Abstract:
An enclosure for use with an outdoor grill having plates at its base used to secure the enclosure to a base surface. Preferably the enclosure is formed from a series of panels which adjoin one another and are secured to one another.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to protective devices and more particularly pertains to a protective device that encloses an outdoor cooking grill. 
     2. Prior Art and Objects 
     Various devices have been developed to enclose dangerous equipment such as heating stoves and cooking grills. In the past, when stoves were a primary source of home heat, enclosures were used to protect children as well as adults from being injured by coming into contact with a hot stove. The Metz patent, U.S. Pat. No. 806,160 describes an enclosure for placement about a heating stove. The patent further describes the enclosure as being capable of being knocked down into pieces for storage during warm periods of the year when the stove is not in use. The device taught by the Metz patent also has feet which are secured to the floor. 
     Another form of stove enclosure is taught in the Buffington patent, U.S. Pat. No. 1,440,336. The Buffington patent utilized a heavy base to retain the enclosure in place. 
     The Knutson patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,384 teaches an enclosure for use with an outdoor grill. Specifically, Knutson teaches a device for mounting on a balcony but includes features for protection of children from a hot grill. 
     It is apparent that outdoor grills when in operation, are dangerously hot and therefore are a threat to small children and can also be dangerous to adults should they stumble and fall into the grill. Since outdoor grills are often moved about and used at various outings and campsites, an enclosure that is easily assembled and disassembled and that can be readily packed is most desirable. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an enclosure for an outdoor grill that assures against contact with a hot outdoor grill. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an enclosure for a grill that can be readily broken down into a few parts for travel and storage and can likewise be easily assembled. 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an enclosure for an outdoor grill that is economical and durable. 
     These objects together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of this invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A protective device is provided for use with an outdoor grill. The protective device is situated on a base area. An enclosure having an inside area within it and an outside area outside it is formed from a plurality of panels that are substantially identical and that adjoin one another. Each panel has a top edge and a bottom edge and each panel further has a main section and a offset section. The offset section is substantially smaller than the main section and is slightly offset from the main section. The main section has a main edge and the offset section has an offset edge. The offset section of one panel overlaps the main section of another adjoining panel. Means are provided for securing each offset section to the main section of the adjoining panel. A plurality of plates are secured to the base edge of each panel substantially at right angles to the panel. Each plate has an opening through it. Means are also provided for insertion into the openings in the plates to secure the panels to the base area. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an enclosure located about an outdoor grill with the portion of the grill within the enclosure shown in broken lines. 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the enclosure showing the panels and the plates at the base edge of the panels. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one panel used in the enclosure. 
     FIG. 3A is a cross section view of the top edge of the enclosure. 
     FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the overlap adjoining panels and the means for securing one panel to the adjoining panel. 
     FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of the lower part of a panel showing a plate with a stake driven into the ground. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NUMERALS 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 NUMERAL 
                 DESCRIPTION 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 11 
                 Enclosure 
               
               
                 13 
                 Panel 
               
               
                 15 
                 Outdoor Grill 
               
               
                 17 
                 Top Edge 
               
               
                 19 
                 Base Edge 
               
               
                 21 
                 Main Section 
               
               
                 22 
                 Main Edge 
               
               
                 23 
                 Offset Section 
               
               
                 24 
                 Offset Edge 
               
               
                 25 
                 Inside Area 
               
               
                 26 
                 Outside Area 
               
               
                 27 
                 Bolt 
               
               
                 29 
                 Bolt Head 
               
               
                 31 
                 Wing Nut 
               
               
                 33 
                 Hole 
               
               
                 35 
                 Plates 
               
               
                 37 
                 Opening 
               
               
                 39 
                 Base Area 
               
               
                 41 
                 Stakes 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG.  1  and FIG. 3, the enclosure  11  and one panel  13  used to form the enclosure  11  are shown. Obviously, if the enclosure is made in one piece, the protective benefits would still be achieved but the enclosure  11  would be difficult if not impossible to store and transport. By sectionalizing the enclosure  11  into equal arcuate panels  13 , the panels  13  may be placed one on top of the other for ease of packing and shipment. 
     In FIG.  2  and FIG. 3, the enclosure  11  and panel  13  shown are based upon an enclosure formed from three equal panels  13 . The least number of panels  13  that could be considered would be two panels  13  and most likely no more than four panels  13  would be used considering the average size of an outdoor grill  15 . Possibly, an enclosure  11  intended for very large grills could have five of six panels but, for the usual commercially available grills intended for family use and of a size that permits transporting them to various sites, whether fired by gas or solid fuel, four panels  13  would appear to be maximum. Clearly, ease of handling and storage of the enclosure  11  has to be weighed against ease of assembly. 
     An other factor in the sizing of the grill  15  is the ease by which the grill  15  can be used with the enclosure  11  in place. It is intended that the enclosure  11  will be sized to permit use of the grill  15  from outside the enclosure  11  thus eliminating any need for a door which might be inadvertently left open thereby permitting a child to enter the enclosure and be injured. 
     Referring now specifically to FIG. 3, a panel that is one of three equal panels  13  has a top edge  17  and a base edge  19 . The panel  13  has a main section  21  which for a panel  13 , that is one of three panels  13 , represents one hundred and twenty degrees. The main section  21  has a main edge  22 . Extending from the main section  21  but just slightly offset from it is an offset section  23 . The offset section  23  has an offset edge  24  remote from the main section  23 . The offset section  23  is short by comparison to the main section  21  and needs to be only a two or three inch extension to the main section  21 . The offset section  23  may be offset toward the inside area  25  of the enclosure  11  but preferably is toward the outside area  26  outside of the enclosure  11 . Having the offset section  23  offset toward the outside area  26  provides the best appearance. The offset section  23  overlaps the main section  21  of the adjoining panel  13 . At the offset section  23 , as best seen is FIG.  3  and FIG. 4 one technique for securing the panels  13  together is shown. A bolt  27  is shown secured at the head  29  of the bolt  27  in the offset section  23  generally midway between the top edge  17  and the base edge  19 . A wing nut  31  is threaded onto the bolt  27  after the bolt  27  is inserted into hole  33  in the main section of the adjacent panel  13 . The hole  33  is located adjacent to the main edge  22  of each panel  13  at substantially the same position between the top edge  17  and the base edge  19 . 
     Although one bolt  27  with one wing nut  27  at each offset section is shown, more bolts could be used. Other fastening means could replace the bolt  27  and the wing nut  31 . Such fastening means is not a critical part of this invention. The number of bolts  27  and wing nuts  31  may also vary and the thickness of the material used to form the panels  13  will also have a bearing on the number of fastening means used to hold the panels  13  together. The greater the material thickness, the more rigid each panel  13  will be but since a light weight enclosure  11  is desired, a thin material for the panels  13  is most desirable. The panels would best be made of aluminum or this steel and even heat resistant plastic could be used for th enclosure  11 . A bright color is preferable for the enclosure  11  and warning labels on the panels  13  toward the outside area  26  would be most desirable. 
     As seen in FIG.  1  and FIG. 3, the top edge  17  of the enclosure  11  is bent inwardly toward the inside area  25  of the enclosure  11 . This bend in the top edge  17  serves to strengthen the enclosure  11  and most importantly to prevent injury from someone falling against the top edge  17  of the enclosure  11 . At the offset section  23 , the top edge  17  is lowered to just below the bend in the top edge  17  to avoid having a bend at the offset section  23 . 
     At the base edge,  19 , plates  35  are affixed substantially at right angles to the enclosure  11 . The plates  35  are preferably located toward both the inside area  25  and the outside area  26 . The plates  35  alternate from the inside area  25  an the outside area  26  along virtually the entire base edge  19  of each panel  13 . 
     An opening  37  is provided in each plate  35 . The enclosure  11 , which is intended primarily but not exclusively for use on a base area  39  which is earthen. As best seen in FIG. 5, the plates  35  can be secured to the base area  39  by stakes  41  such as are used for securing a camping tent. The stakes  41  are driven into the base area  39  through the opening  37  in the plates  35 . Each stake  41  can be readily removed but once installed, the plurality of stakes  41 , securely hold the enclosure  11  in place preventing it from being moved inadvertently. 
     The enclosure  11  may also be used with other base areas  39  but then, other fastening means would be required. The stakes  41  for the plates  35  on the inside area  25  of the last panel 13  to installed might pose some problems but can usually be installed from the outside area  26  of the enclosure  11 . In any event, it is not necessary to place a stake  41  in every opening  37  but as many as possible is certainly to be recommended. 
     It is to be understood that the drawings and description matter are in all cases to be interpreted as merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, rather than as limiting the same in any way, since it is contemplated that various changes may be made in various elements to achieve like results without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.