Stove top device

Abstract

An improved gas burner system is disclosed. The burner system comprises a conventional household gas burner with a grill for supporting a cooking utensil, a head generating an annular flame and a device placed around the head and preferably extending to the grill. The device has a wall for containing the flame and the hot air from the head and has a diameter small enough to effectively contain the heat and large enough to allow effective air flow to the flame. The device includes a body forming the cylindrical surface and a support for variably positioning the body around the head. The support is made of an alloy that resists distortion and discoloration by the heat from the flame. The ring can be cylindrical member made of metal or a ceramic heat absorbing ring.

1 . A burner system for a gas range top comprising:
 a burner floor;   a burner head resting above a floor, said burner head forming gas flames when lit;   a metal grill disposed over the head to support a cooking utensil; and   a device situated underneath said grill and having a cylindrical inner surface disposed about said head for directing said gas flame and hot gases associated therewith upwardly toward the utensil bottom and restricting said flame and said hot gases in a lateral direction.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said device includes a ring made of a thermal insulator and a support arranged and constructed to hold said ring at a predetermined height with respect to said head. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein, said ring is made of a ceramic material. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 4  wherein said support is made of a metallic alloy. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 5  wherein said support is made of an alloy that resists warping and discoloration when exposed to said hot gases and said flame. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 3  wherein, said support includes an annular body and a plurality of legs bendable with respect to said body. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 4  wherein, said ring has a diameter of substantially 4.5-5.5 inches. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said annular body includes a lip for forming a seat for said ring. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said device is a tubular metallic ring. 
   
   
       9 . A device for increasing the efficiency of a stove top burner having a burner floor, a head disposed above said floor through which a gas is expelled to generate a flame when lit and a grill disposed above said head to support a cooking utensil, said device comprising:
 a body having a cylindrical inner surface disposed at the same level as and concentrically around said head, said body being sized and shaped to restrict laterally said flame and hot gases formed.   
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein said body extends upwardly to contact said grill. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 9  further comprising a support for positioning said body on said floor. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said body is formed of a metal sheet and said support includes a plurality of metal legs integral with said body. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said body is a ceramic ring and said support includes a plurality of metal legs. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13  wherein said legs are attached to said ceramic ring. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 13  wherein support includes an annular body sized and shaped to hold said ceramic ring and said legs are attached to said support. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15  wherein annular body includes an inner lip sized to form a seat for said ceramic ring. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 13  wherein said support is made of metallic alloy that resists discoloration and warping when heated by the flame from the head. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 15  wherein said legs are bendable with respect to said annular body to adjust the height of said ceramic ring.