WO2000071008A1

WO2000071008A1 - A grate for cooking

Info

Publication number: WO2000071008A1
Application number: PCT/DK2000/000274
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lars Jung
Original assignee: Lars Jung
Priority date: 1999-05-25
Filing date: 2000-05-23
Publication date: 2000-11-30
Also published as: DK199900208U3; AU4744600A

Abstract

A grate, particularly for use in an oven or an outdoor grill, consists of grate rods (1) that are mutually connected at their ends. The ends are bent (3) so that an adjacent rod (1) may be received in the bending (3). Thereby is achieved a segmented construction so that the grate may be rolled up to a dimension which is easier to store or clean, for example in a bucket. Furthermore, by suitable dimensioning of the bending (3), it is possible to release single members and thereby adjust the size of the grate. An eyelet (5) provided in extension of the bending (3) has the advantage that the grate may rest on the bottom of a roasting pan (13).

Description

A GRATE FOR COOKING

Background of the Invention

The invention concerns a grate for cooking, particularly for an oven or a grill, com- prising a row of parallel rods that are mutually connected at least at an edge area of the grate.

Such grates are usually made with a wire construction where the rods are welded to an annular frame or made of cast iron. Common to all is a rigid construction which is cumbersome because of its size when storing and cleaning the grate.

Summary of the Invention

The peculiar feature of the invention is that the grate is segmented so that each rod constitutes a movable member as both ends of most of the rods have a bending which at least partly surrounds an adjacent rod. The bending causes the segmentation of the rods so that a rod may pivot about the longitudinal axis of an adjacent rod. Depending on the design of the bending, the freedom of movement may be great or small, as well as the single members may be detachable from each other or not. With the grate according to the invention it is thus possible to roll it up for transport and storage as well the grate may easily be placed in a bucket or other container for cleaning. Also, it is possible to adjust the size of the grate by adding or removing one or more members (rods) of the grate.

It is preferred to design the grate as indicated in claim 2, where, between each bending and the straight main part, the rods are designed with a connecting section inclined towards the middle of the rod. Thereby the single members may be uniform for simplifying and making cheap the production of the grate, as well as the grate is more easy to roll up.

In order to create support for the grate, it may be designed as indicated in claim 3, where the free end of the bending is turned in opposite direction of the bending, thereby wholly or partly forming an eyelet. The eyelets thus projecting laterally along two of its opposed side edges will be able to support the grate at a distance from a base. This may particularly be an advantage in connection with roasting pans for ovens, where the eyelets rest on the bottom of the roasting pan. The grate is thus not dependent on fitting with the upper edge of the pan or on the internal dimensions of the oven which otherwise would imply slipping or squeezing.

For fastening the grate to a roasting pan or similar, the grate may be provided with hooks as stated in claim 4. The hooks may either be provided at the outermost member of the grate or consist of a separate piece of wire or similar which is fixed to the out- ermost member of the grate.

Particularly in connection with using the grate for a barbecue, it is advantageous if the grate rods are supported by two parallel frame bars extending crosswise of the grate rods and joined with handles at their ends which are bent toward each other outside the area of the grate rods, where the mutual distance of the grate rods may be varied by urging the ends of the frame bars toward each other or away from each other inside the handles. Thereby the mutual distance of the frame bars may be accommodated to differently positioned notches in different outdoor grills.

As indicated in claim 6, the frame bars may consist of flat bars positioned edgewise, where one lateral edge of each bar is provided with notches for accommodating the grate rods. Thus the grate rods rest in the notches and do not need any additional guiding or fastening.

A still further embodiment for use in outdoor grills is peculiar in that the grate rods, being interconnected members, are fastened to the frame bars by means of fittings screwed onto the frame bars, cf. claim 7. Thereby is achieved a relatively rigid grate which is applicable in connection with open barbecues, but where the grate itself, i.e. the segmented and interconnected grate rods, may readily be removed from the frame bars without using tools. The Drawing

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawing, wherein

Figs. 1 and 2 are detailed views of a corner of a preferred embodiment of the grate according to the invention at either end of the grate, respectively, Fig. 3 is a perspective side view of the grate of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a perspective end view of the grate of Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 5 shows a slightly modified embodiment of the grate shown on Fig. 4, but with modified fastening means,

Fig. 6 shows a grate according to the invention in rolled up condition, Figs. 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of the grate according to the invention as seen from above and from below, respectively.

Description of Embodiments

The grate according to the invention is built up with separate rods 1 consisting of a straight main part 2 and which by a bending 3 are connected with an adjacent rod. The connection is provided by means of a bend which, as shown on Figs. 1 and 2, is turned about 180°, or slightly more, around the adjacent rod.

In order to simplify the construction of the grate as much as possible there is inserted a short connecting section 4 between bending 3 and the straight part 2, the section 4 being bent into an acute angle between 70 and 85° relative to the straight part 2. In the shown embodiments, the piece 4 and the bending 3 are made so that there is a certain mobility between the members and in such a way that the rods may be detached from each other. The length of the connecting section determines the mutual distance between the parallel rods. Other embodiment may be envisaged, for example where the bending 3 is turned more that 180° so that the members cannot be released from each other and still are mutually movable.

In the preferred embodiment as shown on Figs. 1 - 5, the free ends of the rods 1 at the end of the bending 3 are provided with eyelets 5 formed by turning the rod 1 in direc- tion opposite to the bending 3. The eyelet 5 may take various forms, however, in this embodiment always in such a way that the part facing away from the connecting section may rest on a base. The base may be a table, the bottom of a roasting pan, or other.

Figs. 3-5 show the mounting of this preferred embodiment of the grate on a roasting pan in that there is used different kinds of hooks for gripping around one edge of the roasting pan. The opposite edge is engaged by the hooks appearing from the bending and designated 3a on Fig. 1. On Fig. 2 there is shown a separate, loose hook 6 which is used at the left on Fig. 3 and at the bottom on Fig. 4. On Fig. 5 there is shown a separate, double hook which is formed of wire of the same material as the grate.

As shown on Fig. 6, the grate may be rolled up for storage or cleaning.

A second embodiment shown on Figs. 7 and 8 has no eyelets for support on a flat base, but the grate is here held in tension on a frame consisting of two parallel frame bars 10. The frame bars 10 are made with a right angle at their ends, so that the ends are directed toward each other and may be connected by a handle 11. In the embodiment shown, the handle is fastened to the end of the bars 10 with pointed screws, but other means, like friction connection between handle and ends may also be envisaged.

Thereby the mutual distance of the bars 10 may be adjusted so that the protruding ends of the bars 10 may rest in notches with different mutual distances in e.g. a barbecue. The grate itself, consisting of grate rods 1 but without eyelets, are fixed to the frame bars 10 by means of special fittings 12. In this embodiment, these 12 are made as small blocks with a hole for receiving a frame bar 10, and the block is screwed fast onto the frame bar with a not shown pointed screw. One end of the fitting 12 projects upward, thereby engaging outermost grate rods la and holding the two outermost grate rods la at each end of the grate in tension away from each other. Hence the grate rods 1 may be removed or demounted without use of tools, and the grate may then be rolled up for storage or cleaning.

Claims

1. Grate for cooking, particularly for an oven or a grill, comprising a row of parallel rods that are mutually connected at least at an edge area of the grate, characterised in that the grate is segmented so that each rod constitutes a movable member as both ends of most of the rods have a bending which at least partly surround an adjacent rod.

2. Grate according to claim 1, characterised in that between each bending and the straight main part, the rods are designed with a connecting section inclined towards the middle of the rod.

3. Grate according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the free end of the bending is turned in opposite direction of the bending, thereby wholly or partly forming an eyelet.

4. Grate according to claim 3, characterised in that at each end the grate is provided with hooks for gripping opposite lateral edges of a roasting pan or similar device.

5. Grate according to any of claims 1 - 3, characterised in that the grate rods are sup- ported by two parallel frame bars extending crosswise of the grate rods and joined with handles at their ends which are bent toward each other outside the area of the grate rods, where the mutual distance of the grate rods may be varied by urging the ends of the frame bars toward each other or away from each other inside the handles.

6. Grate according to claim 5, characterised in that the frame bars consist of fiat bars positioned edgewise, where one lateral edge of each bar is provided with notches for accommodating the grate rods.

7. Grate according to claim 5, characterised in that the grate rods are fastened to the frame bars, where the fastening consist of the two outermost grate rods, which are disposed at opposite ends of the grate, being held in tension away from each other by means of fittings screwed onto the frame bars.