Tool for cleaning a grill

Abstract

A grill-cleaning tool has a water-absorbent layer fabricated from a material that is suitable for transferring a volume of water. A fire-resistant layer is disposed outwardly of the water absorbent layer. A scrubbing outer layer fabricated from a metallic-mesh material covers both the fire-resistant layer and the water-absorbent layer. The water-absorbent layer and the heat-resistant layer may be incorporated into a single unit or may be separate layers. Fasteners are provided for assembling the layers together to form an assembled grill-cleaning tool.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A grill-cleaning tool, comprising:
 a water-absorbent layer fabricated from a material that is suitable for transferring a volume of water; and   a scrubbing outer layer fabricated from a metallic-mesh material and covering the water-absorbent layer.   
     
     
         2 . The grill-cleaning tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a fire-resistant layer disposed outwardly of the water absorbent layer, wherein the scrubbing outer layer covers both the fire-resistant layer and the water-absorbent layer. 
     
     
         3 . The grill-cleaning tool of  claim 2 , further comprising a backing layer that is arranged such that the water-absorbent layer and the fire-resistant layer are sandwiched between the backing layer and the scrubbing outer layer. 
     
     
         4 . The grill-cleaning tool of  claim 3 , further comprising a complementary mounting structure carried by the backing layer for detachably engaging a mounting structure that is carried at a first end of a handle. 
     
     
         5 . The grill cleaning tool of  claim 3 , wherein the backing layer is fabricated from a rigid material or semi-rigid material. 
     
     
         6 . The grill-cleaning tool of  claim 3 , further comprising a complementary mounting structure integrated into the water-absorbent layer for engaging a mounting structure carried at a first end of a handle. 
     
     
         7 . The grill-cleaning tool of  claim 3 , wherein the scrubbing outer layer is fabricated from food-grade stainless-steel. 
     
     
         8 . The grill cleaning tool of  claim 2 , further comprising an inner support layer disposed inwardly of the water-absorbent layer, the fire-resistant layer and the scrubbing outer layer, and wherein the inner support layer is operatively coupled to an elongated handle having a grasping end that is spaced away from the inner support layer. 
     
     
         9 . The grill cleaning tool of  claim 8 , wherein the inner support layer is a generally cup-shaped structure with an open end, and wherein an end of an elongated handle opposite the grasping end extends through the open end and into an interior cavity of the inner support layer. 
     
     
         10 . The grill cleaning tool of  claim 9 , comprising a mounting feature carried by the inner support layer within the interior cavity thereof, and wherein the elongated handle comprises a complementary mounting feature disposed at the first end for engaging the mounting feature. 
     
     
         11 . The grill cleaning tool of  claim 9 , wherein a wall material of the inner support layer comprises a plurality of perforations configured to support movement of liquid into and out of the interior cavity of the inner support layer. 
     
     
         12 . The grill cleaning tool of  claim 8 , wherein the inner support body is either a closed, hollow cylindrical-shaped body or a solid cylindrical-shaped body. 
     
     
         13 . The grill cleaning tool of  claim 12 , wherein the elongated handle and the inner support layer comprise a single, molded piece. 
     
     
         14 . The grill-cleaning tool of  claim 2 , wherein the grill-cleaning tool is wearable, and further comprising an inner layer that is fabricated from a water-proof material and that is generally cylindrical in shape with a closed end and with an open end that is opposite the closed end for receiving the hand and forearm of a user, wherein the water-absorbent layer, the fire-resistant layer and the scrubbing outer layer are also generally cylindrical in shape with a closed end and with an open end that is opposite the closed end, and wherein the layers are nested one inside another and are fastened together when the wearable grill-cleaning tool is in an assembled condition. 
     
     
         15 . The grill-cleaning tool of  claim 14 , wherein the water-absorbent layer and the fire-resistant layer are sewn together and are assembled into the wearable grill-cleaning tool as a single unit. 
     
     
         16 . The grill-cleaning tool of  claim 14 , wherein the water-proof inner layer, the water-absorbent layer and the fire-resistant layer are each sized to extend approximately to the user's elbow. 
     
     
         17 . The grill-cleaning tool of  claim 14 , wherein the closed end of each one of the water-proof inner layer, the water-absorbent layer and the fire-resistant layer is larger in the radial direction than the open end of each one of the water-proof inner layer, the water-absorbent layer and the fire-resistant layer. 
     
     
         18 . The grill-cleaning tool of  claim 17 , comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart ribs extending radially inward from an inner surface of the water-proof inner layer and extending longitudinally along the length of the water-proof inner layer within the larger closed end thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The grill-cleaning tool of  claim 18 , wherein each rib of the plurality of ribs is wider at a top portion thereof than at a base portion thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The grill-cleaning tool of  claim 18 , comprising between 4 and 8 circumferentially spaced-apart ribs extending radially inward from an inner surface of the water-proof inner layer and extending longitudinally along the length of the water-proof inner layer within the larger closed end thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The grill-cleaning tool of  claim 11 , comprising a plurality of fasteners disposed along an outer surface of the water-proof inner layer and a plurality of complementary fasteners disposed along an inner surface of the water-absorbent layer for cooperatively securing the water-absorbent layer to the water-proof inner layer. 
     
     
         22 . The grill-cleaning tool of  claim 14 , comprising a plurality of fasteners disposed along an outer surface of the fire-resistant layer and a plurality of complementary fasteners carried by the scrubbing outer layer for cooperatively securing the scrubbing outer layer to the fire-resistant layer. 
     
     
         23 . The grill-cleaning tool of  claim 14 , wherein the water-proof inner layer is fabricated from heat-resistant silicone rubber. 
     
     
         24 . The grill-cleaning tool of  claim 14 , wherein the scrubbing outer layer is fabricated from food-grade stainless-steel. 
     
     
         25 . A method of cleaning cooking grids of a cooking appliance using the grill-cleaning tool of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a) heating the cooking grids to a known cleaning temperature;   b) absorbing water into the water-absorbent layer of the grill-cleaning tool;   c) pressing the scrubbing outer layer against the heated cooking grids, thereby forcing a portion of the absorbed water out of the water-absorbent layer and into contact with the heated cooking grids so as to generate steam; and   d) using a scrubbing motion, mechanically loosening residues adhered to the heated cooking grids.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein absorbing water into the water-absorbent layer comprises immersing the grill-cleaning tool, in an assembled condition, into a container of water. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising rotating the grill-cleaning tool during scrubbing to expose fresh portions of the scrubbing outer layer. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising absorbing additional water into the water-absorbent layer of the grill-cleaning tool after mechanically loosening residues adhered to the heated cooking grids, and repeating steps c) and d). 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the known cleaning temperature corresponds to a pre-heat temperature for cooking a desired food. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the known cleaning temperature is at least 350° F.