EP0251974A2 - Protection barrier for domestic cooking ranges - Google Patents

Abstract

The object of the invention is a protection ba­rrier for domestic cooking ranges comprised by at least a, trans­parent thermal shock and impact resistant protection surface (2) substantially vertically mountd to be longitudinally mova­ble either on a runner profile (8) provided in the fume hood on a structure (9) or between fixtures adyacent the cooking range or provided on the upper front portion of the cooking range (13) or between two runner profiles provided one at the height of the hood (8) and another one on the cooking range upper front portion (13).

Description

• This invention relates to a protection barrier for cooking ranges.
• It is well known the high number of home accidents and incidents taking place during food cooking and the like tasks whereby a great deal of burn injuries are caused as well as many fires by inflammation of oils and greases commonly used in the coo-­king range and it can be stated that these home accidents or inci­dents reach a high rate of injuries.
• The protection barrier subject of this invention present proper and novel characteristics the use of which can eliminate or at least decrease this type of accidents further pro­viding other practical advantages such as:
  - Whole freedom of movement at the range area whe­ther the protection barrier is formed by one or several panels due to easy lateral travel of these.
  - Each panel will protect a wide angle having its apex on the fire or the kitchenware being used thus allowing the operator to be near the fire and have a perfect vision of the ope­ration without any risk of splashing and/or unexpected flame burs­ts.
  - It makes it easy to handle the food being cooked with suitable utensils for not existing fear of splashing towards the operator face, etc., at the protection area,
  - In case of a burning ware the barrier provides a protection angle allowing the user to aprroach the range for operating the range controls or with a fire extinguisher to ex­tinguish the fire thus making it easier to control it on the first stage thereof.
  - Both whether the range is provided wits a one panel barrier or the range allonz the installation of a two panel barrier the risk of the container on the fire being tipped over by its handle being struck, if this protrudes from the cooking range outer vertical plane, or caught by a child are eliminated.
  - It prevents dirt caused by splashes and fumes from reaching the operator clothing.
  - It avoids dirt by splashes on the cooking range area, floor, furniture, etc., which will be in the barrier pro­tecting angle depending on the type of installation that the coo­king range will permit.
  - Directs range fumes towards the exit.
  - Facilitates, due to its own character istics, the cleaning of the barrier.
• According to the invention the household cooking range protection barrier is comprised by at least a substantially vertical, transparent, thermal shock resistant, and impact resis­tant protection surface which, for example, could be of tempered glass or any other suitable material, which surface is suitably related with stationary elements such as furniture, walls or roof, of the cooking range such as to be able to move sideways along the cooking range front portion. Preferably the one or more protec­tion surfaces will provide supporting parts which are slindingly engaged by the free ends thereof on a runner profile of a structu­ re which is fixed by its end to the wall or to any fixture next to the cooking range. The protection surface is supported and slides by cooking range upper front end portion.
• The protection surface can slide in the inner por­tion of a section suitably integrally located on the cooking ran­ge upper front portion.
• The protection surface has a length shorter than that of the cooking range.
• The barrier may be comprised by two or more protec­tion surfaces in parallel arrangement.
• Each one of the supporting parts are fixed on the protection surface by suitable means and each one has a T-section cooperating with the sliding engagement in the interior of the structure runner profile providing an inverted U shape which para­llel branches present horizontal inner facing extensions.
• The lower profile or profiles provided on the ran­ge present a U or L shape.
• The estructure is preferably comprised by two U shaped frames connected by their non parallel branches preferably forming an acute angle and are fixed, i.e., to the frames end areas.
• The structure can be integrated in a fume exhaust means located above the cooking range and specifically in the co­oking range fume hood.
• In order to better understand not only the arran­gement but also the utilization of the protection barrier accor­ding to the invention, a practical embodiment thereof is herebelow described by means of a non limitative example all as shown on the appended drawings wherein:
• Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the protec­tion barrier according to the invention which is mounted on a run­ner shaped profile integral with the front portion of a fume exha­usting hood.
• Figure 2 shows a sectional wiew taken along the li­ne II-II in figure 1.
• Figure 3 shows a sectional view of a double runner profile.
• Figure 4 shows a side elevation view of one of the supporting parts.
• Figure 5 shows a side elevation view of figure 4.
• Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a structure whereon the runner profile is fixed.
• Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a vertical surface of the barrier.
• The protection barrier 1 for cooking ranges is com­prised by at least a vertical surface 2 made of a transparent ther­mal and impact resistant material such as glass, plastic or the like.
• The surface 2 is provided with bores 3 wherein sup­porting parts 4 are fixed by bolts upon the bores 3 being alligne xite supporting part bores 6.
• Each one of the supporting parts has a T shaped sec­tion the straight upper branch 7 of which is engaged in runner pro­file 8 thus the surface 2 being able to move sideways.
• This profile 8 is integral with a structure 9 or a fume extractor 10 which is located on an upper plane and facing the cooking range.
• The structure 9 shown in figure 6 is but one illus­ trative non exclusive embodiment inasmuch as any other best suited to the barrier installation needs could be used.
• The structure 9 will be fixed to the wall by the ends 11 thereof.
• It has been already stated that instead of a ver­tical surface the barrier can comprise two vertical surfaces in which case the runner profile 12 being used will be the one shown in figure 3 and therefore both surfaces will be in paralell arrangement.
• The barrier as herein described is hanged although it is also true that another profile facing the aforesaid upper profile may be fixed by suitable means on the range upper front portion 13 for suitably guiding the movement of surfaces 2. This later possibility is another optional alternative within the con­text of the invention.
• While one form of the invention han been shown and described it will be understood that there are many others which are sithin the scope of the present disclosure and accordingly within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (8)

1. Protection barrier for domestic cooking ran­ges, characterized by being comprised by at least one substan­tially vertical, transparent, thermal shock and impact resistant protection surface (2) which is mounted to be endwise movable side­ways along the cooking range front portion.

2. Protection barrier according to claim 1, charac­terized in that the one of more protection surface is mounted on at least one runner profile (8).

3. Protection barrier according to claim 2, charac­terized in that, when the protection surface (2) assembly is ca­rried out on a single runner profile (8), the later acts as a hol­ding member therefor.

4. Protection barrier according to claim 2, charac­terized in that the lower runner profile is located on the upper front portion of the proper cooking range (13).

5. Protection barrier according to claim 1, charac­terized in that the upper runner profile (8) is provided on sta­tionary elements such as furniture, walls or roof of the cooking range.

6. Protection barrier according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the protection surface (2) comprises, on its upper portion, supporting parts (4) preferably T-shaped in cross section ccoperating in sliding engagement with the runner profile (8) interior which preferably presents an inverted U shape the end branches of which are topped by two coplanar facing portions.

7. Protection barrier according to claim 1, cha­racterized in that it is comprised by two parallely provided protection surfaces (2).

8. Protection barrier according to claim 1, cha­racterized in that the protection surface (2) has a length shor­ter lower than the cooking range.

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