Device and method for preventing debris from falling through a gap

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a device for preventing food debris from falling onto a floor through a gap between a kitchen counter and a kitchen appliance. The device includes an elongated body configured for insertion into the gap and for extending across the gap. The elongated body is made from a resilient material and has a generally W-shaped cross-section that is resiliently compressible along a lateral direction. The generally W-shaped cross-section includes a central ridge portion and two valley portions. The valley portions are located on opposing sides of the central ridge portion. The resilient material biases the generally W-shaped cross-section laterally outwardly to an uncompressed width.

1 . A device for preventing food debris from falling onto a floor through a gap between a kitchen counter and a kitchen appliance, the device comprising:
 an elongated body configured for insertion into the gap and for extending across the gap, the elongated body being made from a single piece of a resilient material and having a W-shaped cross-section that is resiliently compressible along a lateral direction, wherein the W-shaped cross-section includes a central ridge portion and two valley portions, the valley portions being located on opposing sides of the central ridge portion, and wherein the W-shaped cross-section is biased laterally outwardly such that outer sidewalls of the valley portions are pressed outwardly against the kitchen counter and the kitchen appliance, so as to maintain the elongated body within the gap.   
     
     
         2 . A device for preventing debris from falling through a gap, the device comprising:
 an elongated body configured for insertion into an elongated gap between two objects and for extending across the elongated gap, the elongated body being made from a single piece of a resilient material and having a W-shaped cross-section that is resiliently compressible along a lateral direction, wherein the W-shaped cross-section includes a central ridge portion and two valley portions, the valley portions being located on opposing sides of the central ridge portion, and wherein the W-shaped cross-section is biased laterally outwardly such that outer sidewalls of the valley portions are pressed outwardly against the two objects, so as to maintain the elongated body within the gap.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the central ridge portion has an inverted rounded U-shape, and wherein each valley portion of the two valley portions has a rounded U-shape. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the two valley portions include:
 (a) a first valley portion having a first outer sidewall portion configured to engage one of the two objects; and   (b) a second valley portion having a second outer sidewall portion configured to engage the other of the two objects.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the elongated body includes a lip protruding laterally outwardly from the first outer sidewall portion, the lip being configured to rest on top of one of the two objects. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body is made of a sheet of aluminum. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the two objects include at least one appliance 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the two objects include a kitchen counter and a kitchen appliance 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the W-shaped cross-section has a width that is resiliently compressible by at least 75%. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the uncompressed width is at least 2 centimeters. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the inverted rounded U-shaped central ridge portion and the rounded U-shaped valley portions each have a compressed width of less than 2 centimeters. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the compressed width is between 0.1 centimeters and 1 centimeter. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the elongated body has an adjustable length. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the adjustable length is adjustable from 0.5 meters to 1 meter. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the elongated body has a length of at least 0.5 meters. 
     
     
         17 . A method of filling a gap, the method comprising:
 (a) laterally compressing an elongated body made from a resilient material, the elongated body having a generally W-shaped cross-section that includes a central ridge portion and two valley portions, the valley portions being located on opposing sides of the central ridge portion;   (b) placing the compressed elongated body within an elongated gap between two objects; and   (c) releasing the compressed elongated body so that the resilient material expands the generally W-shaped cross-section laterally outwardly to engage each of the two objects.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein step (a) includes compressing the elongated body by at least 50%. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the elongated body includes a lip protruding laterally outwardly from one of the valley portions, and wherein step (b) includes placing the lip on top of one of the two objects. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising adjusting length of the elongated body. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the two objects include at least one appliance. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the two objects include a kitchen counter and a kitchen appliance. 
     
     
         23 . A device for preventing debris from falling through a gap, the device comprising:
 a first elongated body and at least one second elongated body, wherein each of the elongated bodies is slidably engaged with at least one other elongated body such that the device has an adjustable length, each of the elongated bodies being configured for insertion into an elongated gap between two objects and for extending across the elongated gap, each of the elongated bodies being made from a single piece of a resilient material and having a W-shaped cross-section that is resiliently compressible along a lateral direction, wherein the W-shaped cross-section includes a central ridge portion and two valley portions, the valley portions being located on opposing sides of the central ridge portion, and wherein the W-shaped cross-section is biased laterally outwardly such that outer sidewalls of the valley portions are pressed outwardly against the two objects so as to maintain the elongated bodies within the gap.