AU2009212882A1

AU2009212882A1 - Barbecue and components therefor

Info

Publication number: AU2009212882A1
Application number: AU2009212882A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Paul Riley; Mark Thomas
Original assignee: Sunbeam Corp Ltd; Sunbeam Corp
Current assignee: Sunbeam Corp Ltd
Priority date: 2008-10-03
Filing date: 2009-08-31
Publication date: 2010-04-22

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Barbecue and components therefor The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 2 Barbecue and components therefor Field of the invention The present invention relates to a barbecue and components therefor. Background of the invention 5 Use of barbecues for cooking is becoming increasingly popular. Barbecues have been traditionally used for outdoor cooking and at their simplest are a plate or grill for cooking food on and a heat source (such as gas, wood or coal) for heating the plate. Although barbecues were traditionally constructed in situ, for example by erection of a brick foundation over which a plate or grill could be laid, demand is rising for more 10 portable barbecues. This demand stems, for example, from the desire of barbecue owners to be able to move a barbecue from the outdoor area in which it usually resides either indoors (to allow barbecue cooking in inclement weather) or to an alternative location such as a park or the home of a friend/family member. Two design considerations for portable barbecues are, firstly, providing a barbecue 15 which is sufficiently compact to be portable and, secondly, providing a barbecue with sufficient heat output to be useful. Often these two considerations play off against one another, insofar as proving a sufficiently powerful barbecue (in terms of heat output) can create significant problems with respect to designing the barbecue capable of dealing with that heat. 20 For non-portable barbecues this is not as problematic as they do not necessarily require components necessary on a portable barbecue (such as handles and barbecue supports/legs). Further, for non-portable barbecues components can generally be sufficiently spaced from the barbecue heat source to allow heat dissipation, and/or made of materials which are not vulnerable to heat damage. 25 In creating a compact and portable barbecue, however, providing space between the heat source and barbecue components can be difficult unless the designer is willing to 3 sacrifice the compact nature of the design. Further, materials which are immune to heat damage and may be appropriate for a non-portable barbecue are not necessarily appropriate for a portable barbecue. Such materials may, for example, be too heavy or too expensive for practical consideration in a portable barbecue. Additionally, some 5 components of a portable barbecue (such as handles) must be kept sufficiently cool to be touched and held even during cooking, further exacerbating heat issues with portable barbecues. Often, the issue of heat transfer in portable barbecues is dealt with by designing the barbecue with a limited heat output. While this does serve to side-step the issue of heat 10 dissipation, it also results in barbecue with less heat output than standard barbecues. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a portable barbecue, or components therefor, that overcomes or ameliorates one or more disadvantages of prior art barbecues and barbecue components and accessories. Alternatively, it would be desirable to provide consumer choice in the barbecue market. 15 Any discussion herein of prior art is not to be taken as an admission as to the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art. Summary of the invention In one aspect the present invention provides a barbecue including a fire box having a base, a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls, 20 each side wall being provided with a pair of handle mounts protruding from the fire box, the barbecue further including a pair of handle arrangements, each handle arrangement secured to one of the pairs of handle mounts by a securing arrangement, each securing arrangement including a plurality of fasteners for securing the 25 handle arrangement to the pair of handle mounts, 4 each fastener having an associated insulating arrangement for insulating the fastener from the handle mount. The insulating arrangement may further insulate the handle arrangement from the handle mount. 5 The handle mounts may form an integral part of the firebox. The barbecue may further include a pair of shelves, each shelf being detachably and pivotally mounted to a corresponding handle arrangement and pivotal between an open and closed position. The barbecue may include a hood pivotally mounted to the firebox and movable 10 between an open position leaving the firebox uncovered and a closed position in which the hood covers the firebox, a rear wall of the hood including a vent and a grease control lip, the grease control lip shaped to direct cooking fluids flowing down the rear wall of the hood into the firebox when the hood is in a closed position. In a second aspect the present invention provides a barbecue including a fire box and a 15 heating assembly, the heating assembly including: a gas valve assembly including a first gas valve operable by a first control knob and a second gas valve operable by a second control knob; a first burner located in the fire box and connected to the first gas valve; a second burner located in the fire box and positioned adjacent to and on the same level as the first burner, the second burner connected to the second gas valve, 20 wherein the first burner is connected to the first gas valve via a feed tube, at least part of said feed tube passing beneath the second burner. The barbecue may further include a handle adapted to be mounted to one side of the fire box such that the second burner is located between the first burner and the handle, and wherein the gas valve assembly and ignition switch are carried by the handle. 25 The barbecue may further include an ignition assembly, said ignition assembly including a first ignitor for lighting the first burner and a second ignitor for lighting the second burner, each ignitor connected to and operable by an ignition switch, wherein the first 5 ignitor is located in the fire box and is connected to the ignition assembly by a first ignition cable, the first ignition cable passing through an aperture in the fire box to the outside of the fire box, the first ignition cable being guided from the aperture to the ignition switch by a drip tray mounting rail, the drip tray mounting rail adapted to also 5 support a drip tray. The drip tray mounting rail may be mounted to a base of the fire box and includes at least one ignition cable guide for housing the first ignition cable. In a third aspect the present invention provides a barbecue including a fire box, a drip tray mounting assembly mounted to an outer surface of a base of the fire box, and a 10 drip tray, the drip tray mounting assembly including a pair of drip tray mounting rails, wherein at least one drip tray mounting rail includes an ignition cable guide for guiding an ignition cable along the outside of the base of the fire box. At least one drip tray mounting rail may include a cut-out section allowing air flow between the at least one drip tray mounting rail and the fire box. 15 In a further aspect the present invention provides a barbecue including a fire box, a drip tray mounting assembly mounted to an outer surface of a base of the fire box, and a drip tray, the drip tray mounting assembly including a pair of drip tray mounting rails, wherein at least one drip tray mounting rail includes a cut-out section allowing air flow between the at least one drip tray mounting rail and the fire box. 20 At least one drip tray mounting rail may include an ignition cable guide for guiding an ignition cable along the outside of the base of the fire box. In a further aspect the present invention provides a barbecue including a hood pivotally mounted to a fire box, the hood including an air vent arrangement located on a wall of the hood and a grease control lip located on the wall of the hood below the air vent 25 arrangement, wherein the grease control lip directs cooking fluids dripping down the wall of the hood into the fire box. The wall may be at a rear of the hood.

6 In a further aspect the present invention provides a barbecue including a handle mounted to a fire box, the handle carrying a gas valve assembly, the gas valve assembly including a first gas valve operable by a first control knob and a second gas valve operable by a second control knob. 5 The handle may further carry a starter switch for an ignition assembly. In a further aspect the present invention provides a flame tamer for use with a barbecue including a heat source and a grill, the flame tamer adapted to be interposed between the heat source and the grill, the flame tamer including a shield portion for preventing cooking fluids from dripping directly on to the heat source and at least one vent, the at 10 least one vent shaped to direct heat towards that portion of the grill which is located directly above the shield portion. The flame tamer may further include at least one aperture, the at least one aperture allowing, in use, air heated by the heat source to pass therethrough. Each aperture may include a lip to, in use, substantially prevent cooking fluids from 15 wicking along a surface of the flame tamer. In a further aspect the present invention provides a barbecue including a fire box, the fire box including a base with an opening therein, the opening partially surrounded by a drip guard for substantially preventing the flow of cooking fluids from the base through the portion of the opening surrounded by the drip guard. 20 The fire box may be adapted to be mounted on a stand, the stand adapted to support a fuel source, and the drip guard may substantially prevent the flow of cooking fluids though the opening and onto the fuel source. The stand may include one or more fuel source locators, the or each fuel source locator positioned below the drip guard when the barbecue is mounted on the stand. 25 The fuel source may be a gas bottle.

7 In a further aspect the present invention provides a valve for use with a gas appliance, the valve including: a valve body having an inlet and an outlet; a flow regulator housed within the valve body configured to regulate the flow of gas between the inlet and outlet 5 and rotatable within the valve body via a shaft, the flow regulator including: a first flow passage which, when in registry with the inlet allows a first flow between the inlet and outlet, and a second flow passage angularly displaced relative to the first flow passage and which, when in registry with the inlet, allows a second flow between the inlet and outlet; first stop means second stop means first limiting means for interacting with the 10 first stop means and the second stop means, the first stop means defining a first angle of rotation of the flow regulator such that the first flow passage is in registry with the inlet, and the second stop means defining a second angle of rotation of the flow regulator such that flow between the inlet and outlet is prevented; the valve body further including a third stop means for interaction with a second removable limiting 15 means and defining a third angle of rotation of the flow regulator such that the second minimum flow passage is in registry with the inlet. The first and third stops may be located inside the valve body and the first limiting means is provided on the shaft. The third stop may be located on an outside of the valve body. 20 The second limiting means may be carried by a control knob, the control knob removably mountable to the shaft to control rotation of the shaft. The second limiting means may be lip. The first and second stops may define a first arc of travel of the regulator, the first and third stops may provide a second arc of travel of the regulator, and the second arc of 25 travel may be less than the first arc of travel. The first flow passage may allow greater flow than the second flow passage.

8 The valve may further include a limiting control knob, the limiting control knob including the second limiting means, the control knob removably mountable to the shaft. The valve may further include a non-limiting control knob, the non-limiting control knob not including the second limiting means. 5 In a further aspect the present invention provides a gas appliance including a valve as described above. In a further aspect the present invention provides a control knob for rotating a flow regulator in a gas valve, the control knob including a rotation limiting means adapted to interact with a stop means on the valve in order to limit rotation of the flow regulator. 10 Brief description of the drawings The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show a preferred embodiment of the barbecue. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the features of the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings in which: 15 Figure 1A provides a top perspective view of a barbecue in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 1 B provides a top perspective view of the barbecue of figure 1 A with shelves in a retracted position; Figure 1C provides a bottom perspective view of the barbecue of figure 1A with shelves 20 in a retracted position; Figure 1 D provides a top perspective view of the barbecue of figure 1A supported by a stand; Figure 1 E provides an exploded top perspective view of the barbecue of figure 1A; 9 Figure 1F provides an exploded bottom perspective view of the barbecue of figure 1A; Figure 1G provides a top perspective view of the stand shown in figure 1C; Figure 2A provides a top perspective view of the fire box of the barbecue of figure 1 A; Figure 2B provides a left side view of the fire box of figure 2A; 5 Figure 2C provides a right side view of the fire box of figure 2A; Figure 2D provides a bottom perspective view of the fire box of figure 2A; Figure 2E provides a top view of the fire box of figure 2A; Figure 2F provides a perspective view of a handle mount of the fire box shown in figure 2A; 10 Figure 2G provides a perspective view of the left hand side of the fire box including bushes and washers; Figure 2H provides a perspective view of the handle and gas valve support of the fire box shown in figure 2A; Figure 21 is a partial exploded view of the fire box and right handle assembly; 15 Figure 2J is a partial sectional view showing the securement of the right handle to the fire box; Figure 2K provides a cut-away perspective view of the fire box of 2A resting on a stand; Figure 3A provides a front perspective view of the hood of the barbecue of figure 1; Figure 3B provides a bottom perspective view of the hood of figure 3A; 20 Figure 3C provides a partial exploded front perspective view of the hood of figure 3A; 10 Figure 3D provides a top view of the hood of figure 3A; Figure 3E provides a partial sectional view of the hood along section A-A of figure 3D; Figure 4A provides a top perspective view of the left handle of the barbecue of figure 1; Figure 4B provides a bottom view of the left handle of figure 4A; 5 Figure 4C provides a top perspective view of the right handle of the barbecue of figure 1; Figure 4D provides a bottom perspective view of the right handle of figure 4C; Figure 5A provides a top perspective view of the left shelf of the barbecue of figure 1; Figure 5B provides a top perspective view of the right shelf of the barbecue of figure 1; 10 Figure 6A provides a perspective view of the left support of the barbecue of figure 1; Figure 6B provides a perspective view of the right support of the barbecue of figure 1; Figure 7A provides a side perspective view of the gas burner, gas valve and ignition assemblies of the barbecue of figure 1; Figure 7B provides a front perspective view of the gas burner, gas valve and ignition 15 assemblies of the barbecue of figure 1; Figure 7C provides a perspective view of a valve used in the gas valve assembly of the barbecue of figure 1; Figure 7D provides a cut-away view of the valve of figure 7C including a control knob having a rotation limiting means; 20 Figure 7E provides a cross-sectional representation of the valve of figure 7D along line VIlE - VIIE; I1 Figure 7F provides a sectional view of a first embodiment of the valve body and flow regulator according to line VIIF-VIlF of the valve of figure 7D; Figure 7G provides a development view of the flow regulator of figure 7F; Figure 7H provides a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the valve body and 5 flow regulator according to line III-III of the valve of figure 7D; Figure 71 provides a development view of the flow regulator of figure 7H; Figure 7J provides a perspective view of a control knob including a rotation limiting means for use with the valve of figure 7C; Figure 7K provides a cross-sectional view of the control knob of figure 7J; 10 Figure 7L provides a perspective view of the valve assembly of the barbecue of figure 1 including two valves as shown in figure 7C; Figure 8A provides a top perspective view of the cooking assembly of the barbecue of figure 1; Figure 8B provides a bottom perspective view of the cooking assembly of the barbecue 15 of figure 1; Figure 8C provides a top perspective view of the flame tamer of the barbecue of figure 1; Figure 8D provides a bottom perspective view of the flame tamer of the barbecue of figure 1; 20 Figure 8E provides a partial sectional view of the barbecue of figure 1A with flame tamer; Figure 9A provides a perspective view of the drip tray of the barbecue of figure 1; 12 Figure 9B provides a perspective view of the drip tray mounting assembly of the barbecue of figure 1; and Figure 9C is a partial view showing the ignition assembly shown in figures 7A and 7B and the drip tray mounting assembly of figure 9B. 5 Detailed description of the embodiments Barbecue Overview The various components of a barbecue 100 according to an embodiment of the invention will be generally described with reference to figures 1A to 1G. Each of the components will then be described. 10 Throughout this description relative positional terms such as left, right, upper and lower will be used in describing various features. Unless stated otherwise, these relative terms are used with reference to the barbecue 100 as oriented in figure 1A. By way of general overview the components of the barbecue 100 include: a fire box 102; a hood 104; a left handle 106; a right handle 108; a left shelf 110; a right shelf 112; 15 a left support 114; a right support 116; a gas burner assembly 118; a gas valve assembly 120; an ignition assembly 122; a cooking assembly 124; a flame tamer 126; a drip tray 128; a drip tray mounting assembly 130; and a stand 132. Together, the gas burner assembly 118, gas valve assembly 120 and ignition assembly 122 provide a heating assembly. 20 Each of these components will now be described in detail. Stand Figure 1G shows a stand 132 on which the barbecue 100 may be supported. It will, however, be appreciated that the supports 114 and 116 of the barbecue 100 can equally support the barbecue 100 on any suitably flat surface.

13 In this embodiment the stand 132 includes a frame 134 defining two left leg mounts 136 and two right leg mounts 137. When the barbecue 100 is placed on the stand the two legs of the left support 114 locate in the left leg mounts 132 and the two legs of the right support 116 locate in the right leg mounts 137 to mount the barbecue 100 on the stand 5 132. The stand 132 also includes a pair of wheels 138 and a stand handle 140, the stand handle located on the opposite side of the stand 132 to the wheels 138. The stand 132 may be moved by lifting the stand 132 (with or without the barbecue 100 mounted thereon) by the stand handle 140 and pushing/pulling the stand 132 to wheel it to a 10 desired location. The two leg mounts located above the wheels 138 (i.e. the right leg mounts 137) are each provided with a stop 142 in the form of a lip protruding vertically from the frame 134. When the barbecue 100 is mounted on the stand 132 (as shown in figure 1D) the left 15 handle 106 of the barbecue lies above the stand handle 140. If a person wishing to move the stand 132 and barbecue 100 is not paying attention it is possible that he or she will attempt to move the stand 132 and barbecue 100 by lifting and pushing/pulling the left barbecue handle 106 rather than the stand handle 140. Lifting the barbecue 100 in this manner could potentially result in the partial or complete disengagement of the 20 legs of the left barbecue support 114 from the left leg mounts 137. In this situation the stops 142 prevent the user from pushing the barbecue 100 off the stand 132 by preventing lateral movement of the legs of the right support member 116 off the stand 132. The stand 132 is also provided with a support surface 144 made, in this instance, of a 25 loose weave wire mesh. The support surface 144 is, in turn, provided with two gas bottle locators 146, each arcuate in shape. In use (and as seen in figure 21) a gas bottle is placed on and supported by the support surface 144 and prevented from sliding about on the support surface 142 by the gas bottle locators 146.

14 The gas bottle locators 146 are, in this case, clipped to the wires support surface 144 and may be removed/re-mounted as desired. Fire box 102 Figures 2A to 2K provide various views of the fire box 102. 5 The fire box 102 is a single piece alloy casting including the following features: a front wall 202; a front facia 203; a rear wall 204; a left wall 206; a right wall 208; a base 210 formed with an opening 211; a drip guard 213 partially surrounding the opening 211; a chamber 212 defined by the front wall 202; rear wall 204; left wall 206; right wall 208 and base 210; a front left handle mount 214 extending from the left wall 206; a rear left 10 handle mount 216 extending from the left wall 206; a front right handle and gas valve support 218 extending from the right wall 208; a rear right handle mount 220 extending from the right wall 208; a left hood trunnion 222 extending from the rear wall 204; a right hood trunnion 224 extending from the rear wall 204; a left front frame mount 226 extending from the left wall 206; a left front frame securing bore 227; a left rear frame 15 mount 228 extending from the left wall 206; a left rear frame securing bore 229; a right front frame mount 230 extending from the right wall 208; a right front frame securing bore 231; a right rear frame mount 232 extending from the right wall 208; a right rear frame securing bore 233; a plurality of cooking assembly supports 234 extending into the chamber 212 variously from the front wall 202; rear wall 204; left wall 206; right wall 20 208; a plurality of flame tamer supports 236 extending into the chamber 212 variously from the front wall 202; rear wall 204; left wall 206; right wall 208; four drip tray mounting assembly bosses 238 formed in the base 210; four gas burner assembly mountings 240 formed in the base 210; a right burner aperture 242 formed in the right wall 208; a left burner aperture 244 formed in the right wall 208; a right ignition cable 25 aperture 246 formed in base 210; a right ignitor attachment boss 247 formed in base 210; a left ignition cable aperture 248 formed in the base 210; a left ignitor attachment boss 249 formed in base 210. As can be seen, the cooking chamber 212 is defined by the front, rear, left and right side walls and the base (202, 204, 206, 208 and 210).

15 In the base 210 an opening 211 is formed. The hole 211 allows grease and other fluids (oils, meat juices etc) to flow out of the chamber 212 and into the drip tray 126 which (as discussed below) is mounted below the fire box 102. Protruding into the cooking chamber 212 from each of the walls 202, 204, 206, and 208 5 are a plurality of cooking assembly supports 234 and flame tamer supports 236. When assembled, the cooking surface 124 of the barbecue 100 rests on the cooking assembly supports 234 and the flame tamer 122 is supported by the flame tamer supports 236. Extending from the rear wall 204 of the fire box 102 are left and right trunnions 222 and 224. Trunnions 222 and 224 are positioned to align with corresponding trunnions in the 10 hood 104 and allow the hood to be pivotally and removably mounted to the barbecue (e.g. by use of spring type cotter pins or similar) which pass through the apertures in the trunnions 222 and 224. From the left and right walls 206 and 208 of the fire box 102 four handle mounts 214, 216, 218, and 220 extend. As can be seen, the left front support 214, left rear support 15 216, and right rear support 220 are identical (a perspective view of this support is provided in figure 2F). The left handle 106 is mounted to the front and rear left handle mounts 216 and 216, and the right handle is mounted to the front right handle and gas valve support 218 and rear right handle mount 220. Handle mounts 214, 216 and 220 each include a first recess 250 having a shoulder 252 20 and hole 254 therein, and a second recess 256 also having shoulder 258 and hole 260 therein. As shown in figure 2G, each recess 250 and 256 is designed to accommodate a cylindrical bush 262, the bottom of the bush 262 resting on the shoulder 252/258 of the recess 250/256. The bush 262 is made of a thermally insulating material such as a ceramic material or phenolic resin. The bush 262 has a bore 264 for receiving a screw. 25 By way of example, and referring to figures 2G and 2J, the mounting of the left handle 106 to the front and rear left handle mounts 214 and 216 will be described.

16 In order to fasten the left handle 106 to the left handle mounts 214 and 216 screws 221 are passed and through the holes 254/260 of the relevant recess 250/256, through the bore 264 of the relevant bush 262 and screwed into an appropriately located bore in the handle (412/414/416/418 as described below). Heat insulating washers 265 made, for 5 example, from a ceramic material or phenolic resin, are interposed between the screw and the underside of the hole 245/260 to prevent any part of the metal screw contacting any part of the metal fire box 102. This, of course, assists in minimising heat transfer from the metal fire box 102 (and support arms) to the plastic handles 106 and 108. As shown in figures 2H and 21, the front right handle and gas valve support 218 differs to 10 the handle mounts 214, 216 and 220 as it supports both the right handle 108 and the gas valve arrangement 120. The front right support includes first and second bores 266 and 268, each of which adapted to house an insulating bush 269. To secure the right handle 108 to the handle and gas valve support 218 two bolts 267 are used. Each bolt 267 is passed (respectively) through one of the handle mounting 15 apertures 448 in the right handle 108 (as seen in figure 4C), the relevant insulating bush 269 (as housed in bore 266 or 268), and a heat insulating washer 271. The bolt 267 is then secured in place by a nut 273. As described further below, the left support 114 is secured to the fire box 102 via the left front and rear frame mounts 226 and 228 and the left front and rear frame securing 20 bores 227 and 229. Similarly, the right support 116 is secured to the fire box 102 via the right front and rear frame mounts 230 and 232 and the right front and rear frame securing bores 231 and 233. The right front and rear frame mounts 230 and 232 are also used to secure a guard 272 (most easily seen in figure 21) to the fire box 102. Guard 272 is of wire construction and 25 includes two guard mounts 274 by which guard 272 is mounted. When used with a fuel source, e.g. gas bottle 270, the guard 272 prevents the fuel line connecting the fuel source to the barbecue 100 from coming too close to the fire box 102.

17 Figure 2K provides a cut away perspective view of the fire box 102 mounted on the frame 132. The frame 132 also supports a gas bottle 270 on the support surface 142, the gas bottle 270 located between the two gas bottle locators 144. When the barbecue 100 is used (and as is described in detail below) cooking fluids are 5 channelled to the opening 211 in the base 210 of the fire box 102 where they can drip/flow through the opening 211 into the drip tray 128. In figure 21, however, the drip tray 128 has not been mounted to the fire box 102. As can be seen, without the drip tray 128 the rightmost end of the opening 211 in the base 210 of the fire-box 102 is directly above the gas bottle 270. 10 When the barbecue 100 is used as shown (i.e. without the drip tray 128 in place) the drip guard 213 prevents cooking fluids from dripping/flowing through the opening 211 onto the gas bottle 270. The drip guard 213 acts to divert any cooking fluids away from the right hand end of the opening 211 (i.e. the end of the opening 211 above the gas bottle 270) towards the left end of the opening which is not located above the gas bottle 15 270.By providing the drip guard 213 a large opening 211 in the base 210 of the firebox 102 can be maintained to allow for air-flow through the barbecue 100, whilst retaining the ability to safely position a gas bottle 270 below part of the opening 211. Hood 104 The hood 104 will now be described with reference to figures 3A to 3E. 20 The hood 104 is dome shaped so as to provide an enclosed cooking space when the hood 104 is closed. The front of the hood 104 includes a handle assembly 302. and a window 304. In this instance the window 304 is provided with a temperature gauge 306 which is connected to a temperature sensor which extends into the hood and, in use, measures the temperature of the cooking space. 25 At the rear of the hood two trunnions 308 and 310 are provided by means of which (as described above) the hood 104 can be pivotally and removably attached to the left and right trunnions 222 and 224 of the fire box 102.

18 The rear wall 312 of the hood 104 is provided with a series of vents 314. When cooking with the hood 104 closed the vents allow hot air to be vented from the cooking space to the atmosphere, thereby preventing overheating by convection. The left and right sides of the hood 104 are provided with cut-out sections 316. When 5 the shelves of the barbecue are in the retracted configuration the cut-out sections 316 accommodate the left and right shelves 110 and 112 which (as discussed further below) are pivoted on their mountings to pass through the cut-out sections 316 and lie in the cooking space. During cooking (i.e. with the shelves 110 and 112 in the extended position), and when the hood 104 is closed, the cut out sections 316 also provide for 10 ventilation of the cooking space. The rear wall 312 of the hood 104 is provided with a grease control lip 318. When cooking with the hood closed, the flow of air through the vents 314 can result in cooking fluids (such as fats, oils and grease) being deposited on the inside of the rear wall 312. As such fluids accumulate they drip down the rear wall 312. The grease control lip 318 15 directs such fluids onto the inside of the rear wall 204 of the fire box 102, thus minimising the amount of fluids that flow from the rear wall 312 onto the outside of the rear wall 204 of the fire box 102. As can be seen in figure 3C (showing an exploded view of hood 104) the hood 104 includes an outer wall 320 adapted to fit over the centre of the top and front of the inner 20 wall 322. The outer wall 320 includes the window 304 and two handle openings 321. The air gap between the outer and inner walls 320 and 322 assists with heat retention in the cooking space when the hood 104 is closed and the barbecue 100 is in use. The air gap between the outer and inner walls 320 and 322 also serves to insulate the outer wall 320 (which may inadvertently be touched by a user during cooking) from the 25 cooking space. The handle assembly 302 of the hood 104 will now be described with reference to figure 3C to 3E, and with reference to figure 3E which provides a sectional view of the hood 104 along section A-A of figure 3D. The handle assembly includes an inner handle member 324 and an outer handle 30 member 326. The inner and outer handle members 324 and 326 are made of a 19 thermally insulating material such as glass-filled nylon to enable the handle assembly 302 to be grasped during operation of the barbecue 100. Each side of the inner handle member 324 (i.e. the left and right sides of the handle assembly 302 as oriented in figure 3C) includes an upper threaded bore 328 for 5 receiving an upper handle screw 330, and a lower threaded bore 332 for receiving a lower handle screw 334. The inner handle member 324 also includes an aperture 336 through which a middle handle screw 338 may pass. Each side of the outer handle member 326 includes a middle threaded bore 340 for receiving the middle handle screw 338. 10 The handle assembly 302 also includes a pair of insulating spacers 342 formed, in this instance, of phenolic resin. Each spacer 342 is provided with an upper aperture 344 (for accommodating the upper handle screw 330), a middle aperture 346 (for accommodating the middle handle screw 338), and a lower aperture 348 (for accommodating the lower handle screw 334). 15 When the hood 104 and handle assembly 302 are assembled, each side of the handle assembly 302 is secured to the hood 104 as follows. The upper handle screw 330 passes through the upper aperture 344 in the spacer 342 and relevant handle opening 321, and is screwed into the upper threaded bore 328. The lower handle screw 334 passes through the lower aperture 348 in the spacer 342 and 20 relevant handle opening 321, and is screwed into the lower threaded bore 332. Once the upper and lower screws 330 and 334 are thus secured the inner handle member 324 and spacer 342 are secured in place to the outer wall 320. The outer handle member 326 is secured in place by the middle handle screws 338 which (again, for each side of the handle) pass through the middle aperture 346 in the 25 spacer 342, the relevant handle opening 321, the aperture 336 in the inner handle member 324, and are screwed into the middle threaded bore 340 of the outer handle member 326. As can be most clearly seen from the partial sectional view of figure 3E, the screws 330, 338 and 334 securing the inner and outer handle members 324 and 326 are recessed 30 within the spacers 342. In this way the only contact between the handle assembly 302 20 and the inner wall 322 of the hood 104 is made by the insulating spacers 342, serving to preclude direct contact between the metal screws 330, 338 and 334 and the hood. Left handle 106 Turning to figures 4A and 4B, the left handle 106 will be described. 5 The left handle 106 is an injection moulded plastic unit of glass filled nylon. The left handle 106 includes a handle portion 402 having a flat top surface 404. The handle 106 also includes a front arm 406 and a rear arm 408 at either end of the handle portion 402, each arm having a mounting slot 410 with a mounting slot opening 411. As described below, the left shelf 110 is provided with mounting lugs which are shaped 10 to be received in the mounting slots 410 (via the mounting slot openings 411) to pivotally and removably attach the left shelf 110 to the left handle 106. With reference to figure 48, the underside of each arm 406 and 408 of the left handle 106 is provided with two threaded bores 412, 414, 416 and 418, by means of which the front arm 406 can be secured to the front left handle mount 214 and the rear arm 408 15 can be secured to the rear left handle mount 216 as described above. As can be seen, the underside of each arm 406 and 408 is hollow. This allows for air to flow around and through the arms 406 and 408 and between the handle 106 and the fire box 102. This, in turn, assists with dissipating heat from the front and rear left handle mounts 214 and 216. 20 Right handle 108 The right handle 108 is depicted in figures 4C and 4D. Similar to the left handle 106, the right handle 108 is of a moulded plastics construction (again, glass filled nylon) and includes a handle portion 432 having a flat top surface 434. The handle 108 also includes a front arm 436 and a rear arm 438 at either end of 25 the handle portion 432. As with the left handle 106, each arm of the right handle 108 is provided with a mounting slot 440 having a mounting slot opening 441 which allow for the pivotal and removable attachment of the right shelf 112 to the right handle 108. While the rear arm 438 of the right handle 108 is largely the same as the front and rear arms 408 and 410 of the left handle 106, the front arm 436 of the right handle 108 is 30 somewhat different. The front arm 436 of the right handle 108 is provided with left and 21 right control knob housings 442 and 444 and an ignition housing 446. The front arm 436 also includes handle mounting apertures 448, valve assembly mounting apertures 449, a left valve stem aperture 450, and a right valve stem aperture 452. When assembled the front arm of 436 of the right handle 108 is mounted to the front 5 right handle support 218, and the gas valve assembly 120 is secured to the right handle 108 by use of the valve assembly mounting apertures 449. The valve stems of the gas valve assembly are passed through the left and right valve stem apertures 450 and 452, and gas knobs for controlling gas flow inserted onto the left and right valve stems and housed in the left and right control knob housings 442 and 444. The starter button for 10 the ignition assembly 122 is secured in the ignition housing 446. Turning to figure 4D and the underside of the right handle 108, the rear arm 438 is provided with two threaded bores 454 and 456 by means of which the rear arm 438 can be secured to the a rear right handle mount 220 of the fire box 102. As with the left handle 106, the underside of the right handle 108 is hollow to allow for 15 air flow through and around the handle 108 and between the handle 108 and the fire box 102. Insulating the left and right handles 106 and 108 from the fire box 102 As will be appreciated, the left and right handles 106/108 are mounted to the fire box 102 which, during operation, can reach temperatures of 350 0 C. As the melting point of 20 the material from which the handles is constructed is below this temperature (for example, the melting point of glass filled nylon is 1900C - 250 0 C) the handles 106/108 need to be insulated from the heat of the fire box 102. Further, as it is possible that a user will touch the handles 106/108 during or shortly after cooking, the handles need to remain at a sufficiently low temperature to allow this 25 without burning or otherwise injuring the person. As discussed above, heat insulation of the handles 106/108 from the fire box 102 is assisted by the way in which the handles 106/108 are mounted to the fire box 102. By using the heat insulating bushes 262 and washers 265 metal screws may be used to attach the handles 106/108 to the fire box 102 without any part of the metal screws 30 coming into contact with the fire box 102. This, of course, prevents direct conduction of heat from the fire box 102 through the screw to the handles 106/108.

22 Further, the open structure of the underside of the handles 106/108 allows for air flow through the handles 106/108 and between the handles 106/108 and the fire box 102. This further serves to dissipate heat and insulate the handles 106/108 from the heat of the fire box 102. 5 Left shelf 110 and right shelf 112 Turning to figures 5A to 5D, the left and right shelves will be described. As will be appreciated, the left and right shelves 110 and 112 are mirror images of each other and for ease of description the same reference numerals will be used to denote corresponding features. 10 The left and right shelves 110 and 112 are each provided with a flat work surface 502. Each corner of the distal end 504 of the work surface 502 (i.e. the end of the shelf which is distal the fire box 102 when the shelf is in the extended position as described below) is provided with a ridge 506. At the proximate end 508 of each shelf 110 and 112 (i.e. the end of the shelf which is 15 proximate the fire box 102 when the shelf is in the extended position) cylindrical attachment lugs 510 are provided which extend outwardly from the work surface 502. Each side of the shelf 110/112 is also provided with a hook 512 which can be used to hang cooking utensils or similar from. In order to attach the shelves 110 and 112 to the barbecue 100, the attachment lugs 20 510 of the left shelf 110 are inserted into the mounting slots 410 of the left handle 106 through the mounting slot openings 411, and the attachment lugs 510 of the right shelf 112 are inserted into the mounting slots 430 of the right handle 108 through mounting slot openings 431. The cylindrical shape of the attachment lugs 510 allow the shelves 110 and 112 to pivot 25 within their relevant mounting slots 410/430 between an extended position (as shown in figure 1A) and a retracted position in which the shelves are pivoted so as to lie substantially within the firebox 102. As can be seen in figure 1A, in the extended position the shelves 110 and 112 are pivoted such that the work surfaces 502 are exposed (facing up). In this configuration 23 the left shelf 110 is supported by the flat top surface 404 of the left handle 106, and the right shelf 112 is supported by the flat top surface 434 of the right handle 108. In the retracted position the shelves 110 and 112 are pivoted such that the work surface 502 of the shelves 110 and 112 lie atop the cooking surface 124 of the barbecue, the 5 shelves 110 and 112 supported on the cooking surface 124 by ridges 506. The shelves 110 and 112 may easily be removed from the barbecue 100 by simply lifting the shelves 110 and 112 out of the mounting slots openings 411/431. This allows a further storage option for the barbecue (i.e. complete removal of the shelves) and for the shelves 110 and 112 to be easily cleaned. 10 The left and right shelves 110 and 112 are injection moulded from a heat resistant plastic material such as polypropylene. While in the extended position (discussed below) the shelves 110 and 112 are relatively well distanced and insulated from the fire box 102, in the retracted position (in which the shelves 110 and 112 lie in the fire box 102 atop the cooking assembly 124) they are not. As such, the shelves need to be able 15 to withstand a relatively high temperature in case users place the shelves in the retracted position immediately after using the barbecue 100 when the fire box 102 is still hot. Left support 114 Figure 6A provides a perspective view of the left support 114. 20 The left support 114 includes a left front leg 602 and a left rear leg 604 which, when the barbecue 100 is assembled (and in combination with the legs of the right support 116), support the barbecue 100 on either a surface or a barbecue stand. The left front and rear legs 602 and 604 are, in this instance, joined by a left integrally formed crosspiece 606, however it will be appreciated that separate legs may be provided. 25 The left front leg 602 includes a front vertical attachment aperture 612 and the left rear leg 604 includes a rear vertical attachment aperture 614. The left crosspiece 606 further includes a front horizontal attachment aperture 616 and a rear horizontal attachment aperture 618. When attaching the left support 114 to the barbecue 100 (most easily seen in figure 30 2G), screws are used to: 24 * pass through a washer 620, the front vertical attachment aperture 612, a thermally insulating bush 621, and screw into the front left frame securing bore 227; * pass through the a washer 622, the rear vertical attachment aperture 614, a 5 thermally insulating bush 624, and screw into the rear left frame securing bore 229; * pass through the a washer 626, front horizontal attachment aperture 616, a thermally insulating bush 628, and screw into the left front frame mount 226; and * pass through a washer 630, the rear horizontal attachment aperture 618, a 10 thermally insulating bush 632, and screw into the left rear frame mount 228. As with the attachment of the handles to the fire box 102 heat insulating washers may also be used to insulate the screw heads from the support 114. Right support 116 Figure 6B provides a perspective view of the right frame mount 116. 15 The right support 116 includes a right front leg 622 and a left rear leg 624 which, when the barbecue 100 is assembled (and in combination with the legs of the left support 114), support the barbecue 100 on either a surface or a barbecue stand. The right front and rear legs 622 and 624 are, in this instance, joined by an integrally formed right crosspiece 626. 20 The right front leg 622 includes a front vertical attachment aperture 632 and the right rear leg 624 includes a rear vertical attachment aperture 634. The left crosspiece 626 further includes a front horizontal attachment aperture 636 and a rear horizontal attachment aperture 638. When attaching the right support 116 to the barbecue 100, screws are used to: 25 e pass through the front vertical attachment aperture 632, a thermally insulating bush (not shown), and screw into the front right frame securing bore 231; * pass through the rear vertical attachment aperture 634, a thermally insulating bush (not shown), and screw into the rear right frame securing bore 233; 25 * pass through the front horizontal attachment aperture 636, a thermally insulating bush (not shown), and screw into the right front frame mount 230; and " pass through the rear horizontal attachment aperture 638, a thermally insulating bush (not shown), and screw into the right rear frame mount 232. 5 As with the attachment of the handles to the fire box 102 heat insulating washers may also be used to insulate the screw heads from the support 114. As noted above, the barbecue 100 may also be fitted with a guard 272 for preventing a fuel line or similar from coming into too close proximity to the fire box 102. In this instance the screws passing through the front and rear horizontal attachment apertures 10 636 and 638 also pass through the respective guard mounts 274 to secure the guard 272 in place. The right support 116 also includes a control knob recess 640 which, when the barbecue 100 is assembled, accommodates the leftmost control knob of the gas valve assembly 120. 15 Insulating the left support 114 and right support 116 As with the left and right handles 106 and 108, the left and right supports 114/116 are mounted to the fire box 102 and are in close proximity thereto. As such (and noting their plastic construction) insulation of the supports 114/116 is an important consideration. In similar fashion to the mounting of the handles 106/108, mounting the supports 20 114/116 by way of bushes and washers prevents screws from coming into direct contact with (and thereby conducting heat from) the fire box 102. The open structure of the left and right supports 114/116 allows for air flow through the supports 114/116 and between the supports 114/116 and fire box 102, further assisting with heat dissipation and minimising heat transfer from the fire box 102 to the left and 25 right supports 114/116. Gas burner assembly 118, gas valve assembly 120, and ignition assembly 122 Figures 7A and 7B respectively provide side and front perspective views of the gas burner assembly 118, the gas valve assembly 120, and the ignition assembly 122.

26 The gas burner assembly 118 includes a left burner 702 and a right burner 704. The left burner is P-shaped having a left burner loop 706 extending from a left burner extension 708 which connects the left burner loop 706 to the gas valve assembly 120. The left bumer 702 also includes two left burner securing lugs 710. 5 The right burner 704 is also P-shaped and includes a right burner loop 712 extending from a right burner extension 714 which connects the right burner loop 712 to the gas valve assembly 120. As can be seen, the right bumer extension 714 is shorter than the left burner extension 708 as the right burner is closer to the gas valve assembly 120. The right burner 704 also includes two right burner securing lugs 716. 10 The left and right burner loops 706 and 712 each include a plurality of gas outlet apertures 718. When the barbecue 100 is assembled, the gas burner assembly 118 is secured to the firebox 102 by screwing the left burner securing lugs 710 and right burner securing lugs 716 into the appropriate gas burner assembly mountings 240 formed in the base 210 of 15 the fire box 102. The left burner extension 708 passes through the left burner aperture 244 formed in the right wall 208 of the fire box 102. The left burner 702 is then is connected to the gas valve assembly 120 by a left bumer conduit 720. Similarly, the right burner extension 714 passes through the right burner aperture 242 and is connected to the gas valve assembly 120 by a right burner conduit 722. 20 As can be most clearly seen in figure 7B, the left burner extension 708 is provided with an oblique portion of tubing which allows the extension 708 to pass underneath the right burner 704. This allows the left and right burners 702 and 704 to be secured in the firebox 102 at the same height (i.e. the same distance from the cooking assembly 124) and the left and right burner loops 706 and 712 to be the same size without extending 25 the spatial foot print of the burner assembly 118. The left burner 702 could, alternatively, be provided with an elbow or similar instead of an oblique portion to allow the tubing connecting the left burner 702 with the gas valve assembly 120 to pass under the right burner 704. In contrast, were the left burner 704 connected to the gas valve assembly 120 by tubing 30 running in the same plane as the right burner 704, either the right burner 704 would need to be reduced in size (thus impacting the cooking power/efficiency of the right 27 burner 704) or the perimeter of the fire box 102 would nee to be extended to accommodate the tubing (thereby reducing the compact nature of the barbecue 100). In this way, and noting that the gas valve assembly 120 allows independent control of the left and right burners 702 and 704, the barbecue 100 has two independent and 5 equal cooking zones - the portion of the cooking assembly 124 lying above the left burner 702 and the portion of the cooking assembly 124 lying above the right burner 704. Further, control of the burner assembly 118 (and temperature of the independent cooking zones) is achieved via the gas control knobs which are compactly located 10 together on the right handle 108. Turning to figures 7C to 7L the gas valve assembly 120 will be described in further detail. As with many gas appliances, the supply of gas to the barbecue 100 (and therefore the cooking temperature) is achieved by a control knob. Known gas valve control knobs are generally rotatable between an off position, a fully 15 on position and a minimum flow position, the minimum flow position providing a flow of gas sufficient to keep the appliance alight and operating. While, generally speaking, there is nothing fundamental preventing a gas appliance such as a barbecue from being run on either natural gas (NG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) (in that the plumbing will work with either type of gas), switching between gas types in an appliance can 20 cause problems due to the different ignition properties of LPG and NG. For example, the minimum throughflow of LPG required to keep a gas appliance alight is less than the minimum throughflow of NG required to keep a gas appliance alight. This has ramifications for the control settings of an appliance. For example, an appliance is typically provided with a minimum setting that has been designed for use 25 with a particular type of gas. If the appliance is configured for use with, for example, LPG, using that appliance on the minimum setting with NG will result in the flame going out or being unsatisfactory. Conversely, if an appliance is provided with a minimum setting that has been designed for use with NG, using that appliance on the minimum setting with LPG will result in a greater amount of gas than is necessary being used 30 (and, consequently, a greater amount of heat being generated and less overall control of the gas flame).

28 One embodiment of the present invention provides a gas valve assembly 120 (and a barbecue fitted with the same) which can be easily adapted to allow operation of the barbecue (or other gas appliance) on either NG or LPG. Figures 7C and 7D depict a gas valve 729 for use with the gas valve assembly 120 of 5 barbecue 100. The gas valve 729 includes a valve body 730 which has an inlet 732, and an outlet 734, and a housing 736 (including upper and lower housings 736A and 736B), In use the inlet 732 is connected to a fuel source such as a gas tank or mains gas line and the outlet leads to a gas burner such as left or right burner 702 or 704 described above. 10 The valve body 730 defines a cavity 738 for receiving a flow regulator 740. The flow regulator 740 is frusto-conical in shape and housed in the valve body 730 to allow rotation about a central axis 742. A spring (not shown) applies a force to the flow regulator 740 in order to ensure the regulator 740 seats tightly in the valve body 730 and seals. 15 The flow regulator 740 is rotatable by a shaft 744 which is coaxial with the regulator. When the gas valve assembly 120 is assembled the regulator 740 is installed in the cavity of the valve body 730 and the upper housing 736A is secured in place seal the cavity (in this instance by a plurality of screws 746 by which the upper housing 736A is screwed to the lower housing 736B. The upper housing 736A includes a cylindrical 20 opening 748 through which the shaft 744 extends in a snug rotary fit. The free end 750 of the shaft 744 is provided with a diametrical notch 752 and a flat cutout portion 754 which may be used to removably receive and secure a control knob 756 to the shaft 744 in a fixed radial position. The legs 758A and 758B on either side of the notch 752 may be splayed outwardly to assist in securing the control knob 756 in 25 position. The shaft 744 is also provided with two circlips 760 and 762 which limit axial movement of the shaft into the valve body 730. In order to turn the regulator 740 the shaft 744 must be depressed against the spring in the valve body 736 (by applying pressure down the 29 shaft by pressing on the control knob 756) such that a protrusion at the end of the shaft 744 engages with a complementarily shaped recess 764 in the regulator 740. By turning the control knob 756 the shaft 744 rotates the regulator 740 within the valve body 730 which, as discussed below, serves to regulate the flow of gas between the 5 inlet 732 and outlet 734. As can be most clearly seen in figure 7E, shaft 744 is fitted with a plate 766 which carries radial pin 768, pin 768 acting as a first rotation limiting means. The pin 768 interacts with a first stop 770 and a second stop 772 provided, in this instance, inside the upper housing 736A. The first and second stops 770 and 772 restrict rotational 10 movement of the shaft 744 (and, therefore, the regulator 740) to an arc of travel between the first stop 770 and the second stop 772. In addition to interacting with the first stop 770 and second stop 772, the pin 768 may also interact with one of the recesses 764 provided in the upper housing 736A. If the control knob is rotated such that the pin 768 is aligned with one of the recesses 764 and 15 the control knob 756 is released the spring will return the shaft to its normal axial position (i.e. away from the regulator 740) and the pin 768 will locate in the recess 764 with which it is aligned. The location of the pin 768 in a recess 764 prevents rotation of the shaft 744 unless axial pressure is applied to the shaft 744 by pressing the control knob 756 towards the regulator 740 thus freeing the pin 768 from the recess 764 and 20 allowing rotational movement. The exterior of the upper housing 736A of the valve body 730 is provided with a third stop 774 in the form of a radial vane extending from the upper housing 736A. The third stop 774 is configured interact with an axially extending arcuate lug 776 provided on one particular type of control knob 756. The lug 776 has a leading face 776A and forms 25 a second rotation limiting means which (when used) further limits the rotation of the shaft 744 and regulator 740. The third stop 774 is positioned such that when the valve is used with a control knob 756 having the rotation limiting means (as discussed in further detail below) rotational 30 movement of the shaft 744 (and regulator 740) is limited to an arc of travel between the first stop 770 and the third stop 774. As discussed above, the control knob 756 may be removed and replaced by a user. This allows a user to elect to install either a control knob that does include a second 5 rotation limiting means (i.e. the control knob as shown in figure 7J), or a control knob without a second rotation limiting means. By selection of the control knob the user can therefore determine the possible arc of rotation of the regulator 740 (either between the first and third stops 770 and 774 of the first and second stops 770 and 772). As discussed in more detail below, the possible arc of rotation of the regulator 740 10 determines the "minimum" gas setting of the gas valve 729, and therefore allows the user to use the gas valve assembly 120 with either LPG or NG. Turning to figures 7F, 7G, 7H and 71, two alternative regulators 777 and 778 suitable for use with gas valve 729 will be described. Figures 7F and 7H provide cross sectional views of the gas valve 729 with along section VIIF-VIIF, and figures 7G and 71 provide 15 development views of the flow regulators 777 and 778 respectively. The various flow passages in regulators 777 and 778 in figures 7F, 7G, 7H, and 71 have, for clarity, been depicted with angular displacements about the circumference of the regulators greater than those described below. As will be appreciated, the actual angular displacements of the various flow passages may be varied as desired. 20 Referring to figures 7F and 7G, regulator 777 is provided with a first flow passage 779 and a second flow passage 780. The first and second flow passages 779 and 780 provide for a particular flow rate of gas from the inlet 732 to the outlet 734 when regulator 777 is rotated to align the flow passage 779 or 780 with the inlet 732 (i.e. when the flow passage 779 or 780 is in registry with the inlet 732). 25 Registry of the first flow passage 779 with the inlet 732 is achieved by rotating the shaft 744 such that the radial pin 768 abuts the second stop 772. Registry of the second flow passage 780 with the inlet 732 is achieved by rotating the shaft 744 such that the lug 776 of the control knob abuts the third stop 774. As will be appreciated, abutment of the 31 a lug 776 (or other rotation limiting means) against the third stop 774 will only occur if the control knob used with the gas valve 729 is actually provided with such. The first flow passage 779 is sized to allow the minimum flow of gas through the valve (i.e. from the inlet 732 to the outlet 734) that is required when LPG is used as the fuel 5 source for the appliance with which the valve is used. If the appliance were, for example a barbecue, the diameter of the passage 779 would be approximately 1 mm, allowing for a gas flow rate of approximately 2.1 Litres per minute at 2.75 Kpa. Accordingly, rotation of the regulator such that the first flow passage 779 is in registry with the inlet 732 will be referred to as the LPG minimum position. 10 Similarly, the second flow passage 780 is sized to allow the minimum flow of gas through the valve that is required when NG is used as the fuel source for the appliance with which the valve is used. Returning to the example where the appliance is a barbecue, the diameter of the passage 780 would be approximately 1.6 mm, allowing for a gas flow rate of approximately 5.3 Litres per minute at 1 Kpa. Rotation of the 15 regulator 300 such that the second flow passage 780 is in registry with the inlet 732 will be referred to as the NG minimum position. The term "minimum" flow rate used herein refers to a flow rate of gas that is sufficient to reliably keep the appliance alight/maintain a gas flame and provide a flame performance determined desirable for a "minimum" setting of the appliance. It will, of course, be 20 appreciated that this flow rate will change from appliance to appliance, and it may even be possible to run an appliance with a gas flow below that provided by the "minimum" setting (though potentially less reliably than if the minimum setting were used). The regulator 777 also includes a variable flow passage 781 which includes a maximum flow passage 782 adjacent an intermediate flow passage 783. By rotating the regulator 25 740 such that the maximum flow passage 782 is in registry with the inlet 732 the maximum flow rate achievable with the gas valve assembly 120 is provided. The intermediate flow passage 783 decreases in area such that depending on the position of rotation of the regulator 740 the area of the intermediate flow passage 783 that is in 32 registry with the inlet 732 changes and the flow of gas may be varied between the maximum and minimum flow rates. Turning to figures 7H and 71, it can be seen that regulator 778 is similar to regulator 777 as described above. For convenience like numbering has been used for like features. 5 Regulator 778 also includes a first minimum flow passage 779 (functionally the same as the first minimum flow passage 779 in regulator 777). Instead of providing the regulator 778 with a discrete second flow passage (i.e. passage 780 in figures 7F and 7G), however, the intermediate flow passage 783 of regulator 778 is extended a further distance around the circumference of the regulator 778. The shallow end 784 of the 10 intermediate flow passage 783 is sized such that when the regulator 778 is rotated to the NG minimum position the desired minimum flow rate for an NG appliance (as discussed above) is achieved. In other respects regulator 778 is the same as regulator 777. Figures 7F and 7H show regulators 777 and 778 in the "off' position - i.e. preventing 15 gas flow through the valve. The off position will be used as the reference position of the regulator 740, with an angular displacement of 0*. The regulator 740 may be rotated to the off position by rotation (via the control knob 756 and shaft 744) such that the rotation limiting means 768 (i.e. the pin) abuts the first stop 770. As will be appreciated, any angular displacement of the regulator 777 or 778 such that the inlet 732 is not aligned 20 with a flow passage will prevent gas flow through the gas valve assembly 120. As discussed above, if the gas valve assembly 120 is fitted with a control knob 756 which does not have a lug 776 (i.e. is not provided with the second rotation limiting means) the regulator 740 can be rotated through approximately 1800 from the off position through arc Al to the LPG minimum position 785 (i.e. the position where the 25 radial pin 768 abuts the second stop 772). If the gas valve assembly 120 is fitted with a control knob 756 which does have a lug 776 the regulator 740 can be rotated approximately 1500 from the off position 310 through arc A2 to the NG minimum position 786 (i.e. the position where the lug 776 33 abuts the third stop 774). As can be seen, the third stop 774 prevents rotation of the regulator 740 beyond that stop. As can also be seen the variable flow passage 781 is angularly displaced between the off position and the NG minimum position 786 and as such lies within both arcs of travel 5 Al and A2. Rotation of the regulator 740 from the off position through arc A3 (approximately 90*) will align the inlet 732 with the maximum flow passage 782, and beyond 90 will align the inlet 732 with positions in the intermediate flow passage 783. Figures 7J and 7K respectively provide a perspective and cross-sectional views of the control knob 756. Control knob 756 includes a rotation limiting means in the form of a 10 lug 776 and is fitted to the gas valve assembly 120 when the gas valve assembly 120 is to be used with NG (and as such will be referred to as a NG control knob). As can be seen, the NG control knob 756 includes a bore 787 for receiving the shaft 744 of the gas valve assembly 120. Internally, the bore 787 is provided with a lip 788 which engages with a lip on the shaft 744 to prevent the knob 756 from being pushed 15 too far down the shaft 744. The control knob 756 also includes a ridge 789 which can be easily grasped by a user to turn the knob, and may include a reference indicator (not shown) which indicates the position of the regulator 740 in relation to the knob 756. The open end of the bore 787 is provided with a bevel 790 which allows the knob 756 to be easily pushed over the legs 758A and 758B of the shaft 744. To aid in securing the 20 knob 756 to the shaft 744 the bore 787 may be slightly tapered to provide a frictional fit. Alternatively, and as discussed above, the legs 758A and 758B of the shaft 744 may be slightly splayed and press against the inside of the bore 787 to help secure the knob 756 in place. When the valve is to be used with LPG, a LPG control knob which is not provided with a 25 rotation limiting means (i.e. lug 776) is used.

34 Figure 7L provides a perspective view of the gas valve assembly 120 for use with barbecue 100. The gas valve assembly 120 includes a manifold 791 having a single gas inlet 792 and providing gas to a left gas valve 793 and a right gas valve 794. The left and right gas valves 793 and 794 are of the form of the gas valve 729 described above. 5 The manifold 791 also includes a mount 795 provided with a pair of threaded gas valve mounting bores passing therethrough. The inlet 732 of each valve 793 and 794 is connected to and supplied with gas from the manifold 791. The outlets 734 of the valves 792 and 793 are, respectively, connected to the left and right burner conduits 720 and 722. 10 When the barbecue 100 is assembled, the gas valve assembly 120 is secured to the barbecue 100 by passing screws through the valve assembly mounting apertures 449 in the right handle 108 and into the gas valve mounting bores. The valve shaft 744 of the left valve 793 passes through the left valve stem aperture 450 in the right handle 108, and the valve stem 744 of the right valve 794 passes through the right valve stem 15 aperture 452 in the right handle 108. The control knobs 756 of the left and right valves 793 and 794 are then secured to their respective valve stems 744 so as to seat in the left and right control knob housings 442 and 444, where they may be rotated by a user. Rotation of the control knobs 756 serves to adjust the flow of gas through the left or right valve 793 and 794, thereby controlling the gas output of (and ultimately heat 20 provided by) the left and right burners 702 and 704. The barbecue 100 may be provided with gas-flow indicators with which the reference indicator 510 on the control knob 756 may be aligned to show, for example, when the valve is off, when the valve is in the minimum flow position, and when the valve is in the maximum flow position. 25 Further, the barbecue 100 may be sold with one or both of a NG control knob 756 and a LPG control knob. For example, the barbecue 100 may be sold in an "LPG ready" form and include only an LPG control knob which is not provided with a rotation limiting means. If the customer wishes to use the appliance with NG they can then separately purchase NG control knob 756. Alternatively, the barbecue 100 may be sold with both a 30 NG control knob 756 and an LPG control knob to allow the user to immediately configure the barbecue 100 as they wish.

35 The ignition assembly 122 includes a left ignitor 795 having a left ignitor mount 796 and a right ignitor 797 having a right ignitor mount 798. The left and right ignitors 764 and 766 are connected to a piezoelectric switch 723 by, respectively, left and right ignition 5 cables 725 and 727. When the barbecue 100 is assembled, the left ignition cable 725 passes through the left ignitor cable aperture 248 formed in the base 210 of the fire box 102 and a screw is passed through the left ignitor mount 764 and into the left ignitor attachment boss 249. Similarly, the right ignition cable 727 passes through the right ignitor cable aperture 246 10 and a screw is passed through the right ignitor mount 768 and into the right ignitor attachment boss 247. Finally, the piezoelectric switch 723 is secured to the ignition housing 446 in the right handle 108. As can be seen, ignitors 762 and 766 are configured to extend towards the left and right burner loops 706 and 712. If gas is flowing through the left and/or right burner loops 15 706/712 and the switch 723 is depressed, ignitors 795 and 797 will spark thereby igniting one or both of the left and right burners 702 and 704. If desired, a cross-lighting channel (not shown) may be provided between the left and right burner loops 706 and 712 to allow for the left burner 702 to light off the right burner 704 (or vice versa). 20 Cooking assembly 124 Figures 8A and 8B respectively provide top and bottom perspective views of the cooking assembly 124. As can be seen, the cooking assembly 124 in this instance includes two separate components: a cooking grill 802 and a cooking plate 804. The cooking grill 802 is a standard grill formed by a plurality of parallel ribs 805 defining 25 a plurality of gaps 807 therebetween through which cooking liquids (such as fat, grease and oil) can drip. The cooking plate 804 is reversible, having a first side 806 (shown in figure 8B) provided with a series of parallel ribs 808 defining therebetween a plurality of channels 809. The ribs 808 of the first side 806 are broken so as to provide a series of transverse 30 channels 811. The cooking plate 804 also includes a second side 810 provided with a 36 flat plate 812. A user can easily pick up and rotate cooking plate 804 to selectively cook on either the first side 806 or second side 810. Further, the channels 809 of the first side 806 and the plate of the second side 810 are each provided with a gradient such that cooking liquids will flow off the cooking plate 804. 5 Both the grill 802 and plate 804 are shaped to fit in the fire box 102, such that they are supported by the plurality of cooking assembly supports 234 which extend from the front wall 202, rear wall 204, left wall 206, right wall 208 of the fire box 102. Both the cooking grill and plate 802 are provided with semi-circular cut-outs 810 and 812 which allow the grill and/or plate to be easily picked up and removed from the fire box 102 for cleaning 10 or suchlike. Semi-circular cut-outs 810 and 812 also allow for a match or other lighter to be inserted through the cut-outs 810 and 812 towards the gas burner assembly 118 in order to manually light the barbecue 100. Flame tamer 126 As the cooking grill 802 allows cooking liquids (which may well be flammable) to drip 15 down towards the burner assembly 118, the barbecue 100 is provided with a flame tamer 126 which, when the barbecue 100 is assembled, is located between the burner assembly 118 and the cooking grill 802 (such that any cooking liquids drip onto the flame tamer rather than the naked flame of the burner assembly 118). Figures 8C and 8D respectively provide top and bottom perspective views of the flame 20 tamer 126, which is formed from sheet metal and includes a surface 820 having a plurality of apertures 822, a convex shield 824, and a plurality of vents 826. As can be see, the convex shield 824 is shaped complementarily to the shape of the burner loop (burner 710 in the configuration of the barbecue 100 as depicted) over which the flame tamer 126 is to be placed, and as such prevents cooking fluids from 25 dripping directly onto that burner loop. As will be appreciated, the existence of the flame tamer 126 (and in particular the shield 824 which covers the flame) impacts on the distribution of heat delivered to the cooking assembly 124 by the burner 710. Apertures 822 and vents 826 counteract this impact and provide for substantially even heat distribution in spite of the interposition of the 30 flame tamer 126 between the burner 710 and cooking assembly 124.

37 As can be seen, the vents 826 are distributed around both the inner and outer edges of the shield 824 and are shaped so as to direct air flow from beneath the flame tamer 126 (i.e. air heated by the burner) over the surface area of the shield 824. The apertures 822 are distributed over the surface 820 of the flame tamer 126 and serve a similar purpose 5 insofar as they allow the air heated by the burner to rise though the apertures 822 to the cooking assembly 124. As can be most clearly seen from the bottom perspective view, each aperture 822 is provided with a downwardly directed annular lip 828. The lip 828 acts as a shed to assist in preventing cooking fluids that fall onto the flame tamer 126 and flow through 10 the apertures 822 from wicking back along the under side of the flame tamer 126 and (potentially) into the naked flame of the burner. Rather, cooking fluids will accumulate on the lip 828 until dripping off and into the fire box 120. Similarly, the under side edges 830 of the vents 826 are formed to provide the edges 830 with a lip to assist in preventing wicking of cooking fluids in the same way. 15 The flame tamer 126 also includes a plurality of legs 832. When the barbecue 100 is assembled the legs 832 rest on the flame tamer 126 supports 236 in the firebox 102 to support the flame tamer 126 in position. As most clearly seen in figure 8E, the legs 832 and flame tamer supports 236 are sized/positioned such that the surface 820 of the flame tamer 126 is inclined. This allows any cooking fluids that drip onto the flame tamer 20 126 to flow (either off the flame tamer at the edges or through the apertures 822) into the fire box 102. From the fire box 102 the fluids flow through the fire box opening 211 and into the drip tray 126. As will be appreciated, the cooking grill 802 and cooking plate 804 are symmetrically shaped and as such may be arranged as desired by the user (e.g. with the grill 802 on 25 the left and the plate 804 on the right or vice versa). Similarly, the flame tamer 126 may be oriented to be located on either the left or right side of the fire box 102 depending on which side the grill 802 is located (the fire box 102 being provided with flame tamer supports 236 on both the left and right hand sides). Drip tray 128 and drip tray mounting assembly 130 30 The drip tray 128 and drip tray mounting assembly 130 will now be described with reference to figures 9A to 9C.

38 The drip tray 128 includes a receptacle 902 bordered by a left handle 904, right handle 906, a front slide 908 and a rear slide 910. Both the front and rear slides 908 and 910 are provided with protrusions 912 which (in the orientation shown) extend in a downward direction. 5 The drip tray mounting assembly 130 includes front and rear mounting rails 920. Each mounting rail 920 includes a base 922 which receives and supports the front and rear slides 908 and 910 of the drip tray 128. Each end of the base 922 is provided with an entry angle 924 to allow the drip tray 128 to be easily located in the drip tray mounting assembly 130. 10 Each base 922 also includes two locator holes 926 which align with protrusions 912 in the front and rear slides 908 and 910 of the drip tray 128. When the drip tray 128 is slid into position on the rails 920 the protrusions 912 seat in the locator holes 938 to provide an indication that the drip tray 128 is correctly positioned. Pulling the drip tray 128 out of the rails 920 dislodges the protrusions from the locator holes 938. Each base 922 15 further includes two clearance holes 928 which allow the heads of the screws used to screw the rails 920 (via mounting apertures 938) to the fire box 102. Extending from the base 922 of each mounting rail 920 is a side wall 930. From a first end of the side wall 930 a first securing assembly 932 extends, and from the opposite end of the side wall 930 a second securing assembly 934 extends. As can be seen the 20 sidewall 930 is provided with a cut-out portion 936 between the first and second securing assemblies 932 and 934. When the barbecue 100 is assembled the cut-out portions 934 of the mounting rails 920 allow for air flow through the mounting rails 920 and into the firebox 100 (via opening 211). Each of the first and second securing assemblies 932 and 934 is provided with a 25 mounting aperture 938. The drip tray mounting assembly 130 is secured to the fire box 102 by passing screws through the mounting apertures 938 and into the four drip tray mounting assembly bosses 238 formed in the base 210 of the fire box 102. The first securing assembly 932 is also provided with an ignition cable recess 940 and an ignition cable guide 942. The ignition cable recess 940 is located such that when the 30 mounting rails 920 are secured to the fire box 102, the ignition cable recess 940 of the front mounting rail 920 aligns with the left ignitor cable aperture 248 formed in the base 39 210 of the fire box 102. The second securing assembly 934 is also provided with two ignition cable guides 944 and 946, one at either end of the second securing assembly 934. As shown in figure 9C, when the barbecue 100 is assembled, the left ignition cable 725 5 passes through the left ignitor cable aperture 248 formed in the base 210 of the fire box 102 and through the ignition cable recess 940 of the front mounting rail 920. From there the left ignition cable 725 runs along the length of the front mounting rail 920 (supported by the cable guides 942, 944 and 946) and up to the ignition switch 723. In this way the left ignition cable 725 is located outside of the fire box 102. 10 While the front and rear mounting rails 920 have been described and illustrated as being symmetrical, it will be appreciated that while providing for simpler manufacture such symmetry is not, in fact, required. For example, only one mounting rail 920 (the front one for the barbecue in the described embodiment) need be provided with an ignition cable recess 940 and ignition cable guides 942, 944 and 946. 15 When the barbecue 100 is used, cooking fluids that drip off the cooking assembly 124 drip or flow out of the opening 211 in the base 210 of the fire box 102 and into the drip tray 126. The drip tray 126 can be easily removed (by pulling on either the left or right handle 904 or 906 and slid out from the mounting rails 920) for cleaning. It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification 20 extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features and/or components mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention. 25

Claims

1. A barbecue including a fire box having a base, a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls, each side wall being provided with a pair of handle mounts protruding from the 5 fire box, the barbecue further including a pair of handle arrangements, each handle arrangement secured to one of the pairs of handle mounts by a securing arrangement, each securing arrangement including a plurality of fasteners for securing the handle arrangement to the pair of handle mounts, 10 each fastener having an associated insulating arrangement for insulating the fastener from the handle mount.

2. A barbecue according to claim 1, wherein the insulating arrangement further insulates the handle arrangement from the handle mount.

3. A barbecue according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the handle mounts form an 15 integral part of the firebox.

4. A barbecue according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the barbecue further includes a pair of shelves, each shelf being detachably and pivotally mounted to a corresponding handle arrangement and pivotal between an open and closed position.

5. A barbecue according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the barbecue includes 20 a hood pivotally mounted to the firebox and movable between an open position leaving the firebox uncovered and a closed position in which the hood covers the firebox, a rear wall of the hood including a vent and a grease control lip, the grease control lip shaped to direct cooking fluids flowing down the rear wall of the hood into the firebox when the hood is in a closed position. 41

6. A barbecue including a fire box and a heating assembly, the heating assembly including: a gas valve assembly including a first gas valve operable by a first control knob and a second gas valve operable by a second control knob; a first burner located in the fire box and connected to the first gas valve; a second burner located in the fire 5 box and positioned adjacent to and on the same level as the first burner, the second burner connected to the second gas valve, wherein the first burner is connected to the first gas valve via a feed tube, at least part of said feed tube passing beneath the second burner.

7. A barbecue according to claim 6, further including a handle adapted to be 10 mounted to one side of the fire box such that the second burner is located between the first burner and the handle, and wherein the gas valve assembly and ignition switch are carried by the handle.

8. A barbecue according to claim 6 or claim 2, further including an ignition assembly, said ignition assembly including a first ignitor for lighting the first burner and a 15 second ignitor for lighting the second burner, each ignitor connected to and operable by an ignition switch, wherein the first ignitor is located in the fire box and is connected to the ignition assembly by a first ignition cable, the first ignition cable passing through an aperture in the fire box to the outside of the fire box, the first ignition cable being guided from the aperture to the ignition switch by a drip tray mounting rail, the drip tray 20 mounting rail adapted to also support a drip tray.

9. A barbecue according to claim 8, wherein the drip tray mounting rail is mounted to a base of the fire box and includes at least one ignition cable guide for housing the first ignition cable.

10. A barbecue including a fire box, a drip tray mounting assembly mounted to an 25 outer surface of a base of the fire box, and a drip tray, the drip tray mounting assembly including a pair of drip tray mounting rails, wherein at least one drip tray mounting rail includes an ignition cable guide for guiding an ignition cable along the outside of the base of the fire box. 42

11. A barbecue according to claim 10, wherein at least one drip tray mounting rail includes a cut-out section allowing air flow between the at least one drip tray mounting rail and the fire box.

12. A barbecue including a fire box, a drip tray mounting assembly mounted to an 5 outer surface of a base of the fire box, and a drip tray, the drip tray mounting assembly including a pair of drip tray mounting rails, wherein at least one drip tray mounting rail includes a cut-out section allowing air flow between the at least one drip tray mounting rail and the fire box.

13. A barbecue according to claim 12, wherein at least one drip tray mounting rail 10 includes an ignition cable guide for guiding an ignition cable along the outside of the base of the fire box.

14. A barbecue including a hood pivotally mounted to a fire box, the hood including an air vent arrangement located on a wall of the hood and a grease control lip located on the wall of the hood below the air vent arrangement, wherein the grease control lip 15 directs cooking fluids dripping down the wall of the hood into the fire box.

15. A barbecue according to claim 14, wherein the wall may be at a rear of the hood.

16. A barbecue including a handle mounted to a fire box, the handle carrying a gas valve assembly, the gas valve assembly including a first gas valve operable by a first control knob and a second gas valve operable by a second control knob. 20

17. A barbecue according to claim 16, wherein the handle carries a starter switch for an ignition assembly.

18. A flame tamer for use with a barbecue including a heat source and a grill, the flame tamer adapted to be interposed between the heat source and the grill, the flame tamer including a shield portion for preventing cooking fluids from dripping directly on to 25 the heat source and at least one vent, the at least one vent shaped to direct heat towards that portion of the grill which is located directly above the shield portion. 43

19. A flame tamer according to claim 18 further including at least one aperture, the at least one aperture allowing, in use, air heated by the heat source to pass therethrough.

20. A flame tame according to claim 19, wherein each aperture includes a lip to, in use, substantially prevent cooking fluids from wicking along a surface of the flame 5 tamer.

21. A barbecue including a fire box, the fire box including a base with an opening therein, the opening partially surrounded by a drip guard for substantially preventing the flow of cooking fluids from the base through the portion of the opening surrounded by the drip guard. 10

22. A barbecue according to claim 21, wherein the fire box is adapted to be mounted on a stand, the stand adapted to support a fuel source, and the drip guard may substantially prevent the flow of cooking fluids though the opening and onto the fuel source.

23. A barbecue according to claim 22, wherein the stand includes one or more fuel 15 source locators, the or each fuel source locator positioned below the drip guard when the barbecue is mounted on the stand.

24. A barbecue according to claim 23, wherein the fuel source is a gas bottle.

25. A valve for use with a gas appliance, the valve including: a valve body having an inlet and an outlet; 20 a flow regulator housed within the valve body configured to regulate the flow of gas between the inlet and outlet and rotatable within the valve body via a shaft, the flow regulator including: a first flow passage which, when in registry with the inlet allows a first flow between the inlet and outlet, and 44 a second flow passage angularly displaced relative to the first flow passage and which, when in registry with the inlet, allows a second flow between the inlet and outlet; first stop means 5 second stop means first limiting means for interacting with the first stop means and the second stop means, the first stop means defining a first angle of rotation of the flow regulator such that the first flow passage is in registry with the inlet, and 10 the second stop means defining a second angle of rotation of the flow regulator such that flow between the inlet and outlet is prevented; the valve body further including a third stop means for interaction with a second removable limiting means and defining a third angle of rotation of the flow regulator such that the second minimum flow passage is in registry with the inlet. 15

26. A valve according to claim 25, wherein the first and third stops are located inside the valve body and the first limiting means is provided on the shaft.

27. A valve according to either claim 25 or claim 26, wherein the third stop is located on an outside of the valve body.

28. A valve according to any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the second limiting 20 means is carried by a control knob, the control knob removably mountable to the shaft to control rotation of the shaft.

29. A valve according to claim 28, wherein the second limiting means is a lip. 45

30. A valve according to any one of claims 25 to 29, wherein the first and second stops define a first arc of travel of the regulator, the first and third stops provide a second arc of travel of the regulator, and wherein the second arc of travel is less than the first arc of travel. 5

31. A valve according to any one of claims 25 to 30, wherein the first flow passage allows greater flow than the second flow passage.

32. A valve according to any one of claims 25 to 31 further including a limiting control knob, the limiting control knob including the second limiting means, the control knob removably mountable to the shaft. 10

33. A valve according to any one of claims 25 to 32 further including a non-limiting control knob, the non-limiting control knob not including the second limiting means.

34. A gas appliance including a valve according to any one of claims 25 to 33.

35. A control knob for rotating a flow regulator in a gas valve, the control knob including a rotation limiting means adapted to interact with a stop means on the valve in 15 order to limit rotation of the flow regulator.