Portable grills can be useful for many activities, including picnicking, camping, and tailgating. Some grills have a small form factor that is convenient for traveling and enhances their portability. However, some of these grills have loose or removeable components, such as handles, legs, grates, fasteners, and grilling surfaces, which may take time to assemble before use. Further, such components can fall out and become lost during use, cleaning, and/or travel. Additionally and in some examples, it can be challenging to control airflow to a fuel source in these grills, and to clean the grill after use.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure.
Examples are disclosed that relate to grills and methods of controlling airflow into a grill. In one example, a grill comprises a cover comprising a grilling surface at a first end and a plurality of vents at a second end opposite to the first end. The grill further comprises a circular base configured to seat the second end of the cover. The circular base comprises a planar surface and a plurality of protrusions extending upwardly from the planar surface. The cover is rotatable relative to the circular base when seated on the circular base, and the protrusions are configured to selectively block and expose the plurality of vents in the cover upon rotation of the cover.
In another example a grill comprises a circular base comprising a planar surface and a plurality of protrusions extending upwardly from the planar surface around a circumference of the base. A plurality of ribs extends across the planar surface and are configured to receive fuel sources. The grill also includes a cover comprising a grilling surface at a first end and a plurality of vents at a second end opposite to the first end. The cover is rotatably seated on the circular base to selectively expose the vents via rotation of the cover relative to the circular base. When the cover is in a closed position relative to the circular base, the plurality of protrusions block the plurality of vents to substantially block airflow through the vents. When the cover is rotated from the closed position, the plurality of vents are exposed to allow airflow through the vent.
Another example provides a method of controlling airflow into a grill. The method comprises seating a cover onto a base. The cover comprises a grilling surface at a first end of a tapered cylinder. The tapered cylinder comprises a plurality of vents at a second end opposite to the first end. The base comprises a planar surface and a plurality of protrusions extending upwardly from the planar surface. The method further comprises rotating the cover to a closed position in which the plurality of protrusions block the plurality of vents to substantially block airflow through the vents. The method also includes rotating the cover away from the closed position to expose the plurality of vents and allow airflow through the vents.
As noted above, portable grills can be useful for many activities, including picnicking, camping, and tailgating. Some grills have a small form factor that is convenient for traveling. However, some such portable grills have loose or removeable components, such as handles, legs, grates, fasteners, and grilling surfaces, which may take time to assemble before use. Further, such components can fall out during use, cleaning, and/or travel and become lost.
In some examples, it can also be challenging to control airflow to a fuel source inside the grill, and to clean the grill after use. For example, some kettle-shaped charcoal grills have vents located below a charcoal firebox and vents located in a lid positioned above a cooking surface. As the vents are not located directly adjacent to the charcoal, it can be difficult to precisely control airflow to the charcoal at the bottom of the grill. In addition, it can be an inconvenient and messy task to remove the charcoal after use, and to clean the cooking surface and the firebox.
Accordingly, examples are disclosed that relate to grills and methods of controlling airflow into a grill. Briefly, a grill comprises a cover comprising a grilling surface at a first end and a plurality of vents at a second end opposite to the first end. The grill further comprises a circular base configured to seat the second end of the cover. The circular base comprises a planar surface and a plurality of protrusions extending upwardly from the planar surface. The cover is easily and conveniently rotated relative to the circular base when seated on the circular base, and the protrusions are configured to selectively cover and expose the plurality of vents in the cover upon rotation of the cover. In this manner, a user can easily control airflow through the grill by simply rotating the cover. Further and as described further below, the grill is composed of just two parts and is easy to clean after use.
The cover 104 comprises a grilling surface 112 at a first end 116. The grilling surface 112 is comprised of parallel, spaced-apart bars extending across the first end 116 of the cover 104. The cover 104 further comprises two raised rims 120 extending around opposing portions of the cover and upwardly from the grilling surface 112 in the positive z-axis direction. Advantageously, the raised rims 120 function to prevent round rollable foods, such as hot dogs, from rolling off the grilling surface 112. With reference briefly to
With reference also to
With reference also to
The circular base 108 of the grill 100 is configured to seat the second end 128 of the cover 104. With reference briefly to
To enable this precision airflow control, a surface area of an outer face of each protrusion 132A, 132B, 132C, or 132D is greater than an area of a corresponding vent 124A, 124B, 124C, or 124D. In this manner, and as illustrated by example in
As noted above, and in one potential advantage of the present disclosure, a user may easily control airflow into the grill 100 via the vents 124A, 124B, 124C, and 124D by simply rotating the cover 104 relative to the base 108. More particularly, the base 108 is configured to receive and seat the cover 104 such that the cover 104 is freely rotatable relative to the base 108. Advantageously, this configuration enables the protrusions 132A, 132B, 132C, and 132D to selectively block and expose the vents 124A, 124B, 124C, and 124D in the cover 104 by simply rotating the base 108, and without translation of the cover 104 away from the base 108 in the z-axis direction. In this manner, this configuration allows the user to easily adjust airflow by simply rotating the cover 104 without the need to lift or raise the cover.
With reference now to
In the present example, 25 degrees is the smallest rotation angle that completely exposes each of the vents 124A, 124B, 124C, and 124D. In this example, rotating the cover 104 between 0 and 25 degrees from the closed position exposes between 0% and 100%, respectively, of an area of each vent. In this manner, rotation of the cover 104 provides a broad range of control over airflow through the grill 100. For example, and with reference now to
In other examples, the circular base 108 comprises two or more lips extending upwardly from the base 108 in the z-axis direction around portions of the circumference of the base 108. For example, a separate lip may be positioned adjacent to each of the protrusions 132A, 132B, 132C, and 132D to create gaps therebetween for receiving the second end 128 of the cover 104.
With reference again to
With reference to
In some examples, and as shown in the example of
With reference now to
From this position, a user can easily access the cover handles 140A, 140B to turn the cover 104 relative to the base and expose the vents 124A, 124B, 124C, and 124D. As shown in
With reference now to
At 1004, the method 1000 includes seating a cover onto a base, the cover comprising a grilling surface at a first end and a plurality of vents at a second end opposite to the first end, and the base comprising a planar surface and a plurality of protrusions extending upwardly from the planar surface. At 1008, the method 1000 may include wherein the plurality of vents are equally spaced around a peripheral face of the cover.
At 1012, the method 1000 includes rotating the cover to a closed position in which the plurality of protrusions block the plurality of vents to substantially block airflow through the vents. At 1016, the method 1000 includes rotating the cover away from the closed position to expose the plurality of vents and allow airflow through the vents. At 1020, the method 1000 may include wherein rotating the cover away from the closed position is performed without translating the cover away from the base.
The following paragraphs provide additional support for the claims of the subject application.
One aspect provides a grill comprising: a cover comprising a grilling surface at a first end and a plurality of vents at a second end opposite to the first end; and a circular base configured to seat the second end of the cover, the circular base comprising a planar surface and a plurality of protrusions extending upwardly from the planar surface, wherein the cover is rotatable relative to the circular base when seated on the circular base, and the protrusions are configured to selectively block and expose the plurality of vents in the cover upon rotation of the cover.
The grill may additionally or alternatively include, wherein the plurality of protrusions block the plurality of vents when the cover is seated on the circular base in a closed position to substantially block airflow through the vents. The grill may additionally or alternatively include, wherein the vents are at least partially exposed when the cover is rotated away from the closed position to allow airflow through the vents.
The grill may additionally or alternatively include, wherein the cover is a single cast-iron part and the base is a single cast-iron part. The grill may additionally or alternatively include, wherein a number of the protrusions in the base equals a number of the vents at the second end of the cover. The grill may additionally or alternatively include, wherein the protrusions are equally spaced around a circumference of the base.
The grill may additionally or alternatively include, wherein the vents are equally spaced around a peripheral face of the cover. The grill may additionally or alternatively include, wherein the plurality of protrusions have the same shape. The grill may additionally or alternatively include, wherein the circular base comprises a lip extending upwardly around one or more portions of a circumference of the base, and wherein an outer face of each protrusion is spaced from the lip to create a gap between the outer face and the lip in which the second end of the cover is received.
The grill may additionally or alternatively include, wherein a surface area of an outer face of the protrusion is greater than an area of the vent. The grill may additionally or alternatively include, wherein a first side of the protrusion forms a first angle with the planar surface, and a second side of the protrusion opposite to the first side forms a second angle with the planar surface that is greater than the first angle.
The grill may additionally or alternatively include, wherein the cover comprises: a first cover handle extending from the cover and located between a first vent and a second vent of the plurality of vents; and a second cover handle extending from the cover at a location opposite to the first cover handle, the second cover handle located between a third vent and a fourth vent of the plurality of vents. The grill may additionally or alternatively include, wherein the circular base comprises: a first base handle extending from a peripheral area of the base and located between a first protrusion and a second protrusion of the plurality of protrusions; and a second base handle extending from another peripheral area of the base at a location opposite to the first base handle, the second base handle located between a third protrusion and a fourth protrusion of the plurality of protrusions. The grill may additionally or alternatively include, wherein the protrusions are configured to selectively block and expose the plurality of vents in the cover without translation of the cover away from the base.
Another aspect provides a grill comprising: a circular base comprising a planar surface, a plurality of protrusions extending upwardly from the planar surface around a circumference of the base, and a plurality of ribs extending across the planar surface and configured to receive fuel sources; and a cover comprising a grilling surface at a first end and a plurality of vents at a second end opposite to the first end, the cover rotatably seated on the circular base to selectively expose the vents via rotation of the cover relative to the circular base; wherein, when the cover is in a closed position relative to the circular base, the plurality of protrusions block the plurality of vents to substantially block airflow through the vents; and wherein, when the cover is rotated from the closed position, the plurality of vents are exposed to allow airflow through the vent.
The grill may additionally or alternatively include, wherein the cover is a single cast-iron part and the base is a single cast-iron part. The grill may additionally or alternatively include, wherein the protrusions are configured to selectively block and expose the plurality of vents in the cover without translation of the cover away from the base.
Another aspect provides a method of controlling airflow into a grill, the method comprising: seating a cover onto a base, the cover comprising a grilling surface at a first end and a plurality of vents at a second end opposite to the first end, and the base comprising a planar surface and a plurality of protrusions extending upwardly from the planar surface; rotating the cover to a closed position in which the plurality of protrusions block the plurality of vents to substantially block airflow through the vents; and rotating the cover away from the closed position to expose the plurality of vents and allow airflow through the vents.
The method may additionally or alternatively include, wherein rotating the cover away from the closed position is performed without translating the cover away from the base. The method may additionally or alternatively include, wherein the plurality of vents are equally spaced around a peripheral face of the cover.
It will be appreciated that references to “one example” or “an example” are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising,” “including,” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property. The terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-language equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements or a particular positional order on their objects. The term “adjacent” is used to mean that a first element or structure is nearby or in close proximity to a second element or structure, and includes the first and second elements or structures being in contact and not in contact.
The following claims particularly point out certain combinations and sub-combinations regarded as novel and non-obvious. These claims may refer to “an” element or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof. Such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. Other combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or through presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such claims, whether broader, narrower, equal, or different in scope to the original claims, also are regarded as included within the subject matter of the present disclosure.
It will be understood that the configurations and/or approaches described herein are exemplary in nature, and that these specific embodiments or examples are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. The specific routines or methods described herein may represent one or more of any number of manufacturing and/or usage strategies. As such, various acts illustrated and/or described may be performed in the sequence illustrated and/or described, in other sequences, in parallel, or omitted. Likewise, the order of the above-described processes may be changed.
The subject matter of the present disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and sub-combinations of the various processes, systems and configurations, and other features, functions, acts, and/or properties disclosed herein, as well as any and all equivalents thereof.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/100,717, filed Nov. 20, 2020, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17100717 | Nov 2020 | US |
Child | 17112365 | US |