Oven Vent Heat Diverter Device

Abstract

An oven vent heat diverter device is disclosed which is a heat diversion barrier placed under the control panel of an oven or other appliance and redirects the heat to the exhaust fan. The oven vent heat diverter device comprises a body component consisting of several hinged panels attached to one another. In use, the hinged panels are secured together in a square configuration and positioned over the cooking surface of the free-standing range vent area, and under a control panel of an over-the-range (OTR) microwave or other suitable oven appliance. Further, the device can be folded up substantially flat for easy and convenient storage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oven vent heat diverter device that provides a user with a heat diversion barrier that redirects heat from an oven to an exhaust fan, the oven vent heat diverter device comprising:
 a body component;   wherein the body component comprised of a plurality of panels;   wherein the plurality of panels are secured together to form a square configuration; and   further wherein the body component is positioned on an oven, such that the body component directs smoke, hot air, and steam from the oven directly to an exhaust fan and out of a kitchen area.   
     
     
         2 . The oven vent heat diverter device of  claim 1 , wherein the oven is a free-standing range oven comprising a housing having a cooking compartment accessible through a door. 
     
     
         3 . The oven vent heat diverter device of  claim 2 , wherein the oven comprises a cooking surface on a top of the housing, which includes one or more cooking grates positioned over one or more gas or electric burners and a vent area. 
     
     
         4 . The oven vent heat diverter device of  claim 3 , wherein the vent area on the oven exhausts air from within the cooking compartment, out through one or more vent openings. 
     
     
         5 . The oven vent heat diverter device of  claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of panels is rectangular shaped and comprises a front surface, a rear surface, opposing top and bottom edges, and opposing right and left edges. 
     
     
         6 . The oven vent heat diverter device of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of panels comprises hinges at the opposing right and left edges, which allow the plurality of panels to be secured together in the square configuration for use. 
     
     
         7 . The oven vent heat diverter device of  claim 6 , wherein once in the square configuration, the plurality of panels are arranged such that the front surfaces face outward toward a user and the rear surfaces face inward toward the plurality of panels, and the plurality of panels rest on the bottom edges. 
     
     
         8 . The oven vent heat diverter device of  claim 7 , wherein the body component is positioned over the vent area of the oven and directly under a vent hood or an over-the-range microwave. 
     
     
         9 . The oven vent heat diverter device of  claim 8 , wherein the body component is configured such that the plurality of panels surrounds the vent area, collecting smoke, hot air, and steam from the cooking compartment and directing it up towards the vent hood to the exhaust fan, to be expelled outside and away from the kitchen area. 
     
     
         10 . The oven vent heat diverter device of  claim 9  further comprising a plurality of indicia. 
     
     
         11 . The oven vent heat diverter device of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of panels is manufactured of a heat-resistant material or combination of materials. 
     
     
         12 . The oven vent heat diverter device of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of panels can be folded up substantially flat via the hinges for storage. 
     
     
         13 . An oven vent heat diverter device that provides a user with a heat diversion barrier that redirects heat from an oven to an exhaust fan, the oven vent heat diverter device comprising:
 a body component;   wherein the body component is comprised of a plurality of panels;   wherein each of the plurality of panels is rectangular shaped and comprises a front surface, a rear surface, opposing top and bottom edges, and opposing right and left edges;   wherein each of the plurality of panels comprises hinges at the opposing right and left edges, which allow the plurality of panels to be secured together in a square configuration for use;   wherein once in the square configuration, the plurality of panels is arranged such that the front surfaces face outward toward a user and the rear surfaces face inward toward the plurality of panels, and the plurality of panels rest on the bottom edges;   wherein the body component is positioned on an oven, such that the body component directs smoke, hot air, and steam from the oven directly to an exhaust fan and out of a kitchen area;   wherein the oven is a free-standing range oven comprising a housing having a cooking compartment accessible through a door and a cooking surface on a top of the housing with a vent area; and   further wherein the vent area on the oven exhausts air from within the cooking compartment, out through one or more vent openings.   
     
     
         14 . The oven vent heat diverter device of  claim 13 , wherein the body component is positioned over the vent area of the oven and directly under a vent hood or an over-the-range microwave. 
     
     
         15 . The oven vent heat diverter device of  claim 14 , wherein the body component is configured such that the plurality of panels surrounds the vent area, collecting smoke, hot air, and steam from the cooking compartment and directing it up towards the vent hood to the exhaust fan, to be expelled outside and away from the kitchen area. 
     
     
         16 . The oven vent heat diverter device of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of panels is manufactured of a heat-resistant material or combination of materials. 
     
     
         17 . The oven vent heat diverter device of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of panels can be folded up via the hinges for storage. 
     
     
         18 . The oven vent heat diverter device of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of panels is folded substantially flat and stored on the cooking surface when not in use. 
     
     
         19 . The oven vent heat diverter device of  claim 13  further comprising a plurality of indicia. 
     
     
         20 . A method of diverting heat from an oven to an exhaust fan to keep a kitchen cool, the method comprising the following steps:
 providing an oven vent heat diverter device comprising a body component consisting of a plurality of hinged panels;   securing the hinged panels together in a square configuration;   positioning the body component over the vent area of an oven and under the control panel of a microwave;   diverting air from the oven directly to the exhaust fan; and   folding the body component flat for storage.