Collapsible barbeque with variable firebed position and method of use

• US 7,856,924 B1
• Filed: 04/21/2005
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Doru Stihi
• Original Assignee: Doru Stihi
• Inventors: Stihi, Doru
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoang; Tu B
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENNISON, BRIAN W
• Application Number:
  US11/111,008
• Time in Patent Office: 2,077 Days
• Field of Search: 994/19, 994/21.H, 994/21.HV, 994/21.M, 994/21.R, 126/25.A, 126/25.AA
• US Class Current: 99/419
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 2037/0777 with foldable construction for storage or transport purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0704 with horizontal fire box
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0731 with a fire box movable between different positions, e.g. horizontal, vertical, inclined

Abstract

A cooking apparatus has a food support with food engaging structure, such as a rotisserie spit. A firebed is mounted under the food support to heat food at the food support. A heat reflective vault is mounted over the food support for reflecting radiant heat back down toward the food support. The vault extends over the food support while still providing access from the side. A drive mechanism can vertically adjust the firebed to adjust heat flowing toward the food support. An elevator motor may be coupled to the drive mechanism for vertically positioning the firebed. A thermostat responsive to heat from the firebed and coupled to the elevator motor can control elevation of the firebed.

Claims

1. A cooking apparatus comprising:

a food support having food engaging structure;

a firebed mounted under said food support to heat food at the food support;

a heat reflective vault mounted over said food support for reflecting radiant heat back down toward said food support, said vault extending over said food support while leaving said food support laterally accessible;

a thermostat responsive to heat from said firebed and coupled to an elevator motor for controlling elevation of said firebed; and

a drive mechanism for vertically adjusting said firebed to adjust heat flowing toward said food support.

2. A cooking apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said food support comprises:

a rotisserie spit.

3. A cooking apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said rotisserie spit is sized to support a whole adult pig.

4. A cooking apparatus according to claim 1 comprising:

a spit motor coupled to said rotisserie spit for rotating said spit.

5. A cooking apparatus according to claim 4 comprising:

a motor control coupled to said spit motor for controlling a speed of said spit motor.

6. A cooking apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said rotisserie spit has a connector for manually and quickly disconnecting said rotisserie spit from said spit motor.

7. A cooking apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vault is gutter shaped.

8. A cooking apparatus according to claim 1 comprising:

an upper frame for supporting said firebed; and

a lower frame, said drive mechanism being coupled between said upper and said lower frame and being operable to collapse them together.

9. A cooking apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said food support includes a rotisserie spit, said vault and said rotisserie spit being collapsible onto said firebed and said upper frame.

10. A cooking apparatus according to claim 8 comprising:

a plurality of wheels mounted under said upper frame, said upper frame being collapsible onto said lower frame to an elevation of less than 1 meter.

12. A cooking apparatus according to claim 1 comprising:

at least one limit switch responsive to motion of said firebed and coupled to said elevator motor for stopping said elevator motor in order to prevent excessive travel of said firebed.

11. A cooking apparatus according to claim comprising:

an elevator motor coupled to said drive mechanism for vertically positioning said firebed.

13. A cooking apparatus according to claim 11 comprising:

an upper frame for supporting said firebed; and

a lower frame, said drive mechanism including;

a scissor lift connected between said upper and said lower frame, said scissor lift having a pair of upper ends coupled to said upper frame and a pair of lower ends; and

a lead screw coupled to said elevator motor and having a nut for adjusting the spacing between the pair of lower ends of said scissor lift.

14. A cooking apparatus comprising:

a rotisserie spit having food engaging structure and sized to support a whole adult pig;

a spit motor coupled to said rotisserie spit for rotating said rotisserie spit, said rotisserie spit having a connector for manually and quickly disconnecting said rotisserie spit from said spit motor;

a motor control coupled to said spit motor for controlling a speed of said spit motor;

a firebed mounted under said rotisserie spit to heat food at the rotisserie spit;

a reflector mounted over said rotisserie spit for reflecting radiant heat back down toward said rotisserie spit while leaving said rotisserie spit laterally accessible;

an upper frame for supporting said firebed;

a drive mechanism for vertically adjusting said firebed to adjust heat flowing toward said food support;

an elevator motor coupled to said drive mechanism for vertically positioning said firebed;

a thermostat responsive to heat from said firebed and coupled to said elevator motor for controlling elevation of said firebed;

a lower frame, said drive mechanism being coupled between said upper and said lower frame and being operable to collapse said upper frame and said lower frame together, said reflector and said rotisserie spit being collapsible onto said firebed and said upper frame;

a plurality of wheels mounted under said lower frame, said upper frame being collapsible onto said lower frame to an elevation of less than 1 meter; and

at least one limit switch responsive to motion of said firebed and coupled to said elevator motor for stopping said elevator motor in order to prevent excessive travel of said firebed, said drive mechanism including;

a scissor lift connected between said upper and said lower frame, said scissor lift having a pair of upper ends coupled to said upper frame and a pair of lower ends; and

a lead screw coupled to said elevator motor and having a nut for adjusting the spacing between the pair of lower ends of said scissor lift.

15. A cooking apparatus comprising:

a base having four walls and a plurality of wheels movably supporting the base above an environment below the base forming a pocket below said base;

a plurality of risers connecting said base to a rotisserie spit, said spit having food engaging structure and sized to support a whole adult pig;

a spit motor located at a top portion of one of said plurality of risers and coupled to said rotisserie spit for rotating the spit;

said rotisserie spit having a connector for manually and quickly disconnecting said rotisserie spit from said spit motor;

a reflector mounted over said rotisserie spit on a selectively collapsible riser extensions on said risers for reflecting radiant heat back down toward said rotisserie spit while leaving said rotisserie spit laterally accessible;

a drive mechanism located within the four walls of the base for vertically adjusting a height of a firebed frame and firebed tray to adjust heat flowing toward said food support;

said firebed frame supporting said firebed tray above said drive motor and below said rotisserie spit, by scissor legs movably connected to said drive motor, such that moving said scissor legs towards each other raises said firebed frame relative to said rotisserie spit to control the temperature of heating elements on a firebed tray on said rotisserie spit, and moving said scissor legs away from each other lowers said firebed frame relative to said rotisserie spit;

at least one limit switch responsive to motion of said firebed frame and coupled to an elevator motor for discontinuing lowering of said firebed frame toward said base when said cooking apparatus is in a collapsed position with said firebed frame directly adjacent said base;

said elevator motor located within the four walls of said base and coupled to said drive mechanism for vertically positioning said firebed frame by moving the scissor legs;

said drive mechanism being coupled between said fire bed and said base to collapse the firebed frame adjacent said base;

said firebed tray being removable from said firebed frame and storable beneath said base in the pocket;

said risers being removable from said base and being sized to fit within said firebed frame and base for storage when said riser extensions are in a collapsed condition and said cooking apparatus in the collapsed position;

said rotisserie spit and spit motor being collapsible within said firebed frame and onto said upper frame such that said rotisserie spit and spit motor fit wholly within a length of said firebed frame when said cooking apparatus is in the collapsed position;

said reflector removable from said riser extensions and sized to mate with said firebed frame to form a cover over said rotisserie spit, spit motor, firebed frame and base when said cooking apparatus is in the collapsed position; and

said cooking apparatus having an overall height less than one meter in the collapsed position with said reflector installed on said firebed frame housing, said rotisserie spit, motor and risers fitted within said firebed frame and base;

said firebed frame lowered directly adjacent said base; and

said firebed frame firebed tray stored below said base.