Tank support system of gas grill

• US 20030025050A1
• Filed: 08/01/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wolfedale Engineering Limited
• Original Assignee: Fiesta Gas Grills, LLC
• Inventors: Brake, George
• Granted Patent: US 6,726,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/154
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0786 Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/264 the objects being of cylindrical shape, e.g. barrels, buckets, dustbins
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/022 Gas bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2203/42 Grips for grasping the upper rim of the barrels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/46 Rod end to transverse side of member

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a device for attaching a fuel tank to the leg of a gas grill frame to hold the tank on the grill. However, the device can be manipulated to disengage from the tank so that the tank can be removed from the grill and refilled. The device including an attaching bracket for a attaching the device to the leg of a gas grill frame and a tank clasp for releasably engaging a gas tank positioned on the gas grill frame. The attaching bracket is shaped to fit around the leg of a gas grill frame and snap together or be screwed together to hold the bracket in place. The tank clasp is pivotally connected to the attaching bracket for movement between an engaging position and a releasing position. In the engaging position, the clasp holds the gas tank on the gas grill frame. In the releasing position, the clasp is disengaged from the gas tank so that it can be removed and refilled. The device also includes a stop for holding said tank clasp in the engaging position. The clasp is formed of shaped wire and responds to pressure so that it will flex and bypass the stop and allow the clasp to move to the disengaged position so that the tank can be removed from the grill frame.

Claims

1. A device for attaching a fuel tank to the leg of a gas grill frame, the device including:

an attaching bracket for a attaching the device to the leg of a gas grill frame and a tank clasp for releasably engaging a gas tank positioned on a gas grill frame;

said attaching bracket being shaped to cooperatively engage the leg of a gas grill frame and attach to the leg of a gas grill frame;

said tank clasp moveably connected to said attaching bracket for movement between an engaging position and a releasing position for respectively engaging a gas tank positioned on a gas grill frame and for releasing its engagement with such a gas tank;

a stop for holding said tank clasp in said engaging position; and

said device being responsive to pressure whereby said tank clasp can be positioned to clear said stop so that said tank clasp can be moved to the disengaged position.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said attaching bracket includes two sections that are shaped to wrap about the leg of a gas grill and connect the device to the leg of the gas grill frame.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said two sections are two separate parts that snap together to form a bracket about the leg of the gas grill frame.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the parts snap together by the engagement a male connector element on one part with a female connector element on the other part.

5. The device of claim 2 further including at least one screw for connecting said sections.

6. The device of claim 1 further including a boss or other means on said attaching bracket for position said attaching bracket on the leg of a gas grill frame.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said tank clasp includes fingers for grasping the handle ring of a fuel tank for a gas grill.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said tank clasp includes pivot arms mounted in said attaching brackets with said tank clasp pivoting about said pivot arm.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said attaching brackets have pockets and the pivot arms of said tank clasp fit within said pockets.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said tank clasp includes at catch arm that is held in position by said stop when said tank clasp is in the attaching position.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said catch arm is capable of flexing in response to pressure so that the catch arm can be move past said stop to a release position.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein said tank clasp is at least partially constructed of shaped wire.

12. In combination, a gas grill frame having at least one tubular leg and a platform, a fuel tank designed to sit on said platform and having a handle ring, a tank clamp for removeably securing said fuel tank on said platform, said tank clamp including a bracket section shaped to attach to said leg and a tank clasp for attaching to said handle ring;

said tank clasp being connecting to said attaching bracket for movement between an attached position and a released position, and a stop for holding said tank clasp in said attached position and said tank clasp being flexible whereby it can be flexed so as to disengage from said stop and be moved to a released position.

13. The device of claim 12 further including a boss for locating and holding said tank clasp in a fixed relationship to said leg of said gas grill frame.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein said attaching bracket is shaped and sized to fit about the leg of a gas grill frame and mate cooperatively therewith to form a tight fit about at least a portion of the leg of a gas grill frame.

15. The device of claim 12 wherein said attaching bracket is constructed of two parts.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said device further includes a male connector on one part and a female connector on the other so that the two parts can be snapped together to connect about the leg the of the gas grill frame.

17. The device of claim 14 further including a screw to connect the two parts of said attaching bracket.

19. The device of claim 12 wherein said tank clasp is at least partially constructed of shaped wire.