Insulated barbeque unit

• US 4,418,678 A
• Filed: 11/16/1981
• Issued: 12/06/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EHCO Incorporated
• Original Assignee: EHCO Incorporated
• Inventors: Erickson, Frederick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, Samuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): FOCARINO, MARGARET ANN
• Application Number:
  US06/321,741
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 126/9 R, 126/9 B, 126/25 R, 126/25 A, 126/25 C, 126/451, 126/25 B, 99/449, 99/450, 99/339, 99/340
• US Class Current: 126/9.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 2037/0777 with foldable construction for storage or transport purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0763 Small-size, portable barbecues

Abstract

The insulated barbeque unit of the present invention is comprised of a cylindrical unit which is formed from two half cylindrical pieces hinged along one of their edges. The unit can fold from a closed position wherein two cylindrical halves are in the formation of a cylinder, to an open position wherein the two cylindrical halves are pivoted 180° with respect to one another. The cylindrical housing of the unit is formed from two spaced apart inner and outer walls which have an insulative material therebetween. The insulative material protects the outer wall of the unit from the heat which is within the unit during the time that the unit is being operated as a barbeque.

Claims

1. A barbeque unit comprising:

a rectangular inner wall having opposite side edges and opposite end edges, said inner wall being curved so that said side edges are presented upwardly, thereby forming an upwardly presented concave surface and a downwardly presented convex surface;

a rectangular outer wall having opposite side edges and opposite end edges, said side edges of said outer wall being curved upwardly so that said outer wall forms an upwardly presented concave surface and a downwardly presented convex surface;

an inner end connecting means joining said upper edges of said inner and outer walls and holding said inner and outer walls together in nested relationship with at least a portion of said convex surface of said inner wall being spaced from at least a portion of said concave surface of said outer wall to define a cavity therebetween;

grate means extending between said opposite edges of said inner and outer walls and bridging across and above said upwardly presented concave surface of said inner member;

a pair of spaced apart end walls each extending in a plane perpendicular to said inner and outer walls and each being joined to one of said end edges of said inner and outer walls;

heat insulating material filling said cavity whereby heat from coals resting on said concave surface of said inner wall will be substantially insulated from said outer wall,

said concave surface of said outer wall forming one-half of a circular cylinder and said end walls being shaped in a semi-circle and forming the axial ends of said one half of said circular cylinder, and

a second outer wall forming a second half cylinder indentical to said first half cylinder formed by said first mentioned outer wall, a second pair of endwalls being joined to said second outer wall to form axial ends of said second half cylinder, hinge means interconnecting one of said edges of said first outer wall to one of said edges of said second outer wall to permit said first and second cylinder halves to pivot about a horizontal axis therebetween from a joined position wherein said first and second half cylinders form a complete circular cylinder to a spread position approximately 180°

therefrom.

2. A barbeque unit according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one vent hole in at least one of said end walls for providing communication of air from outside said barbeque unit through said one end wall to coals resting on said upper concave surface of said inner wall.

3. A barbeque unit according to claim 2 wherein said side edges of said inner wall each touch one of said side edges of said outer wall, the spaced apart distance between said inner and outer walls being greatest adjacent the longitudinal centerline of said inner and outer walls and becoming progressively less commencing at said centerline and continuing in opposite directions therefrom.

4. A barbeque unit according to claim 3 wherein said inner wall is curved at a first radius of curvature and said outer wall is curved at a second radius of curvature which is less than said first radius of curvature.

5. A barbeque unit according to claim 4 wherein leg means are movably attached to said end walls of said first and second half cylinders, said leg means being movable from a folded position to an unfolded position for supporting said half cylinders on a supporting surface when said half cylinders are in said spread position.

6. A barbeque unit according to claim 5 wherein latch means are connected to said first and second half cylinders for detachably latching said half cylinders together when said cylinders are in said joined position.

7. A barbeque unit comprising:

a rectangular inner wall having opposite side edges and opposite end edges, said inner wall being curved at a first radius of curvature so that said side edges are presented upwardly, thereby forming an upwardly presented concave surface and a downwardly presented convex surface;

a rectangular outer wall having opposite side edges and opposite end edges, said side edges of said outer wall being curved upwardly at a second radius of curvature which is less than said first radius of curvature so that said outer wall forms an upwardly presented concave surface and a downwardly presented convex surface;

an inner end connecting means joining said upper edges of said inner and outer walls and holding said inner and outer walls together in nesting relationship with at least a portion of said convex surface of said inner wall being spaced from at least a portion of said concave surface of said outer wall to define a cavity therebetween;

grate means extending between said opposite edges of said inner and outer walls and bridging across and above said upwardly presented concave surface of said inner member;

a pair of spaced apart end walls each extending in a plane perpendicular to said inner and outer walls and each being joined to one of said end edges of said inner and outer walls to define a fire chamber within said barbeque unit;

heat insulating material filling said cavity whereby heat from coals resting on said concave surface of said inner wall will be substantially insulated from said outer wall, and

leg means retractably attached to each of said end walls and being slideable from a first inoperative position within said fire chamber to a second operative position for supporting barbeque unit above a supporting surface.