Portable barbecue pit

Portable barbecue pits grill a large quantity of food outdoors while remaining portable. A grill grate is supported by a rear wall and two sidewalls. The grill grate is removably connected to the top of the sidewalls by grill latches in the form of hasps. Two doors are hingedly attached to the sidewalls underneath the front of the grill grate. Door flaps are hingedly attached to the bottom of the doors. A lid with handles attached to its front and rear can be propped open on top of grill grate 12 by a lid support 18, or the lid can removably cover the grill grate 12. The lid also serves as a base for transporting the collapsed portable barbecue pit. The lid, rear wall, and sidewalls have tubular steel frames covered by sheet steel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable barbecue pit for use in connection with cooking. The portable barbecue pit has particular utility in connection with grilling a large quantity of food outdoors while remaining portable.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Portable barbecue pits are desirable for grilling a large quantity of food outdoors while remaining portable. Many occasions, such as family reunions, picnics, barbecues, and company functions require large amounts of food to be cooked outdoors. Purchasing, transporting, and using multiple grills can be an expensive and time-consuming approach to addressing this need. Most large grills are either not portable at all or can be moved only with great difficulty. Portable barbecue pits overcome these obstacles by allowing users to cook a large quantity of food on a single grill while also being easy to transport.

The use of portable barbecues is known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,064,637 to Thomson discloses a portable barbecue. However, the Thomson '637 patent does not have a rear wall, and has further drawbacks of lacking doors.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,747,566 to Werden discloses a collapsible camp cooker that enables fires to be safely built. However, the Werden '566 patent does not have door flaps, and additionally does not have a lid.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 1,333,335 to O'Kane discloses a camp stove that is foldable to form a compact package convenient for handling, transportation, or storage. However, the O'Kane '335 patent does not have doors, and does not have a lid.

In addition, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 142,866 to Johannsen discloses a portable foldable grill that grills food. However, the Johannsen '866 patent does not have doors, and also does not have a lid.

Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,950 to Johnson discloses a camp stove that cooks meat or other food. However, the Johnson '950 patent does not have doors, and further lacks a lid.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,285 to Hait discloses a reflector stove that can be folded to a compact collapsed, easily portable form. However, the Hait '285 patent does not have doors, and has the additional deficiency of lacking a lid.

Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,111 to Lu discloses a collapsible barbecue grill that can be quickly extended in use or folded for convenient carrying and storage. However, the Lu '111 patent does not have doors, and also does not have a lid.

While the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a portable barbecue pit that allows grilling a large quantity of food outdoors while remaining portable. The Thomson '637 patent makes no provision for a rear wall. The Thomson '637 patent, the O'Kane '335 patent, the Johannsen '866 patent, the Johnson '950 patent, the Hait '285 patent, and the Lu '111 patent lack doors. The Werden '566 patent omits door flaps. The Werden '566 patent, the O'Kane '335 patent, the Johannsen '866 patent, the Johnson '950 patent, the Hait '285 patent, and the Lu '111 patent do not have a lid.

Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved portable barbecue pit that can be used for grilling a large quantity of food outdoors while remaining portable. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. In this respect, the portable barbecue pit according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of grilling a large quantity of food outdoors while remaining portable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of portable barbecues now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved portable barbecue pit, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved portable barbecue pit which has all the advantages of the prior art mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a portable barbecue pit which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof.

To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a grill grate with its top frictionally engaged with the bottom of a lid, the back of its bottom frictionally engaged with the top of a rear wall, and the opposing sides of its bottom frictionally engaged with the top of a plurality of sidewalls. A plurality of handles are attached to the front and the back of the lid. A plurality of doors are hingedly connected by door hinges to one of the sides of each of the sidewalls.

The invention may also include a plurality of grill latches removably connecting the opposing sides of the grill grate to the top of the sidewalls. The grill latches may be hasps. There may be a plurality of door flaps hingedly attached by door flap hinges to the bottom of the doors. There may be a lid support with one end frictionally engaged with the bottom of the lid and its opposing end frictionally engaged with the top of the grill grate. The portable barbecue pit may be selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum, and titanium. The lid, rear wall, and sidewalls may be of tubular frame construction with attached sheets. The portable barbecue pit may be about 50 in. high, 74 in. long, and 47½ in. wide. The rear wall, the sidewalls, the doors, and the grill grate may be stacked atop the lid to allow the portable barbecue pit be transported using the handles. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved portable barbecue pit that has all of the advantages of the prior art portable barbecues and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved portable barbecue pit that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved portable barbecue pit that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such portable barbecue pit economically available to the buying public.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new portable barbecue pit that provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a portable barbecue pit for grilling a large quantity of food outdoors while remaining portable. This allows the user to barbecue a large quantity of food on a single grill.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a portable barbecue pit for grilling a large quantity of food outdoors while remaining portable. This makes it possible to transport the portable barbecue pit.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a portable barbecue pit for grilling a large quantity of food outdoors while remaining portable. This makes the portable barbecue pit collapsible.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a portable barbecue pit for grilling a large quantity of food outdoors while remaining portable. This allows the user to prop the lid open.

Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved portable barbecue pit for grilling a large quantity of food outdoors while remaining portable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly toFIGS. 1–6, a current embodiment of the portable barbecue pit of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral10.

InFIG. 1, a new and improved portable barbecue pit10of the present invention for grilling a large quantity of food outdoors while remaining portable is illustrated and will be described. More particularly, the portable barbecue pit10has a grill grate12supported by two sidewalls22and a rear wall36(not shown). Grill grate12is removably connected to sidewalls22by grill latches20(only one of which is visible). Two doors24are hingedly attached by door hinges30to one side of each of the sidewalls22. Each door24has a door flap26hingedly attached to its bottom by door flap hinges28. A lid14can be placed on top of grill grate12. The lid14has handles16attached to its front and rear. A lid support18can have one end resting against grill grate12and its opposing end frictionally engaged with the bottom of lid14to prop lid14open. The lid14, sidewalls22, and rear wall36are constructed from frames38covered by sheets40. In the current embodiment, frames38are made of tubular steel to minimize weight while retaining strength. Sheets40are made of steel in the current embodiment. Grill grate12, doors24, and door flaps26are made of steel in the current embodiment, and grill latches20are hasps.

Moving on toFIG. 2, a new and improved portable barbecue pit10of the present invention for grilling a large quantity of food outdoors while remaining portable is illustrated and will be described. More particularly, the portable barbecue pit10has a lid14with handles16removably covering grill grate12. Grill grate12is supported by rear wall36and sidewalls22. The rear wall36and sidewalls22are constructed from frames38covered by sheets40. In use, the portable barbecue pit10rests on the ground32and wood chips34are placed within the confines of the rear wall36, sidewalls22, and doors24(not shown). The wood chips34, preferably oak chips or hickory chips, are burned to heat grill grate12. Note that the broken lines illustrating ground32and wood chips34are for illustrative purposes only and are not part of the current invention.

Continuing withFIG. 3, a new and improved portable barbecue pit10of the present invention for grilling a large quantity of food outdoors while remaining portable is illustrated and will be described. More particularly, the portable barbecue pit10has a grill grate12supported by a sidewall22and rear wall36. Wood chips34are placed beneath grill grate12through door24to heat grill grate12. The door flap26can be pivoted about door flap hinge28, as illustrated by the double-headed arrow, to allow air to enter the interior of the portable barbecue pit10to facilitate combustion of wood chips34. Sidewall22and rear wall36are constructed from frames38covered by sheets40. Note that the broken lines illustrating wood chips34are for illustrative purposes only and are not part of the current invention.

InFIG. 4, a new and improved portable barbecue pit10of the present invention for grilling a large quantity of food outdoors while remaining portable is illustrated and will be described. More particularly, the portable barbecue pit10has a lid14removably covering grill grate12. Handles16can be used to lift and lower lid14, and are therefore made of a nonconductive material, such as wood, so that they do not become hot when lid14is placed on top of grill grate12. Doors24(not shown) have been removed from door hinges30to expose the interior of the portable barbecue pit10. Two sidewalls22and a rear wall36support the grill grate12. The sidewalls22and rear wall36are constructed from frames38and sheets40.

Furthermore, inFIG. 5, a new and improved portable barbecue pit10of the present invention for grilling a large quantity of food outdoors while remaining portable is illustrated and will be described. More particularly, the portable barbecue pit10is illustrated in its collapsed position with grill grate12, rear wall36, sidewalls22, and doors24stacked atop lid14. Handles16can be used to transport the entire portable barbecue pit10from one location to another. The door flap26hingedly attached by door flap hinges28to the bottom of door24is visible.

Concluding withFIG. 6, a new and improved rear wall36of the present invention for grilling a large quantity of food outdoors while remaining portable is illustrated and will be described. More particularly, the rear wall36has one side connected to one side of sidewall22. The rear wall36and sidewall22consist of frames38covered by sheets40.

In use, it can now be understood that the user uses handles16to carry the portable barbecue pit10to the desired location. The sidewalls22are connected to the rear wall36, and the doors24are hung on door hinges30. The user then places grill grate12on top of rear wall36and sidewalls22and removably secures it to sidewalls22using grill latches20. The user then places wood chips34within the interior of the portable barbecue pit10, ignites them, and closes doors24. The user opens door flaps26to allow air to enter the interior of the portable barbecue pit10to facilitate the combustion of wood chips34. Lid14can be propped open atop grill grate12using lid support18or can removably cover grill grate12during the cooking process. After cooking is completed and the portable barbecue pit10has cooled, the user can detach grill grate12from the sidewalls22, remove doors24from their hinges, and detach sidewalls22from rear wall36. The user then stacks grill grate12, rear wall36, sidewalls22, and doors24atop lid14to prepare the portable barbecue pit10for transport.

While a current embodiment of the portable barbecue pit has been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. For example, any suitable sturdy and heat-resistant material such as aluminum or titanium may be used instead of the steel described. Also, the wood chips may also be charcoal briquettes, chunks of wood, or similar combustible material. Furthermore, a wide variety of sizes may be used instead of the 50 in. high, 74 in. long, and 47½ in. wide described.