Patent Publication Number: US-2023144652-A1

Title: Apparatus for retaining dissipated heat

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/204,980, filed Nov. 9, 2020, and entitled “Heat Absorber,” the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Baking can create extreme heat in kitchens especially in the summer months. In smaller homes or apartments, heat circulates even faster. Moreover, in older homes that are usually built with a closed floor plan (where every room is separate), kitchens can become unbearably hot when baking. For some communities living on a budget, the use of a cooling unit (such as an air conditioner) may be a luxury and may not be an option for use when trying to cool a kitchen when using an oven. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     I. Introduction 
     The present specification and accompanying drawings disclose one or more embodiments that incorporate the features of the present apparatus. The scope of the present apparatus is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The disclosed embodiments merely exemplify the present apparatus, and modified versions of the disclosed embodiments are also encompassed by the present apparatus. Embodiments of the present apparatus are defined by the claims appended hereto. 
     References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. 
     In the discussion, unless otherwise stated, adjectives such as “substantially,” “approximately,” and “about” modifying a condition or relationship characteristic of a feature or features of an embodiment of the disclosure, are understood to mean that the condition or characteristic is defined to be within tolerances that are acceptable for operation of the embodiment for an application for which it is intended. 
     Furthermore, it should be understood that spatial descriptions (e.g., “above,” “below,” “up,” “left,” “right,” “down,” “top,” “bottom,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” etc.) used herein are for purposes of illustration only, and that practical implementations of the structures described herein can be spatially arranged in any orientation or manner. 
     Still further, it should be noted that the drawings/figures are not drawn to scale unless otherwise noted herein. 
     Numerous exemplary embodiments are described as follows. It is noted that any section/subsection headings provided herein are not intended to be limiting. Embodiments are described throughout this document, and any type of embodiment may be included under any section/subsection. Furthermore, embodiments disclosed in any section/subsection may be combined with any other embodiments described in the same section/subsection and/or a different section/subsection in any manner. 
     II. An Apparatus for Retaining Dissipated Heat 
     Baking can create extreme heat in kitchens especially in the summer months. In smaller homes or apartments, heat circulates even faster. Moreover, in older homes that are usually built with a closed floor plan (where every room is separate), kitchens can become unbearably hot when baking. For some communities living on a budget, the use of a cooling unit (such as an air conditioner) may be a luxury and may not be an option for use when trying to cool a kitchen when using an oven. 
     Embodiments described herein address the issues described above. For example,  FIGS.  1  and  2    illustrate different perspective views of an embodiment of the apparatus for retaining heat dissipated from an oven or another device that radiates heat. In particular, this embodiment, visually represented by an apparatus  100  in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , assumes a rectangular-shaped, planar or sheet-like material (i.e., a material that is substantially longer and wider than thick) and includes at least one attachment connected to the sheet material. The sheet material may comprise an absorbent fabric that can retain a heat-absorbing compound (e.g., water). Then at least one attachment may be configured to hold one side of the material against the front of the oven after the material has retained the heat absorbing material. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates a front-side perspective view of apparatus  100 . As shown in  FIG.  1   , apparatus  100  includes a sheet material  102  and attachments  104  and  106 . In  FIG.  1   , sheet material  102  is depicted as rectangular and includes a first side  108  and a second side  110  (pictured in  FIG.  2   ) that is opposite the first side  108 . In other embodiments, sheet material  102  may assume any shape, such as: a triangle, a square, a pentagon, a hexagon, an octagon, a decagon, a semi-hexagon, a semi-octagon, and a semi-decagon. In accordance with embodiments described herein, sheet material  102  may be sized to cover a portion of a front of the oven. Further, sheet material  102  may comprise a flexible, absorbent fabric for retaining or absorbing a heat-absorbing compound (e.g., water). The absorbent fabric may be made of at least one of the following: linen, cotton, rayon, wool, terry cloth, fleece, hemp, and bamboo. 
     Additionally, apparatus  100  includes a first cavity  112  suitable for encasing attachment  104  and a second cavity  114  suitable for encasing attachment  106 . In  FIG.  1   , attachments  104  and  106  are also depicted as rectangular. As further depicted in  FIG.  1   , an edge  116  of attachment  104  substantially aligns with an edge  118  of sheet material  102 . Similarly, in  FIG.  1   , an edge  120  of attachment  106  substantially aligns with an edge  122  of sheet material  102 , where edge  122  of sheet material  102  is opposite edge  118  of sheet material  102 . Edges  118  and  120  may be substantially straight edges enabling for easy alignment of apparatus  100  with any straight edges on an oven or other appliance. 
     In accordance with embodiments described herein, attachments  104  and  106  may include magnetic strips allowing for attachment of apparatus  100  to metal surfaces. In addition, in some embodiments, attachments  104  and  106  may include square or circle magnets. For example, the square or circle magnets may be arranged at each corner of sheet material  102 . In some embodiments, magnet portions of attachments  104  and  106  may be sealed in a flexible, watertight plastic sheath for protection against moisture and corrosion when apparatus  100  is exposed to water or other liquids. 
     Still yet, in some embodiments, attachments  104  and  106  may include hook-and-loop fasteners (or Velcro®). For example, two lineal fabric strips (or, alternatively, round “dots” or squares) may be attached to opposing surfaces (such as second side  110  of sheet material  102  and the front of an oven) to be fastened. Further, in some embodiments, attachments  104  and  106  may include hook-and-eye closure system. For example, hooks (e.g., flattened wire bent to the required shape) and eyes (or “eyelet”) into which the hooks fit may be attached to opposing surfaces (such as second side  110  of sheet material  102  and the front of an oven). Any of these configurations of attachments  104  and  106  described above will enable for placement and holding of one side (e.g., second side  110 ) of sheet material  102  substantially flush against a front of an oven. 
     To help further illustrate the various features of apparatus  100 ,  FIG.  2    is provided.  FIG.  2    shows a back-side perspective view of apparatus  100 . From this perspective, a second side  110  (not pictured in  FIG.  1   ) is exposed and the same features of apparatus  100  described with reference to  FIG.  1    are shown in  FIG.  2   . 
     III. Method for Using an Apparatus for Retaining Dissipated Heat 
       FIGS.  3 ( a )- 3 ( d )  will now be described, with continued reference to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , to illustrate an exemplary manner of using the apparatus for retaining dissipated heat. More specifically, what will be described is one exemplary method for using the apparatus in the context of retaining heat dissipated from an oven. As mentioned, apparatus  100  is not limited to use with an oven and may be compatible for use with other devices or appliances that radiate closed heat. Apparatus  100  depicted in  FIGS.  1  and  2    will be the embodiment used in the following description on how to use the apparatus. Apparatus  100  depicted in  FIGS.  1  and  2    and any embodiments described above may be used similarly to apparatus  100  as described below to the extent that other embodiments possess a similar or same feature set as apparatus  100  that enable such use. Other structural and operational embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the following discussion with reference to  FIGS.  3 ( a )- 3 ( d ) . 
       FIG.  3 ( a )  depicts applying a heat-absorbing compound to apparatus  100 . For example, in  FIG.  3 ( a ) , water pouring out from a faucet  302  is applied to apparatus  100  by placing apparatus  100  under faucet  302 . In accordance with embodiments described herein, absorbent fabric of sheet material  102  of apparatus  100  may retain or absorb the water from faucet  302 . In some embodiments, apparatus  100  may be soaked in water and/or another heat-absorbing compound. As depicted in  FIG.  3 ( b ) , in some instances, apparatus  100  may be wrung out (or squeezed) to extract excess water and/or another heat-absorbing compound. 
     In  FIG.  3 ( c ) , after the absorbent fabric of sheet material  102  retains or absorbs the heat-absorbing compound, apparatus  100  may be placed against the front of an oven  304 , which is shown to be radiating heat  306 . As heat is dissipated from oven  304 , a wet sheet material  102  of apparatus  100  absorbs the heat. As described with reference to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , edges  118  and  120  of sheet material  102  may be substantially straight edges that enable a person to align apparatus  100  with any straight edges on an oven or other appliance. 
       FIG.  3 ( d )  depicts an exemplary placement of apparatus  100  on the front of oven  304 . As described, in some embodiments, apparatus  100  may attach to the top of the oven door by a magnet that is embedded (e.g., sewn in) into the sheet material  102 . For example, magnetic attachments  104  and  106  may attach to the metal portions of the front of oven  304 . Attachments  104  and  106  may hold one side (e.g., a first side  108  or a second side  110 ) of sheet material  102  substantially flush against the front of oven  304  after sheet material  102  has retained or absorbed the heat-absorbing compound (e.g., water). As further depicted in  FIG.  3 ( d ) , sheet material  102  of apparatus  100  may be sized to cover a majority of the front of oven  304 . In accordance with embodiments described herein, sheet material  102  of apparatus  100  may assume different sizes for compatibility with various appliances. 
     Embodiments described herein are beneficial to various communities, such as the senior population, people with older homes, and people with heat intolerant breathing issues. Apparatus  100  absorbs heat radiated from an oven instead of the heat being released into the kitchen. Embodiments described herein also prevent dangerous burns for children and pets, and the Tiny House community. For example, with apparatus  100  placed on the front of an oven, if a pet places its paw or a toddler places his or her hand on the oven door during cooking, the damp sheet material of the apparatus  100  will act as a barrier and prevents burns. 
     VI. Conclusion 
     While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. Thus, the breadth and scope of the embodiments should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the embodiments and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the embodiments. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates a front-side perspective view of apparatus for retaining dissipated heat, in accordance with an embodiment. 
       FIG.  2    provides a back-side perspective view the apparatus for retaining dissipated heat depicted in  FIG.  1   , in accordance with an embodiment. 
       FIGS.  3 ( a )- 3 ( d )  illustrate an exemplary manner of using the apparatus for retaining dissipated heat depicted in  FIGS.  1  and  2   . 
     The features and advantages of the present apparatus will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which like reference characters identify corresponding elements throughout. In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. The drawing in which an element first appears is indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the corresponding reference number. 
     SUMMARY 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     Embodiments described herein are directed to an apparatus for retaining heat dissipated from an oven. The apparatus may comprise a sheet material sized to cover a portion of a front of the oven and at least one attachment connected to the sheet material. The sheet material may comprise an absorbent fabric for retaining a heat-absorbing compound. The at least one attachment may be configured to hold one side of the sheet material substantially flush against the front of the oven after the sheet material has retained the heat absorbing compound. 
     Further features and advantages of the apparatus, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the apparatus, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the apparatus is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. Such embodiments are presented herein for illustrative purposes only. Additional embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings contained herein.