Quick install/remove stove guard for drop-in cooktops

Abstract

A stove guard for a drop-in cooktop is attached to the front edge of a kitchen countertop by inserting the guard panel into two holding devices which are attached onto the front surface of the countertop. The guard prevents young children from reaching the burners, control knobs and cookware on the cooktop. The guard can be installed or removed in seconds.

1 - 3 . (canceled) 
   
   
       4 . A quick-install/quick-removable stove guard comprising:
 at least two guard panel holding devices, each of said guard panel holding devices with vertical slots substantially perpendicular to the countertop surface, said guard panel holding devices affixed to the countertop along the front of the stove; and   a guard panel removably positioned within the guard panel holding device vertical slots such that said guard panel occupies substantially all of, and extends upwardly from, the front of the stove-top.   
   
   
       5 . The quick-install/quick-removable stove guard of  claim 4 , wherein the guard panel holding devices are affixed to the countertop using double-sided adhesive tape. 
   
   
       6 . The quick-install/quick-removable stove guard of  claim 5 , wherein the guard panel is bent outwards from the countertop, having an angle substantially between 120 and 150 degrees with the countertop. 
   
   
       7 . The quick-install/quick-removable stove guard of  claim 6 , wherein the guard panel is bent outwards from the countertop, having an angle of substantially 135 degrees with the countertop. 
   
   
       8 . The quick-install/quick-removable stove guard of  claim 5 , wherein the guard panel holding devices are each shaped to have a flat part that extends over the top of the countertop near an edge of thereof and a u-shaped part extending outwardly from the flat part forming a groove disposed about a longer dimension of the guard panel holding device to hold the guard panel in a substantially upwardly position. 
   
   
       9 . The quick-install/quick-removable stove guard of  claim 5 , further including at least two double-faced adhesive tapes, each disposed under the flat part of a corresponding guard panel holding device that secures the guard panel holding device to the top of the countertop.