Switch assembly barbecue grill

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6202639
  • Patent Number
    6,202,639
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, April 26, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, March 20, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A switch assembly for a barbecue grill includes two pipes with a connection tube integrally connected between the two pipes. The two pipes and the connection tube are made by way of casting so as to be a one-piece member. The connection tube has a groove defined in a top thereof and the groove communicates with the two pipes. A cap is connected to the top of the connection tube to seal the groove.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to a switch assembly for a barbecue grill and the switch assembly includes two pipes with a connection tube connected therebetween. The switch assembly is made as a one-piece member.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




A conventional switch assembly is shown in FIG.


1


and generally includes two pipes


11


,


12


with a connection tube


10


connected between the two pipes


11


,


12


. Each pipe


11


/


12


has a threaded fitting


111


extending therefrom and the connection tube


10


has two threaded holes in two ends thereof so that the two pipes


11


,


12


are respectively connected to the connection tube


10


by threading the two threaded fittings


111


with the two threaded holes. When connecting the pipes


11


,


12


to the connection tube


10


, the pipes


11


,


12


are rotated to fasten the engagement of the threaded fittings


111


with the threaded holes. It is to be noted that each of the two pipes


11


,


12


has an inclined section


110


/


120


for being connected to other parts. Nevertheless, because the two pipes


11


,


12


have to be rotated to be connected to the connection tube


10


so that a distance “D” between the two inclined sections


110


,


120


could not be maintained. Furthermore, a pre-determined angle “A” that each pipe


11


/


12


is supposed to be could not maintained because of the threading engagement. It takes a lot of time to respectively connect the pipes


11


,


12


to the connection tube


10


for assemblers.




The present invention intends to provide a switch assembly for a barbecue grill wherein the pipes and the connection tube are made to be a one-piece member so that the distance “D” and the angle “A” can be precisely maintained.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a switch assembly for a barbecue grill and comprising two pipes with a connection tube integrally connected between the two pipes. The connection tube has a groove defined in a top thereof and the groove communicates with the two pipes. A cap is connected to the top of the connection tube to seal the groove.




The object of the present invention is to provide an integrally made switch assembly for a barbecue grill so that the position relationship between the pipes and the connection tube can be precisely maintained.




These and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, several embodiments in accordance with the present invention.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is an exploded view to show a conventional switch assembly of a barbecue grill,





FIG. 2

is an exploded view to show a switch assembly of a barbecue grill of the present invention;





FIG. 3

is a plan view to show the switch assembly of the present invention, and





FIG. 4

is a perspective view of the switch assembly of a barbecue grill of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Referring to

FIGS. 2

to


4


, the switch assembly for a barbecue grill in accordance with the present invention comprises two pipes


21


,


22


with a connection tube


23


integrally connected between the two pipes


21


,


22


. The two pipes


21


,


22


, the connection tube


23


and an extension tube


20


extending from the connection tube


23


are made by way of casting so as to be a one-piece member. The connection tube


23


has a groove


24


defined in a top thereof and the groove


24


communicates with the two pipes


21


,


22


. A slit


26


is defined in a top edge of the top of the connection tube


23


so that a seal ring


42


is engaged with the slit


26


.




A cap


32


is connected to the top of the connection tube


23


to seal the groove


24


. Four first lugs


25


extend from two sides of the connection tube


23


and the cap


32


has four second lugs


30


and each second lug


30


having a hole


33


. The second lugs


30


are connected to the first lugs


25


by extending bolts


40


through washers


41


, the holes


33


in the second lugs


30


and threadedly engaged with the first lugs


25


.




The position relationship between the two pipes


21


,


22


and the connection tube


23


can be precisely maintained as desired because they are made infegrally by way of casting.




While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.



Claims
  • 1. A switch assembly for a barbecue grill, comprising:two pipes with a connection tube integrally connected between said two pipes, said connection tube having a groove defined in a top thereof and said groove communicating with said two pipes, a slit defined in a top edge of said top of said connection tube and a seal ring engaged with said slit, four first lugs extending from two sides of said connection tube, and a cap having four second lugs and each second lug having a hole, said second lugs connected to said first lugs by bolts extending through said holes in said second lugs and threadedly engaged with said first lugs to seal said top of said groove.
  • 2. The switch assembly for a barbecue grill as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an extension tube extending from said connection tube.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Number Name Date Kind
1775980 Walbridge Sep 1930
2749148 Schneiderman Jun 1956
4508371 Maier Apr 1985
5127824 Barker Jul 1992