Baking Tray Assembly

Abstract

A baking tray assembly includes a tray having a base, a perimeter wall extending upwardly from the base, and an open upper end defining an interior volume. A splatter guard is removably securable to the tray, wherein the splatter guard is configured to cover the open upper end of the tray when secured thereto. At least one pour spout projects upwardly from the perimeter wall of the tray, such that a tip of the pour spout is positioned above an upper edge of the perimeter wall. The splatter guard may include small cut-outs that define a pour spout opening for excess liquid to flow to the pour spout from the interior volume of the tray even when the splatter guard is secured to the tray. The baking tray assembly may include multiple pour spouts to easily drain excess liquids from the tray as needed.

Claims

1) A baking tray assembly comprising: a tray having a base, a perimeter wall extending upwardly from the base, and an open upper end defining an interior volume; a splatter guard removably securable to the tray, wherein the splatter guard is configured to cover the open upper end of the tray when secured thereto; and at least one pour spout projecting upwardly from the perimeter wall of the tray, such that a tip of the pour spout is positioned above an upper edge of the perimeter wall.

2) The baking tray assembly of claim 1, wherein the splatter guard comprises a mesh screen supported by a perimeter frame, wherein the perimeter frame of the splatter guard is removably securable to the perimeter wall of the tray.

3) The baking tray assembly of claim 1, wherein the splatter guard comprises a fastener configured to removably secure the splatter guard to the perimeter wall of the tray.

4) The baking tray assembly of claim 3, wherein the fastener comprises a slot disposed on the perimeter frame of the splatter guard configured to receive and engage an upper perimeter edge of the perimeter wall of the tray.

5) The baking tray assembly of claim 3, wherein the fastener comprises a removably securable clamp.

6) The baking tray assembly of claim 2, wherein perimeter frame of the splatter guard comprises at least one cut-out, whereby the at least one cutout defines a pour spout opening between an edge of the at least one cut-out and the pour spout of the tray when the splatter guard is secured to the tray.

7) The baking tray assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one pour spout extends above the splatter guard when the splatter guard is secured to the tray.

8) A baking tray assembly comprising: a tray having a base, a pair of opposing lateral perimeter walls extending upwardly from the base, a pair of opposing longitudinal perimeter walls extending upwardly from the base, and an open upper end defining an interior volume; wherein a corner is defined at each intersection of an endpoint of one of the lateral perimeter walls and one of the longitudinal perimeter walls; a splatter guard comprising a mesh screen supported by a perimeter frame, wherein the perimeter frame of the splatter guard is removably securable to the perimeter wall of the tray, wherein the splatter guard is configured to cover the open upper end of the tray; a pour spout projecting upwardly from two adjacent corners of the perimeter wall of the tray; and a pair of cut-outs disposed on the perimeter frame of the splatter guard, such that a pour spout opening is formed between an edge of each cut-out and one of the corner spouts when the splatter guard is secured to the tray.

9) The baking tray assembly of claim 8, wherein the splatter guard comprises a fastener configured to removably secure the splatter guard to the longitudinal and lateral perimeter walls of the tray.

10) The baking tray assembly of claim 9, wherein the fastener comprises a slot disposed on the perimeter frame of the splatter guard configured to receive and engage an upper edge of each of the longitudinal and lateral perimeter walls of the tray.

11) The baking tray assembly of claim 9, wherein the fastener comprises a removably securable clamp.

12) The baking tray assembly of claim 8, wherein the pour spouts extend upwardly above the splatter guard when the splatter guard is secured to the tray.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the baking tray assembly with the splatter guard secured to the tray.

[0012] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the baking tray assembly with the splatter guard separated from the tray.

[0013] FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the baking tray assembly with the splatter guard secured to the tray.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the baking tray assembly. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, a preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for covering a baking tray with a splatter guard in such a way that liquids can still be effectively drained from the baking tray. As used herein, the term “baking tray” or “tray” is used for exemplary purposes, and the present invention may include any type of cooking vessel having an interior volume capable of supporting food therein, including but not limited to pans, woks, pots, dishes, and the like.

[0015] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the baking tray assembly with the splatter guard secured to the tray and a perspective view of an embodiment of the baking tray assembly with the splatter guard separated from the tray, respectively. The baking tray assembly generally includes a tray 11 having a base 12 and a perimeter wall extending upwardly from the base 12, which includes a pair of opposing lateral walls 13 and a pair of opposing longitudinal walls 14 in the shown embodiment. The lateral and longitudinal walls 13, 14 define an open upper end 15, such that the tray 11 includes an open interior volume. The tray 11 can be made from any suitable materials that are compatible with oven cooking, including but not limited aluminum, steel, ceramics, and the like. While the tray 11 is shown as rectangular, other embodiments may include different shapes.

[0016] A splatter guard 30 is removably securable to the tray, such that the splatter guard 30 covers the open upper end 15 of the tray 11 when secured thereto. In the shown embodiment, the splatter guard 30 includes a mesh screen 32 supported by a perimeter frame 31. The mesh screen 32 includes mesh openings sized to allow steam to escape but prevent oil and other particles from splatter out from the tray 11. The perimeter frame 31 of the splatter guard 30 is removably securable to the perimeter wall of the tray 11 via any suitable means, including frictional fit or via one or more fasteners. For example, a slot on the splatter guard perimeter frame 31 can removably receive the upper perimeter edge of the tray 11 for a frictional fit. In other embodiments, a removably clip, clamp, or similar fastener can be applied to the perimeter frame 31 to secure the splatter guard to the tray 11. In other embodiments, the splatter guard 30 may simply rest atop the tray 11.

[0017] At least one pour spout 18 projects upwardly from the perimeter wall of the tray 11. The pour spout 18 allows an individual to easily drain excess liquids from the tray 11 as needed. In the shown embodiment, a corner 17 is defined at each intersection of an endpoint of one of the lateral perimeter walls 13 and one of the longitudinal perimeter walls 14, such that the corner 17 forms a liquid channel for the pour spout 18. A pair of corners 17 include a pour spout 18 so that the tray 11 can be drained from different directions. The tip 19 of the pour spout 18 is positioned above an upper edge 20 of the perimeter walls, which prevents excess material from escaping the tray 11 during the draining process.

[0018] In the shown embodiment, the perimeter frame 31 of the splatter guard 30 includes at least one cut-out 33, whereby the at least one small cutout 33 that defines a pour spout opening 34 between the edge of cut-out 33 and the pour spout 18 of the tray 11 when the splatter guard 30 is secured to the tray 11. The pour spout opening 34 allows excess liquid to flow from the tray 11 out of the pour spouts 18 while the splatter guard 30 is still secured to the tray 11, eliminating the need to remove the splatter guard 30 when draining excess liquids. The pour spout openings 34 are sized to allow liquid to flow while keeping a large enough size of the mesh screen 32 to effectively prevent splatter. In the shown embodiment, each corner 17 includes a pour spout 18, and the splatter guard 30 includes cut-outs to define pour spout openings 34 at each corner's pour spout 18. In some embodiments, the mesh cover or splatter guard 30 fits entirely overtop the open upper end of the tray 11, such that the pour spout emerges from underneath the mesh cover or splatter guard 30.

[0019] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the baking tray assembly with the splatter guard secured to the tray. In some embodiments, the baking tray 11 and the splatter guard 30 may include one or more handles that allows the user to easily grab and maneuver the tray 11 or splatter guard 30. Additionally, the baking tray assembly can further include a removable rack 22 that is supportable within the tray 11. This allows the rack 22 to support a food item while liquids can drain into the bottom of the tray 11. The user can then empty the tray 11 of excess liquid by pouring it out of the pour spout 18. The cut-out area 33 of the splatter guard 30 allows the user to drain liquids without removing the splatter guard 30, while the splatter guard 30 remains in place to prevent splatter and further to help retain the food in the tray 11 as liquids are drained.

[0020] In operation, the user can place bacon or other food items within the tray 11. The user may place the bacon on the rack 22 so that excess fat will drip down into the bottom of the tray 11. Placing the bacon on the rack 22 ensures a crispier final product, while placing the bacon directly within the tray results in a chewier final product. Once the bacon is finished cooking, the user can remove the tray 11 from the oven and let cool. In embodiments where the splatter guard completely covers the tray 11, the splatter guard can be removed, along with the rack 22, and the fat can be drained from the pour spout 18. In embodiments that include a small pour spout opening, the fat can be drained without removing the mesh or splatter guard.

[0021] It is therefore submitted that the present invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0022] The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.