Collapsible grill and stand

A portable grill is described. The portable grill has a grill member, a frame, and a support arm. The frame supports the portable grill on a support surface. The support arm extends outwardly from the frame. The support arm has a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end is joined to the grill member. The proximal end is pivotally joined to the frame forming a fulcrum therewith. The support arm is pivotable about the fulcrum to raise and lower the grill member relative to the support surface while maintaining the grill member substantially level.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to the field of grills, and stands for grills, which burn combustible materials such as charcoal and the like, and particularly to those which can be folded or collapsed into a compact unit for purposes of storage, portability and the like. Furthermore the invention relates to grills which can be used indoors over a fireplace, having a grill stand which makes it possible to position and support the grill member over the burning logs, charcoal or gas within the fireplace and under the flue so the smoke, gases, odors and heat are exhausted to the outside through the flue and do not enter the interior of the room or building.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Charcoal grills and those which use other combustible material that are known to the prior art cannot be used indoors because the smoke, gases, odors and heat would be trapped in the room and would create a fire hazard. The collapsible grill and stand in accordance with this invention solves that problem. Some prior art grills and stands are partially collapsible or foldable, or can be partially disassembled into a more compact unit for purposes of storage or transport and the like. However, those known to the prior art require a relatively large fire pot or bowl in which to place and burn the charcoal, and such pot or bowl is a unitary structure which cannot be collapsed or folded into a smaller more compact unit. Thus, even when prior art grills can be partially collapsed or folded, the relatively large fire pot or bowl still remains as the largest most bulky component making such grills still hard to store and transport. They still require a relatively large space or compartment for storage and are still cumbersome to carry or otherwise transport. The collapsible grill and stand in accordance with this invention solves that problem since it does not require a fire pot or bowl at all. The grill stand has been constructed in such a way that it can position and support the flat grill member itself outwardly from the stand and over an indoor fireplace, or over a campfire on the ground when used outdoors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a portable grill comprising:a grill member;a frame for supporting the portable grill on a support surface; anda support arm extending outwardly from the frame, the support arm having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end joined to the grill member, the proximal end pivotally joined to the frame forming a fulcrum, the support arm pivotable about the fulcrum to raise and lower the grill member relative to the support surface while maintaining the grill member substantially level.

The support arm may comprise a pair of parallel members and a bracket. Each parallel member may have a first end pivotally attached to the bracket and a second end including the pivotal attachment to the frame. The grill member is joined to the bracket.

The support arm may further comprise an outer member fixedly attached to the bracket at a fixed end and having a free end joined to the grill member.

The portable grill may further comprising a locking mechanism for maintaining the grill member at a fixed height above the support surface. The locking mechanism may comprise a graduated segment joined to one of the parallel members. The graduated segment may have a plurality of stops joined by tapered portions. The locking mechanism may further comprise a retainer extending from the opposite parallel member towards the graduated segment. The retainer is for engaging at least one of the stops. The retainer may be located on a V-shaped trigger which is pivotally joined to one of the parallel members. The V-shaped trigger may include a first leg and a second leg separated by an apex. The second leg may have a channel adapted to fit over the graduated segment. The retainer may be located at the apex of the trigger within the channel of the second leg.

The portable grill may further comprise a handle extendable from the support arm.

A second aspect of the present invention is directed to a portable grill stand comprising:a frame for supporting the portable grill on a support surface;a support arm extending outwardly from the frame, the support arm comprising a pair of parallel members, each parallel member having a distal end pivotally attached to a bracket and a proximal end pivotally attached to the frame to form a fulcrum at the frame; anda grill member joined to the bracket, the grill member having a grilling surface wherein the grill surface may be raised and lowered by pivoting the support arm about the fulcrum wherein the grilling surface is maintained substantially level during raising and lowering of the grill member.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a portable grill stand comprising:a frame for supporting the portable grill on a support surface, the frame comprising:a center post;a plurality of legs attached to the center post; anda yoke attached to an upper end of the center post and rotatably mounted thereto;a support arm extending outwardly from the frame, the support arm comprising:an outer member having a free end and a fixed end;a bracket attached to the fixed end of the outer member;a pair of spaced parallel booms, each boom having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of each boom pivotally attached to the bracket, the proximal end of each boom pivotally mounted to the yoke to form a fulcrum therewith; anda handle located opposite the outer member;a grill member, the grill member having a grilling surface and being joinable to the free end of the outer member of the support arm; andwherein the grilling surface may be raised and lowered relative to the support surface by pivoting the support arm on the fulcrum and wherein the grilling surface remains substantially level as the support arm is pivoted on the fulcrum.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a portable grill comprising:a frame for supporting the portable grill on a support surface;a support arm extending outwardly from the frame having first and second opposing ends;a grill member having a substantially horizontally aligned grilling surface;a first pivotable connector joining the support arm with the frame between the first and second ends of the support arm and forming a fulcrum therewith such that the support arm forms a lever vertically pivotable about the fulcrum; anda second pivotable connector between the first pivotable connector and the grill member such that the grill surface elevates and lowers in response to the support arm pivoting about the fulcrum while remaining substantially horizontally aligned.

The support arm for this aspect of the portable grill further comprise:a bracket, the second pivotable connector located on the bracket.

The portable grill of this aspect may further comprise:an outer arm fixedly attached to the bracket and extending outwardly therefrom and joining the grill member with the bracket.

The support arm of this aspect of the invention may further comprise:a pair of boom members wherein one end of each boom member is pivotally attached to the bracket by the second pivotable connector.

The portable grill of this aspect may still further comprise:a yoke attached to the frame wherein the first pivotable connector is located on the yoke and opposing ends of each boom member are pivotally connected to the yoke by the first pivotable connector.

The first and second pivotable connectors of this aspect of the invention may each include a pair of pivot points. The boom members of this aspect of the invention may be parallel to each other wherein a first boom is located in vertical alignment with a second boom. The yoke may be rotatably mounted to the frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is related to improvements to a collapsible grill and stand for a portable grilling unit such as the ones described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,013,885 and U.S. Publication No. 2006/112950A1 which share common inventorship and are commonly owned and hereby incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth herein.

Now referring toFIGS. 1-5, a collapsible grill and stand2is illustrated. Accordingly, this embodiment of the collapsible grill and stand2comprises a frame for supporting the grill on a support surface, the frame including an upright center post4with a central passageway6, and a grill supporting assembly which comprises a forked yoke10received in the central passageway6of the upright center post4. The grill also includes a height adjusting mechanism14to raise and lower flat grill member22and a support arm12. A spindle16extends upright at the outer end18of the laterally extending support arm12to receive a hub20of the flat grill member22thereon to support the grill member22for use over a campground fire.

The grill frame also includes an anti-teetering support system. This includes three laterally extending support legs26,28and30projecting outwardly from the lower end32of the upright center post4. One of the support legs26is rigidly affixed to the lower end of the center post4and extends laterally and radially outwardly therefrom. The other support legs28and30are rotatable or radially pivotable around an axis of the center post to any selected radial and spaced apart position that will support the grill member22at its location at the outer end of the laterally extending support arm12over a fire. For example, the support legs can be rotated to form a Y-shaped configuration with two of the support legs26and28forming the diverging fork portion38of the Y which are placed facing the fireplace or campground fire and the third support leg30rotated to form the leg of the Y that extends away from the fireplace or campground fire. The legs28and30are preferably rotated at a 90 degree angle to leg26to form a T-shape. That radial positioning of the support legs will support the grill22at the outer end of the laterally extending support arm12and prevent it from tipping over. None of the support legs have to be positioned below the grill member22itself where the fire is burning to prevent the grill member22from tipping. The support leg30need not extend directly away from the fork portion38formed by the support legs26and28to form a T configuration, but support leg30can be rotated to any radial position away from the fork portion38that will stabilize the grill and stand2.

The height adjustment or lifting mechanism14is capable of maintaining a grill surface22alevel or substantially level throughout a range of height adjustments. This is preferably accomplished by a pair of pivotable connectors in combination with the support arm12which preferably includes an adjustable, geometrically-shaped twin parallel beam boom assembly. Each pivotable connector preferably includes a pair of pivot points as will be described in more detail below.

The support arm12includes the outer member40. Outer member40is fixedly attached to bracket42at a fixed end. The grill member22is joinable to a free end of the outer member40. The bracket42includes a pair of spaced parallel plates44a,44b. Outer member40is inserted between the plates44a,44band is fixed by welding or other suitable fixed attachment means, including but not limited to mechanical fasteners such as nuts, bolts and screws, and chemical fasteners such as epoxy. A pair of vertically aligned parallel members46a,46bare attached to the bracket42by a pivotable connector which preferably includes a pair of pivot points defined by attachment pins48a,48b, which preferably include threaded nuts attached to threaded bolts. At opposing ends, the parallel members46a,46bare attached to the yoke10by another pivotable connector which also preferably includes a pair of pivot points defined by attachment pins50a,50b, which are preferably threaded nuts attacked to threaded bolts, between upwardly extending, spaced parallel tines or plates52a,52b.

The lifting mechanism14works in conjunction with the pivot points and the support arm12to raise and lower the grill surface22awhile maintaining the grill surface22aon a substantially horizontal plane. Thus, the support arm12is pivotable about a fulcrum defined by the pivotable connector joining the support arm12with the frame to raise and lower the grill member22relative to the support surface while maintaining the grill member22substantially level. “Substantially level” is intended to indicate a degree of levelness suitable for maintaining grilling items on the grill surface22a, such that the grilling items do not roll off of the grilling surface22a.

In other words, the grill surface22acan be raised and lowered without angular deflection of the grill surface22arelative to the center post4. The raising and lowering is best illustrated inFIG. 1. This is accomplished by establishing the fulcrum defined by the attachment pin50a,50blocation on the forked yoke10. Stated another way, the forked yoke10is laterally or vertically fixed to or within the center post4. It does not telescope from the center post or otherwise raise and lower to adjust the height of the grill member22. The height of the grill member22is controlled by the pivoting of the support arm12about the fulcrum on the forked yoke10. Because the parallel members46a,46bare pivotally fixed at opposing ends, they remain in parallel relationship as the support arm12is pivoted about the fulcrum. Thus, the bracket42can be raised and lowered by pivoting the support arm12about the fulcrum. And because the parallel members46a,46bare pivotally attached to the bracket42, an orientation of the bracket42remains constant throughout the pivoting action, preferably perpendicular to a substantially horizontal plane. This is particularly advantageous because it allows the outer member40to also remain at a constant orientation, or angle, relative to a horizontal plane which, in turn, allows an orientation of the grill member22to remain at a constant orientation, or angle, with respect to a horizontal plane or a base surface from a first height above the base surface to a plurality of heights above and below the first height. The primary advantage is a lifting mechanism which is pivotal at a discreet point spaced from a source of heat and which allows single handed lifting of the grill member without angular deflection of a grill member surface22arelative to the source of heat.

Referring toFIG. 3, the upright center post4has a tubular structure which is adapted to receive an insert54, such as a bushing, fixed within the post4, preferably by friction fit; however, any chemical or mechanical fastening means can be provided such as the screw illustrated in the drawings. The insert54includes an aperture into which a portion of the forked yoke10is inserted and rotatable therein. The insert54has a rotation limiting slot64therethrough, that extends in a path for a limited distance of about seven-eighths of an inch. A rotation-limiting lug66is affixed to the forked yoke10and is received in the rotation-limiting slot64. The support arm12which extends from the yoke10can therefore rotate only a limited distance between the positions where the limiting lug66abuts against each opposite end of the rotation limiting slot64. This rotation-limiting feature prevents rotating the grill member22and the food thereon so far that the grill and stand may begin to tip.

The support arm12further includes an extendable, levered handle68for manipulating the grill surface22avertically (up and down) and horizontally (rotating about the center post4). In the embodiment illustrated, one of the parallel members46a,46b, the upper member46a, includes retainers70a,70bfor receiving a portion of the handle68, and which are sized to allow the handle68to telescope and slide therethrough. A pair of detents selectively hold the handle68in either a retracted position or an extended position as one of the detents72is aligned with a spring-loaded bearing73held within the upper member46aand selectively communicating with the detents through an aperture in the upper member46a. An extension79on a distal end of the handle68engages one of the retainers70a,70bto prevent the handle68from separating from the remaining portions of the support arm12.

The grill2further includes a locking mechanism74for retaining the grill surface22aat a selected height. This mechanism74includes a graduated segment76fixedly attached to the supporting arm12, preferably on an upper surface of the lower parallel member46b. The graduated segment76includes a plurality of stops78joined by tapered portions80. Each stop78defines a height at which the grill surface22amay be retained by the support arm12without outside assistance. The graduated segment76is preferably slightly narrower than a width of the lower parallel member46b.

The locking mechanism74further includes a trigger80pivotally attached to the support arm12, preferably joined to one of the retainers70a,70badjacent a lower surface of the upper parallel member46b. The trigger80is slightly V-shaped and includes a retainer84located at an apex86of trigger between first and second legs88a,88bfor engaging any one of the selected stops78. The second leg88bis a channeled member, and the retainer84is concealed within second leg88bchannel. The channel is wide enough so that the graduated segment fits within the channel.

In use, the second leg88bmust be lifted to disengage the retainer84from the selected stop78and lower the grill surface22aby pivoting the support arm12about the fulcrum. The tapered portions of the graduated segment76allow the grill surface22ato be lifted without lifting the second leg88b.

Referring now toFIG. 4, when the grill and stand are collapsed, the laterally extending support legs26,28and30lie adjacent to one another in vertical, one above the other relationship extending laterally from the upright center post4. Each leg26,28,30comprises a horizontal component and a vertical component. Each successive leg has a longer horizontal component and a longer vertical component wherein the legs26,28,30nest together in vertical alignment.

A grill member retainer90extends outwardly from the upright center post4. The outer ends of the support legs define the outermost point of the collapsed grill and stand at one side thereof and the outermost portion of the handle68defines the outermost point of the collapsed grill and stand at the opposite side thereof. The outermost ends of the support legs28,29and30define the outermost point of the collapsed grill and stand at the lower end thereof, and the outer member40defines the outermost point of the collapsed grill and stand at the upper end thereof. Legs28and30are removably attached to the post4with wing nut92.

As shown inFIG. 5, the legs26,28,30include a vertical alignment and over rotation prevention means. This means includes a bracket180joined to one of the legs26,28,30, preferably the uppermost leg26. The bracket may be joined by any suitable means but is preferably fixedly attached by welding. In the illustrated embodiment, the bracket180is welded to a vertical side panel of the generally a quadrilateral shaped in cross-section uppermost leg26. The leg26is preferably a rectangular, more preferably a square, in cross-section. Each leg has opposing vertical sides spaced by opposing horizontal sides. It should be understood, however, that the legs26,28,30may be of any cross-sectional shape as long as the bracket180is cooperatively shaped in the manner illustrated, and as explained in more detail below.

The bracket180has a first vertical portion184which extends downwardly from the vertical side panel of the uppermost leg26. This vertical184portion of the bracket180includes means for retaining the legs in vertical alignment. The means may include a specifically shaped bracket which retains the legs with captured fit. This arrangement would be most suitable if a round cross-section were chosen for the legs, but could also be provided with legs26,28,30illustrated with little or no difficulty.

In the embodiment illustrated, this means includes fastener for joining the second leg28to the first leg26, for example a male/female connection. A male member188is joined to a vertical side of the center leg28, and is alignable with and fits matingly within a first receiver192located on the bracket180below the lowermost horizontal side of the uppermost leg26. This first receiver192is preferably an aperture.

The fastener's male member188includes a second receiver194, the purpose of which will become clear upon further description. This second receiver194is preferably an aperture passing through the body of the male member188.

The bracket180further includes a horizontal portion198joined to the first vertical portion184. The horizontal portion198is located below the upper leg26and extends in length approximately the width of the upper leg26to form a cavity between the upper leg26and the horizontal portion198. The cavity is adapted to receive the second leg28therein.

The bracket180further has a second vertical portion202joined to the horizontal portion198and extending downwardly therefrom. The second vertical portion202is located opposite the first vertical portion184and forms a stop to prevent the third leg30from rotating beyond the vertical plane defined by the upper leg26.

Referring again toFIG. 4, in the collapsed state, the collapsible grill and stand is particularly formed and dimensioned to provide a compact and easily transportable grill and grill stand. In this collapsed state, the legs26,28,30are in vertical alignment. The legs26,28,30and the grill member22are bound as the male member188is fit within and through the first receiver aperture192in the bracket180wherein the second receiver aperture192in the male member188extends beyond the bounds of the first vertical portion184of the bracket180.

The grill member22includes a third receiver, such as an aperture in a washer joined thereto, preferably by welding. The third receiver aperture is alignable with the male member188. The third receiver aperture is adapted to receive the male member188wherein the second receiver aperture192on the male member188extends beyond the cooking surface of the grill22so that a pin210can be inserted through the second receiver192to bind the legs26,28,30and the grill member together. This prevents the legs26,28,30from unwanted rotation about the center post4during transport and/or storage.

The grill member22includes handles218a,218b. The handles218a,218bare on a common horizontal plane defined by the cooking surface of the grill member22. A U-shaped keeper220is fixedly attached to outer perimeter of the grill member22.

In the collapsed state, the outer member40of the shaft12including the spindle is loosely attached to the U-shaped keeper220the outer member40through the keeper220wherein the keeper220is located about the outer member40. A handle218bforms a carrying handle for the collapsed stand and grill. A portion of the peripheral edge of the grill member22extends between a knob222and the center post4. The result is a securely bound collapsed stand and grill with the a convenient carrying handle.

A first profile length of the collapsed grill is defined by the outermost portion of the longest leg to the carrying handle. This first profile length is approximately equal to or slightly longer than the horizontal distance from the outermost portion of the longest leg26to the radially outward-most end of the handle68.

A second profile length of the collapsed grill is approximately equal to the diameter of the grill member22

A third profile length of the collapsed grill is equal to or just slightly wider that the outermost tip of the male member88to an outer portion of the second vertical portion of the bracket80. This third profile may be increased by the size of the knob222or the size of the hub20or offsetting the handles218a,218b.

The pin210may be attached to the stand2by a tether224, and inserted with an aperture in the stand when the grill2is in use.

The terms “first,” “second,” “upper,” “lower,” etc. are used for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the embodiments in any way. The term “plurality” as used herein is intended to indicate any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively as necessary, up to an infinite number. The terms “joined,” “attached,” and “connected” as used herein are intended to put or bring two elements together so as to form a unit, and any number of elements, devices, fasteners, etc. may be provided between the joined or connected elements unless otherwise specified by the use of the term “directly” and/or supported by the drawings.

While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the broader aspects of the invention. Also, it is intended that broad claims not specifying details of a particular embodiment disclosed herein as the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention should not be limited to such details.