Patent Application
20240008683
Often times, when people are grilling food items, such as a hamburger, hot dog, ribs, sausage, fish, chicken, vegetables and other items on a grill and attempt to turn the item over or flip them, the item does not fully rest on the utensil being used to turn it, such as a spatula. In such instances, the item usually is pushed to the rear of the grill where it engages the back wall of the grill allowing the user to maneuver the spatula fully under the item and move it back to its original grilling site. The problem arises because the food item touches the actual back wall of the grill which is often dirty from debris deposited on the back wall from prior use and because the user generally will clean the grill grates but not the back wall of the grill, thereby imparting harmful carbon deposits, pre-cooked, decayed and perhaps infected material to the product currently being cooked. The larger the item, the more contact with the compromised back wall. And, in reverse, when the item touches the back wall it can release particles of food that further contribute to a buildup of food on the back wall, and particles of food may also fall into the grill causing more unwanted debris. Depending on the design of the grill, if there is a gap between the back wall of the grill and the end of the grate, the item or a portion of it may fall into the gap and be lost. Thus, there exists a need for a device that rests on the grill grates at the back of the grilling surface.
A device comprises a bottom panel and a rear panel. In use, the bottom panel rests atop the grates of a grill, and the rear panel provides a surface to prevent food from touching the back wall of the grill. From the perspective of a food item being grilled, the rear panel effectively replaces the back wall of the grill when the food item is pushed towards the back of the grill. The device thus can eliminate a food item touching the back wall of the grill by way of the rear panel. Further, the bottom panel enables a user to reduce or eliminate the deposit of detached food particles from clogging and soiling the grill. The device also allows a user to reduce or eliminate flare-ups that occur as a food item is exposed to an open flame from the grill. Optional features include a rear engagement flap, one or more holes, attachment mechanisms, a tapered or beveled leading edge, one or two side walls, and adjustable length and height.
The detailed description makes reference to the accompanying figures wherein:
The figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the principles disclosed herein. The figures do not illustrate every aspect of the principles disclosed herein and do not limit the scope of the principles disclosed herein. Other objects, features, and characteristics will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description.
A detailed illustration is disclosed herein. However, techniques, methods, processes, systems and operating structures in accordance with the principles disclosed herein may be embodied in a wide variety of forms and modes, some of which may be quite different from those disclosed herein. Consequently, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative.
With reference to
Optional rear engagement flap 16 extends downward from rear panel 14 and is configured to extend behind the grates of a grill, between the grates and the back wall of the grill. Rear engagement flap 16 at least partially secures the device 10 to the grill, limiting or eliminating forward-backward movement of device 10 with respect to the grill grates. Rear engagement flap 16 can be foldable to facilitate storage or other considerations. Rear engagement flap 16 is optional and may be included or omitted without regard to the other optional features disclosed herein. In some embodiments, rear engagement flap 16 is foldable or retractable and may be used when the grill design permits.
Optional first mounting hole 18A and optional second mounting hole 18B are disposed in rear panel 14 and allow device 10 to be secured to the back wall of a grill. Each of first mounting hole 18A and second mounting hole 18B are dimensioned and placed to receive, for example, a threaded screw coupled to the rear wall of the grill. A locking device may be used with a threaded screw, such as a wing nut or other removable locking mechanism, to facilitate removal of the device 10 for cleaning at the user's discretion. First mounting hole 18A and second mounting hole 18B may be placed onto protrusions secured to the back wall of the grill, thereby securing device 10 in place. Screws, bolts, or other suitable hardware may be fed through first mounting hole 18A and second mounting hole 18B and secured to the back wall of the grill to secure device 10 to the back wall of the grill. Optional top cutout 20A and optional top cutout 20B allow first mounting hole 18A and second mounting hole 18B to be placed onto protrusions on the back wall of the grill and then lowered, so that the protrusions fit into the narrower spaces of top cutout 20A and top cutout 20B, respectively, securing device 10 in place with respect to the back wall of the grill. For example, top cutout 20A and first mounting hole 18A can be shaped to form a teardrop or similar design configured to engage with a button-like protrusion coupled to the back wall of the grill. Optional screw holes 21A and 21B enable a user to screw or similarly fasten device 10 to the back wall of a grill. Each of first mounting hole 18A, second mounting hole 18B, top cutout 20A, top cutout 20B, screw hole 21A, and screw hole 21B is optional and may be included or omitted without regard to the other optional features disclosed herein. For example, an embodiment may include a single hole, with or without a top cutout, or three or more holes, with or without top cutouts, without departing from the principles disclosed herein. One or more other suitable attachment mechanisms, such as clip(s) and/or magnet(s), may optionally be used to temporarily or semi-permanently secure a device to the grill such that it could be removed after use for cleaning. In some embodiments, one or more suitable attachment mechanisms may be used to permanently secure a device to the grill if removal for cleaning or other purposes is not desired.
With reference to
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In a collapsible embodiment shown in
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In varying embodiments, the hinges 45A and 46, and any corresponding hinge coupled to right side panel 44B, can be a simple hinge or other mechanism(s) such as a strip of heat resistant polymer, carbon based material, or a flexible thin metal strip, such as aluminum, that would allow a panel to fold with respect to at least one other panel. Other similar methods and materials well known in the art may be used to enable left side panel 44A and/or right side panel 44B to move relative to bottom panel 40. In some embodiments, the device is configured so that when the rear panel 41 is urged downwardly from its vertical position to a horizontal position, the left side panel 44A and right side panel 44B will collapse inwardly and rest underneath the rear panel 41 in its horizontal position. This facilitates storage and cleaning, particularly in a dishwasher.
In a collapsible embodiment shown in
In vertically adjustable embodiments, a rear wall of the device is formed by a panel or panels configured to extend and retract, allowing a user to adjust the vertical height of the rear wall. By adjusting the height of the rear wall, the user can select a suitable height to, for example, fit the device between the grill grates and an upper grill basket if there is one. In some embodiments, the vertical height can be made adjustable by sliding one panel vertically with respect to a fixed panel and secured in place. In some embodiments, a back wall comprises two or more panels folded over each other and which can be unfolded and secured in place to extend the height of the back wall. The vertical dimension of the rear wall is preferably configured so that the rear wall does not interfere with operation of the grill, such as the cover or a burner positioned in the grill's back wall.
In horizontally adjustable embodiments, one or more bottom panels of the device are configured to extend and retract, allowing a user to adjust the horizontal width of the bottom surface. In such embodiments, the device can be dimensioned horizontally to fit a portion of the grilling surface and preferably with slightly smaller dimensions than the grilling surface to allow for ease of installation and removal. In some embodiments, the device can also be fabricated with one or more sliding and locking mechanisms so that the device can be adapted to horizontally fit differently dimensioned grills. For example, a device may comprise a tooth and groove system with one or more release mechanisms, such as side mounted buttons, to disengage a sliding and locking mechanism and allow the device to reach a different horizontal width.
Although the embodiments described hereinabove relate to rectangularly shaped grills, the device can be formed in different shapes, such as semi-circular to fit round grills, or other appropriate shapes for differently or unconventionally dimensioned grills. In some embodiments, a semi-circular bottom panel is coupled to a rear panel along a curved rear edge. Optionally, the rear panel and bottom panel are detachable. In some such embodiments, the rear panel may be flexible when detached so that the rear panel can lay substantially flat atop the bottom panel for transport or storage.
In some embodiments, the device is formed unitarily as one piece that can easily be inserted and removed from the grill for cleaning and storage. In some embodiments, the device is fabricated from a metal that is rust resistant and can withstand the heat of the grill. For example, a very thin sheet of the same metal used to form the grill walls can be rolled and formed into a unitary device using known metal fabrication methods. In some embodiments, the device can be formed from lightweight heat resistant polymers and carbon based material, such as that used in commercially available grill mats, in a thickness sufficient to maintain rigidity. In some embodiments, the device can be made from aluminum, such as that used to fabricate aluminum roasting pans. In various embodiments, a device may be made from one or more of the following: a heat resistant metal, a plastic, a carbon based material, silicon, and aluminum. Disposable embodiments of the device can be sold in bulk and can eliminate cleaning if the user decides to dispose of the device after a single use. Lightweight materials can be used to make the device more portable. The gauge of the material used for the device is preferably rigid enough to enable stability yet still provide transportability. In some embodiments, a non-stick coating and/or a non-stick ceramic surface is used to provide easier movement of food onto, across, and off of the device during cooking and to provide easier cleaning of the device between uses. In some embodiments, a dimpled or other suitably textured surface may be used for the bottom panel and/or rear panel to provide desired control of food items along the surface.
In some embodiments, the device is formed from a single piece of aluminum or other suitable material that can be intended for single-use or designed for reusability after cleaning. In some embodiments, the rear engagement flap is foldable and provided in a first horizontal storage position that can be manually extended to a vertical position with simple hand motion.
Different dimensions may be selected according to the intended application of a device or the size or shape of a grill a device is to be used on. Generally, about 4 inches is a suitable height for a rear wall of a device, but can be more or less according to design considerations. Preferably, the rear wall of a device is 0.5 inch to 6 inches in height when configured for use on a residential grill. The bottom portion extends horizontally preferably towards the front of the grill a few inches from the back wall. Generally, a few inches, for example 3 to 6 inches, may be sufficient. Depending on the user's needs and preferences, a smaller or larger bottom length, such as 0.5 inch to 10 inches, may be suitable. In some embodiments, the flat portion may be extended a greater length toward the front of the grill such that it can also serve as a place for food items to rest for a longer period of time. Different dimensions may be selected as appropriate for commercial or industrial grills or non-standard residential grills.
Each of the foregoing embodiments contains one or more features that may be incorporated into other embodiments without departing from the principles disclosed herein. For example, an embodiment of a device may include a rear engagement flap, a beveled front edge, adjustable horizontal length, and a non-stick coating, without departing from the principles disclosed herein.
The detailed description is not intended to be limiting or represent an exhaustive enumeration of the principles disclosed herein. It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit of the principles disclosed herein.
