This sounds like a good idea, just make sure that once it is in the locked position it is secure with a load applied in every direction. The lock must be very intuitive and so that it has no chance of being lifted or moved without locking it.
The worst thing that could happen would be if someone would buy this product and did not fully secure it then spilled something- this would be a lawsuit waiting to happen.

They have tones of these already for camping. It would be nice if they had something more high end for the kitchen. Please have a look and vote/comment if you like so we can support each other. http://www.quirky.com/ideations/212086

I love this idea. It would be great for in rv or trailer.

i love it. check out my idea !!! http://www.quirky.com/ideations/198210

Super idea Jason! Congrats.

I like the idea of saving space, as my pots and pans take up too much room!

i used to own a set of cookware which handles came off. plus, the set of cooking items packed into each other. and there was an outside bracket which then went around the the biggest pot and pot lid, securly fastening all the other items inside the biggest container. this design is actually a popular design for camping equipment

Make it a telescoping handle. Use a really strong alloy that can collapse into itself leaving 1 1/2 inch nub. When you pull out you have a sturdy 6 inch handle. Use titanium or something really strong.

I have often thought it would be nice to stack the pans ( what is the difference between pot and pan) inside the other like bowls, except the handles got in the way. Instead of a collapsing handle on each, could it not be a clamp gizmo like an angled just right large paper clip with a longish handle strong and a bent angle to hold it to the pan and add extra support when carrying full pots and pans of hot stuff. Two should be good for any size pan but could also offer different lengths or strengths.

I had a pot whose one short handle fell off while I was cooking soup, handle outside screw inside. I took my tongs deep into the pot and pinched tight that side and held the other handle and got it off the stove just barely and poured into another pot. I thought then if the pot had a better lip the tongs would have held the edge better.

I do not have an illustrating capability, I would need to fax or snail mail a drawing.

It would look something like an 8 to 10" handle with a clamp angled to the end of it kind of like if you were to put your hand with fingers bent under on a table aimed with your elbow under your shoulder and then bend up at the wrist maybe about a 20 or 25* angle the clamp where your hand is would be like a hand on top and bottom with fingers bent towards each other to grab a lip on the pot T shaped laying on its side and at the wrist area a straight down or backward toward the pot angled piece for added support. Could call it Lip Lock.

If you insist the handle be attached to each, you could have a welded metal extension short upside down L shape above each nesting pot or pan straight up from the edge so that it takes up no extra room in the nesting department and at the top have an open area which holds the handle which is hinged folded down there would need to be a locking mechanism to hold the handle up against the underside of the L shape that would prevent it from going down while in use, or something to insulate it from the heat so it is not hot when go to move it.

I think the best handle design should be telescopic. A couple examples would be a camera tri-pod leg or an umbrella handle. as each section telescopes out it locks with a push button design like umbrellas use. This would also make the handle straight and more comfortable to hold than an arced handle.