RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/929,636 filed on May 23, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a stove top device, and, more particularly, to a device which is placed over a gas range burner so that less gas is consumed. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Gas cooking is perhaps the most widely used type of cooking found in homes and apartments. Gas cooking is much more powerful and efficient than electric ranges and much easier to control than wood or charcoal cooking. The gas flame is selectively turned on or off, and/or raised and lowered in intensity by the operator by simply adjusting the controls of the oven or cook top. These adjustments increase and decrease the flow of gas to the burner. When more gas flows, the flame is stronger; when less gas flows the flame is weaker. Moreover, since the gas flame reacts instantly to the operator&#39;s selection, cooking is made far simpler. 
         [0004]    A conventional gas stove or cook top usually includes anywhere from four to six individually controlled burners in which a gas flame is controllably operated. Each burner typically includes an annular metal grill overlying the burner. The grill is designed to selectively accommodate a pot or other cooking utensils seated thereon. 
         [0005]    While gas cooking is advantageous, it does have certain deficiencies. The gas flame tends to operate somewhat inefficiently. Particularly, much of the heat generated by the gas flame is not directed precisely upward towards the pot, but is instead angled outward so that a substantial quantity of heat is lost around the edge of the pot. In addition, gas flames tend to emit pollutants into the environment, more so when the flame is operated at a “high” setting in order to compensate for heat loss. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,333 (“the &#39;333 patent”) describes a prior art gas range burner system. The system includes multiple elements that fit together to contain the heat created by a gas burner, while advantageous, the system has three important limitations. First, the metal used in the flame directing element of the &#39;333 patent is prone to discoloration and warping under high heat conditions to the point where it becomes esthetically unacceptable. Second, the flame directing element of the &#39;333 invention is too narrow and fails to allow enough air flow to reach the flame. Again, this limitation is most problematic under high heat conditions. And third, the outer ring 19 of the &#39;333 invention does not allow air to travel under the ring to the flame. 
         [0007]    When an insufficient supply of air reaches the flame, carbon monoxide gas is produced. Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas most often created when a hydrocarbon is burdened with an insufficient supply of oxygen gas. Low levels of carbon monoxide are present in the normal atmosphere, but increased levels can lead to headaches, nausea and even death. Carbon monoxide is very dangerous because the gas has no odor and no color and often is not detected until it is too late. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved gas burner system which overcomes these disadvantages, thereby causing the cooking experience to be faster, less costly and less irritation from escaping gas fumes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    An improved burner system for gas ranges is provided for a burner assembly having a floor, a burner head disposed above the floor and in communication with a flammable gas supply and a grill extending over the head to support a cooking utensil such as a pot. The burner head forms a flame arranged in annular pattern around the head and rising upwardly together with a plume of hot air to heat the utensil. In one embodiment, the improved system includes a ring-shaped device having an inner cylindrical wall disposed at the level of the burner head and arranged to constrict laterally the flame and the hot air thereby reducing energy waste. Preferably this cylindrical wall extends upwardly far enough to contact the grill 
         [0010]    In one embodiment the ring-shaped device is formed of sheet metal made of an alloy that resists discoloration and distortion when heated. The device includes legs or other support means to maintain the cylindrical surface at the level of the head. Openings at the bottom of the wall allow air to flow toward the head. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, the device includes a ceramic ring with a cylindrical inner wall for directing the flame and hot air from the burner head upwardly. The ring is designed to be seated on a burner unit, as well as for selectively receiving a standard annular grill thereon. In use, the annular grill of the burner unit is lifted. Then, the inventive ring is placed directly over the burner head. The annular grill is then placed on top of the inventive ring, firmly pressing down on the device until the grill is properly seated on the cook top. The gas stove or range is then operated as per usual. 
         [0012]    Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved gas burner system. 
         [0013]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a gas burner system which substantially reduces the requirement for gas during cooking. 
         [0014]    Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a gas burner system that substantially reduces heat loss during the cooking process. 
         [0015]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the following description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    For a full understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description, as well as the attached drawings, in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a device for an improved burner system constructed in accordance with this invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view showing of an improved burner system incorporating the first embodiment of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a ceramic ring in accordance with r a second embodiment of the device; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3   a  is a cross-sectional view of the ring of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a blank sheet for making the support for the second embodiment of the device; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the support of for the ring of  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a side sectional view of the support and the ring of  FIGS. 3-5 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a side sectional view of the support and ring of  FIG. 6 , with the legs being bent in different positions; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of an improved burner system incorporating the device of  FIG. 6 and 7 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of yet another embodiment of the ceramic ring; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of yet another embodiment of the device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , the first embodiment of the invention is generally indicated at  11 , and comprises a ring  13  having a generally cylindrical body  12  and a plurality of supporting feet  15  extending outwardly therefrom. Ring  13  is made from a metal alloy which maintains its shape and does not warp when heated to high temperatures. Moreover, preferably, the metal alloy does not rust. For example the metal alloy may be an INCONEL® alloy 625 or other similar metallic alloy of chrome, nickel or titanium. 
         [0029]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , device  11  is shown in use with a burner unit of a conventional gas stove or cook top. The burner unit includes a burner head  37  and an annular grill unit  31 . Grill unit  31  includes a circumferential member  33  and a series of radial support brackets  35 . As is well known, support brackets  35  are used for supporting a pot or other cooking utensil over the burner unit. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , device  11  is placed around head  37  and underneath grill unit  31  in order to channel the gas flame and associated hot air upwardly to the cooking utensil for faster cooking. 
         [0031]    In order for the device  11  to effectively channel heat, without restricting air flow, it must have a diameter large enough to allow sufficient air to reach the gas head for a complete combustion. If the device is too big, it either will not fit on a conventional burner or it will be ineffective. If the device is too small, it will restrict air flow and could create a dangerous carbon monoxide condition. The device  11 , or more properly, body  12  ideally has a diameter of approximately 5 inches. More broadly speaking, the inventive device has diameters in the range of 4.5 to 5.5 inches. Preferably, the cylindrical body is formed with several cutouts  14  to provide a cold air flow to the flames from the head. Support feet  15  rest on floor  30  of the burner unit can be adjusted in order to adjust the height of ring  13  by bending them with respect to the cylindrical body  12 . Preferably the ring  13  is sized and positioned so it is disposed circumferentially around the flame generated by the head  37  and extends upwardly to contact the brackets  35 . 
         [0032]    When the head is lit, air flows under the body  12  and through openings  14  to the head  37 . The flame and hot gases resulting from combustion are directed upwardly by the body  12  thereby increasing the effectiveness of the burner. 
         [0033]    A second embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 3-8  and it consists of a ceramic ring  200  and a support  302 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  shows the ceramic ring  200 . The support is substantially circular and constructed of a high heat ceramic with a glaze coating. A cross-sectional view of the ring of  FIG. 3  is shown in  FIG. 3   a.  In  FIG. 3   a,  the trapezoidal shape of the ring is made more apparent. The base  202  of the ring is preferably between 3/16 and ¼ of an inch. The total height  204  is preferably ¾ of an inch. The beveled surface  206  can be made of various angles (and therefore various lengths) as necessary to properly fit a grill top. This will be discussed later with regard to  FIG. 8 . However, as in the previous embodiment, the device of  FIG. 8  is sized and shaped so that the inner cylindrical surface of the device (in this case, the inner surface of the ring  200  faces the head  37  and extends upward until it comes into contact with the brackets  35 . 
         [0035]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show a metal sheet  300  from which the metal support  302  is formed. A stamper (not shown) is used to cut or punch the metal support  302  from the metal sheet  300 . Support  302  includes a flat annular body  303  and a plurality of radial legs  304  The stamper is preferably shaped so that the outer edge of the body  303  is substantially flat but the inner edge is bent downwardly about 1/16 of an inch to form a lip  306 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  shows the metal support  302  turned upside down with the ring  200  resting on the body  303 . The outer radius of the ring  208  is substantially as the outer radius of the body  303 . The lip  306  has a radius slightly less than the inner radius of the ring  200 . This creates a seat for the ring  200  concentrically with respect to the lip  306 , whereby the ring is restrained from moving laterally. 
         [0037]    The legs  304  can be bent at their interface  312  to the body  303  to adjust the height of body  303  to match the position of the burner head  37  when the device is resting on the floor  30  of the burner system. When the legs  304  are bent, a space  307  is created below the support  302 . The space  307  provides for additional air flow to the burner head  37 . Moreover, the legs insure that the ceramic ring is positioned with its top surface being preferably in contact with the brackets  35  and its inner surface is facing the head  37 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 8  shows the second embodiment of the inventive device being used with a conventional household gas burner head  37 . The burner head  37  occupies the center. The support  302  and ring  200  rest around the burner head  37 , such that the burner is in or near the center of the ring  200 . The grill  33  disposed above the burner head  37  rests on top of the ring  200 . The grill  33  consists of an annular grill unit  31  and a plurality of radial support brackets  35 . The brackets  35  rest upon the ring  200 . If the ring  200  is too high or too low, the height can be adjusted be selectively adapting the legs  304 . 
         [0039]    Different ceramic rings can be fit with different shaped grills. For example, an alternate embodiment of the ring, designated by the numeral  400  is shown in  FIG. 9 . The ring  400  is similar to the ring  200  of  FIG. 3 , except that it is not beveled. Depending on the shape and structure of the brackets  35 , a flat topped ring  400  or a beveled ring  200  may be preferable. 
         [0040]      FIG. 10  shows another embodiment of the inventive device. A ring  500 , preferably constructed of ceramic as discussed above, is supported by a plurality of removable legs  504 . The removable legs  504  have a U-shaped base  506 , with an outwardly projecting extension  508 . The U-shaped base  506  is constructed to fit into the slot  502  in the ring  500 . The slot  502  is a cut out on the exterior of the ring  500  from top to bottom and used to support and mount the legs to the ring. The depth of slot  502  is just enough to prevent the removable leg  504  from moving around the circumference of the ring  500 . The legs are shaped and sized to position the ring  500  so that its inner surface faces the head and its top surface preferably contacts the brackets  35  of the grill. 
         [0041]    The advantage of the embodiments of  FIGS. 3-10  is that the hot flame and gasses from the head  37  are restricted laterally and directed upwards toward a pot (not shown) or other objects to be heated. Therefore, just like in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the burner becomes more efficient because less heat is lost to the ambient atmosphere and therefore a lower setting for the gas flow can be used for cooking. A further advantage of these latter embodiments is that the ceramic ring protects the support from contact with the flame and hot gases and insures that the support does not get discolored and does not distort. 
         [0042]    In fact tests have shown that use of the device of the invention decreases substantially the amount of gas (or time) required to achieve the same type of cooking as with burners without the subject device. In particular, testing demonstrated that without the present inventive device, bringing three quarts of water to a boil at maximum gas flow required 15.43 minutes and 2.11 cubic feet of gas. On the other hand, when using the inventive stove top or burner device, bringing the same three quarts of water to a boil using maximum gas flow, required only 13.26 minutes and only 1.78 cubic feet of gas. 
         [0043]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not as restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims and their combination in whole or in part rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
An improved gas burner system is disclosed. The burner system comprises a conventional household gas burner with a grill for supporting a cooking utensil, a head generating an annular flame and a device placed around the head and preferably extending to the grill. The device has a wall for containing the flame and the hot air from the head and has a diameter small enough to effectively contain the heat and large enough to allow effective air flow to the flame. The device includes a body forming the cylindrical surface and a support for variably positioning the body around the head. The support is made of an alloy that resists distortion and discoloration by the heat from the flame. The ring can be cylindrical member made of metal or a ceramic heat absorbing ring.