Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant: Zagreb Investments Pty Ltd Actual Inventor: Stephen Zagar Address for Service: C/- MADDERNS, Level 4, 19 Gouger Street, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Invention title: COOKING APPARATUS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a cooking apparatus. In a particular form the present invention relates to a cooking apparatus incorporating a table setting. 5 BACKGROUND Eating and cooking outdoors is a pleasurable pastime often enjoyed by people especially where the climate lends itself to these activities. The barbecue (BBQ) is a well known outdoor cooking apparatus that typically incorporates a cooking region which may be in the form of a hotplate or grill which is be heated by the application of the naked flame or by the use of hot 10 coals or the like. BBQ's have been found to be very popular and are used for a variety of cooking applications not necessarily limited to the grilling of meat. There have been some attempts to combine a BBQ type cooking apparatus with a standard outdoor table setting whereby a BBQ is located in the central region of a customised table 15 setting where people may be seated. In this manner, the food may be cooked by people who are seated and interacting socially, this interaction being further stimulated by the cooking of the food. There are some clear disadvantages with these types of arrangements however, as the 20 proximity of the cooking region to the occupants of the table can present a safety hazard to these occupants, and in particular children, who may inadvertently reach towards the cooking region and burn themselves. In addition, the proximity of the cooking region can expose occupants of the table to spatter or droplets emanating from the cooking region during the cooking process. Another issue due to the required access by occupants to the cooking region 25 is that the cooking region may be more sensitive to environmental conditions making it difficult to properly regulate the temperature of the cooking region. This can result in undercooked foodstuffs which again may be a safety hazard. SUMMARY 30 In a first aspect the present invention accordingly provides a cooking apparatus, the cooking apparatus including: a table surface; a cooking region operable to cook foodstuffs, wherein the cooking region is substantially surrounded by the table surface; 35 a barrier member, the barrier member substantially surrounding the cooking region to provide a barrier between the table surface and the cooking region. 2 In another form, the barrier member extends upwardly from the table surface. In another form, the barrier member is configured to provide a safety wall to substantially prevent children from reaching towards the cooking region. 5 In another form, the barrier member is configured to reduce the amount of droplets or spatter exiting the cooking region. In another form, the barrier member is configured to protect the cooking region from air flow 10 to facilitate the cooking. In another form, the barrier member is retractable to be substantially flush with the table surface. 15 In another form, the cooking apparatus includes one or more cooking elements operable in combination with the cooking region to vary the cooking capability of the cooking region. In another form, one or more cooking elements are operable in combination with the barrier member to vary the cooking capability of the cooking region. 20 In another form, the cooking region is located substantially centrally to the table surface. In a second aspect the present invention accordingly provides a cooking apparatus, the cooking apparatus including: 25 a table surface; a cooking region operable to cook foodstuffs, wherein the cooking region is substantially surrounded by the table surface; one or more cooking elements operable in combination with the cooking region to vary the cooking capability of the cooking region. 30 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Illustrative embodiments of the present invention will be discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE I is a top perspective view of a cooking apparatus in accordance with an illustrative 35 embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a top view of the cooking apparatus illustrated in Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a cutaway side view of the cooking apparatus illustrated in Figure 1; 3 FIGURE 3a is top perspective view of the removable container illustrated in Figure 3; FIGURE 4 is a top perspective view of the cooking apparatus illustrated in Figure I depicting the gas cylinder storage arrangement; FIGURE 5 is a top perspective view of the cooking apparatus illustrated in Figure I depicting 5 a gas cylinder storage arrangement in accordance with a further illustrative embodiment; FIGURE 6 is a top perspective view of the table surface of the cooking apparatus illustrated in Figure I depicting a cooking region in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 7 is a top perspective view of the table surface of the cooking apparatus illustrated in 10 Figure 1 depicting a cooking region in accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the present invention FIGURE 8 is a top perspective view of the table surface of the cooking apparatus illustrated in Figure I depicting a cooking region in accordance with yet another illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 15 FIGURE 9 is a top perspective view of the cooking region illustrated in Figure 8 depicting the barrier member in an upwardly extended position; FIGURE 9a is a side view of a utensil for moving the barrier member illustrated in Figure 9; FIGURE 10 is a top perspective view of the table surface of the cooking apparatus illustrated in Figure I depicting a cooking region in accordance with a further illustrative embodiment of 20 the present invention; FIGURE I I is a top perspective view of the cooking region illustrated in Figure 10 depicting the barrier member in an upwardly extended position; FIGURE 12 is a top perspective view of the table surface of the cooking apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 depicting a cooking region in accordance with another illustrative embodiment of 25 the present invention; FIGURE 12a depicts the cooking region as illustrated in Figure 12 in use with a wok; FIGURE 13 is a top perspective view of the table surface of the cooking apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 depicting a cooking region in accordance with yet another illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 30 FIGURE 13a depicts the cooking region as illustrated in Figure 13 in use with a pot; FIGURE 14 is a top perspective view of the table surface of the cooking apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 depicting a cooking region in accordance with a further illustrative embodiment of the present invention; and FIGURE 14a depicts the cooking region as illustrated in Figure 14 in use with a roasting lid. 35 In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 4 TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION Referring now to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a cooking apparatus 100 according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Cooking apparatus 100 includes a table 5 surface 1 10 which in this illustrative embodiment is of a round configuration having a diameter of approximately 1400 mm about which occupants of cooking apparatus 100 may be seated. In other embodiments, table surface 1 10 may be of any type of shape or configuration including, but not limited to, square, oval, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, or any other n sided polygon. Alternatively, table surface may be of a non-regular shape or a combination of 10 regular and non-regular shaped regions. In this illustrative embodiment, table surface 110 is formed of natural granite having a thickness of approximately 20 mm. Where appropriate, table surface 1 10 may also be formed from a range of materials including, but not limited to, wood, wood composites, appropriate 15 high density synthetic materials, stainless steel, slate, marble or other natural rock type materials or their synthetic equivalents, or laminates formed from a combination of these materials. Cooking apparatus 100 further includes a cooking region 120 which is surrounded by the 20 table surface 110 and in this illustrative embodiment is located substantially centrally with respect to the configuration of the table surface 1 10. However, cooking region 120 may be located at any location where it is substantially surrounded by table surface 1 10 thereby providing the opportunity for occupants seated at cooking apparatus 100 to be located about or around cooking region 120. 25 Table surface I 10 is supported by a central support member or pedestal 140 formed of a high grade stainless steel having a hinged door 150 with a handle 151 and vents 152 forming an internal storage area 170 which may be used to store cooking implements. Again, the pedestal 140 may be constructed of any suitable rigid material. Arranged radially about 30 pedestal 140 is a series of air vents 141 located at the foot and top regions of pedestal 140 which facilitates air flow through pedestal 140 to aid in ventilating the cooking region 120. In this illustrative embodiment, table surface 110 and the associated cooking region 120 are supported at a height of 750 mm with respect to the ground but equally the height may be 35 varied according to the seating arrangement. In one embodiment, table surface I 10 is located at a suitable height to allow people to be seated at ground level. Pedestal 140 further includes 5 adjustable levelling legs (not shown) which allow table surface 110 to be accurately levelled in the case where the ground surface may not be level. Located on support column 140 immediately under table surface 1 10 are various controls 160 5 that control the operation of the cooking region 120. Cooking apparatus 100 in this illustrative embodiment further includes a lid 190 which when in place is located over cooking region 120 so that it is seated flush with table surface 1 10. In this manner, cooking apparatus 100 may be used as a standard table when cooking region 120 is not in operation. 10 Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown a cutaway side view illustrating the internal components of cooking apparatus 100. In this illustrative embodiment, cooking region 120 is heated by a gas heating arrangement 180 powered by a gas cylinder 200. Pedestal 140 is divided internally into two separate regions by separation plate 143 which functions to isolate the gas heating arrangement 180 located in the upper region of pedestal 140 from the gas 15 cylinder 200 which is in the storage area 170 located in the lower region of pedestal 140. Cylinder 200 is located upon a retractable sliding tray 155 that in an extended position allows for convenient access to gas cylinder 200 (as best shown in Figure 4). Alternatively, gas heating arrangement 180 may be connected to a mains gas supply where available. 20 Gas heating arrangement 180 whose components will be described in detail later is located within a removable container 144 (which in this illustrative embodiment is a removable stainless steel cylindrical drum that includes a plurality of regularly radially spaced ventilation holes 146 (as best shown in Figure 3a) and a receptacle or drip tray 145 which is slidable in a drawer arrangement from container 144 for cleaning. The upper edge of container 144 is 25 flared outwardly to form a shoulder region 147 which sits on a corresponding ledge portion 148 formed on the inner surface of table surface 1 10 as shown in Figure 3. As would be appreciated by those of skill in the art, the modular form of removable container 144 allows gas heating arrangement 180 to be completely removed from cooking apparatus 30 100 and replaced by other modules as required. In one example, removable container 144 may be replaced by an appropriately shaped container having a charcoal or hot coal based heating arrangement. In another example, removable container 144 may be replaced by a container having ice and in this arrangement cooking region 120 would instead function as an ice bucket or cooler for keeping items cold. 35 Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, there are shown two arrangements for accessing cylinder 200 according to illustrative embodiments of the present invention. In Figure 4, cylinder 200 6 is located upon a retractable sliding tray 155 that in an extended position allows for convenient access to gas cylinder 200. In Figure 5, hinged door 150 includes a floor region 157 upon which gas cylinder 200 is located. These arrangements provide convenient access to turn off or change over the gas cylinder 200. Alternatively, gas heating arrangement 180 5 instead of being connected to a gas cylinder 200 may be connected to a mains gas supply where available. In these embodiments directed to a gas heating arrangement, controls 160 of cooking apparatus 100 correspond to a variable range gas control knob 161 and a "one touch" ignitor button 162. 10 Referring now to Figure 6, there is shown a top perspective view of the gas heating arrangement 180 that consists of a two ring brass burner or burner element 122 which is connected to gas cylinder 200 via a variable gas control valve, connecting hose and regulator (not shown). Burner element 122 provides a naked flame whose intensity will vary according to the setting of variable gas control knob 161. Burner element 122 is located on an inverted 15 part conical or bowl shaped base plate 123 formed of vitreous enamelled steel again incorporating a plurality of regularly radially spaced ventilation holes 124 that seats within removable container 144. Base plate 123 further includes a central aperture 125 which allows cooking by products such 20 as fat, grease and the like to drain into a receptacle or drip tray 145 located beneath base plate 123. As described previously, receptacle 145 in this embodiment is implemented in a removable drawer arrangement which allows for convenient removal and cleaning. Base plate 123 also functions to isolate the cooking region 120 from cooking apparatus 100 by providing an insulating heat barrier. 25 While in this illustrative embodiment cooking region 120 is heated by a gas heating arrangement, other types of heating arrangements are contemplated to be within the scope of the invention including, but not limited to: " electrical heating including the use of resistive heating elements which may be 30 powered by mains power, a battery or a generator as required; " solar heating including the use of concentrator elements to concentrate solar radiation within the cooking region; and " combustible heating including the use of burning wood or charcoal or other combustible material which may be located in a receptacle below the cooking region. 35 Further, while in this illustrative embodiment cooking region 120 is of a generally circular configuration other configurations including, but not limited to, square, oval, rectangular, 7 pentagonal, hexagonal, or any other n-sided polygon or non-regular shape are contemplated to be within the scope of the invention. Referring now to Figure 7, there is shown gas heating arrangement 180 further including a 5 flame tamer element 129 which in this illustrative embodiment is a circular disc formed of porcelain enamelled cast iron. Flame tamer element 129 functions to reduce flare ups and distribute heat from burner element 122 over its surface, thereby providing a radiant heat source which allows for more effective heating control of cooking region 120 and a reduction in the amount of gas that is typically required. 10 Figure 8 (and Figures I to 5) show cooking region 120 of cooking apparatus 100 configured with a cooking element in the form of a standard BBQ grill plate 121 which is placed on top of flame tamer element 129 and which is supported by the outer periphery of base plate 123. As would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the arrangement depicted in Figure 8 is 15 representative of a standard BBQ arrangement where foodstuff such as meat and vegetables are placed directly on grill plate 121. Barrier member 130 may be formed of any suitable material. Referring now to Figure 9, there is shown barrier member 130 which in this illustrative 20 embodiment is a cylindrical wall formed of stainless steel which substantially surrounds the cooking region 120 and which is located in the upwardly extended configuration thereby providing a barrier between table surface 1 10 and cooking region 120. In this illustrative embodiment, and as depicted in Figures I to 8, barrier member 130 is retractable to be substantially flush with the table surface 110 in a retracted configuration. 25 Barrier member 130 may be configured to provide a number of features such as to prevent occupants (principally children) seated at cooking apparatus 100 from reaching towards the cooking region 120 and possibly burning themselves inadvertently. Additionally barrier member 130 may be configured to reduce the amount of droplets or spatter exiting cooking 30 region 120 which can be a hazard to occupants seated at cooking apparatus 100. In further embodiments, barrier member may also be configured to protect cooking region 120 from environmental air flows such as wind and the like to facilitate cooking. In this illustrative embodiment, the height of barrier member in the extended position is approximately 80 mm but this may be modified depending on the environment requirements including the size and 35 capacity of cooking region 120 and/or table surface 1 10. 8 Referring to Figure 9a, barrier member 130 may be lifted into the extended position either manually or by the use of one or more lifting utensils or tools 300 which include a handle 330, a shaft and an insertion region 310 which is inserted into a respective aperture 135 located in the side wall of barrier member 130. Upon lifting, barrier member 130 moves 5 upwardly along guide channels 131 which slide along corresponding tongue regions (not shown) located on the inner edge of table surface 1 10 in a track arrangement. When barrier member 130 is raised into the extended position such that guide channels 131 clear tongue region, barrier member 130 may be turned clockwise or counter-clockwise so 10 that the wing portions 133 of each of the individual guide channels 131 will abut and be seated upon the corresponding tongue region to support barrier member 130 in the raised position. This process is simply reversed to retract barrier member 130 back into the flush position. This arrangement also provides a 20 mm gap 136 between the outer surface of barrier member 130 and the inner surface of table surface 1 10 which can facilitate ventilation 15 to reduce heat build up in gas heating arrangement 180 and other components in pedestal 140. Utensils 300 may also be used to manipulate cooking elements such as grill plate 121. Referring now to Figures 10 and 11, there is shown cooking region 120 of cooking apparatus 100 configured with a cooking element in the form of a solid plate 126 with barrier member 20 130 in the retracted configuration (as shown in Figure 10) and in the upwardly extended position (as shown in Figure 11). As would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, solid plate 126 is suitable for cooking foodstuffs such as eggs and the like. Once again, barrier member 130 can fulfil a number of functions as has been described previously. 25 Referring now to Figure 12, there is shown cooking region 120 of cooking apparatus 100 configured with a cooking element in the form of an annular shaped wok trivet 127 supported by the outer periphery of base plate 123. As shown in Figure 12a, wok trivet 127 functions to support wok 210 above burner element 123. As wok 210 would typically be used with a naked flame the flame tamer element 129 is removed. Although barrier member 130 is shown 30 in the retracted position it may be extended upwardly to once again form a safety barrier to protect occupants of cooking apparatus 100 from the naked flame during cooking and further to ensure that the wok 210 is able to attain a high temperature by isolating the burner element 122 from any environmental air flows. 35 Referring now to Figure 13, there is shown cooking region 120 of cooking apparatus 100 as shown in Figure 12 configured with an additional cooking element in the form of a pot trivet 128 which is supported by the inner edge of wok trivet 127 (as shown in Figure 12) to form a 9 receiving region to receive the bottom of a pot 220 as shown in Figure 13a. In this configuration, cooking apparatus 100 may be used to heat the contents of pot 220 as required. Once again, although barrier member 130 is shown in the retracted position it may be extended upwardly to once again form a safety barrier to protect occupants of cooking 5 apparatus 100 from the naked flame during cooking with pot 220. Referring now to Figures 14 and 14a, there is shown cooking region 120 of cooking apparatus 100 configured with a cooking element in the form of roasting lid 230 itself formed of vitreous enamelled steel which is supported by a peripheral support region in the form of an 10 inwardly extending ledge 132 located on the inner surface of barrier member 130. In this manner, roasting lid 230 and barrier member 130 combine to form an enhanced cooking or oven region. This combination also functions to raise the roasting lid 230 to provide more volume for roasting and baking. In addition, pot trivet 128 may be used in an upended configuration to provide a support base to raise the foodstuff being cooked from the heat 15 source. In this configuration, cooking region may be used as a general oven which whose uses may include, but are not limited to, the cooking of pizzas using a ceramic pizza stone, the baking of bread or cakes and the roasting of meat and vegetables. As would be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art cooking apparatus 100 provides a 20 number of significant advantages over prior art arrangements including the ability to employ one or more cooking elements operable in combination with the cooking region of the cooking apparatus to vary the cooking capability of the cooking region. As such, cooking apparatus may be used as a grill, hot plate wok, oven or even a stove. Cooking apparatus 100 further includes barrier member 130 which addresses a number of safety issues with prior art 25 arrangements due to occupants seated at the cooking apparatus being situated in closer proximity to the cooking region. It will be understood that the term "comprise" and any of its derivatives (eg. comprises, comprising) as used in this specification is to be taken to be inclusive of features to which it 30 refers, and is not meant to exclude the presence of any additional features unless otherwise stated or implied. The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement of any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common 35 general knowledge. 10 Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth and defined by the 5 following claims. l l