Exemplary embodiments of a back panel and a clipping system for a clamshell griddle are provided. In some exemplary embodiments, a griddle apparatus is provided, including a base portion having a cooking surface thereon, a back wall substantially perpendicular to the base portion, an upper clamshell griddle that pivots with respect to the cooking surface between a first position substantially parallel to the cooking surface and a second position away from the cooking surface, and a removable back panel that is insertable between the upper clamshell griddle and the back wall, and configured to cover a portion of the back wall. A clipping system is also provided for securing a removable non-stick cooking surface to the upper clamshell griddle.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to exemplary embodiments of a clamshell griddle, and more particularly, to a back panel and clipping system for a clamshell griddle.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Two-sided cooking (e.g., cooking with heat applied from griddle plate members both above and below the food product) generally reduces the overall cooking time and the amount of operator attention required for cooking the food products. Not only is cooking time reduced with two-sided cooking, but certain foods can be improved in taste and texture by the application of force (e.g., a compressing of sandwiching type force) during the cooking process. Therefore, two-sided griddle-type cooking devices, also known as clamshell griddles, can be highly desirable in fast food restaurants.

However, the grease and residue resulting from using clamshell griddles can often be problematic and difficult to clean, particularly on the upper griddle. Further, it would be desirable to use a removable non-stick cooking surface on the clamshell griddle so that the upper griddle does not get dirty. It would be desirable to provide a griddle apparatus that is easy to clean which can provide for a removable non-stick cooking surface on the upper griddle.

SUMMARY OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

At least some of the above described problems can be addressed by exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can provide for a back panel and clipping system for a clamshell griddle.

In some exemplary embodiments, a griddle apparatus is provided, comprising a base portion having a cooking surface thereon, a back wall substantially perpendicular to the base portion, an upper clamshell griddle that pivots with respect to the cooking surface between a first position substantially parallel to the cooking surface and a second position away from the cooking surface, and a removable back panel that is insertable between the upper clamshell griddle and the back wall, and configured to cover a portion of the back wall.

The griddle apparatus can further comprise one or more curtains provided on a front surface of the back panel. The griddle apparatus can further comprise a lip provided on a top portion of the front surface of the back panel that is substantially perpendicular to the front surface, the lip configured to engage the back wall to support the back panel. The griddle apparatus can further comprise a handle on the lip that is substantially perpendicular to the lip. In some exemplary embodiments, the removable back panel can be substantially perpendicular to the cooking surface.

The griddle apparatus can further comprise one or more slots provided within each curtain. In some exemplary embodiments, each of the curtains can have a first end that terminates adjacent a top portion of the front surface, and a second end that extends to a bottom of the front surface to allow access within the slots of each curtain.

The griddle apparatus can further comprise a griddle pull bar connected to the upper clamshell griddle at a first end and to the back wall at a second end, the griddle pull bar configured to raise and lower the upper clamshell griddle, a weight configured to support the upper clamshell griddle in the second position, and a weight support bar connected to the weight at a first end and the back wall at a second end. In some exemplary embodiments, the griddle pull bar and weight support bar are configured to be provided within the slots of the back panel when the back panel covers the back wall. In some exemplary embodiments, the curtains can have a rectangular configuration.

In some exemplary embodiments, a griddle apparatus can be provided, comprising a base portion having a cooking surface thereon, an upper clamshell griddle that pivots with respect to the cooking surface between a first position substantially parallel to the cooking surface and a second position away from the cooking surface, the upper clamshell griddle having a lower surface configured to cook food, and a clipping system provided on the upper clamshell griddle configured to secure a removable non-stick cooking surface against the lower surface of the upper clamshell griddle. The clipping system can comprise one or more clips.

In some exemplary embodiments, the upper clamshell griddle can comprise a front surface, a first side surface and a second side surface, wherein each of the front surface, first side surface and second side surface are raised upwards from the lower surface of the upper clamshell griddle. In some exemplary embodiments, the one or more clips can be provided on an upper portion of the front surface, first side surface and second side surface to secure the removable non-stick cooking surface.

In some exemplary embodiments, each clip can comprise a first side portion on a first end and a second side portion on a second end that are biased together to engage the upper portion of the front surface, first side surface and second side surface. Each clip can further comprise a middle vertical portion having a top edge substantially perpendicular to the middle vertical portion configured to secure the clip against the upper portion of the front surface, first side surface and second side surface. In some exemplary embodiments, a bottom portion of each clip can flare outward. In some exemplary embodiments, a top portion of the first end and the second end have a circular configuration.

In some exemplary embodiments, the griddle apparatus can further comprise a back wall substantially perpendicular to the base portion, and a removable back panel that is insertable between the upper clamshell griddle and the back wall, and configured to cover a portion of the back wall, wherein the removable back panel is substantially perpendicular to the cooking surface. In some exemplary embodiments, the griddle apparatus can further comprise one or more curtains provided on a front surface of the back panel, and one or more slots provided within each curtain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF DISCLOSURE

The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can provide for a back panel for a clamshell griddle that can prevent grease and dirt from covering the back portion of the clamshell griddle, and a clipping system to hold a nonstick cooking surface to the top surface of the clamshell griddle. Exemplary embodiments of the methods and systems will now be described with reference to the figures. The following description of the various embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, its application, or uses.

FIG. 1illustrates a clamshell griddle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The clamshell griddle100can have a base110placed on a stand115, can have a plurality legs118. The clamshell griddle100also has a back portion or back wall120and a back panel140, and can have various controls on a front panel125. The clamshell griddle100can have a bottom cooking surface130. An upper clamshell150is provided for pivoting and clamping down on food being cooked on the cooking surface130. In some exemplary embodiments, two upper clamshells150can be provided on the cooking surface130.

The upper clamshell150can have a griddle pull bar165to raise and lower the upper clamshell150. The griddle pull bar160can have pull bar supports160that extend into the back panel140. A weight180can be connected to a weight support bar185that extends into the back panel140, as further described below. The weight180can help hold the upper clamshell150in a raised position when rested on the back wall120, as shown inFIG. 2. Clips170can be provided to hold a nonstick cooking surface to the lower surface of the upper clamshell150that is placed on top of the food on the bottom cooking surface130, as further described below.

FIG. 3illustrates a back panel for a clamshell griddle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 3, a back panel140for the clamshell griddle100is provided having a front surface142. The front surface has curtains144,146and148, which can be but are not limited to a rectangular configuration. The front surface142can be but is not limited to a metal material, such as stainless steel, and the curtains144,146and148can be but are not limited to a plastic or paper material. The curtains144and146provide a recess within slots147that open for the pull bar supports160to extend into and are supported by the back portion120within the curtains144and146, as shown inFIG. 1. The curtain148provides a recess within slot147that open for the weight support bar185to extend into and are supported by the back portion120within the curtain148, as shown inFIG. 1.

A lip149can be provided on a top portion of the back panel140that is perpendicular to the front surface142of the back panel140. The lip149can engage with or sit on the back portion120of the clamshell griddle100to hold the back panel140on the back portion120. In some exemplary embodiments, the lip149can be integral with the front surface142. A handle143can be provided on the back panel140that allows a user to grasp the back panel140and slide the back panel140in and out for easy cleaning of the back panel140. In some exemplary embodiments, the handle143can be formed on the lip149perpendicular to the lip149, and can be integral with the lip149and the front surface142. The curtains144,146and148can have an upper first end that terminate at an upper portion of the front surface142, and a bottom second end that are open so that the back panel142can slide out without interfering without interfering with the pull bar supports160and weight support bar185. That is, the bottom portions of curtains144and146allow the pull bar supports160to slide within the curtains144,146, and the bottom portion of curtain148allow the weight support bar185to slide within the curtain148. The back panel140can cover and keep the back portion120clean from grease, oils and residue that result from cooking.

FIG. 4illustrates a clip for a clipping system for a clamshell griddle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. One or more clips170can be provided to secure a removable cooking surface on the lower surface of the upper clamshell150, as shown inFIG. 2. The clip170can have two opposing side portions172on a first end and a second end that are biased together to be placed on a top portion of side surfaces190of the upper clamshell150and a front portion195of the upper clamshell150, as further described below. That is, one or more clips can be placed at top portions of side surfaces190, and a top portion of front portion195. These top portions of side surfaces190and front portion195are placed within the two opposing side portions172of each clip170. The clip170can have top opposing portions174of a circular or “loop” configuration above the side portion172on each end of the clip170, and a middle vertical portion176between the two ends172. The middle vertical portion176can have an edge178perpendicular to the middle vertical portion176. The edge178can rest against a top portion of the front surface195and the first and second side surfaces135, as shown inFIG. 2. The bottom portion of the clip170can flare out so that the top portions of the side surfaces190and the front portion195of the upper clamshell150can be easily placed within the clips170.

FIG. 2illustrates a clipping system being used in conjunction with an upper clamshell griddle150according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, a removable non-stick cooking surface135can be applied to a lower surface of the upper clamshell150. The removable non-stick cooking surface135can be made of polytetrafluoroethylene (e.g., Teflon® or other similar material), and provided on the lower surface of the upper clamshell150so that food does not stick to the lower surface of the upper clamshell150. In some exemplary embodiments, two clips170can be provided on each side surface190of the upper clamshell150, and one clip170can be provided on the front portion195of the upper clamshell150, as shown inFIG. 2. The clips170once inserted over the top portions of side surfaces190and front portion195and over the removable non-stick cooking surface135to hold the removable non-stick cooking surface135to the upper clamshell150. The clips170are easily removed by lifting them to remove the removable non-stick cooking surface135when necessary to change or replace the removable non-stick cooking surface135.

The clamshell griddle100can have various shapes and configurations, and are not limited to any shape or configuration. Various materials can be used for the construction of the clamshell griddle100and its components. Various different materials can be used to construct the non-stick cooking surface. Various components can be provided together, or individually.

The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the disclosure. Various modifications and alterations to the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous systems, arrangements, manufacture and methods which, although not explicitly shown or described herein, embody the principles of the disclosure and are thus within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.