Indoor grill with filter

• US 6,363,842 B1
• Filed: 01/10/2001
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yu-Yuan Lin
• Original Assignee: Yu-Yuan Lin
• Inventors: Lin, Yu-Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Simone, Timothy F.
• Application Number:
  US09/757,790
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 994/00, 994/01, 993/39, 993/40, 994/22--25, 994/44--50, 994/74, 994/76, 994/80, 554/08, 554/97, 555/21, 553/22, 555/04, 555/09, 55D/IG.36, 126/299.R, 126/299.D, 126/299.E, 126/299.B, 126/21.A, 126/21.R, 126/41.R, 126/39.R, 126/300, 126/303, 219/400, 219/408, 219/443, 219/521, 219/386
• US Class Current: 99/425
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/38 for withdrawing or condensing cooking vapors from cooking utensils
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0623 Small-size cooking ovens, i.e. defining an at least partially closed cooking cavity A47J37/0605 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0629 with electric heating elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0709 with electric heating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/20 Removing cooking fumes parts, details or accessories of cooking-vessels for withdrawing or condensing cooking vapours from such vessels A47J36/38
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/36 Kitchen hoods

Abstract

A grill for indoor cooking includes a base which has a grilling surface on a top surface thereof and a stanchion which extends vertically from the base. The grill also includes a filter unit which has a hood having a downwardly-depending post which telescopically engages the stanchion such that the filter unit is selectively positionable in a vertical direction relative to the base. The filter unit includes a selectively removable filtering element for removing contaminants from a medium which emanates from the grilling surface into the air during grilling. A ventilation system creates an air flow for drawing the medium through the filtering element.

Claims

1. A grill for indoor cooking, comprising:

a base which includes an integral grilling surface on a top portion thereof and a stanchion which extends vertically from said base;

a filter unit which includes;

a hood having a post which depends therefrom, said post dimensioned to telescopically engage said stanchion such that said filter unit is selectively positionable in a vertical direction relative to the base;

a selectively removable filtering element disposed within said hood for removing contaminants from a medium as the medium passes therethrough, said medium being natural by-products which emanate from said grilling surface into the air during grilling; and

a ventilation system for drawing said medium and said contaminants through the filtering element.

2. A grill for indoor cooking according to claim 1 wherein said filter unit includes a hinge which permits pivotable movement of the filter unit relative to the base.

3. A grill for indoor cooking according to claim 1 wherein said stanchion includes at least one locking tab for selectively positioning and locking the filter unit relative to the base.

4. A grill for indoor cooking according to claim 1 the ventilation system includes a motor which operates at least one fan for creating an air flow to draw the medium and contaminants through the filtering element.

5. A grill for indoor cooking according to claim 4 wherein the motor in includes a switch which regulates the speed of the fan and the resulting air flow of the medium and contaminants through the filtering element.

6. A grill for indoor cooking according to claim 1 wherein said hood includes an intake chamber defined therein, the intake chamber being configured for selective reception and engagement of the filtering element.

7. A grill for indoor cooking according to claim 1 wherein the grilling surface is contoured.

8. A grill for indoor cooking according to claim 1 wherein said base includes an inner peripheral edge which defines a furrow between said inner peripheral edge and said grilling surface, said furrow being dimensioned to collect cooking excretions which result during cooking.

9. A grill for indoor cooking according to claim 8 wherein said grilling surface includes a plurality of raised projections having grooves defined therebetween, said projections and grooves being dimensioned to direct the flow of cooking excretions which result during cooking into said furrow.

10. A grill for indoor cooking according to claim 9 wherein said base includes a trap and said projections, grooves and furrow cooperate to channel the cooking excretions into said trap during cooking.

11. A grill for indoor cooking according to claim 10 wherein said trap is selectively removable from said base.

15. A grill for indoor cooking according to claim 4 wherein the motor includes a switch which regulates the speed of the fan and the resulting air flow of the medium and contaminants through the filtering element.

12. A grill for indoor cooking, comprising:

a base which includes a grilling surface on a top portion thereof;

a filter unit which includes;

a hood having which is selectively positionable in a vertical direction relative to the base;

a selectively removable filtering element disposed within said hood for removing contaminants from a medium as the medium passes therethrough, said medium being natural by-products which emanate from said grilling surface into the air during grilling; and

a ventilation system for drawing said medium and said contaminants through the filtering element.

13. A grill for indoor cooking according to claim 12 wherein said filter unit includes a hinge which permits pivotable movement of the filter unit relative to the base.

14. A grill for indoor cooking according to claim 12 the ventilation system includes a motor which operates at least one fan for creating an air flow to draw the medium and contaminants through the filtering element.

16. A grill for indoor cooking according to claim 12 wherein said hood includes an intake chamber defined therein, the intake chamber being configured for selective reception and engagement of the filtering element.

17. A grill for indoor cooking according to claim 12 wherein the grilling surface is contoured.

18. A grill for indoor cooking according to claim 12 wherein said base includes an inner peripheral edge which defines a furrow between said inner peripheral edge and said grilling surface, said furrow being dimensioned to collect cooking excretions which result during cooking.

19. A grill for indoor cooking according to claim 18 wherein said grilling surface includes a plurality of raised projections having grooves defined therebetween, said projections and grooves being dimensioned to direct the flow of cooking excretions which result during cooking into said furrow.

20. A grill for indoor cooking according to claim 19 wherein said base includes a trap and said projections, grooves and furrow cooperate to channel the cooking excretions into said trap during cooking.

21. A grill for indoor cooking according to claim 20 wherein said trap is selectively removable from said base.

22. A grill for indoor cooking according to claim 12 wherein the filter unit is movable from a first, extended configuration for use during cooking to a second, reduced configuration for storage purposes.