Abstract:
A frame supports a spatter-intercepting screen positioned adjacent burners of a cooking stove. Grease particles and the like are trapped by the screen to protect walls and appliances near the stove. The screen is substantially transparent and easily cleaned, and in one version can be moved to a retracted position in the frame when the stove is not in use.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 898,678, filed Apr. 21, 1978, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,664 which is in turn a continuation of my U.S. patent application Ser. No. 720,123 filed Sept. 3, 1976 and now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many foods tend to spatter grease and other particles when being cooked on a stove-top burner. The spattered particles can travel considerable distances (especially when frying or cooking at relatively high temperature), and wall or appliance surfaces adjacent the stove soon become soiled and require frequent cleaning if permanent staining and discoloration of the surfaces are to be avoided. 
     The use of solid metal sheets or panels to intercept spattered particles is known, but these devices have not been fully satisfactory for several reasons. A significant drawback of solid panels is that spattered material tends to accumulate and run down the panel, spreading the greasy material and quickly leading to an enlarged and messy dust-catching surface. Grease may also run off the bottom of the solid panel to soil the stove or floor. 
     Another problem with solid panels is that they are awkward and difficult to clean thoroughly, and in time acquire a stained appearance which cannot be corrected in spite of vigorous scrubbing. This kind of staining is often seen on refrigerator sidewalls adjacent stoves and unprotected by a spatter shield. Solid panels are of course also opaque, and in some installations may undesirably limit the view of surfaces behind the panel. 
     The spatter shield of this invention uses a conventional screen of the type used for window screening. I have found that a relatively fine metal screen is highly effective in trapping and holding spattered particles, but is very easy to clean by immersion in soapy water. The screen does not tend to acquire the unattractive stained appearance of a solid panel, and is lighter and easier to position than a solid metal sheet. Visibility of objects behind the screen is preserved because the screen is nearly transparent. 
     My invention also contemplates the use of several alternative mounting systems for supporting the screen on a stove. One system uses a frame with a set of brackets configured to fit over the stove edge and under a top panel which is fitted around the burners on most conventional stoves. The screen makes a sliding fit in the frame to be retractable out of the way alongside the stove when spattering foods are not being cooked. A fitting such as a magnetic latch is used to hold the screen in an elevated position during cooking. 
     Another mounting system is especially useful when no space is available alongside the stove to permit retraction of the screen. This configuration uses a frame which is attached to the top surface of the stove by suction cups or a similar mounting means. The screen seats in the frame during cooking, but is completely removable for cleaning or storage when not needed to protect surfaces adjacent the stove. 
     A third configuration is configured for installation on a generally horizontal countertop panel which supports a countertop stove. The screen frame is fully concealed in this version, and only the very top of the screen is visible when the screen is retracted. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly stated, this invention relates to a spatter screen assembly for a countertop stove. The assembly includes a frame, and a mounting means secured to and adapted to attach the frame below a countertop panel adjacent a stove. A mesh screen, preferably a metal screen, is adapted for mounting on the frame to be positioned alongside the stove. The screen intercepts material spattered from food being cooked on the stove, thereby preventing soiling and staining of adjacent surfaces. 
     The frame is configured to mount the screen to be movable between a retracted position in which the screen is substantially contained by the frame, and an extended position where the screen projects above the frame at the side of the stove. The assembly preferably includes a latching means such as a magnetic latch for releasably holding the screen in the extended position, and an adjustable stop for making the top of the screen flush with the countertop panel when the screen is retracted. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an elevation of a pair of spatter screen assemblies according to the invention, the assemblies being mounted at opposite ends of a stove; 
     FIG. 2 is an elevation of an outer side of a spatter screen assembly; 
     FIG. 3 is an end view on line 3--3 of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a top view on line 4--4 of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view on line 5--5 of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 is an elevation of an inner side of the assembly which faces the stove; 
     FIG. 7 is an elevation of a first alternative form of the assembly; 
     FIG. 8 is a partial end view on line 8--8 of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a top sectional view on line 9--9 of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is an enlarged top view on line 10--10 of FIG. 7 showing a portion of the assembly with the screen removed; 
     FIG. 11 is a pictorial view of a pair of second alternative forms of the assembly as positioned at opposite sides of a countertop stove; 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevation of the second alternative assembly; 
     FIG. 13 is a top view of the assembly shown in FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 14 is an end view on line 14--14 of FIG. 12; and 
     FIG. 15 is a pictorial view of a mounting bracket. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A pair of spatter screen assemblies 10 according to the invention are shown mounted at opposite ends of a stove 11 in FIG. 1. The assembly at the right side of the stove is shown in an operating position with a screen positioned to intercept any food or grease particles which might be spattered from food being cooked on a top burner 14 at the right side of the stove. The particles are thus intercepted before they can strike and soil the side of a refrigerator 15 positioned at the right side of the stove. A cabinet 16 at the left side of the stove is similarly protected by the other assembly which is shown with the screen in a retracted position. 
     Assembly 10 is shown in detail in FIGS. 2-6, and includes a frame 18 which may be made of metal or plastic, but is preferably formed from wood which is attractive and economical. The frame comprises a pair of upright channel-shaped side members 19 joined at their lower ends by a base member 20. The upper ends of the side members are joined and supported by an upper cross member 21. 
     A pair of spaced-apart bracket members 24 are secured by the screws or the like to cross member 21. The bracket members are preferably made of sheet metal, and have a generally inverted-U shape to fit over the edge of a stove when the usual top panel which surrounds the burners is removed. Each bracket member has a horizontal terminal end 25 which is disposed beneath the top panel when it is replaced on the stove. 
     A bumper or spacer 26 having a cork or felt pad 27 fastened thereto is secured to a lower central portion of the upper cross member, and the spacer pad rests against the stove when the frame is installed as shown in FIG. 1 to support the frame in a vertical position with respect to the stove. A magnetic latch 28, of a conventional type used on cabinet doors, is secured to the underside of spacer 26. 
     A mesh screen 30 is supported in a conventional screen frame 31 of the type used in window screens. A handle 32 is secured at the upper end of the screen frame. A small ferrous-metal tab 33 is centrally secured at the bottom of the screen frame as best seen in FIG. 6. 
     Screen 30 is preferably a mesh of galvanized wires of the type used in conventional window screening. A relatively fine screen is preferred to trap small food particles, and a 30/30 mesh is quite satisfactory. In a typical configuration, screen frame 31 is about 19 inches square, and this size is quite adequate to intercept food particles from pots or pans on several burners of a stove. 
     As best seen in FIGS. 4-5, screen frame 31 is configured to make a slip fit within channel-shaped side members 19 of the frame, and the screen frame is shown in a fully seated or retracted position in FIG. 2. When the screen is to be used to protect adjacent surfaces from spattered particles from the stove, the screen and screen frame are raised vertically within frame 18 until ferrous tab 33 comes into alignment and engagement with magnetic latch 28. The screen is then in the position shown at the right side of the stove in FIG. 1, and is ready for use. 
     The screen and screen frame can be fully withdrawn from frame 18 simply by forcing tab 33 past magnetic latch 28. The screen and screen frame can then be immersed in sudsy water to remove any intercepted food particles and grease, thereby permitting quick and simple cleaning of the screen to maintain it in an attractive position. Although the screen mesh is relatively fine, it is substantially transparent, and does not block the view of objects behind the screen. 
     In some stove installations as found in, for example, modern apartment buildings, there is no free space on the sides of the stove to permit mounting of assembly 10 as shown in FIG. 1. In this situation, an alternative version of a spatter screen assembly 40 as shown in FIGS. 7-10 is useful. Assembly 40 includes a generally L-shaped frame 41 which defines a continuous channel 42. A plurality of threaded openings 43 (FIG. 10) are formed through the base of the frame, and a pair of suction cups 44 are threaded into a selected pair of the openings. A plurality of threaded openings are provided so the spacing of the suction cups can be varied to insure a proper fit on any particular stove. 
     Preferably, a stabilizer bar 46 is secured to the underside of frame 41 to extend at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the frame base. The depth of the stabilizer bar is dimensioned to place the bar in contact with a top surface of the stove when suction cups 44 are secured to the same top surface. Preferably, the underside of the stabilizer bar includes a felt pad 47 to avoid marring the stove surface. Bar 46 increases the rigidity of the frame when mounted on the stove, and offsets any tendency of the frame to tip as might happen if the suction cups alone were used to support the frame. 
     A metal mesh screen 50, of the same type as described above, is supported in a screen frame 51 having a handle 52 secured thereto. In a typical form, screen frame 51 is generally rectangular, and has dimensions of about 12 inches by 19 inches. I have found that this size is adequate to intercept spattered particles in the top-mounted configuration of my invention. 
     Frame 51 is configured to make a snug fit in channel 42 of the frame as shown in FIG. 7. The screen and screen frame can be simply lifted out of the frame when cleaning is necessary, or if the spatter-intercepting function of the screen is not needed. 
     Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 11-15 as a spatter screen assembly 60. This assembly is configured for permanent installation in a countertop panel 61 which also supports a countertop stove 62 as shown in FIG. 11. The stove is of a conventional type having a generally horizontal top plate 63 supporting a plurality of gas or electric burners 64 and associated controls 65. 
     Spatter screen assembly 60 is in some respects similar to assembly 10 described above in that it includes a frame 68 having a pair of spaced-apart upright channel-shaped side members 69 connected at their lower ends by a base member 70. An upper cross member 71 extends between side members 69 somewhat below the top of the frame as shown in FIG. 12. 
     A support bracket 74 is positioned at the top of each side member 69 and secured thereto by a pair of screws 75. The bracket has a base 76, and a pair of spaced-apart flanges 77 extending perpendicularly from the base to form a channel which receives the side member (as best seen in FIG. 15) to stabilize the frame. The upper end of base 76 extends above the top of flanges 77, and an integral hanger tab 78 extends perpendicularly from the base in a direction opposite to that of the flanges. A pair of spaced-apart screw holes 79 extend through the hanger tab. The bracket is preferably formed from a single piece of sheet metal. 
     A mesh screen 82 of the type already described above is supported in a conventional screen frame 83, and an elongated low-profile handle 84 is attached to the top of the frame. The screen and screen frame are received in mating slots 85 of side members 69. 
     When the screen is in the fully retracted position as shown in FIG. 12, the underside of the screen frame rests on an adjustable stop 87 which extends above the upper surface of base member 70. Preferably, the shank of stop 87 is threaded into a mating threaded socket (not shown) embedded in the base member so the top of the stop can be adjustably positioned above the top of base member 70. 
     A magnetic latch 89 of the type already described is secured to the top of cross member 70 (FIGS. 12 and 14) to be immediately adjacent the side surface of the screen. A ferrous-metal tab 90 secured to the lower end of the screen frame magnetically engages latch 89 when the screen is elevated to a raised position as shown at the right side of FIG. 11. As discussed above, a particular advantage of the magnetic-latch arrangement is that it can be bypassed by exerting an additional lifting force on the screen frame when it is desired to remove the screen for cleaning. 
     In a typical home installation, countertop panel 61 is a relatively thick wood member which is sufficiently sturdy to carry the weight of countertop stove 62. The upper surface of panels of this type is typically covered by a decorative finishing material such as a layer of tile, or a sheet 92 of plastic material which is adhered to the top of the wood panel. Installations of this type are usually &#34;designed in&#34; by the home architect, or may be the result of a kitchen modernization program. 
     To install spatter screen assembly 60, an elongated slot 94 is cut through countertop panel 61, the slot being of adequate width to enable frame 68 (with magnetic latch 89 removed) to be passed downwardly therethrough in the event that limited access beneath the countertop panel does not enable the assembly to be installed from below. A pair of shallow recesses 95 extend away from the opposite ends of slot 94 in the upper surface of panel 61. As best seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, recesses 95 are shaped to receive hanger tabs 78 of bracket 74, and a pair of screws 96 secure each bracket 74 to the panel. The installation can of course also be made from below, the installation of bracket 74 on frame 68 being delayed in this case until the upper end of the frame has been extended above the top surface of countertop panel 61. 
     A second slot 97 is cut through decorative plastic sheet 92, and, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, this slot is made large enough to provide only a slight clearance around screen frame 83. If a decorative tile, for example, is used in place of plastic sheet 92, the tile can be similarly slotted after installation of assembly 60. 
     When the installation is completed, the screen is fully retracted within the frame, and the vertical position of stop 87 is adjusted until the upper edge of screen frame 83 is precisely flush with the top surface of plastic sheet 92 as shown at the left side of FIG. 11. Preferably, an assembly 60 is positioned at each side of countertop stove 62 as shown in FIG. 11, and another assembly 60 with a wide screen is positioned at the rear of the stove. The associated screens can be raised or lowered as desired to prevent spattering of grease or food particles during cooking. 
     Spatter screen assembly 60 is easily installed by either a contractor or a handyman, and can be fitted either during original construction of the home, or as an add-on feature to an existing kitchen. The completed installation is very neat in appearance, and the screen is completely out of the way when fully retracted to avoid any interference with normal use of the countertop surface when cooking is not taking place. 
     I have found that a relatively fine metal-mesh screen is far superior to a solid panel for intercepting spattered food and grease particles from food being cooked on a stove. The spattered material does not tend to run downwardly as it does on a solid panel, and the screen is substantially transparent, light in weight, and easy to clean and maintain in a bright and attractive condition. The screen and screen frame are readily available at shops making conventional window screens, and can be economically replaced if any damage to the screen should occur.