Dome Screen

The instant invention relates generally to devices for ovens, and more particularly to a dome screen.

Numerous devices for cooking have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to prevent the splatter of grease. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,568,637, to Jardim; 2,664,169 to Misener et al; and 4,037,581 to Trifiletti all are illustrative of such prior art. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purpose of the present invention as hereafter described.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a dome screen that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.

Another object is to provide a dome screen, which will be employed to prevent juices from splattering on wall sides and the bottom of an oven when baking or broiling meat, fish, etc.

An additional object is to provide a dome screen which will be designed for all types of cooking pans used in an oven.

A further object is to provide a dome screen that is simple and easy to use.

A still further object is to provide a dome screen that is economical in cost to manufacture.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

The figures in the drawings are briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the instant invention, shown on an oven pan in phantom;

FIG. 2 is an elevational fragmentary side view thereof, with the pan removed;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the invention, which is adjustable in size and illustrates an extended position in phantom; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which like reference characters denote like elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates a dome screen 10 having in this instance, a substantially oval configurated base rim 11, which is preferably fabricated of stainless steel or aluminum. Base rim 11 forms a channel 12 that is designed to seat on the top of an oven pan 13, and a downward lip 14 is formed on the interior of channel 11, to engage within a channel 14a formed in the bottom portion of a dome shaped screen 15, that is also fabricated preferably of a stainless steel or aluminum mesh. The channel 12 is fixedly secured to channel 14a by suitable rivet fasteners 16 in this instance, but may be secured by other suitable mechanisms.

In use, the rim 11 of dome screen 10 is placed on top of the pan 13 to enclose the volume over that which is to be cooked in an oven, and the screen 15 will capture any splatter and prevent same from striking the inside of the walls of the oven.

It shall be recognized, that at the end of cooking time, the present invention will leave an oven greatly cleaner than when cooking without dome screen 10. The above results in saving a homemaker or the like formerly consumed in oven cleaning a great deal of time. Dome screen 10 is further useful to those who have self-cleaning ovens, as the cleaning process frequently takes between one and three hours.

It shall even further be noted, that the fine mesh screen 15 is such, that it enable air to properly circulate in the pan while baking, broiling and roasting meats, fish and poultry, and with microwave ovens, the present invention may be fabricated in a microwave safe plastic.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a modified dome screen 10a is shown to include a pair of rims 17 and 18 that are substantially U-shape in configuration. Rims 17 and 18 form channels 19 and 20, and an open ended dome formed mesh screen 21 is fixedly secured at its bottom, to channel 19 by means of rivet fasteners 22. A second and similar formed mesh screen 23 is similarly secured to channel 20 by similar fasteners 24. The channel 20 and its screen 23 are telescopically received within channel 19 and its associated screen 21, thus forming and extendable screen structure for covering pans of various sizes.

In use, dome screen 10a functions in the same manner heretofore described to that of dome screen 10, with the exception, that 10a is expandable by telescoping mechanism, so as to fit pans of different sizes.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.