Abstract:
A portable cooking unit is provided comprising a frame having an open configuration and a closed configuration. The frame comprises legs positioned in a rectangular configuration and sets of hinged and fixed horizontal braces connected between the legs at vertically spaced apart lower and upper locations. The hinged braces comprise first and second sections, both sections having an inner end and an outer end, a hinge joining the first and second sections at their respective inner ends, and pivot brackets at the outer ends connecting the first and second sections to the legs. When the frame is in the open configuration and the hinged braces are lifted at their hinges, the frame moves to the closed configuration. The cooking unit further comprises a firebox removably secured to tops of the legs of the frame when the frame is in the open configuration.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to portable gas skillets and, in particular, to a portable gas skillet having a foldable base for easy transportation and storage. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    Gas grills are quite popular, especially for backyard or patio cooking. However, they are typically too large, heavy, or awkward to be easily transported, such as to a sporting event for a tailgate party. Many charcoal grills are smaller and lighter and are, therefore, more easily transported. However, charcoal can take a long time to come to grilling temperature from the time it is ignited and the hot coals are difficult and may be dangerous to dispose of after the grilling is finished. Moreover, neither gas grills nor charcoal grills are conducive to being used to cook food in a skillet. 
         [0003]    Camping stoves are relatively portable and allow one to cook food with a skillet. However, they are typically too small to be used to cook for a large number of people at one time. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In one embodiment, a portable cooking unit is provided, comprising a frame having an open configuration and a closed configuration. The frame comprises first, second, third, and fourth legs positioned in a rectangular configuration; first and second horizontal braces connected between the first and second legs at vertically spaced apart lower and upper locations, respectively; third and fourth horizontal braces connected between the third and fourth legs at the lower and upper locations, respectively; fifth and sixth horizontal braces connected between the first and fourth legs at the lower and upper locations, respectively; seventh and eighth horizontal braces connected between the second and third legs at the lower and upper locations, respectively. Each of the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth horizontal braces comprises first and second sections, both sections having an inner end and an outer end; a hinge joining the first and second sections at their respective inner ends; and first and second pivot brackets at the outer ends of both of the first and second sections, the first and second pivot brackets connecting the first and second sections to the respective legs; whereby, when the frame is in the open configuration and the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth horizontal braces are lifted at their respective hinges, the frame moves to the closed configuration. The cooking unit further comprises a firebox removably secured to tops of the first, second, third, and fourth legs of the frame when the frame is in the open configuration. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1A  is a side perspective view of an embodiment of a portable gas cooking unit of the present invention; 
           [0006]      FIG. 1B  is a side perspective view of the cooking unit of  FIG. 1A  with the base doors removed; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2A  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a firebox that may be used with the cooking unit of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2B  is a bottom perspective view of the firebox of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2C  is a side perspective view of the firebox of  FIG. 2A  being placed onto the base of the cooking unit of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3A  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a burner unit that may be used with the firebox of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3B  is a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a burner unit that may be used with the firebox of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4A  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a skillet pan that may be used with the cooking unit of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4B  is a bottom perspective view of the skillet pan of  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5A  is a side perspective view of an embodiment of a base that may be used with the cooking unit of  FIG. 1A , with the doors opened; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5B  is a side perspective view of the base of  FIG. 5A  with the doors and sides removed; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5C  is a side perspective view of a portion of a hinged brace; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5D  is a bottom perspective view of the portion of the hinged brace of  FIG. 5C ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5E  is an exploded view of the portion of the hinged brace of  FIG. 5C ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5F  is a side perspective view of one side of the frame in a partially folded or collapsed position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5G  is a top perspective view of the lower portion of the base of  FIG. 5A , including the tank support; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6A  is a side perspective view of the base of  FIG. 5A  in a partially closed or collapsed configuration; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 6B  is a side perspective view of the base of  FIG. 5A  in its fully closed or collapsed configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    The described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
         [0024]    The present invention provides a portable cooking unit with a collapsible or foldable base. Referring to  FIG. 1A , the cooking unit  100  may include a firebox  200 , a skillet  400 , and a base  500 . The base  500  may include a rectangular frame  510  ( FIG. 1B ) and, optionally, two hinged doors  502 A,  502 B (collectively identified as  502 ) on two opposing sides of the frame  510  and two fixed panels  504 A,  504 B (collectively identified as  504 ) on the other two opposing sides of the frame  510 . One door  502 A and one panel  504 A are identified in  FIG. 1A ; the frame  510  is illustrated without the doors  502  or panels  504  in  FIG. 1B ; and the base  500  is illustrated in  FIG. 5A  with the doors  502  in their open positions resting against the adjacent panels  504 . The frame  510  may include a support  540  to hold a tank  10  which will be out of sight behind the doors  502  and panels  504  when the cooking unit  100  is in use. For convenience in moving the cooking unit  100 , wheels  506  may be secured to the bottom of the base  500 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the firebox  200  may include a housing  202  and a burner  300  within the housing  202 . The firebox  200  may also include controls, such as a button  204  to push to light the burner  300  and dials  206  used to adjust the flame. It will be appreciated that the controls  204 ,  206  and their arrangement that are described and illustrated are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. For example, the burner  300  illustrated in  FIG. 2A  and in  FIG. 3A  is comprised of three concentric elements and each element may have its own adjustment dial  206 . In contrast, the burner  310  illustrated in  FIG. 3B  comprises a single spiral element and therefore uses a single adjustment dial  206 . 
         [0026]    The bottom of the firebox  200  may include feet  208  that may fit into openings at the top of the legs (collectively identified as  512 ) of the frame  510 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2C , thereby removably securing the firebox  200  to the base  500 . The firebox may also include handles  210  to provide a convenient way to place the firebox  200  onto the base  500  and to lift the firebox  200  off of the base  500 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3A  illustrates one embodiment of a burner  300  that may be used in the firebox  200 . The burner  300  may include a number of concentric elements, such as three elements  302 A,  302 B,  302 C.  FIG. 3B  illustrates another embodiment of a burner  310  having a single, spiral element  312 . As will be appreciated, burners having other configurations may be used in the firebox  200 . 
         [0028]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate an embodiment of a skillet  400  that may be used with the cooking unit  100 . The diameter of the skillet  400  may correspond to the diameter of the opening of the firebox  200 . To secure the skillet  400  onto the firebox  200 , tabs or pins  402  may be spaced apart around a rim  404  on the bottom  406  of the skillet. The pins  402  may engage slots  212  ( FIG. 2A ) spaced around the top of the opening of the firebox  200 . When the skillet is then turned (counterclockwise in  FIG. 2A ), the pins may secure the skillet  400  to the firebox  200  and prevent the skillet  400  from being dislodged while it is being used to cook food on the cooking surface  408 . The skillet  400  may also include handles  410  spaced apart around the rim to easily move the skillet  400 , especially when it is hot. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 5A , one door  502 A may be secured to one of the legs  512 A of the frame  510  with hinges  520 . The other door  502 B may be secured to the diagonally opposite leg  512 C with hinges (not shown). In their closed positions, the first door  502 A closes against one of the adjacent legs  512 D and the other door  502 B closes against the adjacent leg  512 B (see  FIG. 1A ). In  FIG. 5A , one door  502 A is shown in its fully open position, having been pivoted approximately 270 degrees from its closed position ( FIG. 1A ) to rest against or adjacent to the outer surface of one of the fixed panels  504 A. The other door  502 B is likewise shown in its fully open position against the outer surface of the other fixed panel  504 B. While the doors  504  are illustrated as being secured to their respective legs  512  with three hinges  508 , it will be appreciated that they may be secured with any number of hinges that is appropriate for the size and weight of the doors  504 . The doors  502  may be kept in their closed position with any type of latch, such as a magnetic latch  514 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 5B  illustrates the frame  510  of the base  500  with the doors  502  and fixed panels  504  removed. Four vertical legs  512 A,  512 B,  512 C,  512 D are arranged in a rectangular configuration. Two horizontal fixed braces  516 A,  516 D may be connected between two adjacent legs  512 A,  512 D at upper and lower locations, respectively. Similarly, another two horizontal fixed braces  516 B,  516 C may be connected between the other two adjacent legs  512 B,  512 C at the upper and lower locations, respectively. 
         [0031]    Two horizontal hinged braces  518 A,  518 D may be connected between two adjacent legs  512 A,  512 B at the upper and lower locations, respectively. Similarly, another two horizontal hinged braces  518 B,  518 C may be connected between the other two adjacent legs  512 C,  512 D at the upper and lower locations, respectively. Each hinged brace  518 A,  518 B,  518 C,  518 D may include two sections ( 518 A- 1  and  518 A- 2 ,  518 B- 1  and  518 B- 2 ,  518 C- 1  and  518 C- 2 ,  518 D- 1  and  518 D- 2 , respectively) connected to each other with a hinge at their inner ends and connected to the legs with a hinged bracket at their outer ends. 
         [0032]    In the FIGs., the lower location is approximately at the bottom of the legs  512  and the upper location is approximately one-third of the length of the legs  512  from the top. However, the upper and lower locations may be at other positions along the legs  512 . Additional sets of fixed and hinged braces may also be used depending on the size and weight of the cooking unit  100 . 
         [0033]      FIGS. 5C and 5D  are close up views of a portion of two sections  518 A- 1 ,  518 A- 2  of a representative hinged brace  518 A. The two sections  518 A- 1 ,  518 A- 2  are connected to each other with a hinge  520  at their respective inner ends. The outer ends of the two sections  518 A- 1 ,  518 A- 2  are connected to the legs (only one of which  512 B is shown in  FIGS. 5C and 5D ) with a hinged bracket  522 . A plate  524  may be secured to the top of the inner end of one of the sections  518 A- 1  of the hinged brace  518 . A pin  526  inserted through a hole  528  in the plate and through a hole  530  in the inner end of the other section  518 A- 2  of the hinged brace  518 A ( FIG. 5E ) locks the two sections  518 A- 1 ,  518 A- 2  together in their open position and prevents the hinge  520  from pivoting. When the pin  526  is removed from the holes  528 ,  530  and the inner ends of the two sections  518 A- 1 ,  518 A- 2  are lifted upward, as illustrated in  FIG. 5F , the hinge  520  and hinged brackets  522  pivot and the connected legs  512 A,  512 B are pulled together. When all of the hinged braces  518 A,  518 B,  518 C,  518 D are unlocked and lifted, the two sides of the frame  510  with the fixed braces  516 A,  516 B,  516 C,  516 D move towards each other and the base  500  may be placed in its closed or collapsed position as illustrated  FIGS. 6A and 6B . 
         [0034]      FIG. 5G  illustrates the lower portion of the frame  510  of the base  500 . The lower portion may include a tank support  540  that may include two fixed braces  542 A,  542 B extending between the hinged braces  518 C,  518 D of the frame  510 , one on each side of the hinges. The tank support  540  may also include two hinged braces  544 A,  544 B extending between the two fixed braces  542 A,  542 B of the tank support  540 . The hinged brace  544 A has two sections  544 A- 1 ,  544 A- 2  and the other hinged brace  544 B has two sections  544 B- 1 ,  544 B- 2 . As with the hinged braces  518 A,  518 B,  518 C,  518 D of the frame  510 , the two sections of each hinged brace  544 A,  544 B of the tank support  540  may be connected to each other at their inner ends with a hinge and may be connected at their outer ends to the fixed braces  542 A,  542 B with hinge brackets. A clamp, such as a screw clamp  546 , may be used to secure a bottom flange of the tank  10  to the tank support  540 . 
         [0035]    In one embodiment, the skillet  400  has an outer diameter of about 44 inches and the cooking surface  408  has a diameter of about 33 inches. The firebox  200  is about 33 inches on each side; the opening of the firebox  200  has a diameter of about of about 28 inches. The concentric burner elements  302 A,  302 B,  302 C of the embodiment of the burner  300  have diameters of about 28 inches, 20 inches, and 13 inches, respectively. The spiral burner element  310  of another embodiment has an outer diameter of about 28 inches. The legs  512  of the base  500  are about 24 inches high and the fixed braces  516  are about 21 inches long. The hinged braces  518  are about 21 inches long and each section is about 10.5 inches long. The braces  542 A,  542 B of the tank support  540  are located about 5.625 inches from the lower fixed braces  516 D,  516 C, respectively; the hinged braces  544 A,  544 B between the fixed braces  542 A,  542 B of the tank support  540  are about 8.25 inches long and are located about 7 inches from the lower hinged braces  518 D,  518 C, respectively. The doors  502 A,  502 B and the panels  504 A,  504 B are about 21 inches high by about 23 inches wide. It will be appreciated that these dimensions are merely representative and not limiting. 
         [0036]    The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.