Abstract:
An apparatus for opening an outdoor grill cover using an activation device and an opening mechanism. The activation device is attached to one end of the opening mechanism, and the activation device is positioned such that a grill user can access it. The opening mechanism is attached to the grill cover at an opposing end such that the activation device actuates the opening of the grill cover. The apparatus further includes a closing mechanism coupled to the opening mechanism such that the closing mechanism allows for gentle closure of the grill cover.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to stoves and furnaces, and particularly to outdoor grills with grill cover opening mechanisms. 
     2. Technical Background 
     Outdoor grills are typically designed with a handle affixed to the front of a grill cover. In the course of food preparation, it is necessary to manually lift the grill cover in order to gauge the progress of the food preparation. On conventional grills, the grill cover opens upward and away from the person lifting the cover. The Cover is inevitably placed in a resting position, leaning behind and away from the grill frame. 
     The typical design and placement of the grill cover handle may cause one using the grill to be exposed to injury. A user typically grabs the grill cover handle, grasping it from the closed position until the cover reaches its resting position. As such, the user&#39;s arm is momentarily directly above the heat emanating from the heating element used in the grill. In addition, many grill covers are designed such that a user&#39;s arm can inadvertently contact the grill cover while the cover is being lifted or closed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally, the present invention provides an apparatus that allows one who is preparing food on a grill to open the grill cover in a manner eliminating the possibility of injury. 
     The apparatus of the present invention is an outdoor grill having an actuation device disposed on the grill frame. The apparatus for opening the cover of the outdoor grill further includes an opening mechanism mounted in the grill frame. The opening mechanism is attached at one end to the activation device, and the opening mechanism is attached at a second end to the grill cover. The opening mechanism is designed and configured such that when the activation device is depressed, the grill cover is opened and is left resting in an open position. Further, the apparatus of the present invention is designed to allow gentle closure of the grill cover. 
     The opening mechanism of the apparatus of the present invention can be designed to include an activation device that is a foot pedal. A force member is attached at one end to the foot pedal. The opposing end of the opening mechanism is attached to an intermediate push/pull linkage that is attached at its opposing end to a rocker arm. The rocker arm is interposed between the intermediate push/pull linkage and a second push/pull linkage that is attached to the grill cover. In addition to being attached to the second push/pull linkage, the rocker arm is attached to a hydraulic cylinder. When the foot pedal is depressed, the force member causes the intermediate push/pull linkage to create divergent force in the second push/pull linkage through the rocker arm. The divergent force creates a downward force in the second push/pull linkage causing the grill cover to open. The divergent force further causes compression of the hydraulic cylinder. When the foot pedal is released, the hydraulic cylinder provides a prohibitive force allowing the grill cover to close gently. 
     An opening mechanism of the present invention can include a tension spring attached to the rocker arm. The tension spring is compressed and the grill cover is opened when the foot pedal is depressed. The tension spring is positioned such that when the foot pedal is released, the tension spring provides a prohibitive force allowing the grill cover to close gently. 
     An opening mechanism of the present invention can include a pulley system. The force member is attached at one end to the foot pedal. A second end of the force member is attached to a cable that is coupled to a dual pulley. When the foot pedal is depressed, the dual pulley rotates causing a second cable to rotate a second pulley. The cable of the second pulley is attached to the grill cover, such that when the second pulley rotates, a downward force is created causing the grill cover to open. A tension spring is attached to an opposing end of the force member. When the foot pedal is depressed to open the grill cover, the tension spring is compressed. The tension spring then provides prohibitive force, allowing the grill cover to be closed gently. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a cooking grill with an opening mechanism using a hydraulic cylinder, illustrating a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of a cooking grill with an opening mechanism using a tension spring, illustrating a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of a cooking grill with an opening mechanism using a pulley system, illustrating a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In general, the present invention provides an outdoor grill that includes a grill cover opening mechanism designed to allow the safe opening and closing of the grill cover. More specifically, the present invention provides a first preferred embodiment, which is an outdoor grill including a foot-actuated hydraulic opening mechanism. The opening mechanism opens the grill when a foot pedal is depressed. The present invention further provides a second preferred embodiment, which is an outdoor grill including a foot-actuated tension spring opening mechanism. The present invention also provides a third preferred embodiment, which is an outdoor grill including a foot-actuated pulley opening mechanism. 
     A first preferred embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIG.  1 . FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of an outdoor grill having a foot-actuated hydraulic opening mechanism, and the first preferred embodiment is designated generally throughout as reference numeral  30 . 
     The outdoor grill  30  includes generally a grill frame  31 , a grill cover  32  situated on top of the grill frame  31 , and a cover handle  52  attached to the grill cover  32 . In addition, the outdoor grill  30  includes an opening mechanism attached to the grill cover  32  at pivot point  33 . The opening mechanism is actuated by foot pedal  34 . 
     The opening mechanism of the first preferred embodiment includes a force member  36  attached to the outdoor grill frame  31  by a rigid mounting mechanism  54 . The foot pedal  34  is designed such that it is in a position accessible to a user&#39;s foot. Attached to the opposing end of the force member  36  at pivot point  37  is a push/pull linkage  38  that is attached to the rocker arm  42  at pivot point  40 . The rocker arm  42  is further attached at pivot point  35  to a hydraulic cylinder  46  that is attached to the grill frame  31  by rigid mounting mechanism  44 . A second push/pull linkage  48  is attached at pivot point  35  to the hydraulic cylinder  46  and rocker arm  42 . The push/pull linkage  48  is further attached to the grill cover  32  at pivot point  33 . 
     When the grill cover  32  is in a closed position, one operating the outdoor-grill  30  opens the grill cover  32  by placing a foot on the foot pedal  34  and depressing the pedal  34  until it is in a position such that it is attached to rigid mounting mechanism  50 . When depressing the foot pedal  34 , the force applied to the foot pedal  34  is held constant until the pedal is secured to the rigid mounting mechanism  50 . The load applied to the foot pedal  34  results in a reverse force at the opposing end of the force member  36 . The resultant force at pivot point  37  is distributed along the push/pull linkage  38 , which is equipped with threaded yokes  40  and  41  for altering the position of the push/pull linkage  38 . A divergent force is circulated about rocker arm  42 , which compresses the hydraulic cylinder  46 . At pivot point  35 , the push/pull linkage  48 , combined with the threaded yoke  40 , lifts the cover  32  into its open position. 
     When closing the grill cover  32 , the hydraulic cylinder  46  applies tension in the push/pull linkage  48 . The applied tension allows the grill cover to be closed gently. 
     A second preferred embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIG.  2 . FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of an outdoor grill having a foot-actuated tension spring opening device, and a second preferred embodiment is designated generally throughout as reference numeral  60 . 
     The outdoor grill  60  includes generally a grill frame  31 , a grill cover  32  situated on top of the grill frame  31 , and a manual cover handle  52  attached to the grill cover  32 . In addition, the outdoor grill  60  includes an opening mechanism attached to the grill cover  32  at pivot point  33 . The opening mechanism includes foot pedal  34  to activate the opening mechanism attached to the grill cover  32 . 
     The opening mechanism of a second preferred embodiment includes a force member  76  attached to the outdoor grill frame  31  by a rigid mounting mechanism  80 . The foot pedal  34  is designed such that it is in a position accessible to a user&#39;s foot. Attached to the opposing end of the force member  76  at pivot point  75  is a push/pull linkage  72  that is attached to the rocker arm  70  at pivot point  71 . The rocker arm  70  is further attached at pivot point  64  to a tension spring  82  that is attached to the grill frame  31  by rigid mounting mechanism  84 . A second push/pull linkage  66  is attached at pivot point  64  to the tension spring  82  and rocker arm  70 . The push/pull linkage  66  is further attached to the grill cover  32  at pivot point  33 . 
     When the grill cover  32  is in a closed position, one operating the outdoor-grill  60  opens the grill cover  32  by placing a foot on the foot pedal  34  and depressing the pedal  34  until it is in a position such that it is attached to rigid mounting mechanism  78 . When depressing the foot pedal  34 , the force applied to the foot pedal  34  is held constant until the pedal is secured to the rigid mounting mechanism  78 . The load applied to the foot pedal  34  results in a reverse force at the opposing end of the force member  76 . The resultant force at pivot point  75  is distributed along the push/pull linkage  72 , which is equipped with threaded yokes  74  and  73  for altering the position of the push/pull linkage  72 . A divergent force is circulated about rocker arm  70 , which depresses the tension spring  82 . At pivot point  64 , the push/pull linkage  66 , combined with the threaded yoke  74 , lifts the cover  32  into its open position. 
     When closing the grill cover  32 , the tension spring  82  applies tension in the push/pull linkage  66 . The applied tension allows the grill cover to be closed gently. 
     A third preferred embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIG.  3 . FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of an outdoor grill having a foot-actuated pulley opening mechanism, and a third preferred embodiment is designated generally throughout as reference numeral  86 . 
     The outdoor grill  86  includes generally a grill frame  31 , a grill cover  32  situated on top of the grill frame  31 , and a manual cover handle  52  attached to the grill cover  32 . In addition, the outdoor grill  86  includes an opening mechanism attached to the grill cover  32  at point  88 . The opening mechanism includes foot pedal  34  to activate the opening mechanism. 
     The opening mechanism of a third preferred embodiment includes a force member  106  attached to the outdoor grill frame  31  by a rigid mounting mechanism  105 . The foot pedal  34  is designed such that it is in a position accessible to a user&#39;s foot. Attached to the opposing end of the force member  106  at the mounting mechanism  105  is a force member  104  that is attached to a tension spring  102  at point  103 . The tension spring is rigidly mounted to the grill frame  31  by a rigid mounting mechanism  100 . A cable  96  is attached at position  101  to the force member  106 . The cable is coupled to the dual pulley system  94  that is rigidly mounted to the grill frame  31  by rigid mounting mechanism  110 . The cable  96  is then coupled to the pulley  92  that is rigidly mounted to the grill frame  31  by rigid mounting mechanism  108 . The cable is attached at point  88  to the grill cover  32 . 
     When the grill cover  32  is in a closed position, one operating the outdoor-grill  86  opens the grill cover  32  by placing a foot on the foot pedal  34  and depressing the pedal  34  until it is in a position such that it is attached to rigid mounting mechanism  90 . When depressing the foot pedal  34 , the force applied to the foot pedal  34  is held constant until the pedal is secured to the rigid mounting mechanism  90 . The load applied to the foot pedal  34  results in a downward force at position  101  of the cable  96 . As the force results in downward movement of the cable  96 , the dual pulley  94  rotates clockwise. The clockwise rotation causes a downward force by pulley  108  of the cable  96  that results in a downward force at point  88 . The downward force at point  88  causes the grill cover  32  to open. 
     When closing the grill cover  32 , the tension spring  102  applies tension in the cable  96 . The applied tension allows the grill cover to be shut gently. 
     It should be noted that the opening mechanisms as illustrated by the preferred embodiments are merely exemplary. The disclosure of the specific modes of opening the grill cover are not exclusive, and one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize other devices that may allow the opening and closing of a grill cover. Such devices may include hand-actuated hydraulic devices, hand-actuated pulley mechanisms, or hand-actuated tension spring opening mechanisms. In addition, other types of mechanical configurations that cause the opening of a grill cover fall within the ambit of the present invention.