Patent Publication Number: US-10307015-B1

Title: Protective cover member

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 62/302,097, filed Mar. 1, 2016 which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     1. Field Of The Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of chafing dish skirts and more specifically relates to a heat and flame-resistant protective assembly that is specially designed for surrounding the heating sternos used by caterers and outdoor chefs to keep food items warm to provide a more efficient means of maintaining sternos, increasing their safety and aesthetic appeal, while also serving as a wind blocker when used outdoors. 
     2. Description Of The Related Art 
     When coordinating a large event, such as a wedding reception, company luncheon, or family reunion, many planners rely on professional caterers to prepare and serve food and drink to all who will be attending. In ballrooms, boardrooms, and even backyards, caterers strive to deliver the finest cuisine, creatively presented with relentless attention to detail and personal service. Since catering jobs can range from serving only twenty people to well in the hundreds, it is essential to keep hot, delicious food and cool drink at the ready throughout the course of the event. As such, catering companies maintain an inventory of serving dishes and appliances which are used consistently. Three of the more essential items in the inventory are coolers, chafing dishes, and coffee urns. As the venue for many catered activities is outdoors, many of the chafing dishes and urns rely on the use of sterno or comparable source of fire to heat the contents and to maintain the contents at a warm temperature. These heating devices are fairly long lasting and are placed beneath the bottom of a chafing dish or urn after being lit. A formulation of denatured alcohol, water, and gel, sterno fuel is quite effective and is generally safe when used as directed. 
     However, sternos can present some challenges to caterers when employed for outdoor events. Particularly, a windy day might necessitate a constant watch on these heat sources. With flame and wind being such unpredictable elements, the mixture of the two could very well create a fire hazard. And quite obviously, gusts of wind are very likely to extinguish sterno flames, resulting in caterers constantly relighting these heat sources in order to maintain the warmth of the food. 
     Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,637 to David L. Strickel; U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,210 to Kenneth L. Kaufman; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,446 to George Ali. This art is representative of chafing dish skirts. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. 
     Ideally, chafing dish skirts should provide a heat and flame resistant protective cover and be wind resistant, yet would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable protective cover member to avoid the above-mentioned problems. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known chafing dish skirt art, the present invention provides a novel protective cover member. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to provide a heat and flame-resistant protective assembly that is specially designed for surrounding the heating sternos used by caterers and outdoor chefs to keep food items warm to provide a more efficient means of maintaining sternos, increasing their safety and aesthetic appeal, while also serving as a wind blocker when used outdoors. 
     A protective cover member for use with cooking assemblies is disclosed herein which includes a basket member, a tray member attached to and fitted within the basket member, and canned heat products placed within the basket member and adapted to heat the tray member. The protective cover member further has a panel member formed having a rectangular shape, and a length adapted to wrap around and substantially cover an outer surface area of the side walls of the basket member, and a height adapted to be substantially equal to a height of at least one side wall of the basket member, and adapted to block wind, blowing moisture, and debris from entering a space between the bottom portion of the tray member and a bottom portion of the basket member that would interfere with the heating function of canned heat products. The panel member is formed from an inner flexible layer of heat resistant material and an outer flexible layer of durable material connected to and adapted to protect the inner flexible layer of heat resistant material. 
     The panel member further has an upper lip member attached to an upper edge of the panel member along the length and is formed from an elastic material, adapted to stretch around and frictionally hold onto the upper edges of the basket member side walls. A releasable connecting member formed as a zipper is attached to end portions of the panel member, to connect the end portions of the panel member, such that the panel member is able to be wrapped around the basket member, and connected to the upper edges of the side walls of the basket member. The protective cover member has at least one air vent aperture covered with heat resistant mesh material adapted to allow a predetermined amount of air to pass into and out of space between the bottom portion of the tray member and the bottom portion of the basket member, and two handle apertures to allow a user to grab the protective cover member via the handle members of the basket member. The protective cover member further has a pocket member attached on it and having at least one cooking mitten formed from a heat resistant material stored therein. The pocket member is further able to hold cooking tools and utensils as needed. 
     An improved cooking assembly for cooking with canned heat products, comprising a basket member including a bottom portion formed from wire mesh material and at least one side wall formed from wire mesh material connected to the bottom portion and extending upwardly therefrom defining a height and forming an interior volume. A tray member including a bottom wall adapted to be heated by canned heat products and at least one side wall connected to the bottom wall and extends upwardly therefrom and forms an interior volume. The at least one side wall of the tray member includes a lip portion extending outwardly around the top edge and is adapted to contact a top edge of the basket member. The basket member also has an open top portion which allows the tray member to be placed within the interior volume of the basket member such that a space is formed between the bottom portion of the tray member and bottom portion of the basket member. The space is adapted to allow canned heat products to be placed upon the bottom portion of the basket member to heat the bottom wall of the tray member. 
     The protective cover member further has a panel member formed having a rectangular shape, and a length adapted to wrap around and substantially cover an outer surface area of the side walls of the basket member, and a height adapted to be substantially equal to a height of at least one side wall of the basket member, and adapted to block wind, blowing moisture, and debris from entering a space between the bottom portion of the tray member and a bottom portion of the basket member that would interfere with the heating function of canned heat products. The panel member is formed from an inner flexible layer of heat resistant material and an outer flexible layer of durable material connected to and adapted to protect the inner flexible layer of heat resistant material. The panel member further has an upper lip member attached to an upper edge of the panel member along the length and is formed from an elastic material, adapted to stretch around and frictionally hold onto the upper edges of the basket member side walls. A releasable connecting member formed as a zipper is attached to and between end portions of the length of the panel member, and is adapted to connect the end portions of the length of the panel member, such that the panel member is able to be wrapped around the basket member, and connected to the upper edges of the side walls of the basket member. The protective cover member has at least one air vent aperture covered with heat resistant mesh material there through adapted to allow a predetermined amount of air to pass into and out of space between the bottom portion of the tray member and the bottom portion of the basket member, and two handle apertures to allow a user to grab the protective cover member via the handle members of the basket member. The protective cover further has a pocket member attached on it and having at least one cooking mitten formed from a heat resistant material stored therein. The pocket member is further able to hold cooking tools and utensils as needed. 
     The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a protective cover member. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, protective cover member constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view illustrating a protective cover member in an in-use condition according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view illustrating a protective cover member according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a protective cover member with basket member inserted within panel member according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side view illustrating a protective cover member with tray member and basket member removed according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a chafing dish skirt and more particularly to a protective cover member as used to improve the ability of a user to provide a heat and flame-resistant protective assembly that is specially designed for surrounding the heating sternos used by caterers and outdoor chefs to keep food items warm to provide a more efficient means of maintaining sternos, increasing their safety and aesthetic appeal, while also serving as a wind blocker when used outdoors. 
     Generally speaking, a protective cover member is a four-walled shield which would serve as a wind blocker, preventing gusts of wind from extinguishing Sternos heaters which are heating a chafing dish. At the same time, the protective cover system would keep the Sterno flames contained within the unit, reducing the risk of fire while also allowing for more effective food warming. In addition, convenient handles would permit users to attend to the Sternos without fear of burning their hands. 
     Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in  FIG. 1 , a perspective view illustrating a protective cover member  100  in an in-use condition  102  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     A protective cover member  100  for use with cooking assemblies is disclosed herein which includes basket member  200 , tray member  120  attached to and fitted within basket member  200 , and canned heat products  170  placed within basket member  200  and adapted to heat tray member  120 . Protective cover member  100  further has panel member  130  formed having rectangular shape  132 , and a length adapted to wrap around and substantially cover outer surface area of side walls  210  of basket member  200 , and a height adapted to be substantially equal to a height of at least one side wall  210  of basket member  200 , and adapted to block wind, blowing moisture, and debris from entering a space between bottom portion  122  of tray member  120  and bottom portion  204  of basket member  200  that would interfere with the heating function of canned heat products  170 . Panel member  130  is formed from an inner flexible layer  134  of heat resistant material  135  and outer flexible layer  138  of durable of heat resistant material  135  connected to and adapted to protect inner flexible layer  134 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an exploded view illustrating a protective cover member  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Panel member  130  further has upper lip member  140  attached to upper edge  142  of panel member  130  along the length and is formed from elastic material  144 , adapted to stretch around and frictionally hold onto upper edges  206  of basket member  200  side walls  210 . Releasable connecting member  148  formed as zipper  150  is attached to end portions  136  of panel member  130 , to connect end portions  136  of panel member  130 , such that panel member  130  is able to be wrapped around basket member  200 , and connected to upper edges  206  of side walls  210  of basket member  200 . Protective cover member  100  has at least one air vent aperture  112  covered with heat resistant mesh material  113  adapted to allow a predetermined amount of air to pass into and out of space between bottom portion  122  of tray member  120  and bottom portion  204  of basket member  200 , and two handle apertures  116  to allow a user to grab protective cover member  100  via the handle members  212  of basket member  200 . Protective cover member  100  further has pocket member  118  attached to it and having at least one cooking mitten  110  formed from a heat resistant material  113  stored therein. Pocket member  118  is further able to hold cooking tools and utensils as needed. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view illustrating a protective cover member  100  with basket member  200  inserted within panel member  130  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Improved cooking assembly  300  for cooking with canned heat products  170 , comprising basket member  200  including bottom portion  204  formed from wire mesh material  216  and at least one side wall  210  formed from wire mesh material  216  connected to bottom portion  204  and extending upwardly therefrom defining a height and forming interior volume  220 . Tray member  120  including bottom portion  122  adapted to be heated by canned heat products  170  and at least one side wall  124  connected to bottom portion and extends upwardly therefrom and forms interior volume  126 . The at least one side wall  124  of tray member  120  includes lip portion  128  extending outwardly around top edge  129  and is adapted to contact upper edges  206  of basket member  200 . Basket member  200  has open top portion  224  which allows tray member  120  to be placed within interior volume  220  of basket member  200  such that a space is formed between bottom portion  122  of tray member  120  and bottom portion  204  of basket member  200 . The space is adapted to allow canned heat products  170  to be placed upon bottom portion  204  of the basket member  200  to heat bottom portion  122  of tray member  120 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , is a side view illustrating a protective cover member  100  with tray member  120  and basket member  200  removed according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Protective cover member  100  further has panel member  130  formed having rectangular shape  132 , and a length adapted to wrap around and substantially cover outer surface area of side walls  210  of basket member  200 , and a height adapted to be substantially equal to a height of at least one side wall  210  of basket member  200 , and adapted to block wind, blowing moisture, and debris from entering a space between bottom portion  122  of tray member  120  and bottom portion  204  of basket member  200  that would interfere with the heating function of canned heat products  170 . Panel member  130  is formed from an inner flexible layer  134  of heat resistant material and outer flexible layer  138  of durable material connected to and adapted to protect inner flexible layer  134  of heat resistant material. Panel member  130  further has upper lip member  140  attached to upper edge  142  of panel member  130  along the length and is formed from elastic material  144 , adapted to stretch around and frictionally hold onto upper edges  206  of basket member  200  side walls  210 . Releasable connecting member  148  formed as zipper  150  is attached to end portions  136  of panel member  130 , to connect end portions  136  of panel member  130 , such that panel member  130  is able to be wrapped around basket member  200 , and connected to upper edges  206  of side walls  210  of basket member  200 . Protective cover member  100  has at least one air vent aperture  112  covered with heat resistant mesh material  113  adapted to allow a predetermined amount of air to pass into and out of space between bottom portion  122  of tray member  120  and bottom portion  204  of basket member  200 , and two handle apertures  116  to allow a user to grab protective cover member  100  via the handle members  212  of basket member  200 . Protective cover member  100  further has pocket member  118  attached to it and having at least one cooking mitten  110  formed from heat resistant material  113  stored therein. Pocket member  118  is further able to hold cooking tools and utensils as needed. 
     Protective cover member  100  may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient. 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.