AU2006233170B2 - Cooking apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Cooking apparatus for cooking or heating of food items. The cooking apparatus comprising an upper cooking surface, a lower cooking surface and at least one heating means. Each heating means is disposed between the upper and lower cooking surfaces and is orientated such that the upper and lower cooking surfaces are heated by the heating means. mm m Clql m

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO: LODGED: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED: ACCEPTED: PUBLISHED: RELATED ART: NAME OF APPLICANT: Giovanni Scenna ACTUAL INVENTOR(S): Giovanni Scenna ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: LORD AND COMPANY, Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, of 4 Douro Place, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005, AUSTRALIA. INVENTION TITLE: "COOKING APPARATUS" DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO'S: AUSTRALIAN PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 2005906076 FILED ON 3 November 2005 The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me/us: TITLE "COOKING APPARATUS" The present invention relates to a cooking apparatus for cooking or heating of food items. In known cooking apparatus, there is typically a heat source, such as a heating element or burner, which provides heat for cooking the food item, the heat source being disposed underneath a cooking surface, such as a tray or grill. Heat from the heat source is directed upwardly and transfers heat to the cooking surface so as to cook or heat the food item. There may be perceived limitations in such an arrangement of known cooking apparatus. For example, when cooking upon a grill, the item of food being cooked may become burnt, particularly if the heat source is a flame. Also, the cooking of food items which have a substantial fat content can result in fat falling through the grill onto the flame, which can not only cause unwanted charring of the food item, but may also pose a safety hazard. Further, conventional and known cooking apparatus may also be limited in their ability to provide an adequately sized cooking surface, particularly when a large amount of food is to be prepared at any one time. The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part the aforementioned disadvantages of previous cooking apparatus or methods of cooking food items. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a apparatus for cooking or heating of food items, the cooking apparatus comprising an upper cooking surface, a lower cooking surface and at least one heating means, the at least one heating means being disposed between the upper and lower cooking surfaces, wherein the at least 2 one heating means is orientated such that the upper and lower cooking surfaces are heated by the at least one heating means. The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cooking apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cooking apparatus of Figure I with the lower cooking surface extended; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cooking apparatus of Figure 1 with portions of the housing cut away. Referring to the Figures, there is shown a cooking apparatus 10 for use in the heating or cooking of items of food. The cooking apparatus 10 includes a housing 12 having at least two substantially vertical side walls 13. The housing 12 and side walls 13 support an upper cooking surface 14, a lower cooking surface 16 and at least one heating means 18 disposed between the upper and lower cooking surfaces 14 and 16. Preferably, the housing 12 is provided on a portable frame 15. The upper cooking surface 14 preferably forms a substantially horizontal upper surface of the housing 12, extending between respective upper ends of opposing side walls 13. The upper cooking surface 14 may be any surface suitable for the placement thereon of food items for the purpose of heating or cooking the food items, such as a grill or plate element. In a preferred embodiment, the upper cooking surface 14 is a plate element. The upper cooking surface 14 may be removable from the housing 12 to enable easier 3 cleaning thereof Alternatively, the upper cooking surface 14 may be hingedly attached at one edge thereof to the housing 12 so that the upper cooking surface 14 can be tilted about the hinge attachment. The upper cooking surface 14 may optionally be provided with additional accessory features as desired, such as a range hood or protective cover. Such accessory features may be located adjacent or atop the upper cooking surface 14. The lower cooking surface 16 is disposed below the upper cooking surface 14 and also spans substantially between opposing side walls 13 of the housing 12. In a preferred embodiment, the lower cooking surface 16 is provided as a grill rather than as a plate. In this preferred embodiment, a pan 20 is provided directly below the lower cooking surface 16. The pan 20 is provided to catch drips of fat or any debris that may fall through the grill of the lower cooking surface 16 when cooking food items thereon. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the lower cooking surface 16 and pan 20 are slidably mounted within the housing 12 to enable the lower cooking surface 16 and pan 20 to slide outwardly from a front face 11 of the housing 12, primarily for the purpose of cleaning. The at least one heating means 18 is disposed within the housing 12 between the upper and lower cooking surfaces 14, 16. The or each heating means 18 provides heat to the cooking surfaces 14, 16. Preferably, the cooking apparatus 10 has two or more heating means 18, the number being correlated with a surface area of the cooking surfaces 14, 16. Each heating means 18 comprises a burner 30 fed with a combustible gas from a gas source (not shown). Each of the burners 30 comprise a receptacle 32 of generally rectangular cross section. A gas feed conduit 34 is connected to the receptacle 32 such that gas is supplied to the interior of the burner 30. Each of the burners 30 are provided 4 with an open side 36 positioned lowermost in use. In use, the gas flowing into the burner is ignited by known means, such that gas within the burner 30 burns within the receptacle 32. A mesh cover 38 is provided across the open side 36 to assist even heat distribution. Also, flanges 40 are provided extending outwardly from opposed longitudinal edges of the receptacle 32 to further aid with even heat distribution. In the embodiment shown, the cooking apparatus is provided with two burners 30 extending parallel to each other across the cooking apparatus 10 between the vertical side walls 13. Ends of each of the burners 30 rest on rails 42 secured to interior surfaces of the side walls 13. The rails 42 are also each provided with locating lugs 44 against which the burners 30 rest to prevent movement of the burners 30. Each heating means 18 is orientated within the housing 12 such that heat generated is directed generally towards the lower cooking surface 16. Such directed heat provides for cooking of food items on the lower surface 16. Heat will also rise to enable heating of the upper cooking surface 16. In this manner, a single heat source, being the heating means 18, can be used to transfer heat to two cooking surfaces simultaneously. This advantageously allows for a potential saving in fuel resources, as a single source of heat is effectively being used to transfer heat to up to twice the surface area of cooking surface that would typically be warmed by known cooking apparatus. Manipulation of the heating means 18 is conducted via a control panel 22. The control panel 22 is provided on one of the vertical side walls 13 of the housing 12. The control panel 22 includes at least one control knob 24 in communication with a means to control gas flow to a respective burner 30. The provision of the control panel 22 on the side wall 5 13 of the cooking apparatus allows the control panel to remain relatively cool as it is expected that more heat will flow outwardly at upwardly from the front face of the cooking apparatus 10 than from the closed side walls 13 A plurality of ventilation apertures are provided through walls 13 or front face 11 or rear face of the housing 12. The ventilation apertures provide airflow into the interior of the housing 12 so as to supply the heating means 18 with sufficient air to operate properly. Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention 6

Claims (13)

1. Cooking apparatus for cooking or heating of food items, the cooking 5 apparatus comprising an upper cooking surface, a lower cooking surface and at least one heating means mounted within a housing such that the upper and lower cooking surfaces are substantially horizontally disposed, and the lower cooking surface is slidably mounted within the housing, the at least one heating means being disposed between the upper and lower cooking surfaces, wherein the upper and lower cooking 10 surfaces are simultaneously heated by the at least one heating means.

2. Cooking apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the or each heating means comprises a burner supplied with a combustible gas from a gas source. 15

3. Cooking apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the or each burner comprises a receptacle having an open lower side and a gas feed conduit such that gas is supplied by the gas feed conduit to the interior of the receptacle, within which it burns. 20

4. Cooking apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein the burner includes a mesh plate across the open lower side.

5. Cooking apparatus in accordance with claim 3 or 4, wherein the burner includes one or more flanges extending outwardly from the lower side thereof 25 adjacent the open lower side. 7

6. Cooking apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper and lower cooking surfaces are supported in a housing, the housing having opposing side walls between which the upper and lower cooking surfaces extend.

7. Cooking apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein the lower cooking surface can slide outwardly from the housing towards a front side thereof.

8. Cooking apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein a control panel is provided to control the heat output of the or each heating element, the control panel being located on a side wall of the housing.

9. Cooking apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper cooking surface comprises a solid plate.

10. Cooking apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower cooking surface comprises a grill.

11. Cooking apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein a pan is provided located below the lower cooking surface.

12. Cooking apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein the housing is mounted on a portable frame. 8

13. Cooking apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 9