US20070270088A1

US20070270088A1 - Grill and griddle cleaning device

Info

Publication number: US20070270088A1
Application number: US11/784,907
Authority: US
Inventors: George Greenwood
Original assignee: ACS Industries Inc
Current assignee: ACS Industries Inc
Priority date: 2006-05-18
Filing date: 2007-04-10
Publication date: 2007-11-22

Abstract

A device for cleaning griddles and grills has a heat resistant pad carried by a carriage, which in turn is manipulated by a motor to move in an oscillating and/or planar agitating motion, analogous to a hand-held motorized sander. A dispensing container with liquid for shocking the grill is mounted on the device or provided internally. A scraper can be attached to the device.

Description

This application is based on provisional application 60/801268, filed May 18, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a motorized device with detachable elements for cleaning a grill or griddle.
Grills and griddles are ubiquitous, from grills for barbeque or Yakitori, to griddles found in diners and restaurants. A griddle is a flat metal heated surface on which food is cooked directly, whereas a grill has parallel bars on which the food lies and is exposed to heat.
A griddle is usually cleaned with a hand-held scrubbing pad, an abrasive screen, steel wool, and the like which may be provided with a holder. In addition, a foamed glass brick (such as ACS brand Scrubble grill bricks) can be used to scrape the griddle surface. The griddle should be cleaned while hot, and the food material and any sluff or swarf from the cleaning element is then removed. During the day while the cooking surface is being used, a spatula or special scraper is used to remove food bits to a trough on the side and/or back for later removal. At the end of the day the griddle is cleaned with a scouring device (such as the pad, screen, or wool) mentioned above, sometimes using oil, club soda (seltzer), or vinegar (acetic acid) to “shock” the grill. It takes elbow grease to clean a griddle, and determination when it must be done at the end of the day.
On the other hand, grills are typically cleaned using a brush, especially one having wire bristles, and using a variety of scrapers, often with semicircular openings contoured to match the diameters and spacings of the bars of the grill.
In the area of home improvement, many hand tools have been motorized and/or miniaturized to meet the demand for homeowners to have their own power tools. More relevant to the present invention are motorized hand-held sanders, which can be oscillating (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,618 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,569,002), rotary (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,467,565, including orbital motion), a drum or belt sander (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,475,075), or a vibrating apparatus (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,072).
The foregoing patents are all incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the foregoing, this invention combines the benefits of a motorized hand-held sander with a scouring device to provide a hand-held, motorized griddle cleaning device.
In summary, this invention provides a griddle cleaning device having an engine in a housing connected to and having means to cause essentially planar oscillation and/or agitation movement of a carriage, the carriage having means for releasably retaining a pad suitable for a griddle, and a pad. The pad can be either for scouring or polishing. The engine is preferably an electric motor having a rechargeable battery power supply. The top (non-working surface) of the pad, the carriage, and/or the underside of the housing preferably has a heat-insulating material. A scrapper can also be attached to the device. The device can include liquid reservoir for dispensing liquid onto the griddle. A vacuum conduit can be provided to allow vacuuming of material removed from the griddle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of opposing mating surfaces of a pad and a carriage.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the device with an attached scraper.

FIGS. 4A and 4B and partial cross sections of a pad and grill.

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of a device including a reservoir for a shocking liquid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

The present device is built on the engine of commercially available and well-known motorized hand tools, such as the sanders mentioned above. Those devices have an electric motor with associated gearing, linkages, belts, and the like connecting with a carriage to create a desired movement (such as oscillating, rotary, orbital) in the carriage. In such devices, an abrasive material (sandpaper or a pad) is attached to the carriage. In FIG. 1, the housing 101 contains the engine, based on these commercially apparatus, that drives the carriage 103 of the present device. Attached to the carriage is a pad 105 having a working surface 107 that contacts the griddle. The preferred motion for the carriage is rotary or combination rotary and orbtial, and/or random, although any type of oscillatory motion and/or planar agitation can be suitable imparted to the pad.
The power to the engine of those commercially available sanders is either provided by a cord, which is not desired when cleaning a heated surface, or rechargeable batteries. Often, the batteries can be removed from the device and replaced or swapped out to a battery charger. Otherwise, the batteries can be charged by placing the device in a charging stand where an electrical connection is made through a coupling from the charger to the batteries, or the battery are charged electromagnetically without a physical coupling.
The pad for the working surface is any suitable griddle cleaning pad, made of a high temperature resistant material such as metal, glass, or polymer, and if polymeric preferably having abrasive particles attached to the polymer.
A metal pad can be made from wool or gimped wire (preferably flat wire), typically stainless steel, copper, or brass.
A polymeric pad (such as sold under the Scotch-Brite mark by 3M Corp.) is typically a non-woven pad made from a material such as nylon or another high temperature resistant polyamide or phenolic resin. The fibers that have been used in non-woven abrasive articles are formed from various polymers, including polyamides, polyesters, polypropylene, polyethylene, and various copolymers.
Suitable abrasive particles can be formed of flint, garnet, aluminum oxide (alumina), diamond, silicon dioxide (silica), silicon carbide, etc. Binders for binding the abrasive to the fibers of the non-woven matrix commonly comprise one or more resins such as phenolic, urea-formaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde, urethane, epoxy, and acrylic resins. Phenolic resins include those of the phenol-aldehyde type. Abrasive non-woven constructions, such as SCOTCH-BRITE brand products sold by 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn., are of a type requiring the use of solvent-coated cross-linked urethanes in the prebond to provide the requisite elasticity and protect nylon fibers of the web from attack by subsequently applied phenolic make coats used for bonding of mineral abrasive into the web.
Non-woven abrasive articles have been made by the following generally known scheme. A “prebond” coating of a binder precursor solution without abrasive particles, such as one or more of the above-named resins, is coated on a fibrous web and cured by exposure to heat and/or light in order to impart sufficient strength to the non-woven web for further processing. The fiber web may comprise continuous filaments (e.g., a spunbond fiber web) and/or staple fibers that may be crimped and/or entangled with one another. The fiber web may, optionally, be affixed (i.e., secured) to a backing, for example, by needletacking, stitchbonding, and/or adhesive bonding (e.g., using glue or a hot melt adhesive). Then, a “make” coating based on a resinous organic binder is applied to the web to secure fine abrasive grains throughout the lofty fibrous mat and cured. Thereafter, a “size” coating of resinous binder material and abrasive particles is applied, usually by spray-coating, over the prebonded web to increase the abrasive characteristics of the article, such as preventing the abrasive mineral from shelling. Thereafter, the sizing is cured. The resins of the various prebond, make, and size coatings can be the same or different, depending on the various web and abrasive particle properties desired, and preferably tolerant to high heat, such as polyamides, polyaramids, phenolics, and polyesters. Exemplary fibers are disclosed in the following U.S. patents, all of which are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,018,575; 5,591,239; 5,685,935; 5,681,361; 5,626,512; 6,302,930; 6,733,876; 6,948,873; and 6,979,713.
A glass working surface can be foamed glass, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,817, U.S. Pat. No. 5,821,184, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,963,503, a glass pumice such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,306, or the like (the disclosure of the foregoing incorporated herein by reference). Foamed glass has long been used for cleaning griddles and grills. Such products are typically made in a thick sheet. To fabricate such a material into the working surface pad for use with the present device, the thick sheet preferably is first cut horizontally to make a thinner sheet of the desired thickness, and thereafter the sheet is cut into pieces of the desired geometry. A preferred thickness is about 0.75 inch. Where the working surface is in the geometry of a regular quadrilateral (e.g., square, rectangular, rhomboid, paralleogram), the desired geometry can be make by constructing frame having a grid made of tightly held wires and pressing the frame down into the sheet so that the wires sever (break) the glass (similar to the action of a cheese cutter). For a working surface in a geometry other than a regular quadrilateral (or even for such shapes, although less preferred), a cutter (like a large cookie cutter or a cutter for making greeting cards) is forced into the glass sheet, preferably also with a small oscillation and/or vibration. Alternatively, a water jet can be used for cutting any shape. Once the material is in the desired geometry, the pores are preferably filled and a backing material is added to form a pad that can be attached to and removed from the mechanized device of this invention. The pores can be filled with a molten polymer or solution of polymer that is cured and/or dried. For example, the cut shapes are transported on a porous belt (such as a wire mesh or screen) and the filler material applied to the upper surface with a doctor blade. With a continuous surface sealing the open pores of the foamed glass block or pumice, a backing material can be applied directly to the filler before drying or curing of the sealing layer, or the backing can be after first spraying an adhesive onto the now-sealed surface. The pores can be filled and the backing attached in a single operation, such as by spraying a sealant such as a hot melt adhesive to both fill the open pores and provide a surface onto which the backing can be attached. The backing is preferably a felt or loop-like material effective for mechanically engaging a corresponding hook-containing surface associated with the device, and removable therefrom.
An existing type commercially available sander is readily modified for this invention, especially for use on griddles by interposing a high temperature resistant material, preferably plastic, between the pad and the carriage. For example, the carriage of such a device (the part corresponding to the carriage of the present invention) can be replaced with one made from a heat resistant phenolic resin and molded to provide a mounting for the pad (as discussed below). Alternatively, a heat resistant, and preferably heat insulting layer, can be attached directly to the carriage of such a device. Still further, depending on the thickness of the pad, a heat insulating layer can be applied to the pad, or less preferably provided as an intermediate layer requiring separate mounting to both the carriage (on one side) and the pad (on the opposing side).
The pad can be removably attached to the carriage by any means suitable for attaching a pad or sheet to a conventional hand-held motorized sander. Opposing mechanically interlocking portions, such as VELCRO brand hook and loop fasteners, can be used, with (for example) the hook portions on the carriage underside (the side facing the pad) and the loop portions on the top side of the pad. The “loop” type material can be a felt, non-woven, or woven, or combination thereof, so long as it can be removably attached to the carriage. The carriage can be made of a similar high-temperature resistant polymeric material, and can be molded so that the bottom surface has mechanically engaging fastener portions for cooperating with opposing portions on the pad (or the pad itself). If the pad is made of fibers having a geometry (e.g., diameter and spacing) suitable for use as the loop portion of such a fastener, then no separate loop portion is needed on the pad; the pad can be removably mounted directly onto the hook portions molded into the carriage. A high temperature temporary or pressure sensitive adhesive can also be used, since such adhesives are relatively better at preventing shear movement between the articles adhered. As another alternative, a connection plate can be attached to the top surface of the pad, analogous to the felt or backing adhered to the foamed glass as described above. In such an embodiment the connection plate has openings for cooperating with feet (e.g., spring pawls, or button connectors) provided on the bottom of the carriage to attach the pad to the carriage, or the plate can have the feet inserted into corresponding openings in the carriage. A similar type of structure, wherein a portion on the top of the pad and a portion of the carriage cooperate for a releasable connection, such as a snap fit, can also be used. In yet another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a strip of cloth 201 can be attached to the top of a pad (such as by sewing or welding a polymeric cloth), and flaps 202 at the edges which overhang the pad width. Each flap can be attached via a clip 203 (such as a spring clip used to maintain a planar portion of sandpaper on a conventional sander's carriage) on the upper side of the carriage, such as in the gap 111 between the housing and the carriage. The clips can also be provided instead on the frame, or the flaps can be sufficiently long to connect to each other over the top of the frame.
FIG. 3 shows a scraper 301 (preferably metal) having a blade 303 for scraping the griddle attached via an attachment portion 305 inserted into a slot 113 on the frame. The scraper length is preferably such that when the device is level and in contact with the griddle, the blade is above the griddle surface and thus does not normally contact the surface when the device is energized. To use the scraper, the device is tilted forward, so that the blade contacts the griddle and the pad is essentially lifted from the surface, so that even if the device is energized, preferably both the scraper and the pad are not simultaneously contacting the griddle surface.
The device preferably has a footprint that includes a toe having an acute angle, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 at the front end 115 of the device. This toe allows the user to clean in the corners of the cooking surface.
While the present invention is described herein with reference to griddles, it is suitable for use with a variety of wares.
The pad can be made with grooves corresponding to the dimensions and spacing of the bars of a grill. The pad can be made with teeth depending between the bars. By choosing the proper density of the pad, each tooth can be shaped like an inverted “T”, a depending tooth with extended wings, or back-to-back “C”s, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, where the wings are sufficiently flexible to allow them to be forced below the bars 402, wherein the wings 403 enable the user to clean a large portion of the diameter of the grill. For a curved surface, such as the inside of a pot or a wok, the outer geometry of the pad can have a complementary shape to facilitate scouring such a surface.
As with existing hand-held motorized sanders, the device can be provided with a vacuum hole for attachment of a vacuum cleaner (or wet-dry vacuum device, or similar apparatus). The device is preferably sold with a set of pads having different characteristics and uses, such as for polishing, buffing, and various levels of abrading. These uses may generate debris, such as dust from abrading, or be helped by removal of debris, such as when using a buffing compound. A vacuum attachment enables removing such debris immediately without having to worry about the debris traveling to other food service areas of the kitchen.
A reservoir, or liquid container, for holding a shocking liquid (as mentioned above) can be substituted for the scraper. The reservoir has a dispensing port, such as a valve or sprayer actuated by the user (analogous to the water sprayer on a clothes iron), to dispense the liquid onto the griddle as desired. The container has an attachment portion that engages the slot or a cooperating portion on the frame. If positioned on or near the front of the device, the reservoir can include a scraper portion, and have a slot (or other port or receptacle) for detachably receiving a scraper. The reservoir may be provided as a saddle, sitting over the device, leaving the front slot open for the optional scraper attachment. Alternatively, as with a steam-generating clothes iron having a water reservoir, the reservoir can be internal to the device. More preferably, the reservoir is provided towards the rear end 117 of the device, and/or has a spout which empties at or towards the rear end of the device. As shown in FIG. 5, the reservoir 501 can be attached to the rear portion of the device. As mentioned above, a conventional motorized hand sander typically has a bore 503 in the rear for the attachment of a vacuum cleaner hose.
Where a conventional sander is adapted for the present invention, the reservoir is molded with a boss at the front end to engage the bore. In combination with the cooperation of the boss and the bore, where the rear portion of the device is irregularly shaped and/or curvilinear or otherwise non-planar geometry, intimate contact between the reservoir and the device will reduce the tendency of the reservoir to rotate about the boss. Alternatively, the housing can be molded with one or more bores, notches, grooves, or the like, and the reservoir can be molded with corresponding fingers or feet which engage the same to enable the reservoir to be mounted to the device. The reservoir is preferably made by molding (e.g., blow molding) a plastic material that can be squeezed (such as polyethylene) so that the reservoir functions essentially as a squeeze bottle. The underside of the reservoir is provided with a nozzle 505, such as a spray nozzle, enabling the reservoir to be squeezed to expel the shocking liquid therein, and release of the pressure allows air to enter the reservoir through the nozzle when the container expands back to its original shape. It is preferred that the reservoir be supplied as a one-time use device with a disposable cap covering the nozzle until use; otherwise, the reservoir can be provided with an opening sealed by a screw cap or pop cap in a top, side, or rear wall, or the nozzle can be integral with a cap in the bottom side.
The boss has a side wall and an end wall that fits into the bore. The end wall of the boss can be made flexible so that pushing on the end wall decreases the volume of the reservoir and forces fluid out the nozzle. The conventional sander can be modified to include a linkage mechanism between a button or lever on the housing of the device connecting to a diaphragm or other type of pushing mechanism that presses on the end wall of the boss. In this way, the user can dispense fluid from the reservoir merely by pushing a button, or squeezing some portion of the housing or a device thereon or attached thereto.
The foregoing description is meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes, modifications, and additions may become apparent to the skilled artisan upon a perusal of this specification, and such are meant to be within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A device for cleaning a cooking surface, comprising: an engine in a housing; said engine connected to and having means to cause essentially planar oscillation and/or agitation movement of a carriage, the carriage having a mounting for releasably retaining a pad, said pad being a temperature resistant pad suitable for scouring a griddle.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said carriage has a bottom surface and said mounting is molded into said bottom surface.

3. The device of claim 3, wherein said pad comprises a non-woven matrix and said mounting cooperates directly with the non-woven matrix to releasably retain the pad on the carriage.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a scraper removably mounted to the housing.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a liquid container removably mounted to the housing and user-actuatable means for dispensing liquid from the container.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising a scraper.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the scraper is removable.

8. The device of claim 1, provided as a kit further comprising a plurality of pads, said pads having a least two different characteristics.

9. The device of claim 8, further comprising a scraper.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising a reservoir.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a reservoir within the housing and user-actuatable means for dispensing liquid from the container.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the different characteristics are the abrasiveness of the pads.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the different characteristics are the shapes of the pads.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the pad has depending teeth.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the teeth have wings.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the surface is a griddle and the pad is flat.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the surface is a grill and the pad has teeth.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the surface is curved and the pad is curved.