U.S. patent application number 09/858736 was filed with the patent office on 2002-02-14 for cooking grill with baking oven insert.
Invention is credited to Hines, Robert S. JR..
Application Number | 20020017290 09/858736 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26810490 |
Filed Date | 2002-02-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020017290 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hines, Robert S. JR. |
February 14, 2002 |
Cooking grill with baking oven insert
Abstract
A high temperature grill structure with all the capabilities of
a conventional outdoor cooking grill but which may easily be
adapted for outdoor baking of pizza or bread or other such goods,
which grill can utilize gas or charcoal or the like for flame
generation, wherein the grill comprises a fire box and lid, a
conventional flame source within the fire box, a removable oven
insert, a removable grill element, a removable conventional
briquette or baffle type flame diffuser, and wherein the diffuser
and grill element are useable with or interchangeable with the oven
insert by way of quick-change structure.
Inventors: |
Hines, Robert S. JR.;
(Johnson City, TN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Donald W. Spurrell
P.O. Box 970
Johnson City
TN
37605
US
|
Family ID: |
26810490 |
Appl. No.: |
09/858736 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09858736 |
May 16, 2001 |
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09460365 |
Dec 13, 1999 |
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60112904 |
Dec 18, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
126/41R ;
126/25R; 126/38 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 37/0786 20130101;
A47J 37/01 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/41.00R ;
126/25.00R; 126/38 |
International
Class: |
F24B 003/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A cooking grill structure for outdoor cooking and having a
firebox affixed to a base means, said firebox comprising bottom,
side and end wall means providing an upper firebox section having a
top portion with an opening therethrough, and providing a lower
firebox section adapted to contain a fire producing medium, said
opening having a substantially continuous perimeter, support means
on said grill structure positioned above said lower firebox
section, baking platen means adapted to rest on said support means,
baking oven housing means mounted on said grill structure and
adapted to cover said platen means to provide a baking oven means,
said platen means having a substantially flat upper surface and
being comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of
ceramic or metal and having a thickness of from about 0.5 to about
2.0 inches to provide a heat sink capable of reaching temperatures
of about 700.degree. F. for baking pizzas or bread or the like, and
at least one edge portion of said platen means being spaced from
said perimeter to provide passage means into said oven means for
hot gasses rising upwardly from said lower section of said
firebox.
2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said housing means comprises
the lid of an outdoor cooking grill, and wherein said support means
comprises a grid support of said grill structure.
3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said support means comprises a
grid element wherein said housing means comprises the lid of an
outdoor cooking grill.
4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said baking platen is mounted
in a box-like structure having hot air venting means and an access
door to said baking platen. A generally rectangular cooking grill
structure for outdoor cooking and comprising opposing end walls, a
front wall, a back wall, and a bottom forming a firebox adapted to
contain a fire producing medium selected from the group consisting
of one or more of wood, charcoal, or a gas fired unit, said firebox
having an upper section with an open top defined by a substantially
continuous perimeter, support means on at least one of said walls
for supporting one or more elements selected from the group
consisting of a cooking grid or a baking oven, baking platen
structure having a substantially flat upper surface and being
comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of
ceramic or metal and having a thickness of from about 0.5 to about
2.0 inches to provide a heat sink capable of reaching temperatures
of about 700.degree. F. for baking pizzas or bread or the like,
said platen structure being adapted for mounting on said grid or
within said baking oven, said baking oven also being adapted to
rest on said grid, baking oven housing means adapted to cover said
platen structure, and at least one edge portion of said platen
structure being spaced from said perimeter to provide a passage
into said oven for hot gasses rising upwardly from said lower
section of said firebox. The structure of claim wherein said
housing means comprises the lid of an outdoor cooking grill, and
wherein said support means comprises a grid support of said grill
structure. The structure of claim wherein said support means
comprises a grid element and said housing means comprises the lid
of an outdoor cooking grill. The structure of claim wherein said
platen structure is mounted in a box-like structure having hot air
venting means and an access door to said platen means.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) (1)
based on Applicant's Provisional U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
60/112,904, filed Dec. 18, 1998 and titled "Cooking Grill With
Baking Oven Insert".
[0002] This application is a continuation of Applicants pending
Ser. No. 09/460,365, filed Dec. 13, 1999, and Applicant claims the
benefit thereof under 35 U.S.C. 120.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field
[0004] This invention concerns the provision of an oven modified,
stationary or portable grill, gas or charcoal fired, the oven
modification of which is provided with a high temperature capacity
heat sink, ceramic or metal platen, which modification can be in
the form of an insert. This insert is adapted, if desired, to be
used in conjunction with or to temporarily replace the ceramic or
lava rock or other type flame diffuser of conventional outdoor gas
grills, and also the grill element, and allow the grill to become a
substantially closed oven which can generate temperatures such as
about 700.degree. F. for baking pizzas or bread or the like. The
grill can also be manufactured in the singular form of a baking
oven using either gas or charcoal.
[0005] 2. Prior Art
[0006] Applicant is unaware of any prior art which concerns a
baking oven insert for a conventional outdoor cooking grill.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention in a broad embodiment comprises a
cooking grill structure for outdoor cooking and having a firebox
affixed to a base means, said firebox comprising wall means
providing to said firebox an upper section having a substantially
continuous and planar perimeter providing a grill opening, said
wall means also providing a lower section to said firebox adapted
to contain a fire producing medium, support means on said grill
structure positioned above said lower section, baking means having
a baking platen and being removably mounted on said support means,
said platen having substantial thickness to provide a heat sink,
housing means adapted to cover said platen to form a baking oven,
and edge portions of said platen being spaced from said perimeter
to provide passage means into said oven for hot gasses rising
upwardly from said lower section of said firebox.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] In the drawings of FIGS. 1-10, wherein the structural
portions are not shown to scale:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a side view of a typical gas outdoor grill with
its metal side portions removed to show one embodiment of the
present oven modification;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a front view of the grill taken in the direction
of arrow 2 in FIG. 1 with the oven access door removed for clarity
and with certain structure shown in cross-section for clarity;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of the
FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a front view of the grill of FIGS. 1-3 with a
front portion broken away for purposes of clarifying the internal
arrangement of the various structures;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a front view of a grill similar to FIGS. 1-4 with
the front walls of the fire box and lid removed and showing a
variation in the oven structure and arrangement within the
grill;
[0014] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the oven insert of FIGS. 1-4
with portions broken away for clarity;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a view as in FIG. 2 but showing substantially a
conventional gas grill structure;
[0016] FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a variation of the present
grill structure with the arrows showing the assembly and
disassembly directions of the oven modification on a conventional
grill, with or without a lid;
[0017] FIG. 9 is an isometric view of another variation of the
present modification grill structure; and
[0018] FIG. 10 is a view as in FIG. 9 showing the oven platen
access door in open position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] In the drawings, the FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a common gas or
charcoal fired grill generally designated 10 and is provided with
an oven access door 11 hinged at 13 and added on the front of the
grill firebox 12 for purposes of the present invention. Basically,
the conventional grill consists of a stand or other base 10, fire
box 12, a housing means or lid 14 hinged to the back wall of the
firebox at 15, a gas burner 16 comprised, for example, of a series
of apertured gas supply pipes 17, a ceramic or baffled flame
diffuser generally designated 18, and a grill or grid element
20.
[0020] The present grill modifications of FIGS. 1-4 and 7 comprise
an oven insert having a substantially configured box-like housing
means generally designated 22 having sides 24, 26, a back 28, top
30 and open front 31. The housing is preferably of stainless steel,
and a ceramic or metal baking or platen 32 is provided upon which
the pizza or bread or the like is placed for baking. This platen is
preferably of ceramic material and capable of withstanding
temperatures of about 1,000.degree. F. or more, and preferably has
a thickness of from about 0.5 to about 2.0 in. The platen is
preferably held in place by a ridge 34 or equivalent structure on
the floor 36 of the housing. The open central portion 38, FIG. 3,
comprising the major area of the housing floor allows the flame to
impinge directly on the platen 32.
[0021] For enhanced utility of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5 of the
present grill structure for either conventional grilling or the
present baking, the flame diffuser 18 features ceramic briquettes
40 contained in a rimmed stainless steel frame 42 and is readily
interchangeable with the oven insert as shown in these FIGS. Both
may slide in and out of the fire box 12 on side rails 44 interposed
between the grid 20 and the gas burner 16. Access to the rails 44
is through access door 11 on the front of the fire box 12.
[0022] A vent 46 in top 30, and the heat flow gaps 48 and 50 in
floor 36 may be provided with size adjustment structure such as
sliding cover plates or the like such as are employed on
conventional charcoal grill lids, for regulating oven heat
retention or heat generating characteristics of the oven. In one
embodiment, the entire oven may be cast as a monolithic ceramic
item without the need for any metal parts. In a further embodiment
aligned apertures 60 and 62 in the oven wall and fire box wall
respectively, FIG. 3, are provided such that water can be squirted
therethrough onto the hot surface 64 of the oven floor to cause an
injection of steam into the oven for enhancing bread making.
[0023] It is noted that where the present invention is dedicated
for oven use, the grill or grid element is not needed. Also, the
present invention in any of the embodiments shown, particularly
that of FIG. 5, can utilize a top entrance for the oven insert into
the fire box with the elimination of door 11 since the grill or
grid element typically rest on supports such as 52 such that they
can be lifted out and cleaned. Suitable handles such as 54 for door
11, 55 for the grid top, 56 for the slidable oven, and 58 for the
top entry oven may be provided.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 8, the present oven means or insert can
comprise a box-like structure 65 but wherein the access door 68 to
the baking platen 32 is hinged directly to the box. In this
embodiment the box is placed either directly on the grid element 20
or, with 20 removed, on the grid supports such as 52. Also, the
grill lid, not shown, need not be closed down over the box 22 for
all types of baking. For maximum oven heating it is preferred that
the box floor dimensions be about the same as the firebox opening
perimeter 66.
[0025] Referring to the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, the box-like
structure 65 is not employed, but rather the platen 32 is simply
slid in or out on grid 20 or its supports 52 thru the door opening
69 in lid 14. This platen is dimensioned to provide the hot air
circulation ports such as 48 and 50. Again, the grill lid or side
walls may be provided with any desired hot air venting
structure.
[0026] With particular reference to the claims herein, the present
cooking grill structure comprises a firebox 12 affixed to a base
means 15, said firebox comprising wall means 19, grill opening 23
having a substantially continuous planar perimeter 66, said wall
means providing a lower section 25 adapted to contain a fire
producing medium, support means 27, 52 or 20 on said grill
structure positioned above said lower section, a baking oven insert
generally designated 29 mounted on one or more of said support
means and having housing means 22 or 14 adapted to cover a baking
platen 32 to form the baking oven, and at least one edge portion 33
or 35 of said platen being spaced from said perimeter 66 to provide
passage means 48, 52 into said oven for hot gasses rising upwardly
from said lower section of said firebox.
[0027] The invention has been described in detail with particular
reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be
understood that variations and modification will be effected within
the spirit and scope of the invention.
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