Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates broadly to home appliances for cooking and, more particularly, to a range having a griddle for cooking and an improved griddle cover. 
     Ranges provide a number of cooking options through, for example, ovens, steamers, cooktops and griddles. Griddles usually feature a generally planar cooking surface, with many griddles including some form of non-stick coating. 
     When not in use, the non-stick surface of a griddle should be protected from airborne contaminants as well as splashes, spills and overflows from cooking operations elsewhere on the cooktop. Further, the non-stick coating of the griddle should be protected from abrasion, scratches, gouges, and other damage that metallic utensils and other cooking implements can inflict. Accordingly, a griddle cover is desired. 
     The griddle cover should be attractive and coordinate with the overall appearance of the range while providing sufficient protection for the griddle. Further, a griddle cover should remain in covering relation with the griddle unless removed by a user of the range. The griddle cover could be made from a material similar to the griddle, i.e., with a non-stick coating. However, such a cover would be expensive, wasteful of materials and likely too heavy to function as an effective griddle cover. 
     Accordingly, stainless steel may be used to provide a light and attractive griddle cover. However, stainless steel or other metals can be abrasive to the non-stick coating on the griddle surface. In the past, a silicone gasket fixed to the bottom of the griddle cover by adhesive was used to protect the coated griddle from damage by the metallic cover. 
     A silicone gasket on the bottom of the griddle cover is effective in protecting the griddle cover however it is costly to manufacture due to the need to provide both a gasket and adhesive that are resistant to high temperatures associated with a range Further, the assembly of such a griddle cover with a silicone gasket is generally labor intensive. Therefore, there exists a need for a griddle cover that avoids the above-described problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is accordingly an object to the present invention to provide a griddle cover that provides an inexpensive barrier between a metallic griddle cover body and the non-stick coating of the griddle. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide such a griddle cover that relieves the above-described manufacturing burdens. 
     It is another object to the present invention to provide such a griddle cover that is easy to mount properly on the griddle and is prevented from sliding off the griddle until purposely removed by a user of the range. 
     To those ends, the present invention is directed to a home appliance having a griddle cover including an appliance body, a cooktop disposed on the appliance body and having a griddle, and a griddle cover for removable disposition on the griddle for protecting the griddle from contaminants. The griddle cover includes a cover body having a plurality of support elements on the cover body and a mounting arrangement for removably mounting the griddle cover to the griddle including a plurality of feet mounted to the support elements for supporting the griddle cover on the griddle. 
     Preferably, the cover body and the feet are made from different materials. Further, the cover body may preferably be made from metal and the plurality of feet is preferably made from a non-metallic material. More specifically, the plurality of feet is preferably made from a polymer. It is further preferable that the cover body is made from stainless steel and the plurality of feet is made from a polymer. 
     It is preferred that the plurality of feet is removably attached to the support elements and that the plurality of feet includes five similar feet. 
     The griddle cover body is preferably substantially rectangular and the plurality of feet preferably include one foot adjacent each corner of the cover body and one foot intermediate two other feet. 
     It is further preferred that the griddle cover body is formed from a substantially planar rectangular sheet having a top portion and side walls extending at substantially right angles with the top portion and the support members extending at substantially right angles with the walls in direct opposition to the top portion, wherein the support members extend substantially parallel with and spaced from the top portion. 
     Preferably, the feet have a griddle engagement portion including a generally horizontal first wall and a generally vertical second wall projecting downwardly from the first wall and that the first wall and second wall form a substantially 90° angle. 
     It is further preferred that a handle mounted is mounted the cover body, with the handle being mounted to the cover body at an end opposite the foot intermediate two other feet. 
     The present home appliance can be manifest in the form of a range. To that end, a range with a griddle cover includes a range body and a cooktop disposed on the range body and having a griddle. A griddle cover is included for removable disposition on the griddle for protecting the griddle from contaminants, the griddle cover including a cover body having a plurality of support elements on the cover body. A mounting arrangement is also included for removably mounting the griddle cover to the griddle including a plurality of feet mounted to the support elements for supporting the griddle cover on the griddle. 
     Preferably, the griddle cover body and the feet are made from different materials. It is preferred that the cover body is made from metal and the plurality of feet is made from a non-metallic material, and, more specifically, the plurality of feet is made from a polymer. Preferentially, the cover body is made from stainless steel and the plurality of feet is made from a polymer. 
     It is preferred that the plurality of feet are removably attached to the support elements and that the plurality of feet includes five similar feet. 
     It is further preferred that the cover body is substantially rectangular and the plurality of feet includes one foot adjacent each corner of the cover body and one foot intermediate two other feet. The cover body is preferably formed from a substantially planar rectangular sheet having a top portion and side walls extending at substantially right angles with the top portion and the support members extending at substantially right angles with the walls in direct opposition to the top portion, wherein the support members extend substantially parallel with and spaced from the top portion. 
     Preferably, the feet have a griddle engagement portion including a generally horizontal first wall and a generally vertical second wall projecting downwardly from the first wall, and that the first wall and second wall form a substantially 90° angle. 
     The present griddle cover may preferably include a handle mounted to the cover body, with the handle being mounted to the cover body at an end opposite the foot intermediate two other feet. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a home appliance in the form of a range having a griddle and a griddle cover according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the griddle cover illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the griddle cover illustrated in  FIG. 1  in an inverted position; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the griddle cover illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view of the griddle cover illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of one of the feet supporting the griddle cover illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of the foot illustrated in  FIG. 6  in an inverted position; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of the foot illustrated in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a cutaway view of the foot illustrated in  FIG. 6  taken though line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of the foot illustrated in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the foot illustrated in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a plan view of a metal sheet ready to form into the griddle cover of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a plan view of the sheet illustrated in  FIG. 12  at an intermediate stage of manufacture; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the sheet illustrated in  FIG. 13  at a later stage of manufacture. 
         FIG. 15  is a rear view of the griddle cover illustrated in  FIG. 1  shown mounted to a griddle; and 
         FIG. 16  is a side view of the griddle cover illustrated in  FIG. 1  shown mounted to a griddle. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to the drawings and, more particularly to  FIG. 1 , a home appliance in the form of a range having a griddle and an improved griddle cover is illustrated generally at  10  and includes a floor-standing range body  12  with two cavities formed in a lower portion  14  of the range body  12 . As is generally known, many ranges provide a single oven cavity while others, such as the one pictured, define two cavities, both of which way may be an oven. Alternately, the configuration may be, for example, a single oven with a steamer or a warming drawer in the same range body  12 . 
     A cooktop  16  is disposed on a top portion of the range body  12 . The cooktop  16  includes a plurality of aligned burner pans. A generally planar upstanding backsplash  18  is provided at a rearward portion of the cooktop  16  protect the wall behind the range  10 . A control panel is disposed in the lower portion  14  of the range adjacent the cooktop  16 , allowing a user to control cooking throughout the range  10 . 
     On certain ranges, like the one illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a griddle  102  may be provided on the cooktop  16  in a griddle space intermediate two burner pans. A griddle cover  20  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is fitted to the griddle  102 . 
     The griddle  20  includes a generally planar cover body  22  having a handle  50  mounted at one end thereof for access by the user maneuvering the griddle cover  20  in and out of a covering relationship with the griddle  102 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , the griddle cover  20  will be described in greater detail. The griddle cover  20  is made from a stainless steel sheet defining a planar cover body  22  that is sized to cover the griddle  102  seen in  FIG. 1 . With continued reference to  FIG. 2 , the rectangular griddle cover  20  includes four corners  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  and four downturned walls including a front wall  24 , two side walls  26 ,  28  and a rear wall  30  extending between the corners  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 . 
     The griddle cover  20  includes a handle  50  mounted at one end thereof. The handle  50  includes two upstanding cylindrical support members  54 ,  56  and a generally cylindrical handle body  52  extending therebetween. While the handle  50  is configured as three cylinders, it should be noted that the handle  50  can be formed in any particular configuration to compliment the overall configuration and appearance of the range. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a plurality of support feet  58  are mounted to support elements  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  formed integrally with the side walls  26 ,  28  adjacent respective corners  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 . A fifth foot  68  is mounted to a fifth support element  48  which is formed integrally with the rear wall  30 . The fifth foot  68  is positioned at approximately the center of the rear wall  30  intermediate two other side wall mounted feet  64 ,  66 . As will be seen in greater detail hereinafter, the fifth foot  68  helps to position and stabilize the griddle cover  20  when the griddle cover  20  is mounted on a griddle  102 . As seen in  FIGS. 4 , and  5 , the griddle cover  20  has feet positioned adjacent the corners and along the rear center portion of the back wall  30 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , one of the plurality of feet  58  is illustrated. Although the foot illustrated in  FIG. 6  is identified by the numeral  60 , it should be understood that each of the plurality of feet  58  is either identical or substantially similar, and the description of a first foot  60  applies to all remaining feet  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 . The use of identical feet helps further lower the cost of the present griddle cover. 
     For durability and high temperature resistance as well as ease of manufacture, each of the plurality of feet  58  is made from polyphenylene sulfide resin, known to those skilled in the plastic arts as PPS. PPS provides a durable, heat resistant material that is effectively moldable to the present foot configuration and is effective in providing a durable, non-damaging interface with the griddle. 
     As seen in  FIG. 6 , a foot  60  includes a foot body  70  having a generally planar top surface  72  extending thereacross. The foot  60  is formed as a generally elongate rectangular volume having a central projection  74  rising from the foot body  70  and defining a first plateau  76  and a second plateau  78  on either side of the projection  74 . Each plateau  76 ,  78  includes a fastener throughbore  86 ,  92  respectively extending therethrough. It should be understood that the foot  60  illustrated in  FIG. 6  is inverted from its use position with the projection  74  extending upwardly and, in use, the projection  74  extends downwardly. The projection  74  enhances the contact surface of the vertical wall  80  for better and more stable engagement of the griddle cover  20  with the griddle  102 . 
     The foot body  70  includes a generally vertical wall  80  for contact with a griddle wall as will be seen in greater detail hereinafter. A flange  82  extends from one side of the foot body  70  and extends the full length thereof. The flange  82  defines a horizontal surface  84  which is also configured for griddle contact as will also be described in greater detail hereinafter. The vertical wall  80  and the horizontal wall  84  define a substantially right angle α therebetween. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 7 , the foot  60  is shown inverted from the view in  FIG. 6  and illustrates the fastener throughbores  86 ,  92  passing through the foot body  70 . The projection  74  is revealed in  FIG. 7  to be hollow and is indicative of the conservation of material available when molding the foot  60  from a polymer such as PPE. 
       FIG. 8  shows a bottom view of the foot  60  wherein line  9 - 9  defines cutaway view illustrated in  FIG. 9 . The cutaway view of  FIG. 9  illustrates the hollow nature of the projection  74  and the fastener throughbores  86 ,  92  extending through each plateau  76 ,  78  respectively. Since the intended fasteners of the present invention are screws, the throughbores  86 ,  92  each include a head well  88 ,  94  and a shaft passage  90 ,  96  open to the respective head wells  88 ,  94 . Accordingly, any screw used to mount the foot  60  will be contained fully within the through bores  86 ,  92  insofar as the foot  60  is concerned. As may be surmised, the shaft of each screw will extend beyond the through bores  86 ,  92  for engagement with the respective support flange associated with each foot  60 . 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  further illustrate the configuration of the outer portion of the foot  60 . The relationship between the horizontal wall  84  and the vertical wall  80  is more fully illustrated and, with particular reference to  FIG. 11 , the substantially right angle α includes a slightly curved vertex for ease of both manufacture and cleaning. 
     In order to make the griddle cover  20  of the present invention, a generally planar sheet SS of material, preferably metal and, more specifically, stainless steel is provided as seen in  FIG. 12 . The metal is stamped, cut or otherwise manipulated to form a generally rectangular cover body  22  having a front wall  24 , two side walls  26 ,  28  and rear wall  30  defined therein. Respective corners  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38  are open such that the two end walls  24 ,  30  are independent of the two side walls  26 ,  28  thereby defining four individual walls. 
     Support flanges  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  for supporting feet are formed adjacent each corner  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  of the cover body  22 . For example, adjacent the first corner  32 , a support flange  40  projects outwardly from the side wall  26  and is formed as a generally rectangular member coplanar with the griddle cover body  22  and including two screw openings  98  that are punched, drilled or otherwise formed adjacent each end of the support flange  40 . The support flange  40  is sized in accordance with the overall perimeter of the foot  60 . Support flanges  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  are formed at or adjacent all four corners  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  of the cover body  22 . A fifth support flange  48  is formed integrally with the rear wall  30  at approximately the center thereof intermediate two other feet  44 ,  46  which acts to enhance the stability of the present griddle cover and enhances the ease of installation. 
     As seen in  FIG. 12 , dotted lines are provided to show the boundaries between the cover body  22 , the front wall  24 , the side walls  26 ,  28 , the end wall  30 , and the support flanges  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 . It will be understood that such dotted lines are typically not applied to any actual griddle cover but are presented herein for clarity. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 13 , an intermediate manufacturing step is illustrated wherein the walls  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30  are folded away from the cover body  22  to project away therefrom at approximately a 90° angle. During this intermediate step, the support flanges  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  remain coplanar with the side walls  26 ,  28  and the end support flange  48  remains coplanar with the end wall  30 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 14 , the support flanges  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  are then folded, bent or otherwise directed inwardly toward a common center of the cover body  22  such that the planar support flanges  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  extend parallel to and are spaced a predetermined distance from the cover body  22 . The plurality of support feet  58  are then attached to their respective support flanges  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  using screws  100  extending through the throughbores  86 ,  92 . In  FIG. 14 , a single foot  66  is shown for clarity, the single foot  66  being shown exploded from its respective support flange  46 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 15 and 16  interaction of the griddle cover  22  and the griddle  102  may be seen. The griddle  102  is illustrated open from the rear for clarity. There, the griddle cover  22  is fitted to the griddle  102  with the cover body  22  in an overlying relationship with the griddle surface  104  so as to prevent contaminants from reaching the griddle surface  104 . 
     The plurality of feet  58  engage the walls of the griddle wherein a vertical wall  80  of each respective foot  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  engages a vertical wall  108  of the griddle  102 . Further, a horizontal wall  84  of each respective foot  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  engages a horizontal wall  106  of the griddle  102 . By including one foot at each of five positions on the griddle cover  20  including the four corners  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  and center of the rear wall  30 , the present griddle cover  20  provides a stable and easy-to-install griddle cover that can be removed from the front using the handle  50 . 
     By the above, the present griddle cover provides an attractive, easy-to-use cover that protects the griddle of a home appliance such as a range from contaminants as well as from abrasions and other damage from utensils, while maintaining an attractive stainless steel appearance and mounting to the griddle in a user-friendly, non-destructive manner. 
     It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of a broad utility and application. While the present invention is described in all currently foreseeable embodiments, there may be other, unforeseeable embodiments and adaptations of the present invention, as well as variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, that do not depart from the substance or scope of the present invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.

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