Patent Application
20060042620
The present invention relates to a portable gas grill and in particular to a portable gas grill in which the grill housing is vertically oriented and in which food is cooked in a vertical orientation within a grilling basket.
Portable barbecue grills fired by pressurized hydrocarbon fuels are readily available from a wide range of manufacturers and retailers. However, such units are adapted solely for the cooking of products on a grill, defined herein as a large number of horizontally oriented rods aligned parallel to one another and retained in their alignment by cross-members, resulting in a majority of open space through which heat from a burner element may be directed onto the food to be cooked. The cooking of many foods is impossible on such units, for it would fall into the open spaces between the grill rods. For instance, eggs, pancakes, stir-fry or Oriental dishes, etc., could not be cooked on conventional units.
Furthermore, heat rising from the burner element is wasted once it reaches the grill, as the heat will naturally tend to rise to the highest point within the grill enclosure above the food.
In addition, food cooking on the horizontal grill surface must be flipped repeatedly so that both sides of the food are evenly cooked.
There is a need for a portable, vertical gas grill that addresses these problems.
A portable gas grill for cooking food, comprising:
A principal object of and advantage of the present invention is that the housing is vertically oriented and therefore takes up less space on a table or other surface than a conventional gas grill.
Another principal object and advantage of the present invention is that it uses gas more efficiently than other grills because the rising heat cooks the food as it rises vertically past the vertically oriented food.
Another principal object and advantage of the present invention is that it has a closable basket for retaining food vertically within the grill, and thus can be used for cooking a great variety of foods without any danger of the food falling out of the basket.
Another principal object and advantage of the present invention is that the grill basket makes it unnecessary for the user to flip the food as it is cooking.
Another object and advantage of the present invention is that all components including the tank of propane gas are portable without disassembly.
The portable gas grill of the present invention is generally shown in the Figures as reference numeral 10.
The portable gas grill 10 further comprises a substantially vertical housing 12, a substantially horizontal burner 14 within the housing 12, a gas supply 16, a control valve 18 connecting the gas supply 16 to the burner 14, an igniter 20, and a substantially vertical food retaining unit 22 insertable into and removable from the housing 12 above the burner 14.
Preferably, the substantially vertical food retaining unit 22 further comprises a basket 24 having two sides 26, 28, each side having a plurality of openings 30.
Preferably, the gas grill 10 further comprises a support 32 within the housing 12 for retaining the basket 24 in a substantially vertical position.
In one embodiment, the gas grill 10 further comprises a drip tray 34 beneath the basket 24.
In one embodiment, the burner 14 further comprises a plurality of substantially parallel tubes 36 having flame openings 38 and a manifold 40 connecting the tubes 36 to the control valve 18.
In one embodiment, the gas grill 10 further comprises an enclosure 42 for the gas supply mounted on the housing 12. Preferably, the enclosure 42 is adapted to hold a propane tank 44.
Preferably, the gas grill 10 further comprises a vertically mounted door 46 pivotable on the housing 12 between an open position and a closed position.
The gas grill 10 may also preferably comprise a handle 48 mounted on the top of the housing 12. Preferably, a vent 50 is included in the housing 12 under the handle 48.
In one embodiment, the gas grill 10 further comprises a removable container 52 within the housing 12 adapted to contain wood chips for smoking foods.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law and regulations. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.
