IP Library Granted Patent US 6,987,247
Granted Patent B2
US 6,987,247 · App. 10/750,327 · Granted Jan 17, 2006

Portable slow cooker

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,987,247
App. No.
10/750,327
Granted
Jan 17, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a sealing apparatus on a portable slow cooker. The sealing apparatus includes a handle, a latch and a gasket. The gasket is positioned between the lid and the heating vessel of the slow cooker. The handle is hingedly attached to the slow cooker and has a lowered position and a raised position. The latch is hingedly attached to the heating vessel, and has a locked position and an unlocked position. When the handle is in the lowered position, the latch is in the unlocked position and the lid is removable from the heating vessel. When the handle is in the raised position, the latch is in the locked position and the lid is sealed onto the heating vessel.

Claims (46)

1. A cooking appliance, comprising:

a pot having an opening;

a handle hingedly attached to the pot, the handle having a lowered position and a raised position;

a lid configured to fit on the pot to cover the opening;

a gasket, wherein the gasket is positioned between the pot and the lid when the lid is placed on the pot; and

a latch hingedly attached to the pot, wherein:

the latch has a locked position and an unlocked position;

when the handle is in the lowered position, the latch is in the unlocked position and the lid is removable from the pot; and

when the handle is in the raised position, the latch is in the locked position and the lid is sealed onto the pot.

2. The cooking appliance of claim 1 , wherein the handle engages the latch when the handle is in the raised position.

3. The cooking appliance of claim 1 , wherein the handle has two ends and each of the ends is hingedly attached to the pot near the opening.

4. The cooking appliance of claim 1 , wherein the pot comprises an electric heating unit.

5. The cooking appliance of claim 4 , further comprising:

an electric cord to supply the heat to the pot; and

a cavity in the pot to store the electric cord.

6. The cooking appliance of claim 1 , wherein the gasket is attached to the lid.

7. The cooking appliance of claim 1 , wherein the gasket is attached to the pot.

8. The cooking appliance of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second handle hingedly attached to the pot, the second handle having a lowered position and a raised position; and

a second latch hingedly attached to the pot, wherein:

the second latch has a locked position and an unlocked position;

when the second handle is in the lowered position, the second latch is in the unlocked position and the lid is removable from the pot; and

when the second handle is in the raised position, the second latch is in the locked position and the lid is sealed onto the pot.

9. A sealing apparatus for a slow cooker having a heating vessel with an opening and a lid configured to fit on the heating vessel to cover the opening, the sealing apparatus comprising:

a handle hingedly attached to the heating vessel, the handle having a lowered position and a raised position;

a gasket, wherein the gasket is positioned between the heating vessel and the lid when the lid is placed on the heating vessel; and

a latch hingedly attached to the heating vessel, wherein:

the latch has a locked position and an unlocked position;

when the handle is in the lowered position, the latch is in the unlocked position and the lid is removable from the heating vessel; and

when the handle is in the raised position, the latch is in the locked position and the lid is sealed onto the heating vessel.

10. The sealing apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the handle engages the latch when the handle is in the raised position.

11. The sealing apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the handle has two ends and each of the ends is hingedly attached to the heating vessel near the opening.

12. The sealing apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the gasket is attached to the lid.

13. The sealing apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the gasket is attached to the heating vessel.

14. The sealing apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:

a second handle hingedly attached to the heating vessel, the second handle having a lowered position and a raised position; and

a second latch hingedly attached to the heating vessel, wherein:

the second latch has a locked position and an unlocked position;

when the second handle is in the lowered position, the second latch is in the unlocked position and the lid is removable from the heating vessel; and

when the second handle is in the raised position, the second latch is in the locked position and the lid is sealed onto the heating vessel.

15. A method for sealing a lid onto a pot, comprising the steps of:

placing a gasket between the lid and the pot;

raising a handle hingedly attached to the pot;

engaging a latch attached to the pot, wherein the latch seals the lid onto the pot;

raising a second handle hingedly attached to the pot; and

engaging a second latch attached to the pot.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2015
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
To: RUSSELL HOBBS, INC.; APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; TOASTMASTER INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.; ROVCAL, INC.; TETRA HOLDING (US), INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC.; SEED RESOURCES, L.L.C.; PRICE PFISTER, INC.; KWIKSET CORPORATION; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING CO.; LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; TELL MANUFACTURING, INC.; SALIX ANIMAL HEALTH, LLC
Reel/Frame 036052/0845 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 28, 2012
From: RUSSELL HOBBS, INC.
To: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 029364/0086 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 27, 2012
From: SALTON, INC.
To: RUSSELL HOBBS, INC.
Reel/Frame 029352/0725 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 11, 2010
From: RUSSELL HOBBS, INC.; APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; TOASTMASTER INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.; ROVCAL, INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC.; UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 024823/0177 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2010
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: HP INTELLECTUAL CORP.; APPLICA INCORPORATED; APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; SALTON, INC.; SONEX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024794/0886 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 21, 2010
From: RUSSELL HOBBS, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; ROV HOLDING, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; TETRA HOLDING (US), INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; UNITED PET GROUP, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC., A CORP. OF FLORIDA; ROVCAL, INC., A CORP. OF CALIFORNIA
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 024741/0295 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 15, 2008
From: SALTON, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 020507/0893 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2008
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK
To: SALTON, INC.; TOASTMASTER INC.; ICEBOX, LLC; SONEX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; FAMILY PRODUCTS INC.; HOME CREATIONS DIRECT, LTD; SALTON HOLDINGS, INC.; SALTON TOASTMASTER LOGISTICS, LLC
Reel/Frame 020417/0494 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 14, 2008
From: WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, INC.
To: SALTON, INC.; TOASTMASTER INC.; SALTON TOASTMASTER LOGISTICS LLC; HOME CREATIONS DIRECT, LTD.; SONEX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; ICEBOX, LLC; SALTON HOLDINGS, INC.; FAMILY PRODUCTS INC.
Reel/Frame 020362/0067 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 29, 2007
From: SALTON, INC.; TOASTMASTER INC.; SALTON TOASTMASTER LOGISTICS LLC; HOME CREATIONS DIRECT, LTD.; SONEX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; ICEBOX, LLC; FAMILY PRODUCTS INC.; SALTON HOLDINGS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 020174/0542 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 25, 2007
From: SALTON, INC.; SONEX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; TOASTMASTER, INC.; ICEBOX, LLC; SALTON TOASTMASTER LOGISTICS, LLC; FAMILY PRODUCTS, INC.; HOME CREATIONS DIRECT, LTD; SALTON HOLDINGS, INC.
To: HARBINGER CAPITAL PARTNERS MASTER FUND I, LTD.
Reel/Frame 020010/0920 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2004
From: SCHAFFELD, JOHN; METAXATOS, PAUL; KOURY, STEFFEN
To: SALTON, INC.
Reel/Frame 015395/0914 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 26, 2004
From: PANOSIAN, MICHAEL
To: OLYMPIA GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 015385/0033 →