Abstract:
A device used while cooking to retain utensils and protect a user&#39;s hand and forearm from grease splatters is herein described. The device comprises a glove body made of a flexible fire-resistant material with individual finger and thumb appendages for increased dexterity. The device extends from the hand portion toward a wearer&#39;s elbow where an elastic strap provides a seal which prevents heated grease from splattering inside of the glove. A pair of straps is located within the palm area to help retain spatulas, spoons, tongs, whisks, or other similar food preparation utensils. The straps are secured together with fasteners thereby allowing the straps to adjust to any size utensil handle.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in a notarized Official Record of Invention on Jun. 5, 2009, that is on file at the offices of Montgomery Patent and Design, LLC, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to cooking utensils, and in particular, to a glove adapted for the secure and safe handling of common cooking utensils. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many culinary processes involve the heating or cooking of foodstuffs during preparation. Cooking processes such as frying, grilling, and the like are integral to the correct preparation of many dishes. Due to the temperatures involved in such processes, many different utensils including tongs, spatulas, and spoons are used to avoid direct contact between the user&#39;s skin and the high temperature foods and cooking surfaces. 
     One (1) problem often encountered while cooking such dishes is that of incidental contact with high temperature substances. Many processes involve large amounts of heated liquids such as grease to facilitate cooking. Painful injuries are often sustained when these liquids splatter, bubble, or splash, thereby burning the user. 
     Various attempts have been made to provide means for handling cooking utensils and other items. Examples of these attempts can be seen by reference to several U.S. patents. U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,495, issued in the name of Crownover, describes a glove device with integral tool elements which are attached to the glove with a bar grip. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,417, issued in the name of Stagnitta, describes a food handling glove. The Stagnitta device provides a glove which may be utilized to directly grip foodstuffs during preparation, providing features of enhanced traction and thermal insulation. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives, each of these references suffer from one (1) or more of the aforementioned disadvantages. Many such devices are not usable with a wide range of existing utensils. Also, many such devices do not adequately protect a user from grease splatters and the like. Accordingly, there exists a need for a cooking utensil gripping glove without the disadvantages as described above. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing references, the inventor recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and observed that there is a need for a cooking utensil gripping glove which allows a user to securely and safely utilize existing cooking utensils during grilling, frying, and the like. 
     Thus, the object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned disadvantages and provide for this need. 
     To achieve the above objectives, it is an object of the present invention to comprise a cooking utensil gripping glove which provides a means for protecting a user from injuries inflicted by splashes from heated cooking oil or frying grease. 
     Another object of the present invention is to stabilize handle portion of an existing utensil. The invention comprises a pair of straps which encircle the handle portion of the utensil. The straps are integrally attached to the glove on one (1) end and are removably fastenable to each other via a conventional adjustable fastening means. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide versatile use with differing sizes of utensil handles via the adjustable fastening means. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to allow use and easily manipulation of a wide variety of existing tools by comprising the shape of a conventional glove with individual finger portions. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to facilitate the picking up and retention of the handle portion of an existing utensil. A palm side of each fingertip of the glove comprises a gripping pad which provides enhanced traction to a user. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to prevent the intrusion of splashed heated oil or grease by providing a seal around a user&#39;s forearm. The seam comprises an elastic closure at a bottom end portion of the device. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to comprise a fire-resistant material in order to provide enhanced safety to a user in the vicinity of high temperature surfaces. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of utilizing the device that provides a unique means of donning the glove, securely engaging an existing tool via the fastening means, providing a secure grip via the gripping pads, and preventing injuries from splattered grease and the like via the elastic closure and fire resistant covering of the hand and lower arm. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental view of a cooking utensil gripping glove  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a palm-side view of a cooking utensil gripping glove  10 , according to the preferred embodiment 10 of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 2B  is a palm-side view of a cooking utensil gripping glove  20 , according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 10 
                 cooking utensil gripping glove 
               
               
                   
                   
                 11 
                 glove 
               
               
                   
                   
                 12 
                 elastic closure 
               
               
                   
                   
                 13 
                 gripping pad 
               
               
                   
                   
                 14 
                 first strap 
               
               
                   
                   
                 15 
                 second strap 
               
               
                   
                   
                 20 
                 alternate cooking utensil gripping glove 
               
               
                   
                   
                 21 
                 alternate glove 
               
               
                   
                   
                 24 
                 third strap 
               
               
                   
                   
                 25 
                 fourth strap 
               
               
                   
                   
                 30 
                 palm gripping pad 
               
               
                   
                   
                 50 
                 utensil 
               
               
                   
                   
                 60 
                 user forearm 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 and 2A , and alternately within  FIG. 2B . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a cooking utensil gripping glove (herein described as the “device”)  10 , which provides a means for protecting a user from injuries inflicted by splashes from heated cooking oil or frying grease. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an environmental view of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device  10  is depicted in as state of being worn on the forearm  60  of a user while gripping a utensil  50  within the glove  11 . The handle portion of the utensil  50  is stabilized by the encircling action of a first strap  14  being closed onto a second strap  15  by means of a hook-and-loop-type fastening means. It is envisioned that the device  10  is designed to be worn on a right hand, whereas a left-handed user would wear an alternate utensil gripping glove  20  in a similar manner on a left hand. It is further envisioned that a user could wear both the device  10  and the alternate device  20  simultaneously whenever additional protection for both the right and the left hand and forearm  60  is desired. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2A , a palm-side view of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device  10  comprises a glove  11  wherein the palm-side of each fingertip comprises a gripping pad  13  intended to facilitate picking up and retaining the handle portion of the utensil  50  or other cooking implements. The bottom end portion of the device  10  comprises an elastic closure  12  designed to prevent the intrusion of splashed heated oil or grease by providing a seal around a user&#39;s forearm. The glove  11  further comprises a first strap  14  and a second strap  15  intended to stabilize the utensil within the palm of the glove  11 . The glove  11  is envisioned to be made of a fire-resistant material, such as: modecrylic fiber (PROTEX®), aramid fiber (NOMEX®, KEVLAR®), or mineral fiber (KAOWOOL®), wherein appropriate fabric shapes are cutout and sewn, stitched, bonded, or laser welded together, or said materials in fiber form are knitted into the configuration of the glove  11 . The straps  14  and  15  are envisioned to be made of similar fire-resistant material as the glove  11  and to be provided with a hook-and-loop-type closure means. This type of closure is preferred in order to provide greater versatility depending on differing sizes handles of utensils  50 . The gripping pads  13  are made of the similar fire-resistant materials, whereby their gripping face portion is provided with a rough no-slip texture. The plurality of the pads  13  along with the straps  14  and  15  are envisioned to be bonded, sewn, or stitched onto the palm-side of each fingertip and within the palm of the glove  11 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2B , a palm-side view of the device  20 , according to the alternate embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The alternate device  20  comprises an alternate glove  21  wherein the palm-side of each fingertip comprises the gripping pad  13  as well as a palm gripping pad  30  in a configuration generally similar to the glove  11 . The bottom end portion of the alternate glove  21  also comprises the elastic closure  12  and the palm portion of the glove  21  comprises a third strap  24  and a fourth strap  25 . The glove  21  and the straps  24  and  25  are made of the similar fire-resistant material and are manufactured by similar processes as the device  10 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be worn as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The method of utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: removing the device  10  from a storage drawer; grasping the elastic closure  12  between the thumb and index finger of the left hand; moving the fingers of the right hand into a close proximity with each other; inserting the fingers into the elastic closure  12 ; using the left hand thumb and index finger to pull the device  10  over the user&#39;s forearm; pulling the glove  11  toward the user&#39;s elbow until the entire length of the forearm  60  is enclosed and each of the user&#39;s fingers abut the inside finger tip portion of the glove  11 ; placing the handle of the utensil  50  hereinto the palm of the glove  11  and under the first strap  14 , whereby the bottom end portion of the handle of the utensil  50  rests against the base of the thumb; holding the handle of the utensil  50  between the thumb and index finger of the gloved right hand; using the thumb and index finger of the left hand to stabilize the handle portion of the utensil  50  by closing the first strap  14  tightly onto the second strap  15 ; proceeding with the desired cooking processes; grasping and pulling one of the fingers of the glove  11  between the thumb and index finger of the left hand to initiate the removal of the glove  11 ; totally removing the glove  11  by using the thumb and index finger of the left hand to sequentially pull the fingers of the glove  11 ; and, washing, laundering or cleaning and storing the glove  11 . 
     The method of utilizing the alternate device  20  may be achieved by performing steps similar to those described in the foregoing but with the assistance of the right hand instead of the left hand. 
     The method of simultaneously utilizing the preferred device  10  and the alternate device  20  may be achieved by performing similar steps as those described in the foregoing, except that the assistance of the hand wearing the device  10  or of a helper will be needed to install the device  20 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.