BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to kitchenware and more particularly to the protection of a surface of a kitchen item. 
         [0003]    2. The Relevant Technology 
         [0004]    Many types and brands of cooking or frying pans are coated with a non-stick material such as polytetrafluoroethylene—which is more recognizable by its trademarked name of Teflon®. Teflon® is applied to the surface of a metallic pan to prevent food from sticking to the pan&#39;s surface. Non-stick coatings, however, are easily scratched and damaged if the surface comes into contact with hard or sharp objects such as metal spatulas and silverware. Once a non-stick surface has been scratched, its non-stick characteristics are compromised and the pan is no longer effective. 
         [0005]    It is common for manufacturers to sell several pans in a kit of increasing sizes, such that a pan of a smaller size may be stacked on top of and inside the next larger size. Such a configuration is convenient for shipping and for home storage of the pans. However, the stacking of pans may scratch the non-stick coating of the adjacent pan. 
         [0006]    Paper or cloth towels may be placed between each pan to act as a protective barrier so as to prevent each non-stick surface from coming in contact with the bottom of the adjacent pan. Spacers may raise the bottom of one pan from the surface of another. However, spacers can move around and easily go out of alignment or become lost, thereby reducing or completely eliminating the effectiveness as a protective element. Pan liners may also be used to separate the surface from the bottom of an adjacent pan, however, each liner must be sized for each pan&#39;s diameter. It is therefore desirable to provide a method and apparatus for separating surfaces of pots and pans while stopping, transporting or otherwise. It is further desirable that such a protective barrier be inexpensive while maintaining its effectiveness. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The invention is generally directed to a system and method for protecting a surface of a cooking pan. Such a system includes a first pocket having a first interior wall member that forms a first interior volume. The first pocket also has a first exterior wall member forming an outer layer. The first interior wall member is made from a material selected to protect the non-stick surface of a first cooking pan from being scratched. The first pocket also has a first opening that accepts the first cooking pan into the first interior volume of the first pocket. 
         [0008]    The system further has a second pocket having a second interior wall member forming a second interior volume and a second exterior wall member forming the outer layer. The second interior wall member is made from material selected to protect the non-stick surface of a second cooking pan from being scratched. The second pocket further has a second opening that accepts the second cooking pan into the second interior volume of the second pocket. 
         [0009]    Lastly, the system has a pocket divider placed between the first and second pocket. The first wall of the pocket divider forms the bottom interior wall of the first interior volume of the first pocket. A second wall of the pocket divider forms a top interior wall of the second interior volume of the second pocket. The pocket divider is made from the same material as the first interior wall member. 
         [0010]    A method of protecting a non-stick surface of a plurality of cooking pans is provided. The method includes providing a first pocket having a first interior wall member that forms a first interior volume. The first pocket also has a first exterior wall member forming an outer layer. The first interior wall member is made from a material selected to protect the non-stick surface of a first cooking pan from being scratched. The first pocket further has a first opening configured to accept the first cooking pan into the first interior volume of the first pocket. 
         [0011]    The method further provides a second pocket having a second interior wall member that forms a second interior volume and a second exterior wall member forming the outer layer. The second interior wall member is made from a material selected to protect the non-stick surface of a second cooking pan from being scratched. The second pocket further has a second opening configured to accept the second cooking pan into the second interior volume of the second pocket. 
         [0012]    The method further couples a pocket divider between the first pocket and the second pocket. The first wall of the pocket divider forms the bottom interior wall of the first interior volume of the first pocket. The second wall of the pocket divider forms the top interior wall of the second interior volume of the second pocket. The pocket divider is made from the same material as the first interior wall member. The method further requires placing the first cooking pan having a non-stick surface into the first opening of the first pocket. Lastly, the method requires placing the second cooking pan having a non-stick surface into the second opening of the second pocket. 
         [0013]    Other aspects of the present invention will become readily apparent after reading the detailed description in conjunction with the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    To further clarify the above and other advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a plurality of stacked cooking pans; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a plurality of cooking pans placed inside a pan protection system; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a pan protection system showing the openings of each pocket of the pan protection system of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is an expanded view of a pocket opening having an expanding and contracting material around the perimeter of the opening; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is an expanded view of an elastic opening; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is an expanded view of an opening of a pan protection system with a draw string. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth, such as examples of specific cooking pan sizes, to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known components or methods have not been described in detail but rather in a block diagram in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. Thus, the specific details set forth below are merely exemplary and are by no means intended to be exhaustive. The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0022]    Reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of a plurality of stacked cooking pans. Stacking pans or other kitchenware is typical of both the home or commercial environment. Since multiple size pans are desirable, pans  20 ,  30 ,  40  are illustrated as sized with differing diameters. In the illustrated embodiment, pan  20  is 12 inches in diameter, pan  30  is 10 inches in diameter and pan  40  is 8 inches in diameter. Thus, pan  40  fits inside pan  30 , with the combination of pans  40  and  30  fitting inside pan  20 . Pans  20 ,  30 ,  40  have handles  25 ,  35 ,  45  respectively. In the embodiment shown, pans  20 ,  30 ,  40  have non-stick coatings  22 ,  32 ,  42  on the inner surface of each pan. The illustrated embodiment is shown and described with non-stick coatings, however, the invention works equally as well with pans having any type of a surface that is susceptible to scratches and wear and tear. In the storage configuration illustrated in  FIG. 1 , non-stick coatings  22 ,  32 ,  42  are susceptible to scratching when they are placed directly against the bottom of the adjacent pan. Since pan  30  is placed on top of pan  20  in a typical storage configuration, non-stick coating  22  is placed in direct contact with the bottom surface of pan  30 . Any movement of pan  30  results in possible damage to surface  22 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of a plurality of cooking pans placed inside pan protection system  100 . Pan protection system  100  is a multi-tiered enclosure that accepts a single pan into a pocket of each tier. In this example, pan protection system  100  comprises three tiers, where each tier has a pocket for receiving a pan. In the illustrated embodiment, pocket  101  is in the top tier, pocket  102  is in the middle tier and pocket  103  is in the bottom tier. Pockets  101  and  102  are divided by pocket divider  110  and pockets  102  and  103  are divided by pocket divider  120 . 
         [0025]    Pan protection system  100  and each of its pockets  101 ,  102  and  103  comprise an outer layer  140  and an inner layer  150 . Outer layer  140  is typically made of a cloth-type material that provides flexibility, surface protection and washability. The choice of material is not significant to the operation of the system as long as it protects the surface of the pans and may be washed. Inner layer  150  is permanently coupled to outer layer  140  using an adhesive means. For example, inner layer  150  may be adhered to outer layer  140  using a connection means such as glue, stitching and zippers to mention a few. Inner layer  150  shall be manufactured of a material that protects the surface of cooking pans from damage from other pans that may come in physical contact with the surface. Layer  150  is in direct contact with the non-stick coatings, hence, layer  150  typically is manufactured of a material that will not cause damage to the non-stick coating. In another embodiment, inner layer  150  and outer layer  140  are manufactured from a single piece of material. 
         [0026]    Each pocket has an opening that allows a pan to be inserted. In the illustrated embodiment, pocket  101  has opening  115  for accepting pan  40  and protecting its coating  42 ; pocket  102  has opening  125  for accepting pan  30  and protecting its coating  32 ; and pocket  103  has opening  135  for accepting pan  20  and protecting its coating  22 . 
         [0027]    In particular embodiments, each pocket and its corresponding opening has ascending or descending sizes based upon the diameter of the pan being inserted into the pocket. For example, pocket  101  and its opening  115  may be sized to accept 8 inch frying pan  40 , while pocket  102  and its opening  125  may be sized to accept 10 inch frying pan  30  and pocket  103  and its opening  135  may be sized to accept 12 inch frying pan  20 . In another particular embodiment, each pocket and its corresponding opening is the same size, thereby allowing various sized pans with varying diameters to be placed in any of the pockets. 
         [0028]    In the example illustrated in  FIG. 2 , pan protection system  100  comprises three tiers. In operation, typical household pot and pan kits often have three pans having an 8, 10 and 12 inch diameter respectively. It should be understood that a pan protection system  100  may have more or less than three tiers without departing from the intended scope of the present invention. For example, a pan protection system  100  may have a fourth tier sized with a pocket large enough to accept a pan with a 14 inch diameter. Typically, the largest sized tier is the bottom tier, thereby allowing the descending sized pans to fit within the bottom tier&#39;s pocket and its larger diameter pan. The four-tier pan protection system may also have equally sized pockets, thus allowing any sized pan to fit inside any one of the four pockets. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  illustrates another side view of pan protection system  100  showing the openings of each pocket. Pan protection system  100  has pockets  101 ,  102  and  103 . Pocket  101  and  102  are divided by pocket divider  110  and pocket  102  and  103  are divided by pocket divider  120 . Pockets  101 ,  102  and  103  have openings  115 ,  125  and  135 , respectively. Pan protection system  100  is also comprised of outer layer  140  and inner layer  150 , with each layer being adhered to each other as described above. In one embodiment, each opening is approximately sized to the size and dimensions of its corresponding pocket. For example, the size and dimensions of opening  135  are similar to that of pocket  103  so that opening  135  accepts pan  20 . 
         [0030]    In another embodiment, the circumference of each opening is manufactured of an expanding and contracting material, which allows the opening to close around a pan once it is inserted. Such an arrangement allows the handle to protrude out of the opening. In an expand position, the opening is still wide enough to accept a large diameter pan. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  illustrates an expanded view of an opening in one of the pockets with an expanding and contracting material around the perimeter of the opening. In the illustrated embodiment, pocket  103  has an opening  135 . Opening  135  is typically manufactured from an elastic material allowing the opening to expand and contract much like an elastic waste band found on pants. Opening  135  is shown in a contracted position such that the elastic is contracted as tight as possible around handle  25 . Pan  20  rests inside pocket  103  with handle  25  protruding through opening  135 . Dotted line  139  shows the maximum expansion of opening  135 . Expanded opening  139  is configured to expand to at least the diameter of pan  20  to allow the pan to fit past opening  139  and into pocket  103 . For example, in a closed or compressed position, opening  135  may have a diameter of four inches. In a fully expanded position, however, opening  135  may have a diameter of 14 inches. Hence, opening  135  would be wide enough to accept at least the diameter of 12 inch pan  20 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  illustrates an expanded view of elastic opening  135 . In one embodiment, opening  135  is made from an elastic band  138  that encircles the entire circumference of, or at least part of, opening  135 . Elastic band  138  may be encased by material to protect the band from physical damage and visibility to a user. Inner stitch  136  and outer stitch  137  are formed on each side of band  138  so as to contain band  138  within the material. In one embodiment, the material used to surround elastic band  138  may be the same material used to make the entire pan protection system. The material used to surround elastic band  138  may also be of a different material and configured to accommodate the contraction and expansion of opening  135 . As described above with respect to  FIG. 4 , opening  135  has a diameter of 4 inches when contracted and 14 inches when fully expanded, in one embodiment. Therefore, elastic band  138  may have a circumference such that its compressed or relaxed diameter is 4 inches. An elasticity and thickness is selected that allows elastic band  138  to expand to a diameter of at least 14 inches without breaking or losing elasticity over several hundred stretch and relax operations, in one embodiment. Other embodiments are well suited to other dimensions capable of receiving and contracting around corresponding pans. 
         [0033]    Opening of pan protection system  100  may also use a draw string to increase or decrease the size of the opening.  FIG. 6  illustrates an expanded view of a pocket having a draw string to alter the diameter of its opening. In this illustrated example, pocket  102  is shown with opening  125 . Handle  35  protrudes through opening  125 . Opening  125  comprises an inner stitch  131  and an outer stitch  132 . Stitches  131  and  132  are stitched into the material utilized to make the overall pan protection system. Between stitches  131  and  132  is a small volume where string  126  rests. String  126  may be a single string that runs through the entire volume between stitches  131  and  132 . String  126  may exit the material at openings  128  and  129 , pass through coupler  127  and terminate. Coupler  127  allows the two ends of string  126  to stay in one position by placing pressure on the portion of the string passing through coupler  127 . While coupler  127  is exerting pressure on string  126 , opening  125  should not expand or contract, hence keeping the diameter of the opening stable. One simply has to release the pressure of coupler  127  on the string to permit the opening to expand or contract. Any suitable type of coupler used in the draw string industry is sufficient, with no specific type being required or recommended. 
         [0034]    The opening of each pocket may also be manufactured to not expand and/or contract. Such an opening may simply be of a constant diameter, allowing a pan with a diameter less than or equal to the opening to be accepted into the pocket of such an opening. In such an embodiment, an elastic band or draw string is not required. The opening may simply have material with a single stitch around the circumference. 
         [0035]    One skilled in the art should realize and appreciate that the size of each opening may vary from the samples stated above. Any number of sized openings may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. In one embodiment, pan protection system  100  may have multiple tiers such that each pocket and its corresponding opening is of the same fixed size. In this example, each pocket may accept a pan less than or equal to 14 inches. Each tier&#39;s pocket and opening may also accept an increasing or decreasing sized pan. 
         [0036]    In another embodiment, each opening of a pocket may employ one of the techniques mentioned above to expand or contract in diameter. For example, a three-tiered pan protection system may employ a top tier having a pocket that has a fixed opening of 8 inches in diameter. Hence, the top tier&#39;s pocket may accept a pan with a diameter less than or equal to 8 inches. The middle tier&#39;s pocket may have an opening that is expandable from 4 inches to 14 inches through implementation of an elastic band around the opening. Accordingly, the middle tier&#39;s pocket may accept a pan whose diameter is less than or equal to 14 inches. The bottom tier&#39;s pocket may have an opening that is expandable from 8 inches to 18 inches through use of a draw string and coupler around the opening. The bottom tier&#39;s pocket may therefore accept a pan whose diameter is less than or equal to 18 inches. 
         [0037]    Whereas many alterations and modifications of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after having read the foregoing description, it is to be understood that any particular embodiment shown and described by way of illustration is in no way intended to be considered limiting. Therefore, references to details of various embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claims which in themselves recite only those features regarded as the invention.
A pan protection system and method for protecting a surface of a cooking pan is disclosed. Such a system includes at least a first pocket, a second pocket and a pocket divider placed between the first and second pocket for protecting the surface of a number of cooking pans.