WO2009146496A1

WO2009146496A1 - Spatter guard

Info

Publication number: WO2009146496A1
Application number: PCT/AU2009/000702
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Stephen-Daly
Original assignee: PMLW Pty Ltd
Current assignee: PMLW Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2008-06-04
Filing date: 2009-06-03
Publication date: 2009-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 2010-12-04
Also published as: AU2009201829A1

Abstract

A spatter guard (1, 10 or 30) comprising a closed free-standing spatter barrier (2) of food-safe material which is self supporting when formed into a closed barrier, the barrier (2) having a lower edge (3, 12) defining an open base (4) dimensioned to engage a cooking surface S of a frying pan (P) or griddle (G), and an upper edge (5, 18) disposed at an angle of about 6° so that the barrier does not extend beyond the periphery of the pan P and defines an open top (6) which provides access to the food (F) being cooked in the pan (P) to ensure that cooking by-products are free to escape to avoid broiling of the food (F). The height of the barrier (2) is selected to substantially prevent spatter escaping from the pan (P) and for a (10") pan, the height may be about (41/2"). In one embodiment, at least the lower edge (12) of the barrier (10) may be formed with peaks and troughs so that the barrier contacts the surface of the pan or griddle at the peaks only to reduce the transfer of heat to the barrier (10).

Description

SPATTER GUARD

This invention relates to spatter guards for use during cooking to reduce the amount of spatter transferred to surfaces around the cooking location. Spatter guards in the form of covers or lids for frying pans are widely used. While such guards provide some protection for the surfaces surrounding the cooking location, the guard must be removed to turn the food being cooked resulting in the possibility of some spatter escaping. Furthermore, the guard must be cleaned after each use thereby reducing the advantage provided by containing the spatter. Disposable spatter covers have been proposed to overcome the cleaning disadvantage, but most of the proposals which have been put forward, such as US 2004/0217113, are essentially closed to cover the food being cooked, and this means that the cover must be removed to facilitate the cooking process thereby leading to the likelihood that some spatter will escape. Where such guards are used for frying, the closed nature of the guard means that the food tends to be broiled rather than fried.

An open topped disposable paper spatter guard has been suggested in DE 20312275, but this arrangement requires a complex articulated base frame with upright clips to support the screen around the outside periphery of the hot frying pan. Apart from the disadvantage of having to provide a base frame, which must be cleaned after use, a major defect in such an arrangement is that the paper screen is likely to catch fire, leaving the way open to serious accidents.

The present invention provides a spatter guard comprising a closed free-standing spatter barrier of food safe material which is self supporting when formed into a closed barrier, said barrier having a lower edge dimensioned to engage a flat surface of a food cooking support, such as a frying pan, and defining and open base, an upper edge defining an open top dimensioned to enable access to food to be cooked on the cooking support while remaining within the periphery of the support, the barrier being dimensioned to substantially intercept spatter generated as food is cooked on the support.

The closed spatter barrier may be formed from a length of sheet-like food safe material formed into a closed loop of a shape to suit the shape of the cooking support, including circular, oval square or rectangular, and the upper edge of the barrier may be inclined inwardly or outwardly with respect to the lower edge. If inclined inwardly, the angle is selected so as to provide sufficient access to allow the cooking process to proceed without moving the barrier and to allow adequate escape of the cooking by products such that the food is fried rather than broiled. It is preferred that the dimensions of the open top should not be less than about 70% of the dimensions of the open base.

If inclined outwardly, the angle is selected so that the upper edge of the barrier does not extend beyond the periphery of the cooking support to substantially prevent the barrier catching alight during the cooking process. In other embodiments, the spatter barrier may be at or close to perpendicular to the flat surface of the food cooking support. It has been found by experiment that the angle of outward inclination should lay between about five degrees and six degrees while the angle of inward inclination should lie between about five degrees and eighteen degrees.

If desired, at least the lower edge of the barrier can be formed with peaks and troughs dimensioned so that the barrier rests on the cooking support on the peaks to reduce transfer of heat to the barrier. The upper edge may be similarly formed so that the barrier can be used with the upper edge down if desired.

One suitable sheet-like food safe material is absorbent domestic paper towelling. This material has the advantage of absorbing some of the fat created by the cooking process. The absorption of fat in the lower edge of the spatter barrier tends to cause stabilisation of the barrier.

Other suitable materials include any suitable paper, cardboard or other preferably recyclable material, including moulded light weight papier-mache type material of the sort used to make egg cartons and the like or re-usable materials such as suitable heat proof plastic or silicon-based materials. Where the barrier is made from a length of sheet-like material formed into a loop, the material may be held in the loop by gluing or other securing means such as interlocking elements formed in overlapping ends of the sheet-like material. For marketing, the barrier may be folded flat and expanded for use when required. In the case of moulded barriers, they may be marketed in nested form. Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment having an outward inclination engaging a frying pan;

Figure 2 shows a blank for forming the embodiment of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the arrangement shown in Figure 1 illustrating how the top edge is located within the periphery of the pan;

Figure 4 shows how the embodiment of Figure 1 is folded flat for marketing; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment having an inward inclination. Figures 6 to 10 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention in a manner similar to Figures 1 to 5, and Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a still further embodiment of the invention suitable for use for square or rectangular pans or griddles.

Li the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, a strip 1 of absorbent paper towelling is formed into a closed free-standing barrier 2 having a lower edge 3 defining an open base 4 dimensioned to engage a flat cooking surface S of a frying pan P P, as illustrated in Figure 1. The barrier 2 is outwardly inclined by an angle of about five or six degrees to a vertical plane coincident with the lower edge 3, and extends to an upper edge 5, which at this angle does not extend beyond the periphery of the pan P, and defines an open top 6 which provides access to food F being cooked in the pan P, and ensuring that the cooking by products are free to escape thereby avoiding broiling of the food F. The height of the barrier 2 is selected to substantially prevent spatter escaping from the pan P, and in the case of a barrier suitable for a ten inch pan, a height of about four and a half inches has been found to be satisfactory. The height is not critical but from a practical point of view it need only be about half to two-thirds of the diameter of the base.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the strip 1 from which the barrier 2 is formed is shaped to form the barrier configuration illustrated when the ends of the strip are overlapped and joined, such as by adhesive. A barrier formed in this way from normal domestic paper towelling material is free-standing to an extent sufficient for it to function as a spatter barrier for typical cooking periods, after which the barrier may be disposed of for recycling. The lower edge 3 of the barrier will absorb fat which is produced when meat is fried, and this tends to stabilise the barrier in the pan P. Since the upper edge 5 does not extend beyond the periphery of the pan P, the risk of the barrier catching fire is minimal. In the embodiment of Figure 5, the barrier 2 is inclined inwardly at an angle of about five or six degrees. This provides an open top 6 which is still of sufficient dimensions to allow a normal cooking process to proceed without having to remove the barrier, while avoiding conditions which result in the food F being broiled. The barrier 2 may be inclined about five or six degrees while still allowing the barrier to function satisfactorily. Angles up to about eighteen degrees still allow the required functionality. Any significant increase in this maximum angle may inhibit access to the food F and/or result in broiling conditions. For satisfactory performance the size of the open top 6 should not be less than about 70% of the size of the base 4. Of course, the barrier 2 need not be inclined and may be substantially perpendicular to the flat base of the pan P.

In the embodiment of figures 6 to 10, the barrier 10 has at least its lower edge 12 formed with a series of peaks 14 and troughs 16 so that the barrier contacts the base of the pan P at the peaks only to reduce the transfer of heat from the pan P to the barrier 10. If desired, the top edge 18 can be similarly formed so that the barrier 10 can be used in either orientation. In this embodiment, the barrier 10 is formed with a series of slits 20 which can be engaged by a shaped end portion 22 to form a closed loop. The series of slits 20 illustrated in the drawing are provided to enable an appropriately dimensioned barrier 10 to be formed to suit the diameter of the pan P.

Ih the embodiment of Figure 11, a similar barrier 30 is shown for use with a rectangular or square griddle G or a pan of similar shape. It will be appreciated that similarly shaped barriers with straight upper or lower edges may be formed as in the earlier embodiments.

The barrier 2 may be formed of any suitable material which is safe for use with food, including moulded papier-mache type material of the sort used to manufacture egg cartons. While it is preferred that the material should be sheet-like so that the barrier 2 can be folded fiat for marketing, as illustrated in Figure 2, the use of moulded material still allows barriers to be marketed in nested form. Where the material is relatively stiff, joining of the overlapped ends may be achieved by interlocking tabs and openings rather than glue or other fixing devices such as staples. It will be appreciated from the above that spatter guards embodying the invention provide the advantage of being disposable while allowing the cooking process to proceed without removal of the guard and ensuring that the food being cooked is not broiled.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and

"comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims

1. A spatter guard comprising a closed free-standing spatter barrier of food safe material which is self-supporting when formed into a closed barrier, said barrier having a lower edge dimensioned to engage a cooking surface of a food cooking support, such as a frying pan or griddle, and defining and open base, an upper edge defining an open top dimensioned to enable access to food to be cooked on the cooking support while remaining within the periphery of the support, the barrier being dimensioned to substantially intercept spatter generated as food is cooked on the support.

2. The spatter guard of claim 1 , wherein the spatter barrier is formed from a length of sheet-like food safe material formed into a closed loop of a shape to suit the cooking support, including circular, oval, square or rectangular.

3. The spatter guard of claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper edge of the barrier is inclined inwardly or outwardly with respect to the lower edge.

4. The spatter guard of claim 3, wherein the upper edge of the barrier is inclined inwardly, the angle being selected so as to provide sufficient access to allow the cooking process to proceed without moving the barrier and to allow adequate escape of cooking by-products such that the food is fried rather than broiled.

5. The spatter guard of claim 4, wherein the dimensions of the open top are not less than about 70% of the dimensions of the open base.

6. The spatter guard of claim 3, wherein the upper edge of the barrier is inclined outwardly, the angle inclination being selected so that the upper edge of the barrier does not extend beyond the periphery of the cooking support to substantially prevent the barrier catching alight during the cooking process.

7. The spatter guard of anyone of claims 4 to 7, wherein the angle of output inclination should lie between about 5° and 6° while the angle of inward inclination should lie between about 5° and 18 °.

8. The spatter guard of the preceding claim, wherein at least the lower edge of the barrier is formed with peaks and troughs dimensioned so that the barrier rests on the cooking support on the peaks only to reduce the transfer of heat to the barrier.

9. The spatter guard of claim 9, wherein the upper edge of the barrier is similarly formed with peaks and troughs so that the barrier may be used with either edge engaging the cooking support.

10. The spatter guard of any preceding claim, wherein the barrier is made from absorbent domestic paper towelling material.

11. The spatter guard of any preceding claim, wherein the barrier is made from a length of sheet-like material formed into a loop and held in the loop by interlocking elements formed in overlapping ends of the sheet-like material.

12. The spatter guard of claim 11, wherein the sheet-like material is held in a loop by interlocking means of the type described with reference to figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A spatter guard substantially hereinbefore described with reference to figures 1, 2,

4 or figure 5 or figures 6 to 9 or figure 10 or figures 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.