[0001] . It is an object of the present invention a method for manufacturing a container such as a pot, a pan and the like. In addition, it is an object of the present invention a container manufactured according to said method.

[0002] . It is known that induction cooking plates - i.e. cooking plates capable of heating a saucepan by currents induced by a magnetic field - are increasingly used by consumers.

[0003] . For requirements related to the high pressing workability of aluminium, and to its corrosion resistance, saucepans that can be used on induction cooking plates generally comprise an aluminium container, on the bottom of which a steel plate is subsequently applied adapted for heating by the magnetic field action. [0004] . However, saucepans manufactured according to the above exhibit some disadvantages.

[0005] . Among the other disadvantages, such saucepans exhibit poor performance in the transformation of the energy produced by the magnetic field into useful heat, that is, into heat transmitted, for example, to

the water into the container.

[0006] . Exhibiting the disadvantages mentioned above, also the saixcepan realised according to what described in document GB1451229 is not adapted for an effective use in conjunction with induction plates.

[0007] . It is an object of the present invention providing a method for manufacturing a container for cooking food., for example a saucepan, a frying pan and the like, especially adapted for being used in conjunction with induction plates, overcoming the disadvantages mentioned with reference to the prior art.

[0008] . Such object is achieved by a manufacturing method according to claim 1. The dependent claims describe embodiment variants. Moreover, such object is achieved by a container for cooking food according to claim 17. The dependent claims describe embodiment variants.

[ 0009] . The f eatures and advantages of method and of the container according to the present invention will appear clearly from the following description, made with reference to the enclosed f igures , wherein : [ 0010 ] . - f igure 1 is a sectioned side view of a container according to the present invention ; [0011] . - f igure 2 is a sectioned side view of a

container obtainable during the manufacturing method according to the present invention; and [0012] - ficyure 3 shows a section diagram of a multilayer plate. [0013] . Accordirxg to the attached figur-es, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a containear for cooking food, such as a pot, a pan and the like.

[0014] . Container 1 comprises a bottom 2 adapted for resting on a cooking plate. [0015] . Said bottom 2 comprises an inner layer 4 made of a first material, preferably non-ferromagnetic, for example aluminium or aluminium alloy, and an outer layer 6 made of a ferromagnetic material, for example steel . [0016] . Moreover, container 1 comprises a side wall 8, jointed to said bottom 2 adapted for containing said food.

[0017] . The side wall 8 comprises an inner layer 10, made of said first non- ferromagnetic material, and an intermediate layer 12 made of said ferromagnetic material .

[0018] . Moreover:, the side wall 8 comprises an outer layer 14 made of a second material, preferably non- ferromagnetic, for example the same as said first non- ferromagnetic material, for example aluminium or

aluminium alloy .

[ 0019] . According to a preferred embodiment , container

1 exhibits at least one coated portion .

[ 0020] . According to a further preferred embodiment , container 1 exhibits at least one portion comprising at least one non- sticking material layer , for example

PTFE .

[0021] . Container 1 can be manufactured according to a manufacturing method, comprising a step of realising a multilayer plate 16 comprising an upper layer 18 made of a first material, an intermediate layer 20 made of ferromagnetic material and a lower layer 22 made of a second material.

[0022] . According to a preferred variant of embodiment of the manufacturing method, the step of realising the multilayer plate comprises the step of associating the uppex- surface and the lower surface of a sheet made of ferromagnetic material, which realises said intermediate layer 20 of the plate, to a sheet made of a first non—ferromagnetic material and a sheet made of a second non-ferromagnetic material, respectively, which "will realise said upper layer and said lower layer of the plate.

[0023] . According to a preferred embodiment of the manufacturing method, said step of association comprises

the step of hot-rolling said sheet made of ferromagneti c; material and said sheets made of non- ferromagneti c materials .

[0024] . Preferably, said hot -rolling step is carried out for the two non-ferromag-netic sheets at the same time .

[0025] . Moreover, said manuf acturing method comprises the step of subj ecting said multilayer plate 16 to a. pressing process for obtaining said multilayeir container 1 .

[0026] . Container 1 thus manufactured comprises bottom 2 and the side wall 8 .

[0027] . In particular , the lower layer 22 of plate 16 realises a surplus layer 30 of bottom 2 and the out ear layer 14 of the side wall 8 . The intermediate layer 2 O of plate 16 realises the outer" layer 6 of bottom 2 and. the intermediate layer 12 of the side wall 8 . The upper layer 18 of plate 16 realises the inner layer 4 of bottom 2 and the inner layer 10 of the side wall 8 . [0028] . According to a preferred embodiment of the manufacturing method, the step of subj ecting the multilayer plate 16 to a pres sing process comprises the step of hot- and cold- compres sing said plate between a. die and a dolly. [0029] . Moreover, said manufacturing method comprises a.

step of removing said surplus layer 30 from the bottom 2 of container 1 for exposing the outer layer 6 of bottom 2 .

[0030] . According to a preferred embodiment of the manufacturing method, said step of removal comprises the step of tool -processing said containezt-r , for example by milling, turning or grinding .

[ 0031] . Preferably, moreover, said marxufacturing method comprises a step of partly coating said container 1 . Said coating step is preferably carir ied out prior to said removal step .

[ 0032] . Innovatively, the container according to the present invention is especially adapted to be used in conjunction with induction plates , while keeping excellent corrosion resistance a.nd coatability characteristics .

[ 0033 ] . In particular , even though, said container exhibits the inner surface made off aluminium, and therefore especially smooth and f ree f rom carvings , cracks and micro-damages , it en sures excellent inside heat distribution .

[0034] . In fact , the ferromagnetic material develops along the entire side wall , thus allowing the magnetic field generated by the plates to originate induced currents and therefore heat production, also at the side

walls .

[0035] . Moreover, the container exhibits the advantage of a direct contact between the induction plate anci the ferromagnetic material of the bottom, thereby impl_ying high performance in the energy transformation of the magnetic field into useful heat to be transmitted to the food inside the container.

[0036] . According to an even further advantageous aspect, on its side outer wall the container exhibits an aluminium layer, excellent for coating and adapted for obtaining very good surface finishes .

[0037] . Advantageously, moreover, the method for manufacturing the container allows realising a much low-cost production, also from the point of vie^v of investments for setting up the production line.

[0038] . Compared to the production line off an aluminium container, in fact, such method aLlows making no changes, that is, not interfering wiizh a production line of conventional aluminium saucepans, except in that it provides, as final step, for the removal of the surplus layer from the container bottom.

[0039] . It is clear that a man skilled in the art, in order to meet specific requirements, will be abLe to make several changes and variants to the containeir and

to the method according to the present invention. [0040] . According to an embodiment variant, said non- ferromagnetic material is selected from the group comprising copper, tin or other non-ferrous material. [0041] . According to an embodiment variant, a coining or- forging is carried out at the same time as pressing to impress a decorative pattern.

[0042] . According to an embodiment variant of thet method, said step of coating is carried out prior to the step of subjecting the plate to a pressing process.

[0043] . According to a further embodiment variant, said method and said container caix respectively be realised and manufactured with a plates wherein the non-ferromagnetic material-ferromagnetic; material-non-ferromagnetic material sequence is repeated! several times.

[0044] . According to an even further embodiment variant, container 1 comprises a bottom 2, comprising an inner- layer 4 made of a first material, an intermediate layer made of a ferromagnetic material and an outerr layer 14 made of a second material.

[0045] . Moreover, container 1 comprises a side wall 8, jointed to said bottom 2 adapted for containing saicl food. [0046] . Said bottom outer layer is adapted for being-

crossed by a magnetic field for impinging the intermediate layer made of ferromagnetic material, so as to cook food.

[0047] . In particular, said outer layer has a thickness up to eighty micron (=0.08mm) , preferably up to sixty micron (=0.06mm), preferably up to forty micron

(=0.04mm), preferably up to thirty micron (=0.03mm).

[0048] . According to a preferred embodiment, said outer layer of the bottom is realised by impingement in a fused bath.

[0049] . Also these variants are to be regarded as falling within the protection scope as defined in the following claims.