US20040188448A1

US20040188448A1 - Disposable grease container

Info

Publication number: US20040188448A1
Application number: US10/402,404
Authority: US
Inventors: Lisa Hudson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-03-31
Filing date: 2003-03-31
Publication date: 2004-09-30

Abstract

A disposable grease collection container which is provided with a bottom and four upstanding walls. The container further having an outer surface and an inner surface wherein the inner surface forms a collection area where the grease is collected. The inner surface is of disposable material that is heat resistant to the grease being collected therein, and the outer surface of the container is of a disposable material being light-weight but having a thickness selected to provide sufficient rigidity to be self-supporting so that the container maintains its shape and the four walls remain upstanding. Each of the end walls of the container having a bellows-like portion formed as an integral part of the outer surface. The bellows-like portion designed to further provide rigidity and support to the container.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

Statement as to rights to inventions made under Federally sponsored research and development: Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an apparatus for containing and pouring pourable materials. In particular, this invention relates to a disposable grease container useable for, but not restricted to, collecting grease and other fluids used or generated in a free-standing portable grill, like that trade named “George Foreman Grill.” The disposable grease container is located externally under the drain opening, trough or channel of the portable grill that routes grease drippings or other cooking fluids to the grease container.

2. Background of the Invention

There is a constant demand for improved means for cooking foods such as meats. As a result, free-standing portable grills such like that trade named “George Foreman Grill” has become quite popular. Such portable grills generally include a drain opening that routes grease drippings or other cooking fluids from the grill and generally into a container situated external to the grill. There is a demand for containers such that is used with the portable grill, from which grease drippings or other cooking fluids can be efficiently collected.

Prior art containers include a variety of systems for collecting grease from food that is broiled or grilled. These systems of the prior art generally include the process of collecting the grease or fluids from the cooking device, and then transferring the collection of said grease and fluid into a separate container. Once in the separate container, the grease and fluid are then later removed, and such grease and fluid then usually disposed of. This is not convenient, and is relatively messy. This transfer process is further frustrating when the collected grease is allowed to harden to a somewhat solid state thereby making it even more difficult to remove from the collection container and transfer to the container which is then disposed of.

As will be seen from the subsequent description, the preferred embodiment of the present invention overcome these and other shortcomings of prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is designed for receiving and collecting grease and other fluid materials passing through the drain opening, trough or channel provided in a freestanding portable grill, like that trade named “George Foreman Grill”. The grease container is made of disposable material, and located externally of the portable grill. The grease container of the present invention includes a bottom with four upstanding walls extending from the bottom to an open end of container. Said walls and bottom are bounded by a peripheral edge. The grease container further having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface forming a collection area where the grease is collected from the portable grill. The collection area being accessible by way of the open end of container. The grease container is formed of disposable material. The inner surface of the grease container, and in particular the collection area, is heat resistant to the grease being collected therein, such as heavy paper, or aluminum foil. The outer surface of the grease container is light-weight but having a thickness selected to provide sufficient rigidity to be self-supporting so that the grease container maintains its shape and the four walls remain upstanding. Each of the end walls of the grease container having a bellows-like portion, said bellows-like portion formed as an integral part of the outer surface, and designed to further provide rigidity and support to the grease container.

In operation, the grease from the portable grill is routed through the grill's draining opening, trough or channel and drips into the collection area of the grease container. Once the collection area of the grease container is substantially full of grease and other fluids traveling from the portable cooking grill into the grease container, the collected grease and fluid is maintained within the grease container and allowed to cool and coagulate. Once the grease and fluids have hardened, the grease container having the said collected grease and fluids therein is removed and properly disposed of.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top prospective view of the present invention, a disposable grease container. [0011]
FIG. 2 is a side view of the container of FIG. 1. [0012]
FIG. 3 is an end view of the container of FIG. 1. [0013]
FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention.[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a [0015] disposable grease container 10 made in accordance with the present invention. The disposable grease container 10 provides a lightweight, easily constructed apparatus useable for, but not restricted to, collecting grease and other fluids used or generated in a free-standing portable grill, like that trade named “George Foreman Grill.” The disposable grease container 10 is located externally under the drain opening, trough or channel of the portable grill (not shown) that routes grease drippings or other cooking fluids to the grease container 10.
Specifically, it will be noted in the drawings that the [0016] disposable grease container 10 relates to an apparatus that is situated external to the portable grill for containing and pouring pourable materials. In the broadest context, the apparatus consists of components configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective.
Now referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a preferred embodiment of the [0017] disposal grease container 10 made in accordance with the present invention. The grease container 10 includes a bottom 11 with four upstanding walls extending from the bottom 11 to an open end of container 11A. Said walls and bottom 11 are bounded by a peripheral edge 20 disposed at the approximate lower end of the container 10.
The [0018] grease container 10 further having an outer surface 12 and an inner surface 15. The inner surface 15 is preferably formed as an integral part of the outer surface 12. Said inner surface 15 of the grease container 10 forming a collection area 25 where the grease is collected from the portable grill. The collection area 25 being accessible by way of the open end of container 11A. In the preferred embodiment, the grease container 10 having a generally rectangular configuration.
The [0019] grease container 10 is formed of disposable material. The inner surface 15 of the grease container 10, and in particular the collection area 25, is heat resistant to the grease being collected therein, such as heavy paper, or aluminum foil. The outer surface 12 of the grease container 10 is light-weight but having a thickness selected to provide sufficient rigidity to be self-supporting so that the grease container 10 maintains its rectangular shape and the four walls remain upstanding.
As shown in FIGS. 1-3, each of the end walls of the [0020] grease container 10 having a bellows-like portion 30. Said bellows-like portion 30 preferably formed of the identical material as the outer surface 12, and formed as an integral part of the outer surface 12. The bellows-like portion 30 designed to further provide rigidity and support to the grease container 10.
In operation, the grease from the portable grill is routed through the grill's draining opening, trough or channel and drips into the [0021] collection area 25 of the grease container 10. Once the collection area 25 of the grease container 10 is substantially full of grease and other fluids traveling from the portable cooking grill into the grease container 10, the collected grease and fluid is maintained within the grease container 10 and allowed to cool and coagulate. Once the grease and fluids have hardened, the grease container 10 having the said collected grease and fluids therein is removed and properly disposed of.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the [0022] grease container 100 is comprised generally of a bottom 110 with four upstanding walls extending from the bottom 110 to an open end of container 110A. Said walls and bottom 110 are bounded by a peripheral edge 200 disposed at the approximate lower end of the container 100. In the preferred embodiment, the grease container 100 having a generally rectangular configuration.
The [0023] grease container 100 having a first layer 150, and a second layer 120, wherein the interior surface of the first layer 150 is a disposable material that is heat resistant to the grease being collected, and the material of the second layer 120 is a disposable material of sufficient rigidity to be self-supporting so that the grease container 100 maintains its rectangular shape and the four walls remain upstanding. The first and second layers 150, 120 may be formed of the same disposable material.
In this embodiment, the [0024] second layer 120 is shaped to mate with the first layer 150 forming said bottom 110 and walls. Each of the end walls of the grease container 100 having a bellows-like portion 300. Said bellows-like portion 300 preferably formed of the identical material as the second layer 120, and formed as an integral part of the second layer 120. The bellows-like portion 300 designed to further provide rigidity and support to the grease container 100.
Said [0025] first layer 150 of the grease container 100 forming a collection area 250 where the grease is collected from the portable grill. The collection area 250 being accessible by way of the open end of container 110A.
Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, while the above description describes the [0026] disposable grease containers 10 and 100 as having a generally rectangular configuration, it is understood that other shapes or configurations may be used to satisfy the objectives herein.
Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims in the formal application and their legal equivalence, rather than by the examples given. [0027]

Claims

I claim:

1. A disposable grease container for receiving and collecting grease and other fluid materials passing through an opening in a free-standing portable grill, said disposable grease container comprising:

a bottom,

a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls extending from the bottom to an open end of container,

an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface forming a collection area wherein the grease and other fluid materials are collected,

said bottom, side and end walls bounded by a peripheral edge,

wherein the end walls of the container having a bellows-like portion,

wherein said bellows-portion formed as an integral part of the outer surface,

wherein the collection area is accessible by way of the open end of container.

2. The disposable grease container as recited in claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the grease container is of disposable material that is heat resistant to the grease being collected therein.

3. The disposable grease container as recited in claim 2, wherein the material of the inner surface is heavy paper.

4. The disposable grease container as recited in claim 2, wherein the material of the inner surface is aluminum foil.

5. The disposable grease container as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer surface is of a disposable material being lightweight but having a thickness selected to provide sufficient rigidity.

6. The disposable grease container as recited in claim 1, wherein the container having a generally rectangular configuration.

7. A disposable grease container for receiving and collecting grease and other fluid materials passing through an opening in a free-standing portable grill, said disposable grease container comprising:

a bottom,

said bottom, side and end walls bounded by a peripheral edge,

a first layer, and a second layer, wherein the second layer is shaped to mate with the first layer,

wherein the end walls of the container having a bellows-like portion, said bellows-portion formed as an integral part of the second layer,

wherein the first layer forming a collection area, the collection area being accessible by way of the open end of container.

8. The disposable grease container as recited in claim 7, wherein the second layer of the grease container is of disposable material that is heat resistant to the grease being collected therein.

9. The disposable grease container as recited in claim 8, wherein the material of the second layer is heavy paper.

10. The disposable grease container as recited in claim 8, wherein the material of the second layer is aluminum foil.

11. The disposable grease container as recited in claim 7, wherein the second layer is of a disposable material being lightweight but having a thickness selected to provide sufficient rigidity.

12. The disposable grease container as recited in claim 7, wherein the container having a generally rectangular configuration.