Patent Application
20220133088
The present invention relates to barbeque grills and bonfires.
Grills for cooking food are well-known. For example, in a basic charcoal grill, the grill may include a housing holding charcoal, a cooking grate located above the charcoal, and a removable lid. The grill may also include a host of other features such as a plurality of legs, temperature gauges and the like.
Bonfires are also well-known. In some cases, users merely stand or sit around a plurality of logs on fire. In other embodiments, wood may be burned in a barrel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,298 teaches a portable outdoor fireplace with a fire screen assembly convertible into a cooking grill. The fireplace includes top and bottom cover members and a fire screen assembly containing multiple screens extending vertically there between. The firescreen assembly includes a plurality of supports that support a cooking grate near the entrance of the fireplace at different locations. However, the fireplace does not allow for multiple styles of cooking such as direct heat, indirect heat, or smoking.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,038,620 teaches a multi-sided, portable outdoor fireplace convertible to an open grill, a rotisserie assembly, and a smoker assembly. The fireplace includes a carriage assembly with a pair of rotatable wheels and at least one leg member; a base pan assembly for containing a solid fuel heat source affixed to the carriage assembly; and a removable screen assembly residing on top of the base pan assembly. However, the structure of this portable outdoor fireplace is complex and has many parts.
It would be advantageous to provide a portable, easy-to-use, multi-function grill that has uses in addition to cooking food, such as containing a bonfire.
The present disclosure provides a multi-purpose grill as described herein.
With reference to
As shown in
Optionally, to allow for the grill 10 to be used as a bonfire (as explained in greater detail below), the pan 36 is removable, and, as shown in
Optionally, the height of the cooking grate 42 is adjustable. For example, as best seen in the sectional view of
Optionally, as best seen in
The firebox opening 30 can be any suitable shape, including without limitation, circular, ovular, or rectangular.
Optionally, as best seen in
Optionally, the housing 12 and the pan 36 are comprised of metal and are configured to withstand temperatures of at least 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Optionally, as best seen in
Optionally, the at least one vent 46 is closeable.
Optionally, as best seen in
Optionally, the firebox opening comprises a longest dimension of at least 3 inches.
Optionally, as shown in
Optionally, as best seen in
Optionally, the grill 10 may be used as a bonfire. For example, a fire may be located in the housing interior 16. More particularly, as shown in
Optionally, the sidewall 14 further comprises a second set of design holes (not shown) arranged in a pattern and configured to allow a viewer on the outside of the housing 12 to view a fire in the housing interior 16. The second set of design holes 88 may be further configured to allow heat from the fire to escape the housing interior 16 and provide warmth to the viewer. The second set of design holes may be located on an opposite side of the at least one sidewall 14 as compared to the first set of design holes 86. As is the case with the rod holes 48, the first and second set of design holes 86 may be located in different sidewalls 14 (e.g., front and back or left and right) if the grill includes more than one sidewall 14.
Optionally, the first set of design holes 86 have a combined surface area of at least one square foot. Optionally, the first set of design holes 86 is located below the at least two rod holes 48. Optionally, except for the first and second set of design holes 86, the firebox opening 30 and the rod holes 48, the housing sidewall 14 is solid metal.
The grill 10 may be used in any suitable process, including but not limited to cooking food or creating a bonfire. For example, the grill 10 may be used in a method comprising: a) providing the grill 10; b) placing charcoal 92 in the pan 36 and igniting the charcoal 92; c) placing food on the cooking grate 42; and d) using heat provided by the charcoal 92 to cook the food. The grill may also be used for a method of smoking food wherein the method comprises: a) providing the grill 10; b) placing the pan 36 in the grill 10; c) adding water or other liquids such as juice to the pan 36; d) placing wood and/or charcoal 92 in the housing interior bottom 66 and igniting the wood and/or charcoal 92; e) placing food on the cooking grate 42; f) using heat and smoke provided by the wood and/or charcoal 92 to cook and flavor the food. Optionally, this method may be performed without the water or without the pan or water. Without being bound to any particular theory, using the pan with water, just the pan, or no pan creates different temperature profiles in the grill for different cooking styles.
Alternatively, the grill 10 may be used in a method of creating a bonfire, including: a) providing the grill 10; b) removing the cooking grate 42, pan 36 and lid 44; and c) igniting a fire in the housing interior 16. Optionally, the fire is located on the bottom wall 64. Optionally. the method further comprises, after step d), allowing heat from the fire to escape through the first set of design holes 86 (as well as viewing the fire through the first set of design holes 86).
Having now described the invention in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in the art will understand how to make changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiments to meet their specific requirements or conditions. Changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. In addition, the steps of any method described herein may be performed in any suitable order and steps may be performed simultaneously if needed. Use of the singular embraces the plural.
Terms of degree such as “generally”, “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. For example, these terms can be construed as including a deviation of at least ±5% of the modified term if this deviation would not negate the meaning of the word it modifies.
