Outdoor cooking system

A portable grill easily carried as components, which may be stacked as generally flat parts, to be carried in a compact container, and may be easily assembled without tools and used in various modes. Upper and lower reflectors which are flat rectangular parts when disassembled, are flexed and held in arcuate shapes upon assembly, to form the cooker lid and body, respectively, by rods that engage the edges of the reflectors and mount in holes in the legs. After use, the cooker may be disassembled and transported again. By installing, removing and substituting various parts, the cooking unit may be used as, for example, a grill, a baker, a boiler, a smoker, a steamer, a deep fryer and the like. Provision is made for propane as well as charcoal, wood and other consumable fuels.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
 The invention relates generally to a cooking system and, more particularly,
 to a versatile outdoor cooking system which permits rapid assembly and
 disassembly for easy storage and transportation
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 Cooking outdoors is well-known and many system's have been developed to
 facilitate cooking outdoors. However, the systems that are available
 either are limited in desirable features or, if they are provided with
 many desirable features, are heavy and cumbersome to store and difficult
 to transport, for example, by one hiking through a wilderness area.
 Therefore, what is needed is a lightweight outdoor cooking system which
 provides desirable features and which may also be easily stored and
 readily transported.
 Many available systems are inefficient by design. Deficiencies include:
 Inadequate draft control.
 No fire grate.
 No Combustion air control.
 Open lid designs lose heat, do not reflect heat to food being cooked.
 No radiant heat.
 Not rain proof or wind proof.
 Square shapes are less efficient than parabolic or semi circular shapes.
 Painted surfaces absorb heat while unpainted aluminum reflects heat.
 Grills with short legs may start grass fires.
 Grills with short legs are inconvenient, requiring the user to stoop or
 squat.
 No place to hang implements.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention, accordingly, provides a system for cooking outdoors
 which permits rapid assembly and disassembly with the feature that when
 disassembled all the pieces lie flat for easy storage and transportation.
 Additionally, the system includes a number of additional features which
 enable it to be used in a number of different cooking modes as, for
 example, a grill, a baker, a boiler, a smoker, a steamer, a deep fat
 fryer, and the like. Some of these modes may be carried out
 simultaneously. A dutch oven may be utilized in the present invention,
 without a ground fire, and can be used despite rain or wind. Improved
 draft control makes possible starting of charcoal fire, even in rain, by
 positioning body and lid ends to control draft.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 Referring to FIG. 1, the outdoor cooking system embodying features of the
 present invention is generally illustrated at 10. A body reflector 12
 forms a portion of the body of the cooker, and another reflector 14 forms
 a portion of the lid assembly 15. A body end 16 at each end of reflector
 12 closes the ends of the body portion of the cooker. Body end 16 lifts up
 to access fire or baking area below grill. Lid ends 18 and 19 (see FIG. 2)
 at each end of reflector 14 close the ends of lid 15 of the cooker. Rods
 20 and 22 join and support reflector 12, as will be described hereinafter.
 Rods 28 and 30 join with and support reflector 14, as will be described
 hereinafter. Rod 20 also acts as a hinge pin about which lid 15 pivots for
 access to any heat source or food in the cooker.
 Referring to FIG. 2, the cooker 10 is shown with the lid 15 open, showing
 lid end 19, without the cooking grill.
 FIG. 3 shows an exploded parts relationship between some of the parts of
 cooker 10. Rods 20 and 22 insert through conduits formed in the edges of
 reflector 12 and into hole 44 in lid end 18 and a similar hole in lid end
 19, not shown in FIG. 3, and into holes 32 and 34, respectively, in leg
 stand 24; and into holes 36 and 38, respectively, in leg 26. Rods 28 and
 30 insert through conduits formed in the edges of reflector 14 and into
 holes 40 and 42 in lid end 18 and similar holes in lid end 19. In the
 preferred embodiment, lid ends 18 and 19 are identical. Grill 46 is
 positioned atop rods 20 and 22. Grate 48 is positioned inside reflector 12
 to support charcoal or other flammable material burned to supply heat for
 cooking. Grate 48 has a front edge and a back edge, the edges engaging and
 supported by the body reflector. Grate 48 is usually placed in a generally
 horizontal position as shown, but may be placed in an angular position in
 order to place the flame closer to the grill to attain greater heat for
 cooking. Grate 48 is supported for supporting flammable fuel in the
 cooker, the grate having a width less than the width of the grill, the
 grate having a first edge and a second opposite edge, the edges located
 inside of and engaging the interior of the body reflector to support the
 grate beneath the grill. The grate may be placed in a horizontal position
 by the grate edges engaging the body reflector, or may be tilted with the
 first edge higher than the second edge to place some of the fire closer to
 the food to speed up the cooking process.
 In the preferred embodiment leg stands 24 and 26 are identical. The
 projecting ends of rod 30 provide handles for lifting the lid to access
 the food in cooker 10. The projecting ends of rods 20 and 22 provide
 convenient places to hang tongs, forks or other cooking accessories. The
 flexibility of the body reflector and body rods allow the leg stands 24
 and 26 to adjust to irregular terrain. In the preferred embodiment, the
 body reflector 12 is sufficiently flexible to allow the grill 10 to twist
 enough to allow the leg ends to move so that one leg end may move to at
 least 2 inches from a plane defined by the other three leg ends.
 FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show plan, side and front views of reflector 12. In the
 preferred embodiment, reflectors 12 and 14 are identical. Conduits 50 and
 52 are formed in alignment on one edge of reflector 12 to accept one of
 rods 20, 22, 28 or 30. Conduits 50 and 52 each define a central axis
 central and longitudinal to the lengths therethrough. Conduits 54 and 56
 are formed in the opposite edge of reflector to accept any of the rods,
 20, 22, 28 or 30. Tabs 51 and 55 are positioned alternate to conduits 50
 and 52, and 54 and 56. A portion of reflector 12 preferably extends beyond
 conduits 50, 52, 54 and 56, coplanar with the main portion of reflector 12
 and with tabs 51 and 55. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, tabs 51 and 55 extend
 above rods 20 and 22 to guide and contain grill 46 and prevent grill 46
 from becoming displaced from the desired position, as for example, if meat
 should stick to grill 46 during cooking, a fork or spatula may be pushed
 between the meat and grill 46 to free the meat for turning or removal from
 the grill.
 FIG. 7 shows the fire grate 48 which may be placed in the assembled cooker
 to support the fire spaced away for the reflector 12 to provide heat
 insulation from reflector 12 and provide air draft to support combustion
 of the fire. The grate 48 is of a selected length to fit within the length
 of reflector 12 and sized in width to fit within the reflector 14 and
 below rods 20 and 22. Preferably, the width of the grate 48 positions the
 grate of a suitable distance below rods 20 and 22, which in the preferred
 embodiment, the width is substantially 70% of the center distance between
 the holes in leg stands 24 and 26. Depending on the proportions of
 reflector 12 and leg stands 24 and 26, the width of the grate 48 may vary
 between 65% and 75% of this center distance, and possibly between 60% and
 80% of this center distance. The fire grate illustrated is made of
 "expanded metal" sheet which has multiple slits in an alternating pattern,
 which are stretched to provide diamond shaped openings. A wire rack may
 also be used for the fire grate 48.
 FIG. 8 shows the grill 46 which is of a selected length to fit within the
 length of reflector 12 and sized in width to fit atop rods 20 and 22, and
 within tabs 51 and 55. The grill 46 in the preferred embodiment has a
 width substantially equal to the center distance between the holes in leg
 stands 24 and 26, plus the diameter of rod 22.
 FIG. 9 shows relationships of cooker 10 parts as assembled. Rod 28 has been
 inserted into conduits 50 and 52 in one edge of reflector 14, and through
 hole 40 in lid end 18. Rod 20 has been inserted into conduits 50 and 52 in
 one edge of reflector 12, through hole 44 in lid end 18 and through hole
 32 in leg stand 24. Body end 16 is inserted between reflector 12 and leg
 stand 24 and supported by rods 20 and 22. Rod 22 is not shown in FIG. 10.
 Since rod 20 is inserted through hole 44 in lid end 18, lid assembly 15 is
 supported in a pivotal relation about support rod 20, and may be closed as
 in FIG. 1, and may be lifted to an open position as shown in FIG. 2. Angle
 X may be selected between 60.degree. and 90.degree.. In the preferred
 embodiment, X is 85.degree., to provide stability to the cooker.
 FIG. 10 shows an exploded end elevation of selected parts of cooker 10. Rod
 20 is inserted in conduits 50 and 52 of reflector 12, then into hole 40 in
 a lid end at each end of reflector 14, then into holes 32 and 36 in legs
 stands 24 and 26, respectively. Rod 22 is inserted into conduits 54 and 56
 in reflector 12, then reflector 12 is flexed as illustrated to align and
 insert rod 22 into holes 34 and 38, in leg stands 24 and 26, respectively.
 Likewise, rod 28 is inserted in conduits 52 and 54 reflector 14, then into
 holes hole 40 in lid end 18 and the like hole in lid end 19. Rod 30 is
 inserted into conduits 54 and 56 in reflector 14 then reflector 14 is
 flexed as illustrated to align and insert rod 30 into hole 42 in lid 18
 and the like hole in lid end 19. One body end 16 is inserted between
 reflector 12 and leg stand 24 and is supported atop rods 20 and 22 by tabs
 58 and 60. The other body end 16 is inserted between reflector 12 and leg
 26 and is supported atop rods 20 and 22 by tabs 58 and 60. Lid ends 18 may
 be slid along rods 28 and 30 to vary the distance from lid 14 to vary flow
 of draft air for the fire. Body ends 16 may be slid along rods 20 and 22
 to vary the distance from reflector 12 to vary flow of draft air for the
 fire.
 In the preferred embodiment, the center distance between the first hole and
 the second hole in the leg stand is 10 inches; the center distance between
 the conduits 50 and 54 is substantially 17.6 inches, that when the body
 reflector is flexed for assemble, the center distance is reduced to
 substantially 57% of the relaxed distance. A range of dimensions for the
 center distance between the conduits could range from 15 to 20 inches. For
 the center distance of 10 inches between the holes in the leg stands, the
 body reflector could by 50 to 67% for this range of distances.
 DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS
 FIG. 11 shows a cross section of the cooker in a different configuration.
 Referring to FIG. 13, also, pan 62 with close fitting pan lid 64 is placed
 with flanges 66 and 68 on pan 62 extending above and supported by rods 20
 and 22. The body of pan 62 is of a width less than the center distance
 between the holes in leg 26, minus the diameter of rod 22. Charcoal
 briquets 70 are placed on grate 48 to provide heat to cook food in pan 62,
 as well as bake a potato 72 placed on reflector 12 below grate 48. Pan lid
 64 has an upstanding rib 65 around the periphery to contain charcoal
 briquets 74 which may be placed atop lid 64 to aid in baking food in pan
 62. The upstanding extends 0.88 inches in the preferred embodiment,
 although any dimension between 0.30 and 1.50 inches would be useable. Pan
 lid 64 has an flanges 67 and 69 which closely fit to flanges 66 and 68 on
 pan 62.
 FIGS. 12 and 17 show support bracket 76 with holes 78 and 80 to fit
 interchangeably on the ends of rods 20 and 22. Holes 78 and 80 have the
 same center distance apart as holes 32 and 34 in leg stand 24 and as holes
 36 and 38 in leg 26. A larger hole 82 is sized and positioned to accept
 and support a propane burner as will be described hereinafter. Slot 84 is
 positioned to accept and support a rotary spit 90 on which food may be
 mounted and rotated during cooking. Straight sides 86 and 88 are sized and
 positioned to accept and support a motor assembly 92 adapted to support
 and rotate the rotary spit 90. FIG. 18 illustrates the spit 90 engaged
 with motor assembly 92 for rotation of the spit 90 while cooking. Angle Y
 defines an apex angle of 90.degree. to 170.degree. between the axis
 connecting the centers of hole 78 and the hole 82 and the axis connecting
 centers of hole 82 and hole 78. In the preferred embodiment the angle Y is
 substantially 130.degree..
 FIG. 14 illustrates grill 46 placed on pan 62 which is placed with flanges
 66 and 68 on pan 62 extending above and to be supported by rods 20 and 22.
 Water may be put in the pan 62 in this configuration for steam cooking
 food placed on the grill 46.
 FIG. 15 shows the cooker 10 outfitted with an accessory propane cooking
 mechanism. The pair of support brackets 76 are mounted, one on each end of
 rods 20 and 22 with the slots 84 extending downwardly. A propane burner 94
 is positioned in the apex atop support brackets 76. A propane tank 96 is
 connected to, and supported by the burner 94 to provide cooking heat. The
 body ends 16 are omitted in this configuration to allow for access for the
 burner 94 to extend through the cooker. The pan lid 64 is placed atop rods
 20 and 22 to provide a griddle.
 FIG. 16 shows the cooker 10 outfitted with accessory propane cooking
 apparatus. A pair of support brackets 76 are mounted, one on each end of
 rods 20 and 22 with the slots 84 extending downwardly. A propane burner 94
 is positioned in the holes 82 in support brackets 76. A propane tank 96 is
 connected to, and supported by the burner 94 to provide cooking heat. The
 pan 62 is placed atop rods 20 and 22 to deep fry, boil or steam food.
 FIG. 19 illustrates a double width cooker, generally at 102, This double
 width cooker is provided with support rods 120, 122 and 128 which are
 longer than rods 20, 22, 28 and 30, and are assembled and used in a
 similar manner to rods 20, 22 and 128. Two each rods 30 are assembled with
 two reflectors 14 and four lid ends 18. The reflectors 14 and two
 reflectors 12 are assembled on rods 120, 122, 128 and two rods 30. In this
 configuration, each lid assembly may be lifted independently to tend to
 the food or fire at that end of the cooker.
 FIG. 20 illustrates a double width cooker, generally at 104, respectively.
 This double width cooker is provided with support rods 120, 122, 128 and
 130, which are longer than rods 20, 22, 28 and 30, and are assembled and
 used in a similar manner to rods 20, 22, 28 and 30. Two each reflectors 12
 and 14 are assembled on rods 120, 122, 128 and 130. Two or three lid ends
 19 as illustrated may be used. Brackets 76 are used to support a propane
 burner 94 and propane tank 96. In this embodiment, one can griddle and
 grill simultaneously.
 Cooker 102 may be assembled with body ends 16 for use with one or two
 grates 48 to support fuel such as charcoal or wood.
 Cooker 104 may be assembled with brackets 76, propane burner 94 and propane
 tank 96 and without body ends 16 to provide propane heat for cooking.
 FIG. 21 illustrates a double width cooker similar to the cooker in FIG. 20,
 except without brackets 76, with propane burner 94 and propane tank 96
 with burner 94 simply positioned in the bottom of reflector 12 to provide
 propane heat for quickly starting a charcoal fire, after which the propane
 burner 94 is removed and body end 16 installed. In this embodiment,
 bracket 121 and 123 engage rods 130 and 128 and 120 and 122 to maintain
 the shape of reflectors 12 and 14. By controlling draft with lid ends 19
 and body ends 16, and by having heat source on one side and food on the
 other side, one can slow smoke food with indirect heat.
 FIG. 22 illustrates a double width cooker assembled with support rods 120,
 122, 128 and 130, similar to FIG. 19, except without reflectors 12 so that
 the cooker may be placed above a camp fire or other heat source on the
 ground. Two or three brackets 76 may be placed with the conduit slot 84
 above rods 120 and 122. A long spit 190 may be assembled with a rotisserie
 motor assembly 92 to turn food, for example, chicken or game birds for
 cooking above a fire below the cooker. Lid ends 118 are similar to lid
 ends 18 except that slot 119 in each lid end 118 provide clearance to
 close the lid around the spit 190.
 FIG. 23 illustrates a double with cooker with reflectors 14 assembled with
 support rods 120 and 122. The lids are assembled with two reflectors 14,
 rod 128, two support rods 30, and four lid ends 18, as illustrated. Rods
 120 and 122 connect and support reflectors 12 as described hereinbefore.
 In this configuration, it is possible to open only one lid section at a
 time to reduce the loss of heat while attending to the food or fire at one
 end of the double width cooker.
 FIGS. 24 and 25 illustrate an alternate embodiment grill. In this
 embodiment, grill 146 is illustrated as a welded wire assembly, with a
 multiplicity of cross members 147 positioned closely enough together in a
 first plane to support food to be cooked without allowing the food to fall
 through the grill. In a second plane, longitudinal rods 148, 150, 152 and
 154 are welded to the cross members 147. In the preferred embodiment, rods
 148, 150152 and 154 are the same diameter. Rods 148 and 150 fit parallel
 to and between rods 20 and 22, to hold grill 146 in place, even when used
 without reflector 12. Rods 152 and 154 are spaced apart substantially 0.3
 inches apart to allow a 1/4" bolt 156 to pass through and engage the head
 of bolt 156. Bolt 156 screws into propane burner 158 to support one or
 more burners 158 from grill 146. Cross members 147 are spaced apart far
 enough to allow the head of bolt 156 to fit between cross members 147. By
 allowing the head of bolt 156 to fit down between cross members 147, the
 bolt head is below the top of grill 147, where the bolt head will not
 interfere with a pot or pan placed on grill 147. This provides means for
 suspending a propane burner from the grill. These means may also include a
 washer attached to the grill. Top of grill 147 is level with top of legs
 stand 24. By sliding leg stands 24 outward on rods 20 and 22, legs 24
 serve as additional support for large pots and pans.
 FIG. 25 illustrates an exploded elevation view of the alternate embodiment
 grill of FIG. 24 including an accessory propane burner 158 with propane
 tank 160. In this alternate embodiment, for example, over an open camp
 fire, one could cook with accessory propane burner 158 with propane tank
 160. Support rods 20 and 22 are assembled into holes 32 and 34 in two legs
 24 as described hereinbefore. Longitudinal rods 148 or 150 are positioned
 at a center distance at a center distance between holes 32 and 34 in leg
 24 less the diameter of rod 20, less the diameter of rod 148.
 The grill according to this invention may be assembled without the body
 reflector 14 and placed above a campfire to perform cooking. For the
 purpose of this specification, a campfire includes any fire built on a
 non-combustible surface, whether indoors or outdoors, other than on a
 grate supported in a body reflector 14 of this invention.
 The grill according to this invention may have at least one of the body
 front rod or body back rod of sufficient length to hang one or more
 cooking utensils, or to act as handles to lift the cooker. In the
 preferred embodiment, the grill according to this invention has the lid
 front rod of sufficient length to extend substantially 1 inch beyond each
 lid end to act as handles to lift the lid. In any embodiment of this
 invention, both of the body front rod and body back rod may have a first
 and a second end and are of sufficient length to extend beyond each of the
 leg stands to provide a handles for moving the grill. I have disclosed a
 portable grill wherein the lid ends, each having the lid front hole, each
 lid end having the lid back hole, each lid end having a hinge hole through
 which the body back rod is insertably located, providing rotatable
 attachment of the lid ends and lid reflector about the body back rod when
 rotated about the body back rod, brings the lid back rod into engagement
 with the leg stands, thereby limiting rotation of the lid ends and thereby
 the lid assembly to 60.degree. to 120.degree. about the body back rod. In
 the preferred embodiment, rotation of the lid ends is substantially
 90.degree. about the body back rod although 75 to 105 could be a useful
 range. Another feature of this invention is that both of the body front
 rod and body back rod have first and second ends and are of sufficient
 length to extend beyond each of the leg stands to provide a handles for
 moving the grill.
 For purposes of this specification, flammable fuel is defined as wood or
 charcoal, or other flammable material that can be used as fuel for
 cooking.
 Even though several embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in
 the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing Description it
 will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments
 disclosed, but is capable of rearrangements, modifications, and
 substitutions and reversals of parts and elements without departing from
 the spirit of the invention.