Abstract:
A safety device for covering a hot cooktop surface includes a bottom layer with a plurality of at least one pad that is placed directly on at least one cooktop burner. A top layer is provided above a middle insulating layer that is located between the bottom layer and the top layer. The device may also include a vent located on the top layer for releasing heat from the cooktop surface and channels or conduits to help air circulate over the cooktop burner and base pad. In application of the device over a hot cooking surface, the middle layer prevents the top layer from becoming excessively hot thereby preventing burn injuries and damage to food or cookware set upon the top surface of the device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a safety device, and more particularly, to a device for covering a cooktop surface. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    As early as Roman times, stoves made of clay, tile, or earthenware were used in Central and Northern Europe. It was not until late in the 15th century that cast-iron stoves were first made in Europe. These consisted of plates that were grooved to fit together in the shape of a box and the stoves were fueled by coal or wood. 
         [0005]    Since gas and electricity have become generally available, wood-burning and coal-burning stoves have been largely replaced by a wide variety of cooking apparatus using natural or manufactured gas, oil, acetylene, gasoline, or electricity as fuel. Modern stoves are typically considered a basic appliance in homes in developed nations and typically contain a cooktop having from three to eight burners or plates of various sizes and power levels. The size of the cooktop is only limited by the size of the burner and the size of the space the cooktop is used in. Typically the size ranges from a width of about 14 inches to about 48 inches and a depth of about 19 inches to about 28 inches. 
         [0006]    The cooktop burners and areas surrounding the burners, typically remain hot for a long period of time after use. As a result, numerous children and adults are burned by contact with the hot cooktop surface. Furthermore, on ceramic or glass cooktops, the cooktop is a flat cooking surface made of ceramic or glass and the cooking surface is usually built into a countertop. Because the burners on a ceramic or glass cooktop are flush with the cooktop surface and countertop, the burners can difficult to perceive and the chances of inadvertent contact with the hot cooktop burners are increased, especially by younger children. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention solves the above-described problem by providing a device for covering a cooktop. The cover helps prevent contact with the hot surface of the cooktop and thereby avoids injuries. The device includes a bottom layer which is placed directly on at least one cooktop burner, a top layer, and a middle insulating layer which is located between the bottom layer and the top layer. The middle layer prevents the top layer from becoming excessively hot that would otherwise cause a burn injury to human skin. Further, the device maintains the top layer at a temperature that allows it to be used for food preparation so that food, cookware, dishes and the like will not be damaged by the hot stove being covered. 
         [0008]    More particularly, the bottom layer may be comprised of a plurality of at least one pad, wherein each base pad is placed directly on a cooktop burner. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom layer is comprised of heat resistant plastic, the middle layer is comprised of foam insulation, and the top layer is comprised of plastic. The device may also include a vent located on the top layer for releasing heat from the cooktop surface and channels or conduits to help air circulate over the cooktop burner and base pad. 
         [0009]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the appended claims. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a device made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of a device made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a device made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a folded device made in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized. It is also to be understood that structural, procedural and system changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. For clarity of exposition, like features shown in the accompanying drawings are indicated with like reference numerals and similar features as shown in alternate embodiments in the drawings are indicated with similar reference numerals. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , shown is cover  10  for covering a cooktop of a typical four burner stove. Cover  10  includes base pad  18 , middle insulating layer  14 , and top layer  16 . Middle layer  14  may be attached to base pad  18  and top layer  16  by any method or means known to those having skill in the art. For example, base pad  18 , middle layer  14 , and top layer  16  may be attached using screws, tacks, rivets, glue, adhesive, or hook and loop fastener such as Velcro®. 
         [0017]    Cover  10  contains at least one base pad  18  and preferably contains the same number of base pads  18  as the number of burners on the cooktop being covered by cover  10 . Because a majority of cooktops have four burners, in a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , cover  10  contains four base pads  18  wherein each base pad  18  can be placed directly on a cooktop burner. Each base pad  18  of cover  10  is orientated such that each base pad  18  can be placed directly on a cooktop burner such that each burner on the cooktop is covered by base pad  18 . 
         [0018]    Base pad  18  may be any size and shape which provides for substantial coverage of the burner when cover  10  is placed on the cooktop surface. For example, suitable shapes for base pad  18  include, but are not limited to a square, oval, or circle. Preferably, base pad  18  is circular in shape. 
         [0019]    Base pad  18  contains at least one channel  26 . Channel  26  allows for air to circulate over the cooktop burner and through base pad  18 . The circulating air helps to cool the cooktop burner as well as base pad  18 . 
         [0020]    Base pad  18  is comprised of any material capable of maintaining its shape and structure at high temperatures. Specifically, the material should be capable of withstanding temperatures up to about 700° F. Examples of suitable materials include, but are not limited to heat resistant plastic, ceramic, metal and metal alloys, and foam tile. Preferably, base pad  18  is comprised of heat resistant plastic. Base pad  18  protects middle insulating layer  14  from direct contact with the cooktop burners. 
         [0021]    Middle insulating layer  14  may be comprised of any insulating material known in the art which is capable of effectively insulating top layer  16  from base pad  18  and the heated cooktop burners. Suitable materials middle layer  14  may be comprised of include, but are not limited to fiberglass, foam insulation, or ceramic foam tile. Middle insulating layer  14  prevents top layer  16  from becoming excessively hot, and desirably prevents top layer  14  from being heated at all. 
         [0022]    Top layer  16  may be comprised of any material that is durable enough to allow for proper functioning of the cover  10 . Suitable materials include, but are not limited to plastic, metal, metal alloy, wood, or particle board with laminate cover. Preferably, top layer  16  is comprised of plastic. Top layer  16  may contain a decorative design such that the appearance of cover  10  on a cooktop is aesthetically pleasing. In addition, cover  10  or top layer  16  may have beveled corners. 
         [0023]    In use, top layer  16  of cover  10  is the surface a user sees and comes in contact with after cover  10  is placed over the cooktop and middle layer  14  helps ensure that top layer  16  remains relatively cool. In one embodiment, top layer  16  is relatively rigid and after cover  10  is placed over a cooktop, the surface of top layer  16  may be utilized as a normal countertop space. Therefore, in addition to preventing burn injuries, cover  10  may also be used to protect a cooktop surface from damage caused by dropped items or other impacts that may damage the cooktop, especially a ceramic or glass cooktop. 
         [0024]    Cover  10  of the present invention typically has a width between about 14 inches and about 48 inches, and a depth between about 19 inches and about 28 inches. Preferably, cover  10  has a width between about 21 inches and about 36 inches, and a length between about 21 inches and about 24 inches. 
         [0025]    The thickness of base pad  18 , middle layer  14  and top layer  16  can vary depending upon the type of material each layer is comprised of However, preferably, base pad  18  and middle layer  14  each have a thickness between about 0.0625 inch and about 0.5 inch, and more preferably have a thickness between about 0.125 inch and about 0.25 inch. Top layer  16  preferably has a thickness between about 0.0625 inch and about 0.5 inch, and more preferably has a thickness between about 0.0625 inch and about 0.25 inch. 
         [0026]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , cover  10  may also include heated air intake vent  22  and exhaust vent  24  for the release of heat from the cooktop surface. Intake vent  22  and exhaust vent  24  may be any shape, and are connected by at least one conduit  28  which passes through middle layer  14  and top layer  16 . Upon the placement of cover  10  on the cooktop burners and cooktop surface, ambient air may enter from around the bottom perimeter of cover  10 . This ambient air absorbs some of the heat from the cooktop burners and a cooktop surface of, in this example, of a recently used stove. The air then enters intake vent  22 , travels through conduit  28  and is heated further by the heat absorbed into cover  10  from the cooktop burners and the cooktop surface. The heated air is passed out of conduit  28  by exhaust vent  24 . This creates a chimney-effect whereby new cooler air is drawn into intake vent  22  that is then heated while passing through conduit  28 . This causes air to circulate through cover  10  cooling base pads  18 , the cooktop burners and the cooktop surface. In one embodiment, channel  26  and conduit  28  are the same or are fluidly connected. To further aid in the cooling process, a mechanical air moving device such as a fan may be incorporated into conduit  28  to allow for more rapid cooling as increased flow rate of air will increase the convective cooling. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , cover  10  may be a bi-fold device. This configuration is particularly convenient for storage purposes. In addition, a bi-fold design allows for the partial coverage of a cooktop surface, when it is desirable to leave one or more cooktop burners exposed. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , base pad  18 , middle layer  14 , and top layer  16  are each comprised of two laterally disposed pieces. If there is more than one base pad  18 , then only middle layer  14  and top layer  16  are each comprised of two laterally disposed pieces. 
         [0028]    Hinge  26  or a similar structure allows for the folding of two pieces and may be located on cover  10  to allow cover  10  to be folded in half For example, hinge  26  may be located on the joint between the laterally disposed pieces of top layer  16 , middle layer  14 , or base pad  18 . Cover  10  may be configured to fold inwardly when top layer  12  is facing up, or cover  10  may be configured to fold in the opposite direction. In addition, cover  10  may be designed to fold in half lengthwise or widthwise. For example, if cover  10  is designed to fold in half lengthwise (front to back), the folded device may be placed over the two front cooktop burners or the two back cooktop burners. If cover  10  is configured to fold in half widthwise (side to side), the folded device may be placed over the two left cooktop burners or the two right cooktop burners. 
         [0029]    It should be understood that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.