Roast grid having a flexible configuration

Abstract

A roast grid having a flexible configuration includes a first frame rod and a second frame rod opposing each other, and a plurality of bracing bars vertical to the two frame rods. The first frame rod is movably coupled on a resting rod on an opening of a broiler, and has a plurality of wedge portions on one side wall to hold the bracing bars. The second frame rod includes an upper clip member and a lower clip member that are hinged together. The upper and lower clip members have facing sides that have indented clip portions to clip the bracing bars. One end of the clip members is fastened through a fastening element. Thus the bracing members can be disassembled and removed for cleaning. The laying density of the bracing bars can be adjusted to mate cooking utensils.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a roast grid used on broilers and particularly to a roast grid that can be adjusted flexibly in varying densities to mate cooking utensils

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional roast grid 1 of a broiler 2 generally is mounted onto two opposing resting edges 4 of an opening 3 on the broiler top. The roast grid 1 has a plurality of longitudinal metal bars 5 soldering on two transverse resting rods 6 that are positioned on a front side and a rear side to become a rectangular grid. When in use, the roast grid 1 is mounted onto the resting edges 4. As the metal bars 5 are fixedly soldered on the two transverse resting rods 6, and sauces are dispensed on the roasted meats such as port, chicken, duck or other food stuffs during roasting. The sauces inevitably will drip onto the roast grid 1. The heat of roasting bakes the sauces to become sticky black coke attached to the roast grid 1. To do clearing, the entire roast grid 1 has to be removed and cleaned. As the roast grid 1 is heavy and bulky, and the metal bars 5 and the resting rods 6 are fixedly soldered in a cross manner, cleaning is difficult, especially on the intersecting spots. Moreover, soldering requires skillful technicians. Overdoing the soldering will create too much oxidation. Not sufficient soldering will result in breaking away of the metal bars 5 from the resting rods 6. Moreover, the metal bars 5 are soldered and laid in a fixed density. It cannot accommodate other cooking utensils (such as frying pans). To hold a pot on the roast grid 1 to stew soup, the pot has to be rested on the top of the metal bars 5 straddling the opening 3 of the broiler. As the pitch density of the metal bars 5 aims to do roasting, it usually is formed in a denser fashion to prevent foodstuffs from dropping. To hold the pot thereon for stewing soup, the flame is blocked from reaching the pot bottom due to the denser metal bars 5, hence heating efficiency is lower.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforesaid disadvantages, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a roast grid that can be arranged flexibly in varying densities. It includes a first frame rod and a second frame rod that oppose each other, and a plurality of bracing bars vertical to the two frame rods. The first frame rod is movably coupled on a resting rod on an opening of a broiler. The first frame rod has a plurality of wedge portions on one side wall to be latched by the bracing bars. The second frame rod includes a upper clip member and a lower clip member that are hinged together. The upper and lower clip members have indented coupling portions on facing sides to clip the bracing bars, and have a distal end fastened by a fastening element. Thus the bracing bars can be removed for cleaning and arranged in varying densities to mate the cooking utensils.

The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a conventional roast grid and a broiler.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional roast grid and a broiler in a coupled condition.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is an exploded view of an embodiment of the roast grid of the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a fragmentary enlarged view according to FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the roast grid of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the second frame rod of the invention in a moving condition.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention showing the bracing bars in a cleaning condition.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention in a use condition.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention in another use condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please referring to FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B, the roast grid having a flexible configuration according to the invention includes a first frame rod 10 and a second frame rod 20, and a plurality of bracing bars 30 coupled on the first and second frame rods 10 and 20 in a vertical manner.

The first frame rod 10 has a rectangular end surface with a trough 12 formed thereon axially. The trough 12 has an opening inclined towards a side wall to be movably coupled on a resting rod 42 on an opening 41 of the top of a broiler 40. The first frame rod 10 further has a plurality of wedge portions 11 on one side wall that are round cavities to be inserted by one end of the round bracing bars 30. The second frame rod 20 also has a rectangular end surface and includes a upper clip member 21 and a lower clip member 22 that have one end hinged together, and another end fastened together through a fastening element 25 (such as a bolt). The upper and lower clip members 21 and 22 have facing sides that have respectively a plurality of indented coupling portions 23 opposing each other. The coupling portions 23 are semicircular holes to clip other end of the bracing bars 30. The lower clip member 22 has a distal end with a screw hole 24 formed thereon to be fastened by the fastening element 25 (also referring to FIGS. 5 and 6). The fastening element 25 runs through an elastic element 26 (such as a spring) which is extensible axially. The fastening element 25 further has a jutting and extensible latch portion 27 on a upper periphery to be coupled with an aperture 28 formed on another distal end of the upper clip member 21 so that after the fastening element 25 is fastened, the latch portion is latched on the top wall of the aperture 28 to latch the upper clip member 21 on the upper side of the lower clip member 22 to jointly clip the bracing bars 30.

For assembly, the first fame rod 10 is coupled on the resting rod 42 on the upper side of the opening 41 of the broiler 40 through the trough 12, and turned for a selected angle to be rested on the resting rod 42. Then the bracing bars 30 are inserted individually into the wedge portions 11 of the first frame rod 10 through one end thereof. Straddle the second frame rod 20 on a resting edge 43 below the opening 41, and raise the upper clip member 21 to place other ends of the bracing bars 30 on the coupling portions 23 of the lower clip member 22. Lower the upper clip member 21 onto the lower clip member 22 to clip the bracing bars 30. Insert the fastening element 25 into the aperture 28 to clip the upper clip member 21 to the lower clip member 22. The latch member 27 can be latched on the top surface of the upper clip member 21 to form an anchoring condition to clip the bracing bars 30 securely.

To clean the roast grid, lift the upper clip member 21. The latch portion 27 is retracted under pressure. Then the bracing bars 30 can be removed individually. Submerge the bracing bars 30 in a detergent solution as shown in FIG. 7 for a selected time. Then the coke grease attached to the bracing bars 30 can be brushed away.

It is to be noted that the density of the bracing bars 30 can be adjusted as desired. For instance, a number of the bracing bars 30 in the middle portion of the opening 41 (i.e. above the flame) can be removed to allow a frying pan to be placed thereon as shown in FIG. 8, or the bracing bars 30 in the middle portion can be arranged in a less densely manner to hold a pot as shown in FIG. 9.

In short, compared with the conventional roast grid shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the roast grid 1 of the invention can be disassembled and cleaned easily. The density of the bracing bars 30 can be adjusted to mate the cooking utensils to be used. Assembly and installation is easy. The problem of defective soldering is eliminated. It offers a great improvement over the conventional techniques.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A roast grid having a flexible configuration to be rested on an opening of a broiler, comprising: a first frame rod and a second frame rod corresponding to each other to couple with a plurality of bracing bars on a front end and a rear end; at least one of the frame rods having a upper clip member and a lower clip member that correspond to each other and have one end hinged together, the upper clip member and the lower clip member having facing sides which have respectively a plurality of indented coupling portions, the first frame rod having other end fastened together through a fastening element.

2. The roast grid of claim 1, wherein the first frame rod and the second frame rod have one end surface formed in a rectangle, the first frame rod having a plurality of wedge portions formed on one side wall.

3. The roast grid of claim 2, wherein the wedge portions are circular cavities, the bracing bars are round bars that have one end inserting into the wedge portions.

4. The roast grid of claim 1, wherein the fastening element is a bolt which runs through an elastic element which is extensible axially and has a latch portion jutting through a upper periphery thereof.

5. The roast grid of claim 4, wherein the elastic element is a spring.

6. The roast grid of claim 1, wherein the first frame rod has a trough in the center that has an opening inclined towards a side wall, the opening of the trough corresponding to a resting rod on the opening of the broiler to be coupled with the resting rod by turning.