Patent Application
20080196709
The present invention is generally relates to a combination handle and light assembly for use with a barbecue grill.
Outdoor grilling is a very popular endeavor with millions of barbecue grills sold every year in this country and around the world. Barbecue grills come in many shapes and sizes ranging from small disposable grills made for use when camping or backpacking to large models that can be installed into a structural element on a patio or deck and used as an outdoor kitchen. Heat for cooking is supplied either by charcoal, gas, or electrically heated elements, and in some cases, a combination of heat sources are employed in a single unit. Typically, the larger the grill, the more features it includes, such as side burners, rotisseries, warming bins, smoking chambers, etc.
The versatility of outdoor cooking often lends itself to the use of the grill after dark. Many attempts have been made to provide light for illuminating the grill and the food being cooked thereon at night. There are three broad categories of lights found in the prior art. The first category consists of grill lights (electric) where the light source is mounted to the side of the grill. The second category consists of grill lights (electric) where the light source is mounted above the grill. The final category consists of grill lights that use gas for illumination rather than electricity.
In the first category, U.S. Pat. No. 3,992,618 to Matthews, et al., discloses a light support, in which a lamp is mounted to a gooseneck portion of the light support and a c-clamp attaches the light support to the side of the grill. Another example is shown by U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,658 to Doddy, in which an anchorable support for a flashlight is attached to a end portion or side shelf of a grill. In this patent, a gooseneck having a flashlight securing ring is mounted on a bracket which is then clamped to the grill or the sideshelf. Another example is shown by U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,875 to Hegedus, disclosing a grill light with a housing and a mounting device. A light assembly mounts to the upper end of a flexible gooseneck shaft and the lower end of the shaft connects to the housing. An insulated wand allows the light assembly to be directed at the cooking grate.
The second category involves light sources that are mounted above the grill in some fashion. U.S. Pat. No. 3,291,114 to Metcalf, discloses a charcoal grill with a food support, a rotisserie, and an exhaust hood. An exhaust fan and a light are mounted in the exhaust hood. U.S. Pat. No. 2,809,282 to Cripe, et al., discloses a cooking stove with a light. The cooking stove includes a cooking surface and a back rail. The overhang of the back rail houses a light source which includes two electric lamps and a reflector. The reflector directs light downward and forward onto the cooking surface. An example of a light incorporated with a grill handle is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,169 to Walendziak, which shows a lighting apparatus fixed to an upper grill housing. The lighting apparatus is adjacent and below the handle to direct illumination onto an underlying grate. The illumination housing includes batteries and a DC generator for recharging the batteries. Another example is shown by U.S. Pat. No. 6,132,055 to Grisamore, et al., which shows a handle assembly mounted to a grill lid. The handle assembly includes a light containing tube. The tube includes a clear plastic outer housing, an inner housing which supports batteries, and end caps. The light shines on the cooking surface when the lid is raised to access the cooking chamber.
The third category of lights are gas lights which share the fuel source with the barbecue grill. An early example is U.S. Pat. No. 3,524,980 to Meloan, which shows an outdoor gas grill combined with a gas light. A horizontal support arm attaches to the supporting post of the gas light. The grill is rotatably mounted to the support arm which is rotatably mounted to the post. Another example is shown by U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,640 to Naperola, et al., which shows a grill light used in conjunction with a conventional outdoor gas grill. The light has an elongated conduit which houses a flexible hose that extends to the combustible fuel container to carry combustible fuel to the light.
Thus, while it can be seen that there have been many attempts to provide a light source for use in barbecue grilling after dark, the solutions found in the prior art have been cumbersome to install and to operate, among other disadvantages. It is to these unaddressed needs that the following disclosure is directed.
Disclosed is a portable gas grill cooking apparatus comprising a grill having a hood and a firebox and, in some cases, a cart having wheels for adding mobility to the structure. The grill is lightweight and portable, and is easily transported for convenient use in tailgating or camping activities. The grill may also be used as the main or only grill for a household. The firebox has a handle, into which is incorporated a grill light. The light is to illuminate the cooking surface when the firebox is raised and in this mode, functions as a part of the handle. The light is also built to be removable for use as an auxiliary light for use during grilling or for other activities.
Other features and advantages of the grill handle light will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional features and advantages be included herein within the scope of the present disclosure.
The grill handle light can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components of the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the grill handle light. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The present disclosure is generally directed to a handle and light assembly for use on a barbecue grill. The assembly is inclusive of a handle and at least one source of illumination for illuminating a cooking surface inside the cooking chamber of the barbecue grill. The handle may function both as a means for opening the firebox to access the cooking surface and also, when detached, as a source of illumination for the cooking surface, any side shelf components, such as a side burner or griddle, or the surrounding area.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings and to
The grill includes a right leg 20 which has a basket 22 mounted thereto which can be used for condiments, grill brushes, etc. Opposite the right leg is a left leg 24 for supporting the opposite side of the grill. At the lower end of the right leg are wheels 26a and 26b. For transporting the grill, legs 20 and 24 are designed to be rotated inwardly toward each other where they nest beneath the grill. This deploys wheels 26a and 26b on the opposite side from that shown in
Referring more specifically now to
With the lid in the fully opened position shown in
For purposes of illustration, in
Although the description above contains several specific embodiments, these embodiments should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the embodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
