Portable cooking apparatus

• US 4,475,528 A
• Filed: 10/13/1983
• Issued: 10/09/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary W. Kuchenbrod
• Original Assignee: Gary W. Kuchenbrod
• Inventors: Kuchenbrod, Gary W.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US06/541,531
• Time in Patent Office: 362 Days
• Field of Search: 126/9 R, 126/9 B, 126/25 R, 126/29, 126/30, 126/38
• US Class Current: 126/9.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0763 Small-size, portable barbecues
• CPC Class Codes: F24B 1/205 collapsible

Abstract

A portable cooking apparatus is provided which comprises two or more substantially planar cooking structures, hinge means connecting the cooking structures, a plurality of legs capable of detachable affixment to said cooking structures, and a leg carrier assembly affixed to the cooking structures, wherein the leg carrier assembly includes at least two guide members, each of which contains at least one aperture of a size and shape sufficient to admit at least one of said legs, the guide members being affixed to a first cooking structure such that a leg may rest in the apertures of at least two guide members simultaneously, and at least two retaining elements, each retaining element being affixed to a cooking structure such that, when the cooking apparatus is collapsed, each retaining element at least partially opposes end-wise movement of a leg as the leg rests in the apertures of the guide members.

Claims

1. A portable cooking apparatus comprising:

(a) two or more substantially planar cooking structures;

(b) hinge means connecting said cooking structures;

(c) a plurality of legs capable of detachable affixment to said cooking structures; and

(d) a leg carrier assembly affixed to said cooking structures, including;

(i) at least two guide members, each of which contains at least one aperture of a size and shape sufficient to admit at least one of said legs, the guide members being affixed to a first cooking structure such that a leg may rest in the apertures of at least two guide members simultaneously;

(ii) at least two retaining elements, each retaining element being affixed to a cooking structure such that, when the cooking apparatus is collapsed, each retaining element at least partially opposes end-wise movement of a leg as said leg rests in the apertures of the guide members.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each guide member contains at least as many apertures as the number of legs necessary to support said cooking structures in use.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the guide members are affixed to the cooking structure such that the apertures of each guide member are in alignment.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the guide structures comprise fenestrated plates.

5. The portable cooking aparatus of claim 4 wherein the fenestrated plates are substantially parallel to each other.

6. The portable cooking apparatus of claim 5 wherein each retaining element comprises a plate and is affixed to the cooking structure such that each retaining plate is substantially parallel to the most proximal fenestrated plate.

7. The cooking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said guide members are on the lower face of said cooking structure when said cooking apparatus is assembled.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one retaining element is affixed to a cooking structure other than the cooking structure to which the guide members are affixed.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one retaining element is affixed to the same cooking structure to which the guide members are affixed.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the retaining elements comprise plates.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises at least two leg carrier assemblies.

12. The cooking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said legs are detachably affixed to said cooking structures by matching threads on the legs and the cooking structures.

13. The cooking apparatus of claim 1 wherein a handle is affixed to a cooking structure.

14. A kit comprising the portable cooking apparatus of claim 1, and a carrying case capable of containing said cooking apparatus when said cooking apparatus is in a collapsed state.

15. The kit of claim 14 wherein said carrying case contains at least one aperture to permit a handle affixed to said cooking apparatus to extend beyond said carrying case.