Grill brush splatter guard

An improved splatter guard for a (e.g. barbeque) grill brush is disclosed. The present solution provides advantages and design features absent heretofore to include a solution that is able to be configured to existing brushes. Additional improvement features are that the solution provides a better range of splatter protection and a handle is provided for the guard main portion (separate from a brush handle). An opaque configuration is additionally provided as an improvement over a transparent design as well as other enhancements detailed and disclosed herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains generally to cleaning brushes and scrapers for culinary applications. More particularly in a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a barbecue (BBQ) grill scraper and brush with splatter guard protection.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Hand-held cleaning brushes and scrapers for removing charred residue from a grated or barred cooking surface have been known in the art. One such example was proposed by Daw and was awarded patent protection in 2000, and entitled “Combination Barbecue Grill Brush And Mitt,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,493. This solution provides a typical brush and scraper and further aims to protect a users hand from a potentially hot grill. For this reason a heat resistant mitt is configured to a handle of the brush/scraper.

One issue that is not addressed by Daw is that of containing splatter that has tendency to direct backward toward a grill user and may permanently stain clothes. Rothman on the other hand, U.S. Des. Pat. No. D546,066, presumably includes a feature addressing this concern. However this solution (Rothman) is applicable for a rotary grill brush and a solution applicable to a planar grill brush would be configured entirely differently. Notably, some grill brush manufacturers and users may not prefer the Rothman solution since it would be more expensive and have more moving parts than a comparable planar brush.

Present inventors have also previously addressed the splatter problem in a planar barbecue brush with U.S. Des. Pat. No. D653,037. Nonetheless, the present solution provides at least the following advantages of the prior art: the solution is able to be configured to existing brushes; the solution provides better range of splatter protection; a handle is provided for the guard portion (separate from a brush handle); an opaque configuration is provided as an improvement over a transparent design; and additional features as detailed and disclosed herein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention specifically addresses and alleviates the above mentioned deficiencies associated with the prior art. More particularly, the present invention, in a first aspect comprises an improved splatter guard configured to be coupled to a grill brush, for example a barbeque grill brush but not limited thereto. In this aspect, the grill brush has a brush portion, a handle portion and a scraper portion, the splatter guard comprising: a main cover portion having a forward and a rear end, the rear end having a raised hood forming an opening, the opening for passing the handle portion therethrough; and a raised tab for grasping and positioning the improved splatter guard.

The improved splatter guard configured to be coupled to a barbeque grill brush herein is additionally characterized wherein the main cover portion further comprises a hollow shape further being a frustum of a pyramid for covering the brush portion. The improved splatter guard of the present invention is additionally characterized wherein the raised hood further comprises a riser portion that is triangular in shape and provides an angle to the handle portion substantially equal an angle of the handle portion as coupled to the brush portion. Also, the hood has a raised hood main portion at said angle to the handle portion. Also the raised hood portion is provided a trapezoidal in shape as to ergonomically fit the brush handle portion.

As stated, the present invention is configured to be coupled to a barbeque grill brush; or alternatively the brush and spatter guard are configured permanently together. The tab portion herein is additionally characterized as comprising a pie wedged shape affixed to both the splatter guard main portion and the raised hood main portion; and an angle substantially equal to said angle to the handle portion. Alternatively, it is more correct to say that the pie wedge has an angle 180 degree minus the handle angle, because this “angle” is more clearly visible.

The improved splatter guard herein further comprises a slot at the main portion forward end to receive a scraper. The improved splatter guard configured to be coupled to a barbeque grill herein is additionally characterized wherein the rear end has a riser portion forming the opening further comprising a rear guard providing splatter protection in a reverse cleaning direction while continuing to allow the brush handle portion therethrough.

Still further, the splatter guard configured to be coupled to a barbeque grill brush in this aspect has a hinge to allow the rear guard to open for removal and passage of the brush handle portion. Also in this aspect, the rear guard has a plastic living hinge to allow the rear guard to open for removal and passage of the brush handle portion. As an alternative to having a door embodiment comprising a living hinge, first and second flaps are instead provided for securing to an inside of the rear main portion. The flaps further have a tab for assisting removal and passage of the brush handle portion.

The invention can be better visualized by turning now to the following drawings wherein like elements are referenced by like numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference initially toFIG. 1, a grill cleaning tool (brush) splatter guard10,20of the present invention is configured over an existing brush90. At the distal (front) end, the invention10has a slot28(as also shown inFIG. 7) to accommodate a scraper portion92of the BBQ brush through said slot28. The splatter guard20has a main portion21covering a top of the brush portion93of the grill tool90. A lateral guard22provides lateral splatter protection while a rear opening26is necessary to assist coupling and uncoupling of the brush tool90to the splatter guard20. In one embodiment, the coupling is accomplished with permanent magnets33on an underside of the main portion21with corresponding ferromagnetic material. In another embodiment, the splatter guard20is permanently affixed to a BBQ grill brush90.

It is additionally contemplated that the splatter guard20is comprised of opaque material. As stated, the splatter guard20is optimally designed to eliminate grease and residue splatter when cleaning a grill that might permanently soil clothes and generally cause a mess. It should be noted that a forward guard27(FIG. 3), rear guard23,24,30(and40alternative embodiment shown inFIG. 6A) are providing protection in multiple directions.

With regard toFIG. 2, the main cover portion has a forward and rear end, wherein the rear end has a raised hood25forming the rear opening26. A raised tab29for grasping and positioning the improved splatter guard20is additionally provided. Close inspection reveals that the tab29has a pie wedge shape and is affixed to both the splatter guard20main portion21and raised hood main portion25. Also, the tab29has an angle99with respect to the raised hood25that also corresponds to an angle that the brush90handle91is affixed to the brush portion93. Similarly, the raised hood25has a riser portion24with a similar angle99. Angular relationships99are also clearly shown in a profile view byFIG. 4.

Also regardingFIG. 1andFIG. 2together, the hood riser portion24has a triangular shape cooperating with the trapezoidal shape of the hood main portion25to ergonomically configure to a grill brush90. Additionally, the guard main portion21together with the lateral guard22form a frustum of a pyramid being hollow for covering the brush portion93.

Additionally as seen inFIG. 2, the rear opening26a rear guard30is further configured to the rear opening26providing splatter protection in a reverse cleaning direction while continuing to allow the brush handle portion91therethrough. In a preferred embodiment a hinge31is provided to pivotally allow the rear guard30to open for removal and passage of the brush handle portion91. In yet another preferred embodiment, the splatter guard20is comprised of heat resistant plastic, realized by injection molding; and further said hinge31can therefore be a living hinge31having relatively thin plastic flanked by relatively thicker plastic.

FIG. 3provides an additional view from a front of the preferred device10. In this illustration, the forward guard27is most clearly visible.FIG. 4provides a profile view most clearly showing angular99relationships between elements24,29, and91.FIG. 5AandFIG. 5Bprovides perspective views from an underneath vantage point showing the first rear guard30embodiment.

FIG. 6AandFIG. 6Billustrate a second preferred rear guard40embodiment next to the first30. Similarly,FIG. 7provides a perspective view of first rear guard30with hinge31. WhileFIG. 8provides a similar view of the second preferred rear guard. Therein, the improved splatter guard20rear guard40includes first42and second flaps43for securing to an inside of the rear main portion23; and a tab41for assisting removal and passage of the brush handle portion91.