GB1559477A

GB1559477A - Tables

Info

Publication number: GB1559477A
Application number: GB3264675A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MIDLAND DESIGN ASS
Current assignee: MIDLAND DESIGN ASS
Priority date: 1975-08-05
Filing date: 1975-08-05
Publication date: 1980-01-16
Also published as: FR2320075A1; FR2320075B1

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO TABLES (71) We, MIDLAND DESIGN ASSOCIATES LIMITED, a British Company of, 206 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B 16 9PH, West Midlands, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement :- This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to tables, particulariv but not exclusively as may be used in conjunction with apparatus for cooking foodstuffs out ot'doors, for example, meat, fish, poultry and the like.

Such apparatus is commonly known and is hereinafter referred to as barbecue apparatus.

According to this invention there is provided a table afforded by the assembly of a plurality of units manufactured by a moulding, casting or a like forming operation, the units being assembled together to provide a table top afforded by substantially identical table top sections and a leg structure for supporting the table top at a suitable height from the ground, said leg structure being afforded by substantially identical leg elements each of which is in the form of a plate or web which when the units are assembled together lies in a plane extending generally at right angles to the plane of the table top.

Advantageously each table top section is formed integrally with a leg element.

Preferably, each unit, comprising such an integral table top section and leg element, is capable of standing free in a stable upright manner on the ground.

Preferably means is provided for securing adjacent units together, such means being operative to secure ad. jacent table top sections together in a manner whereby said sections are separated from each other by a small gap.

Preferably the table top is generally circular, and the table top sections are of sector or segmental shape. It will be understood however that the table top may have other peripheral configurations, for example it may be square, rectangular or polygonal.

Particularly where each leg element is in the form of a plate or web, each leg element when the units are assembled together advantageously extends in a direction generally radial ; y of the table top.

Conveniently the table top, when the units are assembled together affords an aperture located at a position generally centrally of the table top.

This invention also provides a barbecue apparatus comprising a table of the kind set out in the last preceding paragraph, the table top sections being moulded of concrete or the like cementitious material selected to withstand the temperature conditions attendant upon the use of the table as part of a barbecue apparatus, a receptacle adapted to be mounted in the aperture in which a bed of fuel may be placed, and means for controlling the flow of air through the aperture to the fuel bed.

Preferably, the receptacle is bowl-shaped, and has an opening in its bottom wall through which air may flow into the aperture of the table top. Advantageously, an air control device is mounted adjacent to the bottom wall of the receptacle and extending upwardly therefrom, the device being, or having a part which is, movable relative to the bottom surface between a position in which the opening in the bottom wall is closed, and a position in which the said opening is at least partially in communication with an air duct provided by the air control device, whereby air may flow through the opening of the table, and through the air duct to assist in the combustion of fuel contained in the receptacle.

In this manner, the air control device, in that it extends upwardly from the bottom wall of the receptacle, lends itself to ad. justment from a position above, and preferably to one side of, the fuel bed.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein :- Figure) is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of table in accordance with the invention: Figure 2 is a side elevation of the table shown in Figure 1 ; Figures 3 and 4 are respectively fragmentary cross-sectional views on the lines A-A, B-B of Figure 1 ; Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a cooking unit of a barbecue apparatus suitable for use in conjunction with the table which is the preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 is a side elevation of the cooking unit ; Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing part of a food support of the cooking unit in cooperation with a supporting member therefor ; and Figure 8 is a perspective view showing an alternative method of mounting a food support.

Referring to Figures I to 4, the table 10 illustrated therein comprises a plurality of units which are of identical form. Each of the units is formed by a moulding, casting or a like operation, and comprises a table top section 12 of a segmental form as viewed in plan supported by a leg element 13 which is preferably united integrally with the table top section, such leg element being in the form of an upstanding plate or web which is vertical and radial with respect to the centre of the table, lying in a plane extending generally at right angles to the plane of the table top.

The material selected for making the units 11 is one which is capable of standing outside weather conditions for a long period without deterioration and preferably has at least a surface finish which renders the units non-porous so that they can be washed or wiped readily and do not absorb liquid fat or other foodstuffs which may become spilled on the table top sections during use.

A material which is especially suitable is concrete, the surface of which is coated with any suitable impervious material to provide the non-porous characteristics previously mentioned.

The diameter of the table top and the height of the table may be varied to suit the particular requirements of users but typically the table top may have a diameter in the region of 4 feet and the table may have a height of 2 feet 6 inches.

The weight of the individual units I I is preferably made such that when in assembled relationship they provide stable support for the purposes previously indicated, i. e. are not readily displaced or knocked over by contact with passers by, but at the same time are not so heavy as to preclude them being manhandled from place to place as required.

The selected material, concrete being especially suitable, is a poor conductor of heat compared with metals and this, in conjunction with its mass, ensures that the table top remains cool despite its proximity in use to the fuel receptacle.

As seen particularly in Figure 3 and 4, the table top sections include flanges 14 and 15 extending downwardly along their inner and outer peripheries and flanges 16 also extending downwardly at their radial boundaries. The sections are preferably releasably secured together by securing means such as bolts 17 (Figure 4) extending through openings in adjacent radial flanges 16 and carrying nuts 18, the bolt heads and the nuts being seated in recesses at the inner faces of the flanges 16 and adjacent table top sections being spaced part at their radial boundaries by intervening tubular spacer elements 19.

The table top sections may be reinforced internally by wire mesh reinforcing elements 20 embedded in the concrete.

Similar reinforcement may be incorporated in the leg elements.

By making the units of the table identical they can be manufactured by utilisation of a mould common to each unit. Further, by designedly leaving a gap 21 between adjacent units at their radial boundaries, it becomes unnecessary to adhere a very close dimensional tolerances such as would be the case where the table top sections to abut each other, since in that case it would be undesirable to present steps or abrupt discontinuities of the upper surface as between one unit and another, whereas the slight change in level is not noticeable when a deliberate gap is left.

Centrally the table top affords an aperture 22 into which a fuel receptacle of the cooking unit of a barbecue apparatus may be mounted, and supported by annular surface portions of the table top bounding the aperture. It will be understood that, instead of providing an aperture, any suitable form of seating could be provided formed to establish radial location of the fuel receptacle, e. g. such seating may be a recess or possibly a projection cooperating with a complementary part on the receptacle.

Whilst it would be possible for a conventional receptacle and associated components to be employed in conjunction with the table, it is preferred that a receptacle having the features in accordance with the invention as herein broadly defined be employed. One embodiment thereof is illustrated in Figures 5 to 7 to which reference will now be made.

The fuel receptacle 23 therein illustrated is of generally circular bowl shape and is conveniently made as a cast metal component, for example from cast iron.

At its periphery the receptacle incorporates a laterally projecting flange 24, the undersurface of which or spaced bosses projecting downwardly therefrom will rest on the annular surface portions of the table top bounding the aperture 22. Conveniently the flange 24 is formed with openings 25, any of which can receive upstanding posts such as that shown at 26 for the purpose of carrying the food support such as a grid 27.

To enable the height of the grid 27 to be adjusted the posts 26 which may be of circular cross-section are formed with vertical spaced grooves 28.

The grid 27 may be made of metal rod such as mild steel rod and may include an outer ring 30 spanned by a plurality of smaller diameter bars such as 31 and is further provided with a handle comprising a laterally projecting part 32 for grasping, such handle being formed for example by two adjacent pieces of wire rod bent generally upwardly away from the outer ring. Preferably, on the side of the grid opposite to that upon which the handle extends there are provided two loop formations 34, each of which may be inserted into one of the grooves 28 of an associated post 26, engagement between the two loops within their respective grooves serving to retain the food support in a horizontal position across the receptacle at a desired distance therefrom as determined by the grooves 28 within which the loops 34 are inserted (see Figure 5).

Alternatively, the grid may be provided with cross members 32', outer end portions of which are formed to provide up-turned stirrups 34', horizontal limbs 35'of which may be seated in a selected one of the grooves 28'whist the outer ring 30'bears on the opposite side of each of the two support posts 26' (see Figure 8).

Preferably, as is shown in Figure 5, the bottom wall 38 of the receptacle 23 is provided with a shallow well 39 which forms a seating for an upstanding element in the form of a hollow boss or column 40 of a height such that its upper end is level, or approximately level, with the rim of the receptacle. The upstanding element 40 is itself provided with a base plate 41 provided in which are three ducts 44. Provided in the base of the shallow well 39 are one or more openings 43. When the element 40 is in a rotation position in which portions of the base plate 41 between the ducts 44 overlap (or overlie) the said opening or openings, the element is effective to prevent air flowing into the receptacle through the opening 43. However, by rotation of the element 40 into a position in which a duct is brought into alignment with the or one of the openings 43, air is free to flow through the openings 43, along the duct 44 and into the receptacle.

Conveniently, three such openings 43 are provided, and the element 40 is positionally ad~justable to provide for control of entry of air into the receptacle at three positions (corresponding to the positioning of the ducts 43) simultaneously.

Fuel in the receptacle (which is conventionally in the form of charcoal) is advantageously supported on a supporting structure provided by a circular grid 37.

Located centrally within said grid 37 is a circular aperture 38 through which the element 40 extends, said grid seating on upper walls of the ducts 44, and being located by the engagement of triangular webs 36 provided on the element 40 within uniformly-spaced notches 41 provided in the central aperture 38 of the structure 37.

A handle 70 extends radially outwardly, and generally upwardly from the grid 3i whereby said grid may be rotated from a point above, and to one side of, the bed of fuel lying on the grid 37 within the receptacle itself. Due to the interengagement of the webs 36 and their cooperating notches, rotation of the grid 37 is effective to rotate the element 40, and thus to control the admission of air to the space above the bottom wall of the receptacle, below the fuel bed.

Whereas in Figure 5 the fuel supporting structure is in the form of a grid, such structure may if desired be in the form of a grating, mesh or perforated metal plate.

Alternative to the construction of air-flow control device illustrated in Figure 5, the bottom wall of the receptacle may be provided with a shallow raised boss which forms the seating for a hollow column (similar to the column 40) which itself inclues a base element having a downwardly-projecting peripheral flange engaged over said boss so as to be located radially thereby whilst being capable of rotational movement on the boss about the vertical axis. In such a construction, the means for controlling the admission of air to a fuel bed supported on a structure resting on internal, spaced support elements of the receptacle may comprise one or more openings in the top wall of the boss. Thus, each such opening may be overlapped to a variable extent by an associated duct of inverted channel shape formed integrally with the base of the column, such ducts being open at their outer ends. By rotating the column, the degree of overlap of the ducts with the openings in the top wall of the boss may be varied, and hence a variable constriction may be imposed to flow of air into the space beneath the fuel bed parts of the base element of the boss between said ducts similarly acting as shutter elements.

In such alternative construction, rotation of the hollow column is effected by the use of a separate rod-like tool adapted to engage between upstanding circumferentially-spaced projections on the upper face of the top wall of the column.

Alternatively, the upper end may be shaped in some other suitable manner to cooperate with the end of a removable tool for rotating the column about the vertical axis, to control the flow of air to fuel supported on the fuel bed.

In etther construction, the upstanding element 40 may be provided with upper, castellated formations 58 adapted to serve as the inner support for elongated rod-like members or brochets 60 upon which foodstuff such as pieces of meat to be cooked may be skewered, the rim 24 of the receptacle providing an outer support for the brochets. These brochets may each have a stripper element in the form of a block apertured for the passage of the brochet therethrough and slidable along it to remove the pieces of foodstuff when they have been cooked. The blocks when out of use for this purpose may form handles at the outer end of the brochet and may be retained for disassembly by forming the brochets at their outer ends with transverse enlargements, e. g. by bending the brochet into some suitable shape with the enlargement possibly being contained in a recess in the combined stripper block and handle.

With a receptacle, as above described, installed in the aperture 22 of the table, it will be evident that adjustment of the air supply to the fuel bed may be effected by means of rotation of the structure 37, as shown in Figure 5, or by the use of the rod like toof in the alternative construction. In both cases, however, such adjustment is effected from above the table, and from a position spaced from the centre of the receptacle, and thus somewhat removed from the hottest part of the barbecue apparatus.

Further, the table itself provides a convenient supporting surface for plates or dishes containing food to be cooked as well as plates or dishes off which persons using the barbecue apparatus may consume the food possibly whilst sitting round the table.

Although the table has hereinabove been described in conjunction with a barbecue apparatus, it will be appreciated that the table has many other possible uses, for example, as a picnic table for outdoor use.

Claims

WHAT WE CLAIM IS : 1. A table afforded by the assembly of a plurality of units manufactured by moulding, casting or a like forming operation, the units being assembled together to provide a table op afforded by substantially identical table top sections and a leg structure for supporting the table top at a suitable height from theground, said leg structure being afforded by substantially identical leg elements each of which is in the form of a plate or web which when the units are assembled together lies in a plane extending generally at right angles to the plane of the table top.
2. A table according to claim 1 wherein each table top section is formed integrally with a leg element.
3. A table according to claim 2 wherein each unit, comprising an integral table top section and leg element, is capable of standing free in a stable upright manner on the ground.
4. A table according to any one of the preceding claims comprising means for securing adjacent units together.
5. A table according to claim 4 wherein said means is operative to secure adjacent table top sections together.
6. A table according to any one of the preceding claims wherein when the units are secured together, the table top sections are separated from each other by a small gap.
7. A table according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the table top is generally circular, and the table top sections are of sector or segmental shape.
8. A table according to claim 7, wherein the plane in which each leg element lies extends generally radially of the table top.
9. A table according to any one of the preceding claims wherein when the units are assembled together, the table top affords an aperture located at a position generally centrally of the table top.
10. A barbecue apparatus comprising a table according to claim 9, the table top sections being moulded of concrete or the like cementitious material selected to withstand the temperature conditions attendant upon the use of the table as part of a barbecue apparatus, a receptacle adapted to be mounted in the aperture in which a bed of fuel may be placed, and means for controlling the flow of air through the aperture to the fuel bed.
II. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the receptacle is bowl-shaped, and is provided with an opening in its bottom wall through which air may flow from the aperture of the table top to the interior of the receptacle.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11 comprising an air control device mounted adjacent to the bottom wall of the receptacle and extending upwardly therefrom, the device or a part thereof being movable relative to the bottom wall between a position in which the opening in the bottom wall is closed and a position in which said opening is at least partially open, air flowing through said opening and into the receptacle.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12 comprising manual adjustment means to rotate the control device of said part thereo, said ad. justment means being operable from a position above, and to one side of, the fuel bed.
14. Apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 13 comprising a supporting structure mounted above the bottom wall of the receptacle, upon which a bed of solid combustible fuel may be placed, air flowing into the receptacle from the opening in the bottom wall flowing upwardly through combustible material on the supporting structure.
15. A table constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 2,3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
16. A barbecue apparatus comprising a table having a table top and an aperture extending through and located generally centrally of the table top. and a fuel receptacle adapted to be mounted in the aperture, said table and barbecue apparatus being constructed and arrange substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.