Patent Publication Number: US-2015059622-A1

Title: Spill Guard Clamp for Countertops

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Prior Art 
     The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant: 
     
       
         
           
               
            
               
                   
               
               
                 U.S. Patents 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                 Kind 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Pat. No. 
                 Code 
                 Issue Date 
                 Patentee 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 6,564,398 
                 B1 
                 2003-05-20 
                 Trott 
               
               
                   
                 5,625,910 
                   
                 1997-05-06 
                 Erickson et al. 
               
               
                   
                 2,508,808 
                   
                 1947-11-03 
                 Warman 
               
               
                   
                 1,302,658 
                   
                 1919-05-06 
                 Henning 
               
               
                   
                 1,150,073 
                   
                 1915-08-17 
                 Spengler 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The kitchen countertop is found within many homes as an area where, for example, food is prepared. Additionally, as is well known, kitchen countertops generally contain a sink. In preparing food or in operating the sink, food substances or liquids may spill from the edge of the countertop, onto the cabinetry and flooring directly below. As a result, unsightly food markings and food substances are left to be cleaned from contacted surfaces. In the long term, cabinetry and flooring may experience damage in the form of warping or discoloration. 
     Several types of guards for the kitchen countertop, particularly for the sink area, have been proposed—for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,398 (2003) to Trott, U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,910 (1997) to Erickson et. al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,508,808 (1947) to Warman, and U.S. Pat. No. 1,302,658 (1919) to Henning Although capable of guarding against splashes, these guards are relatively large. The splash guard shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,398 (2003) to Trott incorporates a panel portion to direct liquids from the faces of cabinet doors and drawers below the kitchen sink. However, during use, this restricts the ability to open and close cabinet doors and drawers. 
     There is a need for a device that can: prevent food substances and liquids from spilling over the countertop edge, be easily installed and removed when desired, and mitigate the aforementioned problems. 
     SUMMARY— 
     In accordance with one embodiment, a spring steel clamp is provided with removable lever arms and sealing pads of either elastic or sponge material. 
     Advantages— 
     Accordingly, several advantages of one or more aspects are as follows: to provide a spill guard clamp that can prevent food substances and liquids from spilling over the countertop edge, that can be easily installed and removed, that is constructed of lesser parts, that can be easily manufactured, that is economical, and that can work in series using multiple units to extended the spill guard boundary. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       Figures 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the spill guard clamp in use, with the lever arms in place. 
         FIG. 2  is perspective view of the spill guard clamp in use, with the lever arms shown as being removed. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the spill guard clamp unstressed. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the spill guard clamp in use over the countertop edge. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of multiple spill guard clamps in use for extending the spill guard perimeter. 
     
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     Reference Numerals 
       
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 10 
                 spill guard clamp 
               
               
                   
                 12 
                 countertop 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 spring steel clamp 
               
               
                   
                 24 
                 jaw ends 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 slots 
               
               
                   
                 30a 
                 upper sealing pad 
               
               
                   
                 30b 
                 lower sealing pad 
               
               
                   
                 32 
                 wall barrier 
               
               
                   
                 40 
                 lever arms 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION— 
     Referring now to the figures,  FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective views of the spill guard clamp  10  in use, with the countertop  12  shown in phantom lines. The spill guard clamp comprises of a spring steel clamp  20 , sealing pads  30   a  (upper) and  30   b  (lower), and two lever arms  40 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the spring steel clamp  20  comprises of a steel base  22 , with upper and lower jaw ends  24 , similar to conventional binder clips. The spring steel clamp is formed into the distinct profile shape shown in  FIG. 3  using conventional sheet metal bending methods. This distinct profile shape contains a slot  26  on both jaw ends  24  for accepting the lever arms  40 . Furthermore, the steel base  22  has a shorter length than the jaw ends  24  so as to provide the spill guard clamp  10  a higher degree of discreetness while in use in the kitchen. However, it is to be understood that both the steel base  24  and jaw ends  22  can have the same length in effort to eliminate a step in the manufacturing process. 
     Sealing pads  30   a  and  30   b  have an equal length as that of the jaw ends  24 , and are to be attached to the jaw ends  24  by a means of mounting and fastening, such as screws, rivets, adhesives, sliding holder, etc. The sealing pads  30   a  and  30   b  are an elastic material such as rubber, but can also consist of a porous material such as a polyester sponge for absorbing water and water-based solutions. Sealing pads  30   a  and  30   b  are of a rectangular shape, typically with a 3 mm to 15 mm thickness. 
     The lever arms  40  consist of a metal rod, which is bent into a single open loop shape by conventional metal rod bending methods. However it is to be understood that the lever arms  40  can also consist of a plate that is formed and cut into a shape consisting of a handle extension. 
     Operation— 
     The manner of installing and using the spill guard clamp  10  to prevent spills over the countertop edge is described in this section. 
     When unstressed, the spill guard clamp  10  takes the position shown in  FIG. 3 . To install the spill guard clamp  10  over the edge of the countertop  12 , one first presses the removable lever arms  40  together as shown in  FIG. 3 . This produce a cantilever effect, which consequently deflects each jaw end  24  in opposing directions. This allows for the spill guard clamp  10  to be slipped over the edge of the countertop  12 . The removable lever arms  40  are then gradually released, causing the spill guard clamp  10  to engage and grip the upper and lower surfaces of the countertop  12  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The removable lever arms  40  are then removed as shown in  FIG. 2 , and put away in a storage place such as a kitchen drawer. 
     While the spill guard clamp  10  is engaged, the upper sealing pad  30   a  creates a wall barrier  32  ( FIG. 4 ), preventing liquids and food substances from spilling over the upper surface of the countertop  12 . For extending the spill guard perimeter, additional spill guard clamps  10  can be placed in series, as shown in  FIG. 5 . In this configuration, the spill guard clamps  10  are placed end-to-end. 
     For removing the spill guard clamp  10 , one inserts and presses the removable lever arms  40  together similar to the installation method, and removes the spill guard clamp  10  away from the edge of the countertop  12 .