Portable grill with telescopic legs

• US 6,131,560 A
• Filed: 03/06/2000
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dennis Healy
• Original Assignee: Dennis Healy
• Inventors: Healy, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): SIMONE, TIMOTHY F
• Application Number:
  US09/519,465
• Time in Patent Office: 225 Days
• Field of Search: 99/339, 99/340, 99/449, 99/450, 99/482, 126/25 R, 126/29, 126/30, 126/25 A, 126/25 AA, 126/9 R, 126/9 B, 126/41 R, 126/41 B, 126/506, 248/165, 248/168, 248/170, 248/163.2, 248/188.2, 248/318, 248/324, 211/181.1
• US Class Current: 126/30
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 2037/0777 with foldable construction for storage or transport purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0763 Small-size, portable barbecues
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0772 for use in a fireplace
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/928 Cooking stoves using biomass

Abstract

A portable grill having telescoping legs is disclosed. The grill includes a substantially rectangular grate and two pairs of telescoping legs. Each pair of telescoping legs is pivotally attached to one end of the rectangular grate. The grill can be used to cook food over an open fire, or the grill can be used to cook with charcoal with the aid of a charcoal tray that can be hung below the rectangular grate using S-hooks. The invention also includes a carrying case for allowing the grill to be carried in a backpack without the grill soiling other items in the backpack.

Claims

1. A portable grill comprising:

a grate being formed by a pair of parallel longitudinal bars and a plurality of transverse bars each extending perpendicularly, from a first one of said pair of longitudinal bars to a second one of said pair of longitudinal bars, said plurality of transverse bars being parallel to one another and being evenly spaced along said pair of longitudinal bars;

a first pair of telescoping legs including a first telescoping leg, a second telescoping leg, and a first bracing bar, said first telescoping leg having a first pivoting member, a first sliding member, and a first cotter pin, said first pivoting member having a first end portion which is curled around a first selected one of said plurality of transverse members so as to provide for pivotal attachment of said first pivoting member to said first selected one of said plurality of transverse members, said first pivoting member having a second end portion and a first pivoting member hole provided along said second end portion of said first pivoting member, said first sliding member being tubular and receiving at least said second end portion of said first pivoting member therein, said first sliding member having a plurality of pairs of first sliding member holes distributed along its length, said first sliding member being movable relative to said first pivoting member such that said first pivoting member extends into said first sliding member to varying amounts as selected by a user, said first telescoping leg having a first length, said first length being fixed at a user selected value by placing a selected pair of said plurality of pairs of first sliding member holes in registry with said first pivoting member hole and placing said first cotter pin through said selected pair of said plurality of pairs of first sliding member holes and said first pivoting member hole,

said second telescoping leg having a second pivoting member, a second sliding member, and a second cotter pin, said second pivoting member having a first end portion which is curled around;

said first selected one of said plurality of transverse members so as to provide for pivotal attachment of said second pivoting member to said first selected one of said plurality of transverse members, said second pivoting member having a second end portion and a second pivoting member hole provided along said second end portion of said second pivoting member, said second sliding member being tubular and receiving at least said second end portion of said second pivoting member therein, said second sliding member having a plurality of pairs of second sliding member holes distributed along its length, said second sliding member being movable relative to said second pivoting member such that said second pivoting member extends into said second sliding member to varying amounts as selected by a user, said second telescoping leg having a second length, said second length being fixed at a user selected value by placing a selected pair of said plurality of pairs of second;

sliding member holes in registry with said second pivoting member hole and placing said second cotter pin through said selected pair of said plurality of pairs of second sliding member holes and said second pivoting member hole,

said first bracing bar being fixed to said first pivoting member and to said second pivoting member such that said first pivoting member and said second pivoting member move pivotally as a unit, said first pivoting member and said second pivoting member pivoting between a first folded position and a first unfolded position at a first maximum unfolded angle relative to said grate, said first bracing bar being sufficiently long so as to abuttingly contact at least one of said pair of parallel longitudinal bars in order to limit said first maximum unfolded angle; and

a second pair of telescoping legs including a third telescoping leg, a fourth telescoping leg, and a second bracing bar,

said third telescoping leg having a third pivoting member, a third sliding member, and a third cotter pin, said third pivoting member having a first end portion which is curled around a second, selected one of said plurality of transverse members so as to provide for pivotal attachment of said third pivoting member to said second selected one of said plurality of transverse members, said second selected one of said plurality of transverse members being spaced apart from said first selected one of said plurality of transverse members, said third pivoting member having a second end portion and a third pivoting member hole provided along said second end portion of said third pivoting member, said third sliding member being tubular and receiving at least said second end portion of said third pivoting member therein, said third sliding member having a plurality of pairs of third sliding member holes distributed along its length, said third sliding member being movable relative to said third pivoting member such that said third pivoting member extends into said third sliding member to varying amounts as selected by a user, said third telescoping leg having a third length, said third length being fixed at a user selected value by placing a selected pair of said plurality of pairs of third sliding member holes in registry with said third pivoting member hole and placing said third cotter pin through said selected pair of said plurality of pairs of third sliding member holes and said third pivoting member hole,

said fourth telescoping leg having a fourth pivoting member, a fourth sliding member, and a fourth cotter pin, said fourth pivoting member having a first end portion which is curled around said second selected one of said plurality of transverse members so as to provide for pivotal attachment of said fourth pivoting member to said second selected one of said plurality of transverse members, said fourth pivoting member having a second end portion and a fourth pivoting member hole provided along said second end portion of said fourth pivoting member, said fourth sliding member being tubular and receiving at least said second end portion of said fourth pivoting member therein, said fourth sliding member having a plurality of pairs of fourth sliding member holes distributed along its length, said fourth sliding member being movable relative to said fourth pivoting member such that said fourth pivoting member extends into said fourth sliding member to varying amounts as selected by a user, said fourth telescoping leg having a fourth length, said fourth length being fixed at a user selected value by placing a selected pair of said plurality of pairs of fourth sliding member holes in registry with said fourth pivoting member hole and placing said fourth cotter pin through said selected pair of said plurality of pairs of fourth sliding member holes and said fourth pivoting member hole,

said second bracing bar being fixed to said third pivoting member and to said fourth pivoting member such that said third pivoting member and said fourth pivoting member move pivotally as a unit, said third pivoting member and said fourth pivoting member, pivoting between a second folded position and a second unfolded, position at a second maximum unfolded angle relative to said grate, said second bracing bar being sufficiently long so as to abuttingly contact at least one of said pair of parallel longitudinal bars in order to limit said second maximum unfolded angle.

2. The portable grill according to claim 1, further including:

a charcoal pan being substantially rectangular in plan view, said charcoal pan having four sidewalls, said charcoal pan having at least four holes with each one of an opposing pair of said four sidewalls having two of said at least four holes formed therein; and

four S-hooks each engageable to a respective one of said at least four holes and to one of said pair of parallel longitudinal bars and said plurality of transverse bars in order to hold said charcoal pan suspended under said grate.

3. The portable grill according to claim 2, further including a carrying case in the form of a flexible pouch having an opening, said pouch being sized to receive at least the portable grill with said first and second pairs of telescoping legs folded, said carrying case having a flap provided adjacent said opening of said pouch, said flap acting as a closure for said pouch, said carrying case being provided with hook-and-loop fastener means for securing said flap in place when said flap is acting to close said opening of said pouch.