Grill handle with heat shield

Two main embodiments of a heat shield for a barbecue grill are disclosed herein. Both are designed to reduce the transfer of heat from the heated volume of the cooking chamber to the handle of the barbecue grill. The first embodiment mounts to the exterior of the cooking chamber and is disposed between the cooking chamber and the handle. The first embodiment is contoured to interrupt the convective flow of heated air away from the handle. The second embodiment mounts to the interior of the cooking chamber opposite the handle. The second embodiment rests adjacent the inside surface of the cooking chamber to form a partially or substantially closed volume that serves as an insulating barrier for the handle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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THE NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The embodiments described and claimed herein relate generally to barbecue grill handles. More specifically, some of the embodiments relate to heat barrier structures which reduce the temperature of, and in the region of, barbecue grill handles.

2. Background Art

Barbecue grills are well known in the art. Typically, these barbecue grills include a cooking chamber and a support structure. The cooking chamber can simply comprise an open top firebox, or a combination of a firebox and a lid. In either case, it is typical for barbecue grills to be provided with one or more handles on the cooking chamber, either for moving the barbecue grill from location to another, or for opening and closing the lid.

Over the years, as barbecue grills have grown in popularity, various standards and regulations have been enacted which specify strict safety parameters for barbecue grills. One such standard, EN 1860-1:2003, section 4.2.6, precludes the surface temperature of the handle from exceeding certain values when tested under certain conditions. In their attempts to meet this standard, barbecue grill manufacturers have accepted and implemented two alternative solutions. The first is to increase the distance between the gripping portion of the handle and the cooking chamber. It is no surprise that grill manufacturers have adopted this obvious solution. Indeed, it is well known that the magnitude of radiation heat transfer between two objects is inversely proportional to the distance between the two objects; i.e., the farther the objects are away from each other, the lower the magnitude of radiation heat transfer. The same generally applies for conductive and convective heat transfer between two objects. The second solution is to use a material specified in the standard which has a high temperature criteria, e.g. wood. This is likewise an obvious solution.

Although the two solutions identified above are sufficient to meet the EN 1860-1:2003 standard, they both have their drawbacks. For example, both solutions result in an appearance which is less aesthetically pleasing and possibly less functional and wear-resistant. Increasing the distance between the handle and the grill can give a barbecue grill a less proportional appearance, and may cause difficulties with packaging the grill for retail sale in a compact manner. The extended handle can also impinge upon space constraints of the end user. Using wood as an alternative material is not preferable because many wood finishes quickly degrade when exposed to heat and sun, two conditions which are almost always present for barbecue grills.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Several embodiments of barbecue grill with a heat barrier or shield for a barbecue grill handle are described and claimed herein. These embodiments employ various solutions for reducing the temperature of, and in the region of, a barbecue grill handle that run contrary to the accepted solutions of other individuals possessing skill in the pertinent art. The solutions disclosed herein negate the need to extend the distance between the handle and the cooking chamber of a grill, and the need to use materials with a high temperature threshold, such as wood. These solutions therefore provide the grill designer with flexibility in designing and selecting materials for barbecue grill handles.

There are two main embodiments of a barbecue grill disclosed herein. In both embodiments, a barbecue grill is provided with a handle mounted exterior to a cooking chamber. A heat shield or a heat barrier is also provided that is positioned between a heated volume of the cooking chamber and at least a portion of the handle. In the first main embodiment, the heat barrier comprises an externally mounted heat shield that is positioned directly between the handle and the outside surface of the cooking chamber to significantly reduce radiative and convective heat transfer to the handle. In the second main embodiment, the heat barrier comprises a substantially closed volume which uses air or other material to insulate the handle from the heated volume of the barbecue grill.

Variants of these two main embodiments are contemplated, as more fully described below. Moreover, other embodiments, which can include some combination of the features discussed above and below and other features which are known in the art, are contemplated as falling within the claims even if such embodiments are not specifically identified and discussed herein.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the embodiments described and claimed herein or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the inventions described herein are not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated. Indeed, it is expected that persons of ordinary skill in the art may devise a number of alternative configurations that are similar and equivalent to the embodiments shown and described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.

Like reference numerals will be used to refer to like or similar parts from figure to figure in the following detailed description of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS

Referring first toFIG. 1, a barbecue grill10is shown in perspective view. The barbecue grill10incorporates numerous components which are common to most conventional grills. For instance, the grill includes a cooking chamber20and a cart assembly (or frame structure)30. The cooking chamber, in turn, includes a firebowl22, a lid24, an ash catcher26, a charcoal grate28a, and a cooking grate28b. The lid24may be entirely removable, as shown, or could be hingedly attached to the firebowl22. As shown, the bottom side of firebowl22and the top side of the lid24are generally closed, which means they are closed for all practical purposes, but may include variously located vents and grease drains. The cart assembly30, as shown, includes three legs32, two wheels34, and a shelf36. Although in the shown configuration, it is intended that charcoal be used as a heat source, the barbecue grill10can be used with various heat sources, such as electric burner elements and gas burners.

The barbecue grill10, as shown inFIG. 1, includes two handles40a,40bone handle40apositioned at the apex of the lid24and the other handle40bpositioned at a side of the firebox22. As reflected inFIGS. 2-5, both handles40a,40bare essentially the same in construction, and include a gripping portion42a,42band a support portion50a,50b. The gripping portion42a,42b, as shown, has a two piece, molded plastic construction (top member44a,44band bottom member46a,46b) that are designed to connect together around support portion50a,50bvia fastener48a,48b. Alternatively, top member44a,44band bottom member46a,46bcould be configured to snap together. Support portion50a,50bincludes a connecting section51a,51b, which is disposed between the two pieces of the gripping portion42a,42b, and two leg portions52a,52b,53a,53b, which serve to support the gripping member42a,42ba spaced distance from the cooking chamber20. The ends of the leg portions52a,52b,53a,53b, opposite the gripping portion42a,42b, include two inwardly turned flanges55a,55b,56a,56b, which are provided with apertures that align with corresponding apertures on the cooking chamber20. The handles40a,40bare fixed to the cooking chamber via fasteners57a,57b,58a,58bwhich extend through the apertures. As shown, the fasteners57a,57b,58a,58bcomprise nut and bolt combinations. The handle40a,40bconfiguration shown and described is for example only, and unless otherwise indicated in the claims, are not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

The barbecue grill10, as shown inFIG. 1, also includes two versions of a heat shield60,80. The first embodiment of the heat shield60is configured for installation at an exterior of the cooking chamber, while the second embodiment of the heat shield80is configured for installation at an interior of the cooking chamber.

Turning now toFIGS. 2-3, two cross sectional views are provided which show the first embodiment of the heat shield60is more detail. As shown, the heat shield60is affixed adjacent the outside surface of the lid24and is disposed between the outside surface of the lid24and the gripping portion42aof the handle. The heat shield60includes apertures which align with the apertures on the handle40aand the lid24, whereby the same fasteners56a,58acan be used to affix the heat shield60to the lid24. The heat shield60has a longitudinal axis which is generally aligned with a length of the gripping portion. When viewed in a cross section plane normal to the longitudinal axis, the heat shield60has a generally parabolic shape with two upturned ends62a,62band a vertex64that has a spaced positional relationship to the outside surface of the lid24. Note, however, that the heat shield60could be spherical shaped or egg shaped, wherein it would have a single upturned edge that surrounds handle. The two upturned ends62a,62bare laterally spaced on opposite sides of the handle40a, whereby the heat shield60is configured to form a heat barrier between a heated volume HV of the cooking chamber20and the gripping portion42aof the handle. More specifically, the shape of the heat shield60directs heated air HA away from the handle and thereby reduces convective heat transfer from the cooking chamber20to the handle40a. Preferably, the heat shield60is formed from sheet metal comprising stainless steel, whereby the heat shield60has a reflective surface to reduce radiation heat transfer.

Turning now toFIGS. 4-5, a cross sectional view and an exploded view are provided which show the second embodiment of the heat shield80in more detail. As shown, the heat shield80is affixed adjacent the inside surface of the firebowl22, opposite the handle40b. The heat shield80includes apertures which align with the apertures on the handle40band the firebowl22, whereby the same fasteners56b,58bcan be used to affix the heat shield80to the firebowl22. Note, however, that additional nuts are provided which are placed between the shield80and the firebowl22, and which act to space the heat shield80a distance from the inside surface of the firebowl22. The heat shield80includes a perimetric edge region52and a central region84. The perimetric edge region82of the heat shield80is in at least close proximity to the inside surface of the firebowl22and surrounds the central region of the heat shield. At least of a portion of the central region84of the heat shield has a spaced positional relationship to the inside surface of the firebowl22, In this manner, the heat shield80defines an at least partially closed volume V, which is disposed between the heated volume HV of the cooking chamber and the handle40b. The at least partially closed volume V forms an insulating barrier to insulate the handle40bfrom the heated volume HV of the cooking chamber. In the shown embodiment, air is used as the insulting material, although it is contemplated that other types of insulating material could be used, so long as they are appropriate for high temperature applications.

Note, however, that the bottom edge82aof the heat shield80is spaced further from the inside surface of the firebowl22than is the upper edge82bof the heat shield80. In the shown configuration, this is preferable because the heat source (i.e., charcoal) is at about the same elevation as the heat shield. Therefore, fresh, cool air F is able to enter the at least partially closed volume to better insulate the handle. Like the first embodiment, the second embodiment of the heat shield80is formed from sheet metal comprising stainless steel, whereby the heat shield80has a reflective surface to reduce radiation heat transfer.

Although the first embodiment of the heat shield60is shown attached to the lid24, and the second embodiment of the heat shield80is shown attached to the firebowl, it is contemplated that either embodiment of invention could be used on either or both of the firebowl and lid. Moreover, it is contemplated that both embodiments of the heat shield60,80could be employed for use with a single handle40a,40b.

Although the inventions described and claimed herein have been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the inventions described and claimed herein can be practiced by other than those embodiments, which have been presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.