GB2241777A

GB2241777A - Heat shield for an oven or grill door

Info

Publication number: GB2241777A
Application number: GB9004957A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Hattrell; Kenneth Gresty
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-03-06
Filing date: 1990-03-06
Publication date: 1991-09-11
Anticipated expiration: 2010-03-06
Also published as: GB9004957D0; GB2241777B

Abstract

A panel 1 which is of such a size and shape as to substantially cover the door is secured thereto by a set of spacer clips 2 leaving an air gap which is open to the external air. The panel may be formed of a ribbed plastics sheet. The dips may each be formed of a flat metal strip with a U-shaped portion to receive the edge of the panel, and a mouth portion for receiving an edge region of the door, joined by a spacer limb. <IMAGE>

Description

HEAT SHIELD TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a heat shield for an oven or grill door.

BACKGROUND Domestic oven and grill doors can get extremely hot, particularly those which incorporate a glass panel.

This presents a considerable danger to anyone who may accidentally touch the door, particularly young children.

Such doors sometimes incorporate an air gap between their internal and external surfaces, but since this gap is either closed or is open to the interior of the appliance the air is ineffective in preventing the front surface of the door from getting hot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention proposes a heat shield for an oven or grill door, comprising a panel which is of such a size and shape as to substantially cover the door, and a plurality of spacer elements which are adapted to secure the panel to the front surface of the door such that there is an air gap between the said front surface and the panel, the arrangement being such that the air gap is open to the exterior of the grill or oven.

There may thus be a cooling flow of air through the gap from the exterior so that the panel remains relatively cool in use.

The panel may be formed from a number of materials including wood, metal and various laminates, but since it will not get very hot the panel may be formed of an aesthetically attractive and inexpensive plastics such as ABS. When formed of plastics the panel preferably includes a series of strengthening ribs to increase its rigidity and enhance its appearance.

The spacer elements may each be formed of a flat metal strip. They are preferably formed with a U-shaped portion to receive the edge of the panel, and the Ushaped portion preferably leads into a limb which projects substantially perpendicular to the rear of the panel. The limb then preferably leads into a mouth portion which is open in the same direction as the Ushaped portion to receive an edge region of the door.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is exemplified in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of an oven fitted with a heat shield of the invention, Figure 2 is a front view of a panel forming the main part of the shield, Figure 3 is an edge view of the panel, Figure 4 is a side view of a first form of clip which may be used in the shield, Figure 5 is a bottom view of the clip of Fig.

4, Figure 6 is a side view of the clip of Fig. 4 in use, Figure 7 is a side view of a second form of clip, and Figure 8 is a side view of the clip of Fig. 6 in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to Fig. 1, a substantially flat panel 1 is secured by spacer clips 2 to the door of an oven OV to leave an air gap of about 9mm between the panel and the door. As shown in more detail in Fig.s 2 and 3, the panel is formed from a substantially rectangular flat sheet of ABS which is formed with three spaced pairs of parallel ribs 3, 4 and 5. The ribs increase the rigidity of the panel 1, and also enhance its visual appearance. In addition, the top and bottom pairs of ribs 3 and 5 each serve to locate a pair of spacer clips 2, one of which is shown in Fig.s 4 to 6.

The clip is formed from a flat strip of spring steel which is bent to shape and then chrome plated. The clip has a U-shaped portion 6, a spacer limb 7, and a mouth portion 8. The U-shaped portion 6 has a longer straight arm 9 having a rounded tip 10 (Fig. 5), a shorter straight arm 11, and a back wall 12. The mouth portion 8 includes a pair of spaced arms 14 and 15, both of equal length, and a back wall 16. The spacer limb 7 joins the tips of the arms 11 and 14 extending substantially perpendicularly to both of them so that the U-shaped portion 6 and the mouth portion 8 open in the same direction. Prior to attachment of the clip 2 the back walls 12 and 16 and the spacer limb 7 are curved as shown in Fig. 4, but when the U-shaped portion is slid over the edge of the panel between the ribs 5 or 8 the arms 9 and 11 are urged apart to resiliently grip the panel, as shown in Fig. 6.

Similarly, when the mouth portion 8 is engaged over the edge of a glass or metal panel P of the oven door the arms 14 and 15 are urged apart to grip the panel P.

The spacer limb 7 also adopts a substantially straight configuration.

The ABS panel 1 is thus held in a spaced relationship to the oven door leaving an air gap 18 between them which is substantially open to all sides. When the oven door gets hot convection curents create an upward air flow through the air gap 18 to cool the panel 1.

The clip of Fig.s 7 and 8 is substantially the same as that of Fig.s 4 to 6 except that the arms 9 and 11 of the U-shaped portion 6 are of the same length. In addition, the back wall 16 of the mouth portion 8 is longer and the terminal arm 15 is replaced by a hook portion 15'. The clip is used as described above except that the mouth portion 8 receives the edge of the oven door D.

It will be appreciated that although the above example refers to the door of an oven, a similar shield could be produced for a grill door. Such a shield would normally be shorter than the shield for an oven door and may for example be equivalent to the top third of the shield shown in Fig. 2.

Claims

1. A heat shield for an oven or grill door, comprising a panel which is of such a size and shape as to substantially cover the door, and a plurality of spacer elements which are adapted to secure the panel to the front surface of the door such that there is an air gap between the said front surface and the panel, the arrangement being such that the air gap is open to the exterior of the grill or oven.

2. A heat shield according to Claim 1, in which the panel is formed of plastics.

3. A heat shield according to Claim 2, in which the panel includes ribs.

4. A heat shield according to any preceding claim, in which the spacer elements are each formed of a flat metal strip.

5. A heat shield according to Claim 4, in which each spacer element is formed with a U-shaped portion to receive the edge of the panel.

6. A heat shield according to Claim 5, in which the U-shaped portion portion leads into a limb which projects substantially perpendicular to the rear of the panel.

7. A heat shield according to Claim 6, in which the limb leads intd door-engaging portion.

8. A heat shield according to Claim 7, in which the door-engaging portion comprises a mouth portion which is open in the same direction as the U-shaped portion to receive an edge region of the door.

9. A heat shield substantially as described with reference to the drawings.