US2503132A - Utility stove cover - Google Patents

Description

April 4, 1950 c. ROBINSON ETAL- 2,503,132

UTILITY STOVE COVER Filed May 27, 1947 2, Sheets-Sheet 1 .52 7.- INVENTORS JEREMIAB Rosmson' ATTORNE Y April 4, 1950 ,c. ROBINSON ETAL 2,503,132

UTILITY STOVE COVER Filed May 27, 1947 l I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORY Grumman Rnamacm Tani-mm 5: 'Raamsox ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 4, 1950 Charlotte Robinson and Jeremiah S. Robinson, New York, .N. Y.

Application May 27, 1947, :Serial No. 750,708

This invention relates to kitchen ranges and more particularly :to a combined cover and warming shelf therefor.

It is an object .of the present invention to provide a cover which when raised from the burner openings can be fashioned into a warming shelf 7 on'the back :of the range.

It is another object of the present invention to provide in a portion of the cover grilled openings which permit. the vpassage of the heated air both through the cover when used as .a warming shelf and over the dishes placed thereon, and which, when the cover is in that position, by means of these grilled openings, impart simmering .heat from the burners and onto the dish bearing the .food to be simmered. When the cover is lowered onto the top of the range these openings or vents provide for the escape .of heat given off by the pilot light, thus acting as a safety measure.

- It is another object of the present invention to provide in a cover part, grills adapted to serve as a warming shelf when moved to a raised position.

. .Another object of the invention is to provide a cover part with means wherein the grills thereof will be automatically opened as the'shelf is raised .and automatically closed as the cover part is brought down upon the range top and further means wherein the automatic means can be manipulated manually to effect opening of the grills while the cover is in the down position if desired.

According to the invention, a cover is fashioned to fit over the entire top of the range whereby to enclose all of the burners on the top of the range and leave the range with a smooth flat top on which dishes or other kitchenware can be rested. This cover is made in two longitudinally extending parts, one of the parts hinged to the rear of the range and the other part hinged to the forward edge of the one part. As the cover is brought upwardly about the rear hinges, it .is caught and retained in a vertical position by catches on opposite sides of the range at the rear thereof.

The other or forward part of the cover is left in a horizontal position and vertically spaced from the range top a distance equal to the height of the one part. A bracket member at each end of the cover and slidable in grooves in the ends of the one part retain the forward part of the cover in its horizontal position. When the shelf is in this upper or warming positlon, it afiords additional space for dishes, pans -5 Claims. (Cl. '126332) and other kitchenware. As the cover is lowered the brackets will slide upwardly to permit the cover parts to flatten out and lie flush on the range *top proper. The forward part is formed with grilled areas through which heated air from the range passes to eifect the warmingof vessels resting thereupon to be warmed and when the cover is in its fiat position these grills act as a safety measure by providing for the escape of heated air given oil by the pilot light. The arrangement thus turns a more or less useless -cover into a utility item.

Each of the grills is pivoted to rotate within the grilled openings and has connected with them pinions'adapted to be worked by a rack sli-dable through the front cover part. and adapted to be engaged by the rear cover part to rotate the grills to a closed position as the cover parts are brought down, but operated by a spring as the cover parts are raised so as to return the grills to an open position to adapt the forward cover part for use as a warming shelf. When in a down position upon the range top this rack can be manipulated manually to effect an opening of the grills to allow the penetration therethrough of heat from the always burning pilot light. thus acting as a safety measure.

'For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, refer ence will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure: f

Fig. 1 is a perspective view looking .at the front, top, and one end of a kitchen range where the cover has been raised to provide a warming shelf.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the kitchen range with the cover .raised to provide the .shelf.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the shelf alone, showing the bracket constructionat one end thereof as well as the grilling within the part.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of one corner of the range top and a section through the vertically extending top part, taken along the line 44 of Fig. 1, illustrating how the catch functions to retain the one vertically extending cover part.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view taken from the same direction as Fig. 1 but with the cover parts flattened out to serve as a cover for the top of the range and with the grill areas in place to the front part showing the ends of the grills and the automatic mechanism for effecting their rotation as the cover is folded down to effect a closing of the grilled openings and of hand means operable to again effect the opening of the grills manually while in a down position of the front part, the view being taken along the line B8 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows thereof, the cover being in the raised position and the grills being vertical and the operating shaft out of engagement with the rear cover part.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view showing the grills moved to their closed position by the automatic mechanism as the cover is brought down and the rod of the mechanism has been engaged by the rear cover part.

v Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the same line 88 of Fig. 3 with the automatic mechanism having been withdrawn manually and retained by the stop on the handle to a position whereby the grills will have been turned another ninety degrees from the position where they were closed by automatic action so as to adapt the front part for permitting the heat from the pilot light to escape therethrough.

Referring now to the figures; A represents a kitchen range having a top II with a plurality of burners I2 located throughout the extent thereof and adapted to be controlled by gas cook handles I3 extending along the front of the range.

Hinged to the rear edge of the top II by longitudinally spaced hinges I4 is a cover adapted, when down, to lie' flat on the range top II, in the manner shown in'Fig. 5. This'cOVer is indicated generally at I5 and comprises front and rear parts I6 and I! hinged to one another by hinges I8. As the cover is raised, the rear part I! is brought to a vertically extending position along the rear of the range and against a backg'uard I9 and adapted to be retained in that position by spring catches 2| and 22 at opposite ends of the guard I9. These catches have hooked portions 23 over which the cover part I! rides until the vertical position is reached and the hooked portions 23 then snap inwardly to their retaining positions. This is the position in which the cover would normally remain while the stove is being used for cooking but where there is no need for warming or simmering. To release the cover part, the catches are swun manually outwardly by the housewife permitting the forward movement of the cover.

The front part I6, when the cover is raised, is allowed to remain in a horizontal position vertlcally spaced from the top of the range, providing thereby a warming shelf on which vessels containing food may be disposed for warming or simmering. This part is held in a horizontally raised position by sliding rods 24 and 25 at opposite ends of the cover. These rods 24 and 25 are turned inwardly at their upper ends and pivoted as indicated at 26 to the outer sides of the front part. The opposite ends of the rods 24 and 25, when retaining the front part I6 in a horizontal raised position, rest in the bottom ends of slots 2'! formed in the sides of the rear part I? in the manner indicated at 28 (Fig. 3). The ends of the rods 24 and 25 are provided with heads 29 to prevent the removal of the ends of the rods 24 and 25 from the slots 21 which may be of a T-shape, all as shown in Fig. 7.

As the cover is lowered, the ends of the rods I 24 and 25 will slide upwardly in the slots 21 as the front part I6 is pivoted relative to the rear part about the hinges I8. The rods 24 and 25 may thus be permanently retained on the ends of the cover while the cover is in place on the kitchen range.

The front cover part l6 has grilled openings 30 through Which heated air passes to warm the vessels disposed thereon when the cover is in the raised position and the front part I6 is in posi-.- tion to serve as a warming shelf. When the cover part I6 lies flat on the range top the grilled areas 3| will be aligned with the forward burners I2 thus providing a means of escape for heat given off by the usual. burning pilot light, not shown.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 8, 9, and 10, there is shown an automatic mechanism for closing the grills as the cover parts are brought down upon the top of the range. Each of the grills 3| is pivoted within its opening 30 as indicated at 33. To one side of the opening there is extended from front to rear in cover part I6, a rod 34 having rack teeth 35 extending throughout the major part of its length. These rack teeth cooperate with pinions 36 located adjacent the pivot point 33 of each grill. Upon working the rack axially forward and rearwardly, the grills will be moved alternately to open and closed positions depending upon the extent the rod 34 is moved in one direction or the other. At the rear of the part I6 there is provided an enlarged opening 31 through which the rear end of the rod 34 is extended. Within this opening is a coil spring 38 which cooperates with a flange 39 on the rod to normally maintain the rod in its rearward position at times when the cover is up and the forward part I6 is extending horizontally for use as a shelf for warming or simmering.

The flange 39 comes to a stop against aretaining screw 4| threaded into the end of the opening 31 and having a hole 42 extended therethrough for receiving rear end 43 of rod 34 Which protrudes rearwardly as shown in Fig. 8 when the front cover part I6 is turned down away from the rear cover part I7.

As the cover parts are brought down upon the top'of the range, rear end 43 will engage the forward edge of the rear part I'Ito force the rod 34 forwardly against the action of the spring 38 so as to move the grills 3| through ninety degrees to assume the position shown in Fig. 9. The rod 34 at its forward end 44 will have been pushed forwardly so that it projects to a greater extent from the front edge of the forward cover part. A knob 45 on the forward end 44 of the rod is free to slide forwardly against a'washer 46 and cotter pin 41. The knob 45 has a forwardly extending sleeve portion 48 which has a stop lug 49 on its rear end thereof. This stop lug slides in a key opening 5 I. In the position shown in Fig. 9, with the grills in their closed positions panama 5. therastop lugz wilL have only been advanced: half wayr-throughthekey i. I

When. the cover. is down, if it is desiredto' againeffect an openi'ngroffthe grills 3| the knob 45 is: then. pulled forwardly to further compress the compression spring 38 in the opening 31, to free the lug 4B ofth'e keyway slot 5| and to permit therotationof the knob 45 to-locate the stop lug upon the forward face 52 so as;t o retain the rod in. its forwardly drawn v position. The grills 3| will have been rotated; this time manually, through another ninety degrees to thefopen position shown in Fig. 10.

'If, for ease of manufacture; it. should be. desired toisimplify the grillv construction herein described itzwouldbe merely necessary to construct the grills in the form of, louvered opening's which would always. remain open no adjustment for open and closed positions: being needed. I v

It should thus be apparent thatthere has been provided a permanently positioned grill construction as well as an automatic mechanism whereby thegrills will be automatically moved to a closed position or to an open position as the cover is brought down upon the top or raised to serve as a warming or simmering shelf. It should be further apparent that by manipulating apart of the automatic mechanism these same grills can be opened manually if so desired.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A kitchen range comprising a range top with burners therein, a cover for the range top composed of front and rear parts hinged to one another and with the rear part hinged to the rear of the range, means for retaining the rear part in a vertical position as the cover is raised from front to rear, and means extending between the front and rear parts for retaining the front part in a horizontal position along the top edge of the rear part whereby to provide a warming or simmering shelf on the rear of the range When the cover is raised, said front part having grilled openings through which heated air passes to warm the vessels resting on the front part when serving as a shelf and adapted to be aligned with the front burners when the cover is lowered onto the range top whereby to serve as openings through which heat from the range may escape, said grilled openings having grills rotatable in the openings, and automatic mechanism for effecting a rotation of the grills to their open position as the cover parts are raised and the front cover part adapted for use as a warming or simmering shelf and for rotating the grills to a closed position within their openings as the cover parts are lowered onto the top of the range.

2. A kitchen range comprising a range top with burners therein, a cover for the range top composed of front and rear parts hinged to one another and with the rear part hinged to the rear of the range, means for retaining the rear part in a vertical position as the cover is' raised from front to rear, and means extending between the front and rear parts for retaining the front part in a horizontal position along the top edge of the rear part whereby to provide a warming or sim- 6, mering. shelf on the rear' of the r'angewhen 'th cover. isirai'se'd; said front parthaving grilled openingsz through which heated air passes to warm the vessels resting on the front part when-serv ingas. ashelf'and adapted-to be aligned with'thefront burners when the cover is lowered onto the range top whereby to serve as openings through which heat from the range may escape,

saidz grilled: openings having grills: rotatable in the openings, and autmnatic mechanism for effecting a:rotation of the grills to their open position as the cover parts are raised and the front: cover. part adapted for use" as a warming or: simmering she'lf and for rotating the grills to a closed position within their openings as the cover partsv are lowered onto the top of the range, and means for manually rotating the grills to an open position while the cover is down.

xA-kitchen range comprising a range top with burners therein, a cover'forthe range top composed of frontand rear parts hinged to one another and. with the rear part hinged to the rear of the range, means for retaining the rear part in a vertical position as the cover is raised from front to'rear, and means extending between the front and rear parts for retaining the front part ina horizontal position along" the top edge of the rear part whereby to provide a warming or simmering shelf on the rear of the range when the cover is raised, said front part being formed with spaced openings, rotatively mounted grills extended across each of said openings, pinions on said grills adjacent the ends thereof, a rack slidable across each of said openings and having teeth meshing with said pinions, means urging said racks in the raised position of said cover to rotate said pinions and in turn said grills to an open position and to extend the rear ends of said racks from the back edge of said front part, whereby when said cover is lowered the edge of said rear part adjacent the back edge of said front part will engage the extended rear ends of said racks and press them in against the action of said means and move the racks to close said grills.

4. A kitchen range comprising a range top with burners therein, a cover for the range top composed of front and rear parts hinged to one another and with the rear part hinged to the rear of the range, means for retaining the rear part in a vertical position as the cover is raised from front to rear, and means extending between the front and rear parts for retaining the front part in a horizontal position along the top edge of the rear part whereby to provide a warming or simmering shelf on the rear of the range when the cover is raised, said front part being formed with spaced openings, rotatively mounted grills extended across each of said openings, pinions onv said grills adjacent the ends thereof, a rack slidable across each of said openings and having teeth meshing with said pinions, means urging said racks in the raised position ofsaid cover to rotate said pinions and in turn said grills to an open position and to extend the rear ends of said racks from the back edge of said front part, whereby when said cover is lowered the edge of said rear part adjacent the back edge of said front part will engage the extended rear ends of said racks and press them in against the action of said means and move the racks to close said grills, said means comprising expansion springs operating between collars on said racks and fixed portions of said front part.

5. A kitchen range comprising a range top with 7. tumors therein, a cover for the range top .com-: posed of front and rear parts hinged to one another and with the rear part hinged to the rear of the range, means for retaining the rear part in a vertical position as the cover is raised from front to rear, and means extending between the front and rear parts for retaining the front part in a horizontal position along the top edge of the rear part whereby to provide a warming or simmering shelf on the rear of the range when the cover is raised, said front part being formed with spaced openings, rotatively mounted grills extended across each of said openings, pinions on said grills adjacent the ends thereof, a rack slidable across each of said openings and having teeth meshing with said pinions, means urging said racks in the raised position of said cover to rotate said pinions and in turn said grills to an open position and to extend the rear ends of said racks from the back edge of said front part, whereby when said cover is lowered the edge of said rear part adjacent the back edge of said front part will engage the extended rear ends of said racks and press them in against the action of said means and move the racks to close said grills, and means for drawing said racks forward and holding them in a forward drawn-position against the action of said means in ,the'lowered position of said cover for opening the grills in the lowered position of the cover.

: CHARLOTTE ROBINSON.

JEREMIAH S. ROBINSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS the

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