Cooking appliance surfaces having spill containment pattern and methods of making the same

Abstract

A pattern of high temperature hydrophobic surfaces for use with cooking and baking appliances, such as kitchen cooktops, stoves and oven interior walls. The pattern of hydrophobic surfaces confines overflowed liquids to the enclosed non-hydrophobic surface areas and away from protected areas, such as around burner control knobs, burner surfaces, cal rods, fan and vent openings, countertops, and the like. The hydrophobic materials used are able to withstand and effectively repel liquids at high operating temperatures.

1 - 62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . A method of manufacturing a cooking appliance surface capable of containing spills thereon comprising:
 providing a cooking appliance surface comprising a top surface having a non-hydrophobic region, wherein at least a portion of the cooking appliance surface is adapted to be heated or affected by at least one heating element; and   forming a hydrophobic pattern on the top surface, the hydrophobic pattern arranged to bound at least a portion of the non-hydrophobic region, the bounded non-hydrophobic region defining a non-hydrophobic spill containment region.   
     
     
         64 - 67 . (canceled) 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein applying a hydrophobic pattern comprises:
 applying a frit to the top surface, the frit arranged in pattern of the hydrophobic pattern;   curing the frit to couple the frit to the top surface;   applying a hydrophobic compound to the cured frit; and   curing the hydrophobic compound.   
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the frit is a ceramic frit, a porcelain frit, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein curing the frit comprises heating the frit to a temperature in a range of about 1000° F. to about 1400° F. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein curing the hydrophobic compound comprises heating the hydrophobic compound to a temperature in a range of about 100° F. to about 600° F. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein curing the hydrophobic compound comprises exposing the hydrophobic compound to ambient temperature. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein applying the hydrophobic pattern comprises applying a hydrophobic solution comprising the hydrophobic compound dispersed or dissolved in a solvent. 
     
     
         74 - 76 . (canceled) 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 63 , comprising applying the hydrophobic pattern in the form of a continuous border, which defines a single non-hydrophobic spill containment central region within said border. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein the continuous border is disposed near the perimeter of the top surface. 
     
     
         79 . (canceled) 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein a portion of the hydrophobic pattern surrounds the portion of the cooking appliance surface adapted to be heated by the heating element. 
     
     
         81 - 86 . (canceled) 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 63 , comprising forming the hydrophobic pattern in substantially the same plane as the top surface. 
     
     
         88 . (canceled) 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the hydrophobic pattern comprises hydrophobic particles. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the hydrophobic pattern is formed to a thickness in the range of approximately 0.001 microns to approximately 250 microns. 
     
     
         91 . (canceled) 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the cooking appliance surface is selected from the group consisting of oven walls, a cooktop cooking surface, and a stovetop cooking surface. 
     
     
         93 - 100 . (canceled)