Kitchen Appliance and Method of Using Same

Abstract

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.

We claim: 
     
         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.   
     
     
         2 . The kitchen appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first and second halves attach or lock together in the engaged position. 
     
     
         3 . The kitchen appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein in the engaged position the first and second halves extend either generally parallel to a major axis of the housing or generally perpendicularly to the major axis of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The kitchen appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein in the disengaged position each of the first and second halves contact a housing handle extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the side wall of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The kitchen appliance according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a gasket extending around one of an outer edge of the lid and the container rim for sealing engagement with the other of the container rim and the outer edge of the lid, the gasket being at least partially compressed when the handle is in the engaged position.   
     
     
         6 . 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;   a handle pivotally mounted to the exterior surface of the side wall of the housing, a first end of the handle being pivotally mounted to the exterior surface of the side wall of the housing at a first location and an opposing second end of the handle being pivotally mounted to the exterior surface of the side wall of the housing at a second location diametrically opposed to the first location, the handle being pivotable between an engaged position in which at least a portion of the handle 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 the handle is spaced-apart from the lid to permit the lid to be removed from the container; and   a biasing member engaged with a least a portion of the handle for biasing the handle toward the lid when in the engaged position.   
     
     
         7 . The kitchen appliance according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a seat on the exterior surface of the lid, at least a portion of the seat receiving at least a portion of the handle in the engaged position,   wherein the handle includes two spaced-apart biasing members, each biasing member being located proximate one of the first and second ends of the handle.   
     
     
         8 . The kitchen appliance according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a gasket extending around one of an outer edge of the lid and the container rim for sealing engagement with the other of the container rim and the outer edge of the lid, the gasket being at least partially compressed when the handle is in the engaged position.