"Container for cooking foods and manufacturing method of the container"

[0001] . The present invention relates to a container for cooking foods, such as a saucepan, a frying pan and the like, and to a method for manufacturing said container.

[0002] . Generally, a saucepan or a frying pan comprise a body having a bottom, intended to come into contact with the cooking plate, and a side wall, for containing the food; the body is associated to two handles for allowing the grip of the container.

[0003] . The handles are manufactured separately from the container body, generally by pressing or casting, and afterwards they are connected to the container, through screws, rivets, bolts, by gluing or joint.

[0004] . There are known constructions wherein the container is entirely made of cast iron, and exhibits the side handles made of a single piece, through a single casting, with the container body.

[0005] . In these cases, the containers are intended to cook particular foods, such as for example, fondue, or to be used on a cooking top.

[0006] . However, such known embodiments exhibit the

disadvantage of not allowing an easy grip of the handles, which during the food cooking, are subject to high overheating.

[0007] . The object of the present invention is to realise a container for cooking foods, comprising a handle made in a single piece with the container body, and adapted for being easily gripped.

[0008] . Such object is achieved by a container realised according to the following claim 1. The dependent claims describe embodiment variants. Moreover, such object is achieved by a manufacturing method of a container according to claim 9. The dependent claims describe executing variants.

[0009] . The features and advantages of the container and of the manufacturing method according to the present invention will appear clearly from the following description of an example of embodiment, made by way of a non-limiting example, according to the attached figure 1, which shows a three-dimensional sectioned view of the container.

[0010] . With reference to figure 1, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a container for cooking foods.

[0011] . Container 1 comprises a container body comprising a bottom 2 adapted for being placed onto a

cooking plate.

[0012] . Moreover, the container body comprises a side wall 4, adapted for containing the foods.

[0013] . Container 1 further comprises at least one handle 6 for gripping container 1. Handle 6 comprises a core 8 and a coating 10.

[0014] . Advantageously, bottom 2, side wall 4 and core 8 of said at least one handle 6 are obtained with a single pressing operation, for example starting from a metal plate.

[0015] . In other words, the container body, obtained with a single pressing operation, comprises bottom 2, side wall 4 and core 8 of handles 6.

[0016] . Said metal material is chosen from the group comprising steel, stainless steel, aluminium, aluminium alloys, iron alloys, for example cast iron, copper alloys and the like.

[0017] . Core 8 of handles 6 is jointed to the side wall 4 of container 1 through jointing portions 12 having smooth surfaces and jointed to the side wall surface.

[0018] . Afterwards, said container body is subject to an over-pressing operation adapted for obtaining the coating 10 of said handles 6.

[0019] . In other words, during said over-pressing

operation, core 8 of handles 6 is buried in an over- pressing material that realises said coating 10 of the handles.

[0020] . Said over-pressing material is chosen from the group comprising silicone, thermoplastic materials, thermosetting materials, for example bakelite and the like.

[0021] . Advantageously, a container with strong and sturdy appearance is realised, as the handle core is in a single piece with the side wall of the container, and at the same time, it can be gripped safely, thanks to said coating.

[0022] . According to a preferred embodiment, coating 10 of handles 6 comprises a hooking portion 14 adapted for hooking said coating to core 8 to prevent its removal.

[0023] . Innovatively, the container for cooking foods according to the present invention has a strong and sturdy appearance and at the same time can be gripped safely. [0024] . According to a further advantageous aspect, the container exhibits continuous surfaces and jointed to the connection between the handles and the side wall.

[0025] . Advantageously, such feature prevents the build-up of dirt and scale in the slits that, in prior

art containers, are located at the coupling between handles and side wall.

[0026] . Innovatively, moreover, the manufacturing method according to the present invention allows the quick manufacture of an entire container body starting from a single plate.

[0027] . Advantageously, moreover, the coating of said handles is well hooked to the core, there being provided portions that prevent the removal of the coating from said core.

[0028] . It is clear that a man skilled in the art, in order to meet specific and incidental needs, can make changes and variants to the container and method described above, all falling within the scope of protection as defined in the following claims.