STOVE COVER

Abstract

It is disclosed a foldable surface of a first flat expanse. The surface includes four identical pockets for receiving four flat rigid inserts, and borders between the pockets. The borders allow folding of the surface a much smaller second flat expanse. A shape of the flat rigid insert may be a rectangle, a square, half a circle, a quarter of a circle, or an equilateral right-angle triangle. The foldable surface includes textile, fire-retardant treated textile or a textile withstanding a temperature of 1000° F. The filled pockets are covered with sheaths. Margins of the pockets and margins of the sheaths include mating straps. The foldable surface further includes a skirt disposed downward from the perimeter of the first flat expanse. The skirt may have height of at least 5 inches, and may include holes for its anchoring to underneath objects.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the invention

The invention is in the field of kitchen appliances, especially articles for covering cooking means when that are not in their usual use, such that their area may be used for other purposes.

BACKGROUND

Stove covers provide two needs of a kitchen owner. The first need is to protect cooktop surfaces from accumulation of dust, debris, cat hair, or other impurities from falling inside the cooking grates, thus reducing fire safety hazards and harsh odors.

The second need is to provide additional working surface, especially in small and densely packed kitchens where working surfaces are in shortage. A stove cover may provide such an excess surface whenever the stove is not in use and has already cooled down. Furthermore, a stove cover which stands high temperatures made be used right after using the stove. Thus, the object of the current invention is to provide such a stove cover to allow using of the space for placing a chopping block, dropping groceries off, or preparing a healthy lunch.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is disclosed a foldable surface of a first flat expanse. The surface includes pockets for receiving respective rigid flat inserts to get filled pockets, and borders between the pockets. The borders allow folding of the foldable surface to a second flat expanse, much smaller than the first flat expanse.

In some embodiments, the foldable surface includes four identical pockets for respective four identical inserts.

In some embodiments, the foldable surface includes a certain number of pockets, and the second expanse is less than (the first flat expanse)*1.2 /(the certain number of pockets).

In some embodiments, a shape of a flat rigid insert is a rectangle, a square, half a circle, a quarter of a circle, and an equilateral right-angle triangle.

In some embodiments, the foldable surface includes the flat rigid inserts.

In some embodiments, the foldable surface includes textile.

In some embodiments, the foldable surface includes sheaths for closing the filled pockets. Preferably, margins of the pockets and margins of the sheaths include mating straps for closing of the filled pockets by the sheaths. Preferably, the sheaths include textile.

The above-mentioned textile is fire-retardant treated textile or a textile withstanding a temperature of 1000° F.

In some embodiments, the foldable surface further includes a skirt disposed downward from the perimeter of the first flat expanse. Preferably, the skirt has height of at least 5 inches. Preferably, the skirt includes holes for its anchoring to underneath objects.

It is disclosed a method for using a foldable surface of a first flat expanse. The method includes inserting flat rigid inserts into pockets of the foldable surface to get filled pockets, closing the filled pockets by sheaths, and folding the foldable surface along borders between the filled pockets to occupy a second flat expanse, much smaller than the first flat expanse.

In some embodiments, the method further includes a step of unfolding the surface, and a step of covering a stove by the spread-out surface.

In some embodiments, the foldable surface further includes a skirt, and the method includes a step of disposing the skirt downward from a perimeter of the first flat expanse.

In some embodiments, the method includes a step of sticking mating straps at margins of the pockets and at margins of the sheaths.

In some embodiments, the method further includes a step of anchoring the skirt to an underneath object.

It is disclosed a method for producing a foldable surface of a first flat expanse. The method comprising preparing a textile surface of a first substantially flat expanse, creating pockets on the textile surface, and connecting borders between the pockets, and inserting flat rigid inserts into the pockets. The borders allow folding of the foldable surface after being filled with rigid inserts.

The method further includes connecting first mating straps to the borders, and closing the filled pockets by sheaths having margins with a second mating strap for mating with the one first mating strap on the border.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanied drawings in which:

FIG. 1 presents foldable stove cover used as a surface for fruit plates over a stove.

FIG. 2 depicts a foldable stove cover on a partially exposed gas stove.

FIG. 3 presents a folded stove cover.

FIG. 4 shows four rigid rectangular inserts within respective pockets.

FIG. 5 depicts four rectangular pocket sheaths closing the four pockets.

FIG. 6 is a side cross-section of a filled pocket.

FIG. 7 presents a hook strap connecting a skirt of the foldable stove cover to a handle of an underneath oven.

FIG. 8A is a rectangle shaped rigid insert.

FIG. 8B is a square shaped rigid insert.

FIG. 8C is a half-circle shaped rigid insert.

FIG. 8D is a quarter-circle shaped rigid insert.

FIG. 8E is an equilateral right triangle shaped rigid insert.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a method for using a foldable surface.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method for producing a foldable surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in terms of specific example embodiments. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the example embodiments disclosed. It should also be understood that not every feature of the methods and systems handling the described game is necessary to implement the invention as claimed in any particular one of the appended claims. Various elements and features of the invented article are described to fully enable the invention. It should also be understood that throughout this disclosure, where a method is shown or described, the steps of the method may be performed in any order or simultaneously, unless it is clear from the context that one step depends on another being performed first.

Before explaining several embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The systems, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

In the description and claims of the present application, each of the verbs “comprise”, “include” and “have”, and conjugates thereof, are used to indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily a complete listing of members, components, elements or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb.

A foldable surface 2 is used to cover a gas stove 4 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The structure of the foldable surface 2 enables stable deposition of the shown fruit plates 6 on it. The structure further enables to fold the foldable surface 2 to about one fourth of its area, as shown in FIG. 3, for easy storage in a closet, pantry, or other available storage area in the kitchen.

In the next sections, a description of the structure of the foldable surface 2 is followed by a description of its method of use and a description of its method of production.

A Foldable Surface for Covering a Stove (FIGS. 1-8)

The foldable surface or cover 2 has a flat expanse 8 as shown the back view of FIG. 4. In the back side of the foldable surface 2, there are four pockets 10 for receiving respective rigid flat inserts 12. As shown in FIG. 5, sheaths 14 cover the pockets 10.

A side cross-section of the cover 2 is shown in FIG. 6. Borders 16 separate the pockets 10 from each other. Mating strap 18 are attached to the borders 16 and to the margins 20 of the pocket 10. Mating strap 22 are attached to the margins of sheaths 14.

In an example, mating straps 18 are Velcro hook strap while mating strap 22 are Velcro loop straps. Thus, upon placing of the sheaths on the pockets 10, the straps 18 stick to the straps 22, and keep the rigid inserts 12 within the pockets 10.

The combination of borders 16, straps 18 and straps 22 allow folding of the foldable surface to a flat expanse 24 of FIG. 3, which is much smaller than the flat expanse 8. For example, in case that the foldable surface 2 includes four identical pockets 10 for respective four identical inserts 12, the flat expanse 24 is less than 30% of the flat expanse 8.

The foldable surface 2 may further include a skirt 26 disposed downward from the perimeter of the flat expanse 8. The skirt may have a height of at least 5 inches, and it hides the lower part of the stove and thus affects aesthetic appearance.

As shown in FIG. 7, the skirt 26 may include holes 28 for its anchoring to underneath handle 30 of an oven, for example. In the example of FIG. 7 a hook 32 of a hook strap is connected to the handle 30 while a strap 34 is interlaced within the hole 28.

The foldable surface 2 and the sheaths 14 may be made from a textile. The textile may be fire-retardant treated textile, a textile withstanding a temperature of 1000° F. or even 2000° F. Additionally, or alternatively, the textile may be waterproof material, and\or heavy-duty, easy-to-maintain durable textile.

The rigid inserts 12 may include wood, high density polymer, ceramic, glass, metals, and mixtures thereof.

The stability of the foldable surface needed for supporting the fruit plates 6 is provided by two features of the stove and of the foldable surface. First, as shown in FIG. 2, the stove 4 includes metallic structure 29 for supporting cooking utensils, which supports the surface 2. Secondly, the four rigid inserts 12 are packed closely within the pockets 10 to avoid collapsing under the weight of plates 6.

Rather than having four pockets 10 for four rigid inserts 12, a foldable surface may include only two pockets 10 for two rigid inserts 12, or more than four pockets 10. Also, the shape of the pockets 10 and rigid inserts 12 may be one of the examples of FIG. 8, as well as any shape that is consistent with the necessary features of the foldable surface 2.

FIG. 8A depicts a rectangle shaped rigid insert 36. FIG. 8B illustrates a square shaped rigid insert 38. FIG. 8C shows a half-circle shaped rigid insert 40. FIG. 8D presents a quarter-circle shaped rigid insert 42. Finally, FIG. 8E depicts an equilateral right triangle shaped rigid insert 44.

A Method for Using a Foldable Surface (FIGS. 1-7, 9)

A method 100 for using a foldable surface 2 of a flat expanse 8 is presented in the flowchart of FIG. 9. The method 100 includes a step 105 of inserting flat rigid inserts 12 into pockets 10 of the foldable surface 2, step 110 of sticking mating straps 18 and 22 at margins of the pockets 10 and at margins of the sheaths 14, respectively, and a step 115 of mating and closing the filled pockets 10 by sheaths 14. The method 100 further includes a step 120 of folding the foldable surface along borders 16 between the filled pockets 10 to occupy a flat expanse 24, much smaller than the flat expanse 8.

The method 100 further includes a step 125 of unfolding the surface 2, and a step 130 of covering a stove 4 by the spread-out surface 2.

The foldable surface 2 may further include a skirt 26, and the method 100 includes a step 135 of disposing the skirt 26 downward from a perimeter of the flat expanse 8, and a step 140 of anchoring the skirt 26 to an underneath object 30.

A Method for Creating a Foldable Surface (FIGS. 1-7, 10)

A method 200 for producing a foldable surface 2 of a flat expanse 8 is depicted in the flowchart of FIG. 10. The method 200 includes a step 205 of preparing a textile surface 2 of a flat expanse 8, a step 210 of connecting a skirt to the foldable surface 2, a step 215 of creating pockets 10 on the textile surface 2, a step 220 of connecting borders 16 to the surface 2 between the pockets 10, and a step 225 of inserting flat rigid inserts 12 into the pockets 10.

The method further includes a step 230 of connecting mating straps 18 to the borders 16, and a method 235 of closing the filled pockets 10 by sheaths 14 having margins with mating straps 22 for mating with the mating strap 18 on the border.

Claims

1. A foldable surface of a first substantially flat expanse, the surface comprising:

a. at least two pockets for receiving respective at least two rigid substantially flat inserts to get at least two filled pockets; and

b. at least one border between said at least two pockets, said at least one border being configured to allow folding of said foldable surface to occupy a second substantially flat expanse, said second substantially flat expanse being much smaller than said first substantially flat expanse.

2. The foldable surface of claim 1 comprising four substantially identical pockets for respective four substantially identical inserts.

3. The foldable surface of claim 1 wherein the foldable surface includes a certain number of pockets, and said second expanse is less than (said first substantially flat expanse)*1.2/(said certain number of pockets).

4. The foldable surface of claim 1 wherein a shape of a substantially flat rigid insert is selected from a list of geometric shapes consisting a rectangle, a square, half a circle, a quarter of a circle, and an equilateral right-angle triangle.

5. The foldable surface of claim 1 further including said at least two substantially flat rigid inserts.

6. The foldable surface of claim 1 wherein the foldable surface includes textile.

7. The foldable surface of claim 1 further including at least two sheaths for closing said at least two filled pockets.

8. The foldable surface of claim 7 wherein margins of said at least two pockets and margins of said at least two sheaths include mating straps enabling closing of said at least two pockets by said at least two sheaths.

9. The foldable surface of claim 7 wherein said at least two sheaths include textile.

10. The foldable surface of claim 6 or 9 wherein the textile is fire-retardant treated textile or a textile withstanding a temperature of 1000° F.

11. The foldable surface of claim 1 further including a skirt configured to be disposed downward from most of the length of the perimeter of said first substantially flat expanse.

12. The foldable surface of claim 11 wherein at least part of said skirt has height of at least 5 inches.

13. The foldable surface of claim 11 wherein said skirt includes at least one hole for anchoring said skirt to at least one object residing below the skirt.

14. A method for using a foldable surface of a first substantially flat expanse, the method comprising:

a. inserting at least two substantially flat rigid inserts into at least two pockets of the foldable surface to get at least two filled pockets;

b. closing said at least two filled pockets by at least two sheaths; and

c. folding said foldable surface along at least one border between said at least two filled pockets to occupy a second substantially flat expanse, said second substantially flat expanse being much smaller than said first substantially flat expanse.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the method further includes a step of unfolding a folded foldable surface, and a step of covering a stove by the spread-out foldable surface.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the foldable surface further includes a skirt, and the method includes a step of disposing said skirt downward from at least part of a perimeter of said first substantially flat expanse.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the method includes a step of sticking mating straps at margins of said at least two pockets and at margins of said at least two sheaths.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the method further includes a step of anchoring said skirt to a one or more objects.

19. A method for producing a foldable surface of a first substantially flat expanse, the method comprising:

a. preparing a textile surface of a first substantially flat expanse;

b. connecting a skirt to most of the perimeter of said first expanse.

c creating at least two pockets on said textile surface,

d. connecting at least one border to said textile surface between pockets, said at least one border being configured to allow folding of said foldable surface after being filled with at least two rigid inserts; and

e. inserting at least two substantially flat rigid inserts into said at least two pockets to get at least two filled pockets.

20. The method of claim 19 further including connecting at least one first mating strap to said at least one border, and closing said at least two filled pockets by at least two sheaths having margins with a second mating strap configured for mating said at least one first mating strap.