Patent Publication Number: US-2023157482-A1

Title: Grill Cleaning Tool

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of tools useful to clean a grill. More specifically, this invention relates to a tool useful to pick up remnant wire bristles or portions thereof left behind on the grate of a grill after cleaning the grate with a wire bristle brush. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many people enjoy cooking on barbeque grills particularly during the summer months. But, cooking on barbeque grill comes with certain associated risks such as food safety and the risk of a burn to the cook or nearby children or adults. However, there is another important safety concern for outdoor grills that comes from the use wire bristle brushes that are often used to clean the grate after its use. There are a variety of different grill cleaning tools known to people that cook regularly on a grill. One of the most well-known grill cleaning tools is a brush with metal wire bristles that are used to remove the remaining food materials left on a grill&#39;s grate after its use such as grease or other burnt cooking debris. It is known that wire bristles may fall off these brushes when a person is cleaning the grate. These wire bristles or portions thereof can be very hard to see and can be possibly as small as a human hair and located against the background of a dark grill. This problem can be exacerbated when a person over uses their wire bristle brush causing a more rapid deterioration of the brush. The next time the grill is used food may be prepared by a person without realizing that this food is being placed on a grill containing these remnant bristles. The food may then become embedded with one or more of these wire bristles during the cooking process. As a result, such food when consumed can result in a person accidentally ingesting one or more of these dangerous wire bristles. 
     Foreign object ingestion is a common reason for many people to visit the emergency room of a hospital. More specifically, in many hospitals every year, patients are admitted to emergency rooms after accidentally consuming one or more of these wire bristles from an adulterated food product cooked on the grate of a barbeque grill that was not properly inspected/cleaned. Since the sale of grills and accessories has risen recently, due to the pandemic, it can be expected that these incidents will continue to rise. The severity of the injuries can range from a puncture to the soft tissue of the esophagus causing pain when a person swallows to more serious situations requiring emergency abdominal surgery. 
     Nylon bristle brushes are a known alternative to a wire bristle brush. However, as the rigidity of a nylon bristle is generally less than that of a wire bristle some users can find their use to clean a grill less preferable. Namely, cooked-on food materials can be difficult to remove with a nylon brush and may thereby require significantly more effort by the person cleaning the barbeque grill to remove this debris and also ending with a less preferred grate surface. 
     As a result, there is a need for a grill cleaning tool capable of picking up wire bristles or portions thereof that may have broken off during the cleaning process so that a user can continue to use a wire bristle brush to clean their grill and while avoiding the possible accidental ingestion of a wire bristle or portion thereof. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The scope of the present invention is defined solely by the appended claims, and is not affected to any degree by the statements within this summary. 
     By way of introduction, one aspect of the invention is directed to a grill-cleaning tool adapted to pick up remnant metal bristles produced during a cleaning of the grill with a wire bristle brush. The grill cleaning tool includes a handle having a proximal end and a distal end and a head connected to the distal end of the handle. The head has a top surface and a bottom surface and is wider than the handle. A magnet is also that is connected to the bottom surface of the head. A shroud is further provided that is removeably connected to the bottom surface of the head adjacent the magnet. The shroud substantially covers the magnet and is formed from a magnetically permeable material. In use, the handle is gripped by a user and moved across the grill with the bottom surface directed down toward the grill. The magnet is operable to magnetically attract the remnant metal bristles produced during a cleaning of the grill with the wire bristle cleaning tool and secure them against the shroud for later disposal. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a grill cleaning tool for use with cleaning a grill of remnant wire bristles or portions thereof is provided. The grill cleaning tool includes a handle having a proximal end and a distal end A head connected to the distal end of the handle and extending outwardly therefrom is further provided. The head has a top surface and a bottom surface and is wider than the handle. The head further includes a cavity in the bottom surface thereof. A magnet is connected to the cavity in the bottom surface of the head. In use, the handle may be gripped by a user and moved across the grill with the bottom surface directed down toward the grill. The magnet is operable to pick up any remnant wire bristles or portions thereof produced during the cleaning process of the grill with the wire bristle brush. 
     Throughout this description and in the appended claims, it should be understood that the present invention can be used on grills of many different kinds such as outdoor and indoor barbeque grill. As also used herein, the term “shroud” is intended to include a wide range of materials known to those of ordinary skill in the art such various metal materials and/or various fabric materials together materials know to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of the grill cleaning tool of the present invention according to a first embodiment and illustrating the operation of the grill cleaning tool with the shroud partially removed and the remnant wire bristles attached thereto. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of the first embodiment of  FIG.  1    illustrating the operation of the grill cleaning tool with an associated grill. 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the first embodiment of  FIGS.  1 - 2    illustrating the shroud attached to the head before use of the embodiment as shown in  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  4    is a side view of the first embodiment of  FIGS.  1 - 3   . 
         FIG.  5    is a top view of the first embodiment of  FIGS.  1 - 4   . 
         FIG.  6    is a bottom view of the first embodiment of  FIGS.  1 - 5   . 
         FIG.  7    is an exploded view of the first embodiment of  FIGS.  1 - 6    illustrating the head, insert, magnet and shroud. 
         FIG.  8    is an exploded view of second embodiment of the present invention without an insert. 
         FIG.  9    is a cross-section of the first embodiment taken along the lines  9 - 9  as shown in  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  10    is cross-section of a third embodiment of the present invention similar to that of  FIG.  9   . 
         FIGS.  11 - 12    are an illustration of the first embodiment in use to pick up remnant wire bristles. 
         FIG.  13    is a bottom view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention having curved magnetic collecting surfaces. 
         FIG.  14    is a side view of the fourth embodiment of  FIG.  13   . 
         FIG.  15    is a partial side view of the fourth embodiment of  FIGS.  13 - 14    illustrating the operation of this embodiment. 
         FIG.  16    is a bottom view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention illustrating cleaning wire bristles and spaced apart magnets interlaced between the wire bristles. 
         FIG.  17    is a side view of the fifth embodiment of  FIG.  16   . 
         FIG.  18    is a bottom view of sixth embodiment of the present invention illustrating a rectangular wire bristle arrangement with a magnet extending around the perimeter thereof. 
         FIG.  19    is a side view of the sixth embodiment of  FIG.  18   . 
         FIG.  20    is a bottom view of a seventh embodiment of the present invention illustrating grill cleaning tool with only a magnet and forward scraper without any wire bristles. 
         FIG.  21    is a side view of the seventh embodiment of  FIG.  20   . 
         FIG.  22    is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the present invention illustrating the use of a fabric shroud and its attachment to the head of the grill cleaning tool. 
         FIG.  23    is cross-section of the eighth embodiment taken along the lines  23 - 23  of  FIG.  22   . 
         FIG.  24    is a side view of the eighth embodiment of  FIGS.  22 - 23   . 
         FIG.  25    is a perspective view of a ninth embodiment of the present invention illustrating the use of metal tines. 
         FIG.  26    is a cross-section of the ninth embodiment of  FIG.  25    taken along the lines  26 - 26 . 
         FIG.  27    is a side view of a ninth embodiment of  FIGS.  25 - 26   . 
         FIG.  28    is a front view of the ninth embodiment of  FIGS.  25 - 27    illustrating the operation of the ninth embodiment with an associated grill in partial cross-section. 
         FIG.  29    is a perspective view of the ninth embodiment of  FIGS.  25 - 28    illustrating the operation of the ninth embodiment with an associated grill. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The foregoing detailed description and accompanying drawings have been provided by way of explanation and illustration, and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Many variations in the presently preferred embodiments illustrated herein will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, and remain within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a grill cleaning tool  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention and illustrating its operation. In particular, the grill cleaning tool  10  includes a handle  12 , a head  14 , a magnet  16  and shroud  18 . The handle  12  includes a proximal end  22  and a distal end  24 . The distal end  24  is connected to the head  14 . The shroud  18  is removably attached the head  14 . The handle  12  may be formed any relatively strong material such as wood or a heavyweight plastic. The handle  12  may be formed integrally with the head  14  using the same materials as the handle  12 . Alternatively, the head  14  may be formed from a separate material and connected to the handle  12  using known connecting methods. As best seen in  FIGS.  2 - 7   , the proximal end  22  of the handle  12  includes a gripping element  30  that may be formed integrally with the handle  12 . Alternatively, the gripping element  30  may be formed from a separate deformable material such as a plastic having a different durometer or separate a rubber material. The gripping element  30  is formed so that a user when moving the grill cleaning tool  10  across a grill  34 , as shown in  FIG.  2   , can firmly grip the proximal end  22  of the handle  12 . 
     With particular reference to  FIGS.  3  and  7   , the head  14  includes a top surface  40  and bottom surface  42 . More specifically, with reference to the exploded view of  FIG.  7   , the bottom surface  42  forms a channel  44  and includes two opposing rails  46 . An insert  50  is sized to fit within the channel  44 . The insert  50  is connected to the channel  44  through the use of an adhesive or other known connecting materials and methods. The magnet  16  is connected to the insert  50  also through use of an adhesive or other known connecting materials and methods. The magnet  16  may be formed from rare earth materials or materials such as samarium cobalt or alnico. As best seen in  FIGS.  1  and  7   , the shroud  18  is slidably attached to the head  14 . The shroud  18  includes a trough  66  and two outwardly extending side walls  68 . The side walls  68  slideably engage the rails  46  of the bottom surface  42  of the head  14 . The shroud  18  is formed from a magnetically permeable material such as metallic materials including steel, stainless steel, aluminum or other known metallic materials. Alternatively, the shroud  18  could be formed from fabric or cloth material. The shroud  18  is removably connected to the head  14  through interaction with the magnet  16 . It should be recognized that the grill cleaning tool  10  of the present may include a shroud formed from other materials such as the embodiment of  FIGS.  22 - 24    that includes a fabric material as further described herein. The cross-section of  FIG.  9   , illustrates the connection of the insert  50  to the channel  44 . This figure also illustrates the connection of the magnet  16  to the insert  50  within the channel  44  of the head  14  with the shroud  18  slidably attached to the opposing rails  46 . 
     The operation of the grill cleaning tool  10  is best seen in  FIGS.  1 - 2  and  11 - 12   . With reference specifically to  FIG.  11   , the user brings the grill cleaning tool  10  toward the grate  34  ultimately making contact with the grate  34  as shown in  FIGS.  2  and  12   . As shown in  FIGS.  11  and  12   , the grate  34  had been previously cleaned with a wire bristle cleaning brush potentially leaving remnant wire bristles or portions thereof  74  produced during the cleaning of the grate  34 . More specifically, the use of a wire bristle brush to clean the grate  34  has been known to leave remnant wire bristles  74  which if not picked up may become embedded in future food materials cooked on the grate  34  and as explained previously in the Background herein. The grill cleaning tool  10  and more specifically, the head  14  is directed downward toward the grate  34  so that the magnet  16  may exert a force through the shroud  18  to pick up the remnant wire bristles  74 . It should be recognized the referenced figures show the use of the grill cleaning tool  10  to pick up multiple wire bristles, the present invention is operable to pick up as few as one or more than one wire bristles which may be dangerous if ingested. The grill cleaning tool  10  and more specifically, the head  14  is moved across the grate  34  so as to pick up remnant wire bristles  74 . It is suggested that the entire grate  34  be covered with this motion to pick up the remnant wire bristles  74 . Once the entire grate  34  is covered with this motion, the grill cleaning tool  10  may be taken to a location where the wire bristles  74  may be safely disposed of into a waste receptacle such as a garbage can. More specifically, as shown in  FIG.  1   , the shroud  18  may be slid across the rails  46  and thereby disengaged from the magnet  16  and the head  14 . Once the shroud  18  is removed from close interaction with the magnet  16 , the associated magnetic force is thereby dissipated allowing the remnant wire bristles  74  to be safely disposed of into the waste receptacle. 
       FIGS.  8  and  10    illustrate two alternate embodiments of the grill cleaning tool of the present invention. With reference to  FIG.  8   , the grill cleaning tool  90  is related to the embodiment of  FIGS.  1 - 7  and  11 - 13    with exception that the insert  50  is not included. The grill cleaning tool  90  includes a handle  92 , a head  94 , a magnet  96 , and a shroud  98 . With reference to the cross-section of  FIG.  10   , another embodiment is disclosed. The grill cleaning tool  100  includes a head  102 , a magnet  103 , an insert  104  and a shroud  105 . The shroud  105  has two opposing ridges  106  extending from the side walls  108  that slideably engage notches  110  in the rails  112  of the bottom surface  114  of the head  102 . 
       FIGS.  13 - 15    illustrate a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The grill cleaning tool  120  includes a handle  122 , a head  124 , curved scrapers  126  and a forward projecting flat scraper  128 . The handle  122  includes a gripping element  130  similar to that shown in  FIGS.  1 - 8   . The curved scrapers  126  project downward from a bottom surface  132  of the head  124 . The curved scrapers  126  can be formed from known metallic materials such as steel, stainless steel, iron and other know materials. The curved scrapers  126  have a generally half-circular shape as shown in  FIGS.  13 - 15   . There is magnet located behind the scrapers  126  so to attract the remnant wire bristles in manner similar to the previous embodiments. It should be recognized that fewer than four curved scrapers  126  could be implemented and more than four curved scrapers could be implemented in alternative embodiments of the present invention. Also, the curved scrapers  126  may be formed in different shapes other than the one illustrated and still be within the scope of the present invention. The forward projecting flat scraper  128  can be formed known materials such as steel, aluminum or other materials known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the forward projecting flat scraper  128  may formed from a material having magnetic properties. 
     In operation, as shown in  FIG.  15   , and after the grill  136  has been cleaned with a wire bristle brush, the grill cleaning tool  120  may be moved across the grate  136  with the forward projecting flat scraper  128  picking up any remnant food material remaining after the cooking process and with curved scrapers  126  picking up any remnant wire bristles  138  that may have been deposited during the previous cleaning process with a wire bristle brush. The curved scrapers  126  pick up the remnant wire bristles  138  through interaction with an associated magnet. The curved scrapers  126  may then be wiped off using a paper towel or other disposable material which may optionally be damp to aid in their cleaning with the paper towel then safely disposed of. 
       FIGS.  16 - 17    illustrate a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The grill cleaning tool  150  includes a handle  152  and a head  154  similar to embodiments of  FIGS.  1 - 15   . However, the grill cleaning tool  150  includes three wire bristle sections  156  and two spaced apart magnets  158 . A forward projecting flat scraper  160  is further provided as in  FIGS.  13 - 15   . In operation, the grill tool  150  uses the wire bristle sections  156  in cooperation with the forward projecting flat scraper  160  to pick up any remnant food material remaining after the cooking process with the magnets  158  picking up any remnant wire bristles that may have been deposited during the cleaning process. The magnets  158  pick up the remnant wire bristles and may then be wiped off using a paper towel or other disposable material to clean the magnets  158 . It should be recognized that while three wire bristles sections  156  are illustrated fewer than three sections could also be implemented in alternative embodiments. Similarly, the use of less than two magnets may be implemented or more than two magnets may be implemented and still be within the scope of the present invention. 
       FIGS.  18 - 19    illustrate a sixth embodiment of the present invention that operates in a somewhat similar way to the embodiment of  FIGS.  16 - 17   . The grill cleaning tool  170  includes a handle  172  and a head  174  similar to the previous embodiments. However, the grill cleaning tool  170  includes a rectangular wire bristle section  176  with a magnet  178  located around the perimeter of the wire bristle section  176 . A forward projecting flat scraper  180  is again provided. In operation, the grill cleaning tool  170  operates in a similar way as the embodiment of  FIGS.  16 - 17   . This embodiment further illustrates that many different embodiments using a one or more wire bristle sections and one or more magnets are within the scope of the present invention. Similarly, the shape and configurations of the elements may also be altered to suit the design purpose of a particular application and again still be within the scope of the present invention. 
       FIGS.  20 - 21    illustrate a seventh embodiment of the present invention that operates in a somewhat similar way to the embodiment of  FIGS.  16 - 19    with the exception a wire bristle section is not provided. The grill cleaning tool  190  includes a handle  192  and a head  194  similar to the previous embodiments. However, the grill cleaning tool  190  includes a large rectangular magnet  196  located in a bottom surface  198  of the head  194 . A forward projecting flat scraper  200  is again provided. In operation, the grill cleaning tool  190  operates in a similar way as the embodiment of  FIGS.  16 - 19    again with exception that it does not include a wire bristle section. 
       FIGS.  22 - 24    illustrate an eighth embodiment of the present invention that operates in somewhat similar way to the embodiment of  FIGS.  1 - 12    with the exception that the shroud is not metallic and an alternate connection is provided. More specifically, the grill cleaning tool  220  again includes a handle  222  and a head  224 , an insert  225 , a magnet  226  and shroud  228 . The shroud  228  is removably connected to the head  224  via the clips  230 . The shroud  228  is formed from a disposable fabric material such as cotton, cotton blend, wool or natural or synthetic material. The shroud  228  is slightly spaced apart from the magnet  226  so any remnant wire bristles can be pulled more closely toward the magnet  226 . 
     The grill cleaning tool  250  of  FIGS.  25 - 29    operate in a somewhat similar way to the embodiment of  FIGS.  1 - 12    with exception that a series of metal tines are provided to assist in the cleaning process. The grill cleaning tool  250  includes a handle  252 , a head  254 , an insert  255 , a magnet  256  and shroud  258 . The present embodiment further includes a series of metal tines  260  attached to the shroud  258 . With reference to  FIGS.  26 - 27   , the tines  260  have a somewhat rectangular shape with one wall substantially missing at its connection to the shroud  258 . More specifically, the shroud  258  incudes a ridge  262  to which the curved ends  264  of the tines  260  can attach. The tines  260  can be fixedly or slideably attached to the shroud. The tines  260  can be formed from a somewhat flexible material such as a metal material including steel, iron, stainless steel or other materials known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In operation, as best shown in  FIGS.  28 - 29   , the grill cleaning tool  250  may be pressed onto a grate  270  including the orthongally arrached rods  272 . More specifically, the grill cleaning tool  250  may be depressed on the rods  272  such that the tines  260  substantially surround the rods  272 . As the grill cleaning tool  250  and in particular the tines  260  are moved across the rods  272 , the tines  260  can aid in dislodgement of any remnant wire bristles which will be pulled against the shroud  258  through interaction with the magnet  256 . In addition, the tines  260  may be useful to dislodge any remnant food on the grill  270 . Once the cleaning process is finished, the shroud  258  may be slideably detached in a manner similar to that illustrated in  FIG.  1   . After the shroud  258  is detached from the head  254  and separated from the magnet  256 , the remnant wire bristles will no longer be magnetically captured and can be properly disposed of. 
     The embodiments described above and shown herein are illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the claims rather than by the foregoing description and attached drawings. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the material composition of the magnet or size, shape or exact location of the magnet may be designed in a manner other than specifically described or illustrated in the figures or detailed description. Accordingly, these and any other changes which come within the scope of the claims and intended to be embraced herein.