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(11) | EP 1 637 809 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Cooker hood comprising a protective device |
| (57) The present invention relates to a cooker hood comprising a protective device (6)
which includes at least one protective foil (9) adapted to move from a rest position,
wherein the protective foil (9) is contained inside the cooker hood (5), to an operative
position, wherein at least a portion of the protective foil (9) extends away from
the cooker hood (5); blocking means (11) are provided for retaining the protective
foil (9) in the operative position.
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[0002] It is generally known to provide cooker hoods over a kitchen stove, which are adapted to absorb odours and vapours generated during the cooking of foods.
[0003] A problem that arises during cooking is constituted by the splashes of hot ingredients or grease, oil or other substances from the pots on the stove, which can dirty or, in some cases, damage the worktop, the walls, the floor or the furnitures around the stove, as well as to result dangerous for the user. In addition, the vapours, steam and the gaseous grease produced during the cooking process dirty the walls around the stove, forming a film over the tiles or the plaster.
[0004] Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide a cooker hood comprising a device which is able to protect the ambient surrounding the stove.
[0005] Within the aim cited above, a purpose of the present invention is to provide a cooker hood comprising a protective device easy to use and effective to prevent splashes coming out of the stove space during cooking, either in solid or in gaseous phase.
[0006] A further and not less important purpose of the present invention is to provide a closing door capable of being manufactured using generally known and readily available tools, machinery and equipments.
[0007] These aims and purposes are achieved by a cooker hood comprising a protective device as defined in claim 1.
[0008] Further features and advantages of the present invention may be readily understood from the following description of a preferred, although not sole, embodiment illustrated by way of a non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- figure 1 is a perspective front view of a kitchen including a cooker hood comprising a protective device according to the present invention;
- figure 2 is an exploded view of the cooker hood and protective device of figure 1;
- figure 3 shows the protective device of figure 1.
[0009] With reference to the above mentioned figures, the reference numeral 1 is used to generally indicate a kitchen including a stove 2, a worktop 3, furniture 4 and a cooker hood 5.
[0010] The kitchen 1 can be leaned to a wall or constituting a so-called isle, i.e. located in place of a room detached from the wall.
[0011] The cooker hood 5 comprises a protective device 6 adapted to prevent that splashes of cooking substances, such as food ingredients, grease, oil, coming out of the pots put on the stove 2 during cooking go over the wall where the kitchen is leaned, on the floor or onto the worktop 3 surrounding the stove 2.
[0012] The protective device 6 comprises a support 7 for a roll 8 of a protective foil 9; the support 7 is housed in a recess 10 located in the lower surface of the hood 5, and retained therein by known fixation means, such as screws, snap fasteners or any other suitable means.
[0013] Blocking means 11 are provided on the wall or on the worktop 3 to retain the foil 9 when in use; said blocking means can be constituted, for example, by a bracket 12 attached to the wall or to the worktop 3 and supporting a bar 13, such that a slit is obtained therebetween which is adapted to receive and block the foil 9.
[0014] The protective device 6 can be advantageously provided with a rolling-up mechanism, such as a roller 14 contained in the support 7 biased by a spring (not shown) adapted to wind up the protective foil 9 after use; this latter can be made of a durable material, such as Teflon®.
[0015] In a more economically convenient solution, a used portion of the foil 9 can be cutted after use by cutting means 15 provided in the support 7, such that a new portion of the foil 9 is ready for next use; in this case, the foil can be made of a low-cost disposable material, such as strong paper or, preferably, a non-flammable material.
[0016] A portion of the protective foil 9 is thus capable of being pulled down by the user and blocked in an extended position by the blocking means 11 when he or she uses the stove 2 for cooking, so as to protect the space around the stove 2 from splashes; when finished the use, the protective foil 9 can be disengaged from the blocking means 11 and either rolled up, if a rolling up mechanism is provided, or cutted by the cutting means 15.
[0017] The present description and the drawings refer to a single protective device 6 located at the back of the stove 2; however, it is readily understood that one or more protective devices 6 located at the back and/or at the sides and/or at the front of the stove 2 can be provided on the cooker hood 5.
[0018] From the above description it has been demonstrated how the cooker hood comprising a protective device according to the present invention achieves the aims and purposes mentioned above: in fact, when in use, the protective device protects effectively the ambient surrounding the stove 2, preventing splashes coming out of the stove space during cooking, either in solid or in gaseous phase, to dirty the objects around the stove, thus being able to protect, in particular, the wall and/or the floor and/or the worktop and/or furniture; in addition to this, the protective device according to the present invention is extremely easy to use.
1. A cooker hood comprising a protective device, characterized in that said protective device (6) includes at least one protective foil (9) adapted to move
from a rest position, where said protective foil (9) is contained inside said cooker
hood (5), to an operative position, where at least a portion of said protective foil
(9) extends away from said cooker hood (5), blocking means (11) being provided for
retaining said protective foil (9) in said operative position.
2. A cooker hood comprising a protective device as in claim 1, wherein said protective
device (6) comprises at least one support (7) supporting a roll (8) of said protective
foil (9), said cooker hood (5) being provided with at least one recess (10) adapted
to house said at least one support (7).
3. A cooker hood comprising a protective device as in claim 2, wherein said roll (8)
is capable of releasing a portion of said protective foil (9) when pulled down away
from said cooker hood (5) to move said portion of protective foil (9) from said rest
to said operative position.
4. A cooker hood comprising a protective device as in claim 1, wherein said blocking
means (11) are provided on a wall where said cooker hood (5) is leaned and/or supported.
5. A cooker hood comprising a protective device as in claim 1, wherein said blocking
means (11) are provided on a worktop (3) adjacent said cooker hood (5).
6. A cooker hood comprising a protective device as in claim 4 or 5, wherein said blocking
means comprise a bracket (12) supporting a bar (13) such that a slit adapted to receive
and block a portion of said protective foil (9) is obtained therebetween.
7. A cooker hood comprising a protective device as in any of the preceding claims, wherein
said protective device (6) is provided with a rolling-up mechanism (14) adapted to
wind up a portion of said protective foil (9) after use.
8. A cooker hood comprising a protective device as in any of the preceding claims, wherein
said protective device (6) is provided with cutting means (15) adapted to cut a portion
of said protective foil (9) after use.
9. A cooker hood comprising a protective device as in claim 6, wherein said cutting means
(15) are provided in said support (7).