Portable cooking unit

• US 8,079,302 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2008
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul Giangrasso, Steven Giangrasso
• Original Assignee: Paul Giangrasso, Steven Giangrasso
• Inventors: Giangrasso, Steven, Giangrasso, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Niconovich, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US12/287,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20100089249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 993/39, 993/40, 994/47, 994/49, 126/9.R, 126/9.B, 126/275.R, 219/386, 219/387, 219/403, 219/404
• US Class Current: 99/449
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/122 with adaptation of shape to that of adjacent vessels for forming a unit, e.g. sector-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 33/00 Camp cooking devices without integral heating means travelling cookers with one burner A47J36/26
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/26 Devices for warming vessels containing drinks or food, especially by means of burners Warming devices with a burner, e.g. using gasoline; Travelling cookers, e.g. using petroleum or gasoline with one burner

Abstract

Described here is a rectangular, parallelepiped shaped, portable cooking device that consists of a rigid Stand, with attached lid and flaps, that supports multiple food heating containers. A dual purpose transport case/cooking cover, made of heat resistant materials, is a key feature to the design utility by securely transporting the device and acting as a heat efficiency Cover during the food heating process. When used in conjunction with the Stand flaps and lids, this Cover provides many innovations over prior art by preventing heat escape and weather intrusion. Various burner and fuel devices (i.e.: Sterno, Propane, Electric, Coal, Wood . . . ) can be used to provide the heat for this device. The combination of these multi-functional components, in a single compact, portable, modular unit provide significant improvements over current conventional devices by offering multiple options for food heating and serving with increased efficiency in space usage, heat efficiency and transportability.

Claims

1. A portable cooking unit comprising

a plurality of vertically extending, spaced posts, each post having a footing at a bottom end thereof;

a bottom heat supply grid support interconnecting said posts above and adjacent each footing, said bottom heat supply grid supporting a multi-optioned heat source including a burner or a fuel source;

a multi-fold lid interconnecting top ends of said posts, said lid comprising two halves, each half comprising a plurality of panels each hinged to an adjacent panel with an end fold panel at opposite ends of said lid folded down over top ends of said posts, with adjacent halves not connected either to allow some panels to be folded over to form a top opening into said cooking unit, said opening being adjustable by the number of panels being folded over, or to cover completely said top opening;

a mid-section platform interconnecting said posts between said bottom heat supply grid and said lid comprising a grid structure to accommodate containers for cooking food directly above said bottom heat supply grid support;

side flaps on all sides of said unit hinged to said mid-section platform for rotation, each flap rotatable between a downward extending position covering an area between said mid-section platform and said bottom heat support grid and an upwardly extending position enclosing an area above said mid-section platform, said flaps being independently movable to control heat temperature and direction and amount of air flow through said cooking unit; and

said lid with all said panels folded over sides of said cooking unit accommodating a single pot or a plurality of inter-fitting containers for cooking food above that of said mid-section platform, thereby providing said cooking unit with two levels of cooking above said heat source.

2. The portable cooking unit of claim 1 having a transport base enclosing a bottom portion of said unit below said mid-section platform, said transport base having a floor and sides which are each individually, pivotally attached to said floor for providing access to said heat source and regulation of heat in said unit;

and

means for enclosing and transporting said unit without disassembly thereof thereby allowing quick deployment of said unit for cooking.

3. The portable cooking unit of claim 2 in which said posts are located on corners of said unit.

4. The portable cooking unit of claim 3 in which said enclosing and transporting means comprises said sides of said transport base having means for attaching adjacent sides to each other when deployed in an upwardly extending position enclosing a bottom portion of said unit below said mid-section platform, and a cover slidable over a top and sides of said unit to engage top edges of said sides of said transport base, with said cover having a handle to carry, said unit within said cover, whereby said unit is transportable without disassembly.

5. The portable cooking unit of claim 4 having multiple, inter-fitting nested containers that are configurable in multiple combinations for being supported in said mid-section platform to allow multiple food containers to be heated simultaneously.

6. The portable cooking unit of claim 5 in which said flaps each have a hook to engage a protuberance on a post when said flap is in its upwardly extending position.

7. The portable cooking unit of claim 4 wherein said cover includes an upper sleeve cover portion insertable over a top portion of said portable cooking unit and a lower base cover portion enclosing a bottom portion of said portable cooking unit, said upper sleeve cover portion joinable to said lower base cover portion, said lower base cover portion having lower side cover flaps on all sides of said lower base cover portion for rotation, each said lower side cover flap rotatable between a downward extending open position exposing an area adjacent said bottom heat support grid and an upwardly extending position enclosing an area adjacent said bottom heat support grid, each separate respective lower side cover flap being independently movable singularly or in combination with at least one of said other respective lower side cover flaps to control heat temperature, and direction and amount of air flow through said cooking unit, in conjunction with rotation of said side flaps of said portable cooking unit between respective open and closed position thereof.