GB2461402A

GB2461402A - Portable briefcase barbecue

Info

Publication number: GB2461402A
Application number: GB0911624A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Robert Gaze; Terence William Gander; Angus Davidson
Original assignee: Plum Products Ltd
Current assignee: Plum Products Ltd
Priority date: 2008-07-03
Filing date: 2009-07-03
Publication date: 2010-01-06
Anticipated expiration: 2029-07-03
Also published as: GB0911624D0; GB2461402B; GB0812178D0; WO2010001135A1

Abstract

A portable barbecue comprising a case formed from two halves 3 and 4 hingedly joined to allow the two halves 3 and 4 to open and close in a clam-shell manner. When the case is open and standing with its hinge axis 5 extending generally vertically and with the two halves 3 and 4 at an angle to each other, a grill 7 for supporting food to be cooked is supported between inside surfaces of the two halves at a first level, and a heating element 9, which may be a solid fuel heating element, a gas burner or an electric element is supported between inside surfaces of the two halves 3 and 4 at a second level below the first. The inside surfaces may be a plurality of ledges 12, the case may be sized to hold the grill 7 and heating element 9 in it when closed, there may be a carrying strap and a member to hold the two halves apart at a set angle.

Description

BARBECUE

This disclosure relates to barbecues.

Barbecues may be provided as permanent structures for grilling food out of doors or as portable structures to be brought out when the weather permits. Most such portable barbecues are substantial wheeled structures that pose a storage problem when not being used.

The present disclosure adopts a different approach aimed to allow the barbecue to be stored in a minimum of space when not required.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a portable barbecue comprising: a grill for supporting food thereon to be cooked; a heating element selected from a solid fuel heating element, gas burners and electric elements; and a case formed from two halves hingedly joined to allow the two halves to open and close in a clam-shell manner; the case, when open and standing with its hinge axis extending generally vertically and with the two halves at an angle to each other, being adapted to support between inside surfaces of the two halves both said grill at a first level and said heating element at a second level below the first.

Preferred embodiments have one or more of the following features: The inside surfaces of both halves are provided with a plurality of ledges at different levels adapted to support the grill and the heating element below the grill. The barbecue is adapted to burn solid fuel, the heating element comprises a firebasket for burning solid fuel therein and a separate ash collection tray, and the inside surfaces of both halves are provided with a plurality of ledges at different levels adapted to support the grill, the firebasket below the grill, and the ash collection tray below the firebasket. The case, when closed, is sized to hold both the grill and the heating element therewithin. The case is provided with carry members selected from a strap attachable to rings carried by one or both halves and handles attached to one or both halves; and with a catch or lock for holding the two halves closed. The case is formed of metal. A stay is provided to maintain an angle between the two halves. The stay comprises a rod hooked at both ends, the hooked ends being adapted to fit into holes provided in the ledge adapted to support the ash collection tray; and the ash collection tray is pressed or moulded to defme a groove on its underside adapted to fit over the stay.

Preferred embodiments of barbecue are described below by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an overall perspective view of a first embodiment of barbecue; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the barbecue of Fig. 1 when closed; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. I for a second embodiment of barbecue; Fig. 4 shows a view from beneath of a variation of the embodiment of Fig. 3 with the grill and firebox omitted; Fig. 5 shows an underneath view of the ash collection plate of the embodiment of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 shows the barbecue of Fig. 3 in its closed condition for transport.

The barbecue 1 shown in Figs 1 and 2 of the drawings comprises a case 2 of generally clam-shell form, shown closed in Fig. 2. The case is preferably formed of metal and in two similar halves 3, 4 hinged together along one edge 5. The side of the case opposite the hinge has a catch or lock 6. When open and standing with its hinge axis generally vertical, as in Fig. 1, the two halves 3, 4 are arranged to support both a grill 7 with a detachable handle 8 and a fire basket 9, both the grill and the fire basket being sized to fit within the case 2 when closed, as in Fig. 2. The two halves also serve as a wind shield. Inside surfaces 10, 11 of the two halves 3, 4 are provided with a plurality of ledges 12 at different heights. In this case, the lowermost ledges 13 are of wider extent to provide support for the fire basket 9, while the grill may be supported at a selected one of the remaining narrower ledges 14 at a selected height above solid fuel, such as barbecue charcoal, supported on the fire basket 9. As shown fire basket 9 supports a grill 15 therewithin for the solid fuel and an apertured plate 16, which may be the bottom of the basket 9, to allow ash to fall therethro ugh. The case is provided with handles 17 to aid portability.

It will readily be appreciated that an alternative form of heating element such as a gas burner or an electric element could be used in place of firebasket 9. When a gas burner is employed, case I is suitably sized to accommodate both the grill and burner and a gas canister therefor when closed.

In many respects the embodiments of barbecue shown in Figs. 3 to 6 are similar to that shown in Figs. I and 2. Where feasible like reference numerals are used for like features.

In the arrangement of Fig. 3, a separate ash collection tray 18 is mounted on ledges 19 below the firebasket 9 to prevent any hot ashes from the firebasket falling on to the supporting surface on which the barbecue stands. By interposing an additional element, namely the separate ash collection tray, between the firebasket and the ground or other support surface on which the barbecue stands, radiation of heat from the firebasket downwards to the ground or other support surface is significantly reduced. It will also be seen from Fig. 3 that both the firebasket and its separate ash collection tray are higher from the supporting surface than the firebasket of the embodiment of Figs. I and 2, further reducing any risk of starting a fire when the barbecue is placed on the ground in the countryside or in a garden, or of damage to a table when the barbecue is placed on a table.

To avoid accidental collapse, the case may be provided with hinges that allow the two halves to open only to a maximum angle, being that shown in Figs. I or 3 for the respective embodiments. For added security, or in place of limiting hinges, a stay may be provided. A simple rod with hooks at both ends may fit into holes (not shown) in the casing edge. In a preferred arrangement that provides added support for the ash collection tray 18, a stay 20 comprising a rod with hooks 21 at both ends fits into openings 22 provided in the ledges 19 for the ash collection tray, as shown in Fig. 4. The tray 18 is pressed or moulded to define a groove 23 on its underside, as shown in Fig. 5, to fit over the stay2O.

The case is sized so that the grill 7, which may have a detachable handle 8, and the firebasket (and separate ash collection plate in the embodiments of Figs. 3 to 5) will fit within the closed case. Where a separate ash collection plate is provided, it may be sized, when reversed, to fit over the top of the firebasket like a lid. In place of fixed handles as in Figs. 1 and 2, the embodiments of Figs. 3 to 5 have D-rings 24 for attachment of a carry strap 25, as shown in Fig. 6.

Claims

Claims 1. A portable barbecue comprising: a grill for supporting food thereon to be cooked; a heating element selected from a solid fuel heating element, gas burners and electric elements; and a case formed from two halves hingedly joined to allow the two halves to open and close in a clam-shell manner; the case, when open and standing with its hinge axis extending generally vertically and with the two halves at an angle to each other, being adapted to support between inside surfaces of the two halves both said grill at a first level and said heating element at a second level below the first.
2. A portable barbecue according to Claim 1, wherein the inside surfaces of both halves are provided with a plurality of ledges at different levels adapted to support the grill and the heating element below the grill.
3. A portable barbecue according to Claim 2, adapted to burn solid fuel, wherein the heating element comprises a firebasket for burning solid fuel therein and a separate ash collection tray, the inside surfaces of both halves being provided with a plurality of ledges at different levels adapted to support the grill, the firebasket below the grill, and the ash collection tray below the firebasket.
4. A portable barbecue according to any preceding Claim, wherein the case, when closed, is sized to hold both the grill and the heating element therewithin.
5. A portable barbecue according to any preceding Claim, wherein the case is provided with carry members selected from a strap attachable to rings carried by one or both halves and handles attached to one or both halves; and with a catch or lock for holding the two halves closed.
6. A portable barbecue according to any preceding Claim, wherein the case is formed of metal.
7. A portable barbecue according to any preceding Claim, further including a stay adapted to maintain an angle between the two halves.
8. A portable barbecue according to both Claim 3 and Claim 7, wherein the stay comprises a rod hooked at both ends, the hooked ends being adapted to fit into holes provided in the ledge adapted to support the ash collection tray; and wherein the ash collection tray is pressed or moulded to define a groove on its underside adapted to fit over said stay.
9. A portable barbecue substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.