Abstract:
A cover for a stovetop, which is mounted in a counter, having a flat member and a peripheral side member depending therefrom with first and second handles formed in the depending peripheral side member. The cover is made of metal, plastic or ceramic material for decorative purposes, entertaining and/or additional counter space.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a cover for stovetops that are mounted within countertops. More particularly the present invention relates to a decorative cover for a stovetop mounted within a countertop for creation of additional counter space. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Many stovetops are mounted in or adjacent counters. The stovetops take up valuable counter space and can be unattractive. The space taken by stovetops could be used for counter space for working and/or for entertaining. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    An advantage of the present invention is that it increases counter space. 
         [0004]    Another advantage of the present invention is that it may be put over any stovetop and can be put away when not in use. 
         [0005]    Another advantage of the present invention is that it is decorative. 
         [0006]    Another advantage of the present invention is that it the cover may be coated for decorative purposes or to color match other parts of the kitchen. 
         [0007]    Another advantage of the present invention is that the present invention is designed for stovetops in counters. 
         [0008]    Another advantage of the present invention is that the cover provides a means of limiting access to knobs and other stove top controls by children and the like. 
         [0009]    Still another advantage of the present invention is that the present invention may be easily and economically manufactured. 
         [0010]    Briefly and basically the present invention is a stovetop mounted within a counter covered by a cover which has a flat member having a flat surface made of nonflammable material and a side member depending from a periphery of said flat member. The side member may be supported preferably on a periphery of said stovetop or alternatively on the counter around the periphery of the stovetop. The cover has at least a first and a second handle formed in the depending member in the form of two openings located in the depending member opposite each other. Together these form a decorative stovetop cover wherein an upper surface may be utilized as additional counter space. The flat member can be rectangular, square, round, irregular, polygonal, or ellipsoidal in shape. 
         [0011]    The stovetop cover can be made of metal, heat resistant plastic or ceramic material. 
         [0012]    A preferred embodiment is to manufacture the stovetop cover from pressed stainless steel or aluminum with a rectangular shape to cover all of the burners of the stovetop as well as the knobs and controls. The height should be sufficient to clear all burners and control knobs and other features of the stovetop and provide adequate clearance for the handles. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a view, partially broken away, in perspective of a stovetop mounted within a countertop covered by the stovetop cover of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view, partially broken away, taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view, partially broken away, taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a view in perspective of an embodiment of the stovetop cover in which it is round in plan view. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a view in perspective of an embodiment of the stovetop cover in which it is oval in plan view. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a view in perspective of an embodiment of the stovetop cover in which it is polygonal in plan view. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a stovetop  10  mounted within a counter  12 . The stovetop shown is gas operated but the invention encompasses all stovetop types including but not limited to electric, gas, glass flattop grills and other types. Stovetop  10  and its control knobs  14  are covered by rectangular stovetop cover  17  wherein all burners  18  may be covered thereby preventing the stovetop from inadvertent or unwanted turning on i.e. by children. The cover  17  has a flat member  20  having a flat surface and a side member  22  depending from a periphery of flat member  20 . Side member  22  is supported on the outer edge  24  of the stovetop  10  around the periphery of stovetop  10 . Alternatively side member  22  can be supported on counter  12  around a periphery of stovetop  10 . A preferred embodiment of the stovetop cover is made of a metal such as, but not limited to, stainless steel or aluminum. The stovetop cover can also be coated for color matching or decorative purposes. Optionally, the lower end of side member  22  may be provided with rubber or resilient feet (not shown) which would prevent any possibility of scratching of the stove top surface and prevent any possible movement of the cover. Side member  22  has long sections  25  and  27  which are longer and in a preferred standard embodiment the length would be approximately 27.5 inches or to fit the shape of the stovetop. Stovetop cover  17  has sides  29  and  31  that are shorter and in a preferred standard embodiment the length would be approximately 19.5 inches, or to fit the shorter sides of the stovetop. In a preferred standard embodiment the stovetop cover has a height  11  of approximately 1.5 inches. However it is understood that other heights, lengths and widths may be used. Stovetop cover  17  also has a first and a second handle  32 ,  34  in the form of two openings located approximately in the middle of depending member sections  29  and  31  opposite each other. These handles are formed in depending member sections  29  and  31  in approximately the center of sides  29  and  31  and at or close to the bottom edge  35 . Together these form a decorative stovetop cover wherein an upper flat surface may be utilized as additional counter space. The flat member may be rectangular as in the currently shown embodiment or may also be square, round as shown in  FIG. 4 , polygonal as shown in  FIG. 6  or ellipsoidal as shown in  FIG. 5  or irregular in shape. 
         [0021]    In  FIG. 4  the stovetop cover&#39;s flat member  37  is round and its handles  70  and  71  are across from each other. 
         [0022]    In  FIG. 5  the stovetop cover&#39;s flat member  38  is ellipsoidal and the handles  74  and  75  are across from each other. 
         [0023]    In  FIG. 6  the stovetop cover&#39;s flat member  41  is octagonal with a depending side  42 . Depending side  42  has two long sides  47  and  49  and two short sides  43  and  45  that are perpendicular to the long sides. Depending side  42  also has four sides  50 ,  51 ,  52 ,  53  positioned at approximately  45  degree angles to each section aforementioned. This is just one polygon embodiment and it is known that any polygon or shape may be acceptable for the flat section. The handles  54  and  55  are positioned near the center of depending sides  47  and  49 , respectively, but as in all embodiments could be placed on other depending sides and places on these sides if deemed more suitable. Also in all embodiments the handles may be a hole completely surrounded by material of the stovetop cover or a cutout as shown in the figures. There may also be more than two handles on any embodiment. 
         [0024]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.