GB2372429A

GB2372429A - A multi-functional barbeque, heater and light

Info

Publication number: GB2372429A
Application number: GB0125122A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alistair Tidey; Joseph O'connell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-11-01
Filing date: 2001-10-19
Publication date: 2002-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 2021-10-19
Also published as: IES20000879A2; GB2372429B; GB0125122D0; IES20010909A2

Abstract

A multi-functional gas powered apparatus comprises a parasol heater 21 and a barbeque 1 and/or a light(49, fig.4), powered by the same gas source 4. The barbeque 1 is preferably a table style barbeque having a base portion 2 with a burner element (3, fig.2) and a plurality of grill plates (5, fig.2) which may be removable from the base portion 1. The parasol heater 21 includes a pole 6 extending upwards from the base portion of the heater 21, and the barbecue 1 is mounted around the central pole 6. The base portion 2 of the barbeque 1 preferably comprises at least two segments (8, 9, fig.2) adapted to co-operate with one another so as to form a continuous portion extending around the pole 6. The grill plates (5, fig.2) preferably taper downwards away from the pole 6 to allow any grease to flow away.

Description

Title A Multifunctional Gas Powered Apparatus Field of the Invention The invention relates to gas powered appliances for use in an outdoor environment, specifically barbecues, parasol heaters, lights and the like. In one embodiment the invention relates to a combined multifunctional apparatus having a gas parasol and a barbecue utilising the same gas supply. The invention also relates to a gas barbecue that is adapted to be mounted and used on a table.

Background to the Invention With the advent of more leisure time people are spending more time in an outdoor environment. To cater for this there has been a development in outdoor garden furniture including for example gas powered parasol heaters such as these described in our European Patent Application, EP 99202172. Typically, the heater is adapted to deflect heat downwardly to those users in the immediate environs of the heater and as such there is a tendency for users to congregate about the heater.

This is advantageous in that people are able to comfortably congregate and socialise in an outdoor environment without being affected by the cold. Problems do arise however when people are congregating for the purposes of a meal prepared by a barbecue or other similar preparation method, wherein that the chef has to depart from the gathering so as to prepare the food.

Barbecues are well known in the art for the outdoor cooking of foods.

Traditionally, they have used a wood or charcoal based fuel, but gas fuelled barbecues are becoming more popular as they are envisaged as being cleaner to use and quicker to operate.

A gas barbecue typically comprises a gas burner element mounted under a grill and connected to a gas bottle supply. The barbecue is usually a free standing device that is located away from the eating area. The food that is to be cooked is placed on the grill and cooked by the "chef'or "cook". When complete the"cook"takes the cooked food to the table where it is shared amongst all those who are eating.

A number of problems exist with such arrangements. Firstly, as the cooking is done away from the eating area it is not possible for the"cook"to share in the conversation, entertainment etc. that is ongoing at the table during the preparation of the food. Although the participation of the"cook"may be achieved by the gathering of people around the barbecue and away from the eating table, such arrangements typically lead to a break-up of the guests into two or more parties. A further disadvantage arises due to the fact that as one person is responsible for the cooking, the cooked food is usually done to that one person's particular taste-something that is not usually appreciated by all those present. Still another disadvantage arises in that recent research has found that it is necessary to regularly clean the barbecue cooking surface to remove any residual carbon build up which results from the cooking of foods on the surface. It has been suggested that cooking on dirty surfaces may present a health hazard in that the food is being impregnated with carbon during the cooking process, which may have some carcinogenic effects. It is difficult however to completely clean the surfaces using the traditional grill arrangements which must be cleaned in situ using wire brushes or the like. A further disadvantage occurs where a gas parasol heater is present, in that the persons, when moving away from the environs of the heater to the cooking environment, are forced to move away from the warmth provided by the heater.

There, therefore, exists a need for a barbecue that will allow the gathering of the party at a single location during the preparation of the food and furthermore that will enable individuals to cook their food to their own taste.

There is a further need for a barbecue that can be used in combination with gas parasol heaters. There is a further need to provide a barbecue that can be easily cleaned.

Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved gas powered appliance that overcomes the problems associated with the prior art.

Summary of the Invention Accordingly the present invention provides a table style barbecue adapted to be mounted on and form part of a table, the barbecue comprising a base portion having at least one burner element, the burner element adapted to be in controlled communication with a gas fuel supply, the base portion further adapted to support a plurality of grill plates above the burner element, the grill plates being removable from the base portion, and the base portion being adapted to prevent a heat transfer from the burner element to the table on which the barbecue is mounted.

Preferably the insulation is achievable by the provision of an insulating material on the bottom of the base portion.

Desirably the barbecue is mountable about a centre pole of the table, the base portion comprising at least two base segments adapted to co-operate with one another so as to form a continuous portion extending circumferentially about the pole, the base segments defining a pole receiving portion adapted to envelop, in use, the pole about which the barbecue is mounted.

Preferably, the plurality of grill plates are also arranged about the pole. Desirably four grill plates are provided, each grill plate forming a quadrant on the base portion.

In a first embodiment, the grill plates preferably comprise a pole proximal portion and a pole distal portion, the plate tapering inwardly from the distal portion to the proximal portion. The grill plates are preferably positioned on the base portion at an angle sufficient to enable any grease formed during the cooking process to pass away

from the pole proximal portion to the pole distal portion. In a second embodiment the top surface of the barbecue is adapted to receive a plurality of cooking dishes ; the dishes being suitable for cooking food thereon and being chosen from a selection of different type of dishes, the selection being effected depending on the type of food being cooked.

The grill plates or cooking dishes are desirably dimensioned so as to enable individual plates and dishes to be placed into a dishwasher for cleaning. Desirably, the plates or dishes are made from a cast iron or other suitable material.

Preferably, at least two burner elements are provided, one burner element being situated in each base segment.

Desirably, the gas supply passes from a gas storage container located remotely to the table top to a location near to the base portion where it is separated into a supply for each of the individual burner elements. More desirably, the gas storage container is a shared container used for powering both the barbecue and a parasol heater.

The invention also provides a gas parasol heater and barbecue combination comprising a gas parasol heater having a base structure adapted to house a bottle of gas, the base structure further adapted to support a pole having a gas burner arrangement supported thereon, the gas burner arrangement adapted to receive a dish deflector mountable thereon, and a barbecue adapted to be mounted about the pole, the barbecue comprising a base portion having at least one burner element, the burner element adapted to be in controlled communication with a gas fuel supply, and wherein the gas fuel supply of the barbecue is the gas fuel supply used for the parasol heater.

A gas powered lamp may additionally be used in combination with the heater/barbecue combination, the light sharing the same gas supply.

The invention also provides a multifunctional apparatus comprising a parasol heater having a base structure adapted to house a bottle gas supply for fuelling the parasol heater and at least one other device selected from

a) a barbecue and/or b) a light the at least one other device being also fuelled from the same gas supply as the heater.

In accordance with another embodiment, the invention provides a multifunctional device comprising a stand adapted to house a bottle gas supply adapted to simultaneously fuel at least two of the components of the device, the components being selected from a) a gas parasol heater, and at least one of b) a barbecue and/or c) a light The invention also provides a table mountable barbecue and a table barbecue/heater combination substantially as hereinafter described with reference to the following drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a section through a table mountable barbecue according to the present invention, Figure 2 is an exploded view of a grill plate being presented to the base section of the barbecue of the present invention, Figure 3 is a perspective view of a fully assembled table barbecue of the present invention mounted onto a table, and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a gas parasol heater/barbecue combination.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Figures 1 to 3 show a table mountable barbecue 1 according to the present invention. It comprises a base portion 2 having at least one burner element 3. The burner element 3 is adapted to be connected in a controlled manner with a gas fuel supply 4.

The base portion 2 is further adapted to support a plurality of grill plates 5 above the burner element 3, the grill plates 5 being removable from the base portion 2.

Desirably the barbecue is mountable about a centre pole 6 of an outdoor table 7, and is placed on a table top 7a of the table 7. The pole may be the communication line for an gas parasol heater 21 such as shown in Figure 3, or alternatively a conventional outdoor parasol (not shown). The base portion 2 comprises two base segments 8,9 adapted to co-operate with one another so as to form a continuous portion 2 extending circumferentially about the pole 6. The base segments 8,9 each define a pole receiving portion 14, which is dimensioned so as to allow a pole to pass through. The base segments 7,8 are attachable using a clip arrangement 19, or alternatively may be hingably attachable-not shown. The base portion typically comprises a heat resistant or insulating bottom 20, which is provided to prevent a heat transfer and subsequent damage to the table top 7a below.

Once positioned within the base portion 2, the plurality of grill plates 5 are also arranged about the pole. Desirably four grill plates are provided, each grill plate forming a quadrant on the base portion 2.

The grill plates 5 comprise a pole proximal portion 10 and a pole distal portion 11. The plate 5 tapers inwardly from the distal portion 11 to the proximal portion 10.

The grill plates are preferably positioned on the base portion at an angle sufficient to enable any grease formed during the cooking process to pass away from the pole proximal portion to the pole distal portion, where it gathers in a grease receiving channel 12 and may be subsequently be removed. A series of grooves or channels 13 may also be formed in the grill plates such that any food cooked on the grill plates adopts a griddle effect on the outside.

The grill plates are desirably dimensioned so as to enable individual plates to be placed into a dishwasher for cleaning. Desirably the plates are made from cast iron or some other suitable material. By enabling the removal of the dishes a more effective cleaning of the plates is effected than was previously achievable using traditional grill

type barbecues. Furthermore, it is possible to store the cooking plates away from inclement weather elements, which may serve to extend the lifetime of the cooking plates.

Preferably, at least two burner elements 3 are provided, one burner element being situated in each base segment. The gas supply passes in a single fuel line 15 from a gas storage container 4 located remotely to the table top 7a to a location near to the base portion where it is separated into a supply 16,17 for each of the individual burner elements.

The gas storage container may typically form the gas storage container for the gas parasol heater 21, as well as the storage container for the barbecue. In such situations a distribution means (not shown) is provided so as to separate the gas intended for use in the parasol from that intended for use in the barbecue. In such events it is possible to use both the heater and the barbecue so as to ensure comfort for those preparing food while not requiring the burden of additional gas storage containers.

The control of an individual burner 3 is controllable by a valve 18 located at the base portion and typically controllable by the nearest person seated to that valve. As is apparent the provision of one control and one burner element for each hemisphere or base section results in one person being responsible for the heating of that side of the table's grill plates. The burner elements 3 are preferably ignited by a electric pilot light type arrangement located adjacent to the control means 18,19 and not shown in these illustrations.

As will be appreciated the table barbecue of the present invention offers many advantages over the prior art. Firstly as every person is responsible for their own cooking there is no requirement for a particular"cook"to be burdened with overall responsibility. This has a dual effect in that the food may be cooked to individual preference and as the food is cooked around the table there is no need for any break up of the gathering to effect a preparation of the food. Furthermore, as the grill plates of the present invention are removable and are dimensioned so as to be receivable within a

conventional dishwasher there is no difficulty in attending to the cleaning after the cooking of the food.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a solid grill plate it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a non-solid grill plate may also be used with the base portion and burners of the present invention. It is equally possible to interchange solid and non-solid grill plates around the table-so as to effect a different type of cooking for specific requirements. Furthermore, although described with reference to a single burner element in each hemisphere it will be apparent that two or more elements may be provided if a different heating arrangement is required.

Figure 4 shows a modification to the table barbecue hereinbefore disclosed. In this embodiment a barbecue 40 is provided in a solid form with an aperture 41 provided in a central portion thereof. The aperture is adapted to receive the central pole 6 of the parasol heater 21. This barbecue is positioned about the pole when assembling the heater 21. This is achieved by placing the pole 6 through the aperture provided in the central position of the barbecue prior to the assembly of the burner arrangement 42 on the pole. Such arrangements would be suitable in circumstances wherein the barbecue was to be normally used with the parasol heater and so would normally reside on the table 7. It will be apparent that such an arrangement represents a more permanent fixing of the barbecue to the parasol heater than previously described.

The barbecue 40 also differs from the embodiment hereinbefore described in that cooking elements 43 may be selected from a selection of different shapes, or dimensions, depending on the type of food being cooked. For example, a wok type cooking plate 44 may be used or a flat cook plate 45 may be chosen as more suitable for the food in question. The barbecue is adapted to receive those different cooking elements by a provision of portions 46 in an upper surface 47 of the barbecue. The elements 43 may be removed from the barbecue, for washing purposes as previously described.

Figure 4 also shows the incorporation of a table lamp 48. Again, this lamp is arranged circumferentially about the pole 6 and comprises a light element 49, powered by the same gas supply as the heater and barbecue and a shade 50 located above the light element. The shade 50 is desirably moveable so as to enable a user to change the angle at which the light is deflected downwardly about the table 7 below.

The heater 21 and lamp 48 are desirably controlled from control knobs 51,52 located on a control panel 53 on the pole 6. All or none of the three components of the outdoor entertainment suite can be used simultaneously, each being independently controlled from the same gas supply.

It will be appreciated that the multi-functional apparatus of the present invention provides many advantages over the prior art arrangements. By providing a single fuel supply which can be used simultaneously with multiple devices it is easier for the user to arrange the fuel supply adjacent to the environment in which the devices are being used. Furthermore, only one gas supply bottle requires checking and when that is empty, there is a requirement to replace only that one bottle. By enabling a multiplicity of devices to be powered off the same supply, and specifically the incorporation of a barbecue/parasol combination the user of the device is able to cook his own food to his own personal tastes in a warmed environment.

The words"comprises/comprising"and the words"having/including"when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims

Claims 1. A multifunctional gas powered apparatus comprising a parasol heater having a base structure adapted to house a bottle gas supply for fuelling the parasol heater and at least one other device selected from i) a barbecue and/or ii) a light, the at least one other device being fuelled from the same gas supply as the heater.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one other device is simultaneously fuelled from the same gas supply.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a table style barbecue is selected, the barbecue comprising a base portion having at least one burner element, the burner element adapted to be in controlled communication with the gas fuel supply, the base portion further adapted to support a plurality of grill plates above the burner element, the grill plates being removable from the base portion, and the base portion being adapted to prevent a heat transfer from the burner element to the table on which the barbecue is mounted.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the parasol heater includes a pole extending upwardly from the base structure of the heater, the barbecue being mountable about a centre pole of the table.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the base portion comprises at least two base segments adapted to co-operate with one another so as to form a continuous portion extending circumferentially about the pole, the base segments defining a pole receiving portion adapted to envelop, in use, the pole about which the barbecue is mounted.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the grill plates comprise a pole proximal portion and a pole distal portion, the plate tapering inwardly from the distal portion to the proximal portion and wherein the grill plates are positioned on the base portion at an angle sufficient to enable any grease formed during the cooking process to pass away from the pole proximal portion to the pole distal portion.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein two or more types of grill plates may be used for cooking, the choice of grill plates being selected dependant on the type of food requiring cooking, and the grill plates being dimensioned to be received within an aperture provided in upper surface of the barbecue.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the grill plates are dimensioned so as to enable individual grill plates to be placed into a dishwasher for cleaning purposes.
9. A table style barbecue adapted to be mounted on and form part of a table, the barbecue comprising a base portion having at least one burner element, the burner element adapted to be in controlled communication with a gas fuel supply, the base portion further adapted to support a plurality of grill plates above the burner element, the grill plates being removable from the base portion, and the base portion being adapted to prevent a heat transfer from the burner element to the table on which the barbecue is mounted.
10. The barbecue as claimed in claim 9 wherein the insulation is achievable by the provision of an insulating material on the bottom of the base portion.
11. The barbecue as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the barbecue is mountable about a centre pole of the table.
12. The barbecue as claimed in claim 11 wherein the base portion comprises at least two base segments adapted to co-operate with one another so as to form a

continuous portion extending circumferentially about the pole, the base segments defining a pole receiving portion adapted to envelop, in use, the pole about which the barbecue is mounted.
13. The barbecue as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the plurality of grill plates are also arranged about the pole.
14. The barbecue as claimed in claim 13 wherein the grill plates comprise a pole proximal portion and a pole distal portion, the plate tapering inwardly from the distal portion to the proximal portion, and the grill plates are positioned on the base portion at an angle sufficient to enable any grease formed during the cooking process to pass away from the pole proximal portion to the pole distal portion.
15. The barbecue as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 14 wherein the grill plates are dimensioned so as to enable individual plates to be placed into a dishwasher for cleaning.
16. The barbecue as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 15 wherein at least two burner elements are provided, one burner element being situated in each base segment.
17. The barbecue as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 16 wherein the gas supply passes from a gas storage container located remotely to the table top to a location near to the base portion, the gas storage container being a shared container used for fuelling both the barbecue and a parasol heater.
18. A table style barbecue substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
19. A table barbecue/heater combination substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.