WO2013005117A1

WO2013005117A1 - Barbecue with height adjustable cooking grid

Info

Publication number: WO2013005117A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/051878
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hendrik Willem ALBERTZE; John Peter GAUNT
Original assignee: Albertze Hendrik Willem; Gaunt John Peter
Priority date: 2011-07-07
Filing date: 2012-04-16
Publication date: 2013-01-10
Also published as: CN102860759A

Abstract

A barbecue (1) is provided that has a height adjustable cooking grid (11) that is vertically adjustable relative to a barbecue hearth (9). The cooking grid is supported relative to a support structure and a mechanical fastening mechanism (14,15, 16) is provided for releasably fastening the cooking grid at a selected height within a height range or at a selected height of a plurality of different possible heights. A spring mechanism (5) is provided for supporting at least a part of the weight of the cooking grid and any items supported thereon when the fastening mechanism is disengaged to enable the height of the cooking grid to be adjusted from one height to a different height. The fastening mechanism may include a latch mechanism (14) operating in conjunction with a plurality of formations (16) each of which corresponds to one height of a predetermined number of heights of the cooking grid. The barbecue may be of a freestanding collapsible type in which instance an upright tubular support may be composed of at least two sections interconnected by spigot and socket type of joint.

Description

BARBECUE WITH HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE COOKING GRID

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a barbecue with a height adjustable cooking grid. The cooking grid may be used to support food being cooked directly or it may be used to support a cooking utensil such as a clamping type of gridiron, a pot, a pan or a kettle. More particularly, the invention relates to a freestanding barbecue that may optionally be of a collapsible type.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is generally desirable that a cooking grid be height adjustable relative to coals supported on a hearth that is typically in the form of an ash pan (sometimes referred to as a fire basket and various other different names) with or without a coals supporting grid. This enables different heat conditions of a fire to be accommodated as well as different cooking heats to be used as may be required by a particular food type being cooked as some may be sensitive to extreme heat and others may be advantageously cooked using extreme heat. Numerous different arrangements have been provided for enabling a cooking grid to be supported at different heights above a hearth. Many of these simply have a plurality of vertically spaced supports for the cooking grid that can be manually moved from one to the other. Such arrangements are typically difficult to use when a fire is present on the hearth without the heat of the fire in some way rendering such an activity is least uncomfortable, if not dangerous. Other barbecues have a variety of different mechanisms for altering the height of a cooking grid above the hearth but many of these are difficult or dangerous to operate and others may be rather costly. The problem is generally exacerbated when food is already present on a cooking grid the height of which is to be adjusted simply by virtue of the weight of the food adding to the weight of what may be a very hot cooking grid. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a barbecue having a height adjustable cooking grid that is vertically adjustable relative to a barbecue hearth and wherein the cooking grid is supported relative to a support structure and a mechanical fastening mechanism is provided for releasably fastening the cooking grid at a selected height within a range or at a height corresponding to one of a plurality of different possible heights above the barbecue hearth, the barbecue being characterised in that a spring mechanism is provided for supporting at least a part of the weight of the cooking grid and any items supported thereon when the fastening mechanism is disengaged to enable the height of the cooking grid to be adjusted from one height to a different height. Further features of the invention provide for fastening mechanism to include a latch mechanism operating in conjunction with a plurality of formations each of which corresponds to one height of a predetermined number of heights of the cooking grid; for the barbecue to be of the freestanding type in which instance a single upright tubular support assembly forms the support structure and the cooking grid is supported at the operatively upper end of at least one upright post that is movable telescopically relative to the upright tubular support assembly; for the spring mechanism to include a compression or tension spring located within the upright tubular support assembly with the spring mechanism preferably being a compression spring generally concentric with the upright tubular support, the compression spring preferably being of a suitable variable pitch type; and for the upright post to have a plunger at its operatively lower end with an upper region of the post cooperating with a guiding collar fitted in the upper end of the upright tubular support assembly.

Still further features of the invention provide for the mechanical latch mechanism to comprise an operating arm extending generally radially outwards from the upright post with the arm passing through a slot in the wall of the upright tubular support wherein the slot extends generally lengthwise relative to the tubular support and has a plurality of a laterally extending notches defining formations corresponding to a plurality of different heights of the cooking grid; and for the shape of the notches to be somewhat divergent in a direction extending away from the slot to ensure that either the weight of the cooking grid or the action of the spring urges the operating arm into the notch.

Whilst the invention can be applied to many different types of barbecues, it is particularly suitable for use in relation to collapsible barbecues of the freestanding type. In such an instance the upright tubular support assembly may be composed of two or more collinear tubular supports that are releasably interconnected. An upper tubular support can be attached to the upper end of a lower tubular support typically by means of a spigot and socket type of joint, especially a screw threaded spigot and complementary socket. In instances in which a freestanding base is provided for supporting an upright tubular support assembly, the spigot and socket could be arranged such that a spigot projecting from the lower end of an upper tubular support can be engaged in a cooperating socket in the base in order to provide a half height of tubular support assembly or, alternatively, in a socket provided in the upper end of a lower tubular support that in turn is supported by the base in order to provide a full height of upright tubular support assembly.

Such spigots and sockets can be permanently attached to the relevant tubular support such as by welding or bonding. However, as a preferred alternative they may be provided on connector units that have a generally cylindrical expansion assembly for introduction into an open end of a tubular support with a peripheral flange cooperating with an end edge of a tubular support. The end of the connector unit may have an abutment face coaxial with the peripheral flange that is adapted for engagement by a co-operating abutment face of a co-operating connector unit. A spigot and coopreating socket may cooperate to operatively draw the two abutment faces into firm engagement with each other. The expansion assembly may comprise at least one generally rigid but somewhat diametrically expandable locking ring or sleeve having an inner surface whereof each end is in cooperating relationship with one of a pair of spaced expansion surfaces with and clamping means for urging the pair of spaced expansion surfaces towards each other to expand the locking ring or sleeve into firm engagement with the inner wall of a tubular support, in use. The diametrically expandable locking ring or sleeve may be a tubular ring or sleeve with a longitudinally extending slit for providing the characteristic of being diametrically expandable. In order that the above and other features of the invention may be more fully understood, one embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a schematic, sectional elevation of one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 4 is an elevation of the barbecue showing the latch mechanism and the cooking grid in its lowest position;

Figure 5 is the same as Figure 4 but showing the cooking grid in a middle position;

Figure 6 is the same as Figure 4 but showing the cooking grid in its uppermost position;

Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the central part of the upper tubular support showing the shape of the slot and notches more clearly;

Figure 8 is an exploded elevation of one form of connector unit that can be used for the weld-free provision of a spigot or socket at an end of a tubular support; and, Figure 9 is a sectional elevation showing two connector units one of which has a screw threaded spigot and the other of which has a screw threaded socket in axial alignment with each other for interconnection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 of the drawings, a barbecue is of the freestanding, portable and collapsible type with a central support structure in the form of a single upright tubular support assembly (1 ) composed of a lower tubular support (2) releasably carrying at its upper end a collinear upper tubular support (3). The upper tubular support (3) has a coaxial, telescopically movable, upright post (4) that is urged towards an extended condition by a compression spring (5) that is generally concentrically housed within the upper tubular support. The compression spring is preferably of a suitable variable pitch type chosen for accepting an appropriate load, in use. The compression spring acts between a plunger (6) at the operatively lower end of the post and a connector (7) at the lower end of the upper tubular support. A guiding collar (8) fitted in the upper end of the upper tubular support serves to maintain the post generally coaxially within the upper tubular support.

The upper end of the upper tubular support has a removable barbecue hearth in the form of an ash pan (9) with the ash pan having a central recess (10) for accommodating the upper end of the upper tubular support and locating it suitably firmly in position. The upper end of the upper tubular support thus supports the ash pan. A removable cooking grid (1 1 ) has a central smooth spigot (1 2) that fits into the upper end of a bore in the post which is tubular so that the cooking grid is supported generally horizontally over the ash pan and is vertically adjustable relative to it according to the vertical position of the post relative to the upper tubular support. The ash pan may have a loose, somewhat elevated coals supporting grid (1 3) to elevate burning coals and facilitate flow of air to them.

A fastening mechanism in the form of a latch mechanism has an operating arm (14) extending generally radially outwards from the plunger and upright post with the arm passing through a slot (1 5) in the wall of the upper tubular support (3) (see especially Figures 4 to 7). The slot extends generally lengthwise relative to the tubular support, that is to say, generally vertically in the operative position.

The slot has a plurality of formations in the form of laterally extending notches (1 6) corresponding to a plurality of different heights of the cooking grid; in the illustrated instance, three different heights. Each of the notches is shaped to be somewhat divergent as it extends away from the slot to ensure that either the downward weight of the cooking grid, or the upward urging of the spring, urges the operating arm into engagement with one side or the other of a notch, as the case may be, and according to whether the post is being urged upwards or downwards in the particular circumstances applicable. This prevents the post from becoming disengaged from the notches and the cooking grid therefore either rising or falling suddenly.

The post is freely rotatable about its own axis and, accordingly, when it is desired to alter the height at which the cooking grid is supported, the operating arm can simply be urged to a position in which it can be disengaged from the associated notch and rotated into the slot followed by upward or downward longitudinal movement either against the action of the spring, or against the action of gravity, to the desired notch. Figures 4, 5, and 6 illustrate the three different heights that are applicable to the embodiment of the invention described above. There can obviously be more or even only two different heights of the cooking grid above the ash pan.

It will be understood that the spring serves to support at least a part of the weight of the cooking grid and any items supported thereon when the latch mechanism is disengaged from any notch and thereby enables the height of the cooking grid to be adjusted more easily than in an instance in which the entire weight of the cooking grid, post and items supported on the grid must be physically supported during movement of the post from one position to another. This being so, height adjustment of the cooking grid is greatly facilitated. In this embodiment of the invention the upper and lower collinear tubular supports are releasably interconnected by means of a screw threaded spigot and socket type of connection in which the connector (7) at the lower end of the upper tubular support has a screw threaded spigot (21 ) extending from the lower end of the upper tubular support. Such a spigot fits into a co-operating socket in the upper end of the lower tubular support that is provided by a socket connector (22).

The lower end of the lower tubular support also has a substantially identical connector (23) and spigot (24) that fits into a screw threaded socket (25) in a freestanding base (26) provided for supporting the upright tubular support assembly in its operative position. The ash pan and base may be of substantially the same diameter so that the two together may form a container for containing the entire barbecue in its disassembled condition.

The arrangement is such that the spigot projecting from the lower end of an upper tubular support could, if required, be engaged directly in the co-operating socket in the base in order to provide a half height of tubular support assembly suitable for use by persons in a seated condition. Alternatively, the upper tubular support could have its spigot engaged in the socket connector provided in the upper end of the lower tubular support that in turn is supported by the base in order to provide a full height of upright tubular support assembly.

Such connectors and their spigots and sockets may be permanently attached to the relevant tubular support such as by welding or bonding.

However, in one preferred arrangement from an assembly point of view, connectors of the type illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 may be used. In this instance, each of the connector units has a generally cylindrical expansion assembly for introduction into a simple open end of a tubular support with a peripheral flange (31 ) cooperating with an end edge (32) of the respective tubular support. The end of each connector unit has an annular abutment face (33) coaxial with the peripheral flange that is adapted for engagement by a co-operating abutment face of a cooperating connector unit in order to form a rigid, inflexible connection. A spigot and socket may thus cooperate to operatively draw the two abutment faces into firm engagement with each other.

The expansion assembly is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 and comprises a generally rigid, but somewhat diametrically expandable, locking ring or sleeve (34). The locking ring or sleeve has an inner surface whereof each end is of truncated conical shape that serves to cooperate at one end with a truncated conical expansion surface (35) on a body that has the peripheral flange (31 ) and annular abutment face (33). At the other end the truncated conical shape cooperates with a peripheral truncated conical expansion surface (36) on a terminal expansion member in the form of a disk (37). Clamping means in the form of an axially extending bolt (38) urges the disk towards the body such that the pair of spaced expansion surfaces move towards each other to expand the locking ring or sleeve into firm engagement with the inner wall of a tubular support, in use. The diametrically expandable characteristic of the locking ring or sleeve is, in this instance, provided by a longitudinally extending slit (39) in the wall of an otherwise tubular ring or sleeve.

It will be understood that numerous variations may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof. In particular, the shape of the cooking grid and ash pan, in plan view, can assume any desired shape. Also, it is envisaged that more than one upright support could be employed for supporting a larger size of cooking grid. In addition, the barbecue does not have to be a freestanding or a collapsible unit.

Still further, the fastening mechanism could be varied widely and need not operate on the basis of a series of formations such as notches in order to fasten the post in a particular vertical position. Thus, for example, the fastening mechanism may comprise a friction clamp.

Claims

A barbecue (1 ) having a height adjustable cooking grid (1 1 ) that is vertically adjustable relative to a barbecue hearth (9) and wherein the cooking grid is supported relative to a support structure and a mechanical fastening mechanism (14,15, 16) is provided for releasably fastening the cooking grid at a selected height within a range or at a height corresponding to one of a plurality of different possible heights above the barbecue hearth, the barbecue being characterised in that a spring mechanism (5) is provided for supporting at least a part of the weight of the cooking grid and any items supported thereon when the fastening mechanism is disengaged to enable the height of the cooking grid to be adjusted from one height to a different height.

A barbecue as claimed in claim 1 in which the fastening mechanism includes a latch mechanism (14) operating in conjunction with a plurality of formations (16) each of which corresponds to one height of a predetermined number of heights of the cooking grid.

A barbecue as claimed in claim 2 in which the latch mechanism comprises an operating arm (14) extending generally radially outwards from an upright post (4) with the arm passing through a slot (15) in a wall of an upright tubular support (3) wherein the slot extends generally lengthwise relative to the tubular support and has a plurality of a laterally extending notches (16) defining formations corresponding to a plurality of different heights of the cooking grid.

4. A barbecue as claimed in claim 3 in which the shape of the notches is somewhat divergent in a direction extending away from the slot to ensure that either the weight of the cooking grid or the action of the spring urges the operating arm into the notch. 5. A barbecue as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the barbecue is of the freestanding type with a single upright tubular support assembly (2, 3) forming the support structure and the cooking grid being supported at the operatively upper end of at least one upright post (4) that is movable telescopically relative to the upright tubular support assembly,

6. A barbecue as claimed in claim 5 in which the spring mechanism includes a compression or tension spring (5) located within the upright tubular support assembly.

7. A barbecue as claimed in claim 6 in which the spring is a compression spring generally concentric with the upright tubular support. 8. A barbecue as claimed in either one of claims 6 or 7 in which the spring is of a suitable variable pitch type.

9. A barbecue as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8 in which the upright post has a plunger (6) at its operatively lower end with an upper region of the post cooperating with a guiding collar (8) fitted in the upper end of the upright tubular support assembly.

10. A barbecue as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the barbecue is a collapsible, freestanding barbecue.

1 1 . A barbecue as claimed in claim 10 in which the barbecue has an upright tubular support assembly composed of at least two collinear tubular supports (2, 3) that are releasably interconnected and the barbecue has a free standing base (26).

12. A barbecue as claimed in claim 1 1 in which an upper tubular support has a spigot (21 ) projecting from a lower end thereof an that is engagable selectively with either a co-operating socket (25) in the base in order to provide a reduced height of tubular support assembly or, in a socket (22) provided in an upper end of a lower tubular support that in turn may be supported by the base in order to provide an increased height of upright tubular support assembly.

13. A barbecue as claimed in claim 12 in which the spigot and socket on the tubular supports are provided on connector units that have a generally cylindrical expansion assembly (34, 35, 36) extending into an open end of the tubular support with a peripheral flange (31 ) cooperating with an end edge (32) of a tubular support. 14. A barbecue as claimed in claim 13 in which the expansion assembly comprises at least one generally rigid but somewhat diametrically expandable locking ring or sleeve (34) having an inner surface whereof each end is in cooperating relationship with one of a pair of spaced expansion surfaces (35, 36) with clamping means (38) for urging the pair of spaced expansion surfaces towards each other to expand the locking ring or sleeve into firm engagement with the inner wall of a tubular support.

15. A barbecue as claimed in claim 14 in which the diametrically expandable locking ring or sleeve is a tubular ring or sleeve with a longitudinally extending slit (39) for providing the characteristic of being diametrically expandable.