Abstract:
The present invention relates to an electrical infrared-style broiler sized to be portable, safe, and occupy minimal space, while still providing an additional cooking surface area for use as an electric griddle. The electric griddle is heated from below by way of an electrical heating tube and the grilling surface is heating from above via an infrared heating plate.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of Utility patent application Ser. No. 13/887,591 filed May 6, 2013. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an electrical portable broiler. More particularly, the present invention relates to a portable device for cooking food items from above to allow the food to drip away from the heating element. Specifically, the present invention relates to an electrical-style broiler sized to be portable, safe, and occupy minimal space, while still providing an additional cooking surface area for use as an electric griddle. 
         [0003]    Currently, there are broilers or ovens for which to heat food items, as well as portable grills for use in camping or tailgating activities. These portable food-heating devices are of a grill-type structure where the heating element is underneath the items to be cooked. Some of these are supplied by electrical means and some by natural gas. However, inasmuch as the heating element is placed below the item to be cooked, the food tends to drip down onto the flame or heating element which generates an immediate scorching flame which jumps up towards the food for a fraction of a second. This is not only a dangerous situation from a safety standpoint, but the food itself tends to be seared or burned unevenly resulting in uneven blackened portions of the food. 
         [0004]    Additionally, the existing portable grills use a direct flame to heat the food and are either permanently open to the elements, or have a lid which releases a majority of the heat when opened. This provides a huge variance in the temperature output and overall cooking experience. Furthermore, the existing portable grills provide an overall heating footprint which is entirely occupied by the gridiron or grilling surface. Existing grills also occupy an entire table or truck tail gate, with no room for other foods or tailgating items. Thus, if a user wishes to cook additional food, the user must wait until the food on the grilling surface is done first before this additional food can be cooked. 
         [0005]    Thus, a need exists in the art to provide a portable style food preparation and heating unit which prevents or neutralizes the problem of the food dripping onto the heating element. The need also exists for cooking food via an alternative to a direct flame. Further, the need also exists to provide an additional cooking surface area for use as an electric griddle without occupying the primary grilling area. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
         [0007]    The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, comprises a portable electrical broiler comprising: a housing, a cooking chamber defined by the housing, a grilling surface disposed in the cooking chamber, and an infrared heating plate disposed above the grilling surface, whereby the infrared heating plate heats the grilling surface when powered on. In another aspect, the invention may provide a portable electrical broiler comprising: a housing, an electric griddle disposed on the housing, a stainless steel heating tube disposed in the housing below the electric griddle and operable to heat the electric griddle. A grilling surface is then removably disposed in the housing, an infrared heating plate is disposed in the housing above the grilling surface, and is operable to heat the grilling surface. In another aspect, the invention may provide a method for cooking an item of food on a grilling surface, the method comprising the steps of: positioning a stainless steel heating tube above the grilling surface, positioning an electric griddle above the stainless steel heating tube, positioning an infrared heating plate above the grilling surface but below the stainless steel heating tube, directing an amount of heat downwardly from the infrared heating plate towards the grilling surface, and heating the electric griddle from below via the stainless steel heating tube. 
         [0008]    To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the electrical infrared portable broiler of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  with portions cut away to view the internal cooking chamber of an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view taken on line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a side cross-sectional view taken on line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a front cross-sectional view taken on line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 1  showing the drawer assembly extended outwardly away from the cooking chamber; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6  showing the drawer assembly retracted into the cooking chamber; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a side cross-sectional view taken generally along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1  showing the drawer receiving assembly moving upwardly; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  taken on line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1  showing the drawer receiving assembly moving upwardly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. 
         [0019]    The electrical infrared portable broiler of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-9  and is indicated generally at  1 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , infrared portable broiler  1  includes a main body or housing  2  which is generally box shaped and defines a cooking chamber  3  therein. Cooking chamber  3  is sized to receive a drawer assembly  5  which is slidably engaged with a drawer receiving assembly  7  ( FIG. 2 ). Cooking chamber  3  is generally defined by a bottom wall  10 , a back wall  12 , and a pair of sidewalls  11 . When viewed from the exterior, electrical infrared portable broiler  1  includes a pair of handles  9  extending into corresponding sidewalls  11 . 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , infrared portable broiler  1  includes a front wall  19 . Front wall  19  as shown in  FIG. 1  is made up of several end plates from subcomponents all abutting one another to form the overall general front wall  19 . Front wall  19  defines an opening  40  to cooking chamber  3 . Extending through and outwardly away from front wall  19  is a push button  21  and a series of vents  23 . An adjustment track  25  is also defined by front wall  19  and provides an opening for an adjustment rod  27  to extend therethrough. Adjustment rod  27  terminates in a knob  29  to be used as a handle for actuating rod  27 . Track  25  includes at least one cam channel  31 , shown in  FIG. 3  as three cam channels  31  arranged in a vertically extending series. 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , an electric griddle  205  is disposed directly above cooking chamber  3  and includes a general front area  35 , opposite back area  37 , and two spaced apart side areas  39 . Furthermore, a removable baking pan  200  sits on the electric griddle  205  and a lid  201  with a handle  202  covers the baking pan  200 . The lid  201  can further include vents  206  positioned on either side of the handle  202  to be used while cooking on the electric griddle  205 . 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  6 , electrical infrared broiler  1  includes an electrical heating tube  203 , such as a stainless steel heating tube disposed above cooking chamber  3 , and an electrical power input, for example a power cord connectable with an outlet, and a push button  209  extending through and outwardly away from front wall  19  which acts to power on and off the stainless steel heating tube  203 . Rather than ceramic tiles, the electric current is transferred through the resistance coil (i.e., stainless steel heating tube  203 ) which heats to a desired temperature and emits heat. Heat from the resistance coil warms electric griddle  205  as described below. Further, below the stainless steel heating tube  203  there is positioned an infrared heating plate  204 . The infrared heating plate  204  is a ceramic heating plate which contains electric coils embedded within it to heat the infrared heating plate  204  which in turn heats the grate  207  within the drawer assembly  5 . Infrared heating plate  204  is powered on and off via push button  21  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Once powered on, electric current is transferred through the resistance coils within the heating plate which heats the infrared heating plate  204  to a desired temperature and emits heat. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  5 , drawer assembly  5  includes a base plate  85  which is generally monolithic and folded or stamped into the desired shape. Base plate  85  includes a stepped region which defines a drip pan  87  and a ledge  89 . Ledge  89  is formed to receive a removable grate  207  thereupon. More particularly, ledge  89  includes a top surface  90  and a bottom surface  92 , whereby the grate  207  rests upon top surface  90 . A front plate  93  extends from base plate  85  and is formed in a generally elongated rectangular shape with a handle  95  extending outwardly away therefrom. The grate  207  is disposed with a plurality of punch-through holes  208  on it. The plurality of holes  208  are sized to retain the food on the grate  207  without allowing the food to slip through the holes  208 , but which allow grease to drip through the holes  208  into the drip pan  87 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , drawer assembly  5  is slidably and removably received within drawer receiving assembly  7 . Drawer receiving assembly  7  includes two spaced apart side plates  97  connected by way of a back plate  99  and a bottom plate  101 . Similar to a kitchen cabinet drawer, the drawer element of broiler  1  includes a set of rollers secured to the drawer receiver and a set of rollers secured to the drawer itself. Specifically, drawer assembly  5  includes a set of rollers  102  and drawer receiving assembly  7  includes a set of rollers  106 . 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , rollers  102  are rotatably secured to side plates  97  of drawer receiving assembly  7  while rollers  103  are rotatably secured to drawer assembly  5  by way of bracket  104 . Rollers  102  and  103  provide a rolling surface for easily moving drawer assembly  5  in and out of cooking chamber  3  in a kitchen cabinet drawer style of movement. Rollers  102  rollably abut bottom surface  92  of ledge  89  ( FIG. 3 ), while rollers  103  are rollably disposed in a channel  96  which defines a roller void  100 . Roller void  100  receives rollers  103  therein and allows rollers  103  to move therein from a back area  96 A of channel  96  to a front area  96 A of channel  96 . When a user wishes to remove drawer assembly  5  completely from housing  2 , the user manually lifts drawer assembly  5  such that rollers  103  slide out of channel  96  by way of a notch  98  defined therein ( FIG. 2 ). Thus, drawer assembly  5  becomes free of channel  96  and thereafter may be removed from housing  2  for cleaning, repair, etc. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , drawer receiving assembly  7  may be vertically adjusted, which in turn adjusts the vertical positioning of drawer assembly  5 . To that end, each side plate  97  receives a bracket  103  secured thereto having a first end  105  and a spaced apart second end  107 . A similar pair of brackets  109  are secured to a corresponding pair of brace walls  110  disposed in cooking chamber  3  ( FIG. 9 ). Each bracket  109  includes a first end  111  and a spaced apart second end  113 . An upper arm  115  extends between each pair of brackets  103  and  109 . 
         [0027]    Specifically, for each upper arm  115 , a first end  117  is rotatably secured to first end  105  of bracket  103 , while a second end  119  is rotatably secured to first end  111  of bracket  109 . Similarly, a lower arm  121  extends between each pair of brackets  103  and  109 . However, while a first end  123  of lower arm  121  is rotatably secured to second end  107  of bracket  103 , a second end  125  of lower arm  121  is not secured to second end  113  of bracket  109 . Second end  125  of lower arm  121  is instead secured to a pivot rod  127  by way of a weld or other peripheral secure connection such that lower arm  121  rotates with pivot rod  127  as pivot rod  127  rotates. Pivot rod  127  extends through second end  113  of bracket  109  and through each brace wall  110  and rotates therein. As shown in  FIG. 2 , rod  27  is secured to a plate  129  which is in turn secured to pivot rod  127 . A spring  131  is secured at one end to plate  129  and secured at the other end to back wall  12  by one of a series of openings defined therein. Spring  131  provides an upward bias on plate  129  and in turn on pivot rod  127 . Further, by way of upper arms  115  and lower arm  121 , spring  131  provides an upward bias on the entire drawer receiving assembly  7 . 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 9 , electrical infrared broiler  1  also includes a second drip pan  140 . Drip pan  140  includes a front wall  142 , a bottom wall  144 , and a surrounding wall  146  defining the interior cavity used to contain drippings. Drip pan  140  is manually removable by way of a user simply pulling on drip pan  140  to extend it outwardly away from housing  2  for cleaning, repair, etc. Drip pan  140  is convenient for catching and containing any drippings or splatter which is expelled from the cooking items while the user has drawer assembly  5  in the opening position ( FIG. 6 ). The primary drip pan  87  necessarily moves with drawer assembly  5  as it is manually pulled out of cooking chamber  3 . Thus, drip pan  140  remains to catch any material or grease which may be expelled into cooking chamber  3 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , electrical infrared broiler  1  includes electric griddle  205 . Electric griddle  205  is a flat elongated surface sized for receiving food, pans, bowls or other items thereupon. At the outset, one familiar with the art will readily understand space is typically limited in the environment for which electrical infrared broiler  1  is intended. A tailgating environment, camping environment, or other such outdoor activities, also typically require multiple types of food to be cooked at once in a short amount of time. As such, electric griddle  205  is heated by stainless steel heating tube  203  positioned within cooking chamber  3  of electrical infrared broiler  1 . 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , electrical infrared broiler  1  in general, and front wall  19  in particular, defines opening  40  as a passageway into cooking chamber  3 . Opening  40  is oriented such that opening  40  is proximate front area  35 . This orientation of opening  40  allows a user to operate electrical infrared broiler  1  by standing directly in front of opening  40 . This further blocks children or other users and prevents potential harm done via the heat of electrical infrared broiler  1  from this side. A user may position electrical broiler  1  such that only the back portion is accessible by others. This eliminates the possibility of a child or unfocused adult from being burned by electrical infrared broiler  1 . 
         [0031]    In operation, a user transports electrical infrared broiler  1  to a desired location such as a sporting event or a camp ground via an automobile or other similar transportation mechanism. The user then plugs in the electrical infrared broiler  1  into a power receptacle via a power cord. The user pushes or depresses push button  21  which turns on the electrical coils within the infrared heating plate  204  and allows current to flow through the coils, which causes the coils to heat the infrared heating plate  204  which in turn heats the food on the grate  207 . The user can then push or depress push button  209  of the electrical infrared broiler  1  which allows current to flow through the stainless steel heating tube  203 , which causes the tube  203  to heat the electric griddle  205 . 
         [0032]    For some background, infrared heating of food items works by heating an electrical element to super heat an infrared heating plate, causing it to emit infrared radiation by which the food is cooked. The thermal radiation is generated when heat from the movement of charged particles within atoms is converted to the electromagnetic radiation in the infrared heat frequency range. The benefits are that the heat is uniformly distributed across the cooking surface and that temperatures reach over 900° Fahrenheit, allowing users to sear items quickly. Infrared cooking differs from other forms of grilling, which use hot air to cook the food. Instead of heating the air, infrared radiation heats the food directly. The benefits of this are a reduction in preheat time and less drying of the food. Grilling enthusiasts claim that food cooked on an infrared system tastes similar to food from chargrills. Enthusiasts also say that food cooked using infrared methods seem juicier. Also, infrared heating has the advantages of instant ignition, better heat control, and a uniform heat source. The infrared heating benefits and methods described above are shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , heat from the infrared heating plate  204  is initially expelled downwardly towards drawer assembly  5 , as shown as heat lines H. Specifically, infrared heating plate  204  is superheated causing it to emit infrared radiation by which the food is cooked. This provides a very high temperature within cooking chamber  3  directed downwardly towards any food disposed on grate  207 . Further, temperatures can be greater than 900° Fahrenheit within cooking chamber  3 . These features represent an enormous improvement over typical portable grills. 
         [0034]    For example, as shown in  FIG. 9 , several hamburger patties  131  are shown disposed on grate  207 . These hamburger patties  133  are receiving a tremendous amount of even and uniformly distributed infrared heat via infrared heating plate  204  disposed directly above. Drip pan  87  is disposed directly below hamburger patties  133  oriented to receive any drippings  135  emitted from hamburger patties  133 . Note that drippings  135  are travelling away from infrared heating plate  204  during the natural cooking process. This allows infrared heating plate  204  to remain free of any grease or other debris emitted by the food being cooked. This ensures infrared heating plate  204  remains clean and extends the life of infrared heating plate  204 . This orientation of infrared heating plate  204 , hamburger patties  133 , and drip pan  87  also ensures that no scorching or jumping is generated by drippings  135 , as is commonly seen in the prior art. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 , and  8 , a user may adjust the overall height of drawer assembly  5  and drawer receiving assembly  7  within cooking chamber  3 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , knob  29  extends outwardly away from front wall  19  and is readily accessible by the user. As discussed previously, rod  27  connected to knob  29  is biased upwardly by way of spring  131 . This allows the user to manually move knob  29  out of a particular cam channel  131  within track  25  and into another cam channel  31  which reflects a different vertical height within cooking chamber  3 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , drawer receiving assembly  7  is set on the lowest height within cooking chamber  3 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , drawer receiving assembly  7  has been repositioned by the user into the topmost or highest vertical height within cooking chamber  3 . While bracket  109  and the associated mechanical linkages thereon remain generally stationary within cooking chamber  3 , bracket  103  moves along with drawer receiving assembly  7 . To add stability and leverage, upper arm  115  and lower arm  121  mechanically link bracket  109  and bracket  103 . As a user manually manipulates rod  27 , plate  129  moves pivot rod  127  which in turn moves lower arm  121 . Lower arm  121  is connected to bracket  103  generally about the midpoint of side plates  97 . This allows movement of drawer receiving assembly  77  vertically upwardly or downwardly while the overall orientation of drawer assembly  5  remains generally horizontal. One would readily understand that any movement of drawer receiving assembly  77  proximate the front or back of side plates  97  would tip or tilt drawer assembly  5  within drawer receiving assembly  7  in a non-horizontal manner. Thus, the present invention allows the user to actuate and move the food disposed on grate  207  vertically within cooking chamber  3  while maintaining a horizontal orientation for the food. 
         [0036]    As discussed previously, electrical infrared broiler  1  includes opening  40  disposed in front wall  19 , which provides an opening to cooking chamber  3 . Opening  40  provides a method for the user to cook and view food without releasing the heat inside cooking chamber  3 . As such, cooking chamber  3  is free of a lid and is not exposed to the exterior of broiler  1  except by way of opening  40 . Prior art portable grills typically contain an open flame, which requires significant constant fuel to maintain a high temperature. Similarly, other prior art portable grills may contain a lid over the flame. However, when a user opens the lid to check on the food items, all of the heat which has built up inside the grill is thereby released. This swing in temperature from built up heat to released heat prevents a steady heating of the food inside. Conversely, electrical infrared broiler  1  incorporates a new paradigm in portable cooking via opening  40 . Opening  40  is oriented such that the heat is constant within cooking chamber  3 , is not exposed to the elements, and does not lose heat when a user checks the food. The improved heat control of electrical infrared broiler  1  provides a steady heat source to the food with the benefit of cooking the food more evenly. 
         [0037]    In summary, in one aspect, the invention may provide a device similar to electrical portable broiler  1 , which may include housing  2 , cooking chamber  3  defined by housing  2 , a grilling surface which may be in the form of grate  207  disposed in cooking chamber  3 , and infrared heating plate  204  disposed above grate  207  to heat food on the grate  207 . Portable electrical broiler  1  may also include electric griddle  205  disposed on housing  2 . A stainless steel heating tube  203  is then positioned above the infrared heating plate  204 , whereby stainless steel heating tube  203  heats electric griddle  205 . Portable electrical broiler  1  is adapted to rest on a base surface (not shown) which preferably orients electric griddle  205  generally parallel to the base surface. While any fuel or power source is encompassed by the present invention, preferably broiler  1  is electrical. 
         [0038]    In another aspect, the invention may provide a device similar to portable electrical broiler  1 , which may include housing  2 , electric griddle  205  disposed on housing  2 , a grilling surface which may be in the form of grate  207  removably disposed in housing  2 , infrared heating plate  204  disposed above grilling surface and operable to heat grilling surface, and stainless steel heating tube  203  disposed above infrared heating plate  204  and operable to heat electric griddle  205 . Portable broiler  1  may also include drawer assembly  5  removably disposed in housing  2 , drip pan  87  removably disposed in drawer assembly  5 , and drip pan  140  removably disposed in housing  2 . 
         [0039]    In another aspect, the invention may provide a method for cooking an item of food on a grilling surface such as grate  207 . The method may include the steps of: positioning stainless steel heating tube  203  above infrared heating plate  204 , positioning infrared heating plate  204  above grate  207 , positioning electric griddle  205  above stainless steel heating tube  203 , directing an amount of heat downwardly from infrared heating plate  204  towards grate  207 , and heating electric griddle  205  from below via the stainless steel heating tube  203 . The method discussed above may further include the step of biasing grate  207  toward infrared heating plate  204 , as shown in FIG,  5  by way of spring  131 . Finally, the method may also include the step of transferring electric current through the resistance coil (i.e., stainless steel heating tube  203  and/or infrared heating plate  204 ) which heats the tube  203  and/or infrared heating plate  204  to a desired temperature and emits heat. 
         [0040]    What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.