Diffusion plate and grate assembly for a gas burner

Abstract

A gas burner and grate combination includes a gas burner constructed for being operated at least at a high intensity level and at a low intensity level. A grate is located relative to the gas burner for supporting a cooking utensil thereon. A diffusion burner plate is located above the gas burner spaced from a cooking utensil when a cooking utensil is positioned on the grate. The diffusion burner plate is of a size such that when the gas burner is operated at a high intensity level the flame length is long enough to reach beyond the edges of the diffusion burner plate, and when the gas burner is operated at a low intensity level, the flame is contained under the diffusion burner plate such that heating of the cooking utensil occurs by radiation. In a further aspect, a cooktop includes the described gas burner and grate combination.

1 . A gas burner and grate combination, comprising: 
 a gas burner constructed for being operated at least at a high intensity level and at a low intensity level;    a grate located relative to said gas burner for supporting a cooking utensil thereon, for having food therein cooked through operation of the gas burner;    a diffusion burner plate located above the gas burner at a location for being spaced from a cooking utensil when a cooking utensil is positioned on said grate forming an air gap there between, and of a size wherein when the gas burner is operated at a high intensity level, the flame length is long enough to reach beyond the diffusion burner plate, and when the gas burner is operated at a low intensity level, the flame is contained under the diffusion burner plate and heating of the cooking utensil occurs by radiation thereby avoiding hot spots which occur at low intensity levels.    
   
   
       2 . The gas burner and grate combination of  claim 1 , including said diffusion burner plate constructed integral with said grate.  
   
   
       3 . The gas burner and grate combination of  claim 1 , including said diffusion burner plate including means for being removably attached to said grate.  
   
   
       4 . The gas burner and grate combination of  claim 1 , including said gas burner having a burner cap and said diffusion burner plate located above said burner cap.  
   
   
       5 . The gas burner and grate combination of  claim 1 , including said diffusion burner plate including a central opening or aperture therein.  
   
   
       6 . The gas burner and grate combination of  claim 1 , including said diffusion burner plate is formed in a solid element.  
   
   
       7 . The gas burner and grate combination of  claim 1 , including said diffusion burner plate is formed with perforations therein.  
   
   
       8 . The gas burner and grate combination of  claim 1 , including said diffusion burner plate shaped to conform to the shape of the gas burner.  
   
   
       9 . The gas burner and grate combination of  claim 1 , including said diffusion burner plate made from one of a metal and a ceramic material.  
   
   
       10 . The gas burner and grate combination of  claim 1 , including said diffusion burner plate formed of a thickness and width selected for causing simmering of foodstuffs in a cooking utensil when said gas burner is operated at an intensity level where the length of the flames from said burner does not extend beyond an outer edge of said diffusion burner plate.  
   
   
       11 . The gas burner and grate combination of  claim 1 , including fingers extending from said grate for supporting said diffusion burner plate thereon.  
   
   
       12 . The gas burner and grate combination of  claim 1 , including said diffusion burner plate shaped to not conform to the shape of the gas burner.  
   
   
       13 . The gas burner and grate combination of  claim 1 , including said diffusion burner plate is located sufficiently spaced from a cooking utensil when a cooking utensil is placed on said grate to ensure that substantially all heating occurs by radiation with substantially no heating by conduction occurring.  
   
   
       14 . The gas burner and grate combination of  claim 1 , including said diffusion burner plate formed in one of a substantially flat, a concave or a convex shape.  
   
   
       15 . A cooktop, comprising: 
 at least one gas burner constructed for being operated at least at a high intensity level and at a low intensity level;    at least one grate corresponding to said at least one gas burner located relative to said at least one gas burner for supporting a cooking utensil thereon, for having food therein cooked through operation of the gas burner;    at least one diffusion burner plate located above the gas burner at a location for being spaced from a cooking utensil when a cooking utensil is positioned on said grate forming an air gap there between, and of a size wherein when the gas burner is operated at a high intensity level, the flame length is long enough to reach beyond the diffusion burner plate, and when the gas burner is operated at a low intensity level, the flame is contained under the diffusion burner plate and heating of the cooking utensil occurs by radiation thereby avoiding hot spots which occur at low intensity levels.    
   
   
       16 . The cooktop of  claim 15 , including said diffusion burner plate constructed integral with said grate.  
   
   
       17 . The cooktop of  claim 15 , including said diffusion burner plate including means for being removably attached to said grate.  
   
   
       18 . The cooktop of  claim 15 , including said gas burner having a burner cap and said diffusion burner plate located above said burner cap.  
   
   
       19 . The cooktop of  claim 15 , including said diffusion burner plate including a central opening or aperture therein.  
   
   
       20 . The cooktop of  claim 15 , including said diffusion burner plate is formed in a solid element.  
   
   
       21 . The cooktop of  claim 15 , including said diffusion plate burner is formed with perforations therein.  
   
   
       22 . The cooktop of  claim 15 , including said diffusion burner plate shaped to conform to the shape of the gas burner.  
   
   
       23 . The cooktop of  claim 15 , including said diffusion burner plate made from one of a metal and a ceramic material.  
   
   
       24 . The cooktop of  claim 15 , including said diffusion burner plate formed of a thickness and width selected for causing simmering of foodstuffs in a cooking utensil when said gas burner is operated at an intensity level where the length of the flames from said burner does not extend beyond an outer edge of said diffusion burner plate.  
   
   
       25 . The cooktop of  claim 15 , including said diffusion burner plate is formed in one of a substantially flat, a concave or a convex shape.  
   
   
       26 . The cooktop of  claim 15 , including said diffusion burner plate shaped to not conform to the shape of the gas burner.  
   
   
       27 . The cooktop of  claim 15 , including said diffusion burner plate is located sufficiently spaced from a cooking utensil when a cooking utensil is placed on said grate to ensure that substantially all heating occurs by radiation with substantially no heating by conduction occurring.  
   
   
       28 . The cooktop of  claim 15 , including a plurality of gas burners and a plurality of said grates corresponding to said plurality of burners.  
   
   
       29 . The cooktop of  claim 29 , including a plurality of diffusion burner plates corresponding to said plurality of gas burners.