AU2005100411A4 - Spatter guard - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT SPATTER GUARD The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me: SPATTER GUARD TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a spatter guard for a cook top.

BACKGROUND

Cook tops are commonly used for frying, boiling or steaming food in suitable heat conducting containers such as pots and pans. Modern cook tops include heating plates that have heating elements on which the containers are supported, and control handles or knobs for controlling the heat provided by respective heating plates. The heating elements are typically electrically powered coils or gas burners.

Containers are often equipped with lids which impede boiling food from spattering over the cook top. However, with vigorous cooking, such as boiling, the lid is often pushed away from the container resulting in spatter on counter tops and even the floor. A particular problem exists with frying pans which can spatter oil over counter tops, which then require cleaning with chemicals or on the floor which can also be dangerous.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means to address the problems associated with spatter from a cook top.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spatter guard for a cook top, the spatter guard including at least two panels which are hingedly connected together such that the panels can be pivoted with respect to each other to be free-standing.

The panels may be dimensioned so that the spatter guard can be adjusted to shield at least one side of the cook top.

Thus, the spatter guard can be located on the cook top such that spattering takes place against the spatter guard. Hence, spattering of food is localized to the cook top and spatter on any surrounding bench or counter tops and walls is inhibited. Alternatively, the spatter guard may located so as to be freestanding on a bench or other surface about the cook top to provide a guard against spatter coming from the cook top.

The spatter guard may have four serially connected panels which can be folded together in a serpentine manner for facilitating storage and cleaning in a sink or dishwasher. The panels may be of like size.

Alternatively, the spatter guard may have three serially connected panels whereby the outer panels can be folded onto the centre panel for facilitating storage and cleaning in a sink or dishwasher. Preferably, the outer panels can be folded onto the same side of the centre panel.

Each outer panel may be truncated to facilitate access to the cook top by a cook.

The spatter guard may be integrally formed. The spatter guard may be formed from plastic material. The plastic material may be high density polyethylene

(HDPE).

Alternatively, adjacent panels may be interconnected using a hinge.

The panels may collectively define a flat operatively lower edge for resting on the cook top. Thus, the panels need not be fixed to the stove, in which case the spatter guard can readily be lifted from the cook top when cleaning either the spatter guard or the cook top. Alternatively, the panels may rest on a bench or other surface about the cook top.

The panels may be substantially rigid or resiliently flexible. The panels may also be planar.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spatter guard for a cook top, the spatter guard including a pliable wall which is configured so that it can be bent into a free-standing shape which can rest on an operative lower edge of the wall.

Preferably, the lower edge is a flat edge.

In one embodiment, the spatter guard includes one or more operatively vertical elongate zones of weakness about which the wall can be bent. Each zone of weakness may be defined by a thinned portion of the wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: Figure la is a top plan view of an embodiment of a spatter guard in accordance with the invention; Figure lb is a side view of Figure 1 a; Figure ic is an end view of Figure la; Figures 2a to 2d show the sequential folding of the spatter guard of Figure la; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a spatter guard in accordance with the invention; and Figures 4a to 4d show the sequential folding of the spatter guard of Figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of a spatter guard 2 of the invention is shown in Figure 1.

The spatter guard 2 can be readily located and manipulated to surround the heating elements 10 of a cook top as shown in Figure la. Alternatively, the spatter guard 2 can be readily located on a bench or other surface about the cook top so as to provide a guard against spatter coming from the cook top.

The guard 2 is dimensioned to extend above the top of any cooking containers located on the heating elements 10. Thus, any spatter from the containers spatters against the guard 2. In this manner, the spatter is localized to the cook top area, reducing the need to clean surrounding bench tops, walls and often floors in the kitchen.

The spatter guard 2 consists of a wall 6 which is integrally formed from high density polyethylene (HDPE). The wall 6 includes four planar panels 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d which are hingedly connected together in series. Each panel 4 is of like size and is substantially rigid or resiliently flexible. The panels 4 are connected together at vertical zones of weakness or thinned portions 8. The portions 8 are of a thickness that facilitates bending of the guard 2 at the portions 8 so that adjacent panels 4 can be pivoted with respect to each other.

In use, outer panels 4a, 4d are arranged to each extend perpendicularly from the centre panels 4b, 4c which, in turn, are linearly arranged (Figure la). The panels 4 collectively form a flat edge 14 which rests on the top surface of the cook top which, in turn, is also generally flat. In this manner, any spatter which accumulates on the cook top about the heating elements 10 is confined within the bounds of the wall 6. The spatter guard 2 is not attached to the cook top and can be readily relocated by the cook. In addition, the spatter guard 2 can be lifted from the cook top when cleaning either the spatter guard 2 or the cook top.

As can best be seen in Figure 1c, each outer panel 4a, 4d is truncated at 12.

The truncations 12 facilitate access to containers on the cook top.

Figure 2 shows how the guard 2 can be sequentially folded to facilitate cleaning in a sink or dishwasher or to form a compact assembly for storage.

Referring to Figure 2a, the spatter guard 2 can be manipulated to form a planar structure whereby the panels 4 are linearly arranged.

Referring to Figure 2b, each outer panel 4a, 4d can be bent inwardly on one side of the wall 6 which enables a flat lower edge 14 of the spatter guard 2 to rest on the cook top. The wall 6 maintains its shape when resting on the cook top.

As shown in Figure 2c, each outer panel 4a, 4d can be folded over onto a respective adjacent panel 4b, 4c.

Referring to Figure 2d, the two centre panels 4b, 4c can then be folded together to form a compact stack of panels 4. Folding the panels 4 together in a serpentine manner provides for a compact assembly which facilitates storage when the guard 2 is not in use.

The foldable nature of the guard 2 also facilitates transportation to a sink for washing. Indeed, the various panels 4 can be folded with respect to one another during washing so that each panel 4 can be located in the sink and washed.

A further embodiment of a spatter guard 2 in accordance with the present invention is shown in Figure 3 where like reference numerals refer to like features which have previously been described. In contrast to the previous embodiment (shown in Figs 1 and the panels 4 are not each of like size.

Instead, each centre panel 4b, 4c is of greater length than each outer panel 4a, 4d, and is dimensioned so that the spatter guard 2 can be adjusted to shield the length of one side of the cook top.

Figure 4 shows the sequential folding of the panels 4 together in a serpentine manner so as to form a compact assembly for storage when the guard 2 is not in use.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention.

In the preferred embodiment, four panels 4 are serially connected to form the spatter guard 2. In an alternative embodiment, the centre most panels 4b, 4c may be replaced by a single rigid panel upon which the outer most panels 4a, 4d can be folded when storing the spatter guard 2. In yet another embodiment, the spatter guard 2 would consist of two hingedly connected panels only, which could be manipulated to form a single corner protector for a single heating element 10 of the cook top.

In the preferred embodiment, the wall 6 is integrally formed from plastics material. In an alternative embodiment, the panels 4 may be separately formed and then interconnected together using a hinge.

In the preferred embodiment, each adjacent pair of panels 4 can be bent about a thinned portion 8 defined between the panels 4. In an alternative embodiment, the wall 6 may have a uniform thickness and a bending line may be printed on the surface of the wall 6 about which the wall 6 can be bent.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims (4)

1. A spatter guard for a cook top, the spatter guard including at least two panels which are hingedly connected together such that the panels can be pivoted with respect to each other to be free-standing.

2. A spatter guard as claimed in claim 1 having four serially connected panels which can be folded together in a serpentine manner.

3. A spatter guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spatter guard is integrally formed.

4. A spatter guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the panels collectively define a flat operatively lower edge for supporting the spatter guard. A spatter guard for a cook top, the spatter guard including a pliable wall which is configured so that it can be bent into a free-standing shape. Dated this 16 day of May 2005 JOHN BARR by our attorneys Eagar Buck Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys