Electric Stove Antifouling Collar System

Abstract

A metal collar having an upper lip and expanded lower lip and a plurality of exhaust holes used in combination with an flexible metal skirt, preferably made of aluminum, that extends outwardly from the lower lip of the metal collar with the metal collar and skirt placed on top of an electric stove with a cooking element to receive a cooking receptacle. The invention disclosed herein allows for cleaner and more efficient cooking.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to pending provisional application No. 63/231,296, filed Aug. 10, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an antifouling collar system for use with electric stoves. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a circular antifouling collar with an external skirt that retains heat for cooking.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Keeping appliances clean in the home is a major task for individuals who cook. Use of oils or other ingredients that can stain an appliance are a major hassle when it comes time to make sure the house is clean for guests or in general. Usually, after cooking a meal, an individual will need to scrub down the stove to remove any oil or other material in order to avoid long-lasting stains or marks.

While there are currently splash guards for sale, they are either large and bulky metal screens or they are removable films. Either way, the present art serves to more protect the kitchen wall than the stove itself from oil and other stains.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvement which overcomes the inadequacies of the prior art and provides an improvement which is a significant contribution to the advancement of antifouling collar art.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an antifouling collar that is lightweight but durable.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an antifouling collar for use with a foil skirt to catch errant oil and other ingredients that are being used during cooking.

A further object of the present invention is to decrease the amount of cleaning that is necessary after cooking a meal.

The foregoing has outlined some of the pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For purposes of summarizing this invention, this invention comprises an antifouling collar and external skirt for use with electric stoves.

Embodiments of the present invention are herein described by way of example and directed to an antifouling collar that prevent oil and other spills. The aforementioned state of the art of antifouling collars shows the need for improvements, specifically in the ability of the collar to be lightweight, durable, and replaceable without further cleaning.

Specifically, the present invention comprises a metal collar having an upper lip and expanded lower lip and a plurality of exhaust holes used in combination with an flexible metal skirt, preferably made of aluminum, that extends outwardly from the lower lip of the metal collar with the metal collar and skirt placed on top of an electric stove with a cooking element to receive a cooking receptacle.

Various embodiments of the invention may have none, some, or all of these advantages. Other technical advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following descriptions, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the collar without the skirt in place on an electric stove.

FIG. 2 is a is a top view of the collar with the skirt attached on an electric stove.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the collar with the skirt attached and cooking receptacle in place on an electric stove.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the collar with the skirt attached.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the collar with the skirt attached.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts through the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This disclosure relates to the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. The various components of the present invention, and the manner in which they interrelate, are described in greater detail hereinafter.

FIG. 1 illustrates the antifouling collar 10 as used with an electric stove 20 having a heating element 22. The antifouling collar 10 is preferably made of a conductive metal such as aluminum or iron and comprises an upper lip 30 defining a central opening 40 for a circular configuration. The upper lip 30 preferably comprises an upper edge 50 having a greater thickness than side wall 60 for support and stability. The continuous side wall 60 is sloped outwardly and meets with a base 70 having a bottom face 80. The antifouling collar 10 further comprises a plurality of apertures 90 in the side wall 60.

As shown in FIG. 2, when in use, the antifouling collar 10 is overlaid with a flexible metal skirt 100 that allows for the central opening 40 to remain open but which engages with the upper lip 30 and upper edge 50, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The flexible metal skirt 100 is preferably made out of aluminum foil but may be made of any flexible metal that can conform to the shape of the antifouling collar 10. The flexible metal skirt 100 generally has a width of six inches beyond the base 70 when in place over the antifouling collar 10, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 3 illustrates the system in use. A cooking receptacle 110 is placed on the antifouling collar 10 with the flexible metal skirt 100 in place. The cooking receptacle 110 contacts the portion of the upper edge 50 that is covered with the flexible metal skirt 100. With the heating element 22 on, the heat from the electric stove 20 radiates upward and cooks whatever material is in the cooking receptacle 110. The flexible metal skirt 100 provides a three-fold benefit as it protects the electric stove 20 from any splashes of oil or other potentially staining material and serves as insulation for the rising heat coming from the heating element 22, and serves to protect the user from the heat of the heating element 22.

FIG. 5 provides an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the side wall 60 does not have a plurality of apertures but is instead solid. The plurality of apertures 90 serve to help radiate the heat but may be removed from the invention to save cost on production as a solid continuous side wall 60 will still radiate heat upward into the cooking receptacle 110. The present invention also serves to prolong the life of the cooking receptacle 110 by virtue of reducing the amount of time the cooking receptacle 110 spends on the heating element 22 and reducing the amount of cleaning necessary for the cooking receptacle 110.

Although this disclosure has been described in terms of certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. An antifouling collar system comprising:

an antifouling collar made of a conductive metal comprising an upper lip with an upper edge at a proximal end, a base at a distal end wherein the base has a bottom face, and a continuous side wall formed between the upper lip and the base which angles outwardly from the upper lip, said upper lip defining a central opening;

a flexible metal skirt laid over the antifouling collar such that the flexible metal skirt cover the upper lip but leaves the central opening clear and which extends at least six inches beyond the base when laid over the antifouling collar;

a cooking receptacle placed on top of the central opening; and

an electric stove.

2. The antifouling collar system of claim 1 wherein the antifouling collar is made of aluminum.

3. The antifouling collar system of claim 1 wherein the antifouling collar is made of iron.

4. The antifouling collar system of claim 1 wherein the flexible metal skirt is made of aluminum foil.

5. The antifouling collar system of claim 1 wherein the side wall further comprises a plurality of circular apertures centrally placed throughout the side wall.

6. The antifouling collar system of claim 1 wherein the central opening is circular.

7. An antifouling collar comprising:

a conductive metal comprising an upper lip with an upper edge at a proximal end, a base at a distal end wherein the base has a bottom face, and a continuous side wall formed between the upper lip and the base which angles outwardly from the upper lip, said upper lip defining a central opening; and

a flexible metal skirt laid over the upper lip such that the flexible metal skirt cover the upper lip but leaves the central opening clear and which extends at least six inches beyond the base when laid over the antifouling collar.

8. The antifouling collar of claim 7 wherein the antifouling collar is made of aluminum.

9. The antifouling collar of claim 7 wherein the antifouling collar is made of iron.

10. The antifouling collar of claim 7 wherein the flexible metal skirt is made of aluminum foil.

11. The antifouling collar of claim 7 wherein the side wall further comprises a plurality of circular apertures centrally placed throughout the side wall.

12. The antifouling collar of claim 7 wherein the central opening is circular.

13. An antifouling collar system comprising:

an antifouling collar made of a conductive metal comprising an upper lip with an upper edge at a proximal end, a base at a distal end wherein the base has a bottom face, and a continuous side wall comprising a plurality of circular apertures formed between the upper lip and the base which angles outwardly from the upper lip, said upper lip and said base defining a circular central opening and circular base;

an aluminum foil skirt laid over the antifouling collar such that the flexible metal skirt cover the upper lip but leaves the central opening clear and which extends at least six inches beyond the base when laid over the antifouling collar;

a cooking receptacle placed on top of the central opening; and

an electric stove.

14. The antifouling collar system of claim 13 wherein the antifouling collar is made of aluminum.

15. The antifouling collar system of claim 13 wherein the antifouling collar is made of iron.