Barrier apparatus adapted for extending the height of existing backsplashes of commerical cooking appliances

Abstract

A barrier system for use with a commercial cooking apparatus easily couples to the backsplash of the cooking apparatus to extend the height of the backsplash to a level that promotes safety, efficiency, and organization. The barrier system includes a barrier member that includes an attachment assembly that clips to an edge of the backsplash to hold the barrier member in a position extending upwardly from the cooking surface, and extending along the backsplash of the grill. The barrier member can have an accessory staging feature along a topmost portion, the topmost portion being at least eight inches above the cooking surface. The accessory staging feature can support one or more accessories to increase usable grill surface area. By preventing food and hot grease from being ejected over the backsplash and into an exhaust well, the invention substantially reduces the likelihood of ventilation/exhaust well fires. The invention makes cleaning the factory exhaust vent much easier, as well as protecting the stainless steel or tile kitchen back wall from splatter, smoke, grease, and soot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A barrier system for enhancing the safe operation of a commercial cooking appliance, the commercial cooking appliance having one or more heating elements disposed beneath an open cooking surface, the one or more heating elements used to heat the open cooking surface to an appropriate temperature for cooking thereon, the commercial cooking appliance including a backsplash extending in an upward direction along the back end of the cooking appliance to a first height above the cooking surface, the barrier system comprising:
 a barrier member configured to be coupled to the backsplash of the commercial cooking appliance so that it extends upwardly to a second height above the cooking surface that is substantially greater than the first height of the backsplash above the cooking surface, the barrier member having a length that extends substantially along the entire length of the backsplash;   an attachment assembly comprising at least one retaining clip, the attachment assembly affixed to the back of the barrier member and capable of coupling the barrier member to the backsplash to create a continuous extension of the backsplash whereby the barrier member is supported against rotation-to maintain the barrier member in its upward orientation; and   an accessory staging feature extending along a length of a topmost portion of the barrier member.   
     
     
         2 . The barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory staging feature has a cross-section shaped like an inverted squared “J”. 
     
     
         3 . The barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory staging feature has a cross-section shaped like an inverted “L”. 
     
     
         4 . The barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory staging feature has a cross-section shaped like a straight vertical wall having a thin smooth flat top across which various accessories can move horizontally. 
     
     
         5 . The barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one retaining clip of the attachment assembly is a spring clip having a receiving end configured to receive and then squeeze the backsplash between the barrier member and the attachment assembly by spring-like compression. 
     
     
         6 . The barrier system of  claim 5 , wherein the attachment assembly includes a plurality of the spring clips. 
     
     
         7 . The barrier system of  claim 5 , wherein the receiving end of the at least one spring clip has a toe portion that bends away from the back splash to aid in receiving the backsplash, and makes squeezing contact with the backsplash at the bend. 
     
     
         8 . The barrier system of  claim 6 , wherein the attachment assembly includes at least one track, running substantially in parallel with the backsplash, within which at least one of the plurality of spring clips is are slideably disposed. 
     
     
         9 . The barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the commercial cooking appliance includes side splashes disposed along the sides of the cooking appliance and substantially perpendicular to the backsplash; and   said barrier system further includes an adjustable side buttress disposed at each end of the barrier member so that each adjustable side buttress rests on the side splashes for additional rotational support when said barrier system is attached thereto.   
     
     
         10 . The barrier system of  claim 9 , wherein each of the adjustable side buttresses has a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion of each resting on one of the side splashes and the top portion of each capable of being slideably raised or lowered relative to the bottom portion of each side buttress in accordance with the height of each side splash, the top portion of each side buttress capable of being fixed in position relative to the bottom portion of each side buttress once the adjustment is complete. 
     
     
         11 . The barrier system of  claim 1 , further comprising a spacer disposed at a bottom end of the barrier member, the spacer configured to maintain the barrier member in a substantially vertical orientation when the barrier member is coupled to the backsplash such that the bottom end is in contact with and supported by the commercial cooking appliance, the spacer capable of displacing the lower end of the barrier member away from the backsplash sufficiently to compensate for any forward displacement of the barrier member at the top of the backsplash. 
     
     
         12 . The barrier system of  claim 1 , further comprising a spacer means disposed at a bottom end of the barrier member, the bottom end being in contact with and supported by the commercial cooking appliance, the spacer means for maintaining the barrier member in a substantially vertical orientation by displacing the lower end of the barrier member away from the backsplash sufficiently to compensate for any forward displacement of the barrier member at the top of the backsplash. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for use with a commercial cooking appliance, the commercial cooking appliance having one or more heating elements used to heat the open cooking surface to an appropriate temperature for cooking thereon, the commercial grill including a backsplash that extends in an upward direction along the back end of the cooking appliance to a first height above the cooking surface, the apparatus comprising:
 a barrier member;   an accessory staging area extending along a length of a topmost portion of the barrier member; and   retaining clip means, attached to the barrier member, for coupling the barrier member to the backsplash so that the barrier member extends upwardly to a second height that is substantially greater than the first height with respect to the cooking surface, the retaining clip means configured to receive and then squeeze the backsplash between the barrier member and the attachment assembly by spring-like compression, the barrier member forming a continuous extension of the backsplash up to the second height.   
     
     
         14 . The barrier system of  claim 13 , further comprising an accessory staging feature extending along a length of a topmost portion of the barrier member. 
     
     
         15 . The barrier system of  claim 14 , wherein the accessory staging feature has a cross-section shaped like an inverted squared “J”. 
     
     
         16 . The barrier system of  claim 13 , further comprising a spacer disposed at a bottom end of the barrier member, the spacer configured to maintain the barrier member in a substantially vertical orientation when the barrier member is coupled to the backsplash such that the bottom end is in contact with and supported by the commercial cooking appliance, the spacer capable of displacing the lower end of the barrier member away from the backsplash sufficiently to compensate for any forward displacement of the barrier member at the top of the backsplash. 
     
     
         17 . The barrier system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the commercial cooking appliance includes side splashes disposed along the sides of the cooking appliance and substantially perpendicular to the backsplash; and   said barrier system further includes an adjustable side buttress disposed at each end of the barrier member so that each adjustable side buttress rests on the side splashes for additional rotational support when said barrier system is attached thereto.