Abstract:
A raised edge grill grate is provided that includes an outer edge dowel that extends near a perimeter of the grill grate, a plurality of rods extending generally horizontally and generally parallel to one another and intersecting the outer edge dowel of the grill grate, the plurality of rods positioned such that there is sufficient space between the plurality of rods to support food and cooking vessels over a heating element, at least one raised edge dowel that extends near the outer edge dowel of the grill grate and is positioned a distance above the outer edge dowel to capture the food and the cooking vessels on the grill grate, a plurality of posts that extend generally vertically from the outer edge dowel and fixedly connect the outer edge dowel to the at least one raised edge dowel and wherein the at least one raised edge dowel extends partially around the perimeter of the grill grate to create an opening.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of priority based on a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/495,227 filed on Jun. 13, 2012, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes and claims the benefit of priority based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/062,926 filed on Oct. 12, 2014, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention relates generally to a grill grate capable of supporting food, cooking vessels and the like over a heating source, such as a flame or fire, during the cooking or heating process of solid or liquid food or beverages, and more particularly, to a grill grate that includes a partial raised edge to ensure that the food, cooking vessels and the like are maintained on the grill grate and positioned over the heating source while allowing for ease of cooking utensil use to position food or beverages while maintained on the grill grate. 
         [0006]    2. Background Art 
         [0007]    Campfires have been used to cook and heat food and liquids for thousands of years. Typically, a campfire may be started on the ground or earth with wood, charcoal, paper, leaves, and other items for fuel, oxygen and an igniter such as a match. When the fire reaches an appropriate temperature to cook food or heat liquids, a grill or grate may be place over the fire. The grill grate may be sized such that any type of meat, vegetable, cooking vessel, pot, coffee pot, etc., may be placed on the grill for heating to a desired temperature for eating or drinking 
         [0008]    Cooking with a grill grate over an open fire is often done so outdoors and open to the elements of wind, rain and the like. Ground sites selected to construct a campfire and set up a cooking location may not be completely level thus causing the grill grate to tilt from one side of the grill grate to another. Perhaps, at the end of a long day camping or hiking, precious daylight hours may be dwindling as the sun sets and finding a suitable level ground location for a cooking fire may not be possible. If a cooking or campfire is built on a ground location that is not level, one may level the grill grate itself over the heating source. This has the drawback of uneven heating of the grill because of the different heights of the grill grate over the heat source. Both of these situations, an unleveled grill grate or level grill grate over unleveled ground may hinder cooking food and heating liquids on the grill grate. 
         [0009]    Many of the food items that are cooked on a grill grate over an open flame or other heat source are generally cylindrical or round in shape thus allowing the items to roll easily about the grill grate. These items may include hot dogs or frankfurters, any type of sausage such as Italian, Polish, bratwurst, knockwurst and the like, and many vegetables such as corn, onions, peppers, tomatoes and the like. The cylindrical or round nature of the food may enable the food to roll from one side of the grill grate to another. If the grill grate is not level, often food may roll off the grill grate and onto the ground or into the fire thus rendering the food inedible. Even if the grill grate is level, an errant movement by the chef may knock the food item off the grill grate onto ground or into the fire or a gust of wind may pick up to actually blow the cylindrical or round food item off the grill grate onto the ground or into the fire. 
         [0010]    Often, a cooking vessel, such as a campfire pot, Dutch oven, coffee pot and the like, are used to cook items that may not be adaptable to cooking on a grill with open slots. Those items may include stew, beans, soup, any liquids such as coffee and the like. In order to sufficiently heat or cook theses items, a cooking vessel such as one of those mentioned above may be used. 
         [0011]    If the grill grate is not suitably level to support these cooking vessels, the vessels themselves may slide from one side of the grill grate to another and even off the grill thus spilling whatever is into the vessel onto the ground or into the fire thus rendering the food or liquid inedible. Furthermore, as food and liquids are removed from the vessels, the vessels will lighten in weight and tend to slide more easily off the grill grate if the grill grate is out of level. 
         [0012]    Therefore, a need exists for a grill grate having a raised or partially raised edge at the perimeter of the grill grate. The raised edge will ensure food and cooking vessels are captured on the grill grate during the cooking process while allowing for the full use of cooking utensils with the food items or cooking vessels positioned on the grill grate. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    A raised edge grill grate is provided that includes an outer edge dowel that extends near a perimeter of the grill grate, a plurality of rods extending generally horizontally and generally parallel to one another and intersecting the outer edge dowel of the grill grate, the plurality of rods positioned such that there is sufficient space between the plurality of rods to support food and cooking vessels over a heating element, at least one raised edge dowel that extends near the outer edge dowel of the grill grate and is positioned a distance above the outer edge dowel to capture the food and the cooking vessels on the grill grate, a plurality of posts that extend generally vertically from the outer edge dowel and fixedly connect the outer edge dowel to the at least one raised edge dowel and wherein the at least one raised edge dowel extends partially around the perimeter of the grill grate to create an opening. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The features and inventive aspects of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, claims, and drawings, of which the following is a brief description: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1A  is perspective view of a portable grill assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of a raised edge grill grate according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2A  is perspective view of a portable grill assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of a raised edge grill grate according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2C  is front view of the portable grill assembly of  FIG. 2A  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2D  is a top view of the raised edge grill grate of  FIG. 2B  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2E  is a bottom view of the raised edge grill grate of  FIG. 2B  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2F  is a first side view of the raised edge grill grate of  FIG. 2B  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2G  is a second side view of the raised edge grill grate of  FIG. 2B  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3A  is an exploded view of a mounting stake of the raised edge grill grate according an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of a coupler of  FIG. 3A  of the mounting stake of the raised edge grill grate according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3C  is a cross-sectional view of the coupler and a top segment and a bottom segment of the mounting stake of the raised edge grill grate according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is perspective view of a raised edge grill grate according to yet another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5A  is perspective view of a raised edge grill grate according to still another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIGS. 5B-5E  are side views of the raised edge grill grate of  FIG. 5A  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 6A  is perspective view of a raised edge grill grate according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 6B  is perspective view of a raised edge grill grate according to still another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 6C  is perspective view of a raised edge grill grate according to yet another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 6D  is perspective view of a raised edge grill grate according to still further another embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0034]      FIGS. 6E-6G  are perspective views of the raised edge grill grate of  FIG. 5B  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0035]    Referring now to the drawings, preferred illustrative embodiments of the present invention are shown in detail. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated to better illustrate and explain the present invention. Further, the embodiments set forth herein are not intended to be exhaustive or otherwise to limit or restrict the invention to the precise forms and configurations shown in the drawings and disclosed in the following detailed description. 
         [0036]    A portable grill assembly  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1A ,  2 A and  2 C. Grill assembly  10  may be used to contain and elevate a fire off the ground that is to be used for cooking, heating, lighting and other uses. Because of the risk of wild fires that may be enhanced by severe droughts in many parts of the world, many government entities may require that outdoor, open fires be contained and elevated off the ground to aid in the prevention of the wild fires that may cause great damage to many thousands of acres throughout a region. 
         [0037]    Portable grill assembly  10  includes a grill grate  12  and fire tray  14 . Fire tray  14  is generally positioned under grate  12  such that any fire contained by fire tray  14  will heat and cook any liquid and food placed upon grate  12 . Grill assembly  10  further includes a mounting stake  16  that may be used to secure and position grate  12  and tray  14 . Furthermore, mounting stake  16  may include a pointed end  18 . Generally, the pointed end of any stake is used to penetrate the ground as the stake is anchored to the ground. Pointed end  18  may aid one in driving mounting stake  16  into the ground to anchor grill assembly  10 . 
         [0038]    Grill grate  12  may be structured in a typical fashion having multiple rods  20  that are secured to an outer edge dowel  22  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-2G . Typically, rods  20  extend from one side of outer edge dowel  22  and are generally arranged parallel to one another. Rods  20  may be evenly spaced to provide support for an item such as food so that the food does not fall through rods  20  yet they are sufficiently spaced so that the heat from the fire below may pass through to the food. It is important to note, however, that any type of grill surface may be suitable for use with grill assembly  10 . These other types of grill surfaces may include solid surfaces as well as surfaces with apertures that may be shaped as diamonds, circles and triangles and the like. 
         [0039]    Grate  12  may also include a raised edge dowel  24  that is positioned and secured above outer edge dowel  22  by a plurality of posts  26  that may extend generally upward from outer edge dowel  22 . Upper edge dowel  24  may be positioned and secured in this manner to help ensure that some types of food, such as hot dogs, sausage and the like (i.e. foods that are generally cylindrical in shape) that have a tendency to roll about a grill, remain on the grill while being heated. 
         [0040]    Upper edge dowel  24  may extend around the entire perimeter of grate  12  or, alternatively, upper edge dowel  24  may extend partially around the perimeter of grate  12  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-2B . Extending upper edge dowel  24  partially around the perimeter of grate  12  enables a opening  60  to allow for an easier use of kitchen utensils, such as a spatula and the like, to engage and turn foods over, such as hamburgers, to cook both sides. An upper edge dowel  24  that extends the entire perimeter of grate  12  will ensure that the round foods described above, such as sausage, are maintained on the grill, but upper edge dowel  24 , when used in this manner, may hinder the use of kitchen utensils such as the spatula. 
         [0041]    Upper edge dowel  24  may end at a termination  50  that may extend and connect to outer edge dowel  22  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  or end at a termination  50  that that extends just past posts  26  as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2D  and  2 G. The terminations  50  work collectively with grate  12  to create opening  60  to enable the easier use of the kitchen utensils described above. 
         [0042]    Grate  12  may further include support dowels  28  that extend under rods  20  from one side of outer edge dowel  22  to a second side of outer edge dowel  22 . Support dowels  28  are typically spaced apart from one another as depicted in the drawings to provide support for rods  20  and any food or cooking vessels that may be placed on grate  12 . Dowels  28  are also positioned such that they perpendicularly intersect rods  20  to provide even further support for rods  20 . 
         [0043]    Grate  12  may also include a first sleeve  46  and anchor rods  48 . Sleeve  46  may be assembled to grate  12  at outer edge dowel  22  and upper edge dowel  24 . Anchor rods  48  may extend from sleeve  46  and under grate  12  and rods  20  to provide further support to grate  12  and further secure sleeve  46  to grate  12 . Sleeve  46  may be designed such that the inside diameter of sleeve  46  is slightly larger than the outside diameter of stake  16 . With sleeve  46  sized in this manner, sleeve  46  may be slid onto stake  16  and may slide freely about the length of stake  16 . 
         [0044]    Sleeve  46  includes a threaded hole  50  that is sized to accept a bolt  52 . Hole  50  may be positioned in a side wall of sleeve  46  such that when bolt  52  is fed into hole  50 , and stake  16  is positioned in sleeve  46 , bolt  52  will engage a surface of stake  16 . As bolt  52  continues to be fed through hole  50 , the exterior surface of stake  16  will engage the interior surface of sleeve  46 . When ample force is applied between bolt  52 , sleeve  46  and stake  16 , grate  12  will be secured to stake  16  and ready for cooking In this particular embodiment of the present invention, bolt  52  is illustrated in the shape of an  1 ′ and may be designed in this manner to allow one to grasp bolt  52  with their hand and turn easily. Although bolt  52  is shown in the shape of an ‘L’, it is important to note, however, that bolt  52  may be any shape and still be used to secure grate  12  to stake  16 . 
         [0045]    Grate  12  may be manufactured of any materials that are capable of withstanding the temperatures generated by fires produced from wood or charcoal and used for cooking foods and heating liquids. Typically, many types of grill grates are manufactured from metals such as stainless steel. Stainless steel can be very durable against the heat that is created by fires from wood, charcoal and the like, while also withstanding the rust effects brought on by air and water. The separate pieces of grate  12  (edge dowels  22  and  24 , rods  20 , posts  26 , dowels  28 , sleeve  46  and anchor rods  48 ) may all be assembled with typical welding means such that the assembly can with stand the high temperatures, multiple uses and storage for periods of time. 
         [0046]    Grate  12  may be manufactured in any shape as well. A circular shape has been described above and illustrated in the drawings thus far. Other shapes may include square or rectangle as illustrated in  FIGS. 6A-6G . In this particular embodiment of the present invention, the rectangular shaped grill grate  12  may be structured in the same manner as described above for a circular grill grate. Multiple rods  20  may be secured to an outer perimeter edge dowel  72  as illustrated in  FIGS. 5A-5G . Typically, rods  20  extend from one side of edge dowel  72  and are generally arranged parallel to one another. Rods  20  may be evenly spaced to provide support for an item such as food so that the food does not fall through rods  20  yet they are sufficiently spaced so that the heat from the fire below may pass through to the food. Still other shapes may include oval, triangle, trapezoidal and the like. 
         [0047]    Rectangular grate  12  may also include a raised edge dowel  64  that is positioned and secured above edge dowel  72  by a plurality of posts  26  that may extend generally upward from edge dowel  72 . Raised edge dowel  64  may be positioned and secured in this manner to help ensure that some types of food, such as hot dogs, sausage and the like (i.e. foods that are generally cylindrical in shape) that have a tendency to roll about a grill, remain on the grill while being heated. 
         [0048]    Raised edge dowel  64  may extend around the entire perimeter of grate  12  or, alternatively, raised edge dowel  64  may extend partially around the perimeter of grate  12  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-2G . Extending raised edge dowel  64  partially around the perimeter of grate  12  enables a opening  60  to allow for an easier use of kitchen utensils, such as a spatula and the like, to engage and turn foods over, such as hamburgers, to cook both sides. Raised edge dowel  64  that extends the entire perimeter of grate  12  will ensure that the round foods described above, such as sausage, are maintained on the grill, but raised edge dowel  64 , when used in this manner, may hinder the use of kitchen utensils such as the spatula. 
         [0049]    Rectangular grate  12  may further include support dowels  28  that extend under rods  20  from one side of outer edge dowel  72  to a second side of outer edge dowel  72 . Support dowels  28  are typically spaced apart from one another as depicted in the drawings to provide support for rods  20  and any food or cooking vessels that may be placed on grate  12 . Support dowels  28  are also positioned such that they perpendicularly intersect rods  20  to provide even further support for rods  20 . 
         [0050]    Fire tray  14  is round in shape and is generally positioned under grate  12  as depicted in  FIGS. 1A ,  2 A and  2 C. Tray  14  includes a bottom surface  30  that includes a multitude of holes  32 . Tray  14  further includes a wall  58  that extends generally upward and outward from bottom surface  30  to form the upper section of tray  14 . Wall  58  may be designed in this manner to capture fuel and any ash produced by the combustion process during the burning of the fuel. 
         [0051]    As illustrated by  FIG. 2C , tray  14  further includes a plate  34  that may be positioned under and secured to bottom surface  30  by a single post  84 . Post  84  is positioned at the center of tray  14  and plate  34 . Plate  34  may be positioned relative to bottom surface  30  such that a gap  36  may be created to allow the flow of oxygen to enter gap  36  and exit through holes  32 . Bottom surface  30  may also include a grid pattern  38 . Grid  38  may be sized such that holes  32  are not blocked as fuel such as wood and the like is added to tray  14 . Grid  38  act will act to elevate the fuel above surface  30  such that the air being drawn in through gap  36  can escape through holes  32  when fuel is loaded in tray  14 . The constant flow of air though gap  36  and holes  32  will ensure that a constant and even fire may be created for optimal cooking and heating conditions. 
         [0052]    Tray  14  includes a second sleeve  54  and anchor rods  56 . Sleeve  54  may be assembled to tray  14  at wall  58  with anchor rods  56  extending from sleeve  54  and under plate  34  of tray  14  to provide support to tray  14  and further secure sleeve  54  to tray  14 . In the same manner as described above for grill grate  12 , sleeve  54  may be designed such that the inside diameter of sleeve  54  is slightly larger than the outside diameter of stake  16 . With sleeve  54  sized in this manner, sleeve  54  may be slid onto stake  16  and may slide freely about the length of stake  16 . 
         [0053]    Sleeve  54  also includes a threaded hole  60  that is sized to accept a bolt  62 . Hole  60  may be positioned in a side wall of sleeve  54  such that when bolt  62  is fed into hole  60 , and stake  16  is positioned in sleeve  54 , bolt  62  will engage a surface of stake  16 . As bolt  62  continues to be fed through hole  60 , the exterior surface of stake  16  will engage the interior surface of sleeve  54 . When ample force is applied between bolt  62 , sleeve  54  and stake  16 , tray  14  will be secured to stake  16  and ready for cooking In this particular embodiment of the present invention, bolt  62  is illustrated in the shape of an ‘L’ and may be designed in this manner to allow one to grasp bolt  62  with their hand and turn easily. Although bolt  62  is shown in the shape of an ‘L’, it is important to note, however, that bolt  62  may be any shape and still be used to secure tray  14  to stake  16 . 
         [0054]    Tray  14  may be manufactured of any materials such as metals, ceramics and the like, that are capable of withstanding the high temperatures generated from the fire produced by the chosen fuel. Tray  14  along with grate  12  are designed to be used on multiple occasions for the cooking and heating of food and liquids, so the materials should be capable of withstanding the high temperatures as well as the elements of air and water. 
         [0055]    In this particular embodiment of the present invention, mounting stake  16  is illustrated as two separate pieces in  FIGS. 3A-3C . Mounting stake  16  includes a top segment  40  and a bottom segment  42 . A coupler  44  is included as well as a means to assemble top segment  40  with bottom segment  42  to create mounting stake  16 . Coupler  44  may be a simple sleeve that includes a lip  86  on the interior surface of coupler  44  to serve as a stop. Lip  86  will be designed such that the interior diameter of lip  86  is smaller than the exterior diameter of top segment  40  and bottom segment  42 . Top segment  40  will stop at lip  86  as top segment  40  enters a first end of coupler  44  and bottom segment  42  will stop at lip as bottom segment  42  enters an opposite end of coupler  44 . Coupler  44  will position and secure top segment  40  and bottom segment  42  to create mounting stake  16 . 
         [0056]    Alternatively, coupler  44  may include a threaded interior wall. Top segment  40  and bottom segment  42  may include a threaded section for engaging the threaded walls of coupler  44 . Top segment  40  and bottom segment  42  may be screwed into opposite ends of coupler  44  to provide for a more positive securement of stake  16 . No matter the means of assembly, mounting stake  16  may be designed as two separate pieces for ease of storage and package while at the same time minimizing the number of pieces for assembly. However, it is important to note, the mounting stake  16  may be designed to be a single piece, or, alternatively, stake  16  may include a number of segments and couplers that require assembly, yet still maintain the same concepts of the invention as described above. 
         [0057]    Portable grill assembly  10  may be assembled in the following manner upon arrival to a campsite, tailgate, picnic area and the like. Top segment  40  may be assembled to bottom segment  42  at coupler  44  to fully assemble stake  16 . With stake  16  fully assembled, first sleeve  46  of grill grate  12  may engage stake  16  and grate  12  may be positioned about stake  16  by sliding sleeve  46  about stake  16  until the desired position is located. Once positioned, bolt  52  may be introduced to threaded hole  50  and bolt  52  may be rotated within hole  50  until bolt  52  engages stake  16  and provides enough force to secure sleeve  46  and grate  12  to stake  16 . 
         [0058]    Fire tray  14  may be assembled in much the same manner to stake  16 . Second sleeve  54  of fire tray  14  may engage stake  16  and tray  14  may be positioned about stake  16  by sliding sleeve  54  about stake  16  until the desired position is located. Once positioned, bolt  62  may be introduced to threaded hole  60  and bolt  62  may be rotated within hole  60  until bolt  62  engages stake  16  and provides enough force to secure sleeve  54  and tray  14  to stake  16 . Ideally, tray  14  will be positioned below grate  12  such that any fuel added to tray  14  may be lit to create a fire that will cook or heat the food or liquids above the fire and positioned on grate  12 . 
         [0059]    With portable grill assembly  10  fully assembled, grill  10  may be secured in the ground by driving pointed end  18  of stake  16  into the ground such that grill  10  will positioned upright and ready for cooking In this position, grate  12  and tray  14  will be positioned relatively parallel or level to the ground such that any fuel added to tray  14  and any food or cooking vessels added to grate  14  will not roll or slide off tray  14  or grate  12 . 
         [0060]    Any type of fuel such as wood, charcoal and the like may be added to fire tray  14  and a fire may be started. Oxygen may flow through gap  36  and holes  32  to aid the combustion process so that the fire may provide an even temperature for cooking Depending on the temperature level required, the positioning between grate  12  and tray  14  may be changed to raise or lower the temperature at the surface of grate  12 . Bolts  52  and  62  may be rotated such that sleeves  46  and  54  may be allowed to slide freely about stake  16  once again. The ability to position and reposition grate  12  and tray  14  relative to one another will allow one to vary the cooking temperatures at grate  14 . This is advantageous because different types of food cook at different times and different temperatures, therefore providing for a means of ensuring that all food may be cooked to meet specifications for taste and preference and more importantly to ensure that all food is cooked to a safe temperature for consumption. 
         [0061]    In another embodiment of the present invention, circular grill grate  12  may be split in a first half  66  and a second half  68  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Having two halves of grill grate  12  will enable ease of stowage when grill grate  12  is not in use. One half  66  of grill grate  12  may be placed within the other half  68  to minimize the size of grill grate  12  (See e.g.  FIG. 6G ) during travel or storage at home. When in use, the two halves of grate  12  can be placed next to one another along the long edges of rods  20  to create the circular grate  12  for cooking Alternatively, if a small meal needs to be heated or one is in a confined space or area, only one half of grate  12  may be used. 
         [0062]      FIGS. 5A-5E  illustrate yet another embodiment of the present invention. In this particular embodiment, a hinge assembly  70  may be added to grate  12  to connect the two halves of grate  12 . Outer edge dowel  22  includes a loop  70   a  of first half  66  and a hook  70   b  of second half  68 . Loop  70   a  and hook  70   b  cooperatively create hinge assembly  70  when hook  70   b  is secured to loop  70   a  to connect first half  68  and second half  66  of grill grate  12 . Hinge assembly  70  ensures that both halves  66  and  68  of grill grate  12  will stay connected while in use during the cooking process. Hinge assembly  70  will also allow first half  66  and second half  68  of grate  12  to be moved to any position relative to either half as illustrated in  FIGS. 5C and 5D . Loop  70   a  and hook  70   b  of hinge assembly  70  may be disconnected as shown in  FIG. 5E  so that second half  68  may be folded into first half  66  for ease of stowage. 
         [0063]      FIGS. 6B-6D  illustrate still further another embodiment of the present invention. In this particular embodiment, rectangular grill grate  12  may include any number of raised edge dowels  64  that may be used to enable a wide variety of cooking uses. As mentioned above, while raised edge dowels  64  are desirable on all sides to ensure that any food or cooking vessels are maintained on grate  12 , raised edge dowels  64  may be a hindrance when specific cooking utensils are in use, such as a spatula used to flip a hamburger. 
         [0064]    Furthermore, multiple rectangular grill grates  12  and  12 ′ may be aligned together as illustrated in  FIGS. 6E and 6F  to create a larger cooking surface. Edge dowels  72  and  72 ′ as well as raised edge dowels  64  and  64 ′ and rods  20  and  20 ′ can be aligned to ensure that grates  12  and  12 ′ are properly and safely set up for cooking Hinge assembly  70  discussed above may be added to rectangular grill grates  12  and  12 ′ (not shown) as well to help ensure grates  12  and  12 ′ stay connected while in use. After cooking on grates  12  has ended and grates  12  are properly cooled, rectangular grill grates  12  and  12 ′ may be nested within each other as illustrated in  FIG. 5G  for stowage during travel or storage at home while not in use. 
         [0065]    The present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the foregoing embodiment, which is merely illustrative of the best modes presently known for carrying out the invention. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various alternatives to the embodiment of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that the method within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby. This description of the invention should be understood to include all novel and non-obvious combination of elements described herein, and claims may be presented in this or a later application to any novel non-obvious combination of these elements. Moreover, the foregoing embodiment is illustrative, and no single feature or element is essential to all possible combinations that may be claimed in this or a later application.