Collapsible barbeque system

A tub in a generally rectilinear configuration has a rear face, a front face and side faces. The tub has a closed bottom and an open top. The tub contains heating elements with controls in the front face. The controls are adapted to be manipulated by a user during operation and use. A lid in a generally rectilinear configuration has a posterior element and an anterior element. The posterior element has a rear face, an open front and side faces. The posterior element has an open bottom and a closed top. The anterior element has a front face, an open rear and side faces. The posterior element has an open bottom and a closed top. The rear of the anterior element is adapted to slidably couple with respect to the front of the posterior element. In this manner movement is provided between an expanded and contracted orientation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a collapsible barbeque system and more particularly pertains to cooking on a grill with a system which is reconfigurable between an expanded operative orientation adapted for use and contracted inoperative orientation adapted for storage, all in a safe, convenient and economic manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The popularity of gas barbecue grills has increased tremendously over the recent decades. Most recently, a trend has formed for stainless steel products, especially with regards to backyard, gas barbecue grills, and the very latest trend has shown an ever increasing demand for portability and convenience among many products, but especially when it comes to barbecue grills. These trends have opened a need in the market which has yet to be successfully filled. Currently there does not appear to be any portable barbecue device offered that can compare closely to a beautiful, backyard, stainless steel gas grill. Likewise, there does appear to exist, in the market, a beautiful, high cooking-capacity, free-standing, stainless steel, gas barbecue grill that is in any reasonable or practical way portable.

Accordingly, to fill this need, a product must be introduced into the market that can adequately make up for the respective shortcomings of both the typical, backyard, gas barbecue grill as well as the standard, portable, barbecue grill. Such an apparatus should be fueled by gas, such as propane, have a large cooking surface, be capable of outputting high temperature ranges, be constructed of a durable, aesthetically-pleasing material, such as stainless steel, provide added conveniences, such as side shelves and electric igniters, and all at once be handily portable. The present invention successfully fills these needs and provides advantages that go beyond them.

In view of the disadvantages inherent in the known types of barbeque systems of known designs and configurations now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved collapsible barbeque system. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved collapsible barbeque system and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

The present invention, in summary, relates to a barbecue cooking apparatus. More specifically, it relates to a collapsible, portable gas barbecue grill apparatus which can be easily transported or stored away. When fully expanded and set up for use, the barbecue apparatus much more closely resembles a typical backyard barbecue grill than it does a portable barbecue grill. It is the intent behind the invention to provide an aesthetically pleasing device which at first does not appear to be intended for portability, however, can be easily and quickly, with very minimal effort, collapsed into a very portable form.

The barbecue apparatus consists of five major elements which fit together to form a full assembly of the invention. The lid of the barbecue apparatus consists of two elements, an anterior and a posterior, which fit together to form a lid assembly. This lid assembly sits atop, and is attached to, a lower, main cooking element, which contains all of the heat producing components necessary for barbecue grilling. The lid assembly bears the capability of expanding in overall size so as to fit within it the lower, main cooking element upon which it is attached. As the anterior element of the lid is pulled forward and away from the posterior element, the lid assembly collapses itself completely around the lower, main cooking element of the apparatus and all of its components. Mechanisms on the underside of the main cooking element lock this collapsed assembly together.

The assembly of the anterior element, posterior element, and main cooking element sit atop the fourth element, a removable stand which has two large wheels and two smaller castors which swivel. This stand is capable being easily collapsed into folded form. When the stand is in its fully expanded or unfolded form, a bottom mount allows for the placement of a gas fuel tank which is then secured in place by another mount towards the top of the stand. The same mechanisms which lock the lid assembly down around the cooking element are also utilized to lock the cooking element onto the stand. When the stand is collapsed into its folded form, it doubles as a cart, similar in form to that of a hand truck dolly. In this folded form the assembly of the anterior element, posterior element, and main cooking element fit onto a hitch which is attached to the cart. This keeps the assembly in place while it is wheeled off.

A fifth element of the barbecue apparatus consists of a foldable shelf which simply drops into place over either the left or right side of the main cooking element. One or two of these shelves may be used or they may be left off completely and the barbecue apparatus will still maintain full cooking capabilities. Overall, the entire barbecue cooking apparatus employs the full cooking capabilities of a standard, three burner, electrically ignited, gas barbecue grill. It is able to reach comparably high temperature ranges and has a comparably large cooking surface. In its expanded form the barbecue apparatus appears as a standard, free-standing, home barbecue grill, and when collapsed into portable form, it is lightweight enough so that it may be carried by the average adult.

More specifically, the present invention comprises a collapsible barbeque system. First provided is a tub. The tub is in a rectilinear configuration. The tub has a rear face. The tub has a front face. The rear and front faces are separates by a depth. The tub has side faces. The side faces are provided between the front and rear faces. The side faces are separated by a width. The tub has a closed bottom. The tub has an open top. The bottom and top are separated by a height. The tub has heating elements. The tub has rotary controls. The rotary controls are provided in the front face. The rotary controls are adapted to be manipulated by a user during operation and use.

A lid is provided. The lid is in a rectilinear configuration. The lid has a posterior element. The lid has an anterior element. The posterior element has a rear face. The posterior element has an open front. The rear faces and open front are separated by a depth. The posterior element has side faces. The side faces are provided between the front and rear face. The side faces are separated by a width. The posterior element has an open bottom. The posterior element has a closed top. The bottom and top are separated by a height. The anterior element has a front face. The anterior element has an open rear. The front face and open rear are separated by a depth. The anterior element has side faces. The side faces are provided between the rear and front face. The side faces are separated by a width. The posterior element has an open bottom. The posterior element has a closed top. The open bottom and closed top are separated by a height. The rear of the anterior element is adapted to slidably receive the front of the posterior element. In this manner movement is provided between an expanded and contracted orientation. When in the expanded orientation the anterior element only partially receives the posterior element. In this manner the lid is adapted to be lowered to receive and totally encompass the tub during storage. When in the collapsed orientation the posterior element is fully received by the anterior element. In this manner the lid is adapted to be resting atop the tub during use. A hinge is attached to the top of the rear face of the tub for pivotally coupling the lid to the tub.

Provided next is a removable stand. The stand has a central leg. The stand has side legs. Each leg has an upper end. The upper end is adapted to couple to the lower face of the tub and a lower end. The stand has a lower support. The lower support has wheels. The lower support has casters. The casters are coupled to the lower ends of the legs. The legs have pivot pins. The pivot pins couple the legs at central extents intermediate the upper and lower ends. The legs are pivotable between a folded orientation and an unfolded orientation. In the folded orientation the lower support is adjacent to the tub and adapted for storage. In the unfolded orientation the lower support is spaced from the tub and adapted for use.

Further provided is an upper locking sub-assembly includes a base plate attached beneath the tub with a downwardly extending post. An upper pan has an upwardly extending sleeve receiving the post. A toggle arm has a central bearing surface and lateral apertures adapted to oscillate on the sleeve. A lower pan slidably receives the upper pan with lateral supports attached to the base plate. A handle is adapted to reciprocate the upper pan to oscillate the toggle arm. A lock rod has a near end coupled to an aperture in the toggle arm and a free end movable into an aperture in the lid. The lock rod is adapted to move between a retracted unlocking orientation and an extended locking orientation coupling the lid to the tub.

A lower locking sub-assembly includes a cross bar with a centrally positioned upwardly extending pivot pin extending upwardly through the central leg of the stand. The cross bar is located beneath the central leg with downwardly extending fingers. The pivot pin has a washer and a handle above the central leg. Locking bars have apertured interior ends receiving the fingers. The locking bars have free ends movable into apertures in the side legs to lock the legs in a collapsed orientation.

Provided last is a plurality of shelves. Each shelf has a horizontal section below. The horizontal section receives cooking-related objects. Each shelf has a hook shaped end above. In this manner each shelf may be removably positioned over a side edge of the tub. Each shelf has a vertical section. The vertical section couples the horizontal section and the hook shaped end.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved collapsible barbeque system which has all of the advantages of the prior art barbeque systems of known designs and configurations and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved collapsible barbeque system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved collapsible barbeque system which is of durable and reliable constructions.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible barbeque system for cooking on a grill with a system which is reconfigurable between an expanded operative orientation adapted for use and contracted inoperative orientation adapted for storage, all in a safe, convenient and economic manner.

Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved collapsible barbeque system. A tub in a generally rectilinear configuration has a rear face, a front face and side faces. The tub has a closed bottom and an open top. The tub contains heating elements with controls in the front face. The controls are adapted to be manipulated by a user during operation and use. A lid in a generally rectilinear configuration has a posterior element and an anterior element. The posterior element has a rear face, an open front and side faces. The posterior element has an open bottom and a closed top. The anterior element has a front face, an open rear and side faces. The posterior element has an open bottom and a closed top. The rear of the anterior element is adapted to slidably couple with respect to the front of the posterior element. In this manner movement is provided between an expanded and contracted orientation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular toFIG. 1thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved collapsible barbeque system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention will be described.

As shown inFIG. 1of the accompanying drawings,FIG. 1-Adepicts a fully expanded form of the barbecue apparatus. This is the form in which it is to be used for cooking and this form will generally be referred to by the reference number1. The barbecue apparatus1is comprised of several elements which include the anterior lid2, posterior lid3, cooking tub4, cart-stand5, and a side shelf6shown on both the left and right sides of the cooking tub4. All components that make up these elements, unless otherwise specified, are typically comprised of metal such as steel, aluminum, brass, sheet metal, or the like.

Posterior lid3is not visible inFIG. 1-Aor1-B, however the rear-most portion of posterior lid3is visible inFIGS. 1-Cand1-D. Throughout this description and in the accompanying drawings each side shelf will be referred to by the reference number6. Both the left side shelf6and right side shelf6are identical in design and differ only in that one is rotated with respect to the other by 180 degrees about a vertical axis. As depicted inFIG. 1-B, the left side shelf6, right side shelf6, and cart-stand5separate from the cooking tub4.

The cooking tub4collapses into the assembly formed by anterior lid2and posterior lid3as shown inFIG. 2wherein is depicted the method by which this is carried out. By this method, the anterior lid2is pulled a limited distance away from the posterior lid3as indicated by the arrows inFIG. 2-A. The rear-most part of the posterior lid3becomes visible inFIG. 2-B. As the anterior lid2and the posterior lid3are pulled apart past a given point, they are lowered around the cooking tub4with the assistance of gravity, as indicated by the arrows inFIG. 2-B, and form the collapsed image depicted inFIG. 2-C.

Attached underneath cooking tub4are left lid-lock7and right lid-lock8which are manually engaged to hold cooking tub4in place.FIG. 5shows the locations of left lid-lock7and right lid-lock8with respect to cooking tub4.FIG. 17-19illustrate the design of left lid-lock7which is basically a minor image of right lid-lock8. All features and functions herein described for left lid-lock7are similarly applicable to right lid-lock8. Left lid-lock pin24is machined to form a half-cylindrical shape on one side and a tapered end on the opposite side of its rod length. InFIG. 17-19the tapered end is depicted to towards the left and the half-cylindrical end towards the right. Left lid-lock pin24, lock pin ball25and lock ball pressure spring87are housed between left lid-lock pin guide23and left lid-lock pin base plate26. Left lid-lock pin guide23and left lid-lock pin base plate26are attached by any preferred method of welding as known in the art to form a housing. As left lid-lock pin24slides laterally within this formed housing, the lock pin ball25is under constant pressure by lock ball pressure spring87against left lid-lock pin guide23. At either, furthermost, end of the sliding motion of the left lid-lock pin24, the lock pin ball25engages into the grooves in left lid-lock pin guide23to hold it from sliding freely and prevent undesirable disengagement of the left lid-lock pin24.

As shown inFIG. 5the tapered ends of left lid-lock pin7and right lid-lock pin8are positioned outwardly toward, and aligned with holes in, left tub side34and right tub side35respectively. When anterior lid2is extended forward and down around cooking tub4, holes in left pivot plate69and right pivot plate70line up with holes in left tub side34and right tub side35respectively. Left lid-lock pin24and right lid-lock pin28slide through holes in left tub side34and right tub side35respectively, then continue to slide into holes in left pivot plate69and right pivot plate70respectively to lock cooking tub4in place while it is collapsed into the extended assembly of anterior lid2and posterior lid3.

With reference now toFIGS. 1-Band1-C, cart-stand5is designed so as to be easily folded from the upright, standing form shown inFIG. 1-B, here-on referred to as unfolded form, to the folded-down, dolly-like form shown inFIG. 1-C, here-on referred to as folded form. Cart mount hitch63, depicted inFIGS. 7 and 13and visible inFIG. 1-C, fits into cart mount receiver64which is located on the underside of cooking tub4as shown inFIG. 5. By this fitting of cart mount hitch63into cart mount receiver64the assembly consisting of anterior lid2, posterior lid3, and cooking tub4is secured in place onto folded cart-stand5so that it may be rolled away in a similar manner as with a typical hand-truck or hand-dolly. The manner of transformation of cart-stand5from unfolded form to folded form will later be described in more detail.

Side shelf6, shown inFIGS. 1,8,9, and12though not necessary for the utilization of the barbecue apparatus for cooking purposes, serves its own desirable purpose, both aesthetically and practically, and has therefore been added to the drawings and description. One or two side shelves6may be used. Each attaches by simply placing shelf bracket42over the top of either left tub side34or right tub side35. The top of shelf bracket42is shaped so that it fits snugly in place over left tub side34or right tub side35. When removed, side shelf6may be made slightly more compact by folding shelf bracket42down above shelf44as shown inFIG. 1-C. Shelf rivets92are used to attach shelf bracket42to shelf44as depicted inFIGS. 8,9, and12. Shelf rivets92are typical rivets as known to the art.

For sake of space and since most of the components of the invention are attached in a similar manner, unless otherwise specified, when a component is joined or attached to another component by “a preferred method of welding typical to the art”, this will here-on be referred to as “a typical weld” or “typically welded”.

With reference now toFIGS. 3 and 10, the anterior lid2is comprised several components. Left lid side67and right lid side68are attached to lid top66by a typical weld. Lid beam83is typically welded to the underside of lid top66in position shown inFIG. 3. Heat shield84is placed between lid beam83and the inner-front of lid top66. As the components are depicted inFIG. 10, the 90 degree bend at the lower-right of heat shield84fits into the squared U-channel at the lower-right of lid top66. To hold it in place, the upper-left 90 degree bend of heat shield84is attached to lid beam83by either small rivets, not shown, or by a typical weld. Though not shown in drawings, ribs may be added along face of heat shield84for strength and to prevent it from warping when heated.

As shown inFIG. 10, two fender washers, each referred to as handle washer86, are placed on the inside of, and aligned with the holes in, lid top66and are to be typically welded in place. Permanently attaching them to the inside of lid top66will add structural support to prevent deformation of the front face of lid top66, should handle88be hit with a blunt force from the outside, for example: by sliding around a pickup truck bed. Handle88consists of a curved metal tube with two metal rods welded equidistant from the midpoint on the lid-side of the tube. The rods are slightly bent so-as to enter the holes on the face of lid top66perpendicularly. A portion of the ends of each rod are threaded and a flange placed at the base of the thread. Each rod is positioned in its respective hole and held in place by handle nut85.

With reference now toFIGS. 3,10, and14, left pivot plate69, left pivot bearing71, and left keeper bracket74are, respectively, mirror images of right pivot plate70, right pivot bearing72, and right keeper bracket75. All features, functions, and descriptions of assembly herein described for left pivot plate69, left pivot bearing71, and left keeper bracket74are similarly applicable to right pivot plate70, right pivot bearing72, and right keeper bracket75. For sake of avoiding redundancy only the description of right pivot plate70, right pivot bearing72, and right keeper bracket75will be detailed thoroughly, although, to assist in clarity, reference may be made to left pivot plate69, left pivot bearing71, and left keeper bracket74as depicted inFIG. 14.

FIG. 21shows the side of right pivot plate70that faces right lid side68. Right pivot bearing72is attached to right pivot plate70by a typical weld in the position shown inFIG. 21. Keeper stop73is also attached to right pivot plate70by a typical weld in the position shown inFIG. 21. Right keeper bracket75is positioned loosely in the position shown inFIG. 21. This location is between right pivot plate70and right lid side68when they are assembled. Right keeper bracket75is intended to slide freely within this position. As the images of the components are portrayed inFIG. 21, right keeper bracket75has a folded tab at its top left which is angled towards the right. This tab is intended to come in contact with the top-left horizontal edge of right pivot plate70when right keeper bracket75is loaded by lid spring15to prevent it from traveling past that point. Keeper stop73has a similar folded tab which contacts the bottom of right keeper bracket75and also serves to limit its travel.

The assembly consisting of right pivot plate70, right pivot bearing72, and keeper stop73is attached to right lid side68at the position shown inFIG. 3by a typical weld along the mating surfaces of these components. As the images of the components are portrayed inFIG. 10, these mating surfaces are: between the tab at the top-right of right pivot plate70and the parallel face of right lid side68and along the bottom of right pivot plate70and the parallel edge at the bottom of right lid side68.

Posterior lid3is designed to fit inside of anterior lid2. With reference now toFIGS. 3,11, and14, posterior lid3is assembled in the following manner. Left lid insert side76and right lid insert side77are typically welded to lid insert top78to form the arrangement shown inFIG. 3. Left insert stop arm81is typically welded to the outside face of left lid insert side76and right insert stop aim82is typically welded to the outside face of right lid insert side77at positions respectively depicted inFIG. 3.

One lid spring bracket14is typically welded to the inside face of left lid insert side76and one lid spring bracket14is typically welded to the inside face of right lid insert side77. The relative position of lid spring bracket14is depicted inFIGS. 3 and 14. One support bracket80is attached by a typical weld towards the left of the inside face of lid insert top78and one support bracket80is also attached towards the right of the inside face of lid insert top78. Each is placed vertically, as shown oriented inFIGS. 3 and 14. For clearance purposes, each must be placed at an adequate distance from left lid insert side76and right lid insert side77respectively so as to allow enough clearance for left and right pivot plates69and70to pass between so they may come into contact with the inside face of lid insert top78when posterior lid3is fully inserted into anterior lid2. Fold tab ridge79is attached at position shown inFIGS. 3 and 14. One end of lid spring15is inserted into hole in lid spring bracket14on both the right and left sides of posterior lid3.

The following is a description of the position of the various components of posterior lid3with respect to various components of anterior lid2. The positions and functions of the left side components are basically a mirror image of, and are similar to, those of the right side components.

For sake of avoiding virtually repeating the descriptions, only the right side components will be described in detail. All details relative to this description are to be understood as being similarly applicable to both the right side components as well as the left side components. The assembly consisting of posterior lid3and anterior lid2will be referred to as lid assembly2,3.

The end of right insert stop arm82is fold back to form an acute angle so as to prevent it from sliding past right keeper bracket75. Right keeper bracket75serves to limit the travel of right insert stop arm82along with the rest of posterior lid3, as well as support the weight of posterior lid3and cooking tub4when assembly is in collapsed form2,3,4as inFIG. 2. Support bracket80serves to distribute the weight of cooking tub4along the inside face of posterior lid3as well as hold drip pan16in place within cooking tub4. As depicted inFIG. 20, right pivot bearing72acts as a load bearing component of lid assembly2,3as it pivots about right hinge pivot37.

Fold tab ridge79serves three purposes. First, it adds rigidity to lid insert top78. Second, tabs at either end are to be folded down behind right hinge pivot37and left hinge pivot36after lid assembly2,3is positioned onto cooking tub4so as to keep these elements in place. Third, it acts to limit the angle to which the lid assembly2,3of barbecue apparatus1, can be opened by coming into contact with the upper-rear of cooking tub4when lid assembly2,3is lifted fully open during normal use. Finally, slots punched or cut into lid insert top78serve as exhaust vents to allow spent, heated air to escape during normal use of barbecue apparatus1when lid assembly2,3is in the closed position. Sufficient spent air must be allowed to escape in order to allow proper burning of flames from burners65during normal use of barbecue apparatus1.

With reference now toFIGS. 4,5, and12, the assembly of cooking tub4will be detailed. Tub front31and tub back32are typically welded, along the seams of contact, to left tub side34and right tub side35. Tub bottom33is positioned between left tub side34and right tub side35and typically welded to tub front31, left tub side34, and right tub side35along the seams of contact. This forms the basic structure of cooking tub4. Drip pan16slides loosely into place between tub back32and tub bottom33as shown into position shown inFIG. 5. Drip pan16simply slides in or out of place and allows for easy cleaning of grease drippings which are common when cooking on a barbecue device.

As visible inFIG. 12, three of the four sides of drip pan16are folded over and are to be typically welded along the seams. This is intended to prevent grease in the pan from spilling out over the sides when its position is shifted about angularly. However, the folded over side along rearmost edge of drip pan16must be kept minimal enough so as to allow sufficient fresh air to enter cooking tub4through open area between top of drip pan16and bottom of tub back32during normal use of barbecue apparatus1. Fresh air must be allowed to enter cooking tub4in order for flames from burners65to burn properly. Though not shown in drawings, ribs may be added along face of drip pan16for strength and to prevent it from warping when heated. Left hinge pivot36and right hinge pivot37are attached by a typical weld to tub back32in respective positions depicted inFIG. 4. Similarly, left knob guard38and right knob guard39, which are designed to prevent lid assembly2,3from contacting knobs40when being collapsed, are attached by a typical weld to tub front31in respective positions depicted inFIG. 4. Cart mount receiver64is typically welded to underside of tub bottom33in position shown inFIG. 5. This position should be near the apparent center of the rectangular area underneath cooking tub4. Cart mount receiver64is intended to fit around cart mount hitch63of folded cart-stand5and functions to hold cooking tub4in place while being transported. As depicted inFIG. 5, left lid lock7and right lid lock8are lined up with holes in left tub side34and right tub side35respectively, and attached to the underside of tub bottom33by a typical weld. Tapered ends of left lid lock pin24and right lid lock pin28are to face outward. Heat deflector21is typically welded to the underside of burner65, functioning to deflect heat from burner65away from drip pan16during normal use of barbecue apparatus1, so as to prevent heat-induced deformation of drip pan16. Vaporizer22is mounted above burner65. Two “t”-shaped members at top of burner65fit through holes at either end of vaporizer22, which is then fixed into place by either a typical weld or by a inserting a cotter pin through a drilled hole near top of “t” shaped member. Vaporizer22serves both to protect burner65form and also to provide flavor to the food by “vaporizing” any grease that may drip from food being cooked. Three assemblies of burner65, heat deflector21, and vaporizer22are used. Each is inserted through one of three large openings in front face of tub bottom33and fixed in place by a screw or rivet inserted through a hole in flat end of burner65into one of three holes in tub back32.

This completes the assembly as presented in the drawings. However, left out of the drawings are three gas valves, a valve manifold, a hose and regulator, and an electric ignition system all of which are typical to the gas barbecue grill industry and, hence, not shown in drawings, they are to be part of the finished, working assembly of collapsible barbecue apparatus1.

With reference now toFIGS. 6,7,13,15, and16the assembly and functions of cart-stand5will be detailed. Cart-stand5consists of inner beam46attached between front-outer beam48and rear-outer beam47as shown inFIG. 6-7. One spacer49, shown inFIG. 13, is aligned and mated with each of the holes in inner beam46, then mated with respective holes in front-outer beam48, and rear-outer beam47. Spacer49acts to separate inner beam46from front-outer beam48, and rear-outer beam47, thus minimizing contact surfaces between the beams. As shown positioned inFIGS. 6-7, and13, front-outer beam48is attached to the front-facing side of inner beam46by bolt11positioned into the hole in front-outer beam48, through spacer49, and through the hole in inner beam46. Spacer13is then placed around end of bolt11and secured snugly in place by nylon lock nut12. Rear-outer beam47is attached in the same fashion to the rear-facing side of inner beam46.

Cross beam51is attached between bottom ends of front-outer beam48and rear-outer beam47by a typical weld to each beam. Cart handle50is attached, by a typical weld, at the bottom end of inner beam46in position as oriented inFIG. 6, with holes aligned vertically. One castor wheel57is fitted into each hole at either end of cart handle50and secured in place by method common to the art. Castor wheel57is typically a standard castor with a swiveling hard rubber or plastic wheel as is common in the industry. Top-bar52ais attached at the top of inner beam46by a typical weld in the position depicted inFIG. 6-7, with notch in bar situated more towards the front and facing down. The notch in top-bar52aserves to allow left lid lock pin24to slide freely around top-bar52ato assist in securing cooking tub4to cart-stand5. Similarly, top-bar52bis attached, by a typical weld, at the top of rear-outer beam47and front-outer beam48in the position depicted inFIG. 6-7, with notch in bar situated more towards the front and facing down. The notch in top-bar52bserves to allow right lid lock pin28to slide freely around top-bar52bto assist in securing cooking tub4to cart-stand5.

One axle housing bracket54is typically welded to the under-side of rear-outer beam47in the position depicted inFIGS. 6-7. Similarly, one axle housing bracket54is typically welded to the under-side of front-outer beam48in the position depicted inFIGS. 6-7. Axle housing53is centered between and attached to the bottom of each axle housing bracket54by a typical weld. Axle housing53has three holes drilled or punched into it at locations depicted inFIG. 13. These holes are intended for pins that will lock connecting tray56into place, to be described in more depth in the following paragraph. Wheel axle89is positioned through holes in either end of axle housing53.

One wheel55is placed on each end of wheel axle89and each is held in place by one axle cap90placed over each end of wheel axle89. Wheel55is to be constructed of either plastic, rubber, or a combination of plastic and rubber, and may have a metal hub with or without a bearing. Connecting tray56is attached to the front-facing side of inner beam46by rivet91and similarly to the rear-facing side of inner beam46with another rivet91. Each rivet91should be of material and diameter so as to withstand the shear forces that will develop when cart-stand5is loaded by the weight of the assembly of anterior lid2, posterior lid3, cooking tub4, two of side shelf6and any additional items that may be placed on this assembly during normal use of barbecue apparatus1.

When cart-stand5is in unfolded form, connecting tray56will serve to fix, in place, the respective positions of inner beam46, rear-outer beam47, and front-outer beam48in an “X”-shaped configuration shown inFIG. 7. Connecting tray56will attach to axle housing53by method shown inFIGS. 6 and 15.FIG. 16shows two of housing-tray pin17, and one tray lock pin18. These three pins are positioned as shown inFIG. 15, through holes in axle housing53, and each attached by a typical weld placed on the underside of axle housing53. Locking pin20and locking pin guide19are then positioned on connecting tray56in position depicted inFIGS. 13 and 15. Locking pin guide19is typically welded to connecting tray56with locking pin20free to slide from side-to-side within it. When cart-stand5is in unfolded form, connecting tray56is positioned over housing-tray pins17, and tray lock pin18and locking pin20is moved through hole in tray lock pin18to fix connecting tray56in place as shown inFIG. 15.

Fuel tank30, as shown inFIG. 7, is held into position by tank mount base59and tank mount arm60. Tank mount base59is attached over top of cross beam51and attached by a typical weld to rear-outer beam47and front-outer beam48, while oriented in position shown inFIGS. 6-7, with slots facing upward. These slots are used to secure base of fuel tank30in place. Tank mount arm bracket61is attached by a typical weld to the under-side of inner beam46in position shown inFIG. 6. Tank mount arm bracket61is positioned so as to be fairly level with the height at the top of a fuel tank30. Tank mount arm60is attached to tank mount arm bracket61by tank mount arm pin62, shown inFIGS. 6 and 13, which is a typical pin as known to the art. Tank mount arm rests atop rim of carrying handle of fuel tank30to hold it in upright position when mounted on tank mount base59. Fuel tank30is to be a standard fuel tank, such as a 20 lb propane tank, as known to the gas barbecue grilling industry.

From the above descriptions, it should be understood that the present invention is a collapsible barbeque system comprised of a plurality of components. Such components in their broadest context include a tub and a lid. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective.

First provided is a tub4. The tub is in a rectilinear configuration. The tub has a rear face. The tub has a front face. The rear and front faces are separates by a depth. The tub has side faces. The side faces are provided between the front and rear faces. The side faces are separated by a width. The tub has a closed bottom. The tub has an open top. The bottom and top are separated by a height. The tub has heating elements. The tub has rotary controls40. The rotary controls are provided in the front face. The rotary controls are adapted to be manipulated by a user during operation and use.

A lid2,3is provided. The lid is in a rectilinear configuration. The lid has a posterior element3. The lid has an anterior element2. The posterior element has a rear face. The posterior element has an open front. The rear faces and open front are separated by a depth. The posterior element has side faces. The side faces are provided between the front and rear face. The side faces are separated by a width. The posterior element has an open bottom. The posterior element has a closed top. The bottom and top are separated by a height. The anterior element has a front face. The anterior element has an open rear. The front face and open rear are separated by a depth. The anterior element has side faces. The side faces are provided between the rear and front face. The side faces are separated by a width. The posterior element has an open bottom. The posterior element has a closed top. The open bottom and closed top are separated by a height. The rear of the anterior element is adapted to slidably receive the front of the posterior element. In this manner movement is provided between an expanded and contracted orientation. When in the expanded orientation the anterior element only partially receives the posterior element. In this manner the lid is adapted to be lowered to receive and totally encompass the tub during storage. When in the collapsed orientation the posterior element is fully received by the anterior element. In this manner the lid is adapted to be resting atop the tub during use. A hinge37is attached to the top of the rear face of the tub for pivotally coupling the lid to the tub.

Provided next is a removable stand5. The stand has a central leg46. The stand has side legs47,48. Each leg has an upper end. The upper end is adapted to couple to the lower face of the tub and a lower end. The stand has a lower support56. The lower support has wheels55. The lower support has casters57. The casters are coupled to the lower ends of the legs. The legs have pivot pins11. The pivot pins couple the legs at central extents intermediate the upper and lower ends. The legs are pivotable between a folded orientation and an unfolded orientation. In the folded orientation the lower support is adjacent to the tub and adapted for storage. In the unfolded orientation the lower support is spaced from the tub and adapted for use.

An upper locking sub-assembly100includes a base plate102attached beneath the tub with a downwardly extending post104. An upper pan106has an upwardly extending pin108receiving one lateral aperture of the toggle arm. A toggle arm110has a central bearing surface112and lateral apertures114adapted to oscillate on the sleeve. A lower pan116slidably receives the upper pan with lateral supports118attached to the base plate. A handle120at adapted to reciprocate the upper pan to oscillate the toggle arm through pins125. A long lock rod122has a near end coupled to one lateral aperture in the toggle arm and a free end movable into an aperture in the lid. A short lock rod124is also movable into an aperture in the other side of the lid. The lock rods are adapted to move between a retracted unlocking orientation and an extended locking orientation coupling the lid to the tub.

A lower locking sub-assembly130includes a cross bar132with a centrally positioned upwardly extending pivot pin134extending upwardly through the central leg of the stand. The cross bar is located beneath the central leg with downwardly extending fingers136,138. The pivot pin has a washer140and a handle142above the central leg. Locking bars144,146have apertured interior ends148,150receiving the fingers. The locking bars have free ends movable into apertures in the side legs to lock the legs in a collapsed orientation.

Provided last is a plurality of shelves6. Each shelf has a horizontal section below. The horizontal section receives cooking-related objects. Each shelf has a hook shaped end above. In this manner each shelf may be removably positioned over aside edge of the tub. Each shelf has a vertical section. The vertical section couples the horizontal section and the hook shaped end.