WO2001017409A1

WO2001017409A1 - Portable cooking device

Info

Publication number: WO2001017409A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2000/000158
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Charles Sparks; Edward William Parrett
Original assignee: Mtm Trading (Proprietary) Limited
Priority date: 1999-09-03
Filing date: 2000-09-01
Publication date: 2001-03-15
Also published as: AU7886600A

Abstract

The invention provides a collapsible gas stove including a stand unit which comprises a peripheral skirt formation (11), two or more leg members (12) pivotally coupled to the skirt formation (11) and movable between an erected position wherein they depend downwardly from the skirt formation (11) to support the latter above ground level, and a folded position wherein they are pivoted inwardly to be housed within the surround of the skirt formation (11), attachment means (13) on the lower side of the skirt formation (11) for receiving a gas supply, and locating means on the upper side of the skirt formation (11) for receiving and locating a cooking surface.

Description

PORTABLE COOKING DEVICE

Technical Field of the Invention

THIS invention relates to a portable gas stove unit.

Object of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel compact collapsible and portable gas stove which it is believed will have advantages over conventional units.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention, such a gas stove includes a stand unit which comprises a peripheral skirt formation, two or more leg members pivotally coupled to the skirt formation and movable between an erected position wherein they depend downwardly from the skirt formation to support the latter above ground level, and a folded position wherein they are pivoted inwardly to be housed within the surround of the skirt formation, attachment means directed downwardly from the skirt formation for receiving a gas supply, and locating means on the upper side of the skirt formation for receiving and locating a cooking surface. Preferably three pivotally mounted leg members will be provided.

Further according to the invention the stove includes a burner in communication with the gas supply attachment means, the burner being disposed on the side of the skirt formation opposed to the leg formations.

In a preferred arrangement in accordance with the invention, the locating means which preferably spans the peripheral skirt formation, is adapted to receive a selection of such cooking surfaces which may include an open grid having an underlying drip plate, a grilling surface which is preferably invertable and defines rib formations on one side thereof, and a relatively smooth surface on the other side thereof; a dome-like closure for the grilling surfaces etc. preferably, a flame spreader plate having a plurality of apertures therethrough, and preferably also a peripheral liquid collecting trough will be interspersed between the burner and the cooking surfaces described above.

Also according to the invention, the attachment means for receiving a gas supply could be in the form of a threaded member which is adapted to engage a complementary threaded formation on a gas cylinder or the like reservoir. The opposed side of the attachment means could likewise be adapted threadedly to engage the burner. Brief Description of the Drawings

In order more clearly to illustrate the invention an embodiment thereof is described hereunder purely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein :

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a stand for a cooking device in accordance with the invention, with leg members thereof in a folded retracted position;

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the stand in Figure 1 with the leg members thereof in an open erected position;

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the cooking device in Figure 1 viewed from above; and

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the cooking device in Figure 2 including the stand in Figure 2, cooking surfaces, a burner, a flame spreader, and a drip plate in exploded configuration.

Detailed Description of the Drawing Referring to the drawings, a portable gas cooking device in accordance with the invention include a stand unit 10 comprising a peripheral skirt formation 11 which includes three leg formations 12 pivotally mounted on the interior of the skirt formation for movement between a folded or stowed position, Figure 1 , wherein the leg formations 12 are housed within the surround of the skirt formation 1 1 , and an extended or erected configuration, Figure 2, wherein the leg members 12 are pivoted outwardly to extend downwardly from the skirt formation 11 for supporting the latter on an appropriate support surface, not shown.

Also housed within the surround of the skirt formation, preferably centrally, and facing downwardly, is a threaded attachment formation 13 which is adapted to receive a complemented threaded formation on a gas canister 21 or cylinder which permits the latter to be screwed onto the stand 10 when required. It will be appreciated that the size and configuration of the threaded member 13 could vary to match a particular make or specification of the gas canister. It will be noted that the leg members 12 include strategically located apertures 12a which allow the threaded formation 13 to pass through the leg members 12 when these are in folded, stowed position, Figure 1.

The stand 10 of the cooking device of the invention further includes an upper locating surface 14 which generally spans the peripheral skirt 11 and provides a receiving zone for a selection of cooking surfaces as described below. These include a cooking grid 19 and a grilling plate 20, but the invention is in no way limited to these cooking surfaces only.

The threaded attachment formation 13 extends through an upper locating surface 14, and at its upper end, the formation 13 defines a threaded spigot 13a which is adapted threadedly to engage a burner 15 with a passage 13b passing through the formation 13, thus supplying gas to the burner 15 in use. The passage 13b will further be provided with a manually operable valve shown at 22 to regulate gas flow.

Preferably, the locating surface 14 will include a flame spreader 17 in the form of a plate member 17b having a plurality of apertures 17c therethrough, and such flame spreader 17 could be integrally formed with the surface 14 or preferably be in the nature of a removable structure with locating lugs 17a on the flame spreader 17 fitting into complementary apertures 14a on the peripheral zone of the locating surface 14. Preferably also the flame spreader 17 will include a peripheral liquid receiving trough 17d surrounding the zone 17b of the plate with the apertures 17c therethrough. It is envisaged that such flame spreader plate member 17 will also include a peripheral shelf 17e which is adapted to receive a cooking grid 19 or grilling plate 20 to support such grid 19 or cooking plate 20 on an appropriate level. Preferably the grilling plate 20 will be provided with three or more outwardly directed support lugs 20a which are also designed to rest on the support shelf 17e to hold the plate 20 above the flame spreader member 17.

As mentioned above, a variety of cooking surfaces can be provided and selected by a user as required. In the arrangement illustrated, a grilling plate is shown at 20 and defines outwardly projecting lug formations which are adapted to seat.

It is envisaged that the grilling plate 20 will be reversible and will be provided with one smooth surface, not shown, while the reverse surface thereof, could be provided with ribs 20b of a suitable pattern. In the arrangement illustrated, a plurality of parallel disposed upwardly directed ribs 20b are provided. Preferably, the ribbed surface 20b of the plate will define a downwardly directed lip formation 20c which enables fat and other liquids to drain from the ribbed surface. Such lip formation 20c will preferably also act as an upwardly directed liquid retaining lip from the smooth surface of the plate 20.

Preferably also an intermediate drip tray or plate 18 could be provided and adapted to be disposed between the flame spreader 17 and one of the cooking surfaces 19, 20. Preferably such drip plate 18 will also define a plurality of apertures 18a therethrough as in the case with the flame spreader 17. In a preferred arrangement, the apertures 17c, 18a, in both the flame spreader 17 and the drip plate 18 will terminate in peripheral upwardly directed lip formations as illustrated. It has been found that these upwardly directed lip formations prevent fat and liquids from running into the apertures 17c, 18a. To a large extent therefor liquids produced by a grilling process, will run off both the drip plate 18 and the flame spreader 17 and be directed into the trough 17d. For this purpose also it is thus preferred that the apertures 17c and 18a will not align with one another.

In instances where the cooking device of the invention is used for heating a utensil such as a cooking pot, not shown, such pot could be disposed directly in contact with the flame emanating from the burner 15, and for this purpose, three or more support ribs 16 are provided, radiating outwardly from the burner 15. In this instance therefor, the flame spreader 17, drip plate 18 and cooking surfaces 19, 20, will be removed from the stand 10 of the invention.

The advantages of the arrangement described above will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. It will be appreciated that the arrangement of the invention is compact, robust and relatively light; and a selection of cooking surfaces, are available to the user. It is envisaged that the various elements of the cooking device and cooking surfaces could be stored in a carry bag, not shown, for storage and transport purposes.

Doubtless variations in detail of the invention exist without departing from the principles set out in the consistory clauses. For example, in most instances the cooking device of the invention will be fabricated from metallic plate which can be treated as required. The invention is intended to cover the stand of the cooking device, as well as the various other novel components of the cooking device, both individually as well as cooking units.

Claims

1. A collapsible gas stove including a stand unit which comprises a peripheral skirt formation, two or more leg members pivotally coupled to the skirt formation and movable between an erected position wherein they depend downwardly from the skirt formation to support the latter above ground level, and a folded position wherein they are pivoted inwardly to be housed within the surround of the skirt formation, attachment means on the lower side of the skirt formation for receiving a gas supply, and locating means on the upper side of the skirt formation for receiving and locating a cooking surface.

2. The gas stove according to claim 1 wherein three leg members are pivotally coupled to the skirt formation.

3. The stove according to claim 1 or claim 2 including a burner in communication with the gas supply attachment means, the burner being disposed within the surround of the skirt formation opposed to the leg members in the erected position.

4. The stove according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the skirt formation is adapted to receive, within its surround, an underlying peripheral liquid collecting trough.

5. The stove according to claim 4 wherein the locating means is adapted to receive an open grid cooking surface, overlying the liquid collecting trough.

6. The stove according to claim 4 wherein the locating means is adapted to receive a closed grilling surface overlying the liquid collecting trough.

7. The stove according to claim 6 wherein the locating means is adapted to receive a closed grilling surface which defines a relatively smooth surface on one side thereof and which defines a surface having a plurality of rib formations on the other side thereof.

8. The stove according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the locating means is adapted to receive a dome-like closure for the cooking surfaces.

9. The stove according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the skirt formation is adapted to receive, within its surround, a flame spreader plate having a plurality of apertures therethrough.

10. The stove according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the locating means is adapted to receive a peripheral liquid collecting trough which is interspersed between a burner disposed within the surround of the skirt formation, and a superimposed cooking surface.

11. The stove according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the attachment means for receiving a gas supply is in the form of a threaded member which is adapted to engage a complementary threaded formation on a gas cylinder or reservoir.

12. The stove according to claim 11 wherein an opposed side of the attachment means defines a threaded member which is adapted to engage a complementary threaded attachment on a burner of the stove.

13. A gas stove as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 in combination with a peripheral liquid collecting trough which is receivable within the skirt formation of the stove, and a superimposed flame spreader receivable on the peripheral liquid collecting trough, and an open grid receivable on the locating means of the stove superimposed above the flame spreader.

14. A gas stove as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 in combination with a peripheral liquid collecting trough which is receivable within the skirt formation of the stove, and a superimposed flame spreader receivable on the peripheral liquid collecting trough, and a closed grilling surface receivable on the locating means of the stove superimposed above the flame spreader.

15. A peripheral liquid collecting trough adapted for use with the stove claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 including a peripheral engagement lip which is adapted to seat on a complementary surface which extends inwardly from the skirt formation of the gas stove.

16. A cooking surface adapted for use with the gas stove claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 including an outwardly directing engagement means which is adapted to seat on the locating means of the stove.

17. The grilling surface according to claim 16 wherein the engagement means on the cooking surface is in the nature of a plurality of peripherally spaced outwardly directed lug formations.

18. The grilling surface according to claim 16 wherein the engagement means is in the nature of a peripheral outward directing flange or ring formation.