DESC:IMPROVED LOCKING MECHANISM FOR CASSEROLES

TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention generally relates to food containers and storage devices. The present invention also relates to insulated food containers and storage devices. The present invention further relates to casseroles. Embodiments are particularly related to an improved locking mechanism for casseroles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Conventional cookware containers such as pots, pans, and roasters, are usually formed out of a single integral piece of material. These containers have the drawback that they become hot when the food is cooked in them, and therefore they require pot holders, hot pads, or other heat insulation devices for handling them when it is desired to serve the cooked food. When these hot containers are placed on a dining table, they create the danger of burns if they are touched in advertently. Additionally, such containers are that when they are removed from the oven or stove, they lose heat very rapidly. As a result, the food in them tends to cool quickly, and subsequent servings during a meal are consequently degraded in taste.
[0003] Thermos containers, such as a casserole which is a double-walled insulating dish has been widely used to store and handle hot/cold foods and beverages to maintain their temperature at a constant level over an extended period of time. Such containers have thermal resistance with the container walls insulated, which is the primary physical mechanism for maintaining the temperature.
[0004] However, in majority of prior art casseroles the top lid of the casserole which is often used to open and close by the user for handling the food/beverage inside the casserole are not appropriately designed to properly lock after every use. Furthermore, the construction of the prior art casserole locking mechanism is not adequate and is prone to leakage of heat/temperature through the locking areas of the casserole body and the lid.
[0005] Based on the foregoing a need therefore exists for an improved casserole with improved insulating features. A need also exists for an improved locking mechanism for locking the body of a casserole with top lid in order to thereby avoid any leakage in heat/temperature through the locking area of the casserole, as discussed in greater detail herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the disclosed embodiment and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole.
[0007] Therefore, one aspect of the disclosed embodiment is to provide for an improved casserole with efficient thermos effect.
[0008] It is another aspect of the disclosed embodiment to provide for an improved locking mechanism for casseroles.
[0009] It is further aspect of the disclosed embodiment to provide for an improved an improved locking mechanism for locking the body of a casserole with top lid in order to thereby avoid any leakage in heat/temperature through the locking area of the casserole.
[00010] The aforementioned aspects and other objectives and advantages can now be achieved as described herein. An improved locking mechanism for locking the body of a casserole with top lid in order to thereby avoid any leakage in heat/temperature through the locking area of the casserole. The proposed locking mechanism comprises an elongated body portion that is formed at the body of the casserole wherein the inner layer of the body is constructed in such a way that the inner layer is extended than the outer layer of the body. Such a construction of the elongated body portion allows it to have more receiving space and locking space for efficiently locking an extended top lid portion. The extended top lid portion is constructed to fit the elongated body portion and thereby form an improved locking mechanism avoiding any leakage in heat/temperature through the locking area of the casserole.
[00011] The proposed locking mechanism for casseroles provide more that 50% of more thermos effect and keeps the food/beverage fresh for longer time periods. In an alternative embodiment, the body contact portion of the elongated body portion and the lid contact portion of the extended top lid portion can comprise a magnetic material or a sealing material (a rubber cascade) to provide more thermos effect in the casserole. Note that it has been a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved locking mechanism for new and improved construction of a casserole. The invention is described herein as an improved locking mechanism for supporting and handling a casserole but it is so described only by way of example and to illustrate one of the many different types of containers with which the invention may be used, and it will be understood that the invention can be used in a wide range of containers, such as for example, but not limited to, dishes, pots, pans, vases, flower pots, and other types and kinds of containers regardless of the material contained therein or the specific use to which the container may be put.
[00012] It has been the principal object of the present invention to provide improved locking mechanism for casseroles of the general type referred to which is adjustable in size whereby it will fit, and be useful with, containers of different sizes and shapes, thereby greatly increasing its usefulness.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The drawings shown here are for illustration purpose and the actual system will not be limited by the size, shape, and arrangement of components or number of components represented in the drawings.
[00013] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of the improved locking mechanism for locking the body of a casserole with top lid in order to thereby avoid any leakage in heat/temperature through the locking area of the casserole, in accordance with the disclosed embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00014] The particular values and configurations discussed in these non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate at least one embodiment and are not intended to limit the scope thereof.
[00015] The embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown. The embodiments disclosed herein can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
[00016] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[00017] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[00018] An improved locking mechanism for locking the body of a casserole with top lid in order to thereby avoid any leakage in heat/temperature through the locking area of the casserole, is disclosed herein. FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of the improved locking mechanism 100 for locking the body of a casserole with top lid in order to thereby avoid any leakage in heat/temperature through the locking area of the casserole, in accordance with the disclosed embodiments.
[00019] The proposed locking mechanism 100 comprises an elongated body portion 110 that is formed at the body of the casserole 120 wherein the inner layer 125 of the body 120 is constructed in such a way that the inner layer 125 is extended than the outer layer 130 of the body 120. Such a construction of the elongated body portion 110 allows it to have more receiving space and locking space for efficiently locking an extended top lid portion 140. The extended top lid portion 140 is constructed to fit the elongated body portion 110 and thereby form an improved locking mechanism avoiding any leakage in heat/temperature through the locking area of the casserole.
[00020] The proposed locking mechanism 100 for casseroles provide more that 50% of more thermos effect and keeps the food/beverage fresh for longer time periods. In an alternative embodiment, the body contact portion 150 of the elongated body portion 110 and the lid contact portion 160 of the extended top lid portion 140 can comprise a magnetic material or a sealing material (a rubber cascade) to provide more thermos effect in the casserole. Note that it has been a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved locking mechanism 100 for new and improved construction of a casserole. The invention is described herein as an improved locking mechanism 100 for supporting and handling a casserole but it is so described only by way of example and to illustrate one of the many different types of containers with which the invention may be used, and it will be understood that the invention can be used in a wide range of containers, such as for example, but not limited to, dishes, pots, pans, vases, flower pots, and other types and kinds of containers regardless of the material contained therein or the specific use to which the container may be put.
[00021] It has been the principal object of the present invention to provide improved locking mechanism for casseroles of the general type referred to which is adjustable in size whereby it will fit, and be useful with, containers of different sizes and shapes, thereby greatly increasing its usefulness.
[00022] It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
,CLAIMS:I/We Claim:
1. An improved locking mechanism for a casserole, comprising:
an elongated body portion that is formed at the body of the casserole wherein an inner layer of the body is constructed in such a way that the inner layer is extended than the outer layer of the body which provides effective locking of the body of the casserole with top lid in order to thereby avoid any leakage in heat/temperature through the locking area of the casserole.
2. The locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the construction of the elongated body portion allows it to have more receiving space and locking space for efficiently locking an extended top lid portion.
3. The locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the extended top lid portion is constructed to fit the elongated body portion.
4. The locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism for casseroles provide more that 50% of more thermos effect and keeps the food/beverage fresh for longer time periods.
5. The locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body contact portion of the elongated body portion and the lid contact portion of the extended top lid portion can comprise a sealing material (a rubber cascade).
6. The locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body contact portion of the elongated body portion and the lid contact portion of the extended top lid portion can comprise a magnetic material.