GB2454463A - Cooking station - Google Patents

Abstract

A cooking station 10 includes a circular table (12) having a table top 14 and legs 16. A circular aperture (18) is provided through the centre of the table top 14 and a beat guard 20 is mounted in the aperture. The heat guard 20 mounts a hotplate 28 powered by a gas burner and a tray 30 for grease collection. A second aperture may be provided in the table top for receiving controls of the hotplate.

Description

Cooking station The present invention relates to a cooking station and particularly to a cooking station for cooking outdoors.

A smoking ban for most enclosed public places and workplaces has recently been introduced in the United Kingdom and some other European countries.

Consequently, some restaurants,, bars and pubs have felt the need to provide facilities outdoors, in order to retain the trade of smokers. Typically these facilities may include sheltered seating and outdoor heaters for use in cold weather.

In order to enhance these outdoor facilities, there is considered a need to provide a cooking station, which can be used outdoors, and which can be used safely by members of the public, both smokers and non-smokers, for cooking food.

According to the present invention there is provided a cooking station comprising a table having a table top, an aperture in the table top and hotplate disposed within the aperture.

Preferably the hotplate is heated by a gas-powered burner situated underneath the hotplate.

Preferably the surface of the hotplate is substantially level with an upper surface of

the table top.

Preferably the hotplate is circular. Alternatively the hotplate may be square, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal or any other desired shape.

The whole or part of the surface of the hotplate may be smooth, textured, grooved or may have parallel ridges thereon.

Preferably a raised lip is provided around the periphery of the hotplate for preventing run-off of fat, juices or the like.

A tray may be provided underneath and substantially around the hotplate for collecting spilt hot fat, grease and the like.

Preferably a trim plate is provided around the periphery of the aperture. The trim plate may be made from metal and is preferably made from stainless steel or aluminium.

The trim plate is advantageous because it can be easily cleaned. It also acts as a heat guard, which serves to protect the table top against the heat from the hotplate.

A clearance gap of between 20mm and 100mm may be provided between the periphery of the hotplate and the periphery of the aperture.

Preferably the clearance gap is between 30mm and 50mm.

Preferably a second aperture is provided in the table top for receiving controls of the hotplate.

The controls may be mounted in a housing, which may be received in the second aperture. The controls preferably include a gas ignition switch and a control means for controlling the flow of gas to the burner.

The control means may be a turn valve, or other suitable valve means, with graduated markings.

Preferably the control means is a valve with only two positions, being an "on gas position" and an "off gas position".

The second aperture is preferably positioned adjacent the first aperture. In this way, the control means is situated as close as possible to the gas-powered burner.

Preferably an enclosure for receiving a gas bottle is disposed underneath the hotplate and the gas-powered burner.

Preferably the enclosure includes a hinged door, allowing access to the enclosure for replacement of the gas bottle.

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, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic plan view from above of a first embodiment of cooking station; Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of the cooking station of Figure 1 with an outer casing removed; Figure 3 shows a schematic side view of the cooking station of Figure 1 with the outer casing in place; and Figure 4 shows a schematic plan view from above of a second embodiment of cooking station.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and.2, a cooking station is indicated generally at 10. The cooking station 10 includes a circular table 12 having a table top 14 and legs 16. The table 12 is typically made from a durable wood, such as teak, but may be made from any suitable material. A circular aperture 18 is provided through the centre of the table top 14. A heat guard 20 is inserted in the aperture 18, and is shaped as a circular container having a substantially flat base 22 and a cylindrical wall 24 having a peripheral lip 26. The lip 26 rests on top of the table top, with the cylindrical wall extending down through the aperture 18 in the table top 14. A plurality of apertures (not shown) are provided through the cylindrical wall 24, allowing air flow for combustion and cooling. The heat guard 20 also serves as a Irim plate, that is, it covers the edge of the aperture in the table top 14.

A hotplate 28 powered by a gas burner (not shown), disposed underneath the hotplate 28, is mounted inside the heat guard 20. A tray 30 is also mounted in the heat guard underneath and substantially around the hotplate for collecting hot fat, grease and the like, which may drip from the hot plate. The hotplate 28, burner and tray 30 are all smaller in diameter than the aperture 18 and the cylindrical wall 24 of the heat guard 20, and can be lifted out of the heat guard through the aperture for cleaning.

The hotplate 28 is made from cast iron, is circular and has a upwardly extending per pheral rim, which prevents food from being accidentally pushed off the hotplate 28. The surface of the hotplate lies substantially level with the surface of the table top 14. When not in use, a cover (not shown) can be placed over the hotplate, and the cooking station 10 can be used as a normal table. The whole or part of the surface of the hoiplate 28 may be smooth, textured, grooved or may have parallel ridges thereon.

For example, one half of the hotplate may be smooth and the other half may have parallel ridges thereon.

The hotplate has a clearance gap of between 20mm and 100mm provided between its outer periphery and the cylindrical wall 24 of the heat guard 20 and aperture 18. A typical clearance gap is between 30mm and 50mm. This gap helps prevent the edge of the aperture in the table top from becoming burned. The apertures in the wall 24 of the heat guard ensure that there is sufficient an airflow passage through the apparatus for the gas burner, and the gap also allows the products of combustion to escape.

A second aperture is provided through the table top 14, adjacent the central aperture 18, and receives a housing 32, for housing controls for controlling the hotplate 28.

The controls (not shown) typically include an ignition switch, and a graduated turn valve for controlling the flow of gas to the burner. In a preferred arrangement, the turn valve is a simple on/off valve with no graduations. The housing 32 has a hinged lid 34, which is closed, once the burner is switched on. A gas bottle 36 is disposed underneath the heat guard 20 and is connected to the gas burner using a flexible hose 38 and suitable regulator.

Referring now to Figures 3, an enclosure 44, preferable made of the same materials as the tables 12,42 is provided around the gas bottle 36, and has a hinged door 46 allowing access to the enclosure for changing of the gas bottle, for example, when it becomes empty.

Referring to Figure 4, a second embodiment of cooking station is indicated generally at 40. The cooking station 40 includes a square table 42, but otherwise is the same as the cooking station 10.

In use, a number of people can sit around each of the tables 12, 42 and can cook, for example, meat and vegetables on the hotplate 28. The cooking stations 10, 40 are ideal for outdoor areas of restaurants, pubs and bars, and can be used under shelters, if desired. They can also be used domestically, and are more sociable than a typical barbeque arrangement, in which people tend to eat their food away from the cooking area.

People can cook as much or as little food as they desire. The heat guard 20 protects the table and also prevents touching of the burner and hotplate arrangement from underneath the table. After use, when the hotplate has cooled, the apparatus can easily be cleaned, if desired by lifting it out of the aperture, either with the flexible gas hose still connected or disconnected. The cooking station 10,40 should ideally be covered if left outside, but will withstand the weather, the components ideally being made from teak, stainless steel or aluminium and cast iron.

Claims (16)

1. A cooking station comprising a table having a table top, an aperture in the table top and hotplate disposed within the aperture.

2. A cooking station as claimed in claim 1, in which the hotplate is heated by a gas-powered burner situated underneath the hotplate.

3. A cooking station as claimed in claim 2, in which the surface of the hotplate is substantially level with an upper surface of the table top.

4. A cooking station as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the hotplate is circular.

5. A cooking station as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a tray is provided underneath and substantially around the hotplate.

6. A cooking station as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a heat guard is provided around the periphery of the aperture.

7. A cooking station as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a clearance gap of between 20mm and 100mm is provided between the periphery of the hotplate and the periphery of the aperture.

8. A cooking station as claimed in claim, in which the clearance gap is between 30mm and 50mm.

9. A cooking station as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a second aperture is provided in the table top for receiving controls of the hotplate.

10. A cooking station as claimed in claim 9, in which the controls are mounted in a housing, which is received in the second aperture.

11. A cooking station as claimed in claim 9 or 10, in which the controls include a gas ignition switch and a control means for controlling the flow of gas to the burner.

12. A cooking station as claimed in claim 11, in which the control means is a turn valve.

13. A cooking station as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13, in which the second aperture is positioned adjacent the first aperture.

14. A cooking station as claimed in any preceding claim, in which an enclosure for receiving a gas bottle is disposed underneath the hotplate and the gas-powered burner.

15. A cooking station as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the enclosure includes a hinged door.

16. A cooking station substantially as claimed herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.