Abstract:
A universal fit burner is disclosed having a main body member adapted to receive a venturi tube that is slidably mounted for increasing or decreasing the length thereof relative to the main body and a gas inlet for fitting different sized grills. Also provided is an extension member that can be coupled to the main body member for increasing its size and an adjustable mounting bracket for securing the burner in the firebox of the grill.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to copending U.S. provisional application entitled, “Universal Fit Burner,” having Ser. No. 60/703,918, filed Jul. 29, 2005, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention generally relates to outdoor gas barbecue grills.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART  
       [0003]     Outdoor gas barbecue grills are relatively durable consumer products that are not only used, but also stored, outdoors. However, although various components such as the exterior casting can exhibit a useful life of ten years or more in an outdoor environment, various other components of a typical grill do not last as long. By way of example, a burner, which is mounted within the interior of the grill and distributes gas from the fuel tank for burning, may corrode or otherwise become degraded in just a few years.  
         [0004]     In this regard, replacement grill component parts are now available so that consumers can replace various components of their grills when necessary. From a manufacturing standpoint, however, providing the various components can be problematic because different grills can use different sizes and shapes of components. Thus, many different sizes and shapes of replacement components typically are manufactured.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     In this regard, universal fit burners and grills incorporating universal fit burners are provided. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other. Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is an embodiment of a burner with the venturi assembly in an extended position.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, schematic view of an embodiment of a burner.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of an embodiment of a burner showing the front of a burner extension.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the burner of  FIG. 3  showing the back of the burner extension.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is an embodiment of a burner with the venturi assembly in a retracted position and block-off plate installed.  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is an embodiment of a burner with the venturi assembly in an extended position.  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is an embodiment of a burner showing installation of the burner extension and block-off plate.  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is an embodiment of a burner with the venturi assembly in an intermediate position, showing the burner extension and block-off plate installed.  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is an embodiment of a burner with a burner extension installed without a block-off plate, and with the venturi assembly in an intermediate position.  
         [0016]      FIGS. 10A-10D  are schematic diagrams depicting various views of an embodiment of a burner extension.  
         [0017]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  are schematic view of an embodiment of a block-off plate.  
         [0018]      FIGS. 12A-12E  are schematic diagrams depicting various views of an embodiment of a main burner body.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 13A-13D  are schematic diagrams depicting various views of an embodiment of a venturi assembly.  
         [0020]      FIGS. 14A-14C  are schematic diagrams depicting various views of an embodiment of a mounting bracket.  
         [0021]      FIG. 15  depicts an embodiment of a mounting bracket installed on the underside of a main burner body.  
         [0022]      FIG. 16  depicts an embodiment of a mounting bracket installed on the underside of a main burner body. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]     An embodiment of a universal fit burner is depicted in the perspective view of  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , burner assembly  100  includes a generally hollow main burner body  102  and a movable venturi assembly  104 . Specifically, venturi assembly  104 , which includes a venturi tube  106  and an aspirator  108 , is slidably received in the main burner body and can be moved from the extended position shown in  FIG. 1 , to a retracted position for lengthening or shortening the tube relative to the burner body. In the retracted position, at least a substantial portion of the venturi tube is received within a cavity  110  of the main burner body so that the aspirator generally abuts an end of the main burner body.  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, schematic diagram depicting the embodiment of the burner assembly of  FIG. 1  in greater detail. In particular,  FIG. 2  depicts the main burner body  102 , the venturi assembly  104  that includes venturi tube  106 , aspirator  108 , gas inlet  109 , air inlet  111 , and cavity  110 , which is formed in the main body housing. Additionally, a burner extension  112 , a gas inlet valve  113 , a block-off plate  114  and associated screw  116 , a set screw  118  for securing a position of the venturi tube within the cavity, a mounting bracket  120  and associated mounting screws  122  and  124 , and a clip pin  126  for mounting the burner assembly  100  to a barbecue grill also are depicted. The gas valve  113  is affixed to a control panel or the like (not shown) on a barbecue grill (not shown). As noted, the adjustability feature of the burner allows the burner to fit many different sized grills between two fixed points, the gas valve and the inner wall of the firebox of the grill (not shown).  
         [0025]     The aforementioned components also are depicted, with the exception of the set screw  118  and clip pin  126 , in the exploded, perspective views of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Notably, however, the front  130  of burner extension  112  is depicted in  FIG. 3 , whereas the back  132  of the burner extension is depicted in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0026]     As shown in greater detail in  FIG. 5 , the venturi tube  106  of venturi assembly  104  can be received within cavity  110  of the main body  102  so that the aspirator  108  is positioned close to an end face  136  of the main burner body. This is the retracted position of the venturi assembly. In the retracted position, the overall length of the burner assembly  100  is reduced so that the burner assembly can be mounted within correspondingly sized grills. Note also that, in  FIG. 5 , the block-off plate  114  is mounted against end  136  of the main burner body to substantially prevent a flow of gas from the main burner body in a direction of the aspirator.  
         [0027]     In  FIG. 6 , the venturi assembly  104  has been moved to its extended position, in which the aspirator is moved farther from the end  136  of the main burner body. In this configuration, the burner assembly  100  can be mounted within a larger grill that requires a longer length of venturi tube.  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  depicts a burner assembly  100  with a burner extension  112  being installed. As shown in  FIG. 7 , burner extension  112  includes a cavity  140  through which the venturi tube  106  is inserted. Typically, the burner extension is used when a grill in which the burner assembly is being mounted has room to accommodate a burner of greater length than that provided by the main burner body  102  alone. Thus, as depicted fully assembled in  FIG. 8 , the burner extension increases the length of the burner. Notably, however, the configuration depicted in  FIGS. 7 and 8  includes the block-off plate  114  installed. Block-off plate  114  obstructs the gas ports  142  ( FIG. 7 ) that could otherwise be used to provide gas to an end of the burner.  
         [0029]     The configuration that includes the burner extension  112  but which excludes the block-off plate  114  is depicted in  FIG. 9 . In such a configuration, gas is permitted to exit the ports  142  for providing increased gas and heat output at an end of the main burner body. Thus, by using the burner extension  112 , extending the venturi assembly  104  to the extended position, and not using the block-off plate  114 , the burner assembly can be configured with its longest available length and largest flame area.  
         [0030]     Details of several embodiments of constituent components of burner assembly  100  will now be described with respect to  FIGS. 10A-16 . Specifically, an embodiment of a burner extension  112  will now be described with respect to the schematic diagrams of  FIGS. 10A-10D .  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIG. 10A , burner extension  112  includes a front surface  150  through which gas ports  142  are formed. Burner extension  112  also includes cavity  140  for receiving a venturi tube, and an orifice  152  for receiving a fastener, such as a screw, for mounting a block-off plate. As shown in greater detail in  FIG. 10B , burner extension  112  includes a burner ledge  154  that extends outwardly from surface  150 . Ledge  154  shields the gas ports  142  located at the surface  150  from grease or other drippings or materials that can tend to fall into and otherwise obstruct the gas ports. Note also, the gas ports  142  are located along a side surface  156  of the body extension. As shown in  FIGS. 10C and 10D , body extension  112  includes a recessed portion  158  that functions as a manifold for providing a flow of gas from the venturi tube to the gas ports  142 .  
         [0032]     As shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , the block-off plate  114  (in this embodiment) is a substantially flat component. A periphery of the block-off plate  114  is generally configured to match the exterior of a corresponding burner extension  112  with the exception of the upper edge  160 . In particular, upper edge  160  is shaped to enable the block-off plate to seat beneath the ledge  154  of the burner extension.  
         [0033]     An embodiment of a main burner body  102  is shown in greater detail in the schematic diagram of  FIGS. 12A through 12E . As shown in these figures, main burner body  102  incorporates an integrated ledge  162  that runs lengthwise along each side. The ledges  162  shield the gas ports  142  from drippings as described with respect to the burner extension  112 .  
         [0034]     As shown most clearly in  FIG. 12B , body  102  includes an orifice  166  that is adapted to receive a set screw, which is used for securing the venturi assembly in its various positions. Body  102  also includes orifices  168  and  170  that are used to receive mounting screws, such as mounting screws  122  and  124  of  FIG. 2 , for mounting a mounting bracket (bracket  120  of  FIG. 2 ) to the underside of the body  102 .  
         [0035]     As best shown in  FIG. 12C , cavity  140 , which is used for receiving a venturi tube, communicates with a gas distribution manifold  174  via an internal orifice  176 . Manifold  174  is oriented generally along a length of the body  102  and extends through an end  178  of the body as depicted in  FIG. 12E . When assembled with a corresponding burner extension, such as burner extension  112 , manifold  178  of the main burner body  102  communicates with the manifold  158  of the burner extension to provide gas through gas ports  142  located at an end  150  of the burner extension.  
         [0036]     An embodiment of a venturi assembly  104  is shown in greater detail in the schematic diagrams of  FIGS. 13A through 13D . As shown therein, venturi assembly  104  includes a venturi tube  106  and an aspirator  108 . In this embodiment, the aspirator includes air inlet vents  180  and  182 , as well as a gas receiving orifice  184 .  
         [0037]     Detail of an embodiment of a mounting bracket  120  is shown in  FIGS. 14A through 16 . As shown in  FIGS. 14A through 14C , mounting bracket  120  is a substantially symmetrical component that includes a mounting tab  190  that extends outwardly from base  192 . As shown in  FIG. 14A , base  192  includes opposing wing portions  194  and  196 , each of which includes an orifice that is adapted to receive a fastener. In this embodiment, the orifices are configured as slots  198  and  200  that can receive mounting screws  122  and  124  of  FIG. 2 . Notably, this embodiment is formed of a single piece of material that is bent to form the tab  190 . Also, tab  190  includes an orifice  202  that can receive a fastener, such as clip pin  126  of  FIG. 2 , for securing the mounting bracket within a grill.  
         [0038]     Another embodiment of a mounting bracket is shown installed to the underside of a main burner body in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . As shown in  FIG. 15 , the mounting bracket  120  is installed in a first position wherein mechanical fasteners are located toward the end of the bracket that includes the tab  190 . In contrast,  FIG. 16  depicts the mounting bracket moved in relation to the main burner body, with the screws  122  and  124  located at the opposite end of the mounting bracket. Clearly, the ability to reposition the mounting bracket with respect to the burner body enables adaptation to various configurations of grills. Also note that in the embodiment of  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the slots include preformed recesses  210  for receiving the mounting screws in various locations.  
         [0039]     While an embodiment and modifications thereof have been shown and discribed in detail herein, various additional changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.