Abstract:
An oven mitt incorporating high temperature materials ( 14 ), composed of polyester fleece ( 10 ), having a flap that protects the wrist ( 16 ), stitched channels to hold the hand in place ( 12 ) which may also be used as a hot pad.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates to oven mitts and hot pads. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Consumers have a variety of oven mitts and hot pads to choose from. Many are made of thin, inexpensive material that barely protect the hand and wrist. 
     Heat resistant material is mentioned in U.S. Pat. No. 4,085,464 for Simonoff. This refers to fabrics padded with cotton or polyester batting. Large, very hot dishes or roasting pans can become uncomfortable to the user as it may take a few minutes to raise them out of the oven and position them so that said hot dish or pan will not damage persons or objects. High temperature materials protect people as well as kitchen counters and table tops. Existing patents do not mention high temperature materials nor use of polyester fleece. 
     The fit of oven mitts can be problematic. USD0388553 for Sapin, USD0425261 for Basile, USD0336549 for Stabile, and USD0355051 for Ives can shift on the hand as they are designed to be big and open. USD0368330 for Robinson suffers the opposite problem, being snug fitting and uncomfortable for a larger hand. U.S. Pat. No. 4,085,464 for Simonoff is very awkward as it requires use of both hands with an attached band of fabric that could be cumbersome. 
     Protection of the wrist is not part of the design of USD0425261 for Basile, USD0284520 for Handler, USD0355051 for Ives, USD0336549 for Stabile or USD0388553 for Sapin. 
     Oven mitts are often pressed into service as a hot pad for dinner table or kitchen counter while food preparation is completed or while the food is served. USD0309360 for Torrence, USD0258625 for Sheridan, U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,066 for Hansson, USD0381130 for Anderson, would not be attractive for this purpose. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Objects and Advantages 
     Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are: 
     (a) to provide an oven mitt incorporating high temperature materials; 
     (b) to provide an oven mitt composed of polyester fleece; 
     (c) to provide an oven mitt with protection for the wrist area; 
     (d) to provide an oven mitt whose fit doesn&#39;t shift; 
     (e) to provide and oven mitt that can be used as an attractive hot pad for dinner table or kitchen counter use. 
     Further objects and advantages are to provide an oven mitt that can be stored flat and stacked for storage. Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the present invention an oven mitt incorporating high temperature materials. 
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     Figures FIG.  1  shows the front of the oven mitt; 
     FIG. 2 shows the front with one flap pulled open to show channel stitching; 
     FIG. 3 shows the back of the oven mitt; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the oven mitt taken at lines  4 - 4  in FIG. 3; and 
     FIG. 5 shows the mitt on one&#39;s hand with protective flaps. 
     DRAWINGS 
     Reference Numerals 
       10  polyester fleece 
       12  channel stitching 
       14  high temperature materials 
       16  protective flap 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS.  1  to  5   
     A typical embodiment of the oven mitt has a palm area of high temperature fabric or fabric with a high temperature coating (FIG.  3 ). High temperature fabric is different than heat or flame resistant fabric. Heat resistant fabric and flame resistant fabric degrade at fairly low temperatures. High temperature materials do not degrade easily. There are various fabrics in this group such as the aramids and coatings such as silicon rubber. 
     A typical embodiment of the oven mitt is approximately eight inches square with rounded comers. Two pieces of material of similar shape are each attached on two adjoining sides of the mitt. These two pieces of fabric form the flaps that protect the wrist (FIGS. 1,  2 ,  5 ). Polyester fleece is the preferred material because of its softness, wrinkle resistance, and variety of color and pattern. 
     Channel stitching on each side of the body is perpendicular to the flap, forming a hand pocket. This allows the hand to slip into the oven mitt in a consistent manner and prevent the hand position from shifting. Said stitching also anchors the flap. 
     These fabrics allow the oven mitt to be stored with the flaps back (FIG.  1 ). Because of the wrinkle resistance, attractive appearance and low profile of the mitt (FIG. 4) it can be used as a hot pad to protect furniture or counters as needed. 
     Operation 
     FIGS.  1 ,  5   
     The manner of using said oven mitt is similar to existing mitts. Place a hand, palm down, midway into the opening between the folded back flaps. Pushing thumb and fingers into the fabric pocket between the stitched channels, one slips fingers into one side, thumb into the opposite side. As the hand is raised the flaps come down to protect the wrist (FIG.  5 ). 
     Conclusions, Ramifications and Scope 
     Accordingly, the reader can see that consumers could easily use this oven mitt to remove hot dishes and pans into and out of an oven while protecting their hands and wrists. 
     This mitt would also allow consumers to use the mitt as a hot pad to protect counters and tables from being marred from the heat of items just removed from an oven. 
     Although the description above contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the overall shape of the oven mitt could be round with round flaps or the mitt could be made without flaps while incorporating a high temperature coating. 
     Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.