GRILL CLEANING PAD

Abstract

A utensil for cleaning a cooking surface has cleaning head affixed to a distal end of an elongate handle. The head has a base and a porous cover. Submerging the head in a liquid enables the liquid to flow through the porous cover and perforations in the base into chambers within the base. Applying the head having the liquid-filled chambers against the cooking surface enables the liquid to flow from the chambers and through the perforations and continuously dampen the porous cover.

Claims

1. A utensil for cleaning a cooking surface comprising cleaning head affixed to a distal end of an elongate handle; wherein the head comprises a base and a porous cover; wherein the base comprises a chamber; wherein the chamber comprises a perforation through or adjacent a bottom thereof under which is disposed a layer of the porous cover, so that the chamber is in fluid communication with the layer; wherein submerging the head in a liquid enables the liquid to flow through the layer and the perforation and into the chamber; and wherein applying the head having the liquid-filled chamber against the cooking surface enables the liquid to flow from the chamber and through the perforation and continuously dampen the layer.

2. The utensil of claim 1 wherein the base is comprised of a heat-resistant rubbery material.

3. The utensil of claim 2 wherein the porous cover is comprised of Kevlar.

4. The utensil of claim 3 wherein the elongate handle is comprised of a rigid and heat-resistant material.

5. The utensil of claim 4 wherein the head is removable from the handle for replacement or cleaning.

6. The utensil of claim 5 wherein the head is machine washable.

7. The utensil of claim 6 wherein the handle comprises an elongate grasp at its proximal end and a knob midway between its proximal and distal ends.

8. The utensil of claim 7 wherein the head further comprises a lid having means to temporarily affix the head to the distal end of the handle.

9. The utensil of claim 8 wherein the means to temporarily affix the head to the distal end of the handle allow removal and replacement of the head without the use of tools.

10. The utensil of claim 9 further comprising a metal scraping blade protruding from the distal end.

11. The utensil of claim 10 wherein the base further comprises one from the group including integrally-formed rubber ribs and integrally formed rubber fingers, disposed against the layer of the porous cover and adapted to enable conformity of the layer with the cooking surface.

12. A utensil for cleaning a cooking surface comprising cleaning head affixed to a distal end of an elongate handle; wherein the head comprises a base and a porous cover; wherein the base comprises a plurality of chambers; wherein each chamber comprises a perforation through or adjacent a bottom thereof under which is disposed a layer of the porous cover, so that the chamber is in fluid communication with the layer; wherein submerging the head in a liquid enables the liquid to flow through the layer and the perforations and into the chambers; and wherein applying the head having the liquid-filled chamber against the cooking surface enables the liquid to flow from the chambers and through the perforations and continuously dampen the layer.

13. The utensil of claim 12 wherein the base is comprised of a heat-resistant rubber.

14. The utensil of claim 13 wherein the porous cover is comprised of Kevlar.

15. The utensil of claim 14 wherein the elongate handle is comprised of a rigid and heat-resistant material.

16. The utensil of claim 15 wherein the head is removable from the handle for replacement or cleaning.

17. The utensil of claim 16 wherein the head is machine washable.

18. The utensil of claim 17 wherein the handle comprises an elongate grasp at its proximal end and a knob midway between its proximal and distal ends.

19. The utensil of claim 18 wherein the head further comprises a lid having means to temporarily affix the head to the distal end of the handle.

20. The utensil of claim 19 wherein the means to temporarily affix the head to the distal end of the handle allow removal and replacement of the head without the use of tools.

21. The utensil of claim 20 further comprising a metal scraping blade protruding from the distal end.

22. The utensil of claim 21 wherein the base further comprises one from the group including integrally-formed rubber ribs and integrally formed rubber fingers, disposed against the layer of the porous cover and adapted to enable conformity of the layer with the cooking surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the included Drawings showing an exemplary embodiment for practicing the invention which corresponds to the accompanying Detailed Description. The components in the Drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, like reference numerals in the Drawings designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary grill or griddle cleaning tool according to or useful in practicing the invention;

[0017] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cleaning head of the tool of FIG. 1;

[0018] FIG. 3 is another exploded view of the cleaning head of the tool of FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 4A is a bottom view of the base of the cleaning head of the tool of FIG. 1 taken at line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

[0020] FIG. 4B is a perspective bottom view of an alternate base of the cleaning head of the tool of FIG. 1;

[0021] FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the tool of FIG. 1;

[0022] FIG. 6A is a cross-section of the tool of FIG. 1 taken at line 6A-6A of FIG. 1 during immersion to fill the cleaning head with water or cleaning solution;

[0023] FIG. 6B is a cross-section of the tool of FIG. 1 taken at line 6A-6A of FIG. 1 during cleaning of a cooking surface; and

[0024] FIG. 7 is a partial view of the tool of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

[0025] An exemplary embodiment of a grill or griddle cleaning tool 100 is shown in FIGS. 1 through 4A and 5 through 7, which includes handle portion 102 and cleaning head portion 104. The handle portion includes a generally-cylindrical elongate grasp 106 for engaging the handle with one hand at its proximal end, a knob 108 for engaging the handle with the other hand midway along its top surface, and a cleaning head cartridge 112 adjacent its distal end. A metal scraping blade 114 protrudes from the distal end.

[0026] The cleaning head cartridge includes a base 116/116R, a pouch 118 and a lid 122. The lid includes flexible latches which snap into the cartridge receiver to hold it in place and are flexed inwardly to release the cartridge from the handle portion for replacement or cleaning without the need for tools. Any other known and effecting fastening means may be alternatively employed, or the cartridge may be permanently affixed to the handle portion and not independently replaceable.

[0027] The handle portion and lid are made of a heat resistant polymer, the base is made of a heat resistant polymer interior portion 116 and heat-resistant hard rubber outer portion 116R. The rubber out portion may be co-formed around the interior portion or may be a distinct component which fits over and around it. The pouch is made of a soft but abrasive and heat-resistant Kevlar fabric which is highly heat resistant. While the pouch is depicted as having a bag shape in FIG. 2, that is just for clarity. It is originally formed in a bag shape but then fully and permanently sewn around the base. The lid is fastened to the pouched base by screws 124 or any other suitable fastening means. The cartridge is machine washable.

[0028] The scraping blade is insert-molded with the handle portion, but it may be fastened to it, by screws or such, and could then be removable and replaceable. It is also anticipated and considered within the invention that the brush could be packaged with several such replaceable blades each having a differently contoured scraping surface to enable mating with a variety of grill spacings.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 4A and 7, the bottom side of the base's rubber portion has a waffle-shape of firm but flexible rubber ribs 123, which improves conformation with the cooking surface. While these ribs are shown having a criss-crossed grid pattern, they could also be almost of any different but equivalently performing pattern, or an array of firm but flexible rubber fingers 125 as shown in the alternate base 116B of FIG. 4B, all of which are considered within the invention.

[0030] The base's interior portion includes reservoir portions 126, each having a small through-hole 128 in its bottom. The Kevlar fabric of the pouch is porous.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 6A, the porosity of the pouch allows water or cleaning solution 200 to seep therethrough and into the reservoirs when the head is submerged into it, and allows air contained in the reservoirs to seep out. The reservoirs quickly become filled with the water or cleaning solution

[0032] Referring to FIG. 6B, the water or cleaning solution contained in the reservoirs is allowed to slowly seep through the through-holes and voids in the rubber portion to wet the bottom side of the pouch during cleaning of cooking surface of a grill or griddle.

[0033] The arrangement of the grasp and knob relative to the head portion enhance the ability of the user to force the head portion against the cooking surface. The rubber base thus presses the damp and abrasive pouch forcefully against the cooking surface during a scrubbing motion and because the moisture seeping from the cartridge is applied directly to the residue on the cooking surface at exactly the points in time and location that the scrubbing is taking place, the moisture is allowed to evaporate until the head portion has passed. This arrangement is found to be far more effective and easier to use than any prior art grill or griddle cleaning tool.

[0034] Various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, so the invention should therefore only be considered according to the following claims, including all equivalent interpretation to which they are entitled.