Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant: Michael Thomas Paddock Actual Inventor: Michael Thomas Paddock Address for Service: C/- MADDERNS, 1st Floor, 64 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Invention title: STOVE GUARD The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me. {PdtAU132 } 2 FIELD This invention relates to a guard rail and to a method and apparatus for protecting a heating area. The invention is directed particularly but not solely towards heating areas on any cooking appliance such as for example stoves, ovens and cookers. 5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Traditionally cookers and/or ovens etc., comprise an apparatus having a top portion with a cooking or heating surface portion and an upstand at the back of the cooker. The top portion is reserved for cooking and/or heating. Normally one controls the cooking on the top surface via a control panel which can be housed on the upstand from the cooking 10 surface. Cooking utensils and implements such as pots and pans are heated on the heating means on the cooking surface. Potential accidents and danger can occur, if for example, if a child or someone who doesn't understand the dangers of hot cooking surfaces and hot cooking ingredients, pulls on the hot cooking implement and attempts to drag them off that surface. Currently it is very difficult 15 to prevent or stop people from purposely or accidentally pulling off hot items and scolding or burning themselves. The cooking surface normally comprises an open area normally containing a hob area which includes at least four heating surfaces or there may be an entirely flat surface such as a ceramic cook top. None of these cookers or ovens have any means to prevent the dragging 20 off of cooking implements nor have any means to hold the cooking elements in place if they are pulled at or knocked. Accidents through burns can be costly to the country in time taken with doctors and hospitals plus lost productivity. In this specification unless the contrary is expressly stated, where a document, act or item of 25 knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge; or known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.
3 OBJECT OF THE INVENTION: It is an object of the invention to provide an improved guard rail and method of installation that ameliorates some of the disadvantages and limitations of the known art or at least provide the public with a useful choice. 5 STATEMENT OF INVENTION: Accordingly in a first aspect the invention consists in a guard rail for a heating surface, the guard rail comprising a frame being constructed and adapted in use to provide a barrier restricting contact with the heating surface, the frame including at least a first and second aperture, the first aperture, in use being located behind the second aperture and being shaped 10 to allow capture of a control panel attached to the heating surface, such that the guard rail is prevented from being pulled off the heating surface, wherein the first aperture is configured to be placed over the upstanding control panel such that a front rail partly defining the first aperture lies adjacent a forward face of the upstanding control panel and a rear rail partly defining the first aperture lies adjacent an aft face of the upstanding control panel and the 15 first aperture is angled with respect to the second aperture. Such a configuration enables simple installation about the heating surface. Preferably the frame includes an upright portion forming the apertures there between such that the heating surface is protected and surrounded. Preferably the frame comprises a first horizontal rail joined to a second horizontal rail by at 20 least one upstanding member forming a tubular frame wherein the rails form a perimeter fence in use around the heating surface. Optionally the frame is formed by planar members being substantially transparent. Preferably the perimeter fence of the second aperture is higher in use at a front portion than at a back portion. 25 Preferably the frame is attachable to the heating surface by at least one bracket which allows rotation during removal or installation. Preferably in use, the first rail is a lower rail and the second rail is an upper rail. Preferably the lower front rail rests on or adjacent to the heating surface. Preferably a lower back rail rests at the back of the first aperture, on or adjacent to the 30 heating surface.
4 Preferably the first and second rails are substantially horizontal in orientation. Preferably the frame can be fabricated from stainless steel rod. Preferably the lower side rails are lower than the heating surface. Accordingly in a second aspect the invention consists in a method of installing a guard rail 5 for a heating appliance being provided with a front heating surface and back upstand wherein the guard rail is provided having a frame comprising a first aperture and a second aperture, the first aperture being angled with respect to the second aperture and the first aperture shaped to capture the upstand and rest on the heating surface, such that the guard rail is prevented from being pulled off the heating surface, the method of installation including the 10 following steps of: -placing and rotating the first aperture over the upstand and capturing said upstand between; a front rail partly defining the first aperture and which lies adjacent a forward face of the upstanding control panel and, a rear rail partly defining the first aperture which lies adjacent an aft face of the upstanding control panel, 15 -further rotating the guard rail with respect to the heating appliance such that the second aperture surrounds the heating surface to provide a horizontal perimeter guard rail around said heating surface thereby preventing accidental access to the heating surface whereby only part of the guard rail rests on the heating surface. DRAWING DESCRIPTION 20 The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the guard rail in use on a cooking appliance. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the guard rail not in use. Fig. 3 is a side end sectional view of the guard rail. Fig. 4 is a front end sectional view of the guard rail. 25 Fig. 5 is a rear end sectional view of the guard rail. DETAILED DESCRIPTION As shown in the figures the guard rail 1 includes a frame 2 which is shaped such that a first aperture 3 and a second aperture 4 are formed. In use the guard rail is particularly adapted 5 for any cooker appliance 5 having front horizontal heating surface 6 and an upstand portion 7 at the back. Typically not all of the heating surface 6 is normally heated, only part of any heating surface is actually heatable such with stove elements or plates so that the guard rail normally rests on a non portion of the heating surface 6. The upstand 7 can have a control 5 portion located thereon. To install, the guard rail I is rotated such that the first aperture 3 is positioned over the upstand 7 to capture it such that further rotation of the guard rail I pivoting from the back of the upstand in the vertical plane, will allow the second aperture 4 to then lie over the horizontal heating or cooking surface 6 of the cooking appliance to form a surrounding protective perimeter fence. The cooking appliance 5 can be any type such as 10 for example an oven, stove or cooker etc which can be powered by any means such as gas, electricity or whatever. As shown in the figures, the first aperture 3 is angled with respect to the second aperture 4. Generally the frame 2 comprises an upper horizontal rail and a lower horizontal rail separated by at least one vertical or upstanding member. In use the frame I will have the 15 front 8, a back 9 and sides 10 and 11 creating front lower rails 12-15, upper rails 16-19, vertical upstands 20-25 and angled side rails 26 & 27. Through out this specification the orientation of 'front' and 'back' are taken to be defined with respect to a user standing in front of a cooking appliance 5 during general use. This means that the 'front' is taken to be immediately adjacent the rails 13 and 17 as shown in 20 the figures. The 'back' is defined as being distant to the 'front' and coincides with the back portion of a cooker appliance which includes the raised control panel or upstand which is traditionally immediately adjacent to a wall. Other typical terms such as the 'sides', 'top' and 'bottom' are also taken as being with respect to the oven cooking surface 6 as well as the front and back portions of an oven with respect to a user. 25 In use the at least the lower front horizontal rail 13 will rest on the heating or cooking surface 6. Also the lower front rail 15 of the first aperture 3 can rest on the heating surface 6. The lower side rails 12 & 14 are lower in the vertical plane than the lower front and back rails 13 & 15 such that in use when the guard rail 1 is placed over the heating surface 6, the front rail 13 will minimally rest on the front edge portion of the cooking surface 6 whereas 30 the lower side rails 12 & 14 do not rest on the heating surface 6 but can abut or rest against the side of the oven or also could be spaced from the side of the oven.. The back lower rail 15 can also rest on the heating surface 6. To this end as shown front and rear horizontal 6 rails 13 and 15 can be joined to their respective side rails by way of a small bend 28 and 29 to allow them to sit on heating surface 6 while allowing the side rails 12 and 14 to be located below the heating surface 6. In other variations of the guard rail 1 its shape can be varied to suit any shape of cooker 5 or 5 heating or cooking surface 6 being used. Minimally all that is required is a perimeter guard rail having at least one aperture to surround a substantial main portion of the heating surface 6. In another option as shown in figure 2 for the guard rail I at least one fixing means which can be in the form of a removable bracket 30 or can be adhered thereto, can be used which is attachable to the heating surface 6 which can be an oven via the back of the oven or 10 an adjacent surface such that the bracket 30 can be readily removed and merely rotated out of the way during cleaning or oven replacement. The guard rail I can be conveniently fabricated in any material that allows normal cleaning and washing, adequate strength corrosive and chemical resistance and combined longevity. For example suitable materials can be stainless steel or heat resistant plastics or coated steels. 15 Optionally the guard rail I can be fabricated from any suitable bright colours to provide a pleasing appearance or a colour match with other appliances in the vicinity. Also shown in the figures the guard rail of the second aperture can have a portion 31 to be angled upwards at the front thereby providing a further barrier to accidental pulling, tipping or leaning against hot surfaces. The guard rail I can also have bevelled edges, rounded corners and a 20 shape thereby also providing less chance of accidentally knocking. The guard rail 1 can be formed as a tubular or solid rod frame or optionally from a planar material also forming a frame. The planar material can be transparent, clear or frosted depending on whether vision therethrough is required. In all of these options the guard rail must be safe to use in such a heating area. Tl;ie guard rail can therefore be fire resistant 25 according to proper standards. To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and application of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be 30 limiting.
7 Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word 'comprise' and variations of that word such as 'comprises' and 'comprising' are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. The guard rail and method can have some of the following advantages: 5 1. Simple installation. 2. Modest production and retail cost. 3. Effective barrier to prevent access to heating areas. 4. Long lasting. 5. Stylish design. 10 6. Robust construction.