Tapered grill, smoker and fireplace device

A combination grill, smoker and fireplace device having a tapered configuration, where heat, smoke and/or gas upwardly passes through a tapered interior chamber and exits through a vent system. The tapered chamber collectively includes a heat source, a grate, one or more racks and a rack support means; and is configured to effectively reflect the heat smoke and/or gas at an optimal angle inhibiting the occurrence of radial bounce, reducing thermal bottlenecking, alleviating pressure buildup and increasing thermal efficiency. In an embodiment, the device incorporates a storage compartment to house equipment, accessories and/or materials therein. Alternatively, the device includes screen doors positioned behind the second set of doors being attached to an enclosure. The enclosure may act as a fireplace, grill or smoker and the chamber acts as an elongated chimney. In a further embodiment, the base of the device is closely located to the ash pan and acts as a deck to prohibit heat from being transferred to a flooring or ground surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

STATEMENTS REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of cooking and fireplace devices; more particularly, to a combination grill, smoker and fireplace device having a tapered configuration.

2. Description of the Related Art

Outdoor fireplaces, grills and smokers have greatly evolved over the past decades. Barbeque grills were commonly used for food preparation outside many homes throughout the United States. For users who desired to have their food smoked instead of just grilled, a device called a smoker was introduced into the food preparation industry. The smoker had an enclosed chamber with a heat source, which could be charcoal or electric, and typically wood chips positioned at the bottom and trays to hold the food. Many inventions, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,786,741; 4,721,037; and 6,595,197, began to combine the grill and smoker devices together, thereby saving a potential customer the expense of having to buy and maintain two separate items.

Other combination apparatuses such as smoker and oven devices or grills with incorporated fireplaces then started to emerge. U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,604 (hereinafter called “the '604 patent”) issued to Deichler, Jr. on Mar. 23, 2004 described a collapsible smoker and oven device. The '604 patent described a device having a folding center section assembly and support plates pivotally mounted to fold out quickly, with a cover on top. Then, U.S. Pat. No. 6,755,188 (hereinafter called “the '188 patent”) issued to Skidmore et al. on Jun. 29, 2004 described a convertible grill and fireplace. The '188 patent discloses a grill and fireplace having a single firebox and lid, both of which may be used in both a grill configuration and a fireplace configuration. The fireplace configuration has a detachable and foldable screen assembly positioned between the firebox and the lid. The '188 patent also described its apparatus to include retractable legs so that the firebox may be lowered or raised. However, neither the '604 patent nor the '188 patent provided for a grill, smoker and outdoor fireplace.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,748,939 (hereinafter called the '939 patent) issued to Gober on Jun. 15, 2004 described a grill, smoker and outdoor fireplace having a support frame with legs for supporting a chamber member and a middle member forming a heating cavity. The middle member is formed of four plate with edges of adjacent plates welded together to form a square opening extending between an upper end and a lower end of the member. The chamber member has walls that taper inward from its upper end to an ash removal opening and is designed to dump ashes down a chute so the ashes can be quickly removed without disassembling the grill. However, heat and smoke generated inside the chamber of the '939 patent rises to the top creating a convection oven effect causing heat crowning at the top of the chamber.

In view of the above described deficiencies associated with the use of conventional methods and systems for raising, leveling, supporting and repairing existing damaged foundations, the present invention has been developed to alleviate these drawbacks and provide further benefits to a user. These enhancements and benefits are described in greater detail herein below with respect to several embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention in its several disclosed embodiments alleviates the drawbacks described above with respect to fireplaces and outdoor cooking devices such as grills and smokers and incorporates several additional beneficial features. The present invention described herein is a combination grill, smoker and fireplace device having multiple peripheral surfaces fastened to one another to form a hollow chamber therein. One of the peripheral surfaces incorporates a door or first set of doors allowing a user to access the chamber. A protruding edge extending from the door or set of doors prevents natural elements such as rain, animals or insects to access the chamber. Also, the protruding edge can act as a seal to protect items, such as food, stored therein.

Walls of the chamber may incorporate a rack support means such as sets of lateral shelf members perpendicularly extending from at least two opposing walls or heat resistant guide rails attached to the walls to support one or more racks. A grate is positioned between the racks and a heat source and is capable of supporting a variety burnable materials thereon. The heat source may range from electrical means, gas, burnable materials and/or other heating sources allowing the user to utilize the device irrespective of the user's present heating options.

Heat, smoke and/or gas will pass through the tapered chamber in an upward manner leading into and through the vent system ultimately exiting the device. An advantage of the tapered chamber configuration is the heat, smoke and/or gas are reflected at an optimal angle inhibiting the occurrence of radial bounce, reducing thermal bottlenecking, alleviating pressure buildup and increasing thermal efficiency. The vent system includes a damper to moisten and diminish sparks and a spark arrestor screen to capture stray sparks and prevent them from exiting the device.

An ash pan is positioned below the chamber to collect fallen ashes and other burn off directly from the heat source and/or the burnable material. The ash pan discretely hides the ashes to provide for a more sanitary appearance. A storage compartment is located underneath the ash pan allowing for cooking equipment and/or fireplace accessories and materials to be stored and increasing the device's overall aesthetics to users and potential customers.

In an alternative embodiment, the device may incorporate a second set of doors fastened to an enclosure positioned below the first set of doors near the base of the device. The enclosure may itself function like the abovementioned chamber acting as a grill, smoker or a fireplace, whereas the chamber acts as an elongated chimney. The enclosure may also include an ash pan to catch ashes. Screen doors are positioned behind the second set of doors and are independently fastened to the device. Protruding edge members may also extend from the second set of doors acting as protection for stored items and acting as a seal to prevent external elements from entering the chamber.

In a further alternative embodiment, the storage compartment and/or enclosure is eliminated for users who have strict spatial constraints. In this embodiment, the base of the device is located in a closer proximity to the ash pan having a smaller clearance area located there between. The base may be configured with a thicker base height to act as a deck and prevent thermal heat transfer from the device to a flooring surface or ground.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1–7show a combination grill, smoker and fireplace5having a combustion and cooking enclosure with multiple flat planar peripheral surfaces comprising a flat horizontal base6having horizontal side edges6a,6b,6cand6d. The base6supports the combination grill, smoker and fireplace5on a ground surface. A vertical, inwardly inclined rear wall8, a vertical, inwardly inclined front wall9and vertical, inwardly inclined side walls10and11extend upwardly from the horizontal side edges6a,6b,6cand6dof the flat horizontal base6. The combination grill, smoker and fireplace5is preferably made of steel, copper material or other heat resistant materials.

The vertical, inwardly inclined rear wall8, the vertical, inwardly inclined front wall9and the vertical, inwardly inclined side walls10and11each have upper edges8a,9a,10aand11a, bottom edges8b,9b,10band11b, side edges8c,8d,9c,9d,10c,10d,11cand11dand interior surfaces8e,9e,10eand11e. The base6and the cover7each have multiple edges6a,6b,6cand6dand7a,7b,7cand7d, respectfully, and interior surfaces6eand7e, respectfully. The vertical, inwardly inclined rear wall8and the vertical, inwardly inclined front wall9are attached to and extend upwardly from the base6and are inclined inwardly; and the side walls10and11extend upwardly from the edges6a,6b,6cand6dof base6and are inclined inwardly. The vertical side edges10c,10d,11cand1dof the side walls10and11are connected to the side edges8cand8dof the rear wall8and the side edges9cand9dof the front wall9to form a chamber14therein. The upper edges8a,9a,10aand11aof the vertical, inwardly inclined rear wall8, vertical, inwardly inclined front wall9and vertical, inwardly inclined side walls10and11are attached to the side edges7a,7b,7cand7dof the flat horizontal cover7at the top of the combination grill, smoker and fireplace5.

The edges6a,6cand6b,6dof the base6are attached to each of the bottom edges10band11bof the side walls10and11and edges6c,6dof the base6are connected to the bottom edge8bof the rear wall8. Each side edge7a,7b,7cand7dof the top flat cover7is joined to each of the upper edges8a,9a,10aand11aof the rear wall8, the front wall9and the side walls10and11. The bottom edges10band11bof the side walls10and11and the bottom edge8bof the rear wall8are attached to the edges6a,6b,6cand6dof the base6at bigger angles, whereas the upper edges8a,9a,10aand11aof the rear wall8, the front wall9and the side walls are coupled to the cover7at smaller angles. This deviation in the angles where the rear wall8, front wall9and the side walls10and11connect to the base6versus the where the rear wall8, the front wall9and the side walls10and11are joined to the top surface7allow for the combination grill, smoker and fireplace5to taper in an upward fashion.

Once the rear wall8, the front wall9and the side walls10and11are connected to each other and to the base6and the cover7, the chamber14is formed therein. Walls15of the chamber14are formed from the interior surfaces10e,11e,8eand9eof the side walls10and11, the rear wall8and the front wall9. The walls15of the chamber14have a rack support means100such as sets of lateral shelf members perpendicularly extending from at least two opposing walls15. Each set of lateral shelf members supports one or more racks17. Alternatively, the rack support means100may be heat resistant guide rails attached to the interior surfaces10eand11eof the side walls10and11and provide horizontal slidable engagement of the racks17. In the most preferred embodiment, multiple racks17are inserted into the chamber14of the combination grill, smoker and fireplace5, where the number of racks17is only limited to the height of the chamber14.

A portion of the front wall9incorporates a door25, preferably a set of doors, where each door25is fastened to a side end10dand11dof the side walls10and11. Each door25has a handle26allowing a user to move the door from an open configuration to a closed configuration.FIGS. 1,3and5–7show a protruding edge27extending from the door25to either contact a mating door, or alternatively, contact the front wall9or the side walls10and11to provide a seal, protect any items stored inside the chamber14and prevent external elements such as insects or rain from entering into the chamber14.

A fire grate22is disposed within the chamber14to support burnable material thereon such as charcoal, wood chips, paper and the like. The grate22may be supported by a grate support means such as a set of lateral shelf members or heat resistant guide rails. Alternatively, the fire grate22may have legs orthogonally extending from the fire grate22in a downward manner. The fire grate22is preferably interiorly positioned below the racks17and above a heat source20to allow for the heat source20to contact the burnable material and generate heat allowing the heat to rise and penetrate items such as food placed on the racks17. In an alternative embodiment, the heat source20may be positioned on and extend from the walls15of the chamber14including but not limited to an electrical heating elements or gas jets.

As the heat rises from the heat source and/or the burning material, the interior surfaces of the chamber14define a uniformly shaped passageway upwardly extending from the heat source and leading to the cover7. Specifically, the interior surfaces8e,9e,10eand11eof the chamber14are tapered in an upward, vertical configuration to reflect the heat at an optimal angle and reduce inefficient radial bounce. The uniformly tapered interior surfaces8e,9e,10eand11eof the chamber14control the flow of heat through the chamber14to exit out of the cover7without creating a thermal bottleneck or flare-ups, and thereby reducing the occurrence of the heat crowning near the cover7.

The cover7collectively includes a cap81, a throw handle35and a vent system28. The vent system28incorporates a damper30and a spark arrester screen33. The throw handle35is engaged to the vent system28to adjust the vent system28, specifically the damper30, from a closed position to an open position. When the damper30is in a completely open configuration, the heat, gases and smoke generated from within the chamber14flows upwardly through the chamber14and escape from within the chamber14and exit through the vent system28and outside the cap81. When the damper30is completely closed, no smoke, heat or gases are emitted from the vent system28, thereby allowing thermal pressure to build up within the chamber14.

The damper30is positioned beneath the spark arrester screen33in order to humidify active sparks, thereby diminishing the spark. The spark arrestor screen33is disposed over the damper30to prevent stray sparks from exiting the cap81and setting external surrounding objects on fire. The spark arrestor screen33may also prevent outside elements from entering the chamber14when the device5is either in active use or idle.

FIG. 6shows the top view of the device5having the tapered configuration. Specifically, the rear wall8, the front wall9and the side walls10and11each depict an identical trapezoidal shape having edges8c,8d,9c,9d,10c,10d,11cand11dadjacently positioned and fastened to each other to form the chamber14which tapers inward from end to end. The edges7a,7b,7cand7dof the cover7are fastened, preferably welded, to the edges8a,9a,10aand11aof the trapezoidal-shaped rear wall8, front wall9and side walls10and11.

A removable ash and combustion pan24is positioned below the chamber14, preferably beneath the fire grate22and the heat source20in order to catch fallen ashes or other remnants from the heat source and/or burnable material. The ash pan24collectively comprises a lateral shelf perpendicularly coupled to a drawer face41. The drawer face41has a handle23attached thereon to allow a user to open the ash pan24when excess ashes need to be disposed and to close the ash pan24when the disposing process has been completed. Side walls may orthogonally extend from opposing sides of the lateral shelf and join each end of the drawer face at 90° angles.

FIGS. 1 and 2show a storage compartment36being positioned underneath the ash pan24. The storage compartment36allows for a user to store equipment such as heat resistant cooking equipment (i.e. oven pans), fireplace accessories or extra burning materials such as coal and wood chips. The storage compartment36is made of the interior surface6eof the base6and a portion of the interior surfaces10eand11eof the side walls10and11and a portion of the interior surface8eof the rear wall8. The storage compartment36may be an open space or may house at least one drawer.

FIG. 8shows an opening52bored through one of the side walls10and11or the rear wall8allowing the user to insert burnable material through the opening52and onto the fire grate22. The opening52may include a door to provide the user easy access to the grate22and allow the fire grate22within the chamber14to be hidden when the combination grill, smoker and fireplace5is not being utilized.

FIGS. 9–15illustrate an alternative embodiment where the combination grill, smoker and fireplace5incorporates at least one door, preferably a second set of doors40, fastened near the bottom edges10band11bof the side walls10and11forming an enclosure60therein. The enclosure60is collectively made of the second set of doors40, the interior surface6eof the base6, a portion of the interior surfaces10eand11eof the side walls10and11and a portion of the interior surface8eof the rear wall8. Each door40has a handle56allowing the user to move the door40from an open configuration to a closed configuration.FIGS. 9–11and13–15show a protruding edge57extending from the door40to either contact another door, or alternatively, the side walls10and11to provide a seal, protect any items stored inside the chamber14and prevent external elements such as insects or rain from entering into the chamber14.

InFIGS. 9 and 10, the enclosure60may function like a fireplace, whereby the enclosure60houses a heat source and burnable material therein. A removable ash and combustion pan91is positioned below the heat source and burnable material to collect ashes therein. The heat generated from the heat source and the burnable material rises and enters into the chamber14allowing the user to enjoy the fire in the enclosure60, while the chamber14acts as a chimney. Screen doors44are positioned behind the second set of doors40to allow the user to enjoy the fire without being harmed by heated substances. Preferably, the screen doors44are independently fastened to the enclosure60and not the second set of doors40, thereby preventing escaping sparks from coming into physical contact with the user.

The enclosure60may also function as a smoker or grill, whereby the enclosure60houses the heat source and may include a fire grate positioned above the heat source. Walls80of the enclosure60may include a rack support means100such as sets of lateral shelf members perpendicularly extending from at least two opposing walls80. Each set of lateral shelf members supports a rack77. In the most preferred embodiment, multiple racks77are inserted into the enclosure60, where the number of racks77is only limited to the height of the enclosure60. Other rack support means100may include, but is not limited to, heat resistant guide rails attached on the walls80.

Specifically, the ash pan91is positioned near the base6of the combination grill, smoker and fireplace5to collect fallen ashes or remnants from burnable material therein. The ash pan91may collectively comprise of a lateral shelf perpendicularly coupled to a drawer face93. The drawer face93has a handle95attached thereon to allow a user to open the ash pan91when excess ashes need to be disposed and to close the ash pan91when the disposing process has been completed. Side walls may orthogonally extend from opposing sides of the lateral shelf and join each end of the drawer face at 90° angles.

In a further alternative embodiment, shown inFIGS. 16–22, the base6of the device5is located in a closer proximity to the ash pan24having a clearance area there between. Preferably the clearance area is 6″–10″ between the base6and the ash pan24. The base6may be configured with a thicker base height to act as a deck and prevent thermal heat transfer from the combination grill, smoker and fireplace5to a flooring surface or ground.

While the above detailed description describes a preferred embodiment and best mode of the invention, it should be understood and apparent to those skilled in the art that various other embodiments of the invention can be created without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is defined in the claims that follow.