Splash guard container lid

Abstract

A splash guard, comprising a plurality of walls, on a lid, that retrofits atop an existing container, allowing the receipt of items to be deposited into the existing container below, from either the top or sides of the guard, and prevents the escape of water, or waterlike substances, from the container below, while allowing the receipt of deposited items, into the container below.

Description

[0001] SPLASH GUARD CONTAINER LID

[0002] Inventor: Kevin E. Silva, United States, Rhode Island

[0003] CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0004] N / A

[0005] STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0006] N / A

[0007] SEQUENCE LISTING, TABLE, OR COMPTER PROGRAMING APPENDIX LISTED IN ELECTRONIC FORM

[0008] N / A

[0009] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Field of the Invention a. The present invention relates to splash guards, and, more specifically, to guards that cover containers, with an opening at the top to allow the receipt of objects into the container below.

[0011] Description of the Related Art i. Currently, containers are used in the food service industry to hold flatware, and other food service utensils, submerged in liquid or liquid like substances, before being washed for use again. When the food service workers deposit the flatware, and other utensils, into the contained, often, from the action of depositing the items into the container, the liquid or liquid- like substance contained in the container escapes the container and expels onto the food service workers, creating unsanitary work conditions,potentially affecting both the customer and food service staff. In addition, the liquid that is expelled from the container can cause hazardous and unpleasant working conditions, due to the escaping liquid, or liquid like substance, landing on workers and work surfaces. In most food service dishwashing areas, the use of a bus bin container is used to collect and disinfect flatware, in a pool of disinfecting liquid contained in the bus bin, before the dishwasher runs the flatware and other utilizes through the dishwasher. When waitstaff deposit the items into these containers, due to the size of the opening of these containers, many times the liquid inside splash onto the depositor and the dishwasher. Therefore, a cover that allows the receipt of the flatware of other items, while restricting the size of the opening, will prevent any liquid or liquid-like substance from escaping the container below.ii. Splash guards that prevent liquid, or liquid-like substances, from splashing out of bowls or basins,are shown in U.S. Pat No.4,722,103, issued to Kliebert on February 2, 1988 (a splash shield with an overhang folding backward over the bowl or basin); U.S. Pat No. US 2006 / 0027575 A1, issued to Lombardo and Casiero on February 9, 2006 a splatter guard shield used directly on the lip of cookware, with an open top, and portion of the side, for access to the cookware basin below).iii. Other containers with cover are disclosed in U.S. Pat No.3,463,345, issued to MS Industries Inc. onAugust 26, 1969 (a lidded tote box with nesting and stacking capabilities).iv. None of the above intentions and patents, taken singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention, as claimed. Thus, a splash guard cover, solving the aforementioned problems, is desired.

[0012] BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] A splash guard, comprising a plurality of walls, on a lid, that retrofits atop an existing container, allowing the receipt of items to be deposited into the existing container below, from either the top or sides of the guard, and prevents the escape of water, or waterlike substances, from the container below, while allowing the receipt of deposited items, into the container below, thereby preventing unsightly and unsanitary liquids from escaping the existing container and contaminating nearby persons or surfaces, preventing unfavorable outcomes, as further detailed, above.

[0014] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the splash guard.

[0016] Figure 2 is a top view of the Figure 1 embodiment of the splash guard.

[0017] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the Figure 1 embodiment of the splash guard.

[0018] Figure 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the splash guard.

[0019] Figure 5 is a top view of the Figure 4 embodiment of the splash guard.

[0020] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the Figure 4 embodiment of the splash guard.

[0021] Figure 7 is a plan view of one embodiment of the locking system for the splash guard.

[0022] Figure 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the splash guard.

[0023] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0024] As shown in Fig.1, the preferred embodiment comprises the plurality of walls 2, on a lid 4 that forms to the top of the existing container 3, which slope up from the base of the lid4, then down 5, allowing the receipt of the items into the existing container below 3, via an opening at the top 1.

[0025] As shown in Fig.4, another embodiment comprises the plurality of walls 2, on a lid 4, which are convex from the base of the lid 4, allowing the receipt of the items into the existing container below 3, via an opening at the top 1.

[0026] As shown in Fig.8, another embodiment comprises the plurality of walls 2, on a lid 4, allowing the receipt of the items into the existing container below 3, via an opening at the side 1.

[0027] As shown in Fig.1, Fig 4 and Fig.8, one embodiment comprises the plurality of walls 2, on a lid 4 that forms to the top of the existing container 3, securing the lid 4 to the existing container.

[0028] As shown in Fig.7, another embodiment comprises the plurality of walls, on a lid 4 that locks to the top of the existing container 3, securing the lid to the existing container.Page 5 of 4

Claims

Page 1 of 2 CLAIMS We claim:

1. A splash guard, comprising:

2. A plurality of walls on a lid:

3. That retrofits atop an existing container:

4. Allowing the receipt of items to be deposited into the existing container below, from either the top or sides of theguard, and:

5. Prevents the escape of water, or waterlike substances, from the container below, while allowing the receipt of thedeposited items, into the container below.

6. The splash guard according to claim 1, whereby the plurality of walls slope up from the base of the lid, then down,allowing the receipt of the items into the existing container below.

7. The splash guard according to claim 1, whereby the plurality of walls slope up from the base of the lid, allowing thereceipt of the items into the existing container below.

8. The splash guard according to claim 1, whereby the plurality of walls slope down from the base of the lid, allowing thereceipt of the items into the existing container below.

9. The guard according to claim 1, whereby the plurality of walls is convex, then concaved from the lid, allowing thereceipt of the items into the existing container below.

10. The guard according to claim 1, whereby the plurality of walls is convex from the lid, allowing the receipt of the itemsinto the existing container below.

11. The guard according to claim 1, whereby the plurality of walls is concaved from the lid, allowing the receipt of theitems into the existing container below.Page 2 of 212. The guard according to claim 1, whereby the lid forms to the existing container top, allowing the guard toretrofit securely to the existing container.

13. The guard according to claim 1, whereby the lid locks to the existing container top, allowing the guard to retrofitsecurely to the existing container.

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