Gas barbecue assembly

• US 5,676,048 A
• Filed: 09/16/1996
• Issued: 10/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Napoleon Appliance Corporation (Napoleon Systems & Developments Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Napoleon Appliance Corporation (Napoleon Systems & Developments Ltd.)
• Inventors: Schroeter, Wolfgang, Schwarz, Steven, Lilley, Cliff
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US08/714,538
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 99/385, 99/400, 99/401, 99/446, 99/447, 126/41 R
• US Class Current: 99/385
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0713 with gas burners
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0786 Accessories

Abstract

A gas barbecue having a rectangular body, gas control means, a cooking grill, and a burner assembly. The burner assembly includes an elongate tube burner and a generally L-shaped tube burner having a primary tube member and a secondary tube member intersecting the primary tube member thereby forming the general L shape. The free end of the secondary tube member is positioned in close proximity to the elongate tube burner such that the ignition of the elongate tube burner causes cross-ignition of the L-shaped tube burner when gas is supplied thereto.

Claims

1. A gas barbecue comprising:

a housing having a generally rectangular shape with opposing side and end walls, an open interior and an open top;

a plurality gas control means;

a cooking grill; and

a burner assembly, said burner assembly comprising an elongate tube burner, having first and second ends, said elongate tube burner having at least one row of apertures extending along each of its peripheral edges and having said first end connected to a first gas control means and said second end fastened to said housing, and at least one generally L-shaped tube burner comprised of a primary tube member, having first and second ends and having at least one row of apertures extending along each of its peripheral edges, and a secondary tube member, said secondary tube member having an intersecting end and a free end, said intersecting end of said secondary tube member being joined to said second end of said primary tube member to form a continuous tube burner having said generally L-shape, said secondary tube member having one row of apertures extending along its peripheral edge adjacent said primary tube member, said L-shaped tube burner positioned within said housing such that said first end of said primary tube member is connected to a second gas control means and said free end of said secondary tube member is in close proximity to said second end of said elongate tube burner such that ignition of said elongate tube burner causes cross-ignition of said L-shaped tube burner when gas is supplied thereto by said second gas control means.

2. A gas barbecue as claimed in claim 1 having a plurality of said L-shaped tube burners, said L-shaped tube burners being positioned adjacent to one another in said housing such that said primary tube members are generally parallel to one another with said first ends of said primary tube members connected to said gas control means and said free ends of said secondary tube members in close proximity to said second ends of said primary tube members of adjacent L-shaped tube burners such that ignition of one of said L-shaped tube burners causes cross-ignition of said adjacent L-shaped tube burner when gas is supplied thereto.

3. A gas barbecue as claimed in claim 2 wherein said secondary tube member is free of apertures along its peripheral edge opposite to said primary tube member.

4. A gas barbecue as claimed in claim 3 including a baffle extending inwardly into said open interior of said housing and adjacent to said secondary tube members of said L-shaped tube burners, said baffle protecting said secondary tube members from grease dripping from said cooking grill.

5. A gas barbecue as claimed in claim 4 wherein said housing includes first support means to accommodate said cooking grill, said first support means positioned above said burner assembly.

6. A gas barbecue as claimed in claim 5 wherein said baffle further supports at least one sear plate positioned above said burner assembly and below said cooking grill.

7. A gas barbecue as claimed in claim 6 wherein said sear plate provides a means to distribute heat generated by said burners about said interior of said housing, said sear plate further providing a grease vaporizing surface to catch and sear grease drippings from food placed on said cooking grill.

8. A gas barbecue as claimed in claim 7 further including a grease tray to capture grease and material that passes through said housing, said grease tray held in a track on said housing and forming a bottom for said housing when positioned on said track.

9. A gas barbecue as claimed in claim 8 wherein said sear plate is sloped downwardly toward the rear of said housing.

10. A gas barbecue as claimed in claim 9 wherein said grease tray includes means to hold a collection vessel to retain grease and material that may fall into said grease tray.

11. A gas barbecue as claimed in claim 10 wherein said track is sloped toward the rear of said housing such that grease falling onto said grease tray will be directed to said means to hold a collection vessel.

12. A gas barbecue as claimed in claim 11 wherein said grease tray includes outwardly projecting rear edges that converge at a central apex to assist in the direction of grease to said means to hold a collection vessel.

13. A gas barbecue as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a radiant burner attached to said housing above said cooking grill, said radiant burner including a perforated metal mesh that when heated provides infrared heat to said open interior of said barbecue.

14. A gas barbecue as claimed in claim 1, having a fixed rear draft hood and a rotationally operable lid to expose and to cover said cooking grill.

15. A gas barbecue as claimed in claim 1, including electric ignition means to ignite said elongate tube burner and said radiant burner.

16. A gas barbecue as claimed in claim 4 wherein said baffle further provides a means for trapping and retaining gas to assist in the cross-ignition of said L-shaped tube burners.