Patent Application
20100206826
The present disclosure relates to an outdoor barbecue system, and more particularly to a portable grilling utensil rack.
Home barbecue and outdoor grill equipment is ubiquitous in the well-equipped American home. Auxiliary workstation carts have been developed for use with the usual barbecue equipment. Such auxiliary workstation carts provide storage space for utensils and additional countertop space for food preparation and serving.
Although effective, the barbecue equipment and auxiliary workstation carts may require a fair amount of storage space.
An outdoor storage rack according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a set of telescopic supports mounted to a base through a respective hinge assembly such that said rack is movable between an extended and a stored position.
A method of deploying an outdoor storage rack according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes: pivoting a set of supports relative a base; telescoping said set of supports; and pivoting a rack relative the set of supports.
Various features will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the disclosed non-limiting embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:
The base 22 in one non-limiting embodiment may be a non-metallic textured surface grill mat that supports a grill (illustrated schematically at G). The base 22 includes three sections 22A, 22B, 22C. The base center section 22A is mounted to the outer sections 22B, 22C such that the outer sections 22B, 22C may fold relative the center section 22A. The base 22 in a folded condition may be generally the same size as the rack 24 (
The rack 24 includes a rack surface 30 and a three-sided edge 32 therearound. The rack surface 30 may be a mesh or other grid type surface. The rack 24 is pivotally fastened to the telescopic supports 26 such that the rack 24 may swivel approximately two hundred and seventy degrees then be supported approximately ninety degrees relative the telescopic supports 26 and over the base 22 (
A user may readily hang grilling utensils (illustrated schematically at U) from the rack surface 30 above the grill G in an easy to reach location. The rack surface 30 may also be utilized to provide additional storage space.
Each of the telescopic supports 26 in the disclosed non-limiting embodiment may include three sections 34A-34C which telescope between a retracted and an extended position. Each of the sections 34A-34C include a spring loaded pin mechanism 36. As each section 34 is extended the respective spring loaded pin mechanism 36 snaps into an aperture to lock the sections 34 in the extended position. It should be understood that various lock arrangements may alternatively be provided.
Each support 26 is mounted to the respective hinge assembly 28. The hinge assembly 28 is attached to the base 22 through fasteners F (
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The hinge base 40 includes hinge arms 46 which extend at an approximately forty-five degree angle. The hinge support 42 also includes a hinge arm 48 which receives a hinge pin 50 to provide movement between the extended position (
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It should be understood that relative positional terms such as “forward,” “aft,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” and the like are with reference to the normal operational attitude of the vehicle and should not be considered otherwise limiting.
It should be understood that like reference numerals identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several drawings. It should also be understood that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed in the illustrated embodiment, other arrangements will benefit herefrom.
Although particular step sequences are shown, described, and claimed, it should be understood that steps may be performed in any order, separated or combined unless otherwise indicated and will still benefit from the present invention.
The foregoing description is exemplary rather than defined by the limitations within. Various non-limiting embodiments are disclosed herein, however, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that various modifications and variations in light of the above teachings will fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described. For that reason, the appended claims should be studied to determine true scope and content.
