Patent Grant
10883727
The present invention relates generally to splatter guards and shield assemblies and, more particularly, to an improved all-purpose portable, freestanding, and adjustable splatter shield for use in kitchens and other areas.
Splatter shields for use in kitchens are well known. They are typically constructed to be used on or about a stovetop and attach permanently or semi-permanently to the stove. An example of such a splatter shield can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,673. This device is referred to as a spatter guard for use with a recreational vehicle (RV) stove. It attaches to a hinged cover that overlies the burners on the stove and can only be used when the burner cover is in an elevated position exposing the burners for use. The spatter guard includes two wings each positionable at opposite sides of the stove, each wing being attachable to an opposite end of the burner cover. Such a spatter guard is dedicated for use with a stove having a burner cover and on its own is not freestanding.
Other forms of known spatter guards attach to the front of a stove, either permanently or semi-permanently, and are used to shield a person from forward splattering and/or accidental contact with the burners. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,396 discloses such a guard device which attaches to the front of the stove and extends above the range top surface a sufficient distance to deflect hot food particles emitted during cooking so as to prevent such food particles from being projected outwardly beyond the front plane of the stove. This device does not protect the stove or kitchen area from spattering to the sides or rear of the stove or other areas.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,856 discloses a pair of splatter screens which are built into or are attachable to the sides of a stove adjacent the burners. The screens are retractable into the frame associated with the stove but do not protect a spattering to the rear or other locations relative to the stovetop.
Another form of spatter guard is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,105. This device involves the use of burner covers, a stove control cover and a rear panel that is foldable to cover the rear burners. This shield is hingedly attachable to a stove via a frame that is mounted to the stove top.
Another splatter shield is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,422,441. This splatter shield is collapsible and includes a series of pleated metal foil panels which collapse flat in accordion fashion for storage. While portable and usable at various locations, the accordion style pleated shield is awkward, difficult to manipulate and maneuver, difficult to position in certain work areas, and difficult to clean and maintain sanitary because of its pleated construction. Also, importantly, the end panels are not angularly adjustable relative to the central back panel.
Splattering or spattering can occur at various locations in the kitchen when working, particularly in and around the stove area. Stoves however come in various shapes and sizes and can be located at various positions in a kitchen. This makes it difficult to provide for a somewhat universally adaptable splatter shield. None of the above-described splatter shields are readily adaptable for use with the different and varying sizes and styles of stoves available today. Further, they are not adaptable for use in other locations within a kitchen, for example, at a sink or on a countertop where food is being prepared and processed. Further, they are not adaptable for use with portable cooking devices, for example, an electric skillet, wok, food processor and so forth.
Another problem with the above-described splatter shields is that they are not easily foldable and adaptable for easy storing as a complete unit nor are they adjustable to accommodate varying appliances and cooking or food preparation locations. Typically, storage space in a kitchen is at a premium and any device needs to be easily storable without taking up unnecessary storage space.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,035 discloses a prior freestanding portable splatter shield invented by the present applicant. Although this splatter shield solves many of the problems associated with the above-referenced prior art splatter shields, it includes a much more complicated structure and a non-removable hinge arrangement which impedes cleaning of the overall unit. Because the central panel includes respective receptacles within the wall or structure as best illustrated in
Thus, there is a need for an improved splatter shield for use in kitchens and other food processing areas.
The present invention relates to a splatter shield which includes a central panel, a pair of extension panels and a pair of end panels that are selectively foldable in an overlying relationship to the central panel and to the extension panels for storage and are positionable at a multitude of different angular orientations extending outwardly from the central panel for use in a freestanding manner A stove or other kitchen appliance such as a wok, electric skillet, mixer and so forth may be positioned in the space between the end panels and central panel providing a shield on three sides of a work area. The central panel may comprise a wall member having extension members associated therewith which are movably mounted thereto for adjusting the length of the central panel in a selective manner. The end panels are hingedly connected to the extension members and preferably the hinged connection is accomplished through a removable hinge connection as will be hereinafter further explained. The hinge connection is constructed such that the two end panels will lie generally flat and parallel to the central panel and to the pair of extension panels in an overlaying relationship when the end panels are folded into their storage position but the end panels will disengage from their respective extension panels when moved to a certain position as will be further explained. The splatter shield can be made of a variety of different materials including any type of metal material as well as a molded polymeric material for lightness in weight, easy cleaning and imperviousness to degradation by cleaners and food products.
More particularly, the present splatter shield includes an improved hinge connection which includes a 90° flange member located at the end of each of the extension panels, each 90° flange member having at least one and preferably a plurality of slots extending through the flange member. Each end of each of the end panels has at least one and preferably a corresponding plurality of curved members that fold back towards the end panel but stop short of the end panel forming a gap therebetween. The curved members are dimensioned so as to be received by the slots associated with the respective 90° flange members. In use, the 90° flange member on each of the extension panels is positioned in a corresponding gap associated with each end panel and each end panel is then rotated so that the curved member(s) are received within the slot(s) associated with each of the 90° flange members thereby allowing the end panels to rotate relative to the extension panels between a position where the end panels lie flat on top of the extension members and central panel, and a position angularly related thereto. When the end panels are rotated so as to lie in the same plane as the 90° flange member, the end panels will disengage from the extension members. This allows the end panels to be separately clean separate and apart from the extension members and the central panel.
In addition, the extension members are slidably received within channels associated with the top and bottom edge portions of the central panel and are likewise completely removable from the central panel. This enables the entire splatter shield, namely, the central panel, the pair of extension members, and the pair of end panels to be separately removed from the assembled splatter shield and to be individually cleaned one member at a time.
The present splatter shield therefore represents an all-purpose improved kitchen splatter type barrier which can be used in any work location involving the preparation of food, cooking, or even other applications such as for use in preventing splatter associated with stove tops, around sink areas, while using a multitude of different types of electrical appliances such as cooking with electric skillets, woks, griddles or portable grills, preparing food with food processors and electric mixers, preparing foods on countertops and cutting boards, and many additional applications. The present splatter shield is expandable and adjustable to fit any stove top or other working location and its end panels are likewise angularly adjustable to again accommodate the size and space associated with the particular working location. In one embodiment, the present splatter shield may be constructed of materials which are fire and heat resistant, bacteria resilient, non-porous and non-absorbent, and it may include non-stick surfaces. The present splatter shield is portable, freestanding and lightweight so that it can be easily moved from one work location to another such as for use behind a sink area for preparing messy foods or cleaning pots and pans, for use on countertops for appliances that splatter during the cooking process, and for use with electric appliances such as woks, stir fries and grills that produce hot grease or splatter during the cooking process. In addition, because of its foldability and removability of components, the present splatter shield can be quickly and easily removed from the work area, easily folded into its storage position for compact storage when not in use, and easily cleaned.
It is also recognized and anticipated that the present splatter shield can be used in many other different applications such as, for example, for use as (1) a paint splatter shield to contain a painting operation within a specific area and to prevent any over-spray, paint splatter and/or coverage beyond the splatter shield, for use as (2) a work space enclosure, for use as (3) a containment for any spray type application, or any other enclosure type application. Other uses and applications will become apparent to those skilled in the art.
Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers wherein like numerals refer to like parts, the reference number 10 in
It is also recognized and anticipated that other constructions and/or attachments can be utilized to form the respective channel members 22 and 24.
The end panels 18 and 20 are hingedly connected to the respective extension panels 14 and 16 through an improved hinge connection 30. The end panels 18 and 20 are angularly movable relative to the respective extension panel 14 and 16 about the respective hinge connections 30 whereby the end panels 18 and 20 may be selectively positioned extending outwardly from the extension panels 14 and 16 as best illustrated in
The extension panels 14 and 16 are generally of the same construction and may be identical constructions if so desired. Each extension panel 14 and 16 includes first and second end portions 32 and 34, the first end portion 32 of each extension panel being configured so as to be slidably receivable within the channel spaces 26 and 28 associated with the channel members 22 and 24 located at the top and bottom edge portions of the central panel 12 as best illustrated in
The end panels 18 and 20 are likewise generally of the same construction and may be identical constructions if so desired. As best illustrated in
In use, the terminal end portion 46 of each 90° flange member 36 is positioned in the corresponding gap 44 associated with each end panel 18 and 20 and each end panel is then rotated so that the curved member(s) 40 are cooperatively received within the corresponding slot(s) 38 associated with each of the 90° flange members 36 as best shown in
In addition, each of the respective end panels 18 and 20 can be further moved or rotated to a position where the respective end panel lies in the same plane as the 90° flange member associated with its respective extension panel as illustrated in
In addition, each end panel 18 and 20 is generally planar having main planar surfaces 47 and 48 that are generally parallel to one another as best illustrated in
It is also important to recognize that the present splatter shield 10 can be utilized without extension panels 18 and 20, in which case the central panel 12 would not be adjustable lengthwise, but end panels 18 and 20 would still be selectively angularly positionable at a plurality of different angular orientations relative to the central panel 12 as previously explained. In this particular embodiment as illustrated in
It is also recognized and anticipated that only one end portion of the central panel 12 may include one of the extension members 14 or 16. In this particular embodiment as illustrated in
Still other configurations and arrangements for adjustably changing the overall length of the central panel 12 are anticipated and recognized so long as the extension panels and end panels are removable from each other as explained above.
Still further, the present splatter shields 10, 54 and 56 can likewise be utilized on a conventional countertop and a typical electrical appliance such as a mixer can be positioned between the end panels 18 and 20 and the central panel to prevent the contents within the mixing bowl from splattering outside the confines of the splatter shield. Similarly other electrical appliances such as a wok, a deep fryer, a blender or other appliances can likewise be positioned within the confines of the present splatter shield.
Still further, regardless of the specific type of material utilized for fabricating the present splatter shields 10, 54 and 56, it is preferred that such material be heat and flame resistant. It is also preferred that the panels 12, 12′, 12″, 14, 16, 18 and 20 be non-porous and non-absorbent so as to be odor resistant and that such panels be made of the material having a stick-free surface. Still further, it is also preferred that the material forming panels 12, 12′, 12″, 14, 16, 18 and 20 be bacteria resistance or that such materials can be treated so as to be bacteria resistant.
It is also preferred that the material forming the present splatter shields cleans easily with soap and water. It is also anticipated that the present splatter shields can be provided in a variety of different colors and textures to accommodate the motif and décor associated with kitchens and cooking areas in all environments.
It is also recognized that the present splatter shields, when used in conjunction with a gas or electric stove positioned or located within a center island or other island or countertop location within a kitchen, serves as an additional safety device since it prevents hot food, grease, oil or other cooking items from splattering into an open area behind the island stove, which hot splatter may injure passing or standing individuals or may cause damage to the surrounding furniture or floor coverings. Other advantages and benefits from using the present splatter shield 10 are envisioned and can be obtained from a study of the present disclosure.
As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein and it is therefore contemplated that a wide variety of other applications and uses of the present splatter shield will occur to those skilled in the art.
Thus, there has been shown and described a novel freestanding improved splatter shield which fulfills all of the objects and advantages sought therefor. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present splatter shield, or equivalents thereof, will become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.
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