Abstract:
A grill canopy is removably mounted to a grill or cooking assembly over the cooking surface of the grill. The grill canopy includes a first or front half and a second or rear half adapted to fit together in a telescoping arrangement. The first and second canopy halves can be locked together and then rotated to a removal position, where they can be disengaged and removed from the cooking surface of the grill.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present Patent Application is a formalization of previously filed, co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/331,075, filed May 4, 2010 by the inventor named in the present Application. This Patent Application claims the benefit of the filing date of this cited Provisional Patent Application according to the statutes and rules governing provisional patent applications, particularly 35 U.S.C. §119(a)(i) and 37 C.F.R. §1.78(a)(4) and (a)(5). The specification and drawings of the Provisional Patent Application referenced above are specifically incorporated herein by reference as is set forth in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present disclosure generally relates to a canopy for a grill and to a method of removing the canopy from the grill. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a two part canopy that is removably attached to a grill, with the two parts capable of being locked together, rotated to a removal position, and disengaged from attachment with the grill. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Conventional outdoor grills have become increasingly more sophisticated in terms of their cooking operations and features. Such outdoor grills have changed from simple charcoal fueled grills having a single cooking grate to much more sophisticated gas or electric grills having multiple burners and various level and type cooking racks or assemblies. Most higher end or sophisticated gas or electric grills typically include a cabinet or firebox in which a grilling surface is mounted, and typically further include a heavy-duty, recloseable lid that is pivotally attached to the grill for easy opening and closing, and designed to protect the grilling surface and to maintain heat within the grilling area to a greater extent than cheaper charcoal fueled grills. Such constructions, however, still provide limitations with respect to cooking options, and even if the grill cover is left open during cooking, it will still tend to limit access to the available cooking area and will generally radiate heat back toward the user. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, it can be seen that a need exists for a cooking assembly such as for outdoor grills that addresses the foregoing and other related and unrelated problems in the art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Briefly described, the present invention generally relates to a grill canopy for a cooking assembly, typically for an outdoor grill, and a method of removing the canopy from the grill as needed or desired. The grill canopy can be used with a variety of different type cooking assemblies, including gas, electric or other type grills and generally provides a cover for enclosing the cooking surface or cooking area of a grill that can be substantially securely mounted to the grill cook top and pivotable between closed and open positions to at least partially expose the cooking area of the grill, while further being completely removable from the grill to provide unrestricted and open access to the cooking area or surface of the grill. 
         [0006]    The grill canopy generally includes a pair of substantially arcuate sections or halves, including a first, proximal or front half or section and a second, distal or rear half or section. The proximal and distal sections further generally will be arranged in a telescoping alignment such that one of the sections, e.g., the front or proximal section, can pass over and cover the other section, e.g., the rear or distal section, such that the canopy sections will telescope together when the front section is moved to an opened position. A lock generally will be mounted to the first or proximal section and will include a locking pin or member that engages a corresponding locking groove formed in the rear or distal section of the grill canopy so as to lock the proximal and distal sections together. 
         [0007]    Additionally, each of the canopy sections or halves generally will include a hood or body portion extending between a pair of side walls. Attachment hardware for mounting the canopy halves to the grill cook top is located at the lower end of each of the side walls of each canopy section, and in one embodiment can comprise a substantially C-shaped catch or rotating tab that engages and rotates about pivot pins mounted on opposite sides of the cooking area. With the canopy sections or halves locked together, the canopy sections can be moved to an unlocking position wherein the C-shaped catches of each of the canopy halves or sections are rotated to a non-engaging position with respect to their pivot pins. Thereafter, the grill canopy then can be removed from the grill cook top by lifting it vertically by its handle to fully expose the cooking area of the grill as needed or desired. 
         [0008]    For reinstallation of the canopy, the canopy is lowered onto the pivot pins, with the C-shaped recesses of each of the canopy sections or halves receiving and resting on top of the pivot pins. Thereafter, the canopy typically will be rotated to a rearward position such that the catches of at least the rear distal canopy section or half will pivot about and thus engage the pivot pins in a locking arrangement, after which the lock mechanism between the two canopy halves can be disengaged to enable the proximal or front half of the canopy to be moved between its opened and closed positions with respect to the cooking surface. 
         [0009]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate the above-stated advantages and other advantages and benefits of various additional embodiments upon reading the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the below-listed drawing figures. 
         [0010]    According to common practice, the various features of the drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a cooking assembly with a grill canopy according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows the grill canopy of  FIG. 1  with the front half opened to a locking position and with the locking mechanism in an unlocked position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3A  shows a cutaway view of the front half and the rear half of the canopy with a portion of the front half removed for ease of viewing the normally covered locking slot of the rear half. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 3B through 3D  show side profile views of the locking mechanism being moved from an unlocked position to a locked position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4A  shows the canopy of  FIG. 1  with the two locked halves rotated from an opened, locked position to a removal position and the bumper engaging the grill top to prevent over-rotation of the locked canopy halves. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4B  shows the canopy of  FIG. 4A  with the two locked halves being removed from the grill top. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 5A-5B  show side views schematically illustrating the reinstallation of the two halves of the grill canopy onto the grill, and the operation of their attachment hardware for securing the canopy to the grill frame. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Referring now to the drawings in which corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers throughout the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a view of a canopy  20  for a cooking apparatus, here shown as a grill  10 . According to the principles of the present invention, the grill  10  generally is an outdoor grill, but could be an indoor grill, smoker, or other, similar cooking apparatus if desired. As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , the grill  10  generally includes a grill top  12 , a grill surface  14  (shown in  FIG. 2 ), a preparation surface  16 , and a grill base  18 . The grill surface  14  generally defines a grilling or cooking area, which can be further divided into one or more cooking zones or areas that can be independently heated as needed. 
         [0019]    The canopy  20  ( FIGS. 1-3 ) is split horizontally and vertically into a first, proximal or front half, section or shell  30  and a second, distal or rear half, section or shell  40 . The front half  30  and the rear half  40  generally share a common axis of rotation A. As shown in  FIGS. 1-2  and  4 A- 4 B, the front half  30  further typically is slightly larger than the rear half  40  to allow the front half  30  to substantially surround and encapsulate the rear half  40  in a telescoping or overlapping alignment when the front half is moved to an opened, locking position as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4A . The front half  30  and rear half  40  of the canopy  20  also each generally include a body or hood portion  31 ,  38  having front and rear edges  32 / 32 ′, and  39 / 39 ′ and are attached to spaced side walls  33 / 33 ′ and  43 / 43 ′, respectively, which side walls each include upper ends  34 A/ 41 A and lower ends  34 B/ 41 B. The front half  30  also typically includes a handle  50 , and a user engagement portion  62  of a locking mechanism  60 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  shows the canopy  20  of  FIG. 1  with the front half  30  opened and the locking mechanism  60  in an unlocked position. Generally, as indicated in  FIGS. 2 and 4A , the front half  30  can be rotated about the axis A by engaging and lifting or rotating handle  50  in an arcuate direction as shown by the arrow R in  FIGS. 1-2  so as to cause the attachment hardware  35  of the front half  30  to rotate about an axle or pivot pin  36  mounted within a recess  37  ( FIG. 4B ) in the frame or grill top  12  of the grill  10 , adjacent the grill cooking surface  14 , to thus move at least the front half  30  of the canopy to a raised, opened position. The opening of the front half  30  allows access to the grilling surface  14  for cooking with the canopy  20  remaining securely disposed atop the cooking surface of the grill  10 . 
         [0021]    When removal of the canopy  20  is desired, the front half  30  can be rotated to its fully opened position, which generally is at a full rotation of the front half  30  to the rear of the grill  10  and can be locked to the rear half  40  by engagement of lock mechanism  60 . The locking mechanism  60  includes a lock activating or user engagement portion  62  (shown as a sliding latch) and an engaging portion  64  (shown in  FIGS. 3B-3D ). The lock activating or user engagement portion  62  generally comprises a locking member that can be an elongated pin, catch or similar device, and extends from an exterior face of the locking mechanism  60  through the shell/body of the front half  30  of the canopy and terminates at a lock engaging portion  64  that extends into the interior of both the front and rear halves of the canopy  20 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  shows the canopy  20  with the front half  30  opened to the locking position and with the locking mechanism  60  in an unlocked position.  FIG. 3A  shows a cutaway view of the interior of the rear half  40  of the canopy  20  with a portion of the front half  30  removed for ease of viewing the normally covered locking slot of the rear half  40  (the location of front half edge  32 ′ is shown as a dashed line in  FIG. 3B  for reference). As shown in  FIG. 3A , the rear half  40  of the canopy  20  can include a locking slot  42  defined along a peripheral or front edge  39  thereof. The locking slot  42  is shown in one example configuration as including a first slot portion  44  that extends perpendicular to the axis of rotation A ( FIG. 2 ) of rotation of the canopy and is sized to receive the engaging portion  64  ( FIGS. 3B-3D ) of the locking mechanism  60 , and a second slot portion  46  ( FIGS. 3A and 3D ) that extends in a direction substantially normal to slot portion  44 , and defines an unlocked position  45  and a locked position  47  for the engaging portion  64  of the locking mechanism as the locking portion is moved therealong in the direction of arrow L. The second slot portion  46  is shown to be generally perpendicular the first slot portion  44 , but could be disposed in any position that would allow the locking mechanism  60  to secure the front half  30  and the second half  40  together and enable their rotation with respect to the grill cook top  12  as a substantially unitary structure. 
         [0023]    When in an unlocked position, such as shown in  FIG. 2 , the engaging portion  64  of the locking mechanism is received and moves into and through slot portion  44 , moving into its unlocked position  45  along the second slot portion  46 . When the lock activating portion  62  of the locking mechanism  60  is engaged and moved laterally, the lock engaging portion  64  is moved from the unlocked position  45  through/along slot  46  to its locked position  47  as shown in FIGS.  3 D and  4 A- 4 B. With the lock engaging portion  64  secured in its locked position  47 , the front half  30  and the rear half  40  of the canopy  20  are secured together and are rotatable about axis A ( FIG. 4A ) as a locked unit.  FIGS. 3B through 3D  show side profile views of the locking mechanism being moved from the unlocked position to the locked position. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 4A-4B  show the canopy of  FIGS. 1-2  with the two halves  30 / 40  secured and rotated in the direction of arrow R′ from their locking/engagement position to a removal position. As indicated in  FIGS. 4A-5B , the front half  30  and the rear half  40  each include attachment hardware  35 , illustrated in one embodiment as rotating tabs or C-shaped catches  51  that are formed/mounted at the lower ends  34 B/ 41 B′ of the side walls  33 / 33 ′ and  43 / 43 ′ of each half and which include openings or recesses  52  that receive pivot pins  36  therein catch portions  53 . Other releasable attachment mechanisms or connectors also can be used. The catches  51  further are adapted to rotate about the axis A to move the locked halves of the canopy  20  between their closed positions to their locked position and their removal position. As shown in FIGS.  2  and  4 A- 4 B, the catches of the rear half  40  include an extension or bumper  48  that extends slightly further than the catches of the front half  30 . The bumper  48  stops the rotation of the locked halves from their closed position to their removal position. As a result, over-rotation of the locked canopy halves is substantially prevented and the catches  51  of the front half  30  and the catches  51  of the rear half  40  are oriented so as to be free of engagement with the pivot pins  36 . 
         [0025]    Additionally, a guide slot  70  ( FIG. 1 ) can be formed in one or both side walls  43 / 43 ′ of the rear half  40 , and can receive a cam member  71  ( FIG. 5A ) formed/attached to an inner surface of a side wall  33 / 33 ′ of the front half to assist in controlling the rotation of the front half to its opened position. The cam member, which can include a cam roller, moves along the slot  70  to the end thereof, thereby limiting the extent of the travel of the front half to its opened position, uncovering the grill top. 
         [0026]      FIG. 5A  shows the canopy of  FIGS. 4A-4B  with the locked halves  30 / 40  removed from the grill top  12 . Once the locked halves have been rotated to their removal position, the canopy  20  can be lifted by the handle  50  in the direction of arrow V ( FIG. 4B ) to disengage and separate the tabs or catches  51  from the pivot pins  36 .  FIG. 4B  shows the grill top with the canopy removed. If desired, therefore, the grill top  12  can be utilized as an open grill with the canopy  20  removed. Optionally, the canopy  20  can be stored in the grill base  18  beneath the grill top  12 , such as hung on an interior of a door or otherwise stored therein. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 5A-5B  illustrate the reinstallation of the canopy  20  onto the grill top  12  of the grill  10  when needed or desired. For such a reinstallation, the canopy  20  is reconnected/mounted atop the grill  10  by reversing the above listed steps, i.e., lowering the canopy onto the grill top, aligning engagement openings in the tabs or catches  51  with the pivot pins  36 , rotating the locked halves about axis of rotation A in the direction of arrow R ( FIG. 5B ) to reorient them to their locking position, unlocking the locking mechanism by moving the lock activating mechanism  62  in the direction opposite the arrow L shown in  FIG. 3C  to move lock engaging portion  64  along slot  46  from its locked position  47  to its unlocked position  45 , and thereafter rotating front half  30  in the direction of arrow R′ ( FIG. 5B)to close  the canopy  20  over grill surface  14 . The design of the canopy  20  also can form a tolerance pocket that is adapted to assist in restricting sliding movement (back and forth) of the canopy  20  on the grill  10 . 
         [0028]    The foregoing description of the disclosure illustrates and describes various embodiments. As various changes could be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. For example, in an alternative arrangement not shown, the rear half could be larger than the front half. Furthermore, the scope of the present disclosure covers various modifications, combinations, alterations, etc., of the above-described embodiments that are within the scope of the claims. 
         [0029]    Additionally, the disclosure shows and describes only selected embodiments of the disclosure, but the disclosure is capable of use in various other combinations, modifications, and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein, commensurate with the above teachings, and/or within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art. Furthermore, certain features and characteristics of each embodiment may be selectively interchanged and applied to other illustrated and non-illustrated embodiments of the disclosure.