The present invention relates generally to outdoor cooking appliances. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cooking appliance of the type having a body with a receptacle and a lid, with the lid operatively connected to the body and movable with respect thereto, so that it may be moved between a closed position, where it substantially covers the receptacle, and an open position permitting access to the receptacle. Outdoor cooking appliances of this type are often called “Barbeque (BBQ) Grills”.
Outdoor cooking appliances or “barbeques” have been used for many years. Typically, they comprise a freestanding body and a lid. The body has a bottom and sidewalls that define an open ended receptacle into which cooking elements and/or combustible material is placed, and over which a grill, cooking surface, and/or rotisserie is positioned. The lid is configured to substantially cover the open end of the receptacle to form a cooking chamber. Often, the lid is vertically dished or domed so that it may form a cooking chamber that can accommodate large or multiple food items. In some cooking appliances, the lid is configured to be loosely positioned on the body in the manner of placing a lid on a pot, but in most instances, the lid is pivotally hinged to the body and rotatable between closed and opened positions.
In those outdoor cooking appliances with hinged lids, the lids are often only able to rest in two extreme positions, one extreme being a closed position and the other extreme being an open position, where the open position is one in which the lid is rotated slightly greater than 90 degrees to allow the lid to be pivoted over center. With such lids, if one were rotating the lid from one position to the other and accidentally let go of the lid before completely opening or closing it, it would slam shut under the force of gravity. The force of the lid slamming into the body can jar food items off the grill or cooking surface, damage the lid and/or body, and possibly cause injury to a user or perhaps someone else with their hand on the body. This is especially a possibility if the appliance is a large appliance having a substantial lid that may weigh upwards of about 30 to 40 pounds, perhaps even as much as about 70 pounds. As one may appreciate, these drawbacks become more pronounced with heavier lids.
It would be appreciated that, it is often desirable to adjust the cooking temperature of the outdoor cooking appliance. This is not always possible with those appliances that are heated by combustible material such as charcoal briquettes and/or wood chips, however, because the lid has to be opened-up and the grill or cooking surface often has to be removed in order to access to the charcoal briquettes and/or wood chips. In view of the difficulties and potential dangers involved with these steps, it is often most expedient for users to adjust the temperature by partially lifting the lid relative to the open end of the receptacle. Unfortunately, most outdoor cooking appliance lids are not capable of being positioned in a partially open position. Thus, using the position of the lid to control the temperature of the cooking chamber is often an inadequate and imprecise activity.
Therefore, it will be further appreciated that there is a need for an outdoor cooking appliance with a lid that will not close shut with great force under the influence of gravity, that may be easily positioned at one of a plurality of angles relative to the body and that is made in a manner that takes the high temperatures in the immediate vicinity of the lid into account when designing the hinge. The present invention addresses these and other needs.
Briefly, the present invention comprises a hinge assembly suitable for use with an outdoor cooking apparatus of the type comprising a receptacle having a bottom and sidewalls that define an open end, and a lid configured to substantially cover the open end of the receptacle, the hinge assembly operatively connecting the lid to the receptacle such that the lid is movable with respect thereto between a closed position, wherein the lid substantially covers the open end of the receptacle, and a plurality of open positions in which a gap exists between the lid and at least one sidewall of the receptacle, the hinge assembly comprising: a first arm configured to be operatively connected to either one of said receptacle or said lid; a second arm configured to be operatively connected to the other one of said receptacle or said lid, wherein the first and second arm are movably connected to each other; and, means for counterbalancing the weight of the lid; whereby, when the lid is moved to one of the plurality of open positions, the lid is able to remain in such open position in the absence of external forces acting on the lid.
The invention also comprises an outdoor cooking appliance comprising: a body comprising a bottom and side walls, with the side walls defining a cooking area; a lid configured to substantially cover the cooking area to form a cooking chamber; and, a hinge assembly operatively connecting the lid to the body such that the lid may be moved from a first position where it substantially covers the cooking area of the body, and a continuum of open positions in which a gap is formed between the lid and at least one sidewall of the receptacle, the hinge assembly comprising: a first arm configured to be operatively connected to either one of said receptacle or said lid; a second arm configured to be operatively connected to the other one of said receptacle or said lid, wherein the first and second arm are movably connected to each other; and, means for counterbalancing the weight of the lid; whereby, when the lid is moved to one of the continuum of open positions, the lid is able to remain in such open position in the absence of external forces acting on the lid.
Generally, the hinge assembly comprises a first arm and a second arm, with the first and second arms operatively connected to and movable with respect to each other. The hinge assembly includes a means for counterbalancing the weight of the lid as it is rotated between the closed and open positions. The means for counterbalancing is operatively connected to the first and second arms, and is configured and arranged so that the first and second arms are biased in a first rotational direction with respect to each other. This rotational biasing allows the hinge assembly to counterbalance the weight of a lid as it is moved from the closed position to an open position. The rotational biasing also allows the lid to be positioned at a predetermined position.
To that end, the first arm comprises an elongated generally u-shaped body, an elongated generally u-shaped link, a biasing element, a post, and a follower mechanism. More specifically, the elongated u-shaped body has a first end and a second end, and comprises a rear wall, opposing sidewalls and an end wall. The first end of the body is pivotally attached to the second arm by a pin or pintle, which is inserted through apertures in the sidewalls adjacent the first end of the body and through the first aperture in the second arm. The first end of the u-shaped body also includes a slot that extends partially up the rear wall and which is configured to freely admit a portion of the second arm as the u-shaped body is pivoted relative to the second arm. The second end of the u-shaped body includes a transverse end wall having a slot that is sized to freely admit the post and allow movement with respect thereto. The transverse end wall also serves to support one end of a biasing element. As will be understood, the first arm may be operatively connected to either one of the lid or the body of the cooking appliance.
The elongate u-shaped link of the hinge assembly also has a first end and a second end, and comprises a front wall and opposing sidewalls. The u-shaped link is pivotally attached to the second arm by a second pin or pintle, which is inserted through apertures in the sidewalls adjacent the first end of the u-shaped link and through the second aperture of the second arm. Note that the second aperture of the second arm is spaced from the first aperture second arm by a predetermined distance. The u-shaped link is also configured so that it may be positioned between the sidewalls of the u-shaped body and movable with respect thereto in a constrained manner as the first and second arms pivot with respect to each other. The sidewalls adjacent the second end of the u-shaped link are provided with apertures or through holes that are configured to receive a crossbar, which is used to engage one end of the post.
The elongated, generally u-shaped post has a first end and a second ends, and comprises a rear wall and opposing sidewalls. The sidewalls of the first end of the u-shaped post are provided with slots or notches that are configured to engage the crossbar that is inserted into the sidewall apertures of the u-shaped link. The second end of the post includes an enlarged head that is sized to engage an end of the biasing element and prevent passage thereby.
Alternatively, the elongated u-shaped post may be provided with an adjustment member. The adjustment member comprises an elongated shaft having first and second ends, and is provided with a transverse aperture that is sized to accept a crossbar that is inserted through appropriately sized apertures in the second end of the u-shaped post. The second end of the adjustment member includes an adjustable stop that is used to vary the effective working length the u-shaped post. In use, a spring is positioned over the u-shaped post such that one end abuts the transverse end wall of the u-shaped housing. The adjustable stop is then positioned on the threaded end of the adjustment member and the nut is tightened or loosened to the desired degree. Thus, the hinge may be adjusted to counterbalance differently sized lids.
The follower mechanism comprises a roller that is operatively connected to a first end of a second post having first and second ends. The follower mechanism is movably retained on the u-shaped body by a transverse tab, through which the second end of the post projects, and a transverse pin, which is movably retained in longitudinal slots in the sidewalls of the u-shaped body, and which also serves as an axle for the roller. The roller is urged away from the tab and towards the first end of the u-shaped body by a biasing element, which is carried by the post, and which extends between the tab and a shoulder on the first end of the second post. In operation, the slots in the sidewalls define the range of motion that is available to the roller.
The second arm of the hinge assembly comprises an attachment end, a connection end, and a camming surface. The attachment end is configured to be operatively connected to either one of the body or lid of the outdoor cooking appliance, preferably the body, while the connection end is configured to be operatively connected to the first arm of the hinge assembly such that the first and second arms can pivot with respect to each other.
The camming surface of the second arm is radially spaced from the pivot point of the connection end and is configured to contact and move the roller of the follower as the first and second arms move with respect to each other. It will be appreciated that the particular profile of the camming surface used will affect the motion of the first arm relative to the second arm. For example, the camming surface could have a spiral or involute profile. In such a case, the first arm would be urged in direction that leads to the smallest radius, due to the action of the spring-biased roller of the follower. Preferably, though, the camming surface is not an involute and includes a recess or trough into which the roller is urged as the first and second arms move with respect to each other. The trough in effect captures the roller and allows the lid be positioned at a predetermined angle with respect to the body, where it resists movement in either direction, due to the action of the follower.
In operation, the hinge assembly counteracts the weight of the lid as the lid is moved between the closed and open positions. Thus, for example, a user may position the lid at any point along a range of angles, and the lid will stay in that position, absent an external force acting there against. Preferably, the range of angles is from about 1 degree to about 65 degrees. The hinge assembly also allows the lid to be positioned at a predetermined angle, where the lid is biased from either direction toward a neutral position. Preferably, the neutral position is in the range of around 65 degrees. When the lid is moved beyond the neutral position of about 65 degrees, it swings open in a normal manner.
Referring now to
The lid 30 may be provided with a handle 32 or similar device, so that a user of the grill may manipulate the lid 30 with relative ease and comfort. It will be appreciated that the particular lid configuration depicted is not necessary to practice the invention and that other types of lids may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the lid 30 may be formed with a cutout 34 (shown in dashed lines in
As shown in
When the lid 30 is moved between the closed and open positions, the lid is rotated about a pivot axis 36 that is formed by the hinge assembly 40 such that the lid 30 has an angular range of movement 38. Preferably, the angular range of movement 38 from a closed resting position such as that shown in
Referring now to
As can be seen in
Referring now also to
The elongated generally u-shaped link 80 of the hinge assembly 40 also has a first end 82 and a second end 84, and comprises a front wall and opposing sidewalls. The u-shaped link 80 is pivotally attached to the second arm 46 by a pintle or pin 96, which is inserted through apertures in the sidewalls adjacent the first end 82 of the u-shaped link 80 and through a second aperture in the second arm 46. The u-shaped link 80 is also configured so that it may be positioned between the sidewalls 58, 60 of the u-shaped body 50 and movable with respect thereto in a constrained manner as the hinge assembly 40 is pivoted about the pivot pins 68 and 96. The sidewalls adjacent the second end 84 of the u-shaped link 80 are provided with apertures or through holes that are configured to receive a crossbar, which is used to engage a first end 112 of the post 110.
The elongated, generally u-shaped post 110 has a first end 112 and a second end 114, and comprises a rear wall and opposing sidewalls. The sidewalls of the first end 112 of the u-shaped post 110 are provided with a crossbar engagement member, which comprises slots that are configured to engage a crossbar that is inserted into the sidewall apertures or through holes of the u-shaped link 80.
The mechanism for counterbalancing the lid is operatively connected between the first and second arms. Preferably, the means for counterbalancing comprises a biasing element such as a compression spring. However, it is understood that other devices such as counterweights, pneumatic assists, electric motors, and the like, may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
The second arm 46 has two pivot points represented by two transverse apertures. The first aperture is configured to receive pintle 68, which extends through the side walls of the u-shaped housing, and which allows the first arm 50 to pivot relative to the second arm 46. The second transverse aperture is configured to receive pintle 96, which extends through the side walls of the u-shaped link 80, and which allows the u-shaped link 80 to also pivot relative to the second arm 46. As the first and second arms rotate, the tip of the post 114 will describe an arc that is off-center with the arc described by the end wall 62 of the u-shaped housing 50. This causes the distance between the end 62 of the housing and the end 114 of the post to change, which results in the force exerted by the biasing element to change. It will be appreciated that such change will counteract the moment arm generated by the lid as it is pivoted between the closed and open positions.
The second arm 46 also includes a camming surface 168 that is spaced radially from the first aperture or pintle 68. The camming surface 168 is configured to contact the roller 142 of the follower mechanism 140 and such that the roller 142 compresses the biasing element 156 in a predetermined manner. The camming surface 168 is primarily used to provide the lid with a set point relative to the horizontal. Preferably, this set point is about 65 degrees with respect to the horizontal and is represented by a trough or capture point 172, which is bounded by raised areas of the camming surface 168. As will be appreciated the set point may be located at other angles relative to the horizontal. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the camming surface may be provided with more than one set point, if desired.
Referring now also to
Referring now also to
The adjustment member 240 includes an elongated shaft 242 having first and second ends 244 and 246, respectively. The first end 244 is provided with a transverse aperture 248 that is sized to accept the crossbar 232 that is inserted through the apertures 228 and 230 in the second end 214 of the u-shaped post 210. The second end 246 of the shaft 242 is threaded 250. The adjustment member 240 also has an adjustable stop 252, which preferably includes a retainer 254 or washer and a pair of threaded fasteners or nuts 256 and 258. In use, a biasing element or spring 260 is positioned over the u-shaped post 210 such that it is held between the transverse end wall 62 of the u-shaped housing 50 and the retainer 254 of the adjustable stop 252 (see, for example
The hinge assembly 40, as depicted in
In order to remove the hinge assembly from the receptacle 20 so that the hinge assembly is not subjected to as much heat as it may be when it is located adjacent to the lid and the rear cowl as shown in
As can be seen in
It will be appreciated that the drawings are modified for simplicity, but that the first arm 190 is secured to the body 12′ by thread fasteners (not shown) or such other means as may be selected. It will also be appreciated, that while the embodiment shown in
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims, which form a further part of the present application.
The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/512,172 for BARBECUE GRILL AND HINGE, filed Oct. 17, 2003.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60512172 | Oct 2003 | US |