Wire rack and grill lifting tool

A lifting tool having a handle connected to a flexible stabilizing member with ends that engage the top surface of a wire rack, and a hook member that extends downwardly from the stabilizing member to engage and receive the wire rack when the stabilizing member is in a compressed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward a tool for lifting a wire cooking rack, and more particularly a tool for lifting the cooking rack or grate of a conventional grill.

Tools for lifting wire racks are well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,985 by Mahoney discloses a grill lifting tool having a grill engaging element that uses leverage to lift the grill grate by wedging the engaging element between two grill wires. The engaging element forces the concentration of the grill weight onto two of the wires providing the possibility of bending the wires. In addition the limited width of the engaging element and the grooves therein, provide a very limited attachment and the possibility that the grill rack could tip causing damage and/or injury.

To provide a more stable attachment U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,314 discloses a tool having a handle, a hook, and a stabilizing element that rests on the underside of the rack against several of the rack's parallel wires. Because the stabilizing component engages the underside of the rack the tool is designed for oven racks where the tool can be connected by accessing the rack from the front of the oven, as opposed to the top which would be required for connection to a conventional grill.

Therefore, a primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved wire rack lifting tool whereby a secure and stable connection with the wire rack can be quickly and easily made.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a wire rack lifting tool that can be used easily in a variety of situations with a variety of wire racks.

A still further objective of the present invention is to provide a wire rack lifting tool that can be used for performing other cooking functions.

These and other objectives will be apparent from the ensuing description and drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a wire rack lifting tool and has a handle with a gripping portion at one end and is connected to a flexible stabilizing member at the opposite end. Extending downwardly from the stabilizing member is a hook member that engages the wire rack or grill when the lifting tool is placed on a wire rack and pressure is applied to the handle. When pressure is applied the stabilizing member flexes downwardly such that the hook member engages a wire on the rack. When pressure on the handle is released the stabilizing member returns to its original form and exerts a spring force against the wire rack and the hook to maintain the lifting tool and the wire rack in a secure and stable engagement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, the lifting tool of the present invention is generally referred to by reference numeral10. The lifting tool10has a longitudinally extending handle12. The handle preferably has a heat resistant gripping portion14at one end and a connecting flange16at the opposite end. While the handle can be made in many shapes and configurations, the preferred shape includes a connecting flange16that generally resides in a horizontal plane and in parallel alignment with the wire rack18, with the handle12extending upwardly at an angle from the connecting flange16.

Attached to the connecting flange16of the handle12is a stabilizing member20. The stabilizing member20preferably is arcuate in shape and of a flexible material such as stainless steel, spring steel or the like. The stabilizing member20is attached to the connecting flange16in any conventional manner such as by rivets, welding, or the like. The member20has opposite ends22that extend arcuately downwardly from the connecting flange16, such that when the stabilizing member20is in its natural form the ends22engage the wire rack18while the handle12is raised above the rack18. Preferably the ends22have a horizontal portion24that extend across several wires on the rack18.

Extending downwardly from the stabilizing member20, and below the connecting flange16, is a hook member26. The hook member26is connected to the stabilizing member in any conventional manner and has a groove28at one end30formed to receive a cross wire31from the rack18. A plurality of grooves28can be formed in end30of the hook member26to provide greater ease in attaching the lifting tool10to the wire rack18and providing varying spring force to secure and stabilize heavier wire racks such as those used for grilling.

Connected to a top surface of the stabilizing member20is a removable brush assembly32. The brush assembly32includes extensions34that connect the stabilizing member20to a retaining bracket36. The retaining bracket36preferably has a central section38with ends40that are generally perpendicular to the central section38. Retaining flanges42extend inwardly from ends40and in parallel spaced alignment with the central section38. A brush member44is partially received and secured within the retaining bracket36. The brush member44has a plurality of bristles46that extend outwardly from a block48. Preferred are bristles made of stainless steel as these bristles are more durable, clean better, and last longer. The block48has a pair of side slots50that are formed to receive the retaining flanges42of the retaining bracket36. A set screw52or the like is threadably received through one of the ends40to engage and secure the brush member44to the retaining bracket36. The set screw can either frictionally or threadably engage the block48.

Removably connected to one of the ends22of the stabilizing member20is a cooking utensil such as a spatula, fork, or the like54. Preferred is a spatula having a flat horizontal section56with an upwardly extending arcuate flange58having a slot60that slidably and frictionally receives the tip62of end22. When the tip62is secured within slot60the spatula54can be used in conjunction with the tool10for various cooking functions. The spatula54can be removed from tip62by applying sufficient manual force to overcome the frictional force by sliding the spatula54to the side of the tip62.

In operation the tool10is placed on the top of the wire rack18such that the ends22of the stabilizing member20engage the wire rack18. Manual pressure is then applied to the handle12causing the stabilizing member20to flex downwardly between and in relation to the ends22such that the hook member26moves in a downward vertical direction. Sufficient manual pressure is applied so that the hook member26moves a sufficient distance such that the hook member26engages and receives the center wire64from the rack18in groove28. When center wire64is retained within groove28of the hook member26the stabilizing member20is maintained in a compressed state whereby the upward force of the stabilizing member20is resisted by the groove28connected to the wire rack18as the stabilizing member20returns to its natural position absent manual force. When the stabilizing member is in the compressed position the ends22exert a downward force against the top of the wire rack18to attach the tool10to the wire rack18in a secure, stable and safe manner.

When the wire rack18does not have a center wire64the tool is attached in similar fashion by applying downward force on the handle12to cause the hook member26to extend between the cross wires31of the wire rack18. The tool10is then rotated such that the ends of the stabilizing member20slide across the top surface of the wire rack18and the hook member26rotates so as to receive a cross wire31within groove28.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that this invention provides a lifting tool that can be used with both oven racks and grills to provide a secure and stable attachment for lifting a wire rack.