Patent ID: 6866035

Claim:
A freestanding splatter shield for use in kitchens and other work areas comprising: a central panel having a top, bottom and opposite first and second ends, said central panel including a wall member and at least one extension member operably associated with said wall member, said at least one extension member being selectively moveable relative to said wall member for selectively increasing and decreasing the length of said central panel; said wall member including a slot opening adjacent to at least one end portion of said wall member for receiving said first extension member therein, said first extension member being selectively moveable within said slot relative to said wall member; a first end panel pivotally attached to said central panel and extending therefrom adjacent the first end of said central panel for movement about an axis generally parallel to said first end; a second end panel pivotally attached to said central panel and extending therefrom adjacent the second end of said central panel for movement about an axis generally parallel to said second end; said first and second end panels being selectively positionable at a plurality of different angular orientations relative to said central panel to selectively accommodate different work areas; and a retention mechanism cooperating with said wall member and with said first extension member for selectively retaining said first extension member in a selected position relative to said wall member, said retention mechanism including a plurality of recesses in one of said first extension member and said wall member which are engageable with a plurality of protuberances in the other of said first extension member and said wall member.