GB2113826A - Hob guards - Google Patents

Abstract

A hob guard for fitment around a table-top hob and having guard members extending around the hob to provide a barrier to passage of pots, pans and the like from the hob. The guard members 1, 5 can be interconnected horizontal spaced wires 2, 6 and the members can be adjustable to allow locating and to suit different sizes of hob. Locking tabs 4 fit below the hob to hold the guard in place. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hob guard This invention relates to a hob guard.

It has previously been proposed to provide a hob guard for attachment to a cooker, stove or the like, wherein a pair of corner members are telescopically connected with side members and a front member so that when assembled the guard is adjusted to fit round the three sides of the hob and is connectible to the upstanding back of the cooker. Such an arrangement has been found to be very effective for conventional cookers but does not lend itself to cookers where the hob forms the upper portion of the cooker and/or rests an a worksurface. In such a case there is no upstanding back for attachment of the guard, and the guard of the prior art cannot extend around the entire hob.

According to the present invention there is provided a hob guard having a guard member for extending upwardly of a hob and defining a closed or substantially closed area to be guarded, and engagement members on the guard for securing the guard member to the hob.

The guard members may form a closed figure so as to extend around the entire hob, although breaks may be present in the continuity of the guard members if they are small enough to prevent utensils, for example pots and pans, being pulled past the guard.

The engagement members preferably fit below the hob and may for example be tabs extending from the members.

Preferably the guard member is adjustable to alter the area which it defines, and this can be achieved by making the guard member of telescopically-interconnected sections. The guard member may be of spaced horizontal wires interconnected by brackets extending between them and through which the wires pass. The brackets may lock the telescopic sections together.

Telescopic adjustment of sections of the guard members may be achieved by providing one or more corner members telescopically connected with adjacent side members. By providing such an arrangement the guard can be adjusted to suit different sizes of hob, and also allows the tabs to be inserted below the hob to secure it.

The tabs may be fixed permanently on the members, preferably when the members are relatively movable, or may be securable on the members after fitment of the members around a hob. In the latter case the guard members may if desired by made to a size which will fit around a particular hob, without provision of adjustability.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Fig 1 is a perspective view of a hob guard of the invention; and Fig. 2 is a side view of a part of another hob guard of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the guard of this embodiment of the invention has four corner members 1 each consisting of three spaced parallel lengths of Bundy tubing 2 interconnected by two wire cross-members 3 which are welded to the tubing 2.

Sheet metal tabs 4 are welded two on each bottom length 2 of the corner members 1 so as to project inwardly therefrom.

Side members 5 each consisting of three spaced parallel wires 6 interconnected by wire cross members 7 extend between the corner members 1, the wires 6 engaging telescopically with the Bundy tubing 2 so that the length of each side of the guard is adjustable.

The connections between the wires 6 and tubing 2 are securable by means of metal clamp brackets 8 which can be tightened to clamp the tubing 2 against the wires 6 to prevent further relative movement between them.

In use, the clamp brackets 8 are initially loose and the telescopic connections adjusted so that the overall length and breadth of the guard are greater than the corresponding dimensions of a hob to which the guard is to be fitted. The guard is then placed around the hob and the wires 6 pushed into the tubing 2 until thet metal tabs 4 engage between the hob and the surface on which it rests, and the corner and side members 1, 5 sit snugly ageinst the sides of the hob. The clamp brackets 8 are then tightened to prevent further movement between the corner and side members 1,5.

In this position the guard is prevented from lateral movement by engagement of the corner and side members 1, 5 with the hob sides, and from upward movement by engagement of the tabs 4 below the hob. The guard is therefore firmly held in place and acts to prevent pots, pans and other utensils from being pulled from the hob.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the general layout of the guard is similar to that of Fig. 1 but the construction differs in that the corner members 1 are made of wire 9 instead of tubing, and the side members 5 consist of two wires instead of three.

The clamp brackets 8 in Fig. 2 clamp the wires against relative movement, but the wires 6, 9 do not contact one another directly.

The guard of Fig. 2 is considerably cheaper than that of Fig. 1 and is more readily reusable as none of the parts is deformed during clamping in the manner of the Bundy tubing 2 of Fig. 1.

Modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

1. A hob guard having a guard member for extending upwardly of a hob and defining a closed or substantially closed area to be guarded, and engagement member on the guard for securing the guard member to the hob.

2. A hob guard according to Claim 1, wherein the engagement members are arranged to fit below the hob.

3. A hob guard according to Claim 2, wherein the engagement members are in the form of tabs

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Hob guard This invention relates to a hob guard. It has previously been proposed to provide a hob guard for attachment to a cooker, stove or the like, wherein a pair of corner members are telescopically connected with side members and a front member so that when assembled the guard is adjusted to fit round the three sides of the hob and is connectible to the upstanding back of the cooker. Such an arrangement has been found to be very effective for conventional cookers but does not lend itself to cookers where the hob forms the upper portion of the cooker and/or rests an a worksurface. In such a case there is no upstanding back for attachment of the guard, and the guard of the prior art cannot extend around the entire hob. According to the present invention there is provided a hob guard having a guard member for extending upwardly of a hob and defining a closed or substantially closed area to be guarded, and engagement members on the guard for securing the guard member to the hob. The guard members may form a closed figure so as to extend around the entire hob, although breaks may be present in the continuity of the guard members if they are small enough to prevent utensils, for example pots and pans, being pulled past the guard. The engagement members preferably fit below the hob and may for example be tabs extending from the members. Preferably the guard member is adjustable to alter the area which it defines, and this can be achieved by making the guard member of telescopically-interconnected sections. The guard member may be of spaced horizontal wires interconnected by brackets extending between them and through which the wires pass. The brackets may lock the telescopic sections together. Telescopic adjustment of sections of the guard members may be achieved by providing one or more corner members telescopically connected with adjacent side members. By providing such an arrangement the guard can be adjusted to suit different sizes of hob, and also allows the tabs to be inserted below the hob to secure it. The tabs may be fixed permanently on the members, preferably when the members are relatively movable, or may be securable on the members after fitment of the members around a hob. In the latter case the guard members may if desired by made to a size which will fit around a particular hob, without provision of adjustability. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Fig 1 is a perspective view of a hob guard of the invention; and Fig. 2 is a side view of a part of another hob guard of the invention. Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the guard of this embodiment of the invention has four corner members 1 each consisting of three spaced parallel lengths of Bundy tubing 2 interconnected by two wire cross-members 3 which are welded to the tubing 2. Sheet metal tabs 4 are welded two on each bottom length 2 of the corner members 1 so as to project inwardly therefrom. Side members 5 each consisting of three spaced parallel wires 6 interconnected by wire cross members 7 extend between the corner members 1, the wires 6 engaging telescopically with the Bundy tubing 2 so that the length of each side of the guard is adjustable. The connections between the wires 6 and tubing 2 are securable by means of metal clamp brackets 8 which can be tightened to clamp the tubing 2 against the wires 6 to prevent further relative movement between them. In use, the clamp brackets 8 are initially loose and the telescopic connections adjusted so that the overall length and breadth of the guard are greater than the corresponding dimensions of a hob to which the guard is to be fitted. The guard is then placed around the hob and the wires 6 pushed into the tubing 2 until thet metal tabs 4 engage between the hob and the surface on which it rests, and the corner and side members 1, 5 sit snugly ageinst the sides of the hob. The clamp brackets 8 are then tightened to prevent further movement between the corner and side members 1,5. In this position the guard is prevented from lateral movement by engagement of the corner and side members 1, 5 with the hob sides, and from upward movement by engagement of the tabs 4 below the hob. The guard is therefore firmly held in place and acts to prevent pots, pans and other utensils from being pulled from the hob. Referring now to Fig. 2, the general layout of the guard is similar to that of Fig. 1 but the construction differs in that the corner members 1 are made of wire 9 instead of tubing, and the side members 5 consist of two wires instead of three. The clamp brackets 8 in Fig. 2 clamp the wires against relative movement, but the wires 6, 9 do not contact one another directly. The guard of Fig. 2 is considerably cheaper than that of Fig. 1 and is more readily reusable as none of the parts is deformed during clamping in the manner of the Bundy tubing 2 of Fig. 1. Modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. CLAIMS

1. A hob guard having a guard member for extending upwardly of a hob and defining a closed or substantially closed area to be guarded, and engagement member on the guard for securing the guard member to the hob.

2. A hob guard according to Claim 1, wherein the engagement members are arranged to fit below the hob.

3. A hob guard according to Claim 2, wherein the engagement members are in the form of tabs extending inwardly of the guard member.

4. A hob guard according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the guard member comprises spaced horizontal wires interconnected by upright brackets through which the wires pass.

5. A hob guard according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the guard member is adjustable to alter the area which it defines.

6. A hob guard according to Claim 5, wherein the guard member has telescopicallyinterconnected sections for adjustment to alter the defined area.

7. A hob guard substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A hob guard substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.