Cooktop safety arrangement

Abstract

An arrangement of cooperating cooktop devices includes a receiving device mounted to the bottom of cookware, and a support device extending above a heating element and adapted to be removably engaged with the receiving device so as to prevent displacement of the cookware from its supported position over the heating element. The support device is in the form of finger members (16, 18, 20, 22) spaced above a gas burner element (28) for engaging the receiving device. The receiving device is in the form of a bracket or plate (12) that defines channels (30, 32) through which the finger members can be slidably engaged.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a cooktop safety arrangement, and, in particular, to an arrangement of cooperating cooktop devices for preventing cookware from slipping or otherwise being inadvertently displaced from the grate (also known as a trivet) of a stove or cooktop.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0002]The kitchen may be a dangerous place when young children, and particularly toddlers, are roaming the kitchen looking to satisfy their curiosity or hunger. A significant danger is posed by cookware, such as cooking pots and frying pans, that are present on a stove during or just after cooking when the food or liquid contained therein is hot. Young children are likely to reach up, especially where the handle of the cookware is protruding to the front of the stove, and pull the cooking pot or frying pan off the stove, with the most feared outcome being that they spill the contents over themselves.[0003]A further problem with unsecured cookware is that it may requi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple yet reliable arrangement that can be built-in to cookware and stove grates prior to their sale at minimal cost, and which will prevent the cookware from slipping or otherwise being inadvertently displaced from the grates.

[0011]Accordingly, the present invention provides an arrangement of cooperating cooktop devices comprising a receiving device mounted to the bottom of cookware, and a support device extending above a heating element and adapted to be removably engaged with the receiving device so as to prevent displacement of the cookware from its supported position over the heating element.

Problems solved by technology

The kitchen may be a dangerous place when young children, and particularly toddlers, are roaming the kitchen looking to satisfy their curiosity or hunger.

A significant danger is posed by cookware, such as cooking pots and frying pans, that are present on a stove during or just after cooking when the food or liquid contained therein is hot.

Young children are likely to reach up, especially where the handle of the cookware is protruding to the front of the stove, and pull the cooking pot or frying pan off the stove, with the most feared outcome being that they spill the contents over themselves.

A further problem with unsecured cookware is that it may require a second hand to hold the pot or pan when it is desired to stir the contents thereof.

This second hand may, however, be being used for other cooking purposes, and so not be available to hold the pot or pan during stirring.

Stirring a pot or pan without a steadying second hand may cause the pot or pan to shift dangerously or to spill its contents.

A still further problem relates to gas stoves in moving vehicles, such as marine vessels, aircraft or recreational land vehicles like motor homes or camper vans, where an item of cookware is prone to slipping from a stove grate by the effect of acceleration, deceleration, rocking and bumps encountered by the moving vehicle.

There have been numerous attempts over many years to address these problems, but many of the devices have been complex in structure and difficult to operate, whilst other simpler devices have lacked reliability.

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