Slip Out Glass Panel For Cover Member

Abstract

A cover member for a cooking unit wherein a panel can be inserted and removed without fastening means or the removal or the moving of any parts in the cover member. A frame is provided with an opening to receive a panel which is formed in two different planes and preferably, substantially L-shaped. The frame contains two pairs of oppositely disposed and spaced flanges, the lower pair supporting the panel in its one dimension and a base or ledge portion which supports the panel in its second and shorter dimension.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a removable panel member of the transparent type and more particularly to a panel member which can be inserted into an opening in a cover member and freely carried therein by means of flanges and projections.

Panel members or windows for cooking devices of the type concerned with in this invention are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,008,414; 2,478,253; 3,049,073 and 3,379,190. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,478,253, 3,049,073 and 3,379,190 all describe window members for broilers or ovens which are of the permanently mounted type. In these constructions, the glass is fixed inside a frame and is not removable therefrom. In U.S. Pat. No. 1,008,414, glass panels are removed from an oven door. However, the removal can only be effected from inside the unit and no means are provided to retain the glass in the door except when the door is in an upright position. The prior art nowhere teaches a removable panel member which can be easily inserted from outside a cover member without requiring the use of removable securing means such as screws, clips or the bending of flanges. Neither does the prior art illustrate a removable transparent panel member in a cover for a barbecue unit which will securely hold the panel in place yet allow quick removal for cleaning and insertion, or replacement should the panel become broken or cracked.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel cover for a cooking device wherein a panel member can be inserted and removed such as for cleaning or replacement without removable fastening means or the movement of any portion of the frame structure. It is another object of this invention to provide a transparent panel member for a barbecue cover which will permit viewing of the product being cooked which panel is securely held in the cover member throughout the movement of the cover. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cover member for a grill unit which will retain the panel in a secure manner and without maintaining close tolerance of the frame structure. It is yet another object of this invention to provide a panel member which can be removed from the cover without the need of any tools.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing objects are accomplished and the shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by the present cover which is comprised of a frame formed from flanges and projections for accommodating a panel in a secure manner. The panel is formed in two planes with a major portion and a second minor portion and the panel is retained by two pairs of oppositely disposed lateral flanges carried by the frame on opposite sides of the panel at its major portion. The minor portion of the panel rests on a base containing a wall and projections to prevent the base portion from moving off and out of the frame. Sufficient distance is allowed between the pairs of lateral flanges to permit the lower edge of the minor portion of the panel member to pass over the projections in the base portion and allow expansion of the glass from the heat supplied for cooking. The panel member is also constructed to extend from the base of the frame to the back wall of the frame member to completely close the opening in the cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

A better understanding of the present cover and panel will be accomplished by reference to the drawing wherein.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a barbecue unit showing the cover with the panel member in its normal resting position in the frame of the cover.

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and additionally showing the panel member in broken lines indicating the direction for removal from the frame.

FIG. 3 is a view in vertical section taken along line 3--3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partial view in vertical section taken along 4--4 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Proceeding to a detailed description of the present invention, the cover 10 is contained in the usual barbecue unit 11 having a base member 12 supported by pole 13. A generally L-shaped panel 15 which is transparent is accommodated in cover 10 by an opening 16 which is of the same configuration as panel 15. Panel 15 has a major portion 17 contained in one plane and a smaller minor portion 18 which joins the major portion 17 through an arc of slightly greater than 90.degree..

As best shown in FIG. 3, a first pair of two oppositely disposed, laterally spaced flanges 20 and 21 lie in a horizontal plane below the surface 22 of cover 10 at a distance to permit the surface 23 of the major portion 17 of panel 15 to be coextensive with upper surface 22. Flanges 20 and 21 extend laterally along opening 16 from a point inwardly from the front of the cover 10 and toward the rear but stopping short distance from it. This is best seen in FIG. 2. Positioned near the front of the cover 10 are two oppositely disposed pairs of lateral flanges 25 and 26 which project upwardly from the upper surface 22 of cover 10 and extend only a short distance from the front of the cover and inwardly thereof. As in the instance of the lower lateral flanges 20 and 21, upward lateral flanges 25 and 26 are also horizontally positioned and in the same plane. In the same plane as flanges 25 and 26 but extending transversly thereto and along the rear edge of opening 16 is rear flange 30 which extends almost entirely across the back of opening 16.

Referring specifically to FIG. 3, it will be seen that panel 15 rests upon flanges 20 and 21. The smaller front portion 18 of panel 15 rests on the base portion 32 in front wall 33 by means of contact of the lower edge 34 as is best seen in FIG. 2. It is dimensioned to be coextensive with the surface 35 of front wall 33 when it rests on base portion 32. Forward movement of the panel 15 outwardly from cover 10 is restricted by two projections 37 and 38 located on the base portion 32 and outwardly from the frame. Inward movement of the panel 15 is restricted first by a short upstanding inward wall 40 and the abutement surface 42 formed from the wall 43 comprising the top of cover member 10.

With reference to FIG. 4 it will be seem that a small indentation 45 is formed in from wall 33 to provide access to the bottom edge 34 for removal purposes of panel 15. To aid in the removal and insertion of panel 15 between flanges 20 and 21 and 25 and 26 as well as the clearance of the bottom edge 34 over projections 37 and 38, sufficient distance is allowed between the inner edges 25a, 26a and 20a and 21a of the respective flanges. The same is true concerning the allowance of clearance between the inner surfaces 20a and 21a and the inner surface 30a of the back flange 30. The previously described clearance also has the dual function to allow for expansion of the glass panel 15 during cooking. These aspects will be better described in the following description of the operation.

OPERATION

A better understanding of the advantages of the cover 10 with the slip out panel 15 will be had by a description of its operation. Assuming the panel 15 is in place as shown in FIG. 1 with no heat being utilized in unit 11 and it is cool, a finger is placed in indent 45 to contact the bottom surface 34 of panel 15. Sufficient upward movement is effected to permit the bottom edge 34 to clear over projections 37 and 38. This is effected by permitting sufficient distance between the previously mentioned inner surfaces 20a, 21a, 25a, 26a and 30a of the respective flanges. Upon upward movement of panel 15, so that the bottom surface 34 of the panel will clear the projections 37 and 38, contact will be made with the upper surface 23 of the panel 15 with the inner surface 25a and 26a of flanges 25 and 26, respectively. At this point, the panel will be moved outwardly as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 and completely removed from the frame formed by flanges 26, 25, 20, 21 and 30 as well as the base wall 32 of the front panel 33. To insert the panel 15 back into the frame, the previously described steps are merely reversed. Panel 15 will be held in an upward position so that the bottom edge 34 will clear over the projections and then moved toward the back of the cover until the front portion 18 is positioned between projections 37 and 38 and inner wall 40. At this point the panel will be left to drop by means of gravity and come to rest between the projections 37 and 38 and the wall 40. At this position, the panel will extend to be beneath the back flange 30 and adjacent wall surface 42. With the panel in its seated position the cover member 10 can be rotated about a horizontal axis without fear of it being accidentally removed from opening 16. Any upward movement is restricted by both flanges 25, 26 and 30, any outward movement is prevented by projections 37 and 38 and any inward movement by wall 40 and wall surface 42. Retention of panel 15 within the confines of the described flanges and projections is aided by heat from the unit 11 which will cause the panel and the surrounding flanges, projections and wall surfaces to expand to hold the panel without cracking.

The preferred material for forming cover member 10 as well as all of the flanges and projections is cast aluminum. If desired, rather than casting the flanges, 20, 21, 25, 26, and 30, they could be welded to the surrounding top wall 43. The same is true with respect to projections 37, 38 and inner wall 40 and attachment to front panel 33. Materials other than aluminum could be employed for forming cover 10 and the described flanges, projections and walls such as cast iron or steel. Panel member 15 is formed from heat resistance glass, however, other heat resistant transparent materials such as a heat resistant resinous plastic could be utilized.

Flange 30 is not essential in achieving the described advantages of the frame as flanges 25 and 26 will provide restriction and retention of panel 15 when cover 10 is lifted upwardly. Neither is wall 40 required as inward movement is restricted by surface 42 of top wall 43.

It will thus be seen that through the present invention there is now provided a removable panel member for a cover on a cooking device which is readily removed without requiring the loosening or removal of parts or bending of any flanges. The fastening means is integral with the unit and can be easily fabricated. All the foregoing advantages are achieved in a unit which will still afford a secure and tight fitting of the panel member without danger of accidental removal even though the cover may be dropped against the base or opened or closed in a rapid manner.

The foregoing invention can now be practiced by those skilled in the art. Such skilled persons will know that the invention is not necessarily restricted to the particular embodiments presented herein. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the terms of the following claims as given meaning by the preceding description.

Claims

I claim:

1. A cover for a cooking device constructed and arranged to carry a panel therein, said panel having a first portion in one plane and a second portion in another plane comprising: a frame, said panel insertable in and freely carried by said frame, said frame having an opening accommodating said panel, a first pair of oppositely disposed laterally spaced flanges carried by said frame and positioned substantially in the same horizontal plane, a second pair of oppositely disposed lateral flanges positioned in substantially the same horizontal plane and spaced from said first pair of flanges to accommodate said panel therebetween, a base portion in said frame for supporting the second portion of said panel and support and retaining means mounted on said frame in said base portion adjacent said opening to prevent said panel from moving outwardly from said opening, said panel constructed and arranged to contact said first pair of lateral flanges and said base support means on said base when in a normal resting position and to be removed from said base retaining means by an upward movement of said second portion of said panel, said first and second pairs of lateral flanges, spaced to provide sufficient movement therebetween for said second portion of said panel to clear said retaining means in said base.

2. The cover for a cooking device as defined in claim 1 wherein said base support and retaining means includes an inward wall extending upwardly from the base portion.

3. The cover for a cooking device as defined in claim 1 further including a flange positioned opposite the second portion of said panel and extending transversely to said two pairs of lateral flanges and in the same plane as said second pair of flanges.

4. The cover for a cooking device as defined in claim 1 wherein said base support and retaining means includes two projections mounted on said base and outwardly of said frame.

5. The cover for a cooking device as defined in claim 1 wherein said opening and said panel are substantially L-shaped with the leg of said "L" forming the second and smaller portion of said opening and curved slightly more than 90 degrees.

6. The cover for a cooking device as defined in claim 1 wherein an indent is formed in said base adjacent said opening for engagement with the bottom edge of said panel.

7. The cover for a cooking device as defined in claim 1 wherein said cover comprises a cover member for a barbecue unit, whereby said panel is retained in said cover when said cover is lifted upwardly.

8. The cover for a cooking device as defined in claim 7 wherein said cover is constructed of cast aluminum.

9. The cover for a cooking device as defined in claim 8 wherein said panel is constructed of heat resistant glass.