This application relates to a cooking shield to contain spitting from an open pan. Shallow frying food in oil often results in "spitting" whereby water from the food contacts the oil and rapidly evaporates to form a steam bubble that erupts at the oil's surface, projecting small amounts of the oil onto the surrounding cooking worktop. This leaves the cooking worktop greasy and makes it difficult to clean. Simmering wet sauces can cause a similar effect whereby erupting bubbles of vapour project small amounts of the sauce out of the containing cooking pan and onto the surrounding cooking worktop. Applying a lid to the pan is an obvious means of stopping this effect, but prevents the desirable evaporation of excessive water from the sauce.

The present invention seeks to provide a cooking shield to address the problems mentioned above.

According to the invention there is provided a cooking shield to contain spitting from an open pan during cooking on a hob, the shield comprising an elongate flexible sheet of material with longitudinal edges, the sheet being configured to stand on a hob on one of said longitudinal edges after being deformed into an arcuate shape and positioned so as to surround a pan such that the sheet extends above the open end of the pan. The cooking shield may comprise spaced parallel lines of weakness extending in a direction across the width of the sheet between said edges to enable the sheet to be broken along said lines of weakness.

A line of weakness may be provided that extends in a direction along the length of the sheet.

Said longitudinally extending line of weakness may be closer to one of said longitudinal edges than the other longitudinal edge. The cooking shield may comprise a series of spaced holes in the elongate sheet extending in a longitudinal direction. Said series of spaced holes may be closer to one of said longitudinal edges than the other longitudinal edge. Each hole may be disposed between two adjacent lines of weakness.

The elongate sheet of material maybe paper.

The paper may have a paper density of between 50 and 80 grams per square metre.

According to the invention there is also provided a roll of elongate flexible sheet to form multiple cooking shields substantially as described above, wherein an individual sheet is detachable along one of said lines of weakness extending in a direction across the width of the sheet between said edges.

According to the invention there is also provided a method of containing spitting from a pan during cooking using a cooking shield comprising an elongate flexible sheet of material having opposing longitudinal edges, the method comprising the step of deforming the sheet into an arcuate shape and standing it on on one of said

longitudinal edges around the circumference of a pan placed on a hob during cooking such that it extends above the open end of the pan.

Where said elongate sheet comprises spaced parallel lines of weakness extending in a direction across the width of the sheet between said edges, the method may also include the step of breaking said sheet along a line of weakness prior to standing it on one of said longitudinal edges around the circumference of a pan.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a cooking shield to contain spitting from a open pan during cooking on a hob, the shield comprising an elongate resilient flexible sheet of material that assumes a rolled-up condition in a relaxed state, the sheet being unreliable to enable it to be positioned around a pan so that when the sheet is released, its resilience causes it to close around the

pan which holds it in a position in which it extends above the open end of the pan. The method may further include the step of unwinding the elongate sheet from a roll prior to breaking said sheet along a line of weakness to provide an individual cooking shield. The method may further include the step of tearing the sheet along adjacent lines of weakness to form a flap and folding said flap to form a recess extending inwardly from a longitudinal edge of the sheet to provide a gap to receive a handle of the pan.

Where a line of weakness is provided that extends in a direction along the length of the sheet, the method may also include the step of removing a section of the sheet between adjacent parallel lines of weakness to form a recess extending inwardly from a longitudinal edge of the sheet to provide a gap to receive a handle of the pan.

So that the present invention may be more fully understood embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure lA shows a sheet of material according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure lB shows a sheet of material according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 2A shows a sheet of material according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 2B shows a sheet of material according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 2C shows a partial detail view of one aspect of the embodiment shown in Figure 2B;

Figure 3 shows a roll according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 shows a packaged roll according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 shows a sheet of material according to embodiments of the invention arranged about a pan;

Figure 6A shows a sheet of material according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 6B shows a sheet of material according to another embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 7 shows a sheet of material according to another embodiment of the invention.

According to the invention there is provided a cooking shield comprising an elongate sheet 1 of material as shown in Figure lA. The sheet 1 is rectangular with first and second parallel longitudinal edges 6A/6B that extend the length of the sheet between first and second ends 3A/3B of the sheet. The sheet 1 is configured to stand on a hob on one of the longitudinal edges 6A/6B after being deformed into an arcuate shape and positioned so as to surround a pan such that the sheet 1 extends above the open end of the pan to contain spitting from the pan.

The sheet 1 is sufficiently thin and flexible to allow the sheet 1 to be rolled about a tube for storing and dispensing, yet sufficiently stiff to be self-supporting when the sheet l is stood on a longitudinal edge 6A/6B to surround the pan. In exemplary embodiments, the sheet ι is manufactured from paper with a paper density in the range of 50 to 150 grams per square meter. Optionally, the paper may be a heat proof paper, for example paper treated with a fire retardant material. Alternatively, the sheet 1 maybe made from a heat resistant material other than paper that has the requisite properties as described above.

The sheet 1 may be between 8 to 30 meters long and 10 to 30 centimetres wide.

However, it shall be appreciated that the sheet 1 may be any combination of dimensions that yield an elongate shape.

The sheet 1 comprises lines of regularly spaced perforations 2 that run parallel to each other and extend perpendicularly between longitudinal edges 6A/6B across the width of the sheet 1. The perforations provide lines of weakness 2 that allow a length of sheet 1 to be torn away along one of said lines of weakness 2. A first line of weakness 21 is disposed at an offset from the first end 3A of the sheet 1 with each subsequent line of weakness 2 spaced at smaller regular intervals along the remaining length of the sheet 1. In one example of this embodiment the offset extends 60 centimetres from the first end 3A with the subsequent lines of weakness 2 spaced at 10 centimetre intervals. Alternatively, the offset can be equal to the intervals so that the lines of weakness 2 are regularly spaced along the full length of the sheet 1.

Optionally the sheet 1 may further comprise an additional longitudinal line of weakness 4 running lengthwise along the sheet 1 parallel to the first and second longitudinal edges 6A/ 6B as shown in Figure lB. The longitudinal line of weakness 4 may begin at an offset from the first end 3, wherein the offset is 60 centimetres, or alternatively, the longitudinal line of weakness 4 may run along the full length of the sheet 1. The longitudinal line of weakness 4 maybe spaced equidistant from first and second longitudinal edges 6A/ 6B or may be spaced closer to one edge 6A/ 6B than the other. Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 2A, wherein like features retain the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the sheet 1 further comprises a series of spaced holes 5 extending parallel to the first and second longitudinal edges 6A/6B and spaced closer to the first longitudinal edge 6A than the second longitudinal edge 6B. A single hole 5 is provided between adjacent pairs of lines of weakness 2, though in another example of this embodiment any number of holes 5 may be provided.

Yet another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 2B, wherein like features retain the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, each hole 5 comprises slits 7 that extend perpendicularly from an outer edge of the hole 5. The slits 7 are spaced around the outer edge and delimit flaps 8 that are displaceable relative to the sheet 1, as shown more clearly in Figure 2C. The flaps 8 enable the associated hole 5 to be enlarged by displacing the flaps 8 away from the surface of the sheet 1. The sheets 1 of the above described embodiments may be rolled about a tube 9 as shown in Figure 3. The tube 9 is a tube of cardboard or other suitable material. The material must be sufficiently resilient to enable manual handling of the tube 9 without the tube 9 deforming out of shape. The sheet 1 is rolled about the tube 9 lengthwise so that the length of the axis of the rolled sheet 1 corresponds to the width of the tube 9.

In another unillustrated embodiment, two sheets 1 are rolled about the tube 9 side by side. Therefore, the tube 9 has an axial length according to the width of two sheets 1. Though, it shall be appreciated that in yet other unillustrated embodiments of the invention any number of sheets 1 maybe rolled about the tube 9, subject to practical limitations as to the size of the tube 9.

The tube 9 may be provided in a cardboard box 10 as shown in Figure 4. The box 10 is an elongate cuboid. The box 10 is formed of interconnected panels having a base panel 11, side panels 12, end panels 13 and a lid panel 14. The lid panel 14 hinges along an edge of a side panel 12 to be separable from the opposing side panel 12 in order to provide access to the inside of the box 10.

In one embodiment of the invention, a flap (not shown) depends from an upper edge of each end panel 13. The flap comprises a circular cut out and folds inwards to abut an inside face of the end panel 13. At either end of the tube 9 an extended region of the tube 9 may extend by a small margin beyond the overlapping edge of the rolled sheet 1 wrapped thereabout. A tube with one or more rolled sheets 1 wrapped thereabout is herein referred to as a roll. With the roll 22received in the box 10, the extended region of the tube 9 locates in the cut out to secure the roll 22rotatably therein. In this embodiment it is therefore possible to pull at a free edge 15 of the sheet 1 tangentially away from the roll 22to cause the sheet 1 to unravel a desired amount while the roll 22remains in the box 10.

Alternatively, the roll 221s removable from box 10 so that the roll 221s manually held as the sheet 1 is unravelled. It shall be appreciated that in such embodiments any number of separate rolls 22may be provided in the box 10, subject to practical limitations as to the size of the box 10.

In use, a length of the sheet 1 is separated from the remaining sheet 1 by unravelling a length of sheet 1 as above described from the roll 22 and tearing the length of sheet 1 free from the remaining rolled sheet 1 along a perforated line of weakness 2.

With a length of sheet 1 separated from the roll 22, the length of sheet 1 is then placed around the pan 16 so that the sheet 1 rests on a longitudinal edge 6A/6B as shown in Figure 5. With the sheet 1 thus positioned, the sheet 1 extends around the full perimeter of the pan 16 so that ends 17 of the length of sheet 1 line up and abut, or marginally overlap. It will be appreciated that the length of the sheet 1 can be selected by a user in dependence on the size of the pan which it is to surround, prior to tearing it along the closest line of weakness so as to minimise wastage. The sheet 1 will have a natural curvature along its length as a result of being stored in a rolled state. Advantageously, this allows the sheet 1 to be placed around the pan 16 without any additional means of securing it thereto. For example, the curvature of the sheet 1 causes the sheet 1 to curl tightly in upon itself, therefore when the sheet 1 is placed around the pan 16, the sheet 1 takes an arcuate form to curve in toward the pan 16 to abut the perimeter of the pan 16.

Though it is envisaged that no additional means of securing a length of sheet 1 about a pan 16 are required, it is intended that such means remain within the scope of the invention. In one example of an embodiment in which additional means are provided, pressure sensitive adhesive is disposed adjacent the lines of weakness 2 so that overlapping ends 17 of a length of sheet 1 arranged about a pan 16 can be secured together by the adhesive. In another example, a tab is disposed adjacent lines of weakness 2. The tab may be formed in the sheet and delimited by cut lines or lines of weakening so that the tab can be pushed out from the surface of the sheet 1. With a length of sheet 1 arranged about a pan 16 ends 17 of the sheet are overlapped so that respective tabs are aligned. The aligned tabs are pushed out from the surface of the sheet 1 so that at least one of the tabs extends through the overlapping part of the sheet 1 to secure the overlapping part of the sheet 1 thereto.

The pan 16 depicted in Figure 5 has a base and a cylindrical retaining wall that upstands vertically from the base. A handle 18 extends obliquely from the cylindrical wall. The cylindrical wall has an upper edge 19 extending about an opening through which the contents of the pan 16 can be accessed for stirring or seasoning etcetera.

When cooking, the base of the pan 16 rests on a cooking surface 20 such as a hot plate, induction hob or the iron pan supports of a gas hob. The sheet 1 rests on its first or second longitudinal edge 6A/6B immediately around the cooking surface 20 adjacent the base of the pan. Where the sheet 1 is used in proximity to the naked flame of a gas hob, a heat proof version of the paper must be used. It is intended that, where a series of holes 5 are provided in the sheet 1, the sheet 1 is stood on its first edge 6A so that the holes 5 are in close proximity to the cooking surface 20 to ventilate the cooking surface 20.

With the length of sheet 1 arranged around the pan 16 as shown in Figure 5, the sheet 1 upstands from the cooking surface 20 so that an upper edge 21 of the sheet 1 extends substantially beyond the upper edge 19 of the pan. Therefore, when cooking food the resulting spitting of oil or food is better contained, in that the oil or food must be ejected higher and further to pass over the upper edge 21 of the sheet 1 than to pass over the upper edge 19 of the pan. Similarly, when arranged around a pan of boiling water, the sheet 1 acts as a barrier to prevent any foaming occurring on the surface of the water from spilling over and out of the pan.

So that the handle 18 of the pan 16 does not obstruct the length of sheet 1 arranged thereabout, a flap can be partially torn away from the remainder of the sheet 1 along two adjacent lines of weakening 2. The flap can then be bent away from the pan 16 and the remainder of the sheet 1 to form a recess that extends inwardly from a longitudinal edge 6A/ 6B of the sheet to provide a gap to receive the handle 18 of the pan 16.

Where a longitudinal line of weakness 4 is provided, the flap can be torn away from the sheet 1 completely. For example, two initial tears are made along adjacent lines of weakness 2 to terminate where said lines of weakness 2 intersect the longitudinal line of weakness 4 to form a flap. A secondary tear can then be made along the longitudinal line of weakness 4 between the two initial tears to separate the flap from the sheet 1 and to form a recess that extends inwardly from a longitudinal edge 6A/6B of the sheet 1 to provide a gap to receive the handle 18 of the pan 16.

In embodiments of the invention having a plurality of holes 5 with slits 7 extending outwardly from the hole 5, as depicted in Figure 2B and 2C, it is possible to extend the handle 18 of the pan 16 through any one of the plurality of holes 5. The slits 7 provided around each hole 5 allow the hole 5 to be enlarged as described above. Therefore, a handle 18 larger than the nominal size of the hole 5 can be extended through the hole 5.

It shall be appreciated that the lines of weakness 2 of the above described embodiments may comprise score lines. The score lines of such embodiments are thin channels of reduced sheet thickness that extend across the full width of the sheet 1 at regular spaced intervals as described above. The lines of weakness 2 may be formed of score lines in place of the perforations, or may be a combination of the two with score lines extending between perforations. It shall be yet further appreciated that the lines of weakness 2 of the above

embodiments may be omitted. Instructions can be provided instead to instruct a user of the roll 22 to tear through the elongate sheet 1 to separate a length of sheet 1. In such embodiments, a series of notches (not shown) maybe provided in either the first or second elongate edge 6A/6B. The notches extend along said edge 6A/6B at regular spaced intervals. It is intended that each notch provides a point of weakening so that upon tearing a length of sheet 1 the tear is initiated from the point of weakening.

Whilst reference is primarily made to a roll of material, sections of which can be detached to form individual cooking shields, it will be appreciated that the sheets could be of fixed length and separate to each other. In this case they can be provided in a stack. Alternatively, a longer length of material forming multiple sheets can be folded in concertina fashion which allows a required length to be detached from the length of material that remains.

It is intended that the sheet 1 described above is disposable and that a user of the sheet l discards the length of sheet l used to contain spitting when it is no longer required. In other embodiments of the invention a non-disposable sheet ι is provided (not shown), wherein like features retain the same reference numerals.

In such embodiments, the non-disposable sheet ι is an elongate rectangular sheet having first and second parallel longitudinal edges 6A/ 6B that extend the length of the sheet l between first and second ends 3A/3B of the sheet 1. It is envisaged that in a preferred embodiment the length of the non-disposable sheet 1 is between 80 and 120 centimetres to enable the sheet 1 to be wrapped about a large pan as explained below. The sheet 1 may be made from any suitably durable heat proof material and must be waterproof to enable washing of the sheet 1. The sheet 1 may be resiliently deformable and assume a rolled-up condition when it is in a relaxed state for ease of storage.

The sheet 1 may be arranged around the pan so that the sheet 1 rests on a cooking surface on its first longitudinal edge 6A. With the sheet 1 thus positioned, the sheet 1 is wrapped about the full circumference of the pan so that ends 17 of the length of sheet 1 line up and abut, or marginally overlap. The resilience of the sheet 1 causes the sheet 1 to close around the pan to hold it in position.

A series of holes 5 are provided in the sheet 1 adjacent the first longitudinal edge 6A, so that the holes 5 are in close proximity to the cooking surface to ventilate the cooking surface.

With the length of sheet 1 arranged around the pan, the sheet 1 upstands from the cooking surface so that an upper edge 21 of the sheet 1 extends substantially beyond an upper edge of the pan to contain spitting of food and oil as described above.

Alternatively, the sheet 1 has sufficient resilience to close around the pan to grip the pan so the sheet 1 is supported by friction between the sheet 1 and the pan. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the extent to which the upper edge 21 of the sheet 1 extends above the upper edge of the pan by positioning the sheet 1 as required and releasing the sheet 1 so that the sheet 1 grips the pan to remain in the required position. One embodiment of the non-disposable sheet is shown in Figure 6A, wherein the sheet l additionally comprises a longitudinal cut out 23 extending between first and second ends 3A/3B of the sheet. The cut out 23 provides an opening for the pan handle 18 such that the sheet 1 can be wrapped about different sized pans by varying the degree of overlap of first and second ends 3A/3B of the sheet 1 and passing the handle 18 through the remaining exposed cut out 23. The cut out 23 may extend along substantially the full length of the sheet 1 or, as shown in Figure 6A, the cut out 23 may extend only partially along the length of the sheet 1 with a first edge 24 of the cut out 23 disposed adjacent either the first or second end 3A/3B of the sheet 1.

In another embodiment shown in Figure 6B, the non-disposable sheet 1 comprises hooks 25 for attaching the sheet to the upper edge 19 of the pan. The hooks 25 are spaced along the length of the sheet 1 and comprise U-shaped cuts 26 delineating flaps 27. The flaps 27 are displaceable relative to the sheet 1 so that, with the sheet 1 arranged around a pan, the flap 27 can be pushed over the edge of the pan to secure the sheet 1 thereto. The embodiment depicted in Figure 6B further comprises legs 28 that extend from the first longitudinal edge 6A so that when the sheet 1 is arranged about the pan, the legs 28 extend to overlap the cylindrical wall of the pan for additional stability.

Figure 7 shows a sheet according to another embodiment of the invention in a position in which it would assume when wrapped around a pan. In this embodiment, the sheet 1 has removable portions 30 at the corners. The removable portions are optionally detatchable from the remainder of the sheet 1 by tearing it along lines of weakening such as perforations 31. Once the removable portions 30 have been removed, access to the pan surrounded by the sheet 1 is made easier for stirring etc.

Although above described embodiments of the non-disposable sheet 1 are described above as being resilient, embodiments of the invention are envisaged in which the non- disposable sheet 1 is non resilient. In such embodiments the sheet 1 is stood on the cooking surface on one of said longitudinal edges 6A/ 6B and deformed plastically into an arcuate shape to surround the pan. It shall be appreciated that such a plastically deformable sheet 1 may be folded or rolled for storing as desired. Those skilled in the art will understand that the term "pan", as used herein, refers to any cooking implement on, or in, which food is placed during cooking on a hob and may include, but is not limited to, a saucepan, a frying pan, a griddle, a casserole dish and a wok.