Abstract:
The invention relates to a grill apparatus ( 1 ), in the lower part ( 2 ) of which there is provided a heat conducting cone ( 4 ) which is held in a central position and in which an adjustment cone is rotatably mounted. Both cones ( 4, 7 ) have heat conducting means ( 10 ) in the form of openings ( 41, 71 ). By means of a relative rotation of the two cones ( 4, 7 ) with respect to one another, said openings go from congruently completely open to completely closed and are adjustable to any intermediate position, whereby a heat conduction with more top heat or more bottom heat can be directed onto the object being grilled.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to a closable grilling apparatus that comprises a lower part with an annular gas burner arranged therein, a heat conducting cone that is held in the lower part above the gas burner such that it is spaced apart from the wall of the lower part and features a central bottom opening that is smaller than the inside diameter of the annular gas burner, as well as a cooking grate that is held in the lower part above the heat conducting cone and a hinged or removable cover. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Grilling apparatuses of this type are known from EP 0653197, wherein these grills are commonly referred to, in particular, as so-called spherical grills and very widely used. The initially cited grilling apparatuses correspond to these known spherical grilling apparatuses. As the name implies, these grilling apparatuses have an approximately spherical external shape. The lower part has an approximately hemispherical shape whereas the cover is indeed curved, but not realized hemispherical. 
     The concept of a spherical grill is based on the notion that the heat generated by an annular gas burner, the inside diameter of which is greater than a central opening in a conducting cone held in the lower part, results in an approximately uniform heat distribution. The heat predominantly flows around the conducting cone and ascends along the outside of the wall of the conducting cone and the inside of the wall of the lower part until it reaches the cover such that the food being grilled is predominantly subjected to top heat. However, adequate bottom heat that usually suffices for cooking the food being grilled is also produced because the conducting cone is also heated by the annular gas burner. Nevertheless, it would be desirable to selectively supply heat from above or from below similar to a baking oven in order to respectively generate top heat or bottom heat. 
     EP-0688177 A discloses a grilling apparatus that may be realized in the form of an open or closed grilling apparatus and features a burner that is centrally arranged in the lower part, as well as a heat conducting means that makes it possible to adjust a different heat conduction, namely either in the form of uniform radiant heat that is generated by a plate being heated or in the form of a convective heat distribution that is achieved by raising parts of this plate, as well as the openings being formed thereby, such that heat can be conducted upward either more centrally or more radially depending on the adjustment. 
     However, other open or closed grilling apparatuses that allow a certain heat conduction are also known, for example, from DE 19515080 A or DE 9411524 U. Although these grilling apparatuses are also provided with annular burners, they have a completely different design and the burners used do not consist of gas burners. 
     As mentioned above, grilling apparatuses with gas burners of the initially mentioned type have a tendency to predominantly generate top heat such that the users accordingly open the cover and occasionally turn the food to be grilled in order to achieve uniform browning. However, this results in unnecessary energy losses and the constant turning of the food to be cooked also leads to increased soiling of the grilling apparatus. 
     Although EP 0653917 shows diverse variations that result in more top heat or more bottom heat, neither variation can be changed while the grilling apparatus is in use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention therefore is based on the objective of designing a grilling apparatus of the initially mentioned type in such a way that the food to be cooked can be alternately supplied with increased top heat or increased bottom heat during the operation of the grilling apparatus. 
     This objective is attained with a device according to the preamble of the independent claim by providing means that make it possible to conduct the heat of the gas burner either through or around the heat conducting cone in a progressively adjustable fashion such that food to be grilled lying on the cooking grate can be predominantly subjected to bottom heat by directing the heat through the conducting cone and predominantly subjected to top heat by directing the heat around the heat conducting cone. 
     In a particularly preferred embodiment, the grilling apparatus is realized in such a way that the means consist on the one hand of several openings that are arranged in the heat conducting cone over the circumference thereof and on the other hand of an adjustment cone with openings that is supported in the heat conducting cone in a sliding and contacting fashion, wherein the adjustment cone can be turned relative to the heat conducting cone such that the openings in the two cones can be adjusted more or less congruently between a completely closed position and a position, in which they lie on top of one another in a completely congruent fashion, depending on the relative rotation of the adjustment cone to the heat conducting cone. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The dependent claims define other advantageous embodiments of the inventive object, the significance and function of which are elucidated below with reference to the attached drawings. The drawings show a preferred exemplary embodiment of the inventive object. In these drawings: 
         FIG. 1  shows a side view of a closable grilling apparatus with open cover that is arranged on a mobile base and 
         FIG. 2  shows a rear view of the same grilling apparatus with mobile base, whereas 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the same grilling apparatus with base. 
         FIG. 4  shows the grilling apparatus without the mobile base and without the cover, wherein the lower part of the grilling apparatus is illustrated in the form of a diametrical section and the other parts of the grilling apparatus are illustrated in the form of a side view. 
         FIG. 5  shows a side view of the heat conducting cone and 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective representation thereof. Likewise, 
         FIG. 7  shows a side view of the adjustment cone and 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective representation thereof. 
         FIG. 9  shows a side view of an alternative design of the heat conducting cone and 
         FIG. 10  shows a top view thereof, whereas 
         FIG. 11  shows a side view of an alternative adjustment cone for the heat conducting cone according to  FIGS. 9 and 10  and 
         FIG. 12  shows a top view thereof. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The actual grilling apparatus is identified by the reference symbol  1 . It consists of a closable grilling apparatus that comprises a lower part  2  and a cover  8  illustrated in the completely open position. The grilling apparatus  1  can be completely closed by means of the cover and is accordingly referred to as a closable grilling apparatus in this description. In  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the grilling apparatus  1  is supported on a mobile base. The mobile base consists of a frame construction  21  with 4 legs and casters  23  that are fixed on said legs and, for example, may be provided with locking means  24 . The mobile base  20  is covered with a heat-resistant support  25  that contains a circular receptacle opening, in which the lower part of the grilling apparatus  1  is supported. The space remaining underneath the lower part  2  of the grilling apparatus  1  is relatively large and on its lower end defined by a bottom  27  and a recessed trough  28 , in which a not-shown gas tank may be arranged. The reference symbol  29  identifies the front cover and a control knob  30  for adjusting the gas supply to the gas burner protrudes from said front cover. 
       FIG. 3  shows an oblique perspective view of the grilling apparatus with the mobile base, as well as the grate  6  that is not visible in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and was omitted in  FIG. 4  in order to provide a better overview. 
     In the grilling apparatus shown in  FIG. 4 , only the lower part is illustrated in the form of a section and the parts situated therein are illustrated in the form of a side view. The lower part  2  has a hemispherical shape and its upper edge  200  features a bead  201 . The heat conducting cone  4  in the lower part  2  is illustrated in the form of a side view. An annular gas burner  3  is situated under the heat conducting cone. The conducting cone  4  features a lower central opening  5 , the diameter of which is smaller than the inside diameter of the annular gas burner  3 . The heat conducting cone  4  situated adjacent to its upper edge features on the wide opening a horizontal collar  44 , to which approximately u-shaped brackets  42  are attached, wherein one limb of said brackets extends parallel to the horizontal collar  44  and is rigidly connected thereto and an upper limb  422  extends parallel thereto. The upper parallel limb  422  serves for supporting the grate  6  that is not illustrated in this figure. The crosspiece  423  connecting the two limbs  421  and  422  is inclined in the direction parallel to the inner wall  424  of the lower part  4  in the region, in which the aforementioned crosspiece  423  of the bracket  42  contacts the inner wall of the lower part. This figure furthermore shows the heat conducting means  10 . In principle, these means in the form of openings  41  in the conducting cone are only indicated schematically in the uppermost lateral regions. In the side view shown, the openings  41  are covered by air deflecting caps  43 . In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the heat conducting cone  4  is illustrated separately in the form of a side view ( FIG. 5 ) and in the form of an oblique perspective view from above ( FIG. 6 ). The brackets  42  are not illustrated in this figure. However, three mounting holes  46  for attaching the bracket  42 , for example, by means of a slot are illustrated in the horizontal collar  44 . Only three brackets  42  are provided for achieving a secure three-point support.  FIG. 6  furthermore shows that the horizontal collar  44  has an interruption  45 . This is discussed in greater detail below.  FIG. 6  also shows some of the openings  41 , wherein the inside of the air deflecting caps  43  is also visible more or less clearly in this figure depending on the viewing angle. 
     The heat generated by the flames of the gas burner  3  essentially ascends along the outer side of the heat conducting cone  4 . The flow of heated air is now deflected into the interior of the heat conducting cone  4  through the aforementioned openings  41  by the air deflecting caps  43 . The air deflecting caps  43  may be realized in the form of crescent-shaped sheet metal parts as shown and merely welded to the outside along the upper edge  47 . In this way, these air deflecting caps  43  can be realized larger than the actual openings  41 . However, it is also possible to realize these air deflecting caps  43  in such a way that only the lower edge of the opening  41  is punched and the upper edge  47  is formed by a region of the wall  424  produced of the heat conducting cone  4 . 
     The brackets  42  are designed so large that the clearance between the horizontal collar  44  and the inner wall  424  of the lower part  2  is bridged and a sufficient gap remains for conducting the generated heat around the horizontal collar  44  of the heat conducting cone  4  without creating relevant heat accumulation. 
     An adjustment cone  7  rests in the heat conducting cone  4  and is only partially visible in  FIG. 4 . With respect to its conicality, the adjustment cone  7  is realized identical to the conducting cone  4 . Accordingly, the adjustment cone  7  can be placed into the heat conducting cone  4  such that its outer side lies on the inner side of the heat conducting cone  4 . The adjustment cone  7  may approximately have the same structural height as the heat conducting cone  4 . However, it is preferably slightly higher such that the adjustment cone  7  slightly protrudes from the bottom of the heat conducting cone  4  in the inserted state as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . However, the adjustment cone could, in principle, also have a smaller height than the heat conducting cone. The adjustment cone  7  also features means  10  for conducting the heat from the gas burner  3  through the heat conducting cone  4 . These means  10  are likewise realized in the form of openings that are identified by the reference symbol  71 . With respect to their size, arrangement or position and shape, these openings  71  are realized at least approximately identical to the corresponding openings  41  in the heat conducting cone. Drip deflectors  73  are integrally formed on each upper edge of the openings  71 , wherein these drip deflectors are, in contrast to the heat conducting cone  4 , integrally formed on the inner wall surface in this case. As the name implies, the drip deflectors  73  serve, in particular, for deflecting fat dipping onto the wall of the adjustment cone  7  from the food to be grilled on the grate  6  around the openings  71  such that it is prevented from respectively dripping onto the inner wall of the lower part between the heat conducting cone  4  and the outer side of the adjustment cone  7  in the closed state or through the openings  71  in the adjustment cone and the more or less congruently positioned openings  41  in the heat conducting cone in the open state. In fact, this dripping fat reaches the lower part  2  through the lower central opening  74  in the adjustment cone  7  and ultimately drains into a collection trough  9 . The maximum diameter of the central opening  5  in the heat conducting cone  4  or the central opening  74  in the adjustment cone  7  is smaller than the inside diameter of the gas burner  3  such that the dripping fat is reliably prevented from reaching the gas burner. 
     A handle bracket  72  is integrally formed on the adjustment cone  7 . This handle bracket extends upward from the adjustment cone  7  across the clearance between the adjustment cone and the wall of the lower part  2 , namely approximately along this wall, and then outward over the edge  200  in the shape of an arc in a practically form-fitted fashion. On its outer end, a handle  75 , preferably of insulating material, is attached to the handle bracket  72 . 
     The adjustment cone  7  can be turned in the heat conducting cone  4  by means of the handle bracket  72  that can also be operated in the closed state of the grilling apparatus  1  because it extends between the lower part  2  and the cover  8 . Depending on the relative position between the heat conducting cone and the adjustment cone, the openings  41  in the heat conducting cone and the openings  71  in the adjustment cone are positioned more or less congruently on top of one another. In this case, the adjusting range is chosen such the openings  41  and  71  do not overlap at all at one end of the adjusting range and the heat ascending from the gas burner  3  therefore is entirely conducted around the heat conducting cone. In this case, the heat ascends in the region between the heat conducting cone and the inner wall  424  of the lower part  2  and around the horizontal collar  44  such that it reaches the space bordered by the cover  8  and the food to be grilled lying on the grate  6  is predominantly exposed to top heat. If a user takes hold of the handle  75  and displaces the adjustment cone  7  to the other end of the adjusting range by means of the handle bracket  72 , the openings  41  in the heat conducting cone are moved into a position, in which they completely overlap the openings  71  in the adjustment cone such that maximum heat conduction through the heat conducting cone takes place. The ascending heat is optimally conducted through the aforementioned openings by the air deflecting caps  43  and predominantly ascends in the inner region of the heat conducting cone and the adjustment cone such that it directly reaches the underside of the food to be grilled lying on the grate  6 . In this case, the food to be grilled is predominantly exposed the bottom heat. Any intermediate positions naturally can be adjusted by means of the handle bracket  72 . Since the handle bracket  72  extends between the lower part and the cover as already mentioned above, this adjustment can also be carried out without opening the cover  7 . The adjusting range is defined by the interruption  45  in the horizontal collar  44  of the heat conducting cone  4 . When the handle bracket  72  contacts one edge of the interruption  45 , one defined end position is reached whereas the other above-described end position is reached by displacing the handle bracket and therefore the adjustment cone  7  until the handle bracket contacts the other edge of the interruption  45 . The grate  6  is also provided with a corresponding recess  61  in order to ensure that the handle bracket  72  does not get jammed on the grate. 
     It should ultimately also be noted that it is possible to realize the heat conducting cone  4  and the adjustment cone  7  so long that their lower ends can extend through the annular gas burner  3 . This variation is illustrated in  FIGS. 9-12 .  FIGS. 9 and 10  show this alternative embodiment of the heat conducting cone  4  and  FIGS. 11 and 12  show the corresponding embodiment of the adjustment cone  7 . However, this variation is associated with the risk of heat accumulation. This heat accumulation can be prevented by either providing slots or the slot-shaped windows shown as additional heat conducting means  10  in the lowermost region on the bottom ends of both cones  4 ,  7 . These additional heat conducting means  10  are arranged in the lowermost region  11  of the two cones  7  and  10 . These means are realized in the form of rectangular or slot-shaped window openings. The window openings in the heat conducting cone  4  are identified by the reference symbol  49  and the window openings in the adjustment cone are identified by the reference symbol  79 . 
     The size of the window openings  49 ,  79  is also chosen such that the window openings can be adjusted between the completely closed position, in which the window openings  49  and  79  in the two cones do not overlap one another, and the completely open position, in which the window openings  49 ,  79  practically lie congruently on top of one another, within the potential range of relative rotation between the two cones. Any intermediate position can also be adjusted. 
     In contrast to the above-described openings  41  and  71  that are provided with air deflecting caps  43  and drip deflectors  73 , such air deflecting caps or drip deflectors are not required on the means  10  in the region  11 . 
     It should furthermore be noted that an annular gas burner does in this context by no means have to refer to a circular arrangement. In fact, this term refers to a gas burner that extends around the central opening  5  of the heat conducting and/or adjustment cone in an arbitrary shape. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
     
         
           1  Grilling apparatus 
           2  Lower part 
           21  Edge of lower part 
           3  Gas burner 
           4  Heat conducting cone 
           5  Central opening 
           6  Grate 
           7  Adjustment cone 
           8  Cover 
           9  Drip trough 
           10  Heat conducting means 
           11  Lowermost region of heat conducting and adjustment cone 
           20  Mobile base 
           21  Frame construction 
           22  Legs 
           23  Casters 
           24  Locking means 
           25  Support 
           26  Front panel 
           27  Bottom 
           28  Recessed trough 
           29  Front cover 
           30  Control knob 
           200  Upper edge 
           201  Bead 
           41  Opening in heat conducting cone 
           42  Brackets on heat conducting cone 
           43  Air deflecting caps 
           44  Horizontal collar 
           45  Interruption 
           46  Mounting holes 
           47  Upper edge of opening  41   
           48  Lower edge of opening  41   
           49  Window opening in heat conducting cone 
           421  Limb extending parallel to  4   
           422  Limb 
           423  Crosspiece 
           424  Inner wall of lower part 
           61  Recess on grate 
           71  Opening in adjustment cone 
           72  Handle bracket 
           73  Drip deflector 
           79  Window opening in adjustment cone