Patent Abstract:
An anti-splatter device for cooking is provided. The anti-splatter device includes a base, a shield extending upwardly from the base, and an aperture in the shield. The anti-splatter device protects a user from splatters produced while cooking and also allows for easy manipulation of food using a utensil through the aperture. Moreover, the anti-splatter device is easily movable to provide protection at various cooking areas while in use.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates, in general, to an anti-splatter device and deals more particularly with an anti-splatter device, which protects users from grease or other splatters while cooking. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is well known that chefs, as well as non-professional cooks, experience various hot splattered material during the cooking of food over a stove. When a cook is manipulating the food, these hot splatters may come in contact with the cook&#39;s nearby hands. This problem is especially dangerous when frying food due to the hot grease splatters that occur. Of course, these splattered materials are not only limited to contacting the cook&#39;s hands. Other body parts, such as the face or arm, are also likely to be burned or injured by the splattered material. 
         [0003]    Various devices have been used in an attempt to overcome these problems. Some devices involve the use of specialized lids or barriers to prevent splattering. However, these devices either hinder manipulation of any cooking utensils or provide no protection at all when manipulating the food. In addition, the lids are limited to a single size of pot or pan, and thus, they cannot be used easily with other pots or pans. It is also known to use longer cooking utensils, which can also obstruct the cook&#39;s view. However, splattered material can still fly considerable distance, and the length makes manipulation of the utensil difficult. 
         [0004]    With the forgoing problems and concerns in mind, it is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an anti-splatter device, which protects the user from splattered material while allowing for easy manipulation of the food. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an anti-splatter device, which protects the user from splattered material. 
         [0006]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an anti-splatter device, which allows for easy manipulation of food while cooking. 
         [0007]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an anti-splatter device, which is freestanding. 
         [0008]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an anti-splatter device, which is transparent. 
         [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an anti-splatter device that allows for ease of movement while in use. 
         [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an anti-splatter device that may be used regardless of the size or type of the pot, pan, or the like. 
         [0011]    These and other objectives of the present invention, and their preferred embodiments, shall become clear by consideration of the specification, claims, and drawings taken as a whole. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates an anti-splatter device according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0013]    As will be appreciated by a review of  FIG. 1 , the anti-splatter device of the present invention is a freestanding transparent shield with a small aperture. The anti-splatter device is designed to be placed in front of a cooking surface to protect a user from splattered material, which may occur during the cooking of food. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates an anti-splatter device  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the anti-splatter device  10  has a horizontal base  12  and a shield  14 , which projects upwardly from the horizontal base  12 . The shield  14  includes an aperture  16  and, optionally, a handle  18 . 
         [0015]    The shield  14  of the anti-splatter device  10  is orthogonal to the base  12  in the preferred embodiment. However, the shield  14  may be angled to any degree. The shield  14  is also preferably transparent so that the user may see through the anti-splatter device  10  in order to cook. Thus, the shield  14  is preferably formed from a plastic, acrylic, glass, plexi-glass, or polymer material. 
         [0016]    In the preferred embodiment, the base  12  of the anti-splatter device  10  is substantially rectangular with the shield  14  attached centrally along the major axis of the base  12 . However, the shield  14  may be attached anywhere onto the base  12 . The base  12  may be made of the same material as the shield  14  or a completely different material. Since the function of the base  12  is to support the shield  14  rather than viewing the food and cooking surface, it is not necessary for the base  12  to be transparent. The base  12  may also have rubber feet on its lower surface in order to prevent slippage on the cooking surface. 
         [0017]    It is therefore an important aspect of the present invention that the shield  14  upwardly projects from the base  12 . This configuration provides protection to a user while also allowing the anti-splatter device  10  to be freestanding and movable. 
         [0018]    Returning to  FIG. 1 , the anti-splatter device  10  allows a user to manipulate a cooking utensil through the aperture  16  while still providing a barrier between the user and the cooking surface. As shown, the aperture  16  is centrally located on the shield  14 . However, the aperture  16  may be placed at any location. Furthermore, multiple apertures may be located on the shield  14 , if desired. Moreover, the aperture  16 , as shown, is circular, but the aperture  16  may be any shape. 
         [0019]    It is therefore an important aspect of the present invention that the shield  14  includes the aperture  16 . The aperture  16  allows a user to manipulate cooking food using a utensil while remaining behind the anti-splatter device. It has been heretofore unknown to include an aperture with a freestanding shield. The present invention does not require a user to reach around a shield while cooking. Reaching around a shield makes cooking awkward and potentially more dangerous. With the present invention, a user may manipulate a utensil through the aperture  16  while remaining safely behind the anti-splatter device  10 . Moreover, the present invention allows the user to quickly and easily switch which utensil is being used through the aperture  16  since the utensil is not fixedly attached in any way to the anti-splatter device  10 . Utensils that are fixedly attached to various barriers have been previously proposed. Thus, the present invention provides flexibility in the use of various utensils without excessive delay caused by attaching a barrier to the utensil. 
         [0020]    Returning to  FIG. 1 , the anti-splatter device  10  may also include a handle  18  on one side of the shield  14 . The handle  18  may be any configuration. The handle  18  allows for a user to easily move the anti-splatter device  10  from one position to another. For example, a user may stir a pot of sauce on the left side of a cooking surface while utilizing the anti-splatter device  10 . Then, the user can move the anti-splatter device  10  to the right side of the cooking surface to fry food in a pan. 
         [0021]    It is therefore an important aspect of the present invention that the anti-splatter device  10  is easily movable from one position to another. Some previous devices in the form of lids have been limited to certain sizes of pots, pans, or the like. However, the present invention can be used with any pot or pan since it does not fit directly on them. Indeed, the anti-splatter device  10  is freestanding and can be moved where needed. The handle  18  makes transportation of the anti-splatter device  10  easier and safer, but the anti-splatter device  10  could also be moved without the handle  18  by gripping it from the side. 
         [0022]    As described above and as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the anti-splatter device  10  of the present invention protects a user from splatters while still allowing the user to easily manipulate a utensil through the aperture  16 . The shield  14  of the anti-splatter device  10  is transparent to further accommodate the cooking of food. The base  12  allows the anti-splatter device  10  to be freestanding, and the handle  18  makes it easily movable. 
         [0023]    While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various obvious changes may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof, without departing from the essential scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention includes all equivalent embodiments.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0