Quick install/remove stove guard for drop-in cooktops

Abstract

A stove guard for a drop-in cooktop is attached to the front edge of a kitchen countertop by inserting the guard panel into two holding devices which are attached onto the front surface of the countertop. The guard prevents young children from reaching the burners, control knobs and cookware on the cooktop. The guard can be installed or removed in seconds.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableDESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX[0003]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]1. Field of Invention[0005]The invention is related to a drop-in cooktop stove guard, which prevents small children from reaching the burners, control knobs and cookware on the cooktop. The guard also prevents small children from coming in contact with heated liquid or other foods that may bubble or splash from cookware on the cooktop. The guard can be installed or removed in seconds.[0006]2. Description of the Prior Art[0007]Two patent applications were filed by the present inventor for quick install / remove stove guards. The previous stove guard designs permit the use of the guard only on conventional free-standing stoves and can not be applied to a drop-in cooktop. The current design addresses the application of a stove guard which can be attached to the fro...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]The objective of this invention is to provide a reliable and simple way to install a stove guard on a drop-in cooktop to prevent small children from reaching the stove burners, control knobs and cookware while cooking. The present invention provides a stove guard that can be installed or removed in seconds, which increases the likelihood that parents and other caregivers of small children will use it more frequently. Two identical guard panel holding devices are attached to the front surface of a kitchen countertop where the drop-in cooktop is located.

[0012]The guard panel is not attached to the top surface of the cooktop where the burners are located, thus minimizing the chance that heat damage to the guard panel will occur during use. When installed, the upper portion of the guard panel bends about 45 degrees outward from the edge of the kitchen countertop to provide more room for cookware handles and utensils and to increase the rigidity of the guard panel.

Problems solved by technology

The previous stove guard designs permit the use of the guard only on conventional free-standing stoves and can not be applied to a drop-in cooktop.

Those devices described in the prior art and included on the above list often require complicated installation procedures.

Once installed, the devices are difficult to remove for cleaning.

In some cases, the guard panels are attached to the top of the stove surface, making the guard panel vulnerable to heat damage.

The complicated installing and removing devices of those included on the above list make those guards less likely to be used on a regular basis when small children are present, and this departs from the purpose of the inventions.

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