GRILL WITH ABILITY TO CHANGE SHAPE TO ADAPT TO DIFFERENT COOKING METHODS

Abstract

A versatile grill apparatus capable of adapting its shape to accommodate different cooking methods. Conventional grills are often limited to specific heating configurations that heat the food from certain directions, necessitating multiple apparatus for diverse cooking techniques. This innovation addresses this limitation by offering electrical or gas grills with adjustable heating sections that can be repositioned to emit heat from different directions.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to grill apparatus for preparing food. More specifically, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to electric and gas grills.

BACKGROUND

Different food often require different method of heating. Some of the common methods are: heating from the bottom, heating from the top, heating from one side, or from both sides.

Because each method of cooking requires a different configuration of heat generating units and how food is exposed to the heat, there is no one apparatus that provides all possible methods. Conventionally, two or more apparatus are obtained which is costly and takes up substantial footprint.

Considering the foregoing, there is a need for an apparatus that offers versatility in food preparation by allowing different configurations of heat source to cook food from different directions for each food preparation method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Example embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a heating section of a gas fueled grill.

FIGS. 2-5 are schematic illustrations of an example gas grill with five heating sections that its fuel header is equipped with swivel joint. The number of heating sections demonstrated here are for illustration only and does not limit this disclosure.

FIGS. 6-8 are schematic illustrations of fuel header mechanism of FIGS. 2-5 in different configurations.

FIGS. 9-12 are schematic illustrations of an example gas grill with five heating sections that its fuel header is equipped with quick release couplings. The number of heating sections demonstrated here are for illustration only and does not limit this disclosure.

FIGS. 13-15 are schematic illustrations of fuel header mechanism of FIGS. 9-12 in different configurations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the heat generating unit is comprised of one or more gas burning heating sections that can rotate relative to each other or the fuel line to provide different heating configurations, heating the food from one or more directions. Each and every heating section can be turned on or off in each configuration and position.

In one configuration, all heating sections can be in flat position to provide cooking heat from the bottom.

To provide heat from the side or combination of bottom and side, one or more sections can be rotated to vertical position while the rest of the heating sections are in flat position.

Furthermore, some heating sections can be rotated and positioned in upside down position to provide heating from top or combination of heating from top, sides and bottom.

In certain implementation of this disclosure, the fuel lines between the heating sections are connected to each other by swivel joints that facilitate the rotation of the fuel line along with the corresponding heating section to desired configurations.

In certain implementation of this disclosure, the fuel lines between the heating sections are connected to each other by quick release couplings, these couplings facilitate rotating of the tubing attached to them, therefore, allowing the fuel line to follow the corresponding heating section to desired configurations.

In certain implementation of this disclosure, quick release coupling is equipped with shutoff valves and release mechanism to disconnect coupling during rotation of heating sections. After heating sections are set in desired positions, couplings re-engage and shutoff valve opens the fuel line.

In certain implementation of this disclosure, the fuel lines between the heating sections are connected to each other by flexible hoses that facilitate the rotation of the fuel line along with the corresponding heating section to desired configurations.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the heat generating unit is comprised of one or more electrical heating sections that can rotate relative to each other or the conductors to provide different heating configurations, heating the food from one or more directions. Each and every heating section can be turned on or off in each configuration and position.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, heat generating unit is comprised of one or more gas fueled and one or more electrical heating sections that can rotate relative to each other or the conductors to provide different heating configurations, heating the food from one or more directions. Each and every heating section can be turned on or off in each configuration and position.

The foregoing and other aspects of this disclosure are now discussed in further detail with reference to the accompanying figures.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an example heating section 110 including some aspects of this disclosure. Heating section 110 includes gas burner 111, grilling surface 112, and hinge mechanism 113 that attaches tow heating sections together and allows them to rotate relative to each other.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of this disclosure grill assembly 100 including concepts of this enclosure. Grill assembly 100 includes several heating sections 110 that are attached to each other by their hinge mechanisms 113, and fuel header 120 which is capable to change shape to continue providing fuel to each and every heating section in any configuration.

Fuel header 120 illustrated in FIG. 1, includes valve and orifice assemblies 121 for each heating section, swivel joints 122a-122d that are aligned with the hinges between heating sections to have the same rotating axis, and fuel hose assembly 123 which provides fuel to the header from the fuel source.

FIG. 3 illustrates one configuration where one heating section is rotated upward. To achieve this configuration, heating section 110e is unlatched, to allow it to rotate around hinge 113e, simultaneously, swivel joint 122d that is on the same rotating axis as the hinge, rotates and allows fuel header 120 to follow heating section in to the new configuration.

FIG. 4 illustrates one configuration where two heating sections are rotated upward. To achieve this configuration, heating section 110d is unlatched, to allow it to rotate around hinge 113d, simultaneously, swivel joint 122c that is on the same rotating axis as the hinge, rotates and allows fuel header 120 to follow heating sections in to the new configuration.

FIG. 5 illustrates one configuration where two heating sections are rotated to face downward. To achieve this configuration, heating sections 110c and 110d are unlatched, to allow them to rotate around their hinges 113c and 113d, simultaneously, swivel joints 122b and 122c that are on the same rotating axis as the hinges, rotate and allow fuel header 120 to follow heating sections in to the new configuration.

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate the alignment of hinges between heating sections and swivel joints which facilitates the coordinated rotation of the fuel line with heating sections.

FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment of this disclosure grill assembly 200 including concepts of this enclosure. Grill assembly 200 includes several heating sections 110 that are attached to each other by their hinge mechanisms 113, and fuel header 220 which is capable to change shape to continue providing fuel to each and every heating section in any configuration.

Fuel header 220 illustrated in FIG. 9, includes valve and orifice assemblies 221 for each heating section, quick release couplings 222a-222e that are aligned with the hinges between heating sections to have the same rotating axis, and fuel hose assembly 123 which provides fuel to the header from the fuel source.

FIG. 10 illustrates one configuration where one heating section is rotated upward. To achieve this configuration, heating section 110e is unlatched, to allow it to rotate around hinge 113e, simultaneously, quick release coupling 222e that is on the same rotating axis as the hinge, rotates and allows fuel header 220 to follow heating section in to the new configuration.

FIG. 11 illustrates one configuration where two heating sections are rotated upward. To achieve this configuration, heating section 210d is unlatched, to allow it to rotate around hinge 213d, simultaneously, quick release coupling 222d that is on the same rotating axis as the hinge, rotates and allows fuel header 220 to follow heating sections in to the new configuration.

FIG. 12 illustrates one configuration where two heating sections are rotated to face downward. To achieve this configuration, heating sections 110c and 110d are unlatched, to allow them to rotate around their hinges 113c and 113d, simultaneously, quick release couplings 222c and 222d that are on the same rotating axis as the hinges, rotate and allow fuel header 220 to follow heating sections in to the new configuration.

FIGS. 13-15 illustrate the alignment of hinges between heating sections and quick release couplings which facilitates the coordinated rotation of the fuel line with heating sections.

Although various representative embodiments have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventive subject matter set forth in the specification. All directional references (e.g., upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the invention unless specifically set forth in the claims. Joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and the like) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other.

In methodologies directly or indirectly set forth herein, various steps and operations are described in one possible order of operation, but those skilled in the art will recognize that steps and operations may be rearranged, replaced, or eliminated without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device comprising: multiple rectangular cube shapes comprising heating devices hinged to each other side-by-side, able to rotate against each other to present and maintain different configurations and arrangements; herein we call them heating sections;

2. The device of claim 1, comprising gas fueled heaters; and a tubular body, defining a path for fuel to travel from fuel source to each and every burner of heating sections; herein we call the tubular shape fuel header;fuel header is equipped with shape-changing joints that enables it to follow the heating sections when they are rotated;

3. The device of claim 2, wherein fuel header has swivel joints that change direction of fuel header, whenever heating sections rotate.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein fuel header has flexible hose that change shape whenever heating sections rotate.

5. The device of claim 2 where fuel header has quick release couplings that allow the two sides of the coupling rotate against each other so fuel header changes shape whenever heating sections rotate.

6. The device of claim 5 further comprising disconnect mechanism for each quick release coupling, in order to disengage couplings before rotation and reengage after rotation is complete.

7. The device of claim 5 further comprising shut-off valve to stop gas flow for each quick release coupling, in order to turn off the gas before rotation and resume gas flow after rotation is complete.

8. The device of claim 1, comprising electric heaters; and flexible wires, capable to change shape along with heating sections whenever they rotate.