Opening and closing safety device for a pressure cooker

A safety device for opening and closing a pressure cooker comprising a pressure cooker body and a pressure cooker lid, the pressure cooker body and the pressure cooker lid each having a rim perpendicular to the vertical axis of the body, each rim having a matable bayonet latching system for axially securing the lid to the body by relative rotation of the lid and body, the safety device comprising:

• a pressure activated pop-up closing valve disposed axially through an opening in the lid, the valve axially movable from an axially inward open position to an axially outward closed position;
• a side handle attached to the cooker body parallel to the body rim, the side handle having an L-shaped channel in the upper surface;
• an upper body member mounted on the lid approximate the valve;
• a rotatable lever rotatably mounted to the upper body member at a pivot point for rotation generally above and parallel to the lid rim, the lever having a fan-shaped portion extending generally over the valve and the lid, and a foot portion extending opposite the fan and beyond the rim, the foot portion offset at an angle from the extending fan-shaped portion, wherein the lever is rotatable from an initial position, in which the fan portion is in axial alignment with the popup valve and prevents the valve from moving axially outward closed position, to a locking position in which the fan portion is axially clear of the valve and allows the valve to move axially out of the closed position;
• a lower portion axially extending from the foot portion and having an end engageable in the L-shaped channel;
• wherein rotation of the cooker lid relative to the cooker body causes the end of the axially extending lower portion to slide in the L-shaped channel causing the fan-shaped portion to rotate out of alignment with the valve so that the valve can move axially outward to the closed position.