Portable cooking grill system

A portable cooking grill system includes a cooking grill assembly having a grilling-rack comprising a first-section and a second-section, a frame having a plurality of foldable legs, and a detachable handle. The cooking grill assembly includes the grilling-rack and the frame in foldable functional combination such that the portable cooking grill system is configured for portable cooking use and ease of storage for backpacking, camping and other activities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of cooking grills and more specifically relates to a portable cooking grill.

2. Description of Related Art

Many people enjoy cooking various types of food on a grilling surface over an open fire, charcoal or other sources of heat. As is well known, this type of cooking is commonly referred to as grilling or barbequing. The grilling surface typically comprises a plurality of interconnected, spaced apart and generally parallel transverse rods or bars that form a grate on which the food is cooked. Alternatively, the grilling surface may comprise a ribbed surface or a generally flat, griddle-type of surface. While grilling of food is popular both at and away from the home, outdoor enthusiasts such as hunters, campers, hikers, recreational vehicle users and the like particularly tend to utilize and enjoy grilling their food. Although some of this popularity has to do with the lack of a non-grilling cooking device, such as an oven or stove, that is suitable or efficient for cooking food outdoors, much of the popularity of grilling has to do with the availability of fuel (such as wood), the taste of grilled foods, the avoidance of inside cooking odors and the overall enjoyment of the outdoor experience. For this reason, even those outdoor enthusiasts who do have ovens or stoves readily available, such as recreational vehicle users and many camper units, often prefer to grill their food over an open fire-type of heat source outside the recreational vehicle or other camp vehicle.

One alternative the outdoor enthusiast has to using a provided fire pit and his or her own grilling surface is to utilize a barbeque unit, which usually has a “built-in” grilling surface and is similar in configuration to the typical home unit that can be brought to the cooking location by the camping vehicle, recreational vehicle or other vehicle. Unfortunately, use of the home-type of barbeque units is generally not very practical due to the size of such units and the storage space available to the outdoor enthusiast for carrying the necessary materials and equipment to the camping location. In addition, many such units can be difficult to load and unload from the vehicle due to their size, weight and/or shape. As such, the typical outdoor enthusiast does not utilize these types of barbeque units for his or her grilling purposes. A suitable solution is desired.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,080,640 to Larry E. Sanders, et al. relates to a portable cooking grill having collapsible and extendable frame. The described portable cooking grill having collapsible and extendable frame includes a portable cooking grill that is configured with a collapsible frame having telescoping legs and a pair of frame sections that extend outwardly to allow the user to adjust the height of the grilling surface and the size of the frame. Each frame section has a pair of telescoping legs pivotally connected to the ends of side support rails which support a grill insert, having a pair of foldably connected grill sections, that form the grilling surface. The legs include a securing mechanism suitable for securing the legs at the height desired by the user. The side support rails slidably engage grill supports located at the sides of the grill insert to extend the position of the legs outwardly. A locking mechanism locks the legs in either their upstanding or folded positions. A slidable connecting mechanism locks the legs in or between the retracted and extended positions.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known cooking grill art, the present disclosure provides a novel portable cooking grill system. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an efficient and effective portable grilling platform.

A portable cooking grill system is disclosed herein. The portable cooking grill system includes a cooking grill assembly including a grilling-rack comprising a first-section and a second-section, a frame having a plurality of foldable legs, and a detachable handle. The first-section and the second-section of the grilling-rack are hingedly connected via a connector creating a foldable grilling-rack. The plurality of foldable legs is configured to support the grilling-rack in an elevated position during use and fold into a compact state for a non-use-condition. The detachable handle is included for maneuvering the cooking grill assembly during use. The plurality of foldable legs may further comprise a support member including a locking device for preventing collapsing of the frame during use. The locking device may include a sliding lock brace for supporting the plurality of foldable legs when in an extended position. In a preferred embodiment, the frame comprises four of the plurality of foldable legs for supporting the grilling-rack. The plurality of foldable legs may be positioned at each corner of the grilling-rack providing a cooking platform.

The cooking grill assembly comprises the grilling-rack and the frame in foldable functional combination such that the portable cooking grill system is configured for portable cooking use and ease of storage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to cooking grills and more particularly to a portable cooking grill system as used to improve the portability and convenience of cooking while on-the-go.

Generally, the portable cooking grill system is a foldable grill with a removable handle with a silicone cover. The legs may have a locking device to prevent collapsing. The compact design allows for a ‘minimalist approach’. The portable cooking grill system is a collapsible compact grill with a removable handle that allows for minimalist use while backpacking or camping. The handle preferably has a silicon cover that prevents burns and is made of a material that will be durable for extended use. The device is easy to clean and transport. The locking legs fold up and down with a locking device to prevent the grill from collapsing giving the user a strong cooking platform.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown inFIGS. 1-5, various views of a portable cooking grill system100.FIG. 1shows a portable cooking grill system100during an ‘in-use’ condition150, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the portable cooking grill system100may include a cooking grill assembly110including a grilling-rack120comprising a first-section122and a second-section124, a frame130having a plurality of foldable legs134, and a detachable handle160. The first-section122and the second-section124of the grilling-rack120are hingedly connected via a connector126creating a foldable grilling-rack120. The plurality of foldable legs134are configured to support the grilling-rack120in an elevated position during use and fold into a compact state for a non-use-condition152. The detachable handle160is included for maneuvering the cooking grill assembly110during use. The cooking grill assembly110comprises the grilling-rack120and the frame130in foldable functional combination such that the portable cooking grill system100is configured for portable cooking use and ease of storage.

FIG. 2shows a perspective view of the portable cooking grill system100ofFIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the portable cooking grill system100may include the cooking grill assembly110including the grilling-rack120comprising the first-section122and the second-section124; the frame130having the plurality of foldable legs134, and the detachable handle160. The plurality of foldable legs134may further comprise a support member136including a locking device138for preventing collapsing of the frame during use. The locking device138may include a sliding lock brace for supporting the plurality of foldable legs134when in an extended position. In a preferred embodiment, the frame130comprises four of the plurality of foldable legs134for supporting the grilling-rack120. The plurality of foldable legs134may be positioned at each corner of the grilling-rack120providing a cooking platform.

FIG. 3shows a perspective view of the portable cooking grill system100ofFIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the portable cooking grill system100may include the cooking grill assembly110including the grilling-rack120comprising the first-section122and the second-section124; the frame130is supported by the plurality of foldable legs134, and the detachable handle160. The first-section122and the second-section124of the grilling-rack120are hingedly connected via the connector126creating a foldable grilling-rack120. The first-section122and the second-section124may each have a longest dimension along a length of the first-section122and the second-section124. The connector126may connect along the length of both the first-section122and the second-section124. The connector126may comprise a hinge allowing the first-section122and the second-section124to fold and pivot along a longest mutual edge between the first-section122and the second-section124. The grilling-rack120comprises a grate having the series of rack-members128parallel to one another. The connector126may be perpendicular to the series of rack-members128. The connector126may further comprise a lock for securing the device in an unfolded position. The first-section122and the second-section124share a common plane during an in-use condition. The first-section122and the second-section124share a stacked plane during the non-use-condition152(shown inFIG. 4). The first-section122and the second-section124pivot via the connector126in relation to each other about a centerline axis. The centerline axis passes through lengthwise in a preferred embodiment; thus being a novel feature.

FIG. 4shows a perspective view of the portable cooking grill system100ofFIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the portable cooking grill system100may include the detachable handle160. The detachable handle160may be removeably coupleable to the frame130. The detachable handle160comprises a silicone cover. The silicone cover is heat and fire resistant and allows a user to move the portable cooking grill system100during use and prevents burns. The grilling-rack120comprises a generally rectangular cooking platform. The cooking grill assembly110, when the plurality of foldable legs134are in a locked position, is approximately 9 inches tall.

FIG. 5shows a perspective view of the portable cooking grill system100ofFIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the portable cooking grill system100may include cooking grill assembly110comprising the grilling-rack120and the frame130in foldable functional combination such that the portable cooking grill system100is configured for portable cooking use and ease of storage. The portable cooking grill system100provides a collapsible compact grill with a detachable handle160that allows for minimalist use while backpacking or camping.