GB2336103A - Portable barbecue - Google Patents

Abstract

A barbecue comprises a pair of side panels 10, 12 and horizontal members (grills 14, 16, shelves 18, 20) arranged to be engaged at their opposite ends with the respective side panels, such that the side panels 10, 12 support the horizontal members 14, 16, 18, 20. The barbecue can be disassembled easily.

Description

1 Barbecue 2336103 The present invention relates to a barbecue.

Many different types of barbecue have been put on the market or proposed for manufacture. I have now devised a barbecue which can be disassembled easily for storage or for 5 transport and can be erected easily when required for use.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a barbecue which comprises a pair of side panels and a number of horizontal members arranged to be engaged at their opposite ends with the respective side panels, such that the side panels support the horizontal members.

Preferably one or more of the horizontal members comprises a grill. Preferably one or more of the horizontal members comprises a shelf. Preferably there are two such grills and one or two shelves positioned, in use, below the grills.

Preferably each side panel comprises an upright upper portion from which a downwardly and outwardly inclined lower portion extends. Preferably the lower portion is provided at its bottom with an outwardly or inwardly turned margin forming a foot.

Each horizontal member may comprise an upwardly or downwardly turned margin at each end, arranged to engage in a respective elongate slot in the corresponding side panel. Preferably each horizontal member has an outwardly and downwardly inclined portion adjacent its opposite ends, to brace against the inner surfaces of the side panels.

Preferably a back panel is provided to interconnect the two side panels, at least at their upper regions. The rear panel may be hinged to the side panels, or it may, in use, be connected to the side pa nels using a number of clips.

Preferably a side shelf is provided for one or both side panels. The or each side shelf preferably comprises a horizontal portion having an inner edge arranged to engage with the side panel, and a support portion which extends downwardly and inwardly from the outer edge of the horizontal portion is connected at its lower edge to the same side panel. The side 2 shelf may comprise a one-piece member: alternatively, the horizontal and inclined portions may comprise two separate members, arranged to engage together at the outer edge of the horizontal shelf member.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a barbecue in accordance with the present invention; and FIGURE 2 is a sectional view through the barbecue shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a barbecue for construction of which enables it to be disassembled easily for storage or for transport and erected easily when required for use. The barbecue which is shown comprises a number of flat or generally flat components which can be arranged as a relatively flat pack when the barbecue is disassembled.

In particular, the barbecue which is shown comprises two opposite side panels 10,12 connected together by and supporting two grills 14,16, a middle shelf 18 and a lower shelf 20. Each side panel comprises an upright upper portion e.g. 12a from the lower edge of which an outwardly inclined lower 12b portion extends: this inclined portion terminates in an outwardly-projecting foot 12c.

Adjacent its foot, the inclined lower portion of each side panel is formed with an elongate slot to receive a down turned end margin of the lower shelf 20. The upper portion of each side panel is formed with a series of three elongate slots to receive upturned or downturned end margins of the grills 14,16 and of the middle shelf 18. Each of the two grills and the middle shelf are formed with downwardly inclined projections e.g. 18a adjacent their opposite ends, to brace against the inner surfaces of the side panels. A back panel 28 extends between the support portions of the two side panels and is secured to the side panels by means of clips e.g. 30.

The barbecue further comprises a side shelf mounted to the outside of each side panel. Each side shelf e.g. 32 comprises a horizontal portion 32a having a downturned end margin engaged in an elongate slot in the side panel, and a 3 support portion 32b extending downwardly and inwardly from the outer edge of the horizontal portion and having its bottom edge downturned to engage in a further elongate slot in the side panel, at the junction between its upper and lower portions.

Each side shelf may comprise a single piece of sheet steel bent to shape, as shown in Figure 1. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 2, each side shelf may comprise two separate members, each formed from a piece of sheet steel: in this case, the horizontal shelf member 32a has a downturned outer edge, under which the upper edge of the support member 32.b locates.

The side panels 10,12 and shelves 18,20 are also formed from pieces of sheet steel. The grills 14,16 are formed from lengths of stainless steel rods welded together.

is Although in the example shown the upturned or downturned ends of the grills 14,16 and shelves 18,20 are engaged with the side panels by via elongate slots in the latter, instead the ends of the grills and/or shelves may be engaged with projecting formations provided on the inner surfaces of the side panels.

Also, although in the example shown the back panel 28 is secured to the side panels by means of a number of clips e.g. 30, it may instead be hinged to the side panels.

4 claims 1) A barbecue which comprises a pair of side panels and a number of horizontal members arranged to be engaged at their opposite ends with the respective side panels, such that said side panels support said horizontal members.

2) A barbecue as claimed in claim 1, in which one or more of said horizontal members comprise a grill.

3) A barbecue as claimed in claims 1 or 2, in which one or more said horizontal members comprise a shelf.

4) A barbecue as claimed in 1, in which two said horizontal members comprise grills one above the other and one or more of said horizontal members comprise shelves and are positioned below said grills.

5) A barbecue as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each side panel comprises an upright upper portion and a lower portion which extends outwardly at an incline from said upper portion.

6) A barbecue as claimed in claim 5, in which said lower portion of each side panel is provided at its bottom with an outwardly or inwardly turned margin forming a foot.

7) A barbecue as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each said horizontal member comprises an upwardly or downwardly turned margin at each end thereof, arranged to engage in a respective elongate slot in the corresponding side panel.

8) A barbecue as claimed in claim 7, in which each said horizontal member has an outwardly extending, downwardly inclined portion adjacent its opposite ends, to brace against the inner surfaces of the respective side panels.

9) A barbecue as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a back panel for interconnecting said side panels at least at upper regions thereof.

10) A barbecue as claimed in claim 9, in which said rear panel is hinged to said side panels.

11) A barbecue as claimed in any preceding claims, further 5 comprising a side shelf for one or both side panels.

12) A barbecue as claimed in claim 11, in which the or each side panel comprises a horizontal portion having an inner edge arranged to engage with the side panel, and a support portion which extends downwardly and inwardly from the outer edge of said horizontal portion and is connected at its lower edge to the same side panel.

13) A barbecue substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.