CA2254765A1 - Grill cover - Google Patents

Grill cover Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CA2254765A1
CA2254765A1 CA 2254765 CA2254765A CA2254765A1 CA 2254765 A1 CA2254765 A1 CA 2254765A1 CA 2254765 CA2254765 CA 2254765 CA 2254765 A CA2254765 A CA 2254765A CA 2254765 A1 CA2254765 A1 CA 2254765A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
cover
base
grill
lid
enclosure
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2254765
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Debbie Didio-Sayer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA 2254765 priority Critical patent/CA2254765A1/en
Publication of CA2254765A1 publication Critical patent/CA2254765A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47JKITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J36/00Parts, details or accessories of cooking-vessels
    • A47J36/38Parts, details or accessories of cooking-vessels for withdrawing or condensing cooking vapors from cooking utensils

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Baking, Grill, Roasting (AREA)

Abstract

A cover for a grill equipped with a downdraft ventilator.
The cover includes a heat resistant enclosure having a bottom edge that sufficiently encloses the grill to contain smoke and splatter generated during cooking. A vent opening is defined in the enclosure at a position that permits smoke to be drawn from the enclosed space into the downdraft ventilator.

Description

Title: GRILL COVER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to cooking accessories and in particular to a grill cover for grills having a downdraft ventilator.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Indoor grills have become increasingly popular for those who wish to enjoy grilled food in all seasons. Such grills may utilize a gas or electric heating source and typically include an electrically powered downdraft ventilator with an opening located along one side of the grill at the same height or slightly raised above the grill surface. The ventilator draws smoke into the opening so that it may be filtered or discharged outdoors.
One problem with such indoor grills is that grease tends to splatter away from the grill during the grilling process. Also, the grilling process can be prolonged due to the escape of heat resulting in added time required to fully heat (and therefore cook) the food. Outdoor barbecue grills address these problems by providing a cover for the grilling surface but no adequate solution has been provided for indoor grills.
One attempt to address the problem with indoor grills is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,279,279 (White) directed to a deflector for blocking splatter and heat loss for a downdraft ventilated grill. The White device does not provide a sufficient amount of coverage of the grill surface for containing heat and catching splatter during the cooking process.
What is needed is an improved cover for a grill having a downdraft ventilator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A cover for a grill equipped with a downdraft ventilator, said cover comprising:
a heat resistant enclosure sized to enclose a substantial portion of a surface of the grill, said enclosure sufficiently enclosing said grill to contain smoke and splatter generated during cooking; and a vent defined in said enclosure at a position to permit the downdraft ventilator to draw the smoke from the space within the enclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show preferred embodiments of the present invention, in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a grill cover in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a top view of the base for the cover of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the base taken along lines 3-3 in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a top view of the lid of the cover of Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of a grill cover in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a top perspective view of the grill cover of Fig. 5 shown with the lid in an open position;
Fig. 7 is a top perspective view of a third embodiment of a grill cover in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 8 is a top perspective view of the cover of Fig. 7 with the lid in an open position;
Fig. 9 is a top perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a cover in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 10 is a top perspective view of the cover of Fig. 9 shown with the lid in an open position; and Fig. 11 is a side view of a fifth embodiment of a cover in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A grill cover in accordance with the present invention is shown generally at 20 in the figures. The cover is designed for use with an appliance 22 having a grill 24 that is ventilated with a downdraft ventilator 26. The ventilator is typically electrically powered to create a sufficiently strong vacuum to draw smoke (which may include other by-products associated with the grilling process) away from the grill 24 and into the opening 28 of the ventilator. The smoke is then discharged through a vent pipe (not shown) outdoors or it is filtered from the drawn air and the resulting clean air is discharged indoors. The ventilator is typically positioned along one elongate side 30 of the grill 24 at a height that is generally flush with or slightly raised above the surface 56 of the grill 24.
The grill 24 is heated with either a gas flame or an electric heating source and may include lava rocks or other means below the grill surface to retain and distribute heat and catch fat drippings from food being cooked on or over the grill 24. The term "grill" is also defined herein to include any other cooking surface such as a hot plate or radiant element that is ventilated using a downdraft ventilator.
The cover includes an enclosure 31 that defines an enclosed space 32 for containing heat and smoke and preventing the splatter of grease from the grill 24. The enclosure 31 is formed from a heat resistant material, such as metal, so as not to be affected by the temperatures given off by the grill 24. The enclosed space 32 is sized sufficiently to enclose a substantial portion of the surface 56 of the grill 24 and to provide air circulation about the food being cooked on the grill 24.
A vent 38 is defined in the enclosure 31 at a position to permit an airflow 40 generated by the downdraft ventilator 26 to draw smoke from the enclosed space 32 into the opening 28 of the ventilator.
The vent 38 may be configured with vertical slots 64, horizontal slots, circular apertures or apertures of any other shape that allow an airflow 40 to pass between the enclosed space 32 and the ventilator.
Referring in particular to the preferred embodiment of cover depicted in Figs. 1-4, the enclosure 31 includes a base 34 and a lid 36. The base 34 includes vertical end walls 50 and vertical side walls 51 that together extend about the perimeter 52 of the grill 24. The walls have a flat bottom edge 54 that contacts the surface 56 of the applicance 22 surrounding the grill 24 to create a sufficient seal to prevent smoke from passing beneath the bottom edge. The base 34 includes support flanges 58 mounted by welds, rivets or other fastening means 60 to the inner surface 56 of the vertical walls adjacent to the top edge 62 of the base 34 to support the lid 36. The vent 38 comprises a plurality of vertical slots 64 defined in the vertical side wall 50 for positioning adjacent to the downdraft ventilator 26.
A vent cover 66 is mounted to the vented vertical side wall 51 to open or close the vent 38 as desired (for instance to allow smoke to accumulate and flavour the food before the vent cover 66 is opened and the smoke is gathered by the ventilator). The vent cover 66 includes a panel 68 that is movably mounted with brackets 70 secured by welds, rivets, screws or bolt fasteners 71 to the inner surface of the vertical side wall 51. Tabs 72 extend outwardly from the vertical end walls 50 through slots 74. The slots 74 include notches 76 for locking the tabs 72 in a desired position.
The lid 36 has an inverted bowl shaped body 80 with a protruding lip 82 defining a flat bottom edge 84 for resting on the support flanges 58 of the base 34. The lid 36 is sized to fit sufficiently close within the base 34 so as to substantially contain smoke from passing between the lid 36 and the base 34. The lid 36 also includes a handle 86 secured to the lid 36 by nut and bolt fasteners 88 or other suitable fasteners such as screw fasteners, welds or rivets.
The cover is equipped with a rotisserie mechanism 90 which includes an electric rotor (not shown) contained within a rotor housing 92.
A spit 94 has a first end 96 that is removably connected to the rotor such that the rotor causes the spit 94 to rotate about its axis. A second end 98 of the spit 94 is sharpened for piercing a food product 99. The spit 94 extends between opposing vertical end walls 50 of the base 34 and extends through an aperture 100 sized to permit rotation of the spit 94 within the aperture 100. The spit 94 is also equipped with tines 102 that are mounted to a collar 104 that is slidably connected to the spit 94. The collar 104 may be releasely locked into a desired position with a set screw 106 or other suitable fastener for forming a friction fit with the spit 94. The tines 102 may be positioned to engage opposing sides of the food that has been placed on the spit 94 in order to cause the food to rotate in response to rotation of the spit 94.
Referring to Figs. 5 to 11 , further embodiments of the cover in accordance with the present invention are shown. For convenience, the same reference numbers have been given to elements that correspond to elements described above.
Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, a second embodiment of the cover is shown. The enclosure 31 has a base 108 and lid 109. The base 108 has vertical end walls 110 and a curved side wall 112. The lid 109 is connected to the curved side wall 112 by an elongate hinge 114. The lid 109 is curved and sized to fit closely against support flanges 58 mounted to the vertical end walls 110 of the base 108 . The handle 86 is positioned proximate to an end wall in order to be positioned at the front end of the applicance 22.
This provides easy access to a user for lifting and lowering the lid 109. The vent 38 is defined along a lower portion of the lid 109 and comprises specifically a series of circular apertures 115.
Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, a third embodiment of the cover is shown. The enclosure 31 has a base 115 and a lid 117. The base 115 has vertical end walls 116 and a curved side wall 118. The lid 117 includes vertical end walls 120 and a curved side wall 122 that is sized to pivot into close engagement with the base 115. The lid 117 is connected at pivot points 124 to the vertical end walls 116 of the base 115. The handle 86 and vent 38 are both located at a lower edge of the curved side wall 122 of the lid 117.
Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, a fourth embodiment of the cover is shown. The enclosure 31 is integrally formed with a base portion 126 and a lid portion 128. The base portion 126 is pivotly connected to support arms 130 that are mounted to or rest upon the applicance 22. The handle 86 is located at the front end of the base portion 126 opposite to the end where the base portion 126 is pivotly connected to the support arms 130.
The cover may thus be lifted by the handle 86 and pivoted on the support arms 130 to permit access to the grill surface. A rack 132 is supported in a cantilever arrangement on pivotal arms 134. One end of each arm is pivotly connected with a pin 136 to a lower edge of the base portion 126 and the other end of each arm is pivotly connected with a pin 138 to the inside edge 140 of the grill 24.
Referring to Fig. 11, a fifth embodiment of the cover is depicted. The enclosure 31 is integrally formed with a base portion 141 and a lid portion 143. The vent 38 is defined in a side wall 142 of the base portion 141 in order to be positioned adjacent to the downdraft ventilator 26. The handle 86 is located on the lid portion 143 to permit the cover to be lifted away from the grill 24.
In use, a cover according to any one of the embodiments described above may be permanently or temporarily placed upon an applicance 22 over a grill 24. The cover will contain heat and smoke to speed up cooking time and improve the flavour of the food. The cover will also catch grease splatters from the food product 99 being cooked on the grill 24. The vent 38 will permit smoke to be drawn from the enclosed space 32 under the cover into the downdraft ventilator 26.
It is to be understood that what has been described is a preferred embodiment of the invention. The invention is nonetheless susceptible to certain changes and alternative embodiments fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as described above, and the scope of the claims set out below.

Claims (9)

1. A cover for a grill equipped with a downdraft ventilator, said cover comprising:
a heat resistant enclosure sized to enclose a substantial portion of a surface of the grill, said enclosure sufficiently enclosing said grill to contain smoke and splatter generated during cooking; and a vent defined in said enclosure at a position to permit the downdraft ventilator to draw the smoke from the space within the enclosure.
2. A cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said enclosure has a lid and a base.
3. A cover as claimed in claim 2 wherein said lid is integrally connected to said base.
4. A cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lid is movably connected to said base.
5. A cover as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a rotisserie mechanism mounted to said base for supporting a food product above said cooking surface.
6. A cover as claimed in claim 4 wherein said rotisserie mechanism comprises an electric rotor mounted to said base and a spit horizontally supported on said base, one end of said spit being operatively connected to said rotor for rotation thereby.
7. A cover as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a vent cover mounted proximate to said vent for selectably opening or closing said vent.
8. A cover as claimed in claim 2 wherein said base comprises a continuous vertical wall surrounding the perimeter of said grill surface.
9. A cover as claimed in claim 7 wherein said base includes support flanges mounted to an inner surface of said vertical walls approximate to a top edge if said base, said support flanges supporting the edges of said lid.
CA 2254765 1998-11-26 1998-11-26 Grill cover Abandoned CA2254765A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2254765 CA2254765A1 (en) 1998-11-26 1998-11-26 Grill cover

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2254765 CA2254765A1 (en) 1998-11-26 1998-11-26 Grill cover

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2254765A1 true CA2254765A1 (en) 2000-05-26

Family

ID=29425739

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2254765 Abandoned CA2254765A1 (en) 1998-11-26 1998-11-26 Grill cover

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2254765A1 (en)

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4862795A (en) Cooktop grill with improved reflector pan
US4721037A (en) Smoker apparatus for an outdoor barbecue grill
US5313877A (en) Barbecue grill with controlled heat distribution
US6363842B1 (en) Indoor grill with filter
US8281709B2 (en) Indoor range-top grill
US3444805A (en) Method of an air cooled apparatus for the open air cooking of edibles
CA2373581C (en) Method and apparatus for baking foods in a barbeque grill
US8752479B2 (en) Indoor range-top grill
US4362093A (en) Barbeque grill
US3586518A (en) Electric barbecue machine
JPH04261621A (en) Outdoor cooking device with base stand
US5121676A (en) Barbecue grill and cooker
US5890422A (en) Convertible drip pan and method of using the same
US6841759B2 (en) Indoor barbecue
US20050039612A1 (en) Multiple bottom outdoor grill accessory
US20130180412A1 (en) Cooking grill
US20050121018A1 (en) Combination barbeque grill, smoker and fireplace
US6202638B1 (en) Grill cover
US4442824A (en) Accessory grill converter
US6497738B2 (en) Filter for indoor barbecue
CA2204025C (en) Method of cooking food using a convertible drip pan
CA1300993C (en) Grill with view/vent window
US4770091A (en) Rotisserie interlock
EP2416685B1 (en) Solid fuel outdoor cooking device
US5178126A (en) Adjustable barbeque grill

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
FZDE Dead