COLLAPSIBLE GRILL AND STAND

• US 20080184980A1
• Filed: 04/09/2008
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kankakee Community College Foundation
• Original Assignee: Raymond Hubert
• Inventors: Czajkoski, William A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,151,784 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 126/30
• CPC Class Codes: F24B 1/182 with additional provisions for cooking

Abstract

A portable grill is described. The portable grill has a grill member, a frame, and a support arm. The frame supports the portable grill on a support surface. The support arm extends outwardly from the frame. The support arm has a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end is joined to the grill member. The proximal end is pivotally joined to the frame forming a fulcrum therewith. The support arm is pivotable about the fulcrum to raise and lower the grill member relative to the support surface while maintaining the grill member substantially level.

Claims

1. A portable grill comprising:

a grill member;

a frame for supporting the portable grill on a support surface; and

a support arm extending outwardly from the frame, the support arm having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end joined to the grill member, the proximal end pivotally joined to the frame forming a fulcrum, the support arm pivotable about the fulcrum to raise and lower the grill member relative to the support surface while maintaining the grill member substantially level.

2. The portable grill of claim 1 wherein the support arm comprises a pair of parallel members and a bracket, each parallel member having a first end pivotally attached to the bracket and a second end pivotally attached to the frame at the fulcrum, the grill member joined to the bracket.

3. The portable grill of claim 2 wherein the support arm further comprises an outer member fixedly attached to the bracket at a fixed end and having a free end joined to the grill member.

4. The portable grill of claim 3 further comprising a locking mechanism for maintaining the grill member at a fixed height above the support surface.

5. The portable grill of claim 4 wherein the locking mechanism comprises a graduated segment joined to one of the parallel members, the graduated segment having a plurality of stops joined by tapered portions, the locking mechanism further comprising a retainer extending from the opposite parallel member towards the graduated segment, the retainer for engaging at least one of the stops.

6. The portable grill of claim 5 wherein the retainer is located on a V-shaped trigger pivotally joined to one of the parallel members.

7. The portable grill of claim 6 wherein the V-shaped trigger include a first leg and a second leg separated by an apex, the second leg having a channel adapted to fit over the graduated segment.

8. The portable grill of claim 7 wherein the retainer is located at the apex of the trigger within the channel of the second leg.

9. The portable grill of claim 1 further comprising a handle extendable from the support arm.

10. A portable grill stand comprising:

a frame for supporting the portable grill on a support surface;

a support arm extending outwardly from the frame, the support arm comprising a pair of parallel members, each parallel member having a distal end pivotally attached to a bracket and a proximal end pivotally attached to the frame to form a fulcrum at the frame; and

a grill member joined to the bracket, the grill member having a grilling surface wherein the grill surface may be raised and lowered by pivoting the support arm about the fulcrum wherein the grilling surface is maintained substantially level during raising and lowering of the grill member.

11. A portable grill comprising:

a frame for supporting the portable grill on a support surface;

a support arm extending outwardly from the frame having first and second opposing ends;

a grill member having a substantially horizontally aligned grilling surface;

a first pivotable connector joining the support arm with the frame between the first and second ends of the support arm and forming a fulcrum therewith such that the support arm forms a lever vertically pivotable about the fulcrum; and

a second pivotable connector between the first pivotable connector and the grill member such that the grill surface elevates and lowers in response to the support arm pivoting about the fulcrum while remaining substantially horizontally aligned.

12. The portable grill of claim 11 further comprising:

a bracket, the second pivotable connector located on the bracket.

13. The portable grill of claim 12 wherein the support arm further comprises:

an outer arm fixedly attached to the bracket and extending outwardly therefrom and joining the grill member with the bracket.

14. The portable grill of claim 13 wherein the support arm further comprises:

a pair of boom members wherein one end of each boom member is pivotally attached to the bracket by the second pivotable connector.

15. The portable grill of claim 14 further comprising:

a yoke attached to the frame wherein the first pivotable connector is located on the yoke and opposing ends of each boom member are pivotally connected to the yoke by the first pivotable connector.

16. The portable grill of claim 15 wherein the first and second pivotable connectors each comprise a pair of pivot points.

17. The portable grill of claim 16 wherein the boom members are parallel to each other and wherein a first boom is located in vertical alignment with a second boom.

18. The portable grill of claim 17 wherein the yoke is rotatably mounted to a center post of the frame.

19. The portable grill of claim 18 wherein the frame comprises:

a plurality of legs attached to the center post at an opposite end of the yoke.

20. The portable grill of claim 11 wherein:

the frame comprises;

a center post;

a plurality of legs attached to the center post; and

a yoke attached to an upper end of the center post and rotatably mounted thereto;

the support arm comprises;

an outer member having a free end and a fixed end;

a bracket attached to the fixed end of the outer member;

a pair of spaced parallel booms, each boom having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of each boom pivotally attached to the bracket by the second pivotable connector, the proximal end of each boom pivotally mounted to the yoke by the first pivotable connector to form the fulcrum therewith; and

a handle located opposite the outer member;

wherein the grill member is joined to the free end of the outer member of the support arm, and wherein the grilling surface may be raised and lowered relative to the support surface by pivoting the support arm on the fulcrum and wherein the grilling surface remains substantially level as the support arm is pivoted on the fulcrum.