, the handle

210

b

fits through the aperture

116

. As the intermediate portion

112

extends across and engages the lid

202

, the lid handle

208

fits through the aperture

118

. Although the securing device

102

can be fabricated as a one size fits all device, the illustrated lid securing device

102

is sized according to the size of the pot

204

, such that when installed, the lid securing device

102

exerts a securing force between the lid

202

and the pot

204

to hold the lid

202

snugly on the pot

204

. According to a further feature, at least a portion of the lid securing device

102

is manufactured from an elastic material enabling a user to install the lid securing device

102

by stretching it across the lid

202

to engage the apertures

108

and

116

with the handles

210

a

and

210

b

, respectively. Preferably, the device

102

is appropriately elastic to enhance the securing force exerted by the device

102

on the lid

202

and the pot

204

.

The embodiment of

FIG. 1A

also provides the tab

120

adjacent to the aperture

114

and the tab

122

adjacent to the aperture

116

. The tabs

120

and

122

provide portions to which a user can hold to aid in the installation of the lid securing device

102

onto the lid

202

and pot

204

combination. Although, the thickness

212

of the lid securing device is not a critical aspect of the invention, in a preferred embodiment, the devices

102

,

104

and

106

are between about 50 mils and about 500 mils thick.

Referring to

FIG. 1B

, the device

104

has a first end portion

124

, a second end portion

126

, and an intermediate portion

128

. The first end portion

124

includes an aperture

130

and a tab

132

. The second end portion

126

includes an aperture

134

and a tab

136

. The intermediate portion

128

includes an aperture

138

. In contrast to the lid securing device

102

, the aperture

138

is sized larger than the aperture

118

. In this way, the device

104

uses less material during fabrication than does the device

102

.

FIG. 3B

is a top view of the lid

202

and pot

204

combination of

FIG. 2

, with the lid securing device

104

securing the lid

202

to the pot

204

. Referring to

FIGS. 1B

,

2

and

3

B, when installed, the handle

210

a

fits through the aperture

130

. Similarly, the handle

210

b

fits through the aperture

134

. As the intermediate portion

128

extends across and engages the lid

202

, the lid handle

208

fits through the oversized aperture

138

. As with the device

102

, the lid securing device

104

can be fabricated as a one size fits all devoce or can be sized according to the size of the pot

204

. Either way, when installed, the lid securing device

104

exerts a securing force between the lid

202

and the pot

204

to hold the lid

202

snugly on the pot

204

. According to a further feature, at least a portion of the lid securing device

104

is manufactured from an elastic material enabling a user to install the lid securing device

104

by stretching it across the lid

202

to engage the apertures

130

and

134

with the handles

210

a

and

210

b

, respectively. Preferably, the device is appropriately elastic to enhance the securing force exerted by the device

104

on the lid

202

and the pot

204

.

In a similar fashion to the device

102

, the device

104

of

FIG. 1B

provides the tab

132

adjacent to the aperture

130

and the tab

136

adjacent to the aperture

134

. The tabs

132

and

136

provide portions to which a user can hold to aid in the installation of the lid securing device

104

onto the lid

202

and pot

204

combination.

Referring to

FIG. 1C

, the device

106

has a section

140

and a second section

142

. The first section

140

and the second section

142

are movably and slidingly coupled together, by way of the rings

144

and

146

, to form an aperture

148

. The rings

144

and

146

can be made of, for example, plastic, metal or fabric. The first section

140

has a first end

154

and a second end

156

. Similarly, the second section

142

has a first end

158

and a second end

160

. In the illustrative embodiment, the first section

140

includes a tab

150

at the end

154

, and the second section

142

includes a tab

152

at the end

158

.

FIG. 3C

is a top view of the lid

202

and pot

204

combination of

FIG. 2

, with the lid securing device

106

securing the lid

202

to the pot

204

. Referring to

FIGS. 1C

,

2

and

3

C, when installed, the end

154

of the section

140

fits over the handle

210

a

. Similarly, the end

158

of the section

142

fits over the handle

210

b

. The lid handle

208

fits through the aperture

148

created by the overlapping ends

156

and

160

. As with the device

102

, the lid securing device

106

can be fabricated as a one size fits all device or can be sized according to the size of the pot

204

. Either way, when installed, the lid securing device

106

exerts a securing force between the lid

202

and the pot

204

to hold the lid

202

snugly on the pot

204

. According to a further feature, at least a portion of the each section

140

and

142

of the lid securing device

106

is manufactured from an elastic material enabling a user to install the lid securing device

106

by stretching the section

140

across the lid

202

between the lid handle

208

and the pot handle

210

a

, and the section

142

across the lid

202

between the lid handle

208

and the pot handle

210

b

. In so stretching the sections

140

and

142

, the sections

140

and

142

slide with respect to each other through the rings

144

and

146

, and the ends

156

and

160

engage and exert opposing forces on the lid handle

208

along the axis

160

. The opposing forces exerted on the lid handle

208

by the ends

156

and

160

act to further stabilize the position of the lid

202

on the pot

204

. In a preferred embodiment, the device

106

is appropriately elastic to enhance the securing forces exerted between the lid

202

and the pot

204

and on the lid handle

208

.

In a similar fashion to the device

102

, the device

106

of

FIG. 1C

provides the tabs

150

and

152

for a user to hold to aid in the installation of the lid securing device

104

onto the lid

202

and pot

204

combination.

In a related embodiment, the lid securing device

106

can be fabricated without the rings

144

and

146

, and the sections

140

and

142

can be employed as individual lid securing devices.

Although, the devices

102

,

104

and

106

are depicted in various substantially ellipsoid configurations, skilled artisans will appreciate that lid securing devices according to the invention can accommodate numerously shaped containers and lids by configuring the lid securing device to have a shape that enables the device to span at least a portion of the lid of the container and to engage at least one handle-like protrudence from the container to exert a securing force between the container and the lid. Skilled artisans will also appreciate that securing devices according to the invention can be sized for substantially any size container.