COOKING DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED METHODS

• US 20090314285A1
• Filed: 12/08/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian E. Marsh
• Original Assignee: Brian E. Marsh
• Inventors: Marsh, Brian E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,261,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 126/9.R
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0763 Small-size, portable barbecues

Abstract

A cooking device comprises a center assembly including a rear panel and a pair of opposing side panels hingedly connected to the rear panel. The center assembly may be movable between an expanded position and a collapsed position. The cooking device also includes a front panel, a top panel and a diffuser plate carried by the center assembly when the center assembly is in the expanded position, and a cooking surface carried by the center assembly when the center assembly is in the expanded position. The center assembly, front panel, top panel, diffuser plate and cooking surface collapsed so that the center assembly, front panel, top panel, diffuser plate and cooking surface may be transported in a substantially flat configuration.

Claims

1. A cooking device comprising:

a center assembly including a rear panel and a pair of opposing side panels hingedly connected to said rear panel, said center assembly being moveable between an expanded position and a collapsed position;

a front panel that is removably connected to said center assembly;

a top panel removably connected to said center assembly and said front panel;

a diffuser plate carried by said center assembly when said center assembly is in the expanded position; and

at least one cooking surface carried by said center assembly when said center assembly is in the expanded position, said at least one cooking surface positioned to overlie said diffuser plate when said center assembly is in the expanded position;

wherein said center assembly, said front panel, said top panel, said diffuser plate and said at least one cooking surface collapse so that said center assembly, said front panel, said top panel, said diffuser plate and said at least one cooking surface may be transported in a substantially flat configuration.

2. A cooking device according to claim 1 further comprising a respective plurality of supports connected to said respective pair of opposing side panels;

and wherein said diffuser plate and said at least one cooking surface are carried by said respective plurality of supports when said center assembly is in the expanded position.

3. A cooking device according to claim 1 further comprising at least one handle carried by said front panel, and a thermometer carried by one of said pair of opposing side panels.

4. A cooking device according to claim 1 wherein said rear panel includes at least one vent formed therein.

5. A cooking device according to claim 1 wherein said pair of opposing side panels each include at least one vent formed therein.

6. A cooking device according to claim 1 wherein said front panel includes at least one vent formed therein.

7. A cooking device according to claim 1 wherein said front panel comprises an upper front panel and a lower front panel hingedly connected to said upper front panel so that said upper front panel defines a door.

8. A cooking device according to claim 1 wherein said top panel includes at least one top panel vent formed therein;

and further comprising a respective at least one top vent cover positioned to overlie the at least one top panel vent formed in said top panel; and

wherein said respective at least one top vent cover is moveable between an opened position and a closed position.

9. A cooking device comprising:

a center assembly including a rear panel and a pair of opposing side panels hingedly connected to said rear panel, said center assembly being moveable between an expanded position and a collapsed position, each of said rear panel and pair of opposing side panels including at least one vent formed therein;

a front panel that is removably connected to said center assembly, said front panel comprising an upper front panel and a lower front panel hingedly connected to said upper front panel so that said upper front panel defines a door, said lower front panel including at least one vent formed therein;

a top panel removably connected to said center assembly and said front panel; and

wherein said center assembly, said front panel and said top panel, collapse so that said center assembly, said front panel and said top panel may be transported in a substantially flat configuration.

10. A cooking device according to claim 9 further comprising a diffuser plate carried by said center assembly when said center assembly is in the expanded position and a plurality of cooking surface carried by said center assembly when said center assembly is in the expanded position, said plurality of cooking surfaces being positioned to overlie said diffuser plate when said center assembly is in the expanded position;

11. A cooking device according to claim 10 further comprising a respective plurality of supports connected to said respective pair of opposing side panels;

and wherein said diffuser plate and said plurality of cooking surfaces are carried by said respective plurality of supports when said center assembly is in the expanded position.

12. A cooking device according to claim 9 wherein the at least one vent formed in said rear panel includes at least one first rear panel vent formed in a lower portion of said rear panel and a plurality of second rear panel vents positioned to overlie the at least one first rear panel vent;

wherein the at least one vent formed in each of said pair of opposing side panels includes at least one first side panel vent formed in a lower portion of each of said plurality of side panels and a plurality of second side panel vents positioned to overlie the at least one first side panel vent; and

wherein the at least one vent formed in said lower front panel includes at least one first front panel vent formed in a lower portion of said lower front panel and a plurality of second front panel vents positioned to overlie the at least one first front panel vent.

13. A cooking device according to claim 9 wherein said top panel includes at least one top panel vent formed therein;

and further comprising a respective at least one top vent cover positioned to overlie the at least one top panel vent formed in said top panel; and

wherein said respective at least one top vent cover is moveable between an opened position and a closed position.

14. A cooking device according to claim 9 further comprising a plurality of fasteners to fasten said front panel to portions of said center assembly and to fasten said respective plurality of supports to said respective side panels.

15. A method of using a cooking device, the cooking device comprising a center assembly including a rear panel and a pair of opposing side panels hingedly connected to the rear panel, a front panel that is removably connected to the center assembly and a top panel that is removably connected to the center assembly and the front panel, the method comprising:

moving the center assembly from a collapsed position to an expanded position, the collapsed position being defined as the pair of opposing side panels being folded inwardly to be adjacent the rear panel, and the extended position being defined as the pair of opposing side panels being extended outwardly to be positioned substantially normal to the rear panel;

connecting the front panel to the center assembly;

connecting the top panel to upper portions of the center assembly; and

disassembling the top panel and front panel from the center assembly;

collapsing the center assembly and arranging the collapsed center assembly, the front panel and the top panel in a substantially flat configuration.

16. A method according to claim 15 further comprising connecting a plurality of supports to interior portions of the opposing side panels, the supports being positioned to support at least one diffuser plate and at least one cooking surface when the center assembly is in the extended position.

17. A method according to claim 15 wherein the rear panel includes at least one vent formed therein;

wherein the pair of opposing side panels each include at least one vent formed therein; and

wherein the front panel includes at least one vent formed therein.

18. A method according to claim 15 wherein the front panel comprises an upper front panel and a lower front panel hingedly connected to the upper front panel so that the upper front panel defines a door.

19. A method according to claim 18 further comprising engaging a handle on the door to move the upper front panel between an opened position and a closed position.

20. A method according to claim 15 wherein the top panel includes at least one top panel vent formed therein;

wherein a respective at least one top vent cover is positioned to overlie the at least one top panel vent formed in the top panel; and

wherein the respective at least one top vent cover is moveable between an opened position and a closed position.