WO1991002926A1 - Element de securite a grille et a deflecteur pour les feux de cuisinieres - Google Patents

Element de securite a grille et a deflecteur pour les feux de cuisinieres Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1991002926A1
WO1991002926A1 PCT/US1990/004609 US9004609W WO9102926A1 WO 1991002926 A1 WO1991002926 A1 WO 1991002926A1 US 9004609 W US9004609 W US 9004609W WO 9102926 A1 WO9102926 A1 WO 9102926A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
stove
deflector
grate
plate
skirt
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1990/004609
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Frank Esposito
Original Assignee
Frank Esposito
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US07/394,580 external-priority patent/US4942864A/en
Priority claimed from US07/505,038 external-priority patent/US5002039A/en
Priority claimed from US07/550,411 external-priority patent/US5041720A/en
Application filed by Frank Esposito filed Critical Frank Esposito
Priority to EP90914803A priority Critical patent/EP0438589B1/fr
Priority to DE69026490T priority patent/DE69026490D1/de
Publication of WO1991002926A1 publication Critical patent/WO1991002926A1/fr

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24C—DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C15/00—Details
    • F24C15/10—Tops, e.g. hot plates; Rings
    • F24C15/107—Pan supports or grates therefor
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24C—DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C15/00—Details
    • F24C15/28—Draught shields

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to stove-top grates and, more particularly, to stove-top deflectors that can be added to existing stove grates, or formed integrally with a stove grate, to deflect heat and/or flames emerging from the stove burner away from the handle of the cooking utensil being heated (e.g., a pot handle) so that the handle does not become excessively hot, yet the invention will not appreciably diminish the heating effect on the food within the utensil.
  • the handle of the cooking utensil being heated e.g., a pot handle
  • Cooking implements such as pots and pans are thus placed on the stove grates above the burners to allow the flame to spread out for increasing the surface actually heated by the gas flames emanating from the burner.
  • Stove grates are typically formed from a round or square outer frame and have a number of long fingers extending radially inwardly from the outer frame. These fingers can be separate members joined at one end to an outer frame, or can be extensions of the outer frame itself. Generally, the fingers do not extend so far inward from the outer frame as to touch at the grate's center. Rather, the inner ends usually describe an open area of circular shape about the burner.
  • Another style of stove grate has a small circular center ring from which a number of fingers extend outwardly. The latter style grate may have no outer frame.
  • the size, shape and orientation of the grate fingers all vary with stove grate design, and the number of grate fingers typically ranges from 4-8.
  • the flame may touch and run along the bottom or even up the sides of the utensil. Should the flame spill up along the side of the cooking utensil near the handle, it will generally cause the handle to become dangerously hot. Although perceptive users can minimize this problem by either reducing the flame size or using a pot-holder, neither solution is satisfactory. Lowering the flame increases cooking times, and the food's quality may be compromised. Grasping the handle with a potholder does nothing to reduce its temperature; anyone forgetting to use a potholder to grasp the handle may be burned.
  • Cooking utensils e.g., pots, pans
  • the heat energy generated by the electric heating element is transferred primarily through the direct contact between the element and the cooking utensil (conduc ⁇ tion) and through indirect heat transfer from the element to the handle on the cooking utensil (convection and/or radiation) .
  • the electric stove heating elements are typically spiral or round. When a cooking utensil is placed on the electric heating element, some of the heat generated will heat the air along the side of the cooking utensil causing the handle to become dangerously hot. The tendency to heat the handle becomes particularly problematic when the utensil covers a smaller area than the overall area of the heating element.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 3,187,742 issued to Powers, discloses a gas burner flame shield intended to prevent cookware handles from growing too hot.
  • the several embodiments taught therein all share a common feature, namely, a vertical or slanted shield intended to limit how far outward the flame can extend. This shield only blocks a section of the flame emerging from the burner.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 1,922,420 issued to Coulston, teaches an attachment for open top flame stoves. It is a two piece device that fastens to the grate.
  • The" top part of the device is discoidal, and has a lower lip around its circumference. This part of the device serves to contain a large flame and prevents it from spilling up along the cookware edges. The device deflects all flames leaving the burner.
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,126,120 issued to Bourboulis, discloses a device used to distribute heat evenly over the bottom of the cooking utensil.
  • the apparatus could be used on any stove top, not just electric stoves.
  • the Bourboulis patent does not teach or suggest the restriction of the heat flowing toward the utensil handle.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 1,196,602 issued to Smith, pertains to a hooked handle guard that can be removably attached to a cooking implement's handle.
  • the handle guard hook engages the implement's handle and the handle guard has a horizontal plate which deflects the heat of the flame from the handle.
  • Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a stove top safety grate flame deflec ⁇ tor that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
  • An additional object of the instant inven ⁇ tion is to provide a stove top safety grate flame deflector that can be easily mounted on pre-existing stove grates.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a stove top safety grate flame deflector which enables users to readily determine where they should put a cooking utensil's handle to keep it from becoming too hot.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a heat deflector for electric stoves that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and can easily be mounted on pre-existing electric stove coils or provided as part of the original equipment.
  • a further objective of the present invention is to provide a heat deflector that the cook can easily use and readily determine where the cooking utensil's handle should be located for minimal heating of the handle.
  • the present invention is a simple structure which can be quickly mounted on pre-existing stove grates.
  • the device is mounted above several of the stove grate's fingers and serves to deflect the rising gas flames out from under the utensil's handle, thereby reducing how hot the handle becomes.
  • the device can be made from sheet metal or any other material that does not soften or melt at very high temperatures.
  • the invention includes an upper deflector plate, shaped like a truncated wedge, which can rest atop either one or two fingers of the stove grate, depending on the configuration of the stove- top grate.
  • a protective skirt/mounting assembly projects angularly inwardly from the bottom of the deflector plate both to help ensure that the flame does not escape from the back of the device and- to secure the device to the stove grate.
  • the upper deflector plate may be perforated by a number of holes, or crescent- shaped slots, all preferably located inwardly of the protective skirt/mounting member to improve heat transfer to the cooking utensil for even heating without affecting the protection afforded by the device.
  • These perforations or slots allow some flame to contact directly the bottom of the utensil, while helping to vent the flame otherwise "captured" by the upper plate.
  • Stabilizer tabs may also be provided near the inner portion of the deflector to help stabilize the upper plate when it rests atop a single finger.
  • the skirt/mounting assembly can have a variety of shapes depending on the particular stove grate to which the device is attached.
  • a single plate having slots or notches which correspond in size and number to the covered plate fingers projects downwardly from the upper deflector plate and has a pair of extensible- retractable shutters slidably mounted to the plate to secure the device to the grate.
  • the shutters preferably are notched to allow for, and closely border, the grate fingers to substantially close off flame access to the back of the device.
  • the skirt/mounting assembly may comprise a crimped or pleated strip of metal, having slitted apexes which grasp the grate fingers.
  • the skirt/ mounting assembly may comprise a slitted plate attachable to the bottom of the deflector plate, the slits forming bendable tabs which yield to accommo ⁇ date the grate fingers.
  • the plate may be pre-notched according to the expected configura ⁇ tion of the fingers of the stove top grate.
  • a slitted plate as described above may be secured to the bottom of the deflector plate by a pair of elongated fastening members depending at the desired angle from the bottom of the deflector plate.
  • the tongue-like fastening members are bent over the slitted plate after it has been positioned against the underside of the grate fingers to secure it in place and thereby both form the protective skirt and secure the deflector to the grate.
  • the protective skirt, the deflec ⁇ tor plate and the back wall are adapted to provide universal mounting capability for enabling installa ⁇ tion on virtually any conventional stove top grate.
  • the protective skirt extends at a relatively steep angle (e.g., 75° - 90°) with respect to the upper deflector plate and includes two notch ⁇ like cut-outs positioned and proportioned relative to the back wall to accommodate two supporting fingers of virtually any stove grate.
  • the device is installed by positioning the cut-outs over the two grate fingers and the back wall adjacent the outer- most edges of the grate and simply lowering it onto the stove-top grate.
  • leveling tabs can be secured to the grate fingers.
  • the leveling tabs provide a sufficient extension of the support fingers to ensure a stable installation of the device.
  • the device includes an extensible backwall to ensure there is little or no avenue for heat to escape from the back of the device.
  • the backwall includes a backwall extension which preferably drc by its own weight to close-off any gap that might otherwise appear between the bottom edge of the back wall and the stove top because of the height of the stove grate's top surface and the surface of the stove top.
  • the "safe" zone where the handle is protected, lies directly above the wedge- shaped upper deflection plate, radially outward of any vent holes or slots.
  • each stove top safety grate flame deflector according to the invention is preferably located on the side of each grate rather than the front edge.
  • the deflectors for the burners on the left side are preferably at about the "9-o'clock” position and those on the right hand side are at about the "3-o'clock” position. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that this same arrangement can be achieved by the electric stove heat deflector described hereafter.
  • Stove grates come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
  • the present invention is specifically designed to be mounted on all types of stove grates regardless of their size or shape.
  • This invention in its broad ⁇ est aspect for flame stoves comprises two parts, an upper flame deflector plate, and a protective skirt/ mounting member depending from the deflector.
  • the deflector is adapted to sit atop one or more of the grate's fingers, and coacts with the skirt/mounting member to securely affix the device to the grate fingers.
  • the invention includes a heat shield member proportioned to overlie a portion of the heating element of an electric stove and a support/ spacer member to provide a level surface for support ⁇ ing the cooking utensil.
  • the heat shield preferably is made from a solid piece of sheet metal or like material which will permit transfer of heat to the utensil by conduction but generally blocks convective transfer of heat to a utensil handle positioned over the heat shield so that the handle will not overheat.
  • the simplicity of the present invention allows it to be simply and reliably mounted on existing electric stove configurations.
  • the device deflects the heat away from the cooking utensil handle thereby limiting the increase in the handle's temperature.
  • the device can be made of any materials that do not soften or melt at very high temperatures and that tend to conduct heat more readily than radiate it.
  • tabs may be provided on the deflector to help secure the support/spacer to the device.
  • the tabs should slide into contact with the side surface of a segment of the electric coil to secure the assembly against horizontal movement.
  • Electric heat lg elements come in a variety of shapes and sizes, Ihe present invention is specifically designed to be mounted on virtually any type of electric stove-top coil regardless of size or shape. It is inexpensive to manufacture and provides a low cost means of reducing the amount of heat a utensil handle is exposed to in a structure that is easy to use and install, whether on existing stoves or as original equipment.
  • the accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate the preferred embodiments of the stove top grate safety shield and heat deflector according to the present invention, and together with the detailed description hereafter serve to explain the principles of the invention.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention installed on a stove grate.
  • FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view, from underneath, of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the invention, which also illustrates mounting to a frameless stove grate.
  • FIG. 3a is a cross-sectional view along 3a-3a in FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 3b is a cross-sectional view along 3b-3b in FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view, from underneath, of another embodiment of the present invention mounted on a stove grate.
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view, similar to Fig. 3b, of yet another embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a top plan view of still yet another embodiment of the present invention, showing how the invention can be formed integrally with a stove grate.
  • FIG. 7 is a top plan view of another modified embodiment of the present invention, which also shows how the invention can be mounted to another configuration of a stove top grate.
  • FIG. 7a is a cross-sectional view along line 7a-7a in FIG. 7.
  • FIG. 7b is a cross-sectional view along line 7b-7b in FIG. 7a.
  • FIGS. 7c and 7d are cross-sectional views, similar to Figs. 3b and 5, of a modified version of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-7b.
  • FIG. 8 is a perspective, exploded view show ⁇ ing another preferred form of the present invention, which also illustrates how the invention can be secured while straddling two or just one stove grate finger.
  • FIGS. 8a and 8b are cross-elevation views, looking radially outwardly, showing the embodiment depicted in FIG. 8 mounted in two orientations, on the left and on the right, respectively.
  • FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of a modified version of the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 8, 8a and 8b.
  • FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of another modified version of the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 8-8b.
  • FIG. 11 is an isometric view of another example of conventional stove-top grates showing the use of leveling tabs according to the invention, one installed and the other before installation.
  • FIG. 12 is a view similar to that of FIG. 11, showing an exploded perspective view of a further modified embodiment of flame deflector according to the invention.
  • FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing the embodiment of FIG. 12 installed on a grate.
  • FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a further modified version of safety grate according to the invention, having an extensible rear wall according to still another feature of the invention.
  • FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along section 15-15 of FIG. 14.
  • FIG. 16 is a partial sectional view taken along section 16-16 of FIG. 15.
  • FIG. 17 is a partially exploded, perspective view of another embodiment of safety grate flame deflector according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 18 is a front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 17.
  • FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a modified version of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17-18.
  • FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken along section lines 20-20 of FIG. 19.
  • FIG. 21 is a perspective, exploded, view showing another embodiment of the present invention in relation to an electric stove's coil and a cooking utensil.
  • FIG. 22 is a top plan view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 21, which also illustrates mounting the invention on an electric heating element.
  • FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view along 23-23 in FIG. 22.
  • FIG. 24 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the present invention for electric stoves.
  • FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view along 25-25 in FIG. 24 that depicts the connection between the deflector shield and the supporting member in that particular embodiment.
  • the gas flame stove version of the invention incorporates a mount ⁇ ing system that is sufficiently flexible to allow it to be attached to virtually any different type of stove-top grate available. While the several different embodiments set forth below differ primar ⁇ ily with respect to their skirt/mounting assembly, they all include the basic structure of the stove-top flame deflector of the invention — namely, a flat, wedge-shaped upper plate and an angled protective skirt which forms part of the mounting assembly and also serves as an added flame deflector.
  • the deflector plate 5 has the general shape of a trun ⁇ cated wedge which covers only so much of the stove grate (1) as to shield a pot handle (A) from the flame yet provide substantial contact between the flame and the pot (B) .
  • Plate 5 also has two side- edge lips 2 which extend downwardly from plate 5 by a distance no less than about the depth of grate fingers 3.
  • edge lips 2 and 4 are preferably formed integrally with, and bent down ⁇ wardly from deflection plate 5.
  • the deflection plate 5 and the edge lips 2 and 4 are dimensioned so that when the deflection plate 5 is placed atop a stove grate, it generally covers two adjacent fingers 3. This should provide an ample "safe zone” to protect the handle (A) from being heated.
  • the edge lips help to restrain the device 5 from sliding laterally on the stove grate.
  • lip 4 may have ends which extend beyong lips 2 (as shown) for added flame protection or it may terminate generally at the back edges of lip 2. (This is true of all flame embodiments disclosed herein.)
  • Deflection plate 5 is advantageously perfor ⁇ ated by a plurality of vent holes 7 to allow some of the flame to be in direct contact with the pot. These holes, each approximately 1/4" in diameter, improve heat transfer to the cooking utensil bottom. They also allow some flame to escape from beneath deflection plate 5, reducing the amount of flame that must be deflected and which might otherwise spill out around the edges of deflection plate 5.
  • skirt/mounting member 9 is adapted to span essentially the entire gap between- the two edge lips 2 to keep flame from spilling rear- wardly, and in accordance with the most preferred form of the invention, skirt/mounting member 9 is adapted both to close the gap with lips 2 and to secure the device to the stove grate.
  • skirt/mounting member 9 includes a pair of extendable/ retractable shutters. Member 9 may comprise a C-shaped plate 11 (having both its top and bottom edges folded over each other) and two flat shutter plates 13.
  • the shutter plates 13 are slidably held in the oppositely disposed slots formed by the folded over edges of plate 11 and can be moved between retracted and extended positions to vary the width of skirt/mounting member 9.
  • Each shutter plate 13 preferably has a notch 14 in its upper outermost corners. These notches 14 are shaped to conform to finger 3 and allow the shutter plates 13 to generally seal off the area behind skirt/mounting member 9.
  • the portions of shutter plates 13 disposed beneath finger 3 when shutters 13 are fully extended secures the entire device to the stove grate and prevent it from being lifted off the stove grate.
  • Skirt/mounting member 9 can be fabricated separately from deflection plate 5 and can be joined to deflec ⁇ tion plate 5 by any well-known fastening technique, including welding, soldering, brazing, riveting, etc.
  • skirt/mounting member ? is simply a plate-like skirt which is proportioned to ensure that little or no flame actually reaches rear lip 4. This will help prevent any of the flame from travelling outward and licking up around the outer edge of deflector plate 5.
  • skirt/plate 9 preferably extends below the plane defined by the bottom edges of lips 2 and 4 to further prevent the flame from slipping behind it.
  • Figure l also illustrates a particularly useful advantage of the present invention.
  • the safety device according to the invention is mounted to the stove in such way as to provide an unmistakable guide to avoid having the pot handle (A) hang over the front of the stove (dial (D) being on the front of the stove in Fig. 1) .
  • the device is placed at about the 9 o'clock position on the left-front grate shown in FIG. 1.
  • a user will thus be guided to orient the pot (B) so that its handle (A) is positioned directly over the device.
  • the pot handle will not hang over the front edge of the stove where it poses a serious risk that someone (especially a child) might pull down on the handle ind be scalded with any hot contents of the pot, including the pot itself.
  • the device is preferably mounted at about the 3 o'clock position on the right-side burners (not shown) of a stove.
  • FIG. 4 depicts another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Upper deflection plate 5 may be substantially the same as that previously described with reference to Figures l-3b.
  • lower skirt/mounting member here, indicated at 19
  • Folds in member 19 produce inner and outer vertices 17a, 17b, respectively.
  • Each inner vertex 17a is slitted so that when the device is placed on a stove grate, each inner vertex can be spread open to accomodate a finger 3, which is then grasped between the now- spaced apart edges of the vertex 17a.
  • Mounting plate 19 is only joined to deflection plate 15 generally along outer vertices 17b to permit such flexing.
  • FIG. 5 depicts, in cross-section, another embodiment of a stove top grate safety device, having a skirt/mounting member (29) which permits the top deflection plate (here indicated at 25) to be secured atop only a single grate finger 3.
  • skirt mounting member 29 includes a clamp ⁇ like mounting member 23 located in the center of a flat plate-like member which depends angularly from deflection plate 25. Clamp 23 securely grasps the grate finger 3 to hold it in place.
  • This embodiment may also be useful to those who might wish to install and remove the deflecting plate depending on the cooking utensil to be used.
  • This embodiment may also include stabilizing fingers similar to those described hereafter with reference to Figure 8.
  • the skirt/mounting member (39) includes a generally planar plate-like member 31 made of metal joined to upper deflection plate 5 by any well-known technique, including welding, brazing, soldering or mechanical fastening.
  • the angle of bend of skirt/plate 31 is preferably oriented such that it slants angularly inwardly towards the burner.
  • shutter plates 33 are slidably mounted on center plate 31. Seen from the side (Fig. 7b) , these shutter plates are hook shaped, and preferably provide a slot 35 which frictionally engages plate 31. Shutter plates 33 are held on center tab 25 by the pinching action of front and back legs 33a, 33b, which squeeze and grip center plate 31 within slot 35 formed therebetween. (Preferably, shutter plates 33 should be made of a resilient material to maintain the gripping force.) The legs 33a, 33b must not, however, grip so tightly as to keep shutter plates 33 from being slid widthwise across center tab 31.
  • the effective flame blocking width of mounting skirt/ir 'er 39 can be varied to fit many sizes of stove gr ces.
  • a similar notch 34 is formed in the outermost upper corners of each shutter plate 33 to allow room for a grate finger and lock the device to the grate.
  • shutters 33 are slid outwardly to lock the device into place.
  • similarly formed extensible shutter-like members can also be mounted to the side lips 2 to ensure that there are little or no gaps along side lip 2 on deflector plate 5. This is particularly advantageous if there is a substantial gap (G in Fig. 7b) between the back edge of lip 2 and lip 4. Such a gap is present to allow accommodation for either a square or a round frame portion of a stove grate.
  • the skirt/mounting member may include fixed mounting plates (indicated at 37) .
  • fixed mounting plates 37 have pre-formed notches 37a proportioned to straddle the stove grate finger 3 of predetermined configuration.
  • an appropriately configured plate 37 it is locked by snapping an appropriately configured plate 37 (it has a folded-over bottom edge like shutters 33) onto the skirt/plate 31.
  • FIGS. 8-10 show another embodiment of the present invention which advantageously can be mounted on a stove grate in a position where it overlaps either one or two grate fingers 3. These figures also help illustrate the procedure for attaching the safety device according to the invention to an existing stove top grate.
  • upper deflection plate 5 has two stabilizing tabs 46 at its front edge. These tabs are useful to support the device in a level orientation when the invention is to be positioned atop a single finger 3, as shown by the phantom lines in FIG. 8. Stabilizing tabs 46 rest atop and contact the two fingers 3 adjacent the straddled finger 3, thereby keeping the upper deflection plate from tipping.
  • the skirt/mounting member (49) includes two angularly downwardly projecting mounting tabs 41 which are angled inward toward the burner and spaced apart by a sufficient distance to accommodate all sizes of grate fingers 3 in the middle.
  • member 49 includes a mounting plate 47 which is similar to plates 37 in Figures 7c and 7d, except that, instead of including pre-formed notches (like 37a) plate 47 is pre-slit with several slits (each indicated at 47a) which provide several bendable tabs 47b, a sufficient number of which can be bent to form a notch which tightly fits around each grate finger regardless of its size or configuration. It will be understood that any number of slits can be used.
  • plate 47 should also be formed with two or more slits in its middle to accommodate the grate finger received in the space between the two tabs 41.
  • the present embodiment can thus be mounted on a stove grate in two orientations; in one, shown in FIG 8a, the invention straddles two fingers 3; in the other, shown in FIG 8b, it straddles a single finger 3.
  • Slitted plate 47 is secured to the pair of downwardly projecting tabs 41 by a friction fit (as described with reference to Figures 7-7d) , with the end edges of tabs 41 being snugly received within the slot 45 formed between the folded over bottom edge of plate 47.
  • the flame deflection device of the present invention is assembled by first lifting the stove-top grate from its collection pan (P) and placing the deflection plate in the desired position over one or two grate fingers 3.
  • the mounting plate 47 is thence urged onto tab 41 which will be grasped within slot 45.
  • at least one of the tabs 47b adjacent each grate finger should be bent (preferably inwardly towards the burner) , thereby yielding to provide room for the grate finger when plate 47 is fully seated and engaged with tabs 41.
  • the slit-and-tabs arrangement (47a, 47b) permits virtually universal mounting capability in that it allows the device to be used with, and secured to, grates of virtually any configuration and in virtually any position on the grate.
  • the tabs 47b inwardly, not only is the minimum opening produced for accommodating the grate fingers 3, but the inwardly bent tab(s) 47b further help to deflect the flames away from the outer edge of the grate, thereby minimizing the amount of heating on a pot handle or the like.
  • FIGS. 9-10 show two alternate ways of fastening the slitted plates 47 to upper deflection plate 5.
  • clamp-like clips 51 are fixed to the bottom of deflection plate 5 instead of plate ⁇ like tabs 41.
  • Mounting plate 47 is grasped by these clips, which grip that plate to secure the device in place on the stove grate.
  • the mounting plate (here indicated at 47') includes two engagement tabs (each indicated at 47c) projecting angularly away from the top edge of the plate. These tabs are received within a slot (not numbered) formed by a folded-back portion (5a) of the upper daflection plate 5. It will be understood that the angle between fingers 47c and the rest of skirt 47' should be chosen to ensure that the skirt extends angularly inwardly towards the burner. In both variations of Figures 9-11, the tabs 47b are bent as the attachment operation is being completed to accommodate the grate fingers, just as described above with reference to Figures 8a-8b.
  • the safety ⁇ rate flame deflector includes deflector plate 5 which has side edge and back edge lips 2 and 4 substantially as described above.
  • a pair of spaced-apart tongue-like members (60a and 60b) depend angularly downwardly from the bottom surface of deflector plate 5, substantially in the same way as plate member 31, described above.
  • a mounting plate (62) has a plurality of slits (each indicated at 63) substantially similar to slits 47A described above with reference to mounting plate 47 and is adapted to cooperate with fasteners 60a and 60b to form the protective skirt/mounting assembly.
  • plate 62 is not formed with means for attaching itself to tongues 60a and 60b. Rather, tongue-like fasteners 60a and 60b are longer than the width of mounting plate 62 so that the tongues can be wrapped around the mounting plate 62 to secure the two parts together and mount the device to the safety grate.
  • the deflector plate with tongues 60a and 60b depending therefrom is installed by placing it against the top of two safety grate fingers, substantially as described above with respect to other embodiments.
  • mounting plate 62 is urged against the bottom edges of the safety grate fingers to deform the slitted tabs (formed by slits 63) that engage the grate fingers until the top edge of the mounting plate generally abuts the bottom surface of deflector plate 5.
  • each tongue 60a and 60b is folded and wrapped over the bottom edge of plate 62 (as indicated by the phantom arrow in Figure 13) , thereby securely fastening the mount ⁇ ing plate to the deflector and, further, affixing the deflector to the safety grate.
  • this embodiment of deflector can be removed from the safety grate by unbending the fastening tabs 60a and 60b.
  • level ⁇ ing tabs are also illustrated in Figures 11-13 according to another aspect of the invention.
  • Leveling tabs 65 are parti ⁇ cularly useful in assuring that there is ample con ⁇ tinuous surface along each grate finger to support the flame deflector according to the present invention in a level orientation, substantially without wobbling or otherwise moving during use.
  • leveling tabs 65 can be placed on safety grates having grate fingers that are truncated or chamfered at their outermost ends (or having other discontinuties on the top edge of any finger) , such as shown in Fig. 11 wherein U- shaped members 67 form the grate fingers and are attached to the frame portion (69) of the safety grate.
  • each finger member 67 are truncated or chamfered, thereby reducing the amount of horizontal supporting surface provided by each finger.
  • a leveling tab 65 on the top edge of each grate finger the supporting edge of each grate finger can be extended out to the frame 69 to provide continuous support for the flame deflector, particu ⁇ larly the embodiment of Figures 17-20 described hereafter, all the way to the periphery of the grate.
  • each leveling tab member 65 comprises a channel-like member which can be snapped or friction-fit over a portion of the safety grate finger. At least a portion of each leveling member will extend outwardly beyond the point where the finger has been truncated.
  • each tab - includes an extended portion (indicated at 65a) which is positioned and porportioned to rest on the grate frame 69 as shown in Figs. 11-13.
  • FIGS 14-16 there is shown a further modified embodiment of the safety grate flame deflector, illustrating another unique feature of the present invention.
  • the back wall of the device is formed with a somewhat rounded contour, which may be desirable for aesthetic reasons or because the safety grate has an overall round configuration.
  • the rear wall is adapted to be evtendable to insure no gap will form between the to surface (T) of the stove and the bottom edge of the rear wall which, like the prior embodiment, is also indicated by reference numeral 4.
  • the extensible rear wall is provided by a slidably mounted or telescoping wall segment (70) which is slidably attached to the existing rear wall 4.
  • wall segment 70 includes a pair of folded over tabs (each indicated at 72) on its opposite end edges for securing wall segment 70 to rear wall 4 yet permitting the vertical sliding movement or wall segment 70 relative to rear wall 4.
  • wall segment 70 is freely slid- able up and down and will automatically drop down by its own weight.
  • the bottom edge of wall 4 is formed with a bead-like member 4a to limit the downward movement of wall extension member 70 by providing a stop to engage tabs 72 and prevent further downward movement of wall extension 70.
  • wall member 70 substantially closes any gap that might otherwise form between the bottom edge of rear wall 4 and the top surface of the stove top due to the location of the device on a particular safety grate. It will be further understood that the extendable wall member can be incorporated on any of the embodiments disclosed herein.
  • the safety grate flame deflector includes horizontal deflecting plate 85 with side edges and back edge (or back wall) 82 and 86, respectively, and depending protective skirt 89.
  • protective skirt 89 extends at a steeper angle relative to deflection plate 85 than protective skirt/mounting assembly 9 shown in the prior drawings — generally greater than 45° and preferably from about 75° to about 90°.
  • Protective skirt 89 includes two slot-like cut-outs (indicated at 89a and 89b) , each proportioned to receive a finger of the stove-top safety grate on which it is installed.
  • protective skirt 89 and the cut-outs 89a and 89b are positioned and proportioned re. tive to the side edges and back wall 82 and 84, respectively, to provide universal mounting capability for installation onto virtually any known conventional gas stove-top safety grate.
  • the protective skirt 89 is betweem 4-3/8" and 4-1/2" wide and about 1-1/8" high; each cut out (89a and 89b) is approximately 3/8" wide and the central portion of skirt 89, between the cut-outs is approxi ⁇ mately 2-1/2" wide.
  • the back wall 84 is approximately 3/4" high and approximately 5-1/4" wide and is spaced from the point of attachment of skirt 89 by about 1-3/8".
  • the side edges here include an approximately 3/4" straight segment (82a) and an angled segment (82b) which is about 1-1/2" long.
  • a notch (85a) can be cut in the front edge for additional direct flame exposure to a pot sitting on the grate.
  • the skirt 89 may be attached to deflector plate 85 by any suitable permanent fastener, such as rivets (Figs. 17-18) , welding, etc. which can withstand the heat of the flames emenating from the burner.
  • the device may include an extensible wall member (indicated in phantom at 90 in Fig. 18) to ensure no gap is formed between the bottom edge of back wall 84 and the stove-top (T) , substantially as described with reference to Figures 14-16. (Although not shown, the bottom edge of back wall 84 may be formed with a bead-like stop to limit movement of the extensible wall segment.)
  • the device will be stable on the safety grate without requiring a mounting plate or other means of securing it to the safety grate.
  • any suitable mounting plate of the types described above could be secured to skirt 89 if, for example, a more permanent-type mounting is desired.
  • skirt 89 is attached by a snap-in fastening, similar to that described with reference to Fig. 10.
  • the front edge of deflecting plate 85 is folded back to form a slot (indicated at 86) which can receive the mounting tab (indicated at 89c) formed on protec ⁇ tive skirt 89.
  • the skirt is proportioned the same as that in Figs. 17-18 and spaced from its back wall (which may also include an extensible wall segment 90) by the same distance as mentioned above.
  • the back wall here is elongated (i.e., approximately 7" long) and the side lips 82 extend completely at an angle for use where it may be desirable to cover a larger portion of a grate such as the type shown in Fig. 7.
  • the device according to this embodiment is installed substantially as described with reference to Figures 17-18.
  • the present invention incorporates a mounting design that is sufficiently - flexible to allow the invention to be attached to virtually any type of electric stove.
  • the embodi ⁇ ments disclosed in Figs. 21-25 include the basic structure of the heat deflector invention for electric stoves - namely a flat, heat shield member and support/spacer means for cooperating with the heat shield member to support the cooking utensil in a level position in conjunction with the heat shield. It will thus be understood that the depiction of heating element 214 (identified hereafter) is for illustration only and is not intended to represent a particular configuration.
  • heat shield 210 has the general shape of a truncated sector of a circle.
  • shield 210 covers only so much of an electric heating element (indicated generally at 214) as to provide an effec ⁇ tive heat shield to prevent handle 222 of a cooking utensil (here, pot 216) from being overheated by the heat generated by the electric coil yet provide for the heat to be conducted to utensil 216 with little or no reduction in heating efficiency.
  • shield 210 may cover about 10% to about 20% of the area of the outermost portion of the heating element.
  • Support member 212 is attached to or other ⁇ wise forms part of shield 210 both to help shield 10 remain in place on the heating element and to provide a substantially level, stable surface to support a pot, pan or other cooking utensil.
  • the upper support surface provided by support member 212 is essentially co-planar with the top surface of shield 210.
  • support member 212 may be formed integrally with shield 210 such that they are of essentially the same thickness and will thereby satisfy the two foregoing goals.
  • support member 212 is generally made up of a wire-like structure (here in a "star-burst" configuration) to ensure that the support member does not impede the transfer of heat from the heating element to the cooking utensil yet provides adequate support for virtually any size cooking utensil.
  • Shield 210 may also include two side-edge lips 218 which extend downwardly from shield 210 by a distance such that lips 218 tend to limit the amount of heat rising around the sides of shield 210.
  • a back-edge lip, 220 preferably proportioned generally to rest upon the stove top while the shield 210 is installed on the burner 214, may be formed along the back edge of shield 210 to ensure heat does not escape around the back edge of shield 210.
  • the lip 220 on the back side and the two side-edge lips 218 on the lateral sides further help prevent heat from rising up to heat the handle.
  • edge lips 218 and 220 are preferably formed integrally with, and bent downwardly from, shield 210.
  • Shield 210 and edge lips 218 and 220 are dimensioned so that when the shield 210 is placed atop electric coil heating element 214, shield 210 generally covers an ample "safe zone" to protect cooking utensil handle 222 from being overheated.
  • Back-side edge lip 220 also helps to restrain the invention from sliding inwardly over electric heating element 214 and also helps to 0 control lateral movement.
  • Figure 21 also illustrates a particularly useful advantage of the present invention.
  • shield 210 and spacer 212 are 5 mounted on the stove in such a way as to provide an unmistakable guide to avoid having cooking utensil handle 222 hang over the front of the stove (dial 224 being on the front of the stove in Fig. 21) .
  • shield 10 is placed at a 9 o'clock 0 position on left-front electric heating ele- ->nt 214 shown in Fig. 21.
  • a user will thus be guic to orient cooking utensil 216 so that handle 222 is positioned directly over shield 210. In this way, pot handle 222 will not hang over the front edge of
  • shield 210 is preferably mounted at about the 3 0 o'clock position on the right-side burners (not shown) of a stove.
  • Figures 24-25 depict another embodiment of the present invention in top plan view and cross- section, which is a modified version of the structure 5 depicted in Figs. 21-23.
  • This embodiment differs basically in the construction of spacer/support member (here indicated at 222) and shows how virtually any desired configuration can be used.
  • spacer/support 222 is formed from a wire-like member, as described above, but in the configuration of a clover-leaf.
  • Figures 24-25 also provide a perspective of how the support/spacer 222 may be attached to the shield (here indicated at 224) .
  • shield 224 is a sheet of metal much like shield 220 described above.
  • the inward edge of shield 224 is formed with a pair of securing tabs 226.
  • Tabs 226 may be bent over the ends of spacer 222 to mechanically lock the wire assembly in place.
  • Other attaching means are possible by any well-known technique, including welding, brazing, soldering, or other types of mechanical fastening.
  • the invention is preferably proportioned such that when the support/spacer member is resting on heating element 14, the bottom edge (220a or 228a) of the back lip (220 or 228) is resting on the stove.
  • a particularly useful configuration includes a back-edge lip having the bottom edge of its back-edge lip spaced about 3/8" to about 1/2" from the bottom surface of the shield member and the corresponding bottom edge of its side-edge lips spaced about 1/8" to about 1/4".
  • the deflection plate and protective skirt device of the invention can be formed integrally with a stove top grate as shown in Figure 6.
  • the deflector plate can be formed with crecent-shaped slits instead of holes.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Baking, Grill, Roasting (AREA)
  • Electric Stoves And Ranges (AREA)
  • Cookers (AREA)

Abstract

Déflecteur de flamme et de chaleur, destiné à être utilisé sur les grilles (1) des feux des cuisinières à gaz. Le déflecteur comprend un élément de dessus (5) et un élément (9) tablier pour le montage. Le déflecteur du dessus (5) empêche les flammes de remonter jusqu'au manche (A) de l'ustensile utilisé pour la cuisson. L'élément de montage (9) empêche le système de bouger lorsqu'il se trouve sur la grille (1) de la cuisinière. Un déflecteur de chaleur est également présenté pour être utilisé sur les éléments de feu d'une cuisinière électrique, comprenant un écran (210) à la chaleur et un élément (212) de support et d'espacement pour supporter l'ustensile (216) de cuisson dans une position de niveau par rapport à l'élément de feu électrique (214). Cet écran (210) sert à arrêter la chaleur montant de la plaque électrique (214) et empêche la surchauffe de la poignée (222) de l'ustensile de cuisine.
PCT/US1990/004609 1989-08-16 1990-08-15 Element de securite a grille et a deflecteur pour les feux de cuisinieres WO1991002926A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP90914803A EP0438589B1 (fr) 1989-08-16 1990-08-15 Element de securite a grille et a deflecteur pour les feux de cuisinieres
DE69026490T DE69026490D1 (de) 1989-08-16 1990-08-15 Sicherheitsvorrichtung für kochmulde mit kochrost und flammenverteiler

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US394,580 1982-07-02
US07/394,580 US4942864A (en) 1989-08-16 1989-08-16 Stove-top safety grate flame deflector
US505,038 1990-04-05
US07/505,038 US5002039A (en) 1989-08-16 1990-04-05 Stove-top safety grate flame deflector
US07/550,411 US5041720A (en) 1990-07-10 1990-07-10 Stove-top safety grate for electric stoves
US550,411 1990-07-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1991002926A1 true WO1991002926A1 (fr) 1991-03-07

Family

ID=27410129

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1990/004609 WO1991002926A1 (fr) 1989-08-16 1990-08-15 Element de securite a grille et a deflecteur pour les feux de cuisinieres

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0438589B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE136635T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU6503890A (fr)
CA (1) CA2039182A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69026490D1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1991002926A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0985887A1 (fr) * 1998-09-09 2000-03-15 BSH Fabricacion, S.A. Dispositif de protection pour dessus de cuisinières
WO2009027411A2 (fr) * 2007-08-31 2009-03-05 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi Table de cuisson

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102005046589A1 (de) * 2005-09-28 2007-03-29 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Anordnung eines Topfträgers

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1196602A (en) * 1915-05-24 1916-08-29 Omar H Smith Handle-guard.
US1678269A (en) * 1927-07-08 1928-07-24 Wehrle Co Cook stove
US1922420A (en) * 1932-02-17 1933-08-15 Earl V Coulston Attachment for stoves
US2565726A (en) * 1949-07-26 1951-08-28 Charles T Garrison Heat collecting and distributing plate
US2861563A (en) * 1955-05-13 1958-11-25 Roper Corp Geo D Burner grate construction
US3187742A (en) * 1962-12-14 1965-06-08 Walter J Powers Combination gas burner grid and flame shield
US3358384A (en) * 1967-12-19 Device for regulating the discharge op a gaseous medium
US4059092A (en) * 1976-10-29 1977-11-22 Bourboulis Cedric D Heat deflector
US4126120A (en) * 1977-08-19 1978-11-21 Bourboulis Cedric D Heat distribution device
US4448186A (en) * 1981-10-21 1984-05-15 Smith George E K Device for increasing the efficiency of cooking on gas stoves

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3358384A (en) * 1967-12-19 Device for regulating the discharge op a gaseous medium
US1196602A (en) * 1915-05-24 1916-08-29 Omar H Smith Handle-guard.
US1678269A (en) * 1927-07-08 1928-07-24 Wehrle Co Cook stove
US1922420A (en) * 1932-02-17 1933-08-15 Earl V Coulston Attachment for stoves
US2565726A (en) * 1949-07-26 1951-08-28 Charles T Garrison Heat collecting and distributing plate
US2861563A (en) * 1955-05-13 1958-11-25 Roper Corp Geo D Burner grate construction
US3187742A (en) * 1962-12-14 1965-06-08 Walter J Powers Combination gas burner grid and flame shield
US4059092A (en) * 1976-10-29 1977-11-22 Bourboulis Cedric D Heat deflector
US4126120A (en) * 1977-08-19 1978-11-21 Bourboulis Cedric D Heat distribution device
US4448186A (en) * 1981-10-21 1984-05-15 Smith George E K Device for increasing the efficiency of cooking on gas stoves

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0985887A1 (fr) * 1998-09-09 2000-03-15 BSH Fabricacion, S.A. Dispositif de protection pour dessus de cuisinières
ES2159456A1 (es) * 1998-09-09 2001-10-01 Bsh Fabricacion Sa Protector para encimeras de cocina.
WO2009027411A2 (fr) * 2007-08-31 2009-03-05 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi Table de cuisson
WO2009027411A3 (fr) * 2007-08-31 2009-09-17 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi Table de cuisson

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE136635T1 (de) 1996-04-15
EP0438589A4 (en) 1992-04-22
EP0438589A1 (fr) 1991-07-31
EP0438589B1 (fr) 1996-04-10
CA2039182A1 (fr) 1991-02-17
DE69026490D1 (de) 1996-05-15
AU6503890A (en) 1991-04-03

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