U.S. patent application number 10/967372 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-20 for cooking appliance with stationary grate and moveable heat source.
Invention is credited to Hussein A. Alayan, Pirooz Darai, Anders P. Lundh.
Application Number | 20060081235 10/967372 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35058708 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060081235 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lundh; Anders P. ; et
al. |
April 20, 2006 |
Cooking appliance with stationary grate and moveable heat
source
Abstract
A cooking device having a base frame having sidewalls and a
floor that at least partially define a cooking cavity; a lid
assembly disposed above the base frame and comprising a cover and a
heating unit; a grate disposed in the cooking cavity; a collecting
pan disposed beneath the grate for collecting drippings from food
being cooked; the top unit being displaceable relative to the base
frame between a closed position and an open position, wherein, in
the open position, the heating unit is disposed out of alignment
with the grate and the top unit is disposed so as to allow access
to the grate from above. The collecting pan may be disposed so as
to remain below 180.degree. F. after 20 minutes of cooking with the
top unit in the closed position and the heating unit operating at a
maximum setting.
Inventors: |
Lundh; Anders P.;
(Morrisville, NC) ; Darai; Pirooz; (Morrisville,
NC) ; Alayan; Hussein A.; (Morrisville, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Pirooz Darai
1227 Autumn Day Drive
Morrisville
NC
27560
US
|
Family ID: |
35058708 |
Appl. No.: |
10/967372 |
Filed: |
October 18, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/25A ;
126/50 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 37/0709 20130101;
A47J 37/0623 20130101; A47J 37/0629 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/025.00A ;
126/050 |
International
Class: |
F24C 15/00 20060101
F24C015/00 |
Claims
1. A cooking device, comprising: a base frame having sidewalls and
a floor that at least partially define a cooking cavity; a top unit
disposed above said base frame and comprising a cover and a heating
unit; a grate adapted to support food thereon, said grate disposed
in said cooking cavity above said floor and below said top unit; a
collecting pan disposed in said cooking cavity above said floor and
beneath said grate for collecting drippings from food being cooked
on said grate; wherein said top unit is displaceable relative to
said base frame between a closed position and an open position,
wherein, in said closed position, said heating unit is disposed
above and aligned generally parallel with said grate so as to
direct heat toward said grate from above and said top unit
generally blocks access to said grate from above; wherein, in said
open position, said heating unit is disposed out of alignment with
said grate and said top unit is disposed so as to allow access to
said grate from above.
2. The cooking device of claim 1 wherein said top unit is rotatably
coupled to said base frame for rotational displacement with respect
thereto between said closed position and said open position.
3. The cooking device of claim 2 wherein said top unit is rotatably
coupled to said base frame for rotational displacement with respect
thereto of at least 45.degree. between said closed position and
said open position.
4. The cooking device of claim 2 wherein said top unit is rotatably
coupled to said base frame for rotational displacement of with
respect thereto approximately 180.degree. between said closed
position and said open position.
5. The cooking device of claim 4 further comprising a support
attached to said top unit and operative to support said top unit in
a generally horizontal position in said open position.
6. The cooking device of claim 1 wherein said heating unit
comprises at least one electric heating element.
7. The cooking device of claim 1 wherein said collecting pan is
removable from said cooking cavity while said top unit is in said
closed position.
8. The cooking device of claim 1 wherein said sidewalls support
said grate.
9. The cooking device of claim 1 wherein said cooking cavity is
bounded on four sides by said floor, said sidewalls, and said top
unit, with said cooking cavity having front and rear walls that are
less than 50% obstructed.
10. The cooking device of claim 1 wherein said cooking device is
portable and further comprising at least one handle attached to at
least one of said sidewalls and extending external to said cooking
cavity.
11. The cooking device of claim 1 wherein said collecting pan is
disposed so as to remain at a temperature below 180.degree. F.
after 20 minutes of cooking with said top unit in said closed
position and said heating unit operating at a maximum setting.
12. The cooking device of claim 1: wherein said top unit is
rotatably coupled to said base frame for rotational displacement
with respect thereto of at least 45.degree. between said closed
position and said open position; wherein said heating unit
comprises at least one electric heating element; wherein said
collecting pan is removable from said cooking cavity while said top
unit is in said closed position; and wherein said cooking cavity is
bounded on four sides by said floor, said sidewalls, and said top
unit, with said cooking cavity having front and rear walls that are
less than 50% obstructed.
13. The cooking device of claim 12: wherein said top unit is
rotatably coupled to said base frame for rotational displacement
with respect thereto of approximately 180.degree. between said
closed position and said open position; and further comprising a
support attached to said top unit and operative to support said top
unit in a generally horizontal position in said open position.
14. The cooking device of claim 12 wherein said collecting pan is
disposed so as to remain at a temperature below 180.degree. F.
after 20 minutes of cooking with said top unit in said closed
position and said heating unit operating at a maximum setting.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking appliance, more
particularly to a cooking appliance that is suitable for grilling
and baking food.
[0002] As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional cooking grill includes a
base unit 10 and a cover unit 12. The base unit 10 consists of a
heat resistant material and houses the heating element 14 (e.g.,
burning coal). The heating element provides heat to the cookware
grate 16. The cover unit 12 is made out of a heat resistant
material. It is mounted so that it can be closed with the base unit
10 forming an enclosed chamber.
[0003] When placing food on the cookware grate 16 and providing
heat from the heating element, oil and other fluids tend to drip on
to the heating element 14. When the oil and other fluids fall on
the heating element 14, the oils and fluids burn and smoke is
created, which makes the cooking device unsuitable for indoor
usage.
[0004] As shown in FIG. 2, an additional cookware plate 22 can be
mounted above the heating element 24 to prevent the otherwise
dripping fluids from reaching the heating element 24. The food is
placed on the cookware plate 22 and the relevant oils/fluids are
drained to the side to a collecting box 26. However, cooking the
food directly on the heated cookware plate 22 results in some of
the oils/fluids to be cooked with the food thus giving the food a
burnt taste.
[0005] Using a conventional grill device will cause food to be
heated and stick to the heating element or any additional cookware
plates. The food that sticks to the heating element or the
additional cookware plate are very hard to remove because of its
burnt condition. This will cause the cooking device to, over time,
accumulate burnt grease, oil or food residue resulting in the user
eventually needing to replace the heating element and/or additional
cookware plates.
[0006] As shown in FIG. 3, an oven or toaster is designed as an
enclosed chamber where the heat source is located above the food.
When using the oven or the toaster as a grill-cooking device and
placing food inside the enclosed chamber, the most common and safe
way to handle the food is to remove the food from the oven.
Removing the food from the oven can be hazardous and cause injuries
and discomfort.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention, in one embodiment, provides a cooking
device, comprising: a base frame having sidewalls and a floor that
at least partially define a cooking cavity; a top unit disposed
above the base frame and comprising a cover and a heating unit; a
grate adapted to support food thereon, the grate disposed in the
cooking cavity above the floor and below the top unit; a collecting
pan disposed in the cooking cavity above the floor and beneath the
grate for collecting drippings from food being cooked on the grate;
wherein the top unit is displaceable relative to the base frame
between a closed position and an open position, wherein, in the
closed position, the heating unit is disposed above and aligned
generally parallel with the grate so as to direct heat toward the
grate from above and the top unit generally blocks access to the
grate from above; wherein, in the open position, the heating unit
is disposed out of alignment with the grate and the top unit is
disposed so as to allow access to the grate from above.
[0008] The top unit may be rotatably coupled to the base frame for
rotational displacement with respect thereto between the closed
position and the open position, such as by 45.degree., or
advantageously by approximately 180.degree.. A support may be
attached to the top unit and operative to support the top unit in a
generally horizontal position in the open position. The heating
unit may comprise at least one electric heating element. The
collecting pan may advantageously be removable from the cooking
cavity while the top unit is in the closed position. The sidewalls
may support the grate. The cooking cavity may be bounded on four
sides, by the floor, the sidewalls, and the top unit, with the
cooking cavity having front and rear walls that are less than 50%
obstructed.
[0009] The cooking device may advantageously be portable and
further comprise at least one handle attached to at least one of
the sidewalls and extending external to the cooking cavity. The
collecting pan may advantageously be disposed so as to remain at a
temperature below 180.degree. F. after 20 minutes of cooking with
the top unit in the closed position and the heating unit operating
at a maximum setting. Combinations of the above are also
envisioned.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS AND IMAGES
[0010] FIG. 1 is a drawing of a conventional electric, gas or
charcoal-cooking device.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a drawing of a conventional cooking device with an
additional cookware member attached.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a drawing of a conventional oven/toaster.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a drawing of the preferred design of the current
invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a drawing of the preferred design of the current
invention with the top unit retracted 180-degrees relative to the
base unit.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a drawing of the preferred design of the current
invention with the top unit in a closed position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] One embodiment of a cooking device according to the present
invention is shown in FIG. 4, and generally indicated at 10. The
cooking device 10 includes a housing 20, a grate 60, and a
collection pan 70. The housing 20 includes a lower base frame 50
and a lid assembly 30. The base frame 50, as shown, assumes a
generally U-shaped profile, with a bottom 80 and respective
sidewalls 90, and should be made of a suitable heat resistant
material such as stainless steel or aluminum. The lid assembly 30
includes a lid or cover 100 with a heating element 40 attached
thereto. The heating element 40 may advantageously be in the form
of W-shaped electric resistance element of 1700 watts that can heat
to at least 1000.degree. F. Alternatively, the heating element 40
may take other forms, such as a gas heat source known in the art.
While not required in all embodiments, the lid assembly 30 may
advantageously be pivotally mounted to the base frame 50 via one or
more hinges or other means for allowing the lid assembly to be
displaced relative to the base frame 50.
[0017] The cooking device is portable and further has at least one
handle 130 attached to the external side of one of the sidewalls 90
of the base frame 50. The handle(s) 130 may be used when
transporting the cooking device.
[0018] The cover 100 should be made of a heat reflective material
such as aluminum. The heat element 40 should be attached to the
cover 100 so as to move when the cover 100 moves. Advantageously,
as much as possible of the heat generated by the heat element 40
generated is directed toward the grate 60. The cover 100 should be
attached to the base frame 50 so that when the cover 100 is in a
closed position (FIG. 6) it blocks access to the grate 60 from
above. Further the cover 100 should be displaceable relative to the
base frame 50 to allow access to the grate 60 from above. To this
end, the cover 100 may be rotatably coupled to the base frame 50 to
allow for rotational displacement of at least 45.degree., and
advantageously approximately 180.degree., with respect to the base
frame 50 between a closed position and an open position. A handle
120 may be mounted on the front side of the cover 100 to aid the
user in displacing the lid assembly 30.
[0019] The lower portion of the cooking cavity 140 is defined by
the space between the sidewalls 90 and bottom 80 of the base frame
50. The upper boundary of the cooking cavity 140 is established by
the cover 100 of the lid assembly 30 when the lid assembly 30 is in
the closed position.
[0020] The grate 60 should be in a form suitable to support food
during cooking and should be made from suitable heat resistant
materials known in the art. The grate 60 is disposed in the cooking
cavity 140, and supported some distance from the heating element 40
by suitable rail type supports 1 10 on the interior of the
sidewalls 90. Alternatively, the grate may be self-supporting on
the floor 80 of the cooking cavity 140. The distance between the
grate 60 and the heating element 40 can be adjusted to allow for
various food to be cooked.
[0021] The collecting pan 70 should be made from an easy cleaning
material such as stainless steel or aluminum, advantageously with
non-stick coating such as TEFLON. The collecting pan 70 rests on
the bottom 80 under the grate 60 and is used for collecting
drippings from food placed on the grate 60 during cooking. The
collecting pan 70 should be located a distance from the heating
element 40 so that, while in close position (FIG. 6) and after 20
minutes of cooking, it should remain at a temperature below
180.degree. F. when the heating element 40 is operating with
maximum heat. The small amount of heat to the collecting pan 70
will result in food residue not sticking to the collecting pan and
less smoke being generated. The collecting pan 70 can be removed
from the bottom 80 when the lid assembly 30 is in a closed or open
position to be cleaned separately.
[0022] In operation, the grate 60 is positioned in the lower
portion of the cooking cavity 140, the collecting pan 70 is
positioned beneath the grate 60 in the cooking cavity 140, and the
lid assembly 30 is moved to the open position (FIG. 4). The food to
be cooked is then placed on the grate 60, the lid assembly 30 moved
to the closed position (FIG. 6), and the heating element(s) 40
activated. At this time, the desired setting for the heating
element(s) 40 may be set via suitable controls known in the art, if
provided. Anytime during the cooking the lid assembly 30 can be
displaced and the food accessed from above, and then the lid
assembly 30 easily repositioned in the cooking position. When the
lid assembly 30 is displaced, the heat source 40 is moved away from
the food, which allows for more supervision during cooking.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 5, the lid assembly 30 can be mounted so
that it can be retracted to a 180.degree. angle and placed level
with the base frame 50. This will allow the lid assembly 30 to be
used for various other cooking uses, such as boiling water. The lid
assembly 30 may have mounted brackets 120 for supporting an
additional cooking plate to be placed on top of the heating source
40. In some embodiments, the collecting pan 70 may be used as the
additional cooking plate. Support brackets 150 can be attached to
the lid assembly 30 for support when it is in a 180.degree. open
position.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 6, the cooking device 10 should have front
and rear walls that are less than 50% obstructed when the lid
assembly 30 is in a closed position. This will allow for air going
through the cooking cavity 140 and will limit the amount of heat
reaching the bottom 80 and/or the collecting pan 70.
[0025] Although the present invention has been described herein
with respect to particular features, aspects and embodiments
thereof, it will be apparent that numerous variations,
modifications, and other embodiments are possible within the broad
scope of the present invention, and accordingly, all variations,
modifications and embodiments are to be regarded as being within
the scope of the invention. The present embodiments are therefore
to be construed in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive
and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of
the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.
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