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As is known, the temperature requirements for grilling foods outdoors must
range over 500.degree. Fahrenheit, a figure high enough to cause severe
burns to people and/or to scorch or ignite clothing, wooden furniture,
paint, or the like, that may come in contact with the cooking vessel, or,
as a matter of fact will also result in the death of living plants exposed
to extreme heat. Briefly, the invention, which may assume various
configurations, basically involves an outer housing, typically circular in
horizontal section, spaced apart from the cooking vessel of the invention
by a sufficient distance to provide a blanket of insulating neutral air.
In this connection, the outer housing is not supported from, or is not in
direct contact with the heated cooking vessel and, thereby, no heat is
conducted to such outer housing. Consequently, the outer housing remains
at a temperature which is not hazardous to people, adjacent materials, or
the like.
Moreover, the invention includes within the same outer housing the
aforesaid heated cooking vessel and as well as the fuel supply, the latter
being typically liquified petroleum. In some applications of the
invention, the grill for the food is supported above or along side the
fuel source, but, in any event, the placement of the fuel source
approximate the bottom of the cooking grill serves an added feature, i.e.
permits a degree of stability which prevents any accidental overturning of
the overall unit. It might be noted at this point that the cooking grill
defining the invention is typically mounted on rollers as well as fixed
legs, the rollers permitting ease of movement of the grill to any desired
cooking site.
A further safety feature of the invention, in addition to the already
discussed position of the fuel source within the outer housing, if in
contrast, the grill, operating on liquified petroleum gas, is
conventionally connected to a spaced apart tank of fuel by means of a
flexible hose, the latter is subject to interruption of flow, by the
accidental pressure of foot or other weight. In other words, if the
preceding occurs, the flow of hazardous gas is momentarily halted and the
flame is extinguished and then resumes without burning. The invention
provides a fixed and covered connection between the source of fuel and the
burner and obviates the aforesaid condition.
Moreover, a still further safety feature of the invention is the recessed
location of the control valve for the burner so that the source of fuel
cannot be accidentally turned on by bumping or other unintended contact.
As stated, the invention provides movability of the combined cooker and
fuel source, it being well known that excessive wind can be a hazard in
outdoor cooking, especially on the decks of high-rise apartments. Erratic
wind can cause flare-ups or flame from burning meat or fowl juices. Hence,
the invention permits movement to less turbulent and safer areas or a
porch or deck.
An added advantage, too, is the elimination of the hazards of alternative
charcoal disposal, the latter being a problem frequently met when the
still "live" charcoal is dumped into trash chutes of multi-storied
dwellings, oftentimes causing fires in the chutes or basement trash
receptacles.
The invention is so arranged that the operating position of the source of
fuel, the cooking burner, and the connecting passages and controls cannot
be accidentally violated during the process of replacing the tank of fuel,
where, as further stated above, the single opening for access to the main
shut-off valve through the same opening used for control valve access
makes it a simple, convenient and natural operation to close the main
shut-off valve while closing the control valve. As a matter of aesthetics,
and considering the temperature of the outer housing, it is quite possible
for colors and decorative effects to be employed on such outer housing
which would be appropriate to the porch and terrace at hand and, yet,
formerly impossible with conventional type grill temperatures.
A better understanding of the present invention will become more apparent
from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein
FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly broken away and partly in section,
showing an outdoor cooking arrangement in accordance with the invention;
and,
FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section, taken at line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and
looking in the direction of the arrows, showing still further details of
the invention at hand.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the
invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the
drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will
nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the
invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications
in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles
of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would
normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
Referring now to the figures, the invention is characterized by an outer
housing 12, typically in the form of a drum. A plate 12a is disposed at
the bottom of the outer housing 12, containing a series of openings 12c
for air admission. In order to achieve portability, at least two casters
14 may be provided, as well as one or more legs 15. A fuel tank 16, such
as a supply of liquid pressurized gas, is typically disposed on the plate
12a on the bottom of the outer housing 12.
It should be evident from the mid-area of the figure, the fuel supply tank
16 is rather conventional insofar as controls are concerned, typically
combining with a shut-off valve 17, a regulator 19, and tubing 20 leading
to a control valve 21 operated by a control knob 21a. A passageway 12b,
vertically disposed, extends through a side wall of the outer housing 12
and provides ready access to the aforesaid shut-off valve 17 as well as to
the aforesaid control knob 21a.
As to further structural details, vertically extending legs 25a are
disposed within the outer housing 12 and mount a plate member 25 also
having openings 25b therein for permitting air passage. It should be noted
that a collar 26 partially surrounds the defined shut-off valve 17
associated with regulator 19 of the fuel tank 16.
Looking now at the invention as shown in FIG. 1, a cooking vessel 30 is
disposed within the outer housing 12, typically being cast aluminum and
having a downwardly depending collar 30a extending therefrom, the latter
overlying a collar 35a, where, provision may be made, in the form of screw
means 30b, for the positive assembly of such collars 30a and 35a.
Disposed within the cooking vessel 30 is a burner 32, preferably of
doughnut configuration. As should be evident from the drawing, the cooking
vessel 30 includes means immediately above the burner 32 for receiving
rocks 40 commonly used on gas grills to distribute the heat, where the
assembly is completed through the use of cooking grid 39. In any event,
the important relationship to be remembered is the spacing between the
outer housing 12 and the cooking vessel of the invention, serving as a
heat barrier so that the outer housing 12 remains at a safe temperature
for not only the user but for material proximate the site of use of the
invention.
From the preceding, it should be apparent that the invention provides an
important approach for an outdoor cooking arrangement in situations which
may be limited in size, or otherwise confined, such as on porches,
balconies, or the like. In any event, people, combustible clothing worn by
people, and furniture which is close at hand have added to the hazardous
nature of any type of cooking arrangement presented heretofore.
Accordingly, through the use of an outer housing spaced a sufficient
distance from the inside workings of the invention to provide a blanket of
insulating, neutral air, exceptional results have been achieved. The
invention, therefore, satisfies a need which has been in demand as long as
the prevalency and increasing interest in outdoor cooking is concerned,
representing simplicity in components and providing, as stated in various
ways, a high degree of safety for the user as well as for the premises of
the user. Obviously, the outdoor cooking arrangement of the invention may
be modified, such as proportioning, varying the support arrangement,
utilizing other types of burners or the like. Thus, the preceding
description should be considered illustrative and not as limiting the
scope of the following claims:
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