Kitchen Appliance and Method of Using Same

摘要

A kitchen appliance includes a housing defining a cavity. A heating or cooling element is disposed within the housing. A container is sized and shaped to fit within the cavity. A lid is sized and shaped to at least partially cover an opening of the container. A handle is pivotally mounted to an exterior surface of the side wall of the housing. A first end of the handle is pivotally mounted to the side wall of the housing at a first location. An opposing second end of the handle is pivotally mounted to side wall of the housing at a second location diametrically opposed to the first location. The handle is pivotable between an engaged position which at least a portion of the handle retains the lid in sealing engagement with the container rim and disengage position in which the portion of the handle is spaced-apart from the lid.

主权项

1. A kitchen appliance comprising:
a housing having a base and a side wall extending therefrom, the side wall having an exterior surface and an opposing interior surface, at least portions of the interior surface of the side wall and base defining a cavity within the housing, the housing having a housing rim at a first, free edge of the side wall defining an opening to the cavity; a heating or cooling element disposed within the housing proximate the cavity to heat or cool the cavity; a container having a generally hollow interior and a container rim defining an opening for accessing the interior thereof, the interior of the container being capable of retaining contents therein, the container being sized and shaped to fit within the cavity of the housing; a lid sized and shaped to at least partially cover the opening of the container when placed on the container, the lid having an exterior surface and an opposing interior surface facing the interior of the container when the lid is placed on the container; and a handle pivotally mounted to the exterior surface of the side wall of the housing, the handle including a first half and a second half, the first half being separable from the second half, a first end of each half being pivotally mounted to the exterior surface of the side wall of the housing at a first location and an opposing second end of each half being pivotally mounted to the exterior surface of the side wall of the housing at a second location generally opposed to the first location, each of the first and second halves of the handle being pivotable between an engaged position in which at least a portion of each half contacts at least a portion of the lid to retain the lid in sealing engagement with the container to inhibit leakage of the contents from the interior of the container and a disengaged position in which the portion of each half is spaced-apart from the lid to permit the lid to be removed from the container, wherein at least one of the first and second halves of the handle includes a first generally straight portion extending from the first end thereof, a first arcuate portion extending from the generally first straight portion, and a second arcuate portion extending from the first arcuate portion, the first arcuate portion being generally convex with respect to the housing and the second arcuate portion being generally concave with respect to the housing.