# US 12,004,683 B2 · Cookware for use in a microwave oven > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,004,683 B2 - Document ID: US12004683B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/534,580 - Filed: 2021-11-24 - Published: 2022-05-26 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-11-25 - Assignees: Meyer Intellectual Properties Limited - Applicants: Meyer Intellectual Properties Limited - Inventors: Joshua Morenstein; Christopher Hibmacronan; Christian Scott Ross; Myungjae Park; Stanley Kin Sui Cheng; Stephanie Hai Yan Chen; Xi Zheng - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004683B2 ## CPC - A47J 36/027: {Cooking- or baking-vessels specially adapted for use in microwave ovens; Accessories therefor} - A47J 36/06: Lids or covers for cooking-vessels (specially adapted for pressure-cookers A47J27/08) - A47J 36/38: for withdrawing or condensing cooking vapors from cooking utensils - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES ## Abstract According to one example, an article of cookware includes a substantially horizontal bottom having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface, and a sidewall extending upward from the bottom to terminate at a rim. The bottom, the sidewall, and the rim define an interior volume for one or more food items. The sidewall has an inverted frustoconical shape with an upper portion, and a lower portion positioned below the upper portion. The upper portion has an outward tilt of less than about 10 degrees from a vertical line. The lower portion has an outward tilt that is at least about 15 degrees greater than the outward tilt of the upper portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article of cookware, comprising: a) substantially horizontal bottom having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface; and b) a sidewall extending upward from the bottom to terminate at a rim, wherein the bottom, the sidewall, and the rim define an interior volume for one or more food items; c) wherein the sidewall has an inverted frustoconical shape with an upper portion and a lower portion positioned below the upper portion, the upper portion having an outward tilt of less than about 10 degrees from a vertical line, the lower portion having an outward tilt that is at least about 15 degrees greater than the outward tilt of the upper portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The article of cookware according to claim 1, wherein the article of cookware does not include any handles that extend beyond an outer perimeter of the rim. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The article of cookware according to claim 1, wherein the sidewall has an exterior facing surface that is textured. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The article of cookware according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion has a height of at least about 1 inch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The article of cookware according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion has a height of at least about 2 inches. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The article of cookware according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion has a height that is at least about 20% larger than a height of the lower portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The article of cookware according to claim 1, wherein the exterior surface of the bottom has an upward extending recess spaced away from a lower rim that forms a perimeter of the exterior surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The article of cookware according to claim 1, further comprising a lid configured to extend across the rim, wherein the lid includes a gasket configured to seal the interior volume to prevent fluid leakage. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The article of cookware according to claim 1, further comprising a lid configured to extend across the rim, wherein the lid is substantially flat and has a central recess that extends below the rim when the lid is positioned on the rim. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The article of cookware according to claim 9, wherein the central recess includes a lid handle, the lid handle having an upper surface that extends above an upper surface of the lid by no more than a depth of a recess between a lower rim and a central portion of the exterior surface of the bottom. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The article of cookware according to claim 10, wherein the lid handle is generally rectangular and narrower in width than half of a radius of an oval or circular recess in the lid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The article of cookware according to claim 9, wherein the lid has at least one sealable aperture for one of creating and releasing a vacuum within the cookware article when a gasket of the lid seals the interior volume. ### Claim 13 An article of cookware, comprising: a) a bottom; b) a sidewall extending upward from the bottom to terminate at a rim, wherein the bottom, the sidewall, and the rim define an interior volume for one or more food items, wherein the sidewall has an inverted frustoconical shape with an upper portion, and a lower portion positioned below the upper portion, the upper portion having an outward tilt of less than about 10 degrees from a vertical line, the lower portion having an outward tilt that is at least about 15 degrees greater than the outward tilt of the upper portion; and c) a thermally insulating pad that is positioned about a circumference of the sidewall. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The article of cookware according to claim 13, wherein the thermally insulating pad covers an area of the sidewall that extends above and below a transition in-between the upper portion and the lower portion of the sidewall. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The article of cookware according to claim 14, wherein the thermally insulating pad conforms to the outward tilt of the upper portion of the sidewall, and further conforms to the outward tilt of the lower portion of the sidewall. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The article of cookware according to claim 14, wherein the thermally insulating pad is configured to deform under pressure of a user's hands to the outward tilt of the upper portion of the sidewall, and is further configured to deform under the pressure of the user's hands to the outward tilt of the lower portion of the sidewall. ### Claim 17 An article of cookware, comprising: a) a substantially horizontal bottom having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface; b) a sidewall extending upward from the bottom to terminate at a rim, wherein the bottom, the sidewall, and the rim define an interior volume for one or more food items, wherein the sidewall has an inverted frustoconical shape with an upper portion and a lower portion positioned below the upper portion, the upper portion having an outward tilt of less than about 10 degrees from a vertical direction, the lower portion having an outward tilt that is at least about 15 degrees greater than the outward tilt of the upper portion; and c) one or more handles or a laterally extending flange. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The article of cookware according to claim 17, further comprising a pad that is positioned about a circumference of the upper portion of the sidewall, and that is further positioned below the one or more handles or the laterally extending flange. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The article of cookware according to claim 18, wherein the pad is more thermally insulating than the sidewall of the cookware article. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The article of cookware according to claim 18, wherein the pad extends downward to at least beyond a transition between the upper portion and the lower portion of the sidewall.