WO2007140547A1

WO2007140547A1 - Cooking press and grill

Info

Publication number: WO2007140547A1
Application number: PCT/AU2007/000818
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrew John Grigor; Thomas Paul Wilson
Original assignee: Sunbeam Corporation Limited
Priority date: 2006-06-09
Filing date: 2007-06-12
Publication date: 2007-12-13
Also published as: AU2007257250A1; CN101495018A

Abstract

A combined cooking press and grill (100) has a lower assembly (2) supporting a lower cooking surface, an upper assembly (1) supporting an upper cooking surface and an engagement mechanism (3) for pivotally engaging the lower and upper assemblies. The engagement mechanism allows the cooking press and grill to be located in a number of raised positions in which the upper cooking surface is spaced above and opposite the lower cooking surface, an upright position and a fully open position. The upper assembly includes a cooking surface housing (4) pivoted to left and right side arm assemblies (5) and (6) spanned by a handle (7). An actuating button (9) on the handle releases the engagement mechanism (3) via a linkage to allow the upper and lower assemblies to be moved when in the raised or upright positions.

Description

Cooking press and grill Technical Field

The present invention relates to cooking appliances and in particular to a combined cooking press and grill suitable for use in an indoor kitchen. Background

Combined cooking presses and grills are kitchen appliances that have an upper and a lower cooking surface, between which food to be cooked can be "sandwiched". In addition, the appliance can be used as a grill by not lowering the upper cooking surface onto the food and/or by orienting the upper cooking surface flat so that both the upper and lower cooking surfaces can be used as a conventional grill.

A cooking press has the advantages of increased heat transfer between the cooking surfaces and the food than if only a lower cooking surface is used, as in the case of a conventional grill.

It is important that a cooking press and grill be able to be operated in the cooking press mode and the grill mode, and is easily converted between these two modes. It is also important that the operator of the cooking press and grill be able to adjust the grill substantially without risk of being burned due to touching a heated surface. Also, it is a requirement of most modern cooking presses that there is adequate drainage of fats, oils and juices away from the food as it is being cooked. It is an object of the present invention to fulfil one or more needs for cooking presses and grills at present, or at least to provide a cooking press and grill that provides the public with a useful choice.

Summary of the invention

According to one aspect, the invention broadly resides in a combined cooking press and grill having a lower assembly supporting a lower cooking surface, an upper assembly supporting an upper cooking surface, and an engagement mechanism for pivotally engaging the lower and upper assemblies, wherein the engagement mechanism allows the cooking press and grill to be located in at least one partly closed position in which the upper cooking surface is spaced above the lower cooking surface and opposes the lower cooking surface, and to be located in at least one open position in which the upper cooking surface is removed from the lower cooking surface, the engagement mechanism operable to retain the upper and lower assemblies in said at least one partly closed position and optionally in said open position, wherein the upper housing includes a handle, movement of which causes the upper assembly to move relative to the lower assembly and wherein said handle includes an actuator to release the engagement mechanism via at least one linkage mechanism to allow movement of the upper assembly relative to the lower assembly when it is retained by the engagement mechanism.

Preferably, said engagement mechanism includes two parts, one located at each side of the cooking press and grill, wherein both parts are operable to retain the upper and lower assemblies in said closed position and optionally in said open position and are releasable by said actuator and the handle.

Preferably, the engagement mechanism includes a multi-stop mechanism such as a ratchet and pawl mechanism to retain the upper and lower assemblies in said at least one partly closed position, wherein the pawl is disengageable from the ratchet by operating the actuator.

Preferably, the engagement mechanism includes a pivot that is physically connected to the handle, wherein the upper housing is able to moved relative to the lower housing about the pivot by moving the handle. Preferably, the upper assembly includes left and right side arm assemblies spanned by the handle, the at least one linkage mechanism including left and right linkage arms carried within the respective left and right side arm assemblies.

Preferably, the lower housing has at least one adjustable foot extending from an inner cavity in the lower housing out through an aperture in the lower housing, the extent of extension being adjustable by an adjustment mechanism.

Preferably, the adjustment mechanism includes a rotary dial or knob and a rack movable by the rotary dial or knob to adjust the height of the at least one adjustable foot.

Preferably, the upper cooking surface has a plurality of ribs that are substantially parallel to each other except for a portion of at least two ribs, which are oriented to, in use, direct fluids from the outer periphery of the upper cooking surface towards the centre of the upper cooking surface.

Preferably, the at least one open position includes a first upright open position in which the upper cooking surface extends approximately transverse to the lower cooking surface and a second fully open position in which the upper cooking surface extends approximately parallel to the lower cooking surface.

Preferably, one of the upper and lower assemblies includes a lip and the other of the upper and lower assemblies includes a shelf, wherein when the cooking press and grill is in the open position, the lip extends below the shelf so as to prevent fluids travelling from the upper or lower cooking surfaces between the lip and the shelf and wherein the lip includes at least one aperture through which the fluids may drain into a receptacle positioned below the at least one aperture.

Preferably, the upper and lower cooking surfaces are electrically connected by a cable, the cable extending between the lower assembly and the upper assembly through the engagement mechanism, More preferably, the cable is extended through the engagement mechanism so as not to be visible from the exterior of the cooking press and grill.

Preferably, the cable extends through a disk provided in the engagement mechanism. Preferably, the upper assembly includes two side arms and the upper cooking surface has a housing that is pivotally connected to the side arm assemblies and the upper cable travels from the engagement mechanism, along said side arms and enters said housing at the pivotal connection.

Preferably, the lower housing includes a receptacle to hold a drip tray to capture fluids from the upper and lower cooking surfaces, the drip tray extending from a front edge of the lower cooking surface to a rear edge of the lower cooking surface so as to capture fluids exiting there from and to capture fluids from the upper cooking surface at its edge closest to the engagement mechanism. Preferably, the drip tray has a base inclined in two directions so as to direct fluids to the centre of the drip tray regardless of whether the at least one adjustable foot is extended or retracted.

Preferably, the multi-stop mechanism includes a cam lock which is responsive to the pawl when in the deactivated position to abut against a stop rotatable by the handle to retain the upper assembly in the upright position when being opened, and which is releasable in response to the actuator being activated.

Conveniently, the engagement mechanism includes an opening override arrangement which allows the upper assembly to travel through the partly closed position towards the upright open position without operation of the actuator.

Preferably, the engagement mechanism includes a closing override arrangement which allows the upper assembly to travel through the upright open position from the fully to the partly open positions without operation of the actuator.

The closing override arrangement preferably the cam lock and the stop, which is configured to restrict downward movement of the pawl against a leading face of the stop.

Typically, the actuator includes a button and a translatable yolk acted on by the button, the translatable yolk being located within the handle, being connected at opposite ends to the left and right linkage arms, and being sprung biased to a release position.

The invention extends to a combined cooking press and grill having a lower assembly supporting a lower cooking surface, an upper assembly supporting an upper cooking surface , and an engagement mechanism for pivotally engaging the lower and upper assemblies, wherein the engagement mechanism allows the cooking press and grill to be located in at least one partly closed position in which the upper cooking surface is spaced above the lower cooking surface and opposes the lower cooking surface, and to be located in at least one open position in which the upper cooking surface is removed from the lower cooking surface, the engagement mechanism being operable to retain the upper and lower assemblies in said at least one partly closed position, and wherein the upper housing includes a handle, movement of which causes the upper assembly to move relative to the lower assembly, and an actuator to release the engagement mechanism to allow movement of the upper assembly relative to the lower assembly when it is retained by the engagement mechanism wherein the at least one open position includes a first upright open position in which the upper cooking surface extends approximately transverse to the lower cooking surface and a second fully open position in which the upper cooking surface extends approximately parallel to the lower cooking surface, the engagement mechanism being operable to retain the upper assembly in the first upright open position, when the upper assembly is being opened towards the fully open position, and including a closing override arrangement to render the engagement mechanism inoperable to retain the upper assembly in the first upright open position when being closed from the fully open position. Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example of currently preferred embodiments only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 : Shows a plan view of a cooking press and grill according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2: Shows a side view of the cooking press and grill of figure 1.

Figure 3: Shows a front view of the cooking press and grill of figure 1.

Figure 4: Shows a rear view of the cooking press and grill of figure 1.

Figure 5: Shows a bottom view of the cooking press and grill of figure 1. Figure 6: Shows a front perspective view of the cooking press and grill of figure 1 when in a closed position.

Figure 7: Shows a rear perspective view of the cooking press and grill of figure 1 when in a closed position.

Figure 8: Shows a front perspective view of the cooking press and grill of figure 1 when in another closed position.

Figure 9: Shows a perspective view of the cooking press and grill of figure 1 in an open position.

Figure 10: Shows a plan view of the cooking press and grill of figure 1 when in a fully open position. Figure 11 : Shows a perspective view of the cooking press and grill of figure 10.

Figure 12: Shows an exploded view of the engagement mechanism and right side arm of the cooking press and grill of figure 1. Figure 13: Shows an exploded view of the engagement mechanism and left side arm of the cooking press and grill of figure 1.

Figure 14: Shows an exploded view of the handle assembly of the cooking press and grill of figure 1.

Figure 15: Shows a partial exploded view of the lower housing and lower cooking surface of the cooking press and grill of figure 1.

Figures 16A 16B: Show a sectional view through line AA of figure 1 with the lower housing in a lowered and raised position respectively.

Figures 17A & 17B: Show a cross sectional view through line BB of figure 1 with the lower housing in a lowered and raised position respectively. Figures 18A & 18B: Show a cut away view of the handle and side arm assemblies of the cooking press and grill of figure 1 with the ratchet and pawl assembly engaged and disengaged respectively.

Figures 19A & 19B: Show a cross sectional view through line AA of figure 1 when the cooking press and grill is in a closed position and an open position respectively. Figures 2OA & 2OB: Show cut-away side views of a cooking press and grill of the present invention in a fully closed and fully open position respectively, illustrating the electrical connection between the upper and lower assemblies.

Figures 2OC & 2OD: show detailed front and rear perspective views of a cable disk of Figures 2OA and 2OB. Figures 21 A & 2 IB: Show partly cut-away side views of the engagement mechanism in the partly and fully locked positions open position of Figure 9, and

Figure 21C: Shows a partly cut-away side view of the engagement mechanism in an unlocked override position. Detailed description of the invention

Referring first to figures 1 to 5, plan, side, front, rear and bottom views of a cooking press and grill 100 are shown. The grill 100 is in its fully closed position so that upper and lower cooking surfaces (obscured) oppose each other and are immediately adjacent to each other.

The grill 100 includes an upper assembly 1, a lower assembly 2 and an engagement mechanism 3 that pivotally engages the upper assembly 1 and lower assembly 2. The exemplary grill 100 shown in the drawings has an engagement mechanism 3 that is formed in part by integral extensions of parts of the upper assembly 1 and lower assembly 2. In less preferred embodiments, the engagement mechanism 3 may be formed by separate components engaged with the upper and/or lower assemblies.

The upper assembly 1 includes a cooking surface housing 4 for retaining an upper cooking surface and associated circuitry, a left side arm assembly 5, a right side arm assembly 6, and a handle 7. The handle 7 includes a button 9, which as explained in more detail hereinafter, allows an operator to readily move the upper assembly 1 relative to the lower assembly 2 about the engagement mechanism 3. The upper assembly 1 also includes an overhanging lip 8 along its rear edge to direct fluids from the cooking surfaces.

The lower assembly 2 includes two front feet 10 and two rear feet 1OA, a receptacle for a holding a removable drip tray 1 1, a control panel 12 and a lower cooking surface housing 13 for holding a lower cooking surface and associated circuitry.

Figures 6 and 7 show a front and rear perspective view of the grill 100 when in a first fully closed position, which will typically only be used when the grill 100 is stored between uses. The grill 100 may include a latch 15 and a stop 16, the latch movable by translating a knob 17. The latch 15 may be moved into the position shown in Figure 6 so as to locate below the stop 16 when the grill 100 is in its fully closed position, thereby locking the grill 100 in this position. The knob 17 is used to retract the latch 15, which allows the front of the upper assembly 1 to be lifted away from the lower assembly 2. The operation of the latch 15 and stop 16 can be clearly seen from figures 6 and 8. Figure 8 shows a front perspective view of the grill 100 in a partly closed or raised position. The grill 100 is placed in this position from the fully closed position shown in figures 1 to 7 by lifting the handle 7 upwards as indicated by arrow A in figure 7. The upper cooking surface housing 4 is pivotally engaged with the side arms 5, 6, allowing the upper cooking surface housing 4 to remain substantially parallel to the lower cooking surface housing 13. As described in more detail herein below, the engagement mechanism 3 may include a ratchet and pawl mechanism, allowing the upper assembly 1 to be retained in a plurality of closed positions, with the upper cooking surface housing 4 being located at varying heights relative to the lower cooking surface housing 13. In an alternative but less preferred embodiment, the grill 100 may have only a single raised position in which it may be retained by the engagement mechanism.

The control panel 12 includes two cooking control knobs 14, for example a temperature control knob and a timer control knob, and a lower cooking surface orientation control knob 43, the operation of which is explained herein below. The drip tray 11 is also shown in figures 6 to 8, the drip tray 11 extending from the front surface to the rear surface of the grill 100.

Figure 9 shows the grill 100 in an upright open position, with the upper assembly 1 and therefore the upper cooking surface 18 located approximately perpendicular to the lower assembly 2 and lower cooking surface 19. In this position, any oils, fats or juices may drain from the lower cooking surface 19 into the drip tray 11 over the front and rear edges of the lower cooking surface 18, as illustrated by arrows Dl and D2 respectively. Any fluids from the upper cooking surface 18 are directed by ribs 20 (one only indicated by a reference numeral in figure 9) to the rear end of the drip tray 11. This may prevent fluids from entering the engagement mechanism 3 and/or from spoiling the rear of the lower assembly 2. As explained in more detail herein below, the upper assembly 1 is retained in the open position shown in Figure 9 by the engagement mechanism 3.

Figure 10 shows a plan view of the grill 100 in a fully open position so that the cooking surfaces 18, 19 are substantially parallel to each other and approximately in the same plane. Again, fluids from the lower cooking surface 19 may drain off either the front edge or the rear edge of the cooking surface 19 as indicated by arrows Dl and D2 respectively and fluids from the upper cooking surface 18 may drain onto the lip 8, and through apertures 21 and 22 into the drip tray 11. The channels of the upper cooking surface 18 may be inclined to assist in drainage and if inclined, the ribs 20 may increase in height from right to left to present a level surface across the top of the ribs. The lip 8 may include guides 23, 24 that drip fluids towards the apertures 21 , 22. In alternative embodiments, one aperture or three or more apertures may be provided in the lip 8. Although the currently contemplated preferred grill 100 allows the upper assembly 1 to be oriented as shown in Figure 10, this is not essential and the grill 100 could be able to be operated in the positions shown in Figures 1 to 9.

Figure 12 shows an exploded view of the right arm assembly 6 and a portion of the lower assembly 2, including the engagement mechanism 3. The arm assembly 6 includes in this embodiment an outer moulding 50, typically formed from diecast aluminium, an inner pressing 51 in the form of a pressed metal linkage arm and a cover

52. The outer moulding 50 includes an annulus 53, through which a bolt 54 and bush 55 are inserted to engage the outer moulding 50 with the rest of the lower assembly 2. The bolt 54 is received in a complementary opening 56 (see figure 15) provided in the lower assembly 2 in a manner that allows the arm assembly 6 to pivot relative to the lower assembly 2.

The lower assembly 2 includes an annular hub 56.1, having an insert 56.2 carrying a plurality of teeth 57, which are engageable with complementary teeth 58 provided on a pawl 59. The pawl 59 is engaged with the outer moulding 50 and cover 52 by a bolt or other suitable fixing means (not shown) that extends through the apertures 60, 61 provided in the cover 52 and pawl 59 respectively and into an opening 62 in the outer moulding 50. The pawl 59 includes a lug 63 (Figure 21A) that extends through a slot 64 in the inner linkage arm 51 , so that movement of the inner linkage arm 51 as indicated by arrows B, causes the pawl 59 to rotate, thereby engaging and disengaging the teeth 58 with the teeth 57. A spring 65 biases the pawl 59 into a position so that the teeth 57 are engaged with the teeth 58. The arm assembly 6 may therefore be located and retained at a number of different angles relative to the lower assembly 2, depending on where the teeth 58 of the pawl 59 engages along the teeth 57. It will be appreciated that various other types of multi-stop mechanisms may be used, such as a sprung pin (equivalent to ratchet) biased into engagement with a series of engagement apertures (equivalent to pawl).

A pivoting cam stop 66 is provided on the lower assembly 2 and retained in position by a shaft 67. When the arm assembly 6 is rotated about the engagement mechanism 3 so that it is approximately perpendicular (110°) to the lower assembly 2, the pawl 59 contacts the upper surface 68 of the stop 66, and pivots it inwardly to interfere with part of the arm, preventing further rotation of the arm outer moulding 50 unless the linkage arm 51 is moved so as to disengage the pawl 59 from the stop 66.

The upper cooking surface housing 4 is engaged with the arm assembly 6 by a shaft (not shown) extending into an opening 69, so as to create a pivotal engagement. The shaft extends through apertures 70 and 71 provided in the inner moulding 51 and cover

52 respectively. As explained in more detail later herein, the opposite opening 69B also provides an access point for an electrical cable to supply power to the heating element of the upper assembly 1. Two stops 69A extend from the periphery of the opening 69. The stops 69A abut pins (not shown) that extend from the cooking surface housing 4 on either side of the shaft that extends into the opening 69, allowing only limited pivotal movement of the upper cooking surface housing 4 relative to the arm assembly 6. Figure

12 also shows an exploded view of the latch 15, which was described previously herein.

Figure 13 shows an exploded view of the left side arm assembly 5. The left side arm assembly 5 does not include the latch 15 or stop 66. However, the arm assembly 5 may include a stop 66 and/or a latch 15 if required. The outer moulding 5OA, inner pressing 51 A and cover 52A are substantially mirror images of the upper moulding 50, inner pressing 51 and cover 52 respectively. The pawl 59A and spring 65 A are mirror versions of as the pawl 59 and spring 65. In addition, the left side arm 5 includes a disc 72, which retains a cable 88 (see Figures 2OA and 20B) as described in more detail herein below. It will be appreciated that in certain non-preferred embodiments of the side arm assemblies may not include a linkage arm 51 A and pawl.

Figure 14 shows an exploded view of the handle 7 and the inner pressings 51 and

5 IA. The handle 7 includes top and bottom covers 80 and 81 respectively, a guide member 82, and a translatable member 83, which can move by sliding on top of the guide member 82 as indicated by arrows C. This movement is achieved by depressing a button 84, which is surrounded by a button cover 85. When the button 84 is depressed by an operator, the translatable member 83 to which it is connected moves and compresses two springs 86, which biases the translatable member or yolk 83 towards the upper assembly 1. As the translatable member 83 has shafts 87 that extend through apertures 73 in the inner pressings 51, 5 IA, the inner pressings 51, 51 A move with the translatable member 83 and cause the pawls 59, 59A to pivot so as to disengage and engage the pawl 59 with the teeth 57 or stop 66. Figure 18A shows a cut-away view of the side arm assembly 5 and handle 7 when the button is not depressed and figure 18B shows the same view when the button 84 is depressed. Figure 15 shows a partial exploded view of the lower assembly 2. A heat shield

40 is provided beneath the lower cooking surface 19. Beneath the head shield 40 is a lower moulding 41, which includes apertures 42 for the cooking control knobs 14 and the control knob 43. The control knob 43 is connected to a shaft 44, which has a cog 45 at its end. Rotation of the control knob 43 therefore results in a sliding member or rack 46 moving across the lower moulding 41 as indicated by arrows E. Inclined surfaces 47 on the sliding member 46 abut inclined surfaces 48 on the two front feet 10, which extend through apertures (obscured) in the lower moulding 41. A flange 49 is provided on each of the feet 10 to prevent the feet 10 falling out of the lower moulding 41. The sliding member 46 is secured in a fixed vertical relationship with the lower moulding 41 by caps 50, which are carried on pins 51B which extend through slots 51. If the knob 43 is rotated by an operator in a counter-clockwise direction, the feet 10 are pushed downwards. This has the effect of raising the front of the lower assembly 2. Therefore, the control knob 43 can be used to level the lower cooking surface 19, for example to enable an egg to be cooked on the surface, or to put the lower cooking surface 19 back in an inclined position so that fluids more readily drain off the lower cooking surface 19, predominantly in the direction shown by arrow Dl in figure 9. A cut-out 52 may be provided in the control knob 43 to enable the knob to be gripped by an operator.

In a less preferred embodiment, a single central foot may be provided instead of the two feet 10, with the advantage of less components and the disadvantage of reduced stability. Also, the control knob 43 may be replaced by another control device, such as a rotatable dial or a translatable button, with appropriate modification of the mechanism to extend and retract the feet 10.

Figures 16A and 16B show a cross-sectional view through line AA of figure 1, illustrating the raising of the front of the lower assembly 2. The sliding member 46 and upper portion of the feet 10 have been omitted from figure 16A and 16B for clarity of illustration. Figures 17A and 17B show a cross section through line B illustrating the operation of the control knob 43 to retract and extend the feet 10 respectively.

Figure 19A shows a partial cross-sectional view through the grill 100 in a fully closed position and figure 19B shows the cooker in a fully open position. In figure 19A the feet 10 are retracted and in figure 19B, the control knob 43 has been turned so as to extend the front feet 10, thereby levelling the lower cooking surface 19. The handle 7 provides a support for the upper assembly 1. As can be seen in figure 19B, the lip 8 extends below a shelf 53 that extends from the lower cooking surface 19. This assists to direct fluids into the drip tray 11. In a less preferred embodiment, a Hp may be provided as part of the lower assembly 2 and a shelf as part of the upper assembly 1 , although the ability of the Hp to extend above the lower edge of the shelf may not be achievable if this arrangement is adopted.

The drip tray 11 includes two base surfaces 1 IA and HB, which are oriented so as to provide a downward slope from the edges of the drip tray 11 to the centre 11C of the trip tray 11. The base surfaces HA and 1 IB are oriented to incline inwardly so that gravity tends to cause fluids to move to the centre 11C whether the feet 10 are extended or retracted, thereby assisting to prevent pooling of fluids at one of the ends of the drip tray 11.

Figures 2OA and 2OB show a partial cut-away view of the grill 100. An electrical cable 88 is connected to the heating element (not shown) of the upper assembly 1 and extends out through the opening 69A. The shaft from the upper assembly extending into the opening 69A is cylindrical to accommodate the cable 88 in its interior. The cable 88 runs along the interior of the side arm assembly 5 and enters the engagement mechanism

3. As is clear from Figures 2OC and 2OD, the cable 88 enters the disk 72 via a cut-out 72A, and then passes through aperture 72B as is indicated by arrow 72C. The cable 88 is then coiled about the nab or annulus 53 A (Figure 13), and exits the engagement mechanism 3 into the lower assembly 2, where it is connected to the power supply unit (not shown). As shown in Figures 2OA and 2OB, the coil of the cable 88 through and over the disk 72 allows the grill 100 to be opened and closed without placing significant wear stress on the cable 88, which may increase the lifetime of the cable 88. Referring now to Figures 21 A and 2 IB, a partly cut-away side view of the engagement mechanism 3 is shown to illustrate how the upper assembly 1 is locked in the Figure 9 upright position. In Figure 2 IA, the pawl 59 is shown biased in the forward position in which the button 84 is not depressed. As a result, as the upper assembly is rotated clockwise, the teeth 58A of the pawl, after being disengaged from the teeth 57A, ride along the outer surface of the annular hub 56.1, and come into contact with the outer surface of the cam stop 66. The cam stop 66 is located within an aperture (66B in Figure 12) extending through the annular hub 56.1, is pivoted to the hub on a shaft 67, and is lightly sprung biased outwardly in a clockwise direction. As the upper assembly is rotated clockwise from the Figure 21 A to the Figure 21B position, the more strongly inwardly biased teeth 58A on the pawl 59 rotate the cam stop 66 counter-clockwise, causing a detent portion 66A of the cam stop to abut against a projecting tab 53A extending from the annulus 53 so as to retain the upper assembly in the gravity biased upright position of approximately 110°.

In order to release the upper assembly, the button 84 is depressed in the manner previously described to pivot the pawl 59 clockwise and out of contact with the cam stop

66, thereby allowing the cam stop 66 to rotate outwardly to the position indicated in

Figure 21C so that the lug 53 A is free to rotate clockwise, allowing the cooking press grill to rotate into its fully opened Figure 11 position.

When closing the grill, it is not necessary to depress the button 84 to prevent the upper assembly from locking in the upright position. Rather, as the upper assembly is rotated counter-clockwise, the outermost surface of the lug 53A rides up against the innermost surface 66B of the cam stop, thereby pivoting the cam stop outwards. The pawl

59 is formed with a trailing projection 59B which rides over the outer face of the cam stop 66 and allows the following teeth 59A to travel over the outer face of the cam without jamming when rotated in the counter-clockwise direction. The pawl 59 is similarly formed with a leading face 59C which allows the pawl to ride over the teeth 57A when the upper assembly 1 is rotated clockwise from the closed position without having to enable the actuator and pivot the pawl out of contact with the teeth 57A. As was described above, continuous clockwise rotation of the upper assembly through and beyond its upright position is only possible if the actuator is enabled. When the upper assembly is rotated back from the fully open position, as described above, the upper assembly is able to travel through the upright position with no activation of the actuator being necessary. This avoids the need to lean over the open grill and press the button 84 before it is in the upright position . However, when the teeth 58A come into contact with the teeth 57A, they do click into inter-engagement with one another in an upper raised position, and it is necessary to enable the actuator when readily accessible to release the teeth 58A and enable the upper assembly to travel either to the lower raised position in which the first tooth 57Al of the insert is engaged, or to move the upper assembly 1 to the fully closed position. Although the preferred grill 100 as presently contemplated includes two open positions (as shown for example in Figures 9 and 10), further open positions may be provided if required by varying the number and position of teeth 57A. For example, the upper assembly 1 may be able to be retained in a plurality of positions ranging from about 85 to about 105 degrees relative to the lower assembly 2. Also, the upper assembly 1 may be able to be retained at about 175 degrees relative to the lower assembly 2, thereby causing the upper cooking surface 18 to provide an increased inclined cooking surface or to provide an inclination if the cooking surface 18 is flat when the grill 100 is fully opened. In this latter option, modification of the grill 100 to provide support for the upper assembly 1 may be provided, for example by having adjustable feet from the handle 17 or allowing the handle to be moved and retained in a position that provides support.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to specific integers or components having known equivalents, then those equivalents are hereby incorporated herein as if individually set forth. Those skilled in the relevant arts will appreciate that modifications or additions may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A combined cooking press and grill having a lower assembly supporting a lower cooking surface, an upper assembly supporting an upper cooking surface , and an engagement mechanism for pivotally engaging the lower and upper assemblies, wherein the engagement mechanism allows the cooking press and grill to be located in at least one partly closed position in which the upper cooking surface is spaced above the lower cooking surface and opposes the lower cooking surface, and to be located in at least one open position in which the upper cooking surface is removed from the lower cooking surface, the engagement mechanism being operable to retain the upper and lower assemblies in said at least one partly closed position, and wherein the upper housing includes a handle, movement of which causes the upper assembly to move relative to the lower assembly and wherein said handle includes an actuator to release the engagement mechanism via at least one linkage mechanism to allow movement of the upper assembly relative to the lower assembly when it is retained by the engagement mechanism.

2. A combined cooking press and grill according to claim 1 in which the at least one open position includes a first upright open position in which the upper cooking surface extends approximately transverse to the lower cooking surface and a second fully open position in which the upper cooking surface extends approximately parallel to the lower cooking surface, the engagement mechanism being operable to retain the upper assembly in the first upright open position.

3. A combined cooking press and grill according to claim 2 in which said engagement mechanism includes two parts, one located at each side of the cooking press and grill, wherein both parts are operable to retain the upper and lower assemblies in said at least one partly closed position and are releasable by said actuator and the handle.

4. A combined cooking press and grill according to claim 2 or claim 3 in which the upper assembly includes left and right side arm assemblies spanned by the handle, the at least one linkage mechanism including left and right linkage arms carried within the respective left and right side arm assemblies.

5. A combined cooking press and grill according to any one of the claims 2 to 4 in which the engagement mechanism includes a multi-stop mechanism to retain the upper and lower assemblies in said at least one partly closed position, the multi-stop mechanism being releasable by the actuator.

6. A combined cooking press and grill according to claim 5 in which the multi-stop mechanism includes a ratchet and pawl mechanism, wherein the pawl is disengageable from the ratchet by operating the actuator.

7. A combined cooking press and grill according to any one of the preceding claims in which the lower housing has at least one adjustable foot extending from an inner cavity in the lower housing out through an aperture in the lower housing, the extent of extension being adjustable by an adjustment mechanism.

8. A combined cooking press and grill according to claim 7 in which the adjustment mechanism includes a rotary dial or knob and a rack translatable by the rotary dial or knob to adjust the height of the at least one adjustable foot via an inclined face arrangement.

9. A combined cooking press and grill according to any one of the preceding claims in which the upper cooking surface has a plurality of ribs that are substantially parallel to each other except for a portion of at least two ribs, which are oriented in use, to direct fluids from the outer periphery of the upper cooking surface towards the centre of the upper cooking surface.

10. A combined cooking press and grill according to any one of the preceding claims in which one of the upper and lower assemblies includes a lip and the other of the upper and lower assemblies includes a shelf, wherein when the cooking press and grill is in the open position, the lip extends below the shelf so as to prevent fluids travelling from the upper or lower cooking surfaces between the lip and the shelf and wherein the lip includes at least one aperture through which the fluids may drain into a receptacle positioned below the at least one aperture.

11. A combined cooking press and grill according to claim 4 which the upper and lower cooking surfaces are electrically connected by a cable, the cable extending between the lower assembly and the upper assembly through the engagement mechanism, so as not to be visible from the exterior of the cooking press and grill.

12. A combined cooking press and grill according to claim 11 in which the cable extends through a disk provided in the engagement mechanism.

13. A combined cooking press and grill according to either one of claims 11 or 12 in which the upper cooking surface has a housing that is pivotally connected to the side arm assemblies and the upper cable travels from the engagement mechanism, along one of said side arms and enters said housing at the pivotal connection.

14. A combined cooking press and grill according to any one of the preceding claims in which the lower housing includes a receptacle to hold a drip tray to capture fluids from the upper and lower cooking surfaces, the drip tray extending from a front edge of the lower cooking surface to a rear edge of the lower cooking surface so as to capture fluids exiting therefrom and to capture fluids from the upper cooking surface at its edge closest to the engagement mechanism.

15. A combined cooking press and grill according to claim 14 when dependent on claim 6 in which the drip tray has a base inclined in two directions so as to direct fluids to the centre of the drip tray regardless of whether the at least one adjustable foot is extended or retracted.

16. A combined cooking press and grill according to claim 6 in which the multi-stop mechanism includes a cam lock which is responsive to the pawl when in the deactivated position to abut against a stop rotatable by the handle to retain the upper assembly in the upright position when being opened, and which is releasable in response to the actuator being activated.

17. A combined cooking press and grill according to any one of claims 2 to 6 and 11 to 13 in which the engagement mechanism includes an opening override arrangement which allows the upper assembly to travel through the partly closed position towards the upright open position without operation of the actuator.

18. A combined cooking press and grill according to any one of claims 2 to 6, 11 to 13 and 16 to 17 in which the engagement mechanism includes a closing override arrangement which allows the upper assembly to travel through the upright open position from the fully to the partly open positions without operation of the actuator.

19. A combined cooking press and grill according to claim 18 when dependent on claim 16 in which the closing override arrangement includes the cam lock and the stop, which is configured to restrict downward movement of the pawl against a leading face of the stop.

20. A combined cooking press and grill according to claim 4 in which the actuator includes a button and a translatable yolk acted on by the button, the translatable yolk being located within the handle, being connected at opposite ends to the left and right linkage arms, and being sprung biased to a release position.

21. A combined cooking press and grill having a lower assembly supporting a lower cooking surface, an upper assembly supporting an upper cooking surface , and an engagement mechanism for pivotally engaging the lower and upper assemblies, wherein the engagement mechanism allows the cooking press and grill to be located in at least one partly closed position in which the upper cooking surface is spaced above the lower cooking surface and opposes the lower cooking surface, and to be located in at least one open position in which the upper cooking surface is removed from the lower cooking surface, the engagement mechanism being operable to retain the upper and lower assemblies in said at least one partly closed position, and wherein the upper housing includes a handle, movement of which causes the upper assembly to move relative to the lower assembly, and an actuator to release the engagement mechanism to allow movement of the upper assembly relative to the lower assembly when it is retained by the engagement mechanism wherein the at least one open position includes a first upright open position in which the upper cooking surface extends approximately transverse to the lower cooking surface and a second fully open position in which the upper cooking surface extends approximately parallel to the lower cooking surface, the engagement mechanism being operable to retain the upper assembly in the first upright open position, when the upper assembly is being opened towards the fully open position, and including a closing override arrangement to render the engagement mechanism inoperable to retain the upper assembly in the first upright open position when being closed from the fully open position.