Firebox for vertical hearth barbecue grill

• US 6,357,344 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2001
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alphonso G. Andress, Glen Nielsen, Oʼgrady, Richard M., William D. Hester
• Original Assignee: Alphonso G. Andress, Glen Nielsen, Oʼgrady, Richard M., William D. Hester
• Inventors: Hester, William D., Nielsen, Glen, Andress, Alphonso G., OʼGrady, Richard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Simone, Timothy F.
• Application Number:
  US09/797,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20010015137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 993/39, 993/40, 993/52--55, 994/00, 994/01, 994/19--21, 994/44--50, 994/81, 994/82, 126/25.R, 126/9.R, 126/41.R, 126/25.AA, 426/523
• US Class Current: 99/340
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0718 with vertical fire box
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0763 Small-size, portable barbecues

Abstract

A removable firebox for use in a portable, collapsible barbecue grill including retractable heating grate on top of the firebox and a retractable mid-level cooking grill for providing high-temperature cooking. A lower main grill is disposed in a base cavity of the barbecue grill for providing moderate temperature cooking. The firebox rests in the base cavity of the grill housing and provides heat to a cooking area defined by the base cavity, an upper lid of the housing and a pair of side walls extending upward from the base cavity. The firebox and/or the upper lid includes insulation and/or cooling baffles to protect users from heated surfaces. Venting is provided from the sides and rear of the grill housing. When collapsed, the grate and grills fold onto or are retracted within the firebox, and the entire firebox assembly is stowed in a sealed grill housing. The top and bottom portions of the grill housing mate to form a sealed container-like structure for convenient transportability or storage. The barbecue grill also includes foldable legs which lock into extend position, when deployed.

Claims

1. A barbecue grill comprising:

a lid,

a base cavity that mates with said lid,

a pair of sidewalls each being supported by one of said lid and said base cavity, said sidewalls being positionable upwardly of said base cavity to define a cooking area between said sidewalls,

a removable firebox comprising a generally vertical receptacle that holds a source of heat, said firebox including an open top, a bottom, a front, a rear, and opposed sides wherein said front is substantially planar and permits radiation of heat from said source of heat, said firebox being supported in a generally upright position so as to be located within a rear portion of said base cavity, and

at least one cooking grill positionable across said firebox between said pair of sidewalls.

2. A barbecue grill comprising:

a lid,

a base cavity that mates with said lid,

a pair of sidewalls each being supported on one of said lid and said base cavity, said sidewalls being positioned upwardly of said base cavity when deployed thereby to define a cooking area between said sidewalls,

a firebox comprising a generally vertical enclosure that holds a source of heat, said enclosure including an open top, a bottom, a front, a rear, and opposed sides wherein said front is substantially planar and permits radiation of heat from said source of heat,

said firebox being supported in a generally upright position so as to be located within a rear portion of said base cavity, and

at least one cooking grill positionable across said firebox between said pair of sidewalls.

3. The barbecue grill as recited in claim 2, wherein at least one of said sidewalls and said firebox includes supports for holding said cooking grill in an extended horizontal position across the front of said firebox.

4. The barbecue grill as recited in claim 2, further including a kettle rack arranged to support a pot directly above a source of heat.

5. The barbecue grill as recited in claim 2, wherein at least one of said side walls and said lid further includes a radiant reflective surface to help confine heat within said cooking area.

6. The barbecue grill as recited in claim 2, wherein said lid has a double wall construction and includes insulation material between said double walls.

7. The barbecue grill as recited in claim 2, wherein said firebox has at least two cooking grill pivotably attached thereto that fold over one another when retracted and that extend to different vertical levels when retracted.

8. The barbecue grill as recited in claim 2, wherein said firebox includes a kettle rack located at or near the top of said firebox and adapted to retract within said firebox when retracted and to extend over said firebox when extended.

9. The barbecue grill as recited in claim 2, wherein said firebox and said cooking grills recede within said base cavity and lid upon closure thereof.

10. The barbecue grill as recited in claim 2, wherein said firebox is removable and engages pivoting supports in said base cavity when inserted therein.

11. A removable firebox for use in a vertical hearth barbecue grill, said firebox comprising:

an enclosure that holds a source of heat and including an open top, a bottom, a front, a rear, and opposed sides wherein said front is substantially planar and permits radiation of heat from said source of heat, and

at least one cooking grill pivotably connected with said firebox and adapted for movement between extended and retracted positions.

12. The removable firebox as recited in claim 11, wherein said firebox has at least two cooking grills pivotably attached thereto that fold over one another when retracted and that extend at different vertical levels when retracted.

13. The removable firebox as recited in claim 11, wherein said firebox includes a kettle rack located at or near the top of said firebox and adapted to retract within or against the outside surface of said firebox when retracted and to extend over said firebox when extended.

14. The removable firebox as recited in claim 11, wherein said front comprises a grate grill.

15. The removable firebox as recited in claim 11, wherein said housing comprises a heat resistant metal having a low coefficient of expansion.

16. The removable firebox as recited in claim 11, wherein said firebox includes vents in at least a lower portion thereof.

17. The removable firebox as recited in claim 11, wherein said firebox includes pivot points for engaging pivoting receptacles in a base cavity of a barbecue grill.