GB2186479A - Portable cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

A cooker, such as a barbecue, has a base 10 in the form of a sheet metal tray, support means 32, being provided which is movable between a first, use, position wherein it is locked beneath the base 10 to support it,and a second, transport, position (Fig.1). There can be a sheet metal lid 20 which, in the transport position is secured to the base 10 by the support means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cooker This invention relates to a barbecue cooker, that is a cookerwherein food is supported adjacent a heated bed of material and is cooked by heat radiation from the bed.Agrill, rackorthe like can hold food above the bed which is preferably smokeless so as to import no intrinsicflavourto food above it. The bed can be self heating, for example can be of burning charcoal, or can be of inert heat-resistant material heated by a separate heat source such as a gas burner.

It is an object ofthe present invention to provide an improved barbecue cooker which is convenient for use, storage and transport.

Accordingly the invention provides a barbecue cooker comprising: a base for locating a bed of heated material; means for mounting food adjacent the bed to receive heat radiation from the bed; and support means connected to the base and movable between a first, use, position wherein it can support the base above a surface and a second, transport position, the support means being releasably locked relative to the base in the use position.

Preferably the support means includes one or more sections each pivotable between said two positions.

The cooker can have a lid complementary to the base, the support means serving, in the storage position,to retain the lid on the base.

The or each support section can have two ends each pivotally connected to the body. Locking means can be provided for releasably engaging each support section to maintain it in the use position.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure lisa side elevation of a preferred barbecue cooker of the invention in a storage and transport condition; Figure2is a vertical cross-section showing internal features ofthe cooker of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cooker in a use condition thereof; Figure4isan enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view showing a leg locking mechanism; and Figure 5is a plan view illustrating the leg locking mechanism.

A preferred barbecue cooker of the invention has a base 10 in the form of an open-topped sheet metal tray. Adjacent the lower face 11 of base 10 is disposed a gas burner 12 connected by a pipe 13 to a union 14towhich can be connected a gas cylinder 15 (Figure 3) having a regulator knob 16.

Afirstgrid 17 in the base 10 provides, abovethe burner 12, supportfor a bed 18 of pieces of heat resistance material such as volcanic rock. Above the bed is mounted a second grid 19 for supporting food to be cooked. The cooker has a lid 20 intheform of an inverted shallow dish of sheet metal shaped to be complementary to base 10. Lid 20 and base 10 can have lips provided with complementary locating formations. Lid 10 has a carrying handle 21 and base 10 has handles 22.

Support means of the cooker comprises a pair of leg sections 23 each made of slightly resilient steel bar. Each section 23 is of U-shape and free end portions240f limbs 25 ofthe U are bentinwardsto connectwiththe base 10.

Each end portion 24 of each section 32 engages in an aperture 26 in side walling of base 10. Between eachaperture30andthelowerfacell ofbasel0isa locking bracket 27 which has a central slot 28 and edges 29, adjacent the slot, which extend rearwardly from the mouth of the slottowards the side walling of the base 10. In the use position (Figures 3,4,5) a portion of the associated limb 25 of section 32 engages slot 28 and locks the section in-use position.

Lugs 30 stamped into parts 24 limit penetration thereof into base 10.

To move from the transport to the use condition, the use draws the leg section parts 32 apart, which movement can involve a little springing to allowthe bights 32 to pass the upper end edges of lid 20.

Thereafter pivoting ofthe section 23 continues until they are below the base 10 and parts of limbs 25 engage surfaces 29 and riseupthem, expansion being accommodated by springing of the sections 23, until these parts engagewithin slots28 into which the resilience of sections 23 urgesthem and they remain there during use.

To move from the use to the transport condition this procedure is reversed.

By pulling leg section 240f limb 230utwardlyfrom the base 10, engagement is released and the leg section 23 can be pivoted to the storage position (Figure 1). The bight 32 of each U is of shallow inverted V-shape and in the storage condition engages the top of lid 20 and locates it on and locks it to the base 10. Upstanding pips 33 on the lid 20 hold the bight 32 against unintentional disengagement from the storage condition.

The invention is not limited to the precise details of the foregoing and variations can be made thereto.

For example, a bracket 27 need be provided only at one end of each section 23 rather than at both.

Instead ofthe brackets 27 alternative locking means can be used. For example a keyhole slot in base 10 can cooperate with a wing formation on end portion 24 to give the same combination of lockability in the use condition and pivoting from there to the transport condition.

Many other variations are possible within the scopeofthefollowing claims.

1. A barbecue cooker comprising: a base for locating a bed of heated material; means for mounting food adjacent the bed to receive heat radiation from the bed; and support means connected to the base and movable between a first, use, position wherein it can support the base above a surface and a second, transport position, the support means being releasably locked relative to the base in the use position.

2. A cooker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Cooker This invention relates to a barbecue cooker, that is a cookerwherein food is supported adjacent a heated bed of material and is cooked by heat radiation from the bed.Agrill, rackorthe like can hold food above the bed which is preferably smokeless so as to import no intrinsicflavourto food above it. The bed can be self heating, for example can be of burning charcoal, or can be of inert heat-resistant material heated by a separate heat source such as a gas burner. It is an object ofthe present invention to provide an improved barbecue cooker which is convenient for use, storage and transport. Accordingly the invention provides a barbecue cooker comprising: a base for locating a bed of heated material; means for mounting food adjacent the bed to receive heat radiation from the bed; and support means connected to the base and movable between a first, use, position wherein it can support the base above a surface and a second, transport position, the support means being releasably locked relative to the base in the use position. Preferably the support means includes one or more sections each pivotable between said two positions. The cooker can have a lid complementary to the base, the support means serving, in the storage position,to retain the lid on the base. The or each support section can have two ends each pivotally connected to the body. Locking means can be provided for releasably engaging each support section to maintain it in the use position. The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure lisa side elevation of a preferred barbecue cooker of the invention in a storage and transport condition; Figure2is a vertical cross-section showing internal features ofthe cooker of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cooker in a use condition thereof; Figure4isan enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view showing a leg locking mechanism; and Figure 5is a plan view illustrating the leg locking mechanism. A preferred barbecue cooker of the invention has a base 10 in the form of an open-topped sheet metal tray. Adjacent the lower face 11 of base 10 is disposed a gas burner 12 connected by a pipe 13 to a union 14towhich can be connected a gas cylinder 15 (Figure 3) having a regulator knob 16. Afirstgrid 17 in the base 10 provides, abovethe burner 12, supportfor a bed 18 of pieces of heat resistance material such as volcanic rock. Above the bed is mounted a second grid 19 for supporting food to be cooked. The cooker has a lid 20 intheform of an inverted shallow dish of sheet metal shaped to be complementary to base 10. Lid 20 and base 10 can have lips provided with complementary locating formations. Lid 10 has a carrying handle 21 and base 10 has handles 22. Support means of the cooker comprises a pair of leg sections 23 each made of slightly resilient steel bar. Each section 23 is of U-shape and free end portions240f limbs 25 ofthe U are bentinwardsto connectwiththe base 10. Each end portion 24 of each section 32 engages in an aperture 26 in side walling of base 10. Between eachaperture30andthelowerfacell ofbasel0isa locking bracket 27 which has a central slot 28 and edges 29, adjacent the slot, which extend rearwardly from the mouth of the slottowards the side walling of the base 10. In the use position (Figures 3,4,5) a portion of the associated limb 25 of section 32 engages slot 28 and locks the section in-use position. Lugs 30 stamped into parts 24 limit penetration thereof into base 10. To move from the transport to the use condition, the use draws the leg section parts 32 apart, which movement can involve a little springing to allowthe bights 32 to pass the upper end edges of lid 20. Thereafter pivoting ofthe section 23 continues until they are below the base 10 and parts of limbs 25 engage surfaces 29 and riseupthem, expansion being accommodated by springing of the sections 23, until these parts engagewithin slots28 into which the resilience of sections 23 urgesthem and they remain there during use. To move from the use to the transport condition this procedure is reversed. By pulling leg section 240f limb 230utwardlyfrom the base 10, engagement is released and the leg section 23 can be pivoted to the storage position (Figure 1). The bight 32 of each U is of shallow inverted V-shape and in the storage condition engages the top of lid 20 and locates it on and locks it to the base 10. Upstanding pips 33 on the lid 20 hold the bight 32 against unintentional disengagement from the storage condition. The invention is not limited to the precise details of the foregoing and variations can be made thereto. For example, a bracket 27 need be provided only at one end of each section 23 rather than at both. Instead ofthe brackets 27 alternative locking means can be used. For example a keyhole slot in base 10 can cooperate with a wing formation on end portion 24 to give the same combination of lockability in the use condition and pivoting from there to the transport condition. Many other variations are possible within the scopeofthefollowing claims. CLAIMS

1. A barbecue cooker comprising: a base for locating a bed of heated material; means for mounting food adjacent the bed to receive heat radiation from the bed; and support means connected to the base and movable between a first, use, position wherein it can support the base above a surface and a second, transport position, the support means being releasably locked relative to the base in the use position.

2. A cooker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support means includes one or more sections each pivotable between said two positions.

3. A cooker as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the cooker has a lid complementary to the base,the support means serving, in the storage position, to retain the lid on the base.

4. A cooker as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or each support section has two ends each pivotally connected to the body.

5. A cooker as claimed in claim 4 wherein each section is a length of U-shaped resilient steel.

6. A cooker as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein at least one end of each leg section has associated therewith a bracket having a slot for receiving and holding the leg section in the use condition.

7. A barbecue cooker substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.