Cookware Lid-Matching System and Method

Abstract

A cookware set has vessels with vessel indicia indicating size characteristics of the top openings of the specific vessels and has lids sized and configured to fit the top openings of the vessels. The lid indicia correspond to the vessel indicia making it easy for a user to match the correct lid size to a vessel selected for use.

1 . A cookware system comprising:
 a first vessel having a first bottom, a first side wall, a first top opening of a first size, and first vessel indicia thereon indicative of the first size;   a second vessel having a second bottom, a second side wall, a second top opening of a second size, and second vessel indicia thereon indicative of the second size;   a first lid having a first closure panel, a first perimeter structure sized to fit and close the first top opening, and first lid indicia thereon that corresponds with the first vessel indicia; and   a second lid having a second closure panel, a second perimeter structure sized to fit and close the second top opening, and second lid indicia thereon that corresponds with the second vessel indicia.   
     
     
         2 . A cookware system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second size is different from the first size and the second lid indicia and the second vessel indicia are different from first lid indicia and the first vessel indicia, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . A cookware system according to  claim 2 , wherein the first lid indicia and the first vessel indicia are the same and the second lid indicia and second vessel indicia are the same. 
     
     
         4 . A cookware system according to  claim 2 , wherein the first lid indicia and the first vessel indicia are not the same but both visually correspond to the first size and the second lid indicia and second vessel indicia are not the same but both visually correspond to the second size. 
     
     
         5 . A cookware system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first size and the second size are the same and wherein the first lid indicia, second lid indicia, first vessel indicia, and second vessel indicia correspond to the first and second sizes. 
     
     
         6 . A cookware system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first lid indicia and second lid indicia are visible only from an underside of the respective first lid and second lid. 
     
     
         7 . A cookware system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first lid indicia and second lid indicia are visible only from a top side of the respective first lid and second lid. 
     
     
         8 . A cookware system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first vessel indicia and second vessel indicia are visible only from an underside on the bottom of the respective first vessel and second vessel. 
     
     
         9 . A cookware system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least the first lid indicia and second lid indicia or the first vessel indicia and second vessel indicia include two separate and distinct visual indicators that relate to the respective first and second sizes. 
     
     
         10 . A cookware system according to  claim 9 , wherein the visual indicators include alphanumeric symbols overlying geometric shaped backgrounds uniquely indicative of each of the first and second sizes. 
     
     
         11 . A cookware system according to  claim 9 , wherein the visual indicators include alphanumeric symbols and colors uniquely indicative of each of the first and second sizes. 
     
     
         12 . A cookware set comprising:
 a vessel having a closed bottom, a surrounding side wall, a top opening, and a vessel indicia indicating a size characteristic of the top opening; and   a lid having a perimeter structure sized and configured to fit and close the top opening and at least one lid indicia that corresponds to the vessel indicia.   
     
     
         13 . A cookware set according to  claim 12 , wherein the vessel indicia is located on an underside of the closed bottom. 
     
     
         14 . A cookware set according to  claim 12 , wherein the lid indicia is located near the perimeter structure. 
     
     
         15 . A cookware set according to  claim 12 , wherein the lid indicia is visible from an underside of the lid. 
     
     
         16 . A cookware set according to  claim 15 , wherein a majority of the lid is clear or transparent and the lid indicia is on a top side of the lid. 
     
     
         17 . A cookware set according to  claim 16 , wherein the lid indicia is covered on the top side and visible only from the underside of the lid. 
     
     
         18 . A cookware set according to  claim 17 , wherein the lid indicia is printed in minor image on the top side of the lid. 
     
     
         19 . A method of matching lids to vessels for cookware, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a cookware set with a plurality of vessels each having a top opening of a different size and a vessel indicia corresponding to a size characteristic of the respective top opening and with a plurality of lids each sized and configured to fit the top opening of a respective one of the plurality of vessels and having at least one lid indicia that corresponds to the vessel indicia of the respective vessel;   selecting one of the plurality of vessels for use; and   choosing one of the plurality of lids to fit the selected vessel by matching the lid indicia to the vessel indicia.   
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the step of choosing further comprises comparing the vessel indicia on a bottom of the selected vessel to the lid indicia on an underside of the chosen lid.