Barbecue grill with rotating fire receptacle

The barbecue grill with a rotating fire receptacle includes a fire receptacle for receiving wood, charcoal or other combustible materials, which rotates, drawing air through a plurality of air inlets, or vents, formed through a lower wall thereof, thus increasing the oxygen flow through the receptacle and both increasing the rate of combustion as well as providing an enhanced convective path for the heated combustion gases. The barbecue grill with a rotating fire receptacle includes a vertical rod having opposed lower and upper ends, a base secured to the lower end of the vertical rod, the fire receptacle, which is rotatably mounted on the vertical rod, and a vertical support rotatably mounted on the upper end of the vertical rod. The fire receptacle includes the lower wall and at least one sidewall. The fire receptacle has a central aperture and the plurality of air inlets, or vents, formed therethrough.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to outdoor cooking devices, and more particularly to an outdoor barbecue grill with a rotating fire receptacle for receiving wood, charcoal or other combustible materials.

2. Description of the Related Art

Cooking with a barbecue grill is a popular method of preparing food, particularly in the summer months when the weather is conducive to outdoor activities. In a typical barbecue or outdoor grill, food is placed on a fixed grill surface which is mounted above a heat source, typically in the form of fire. In a standard grill, whether one uses charcoal, gas or the like as a combustion fuel, the heat source is fixed, thus potentially leading to not only uneven cooking of the food to be prepared, but also minimizing the potential of controlled convective currents to enhance cooking of the food, as well as to control the combustion rate of the charcoal, gas or the like.

Additionally, in a conventional grill where the food is at rest with respect to the combustibles, a “flare up” is likely to occur. Flare up occurs when fats and oils liquefy upon heating and are deposited on the heat source, causing these fats and oils to ignite. Upon ignition of these fats and oils, an area of increased combustion occurs, potentially charring the food disposed above on the grill. In the event of flare up, the cook must either partially extinguish the increased flames, or quickly move the food to a new area of the grill that is not currently flaring up. However, since more fats and oils usually drip into the new area, flare up will occur again, so that the cook must expend considerable energy in responding to the flare up to avoid burned food.

It would be desirable to have the charcoal, gas or the like combust evenly, as well as having the food arranged on the grill to be cooked evenly. Similarly, it would be desirable to be able to prevent the occurrence of flare up while, at the same time, maintaining even cooking of the food. It would be further desirable to be able to control the combustion rate of the combustion materials, as well as controlling the convective flow of the combustion products which, for the most part, provide the heat for cooking of the food. Thus, a barbecue grill with a rotating fire receptacle solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The barbecue grill with a rotating fire receptacle includes a fire receptacle for receiving wood, charcoal or other combustible materials, which rotates, drawing air through vents formed through a lower wall of the receptacle, thus increasing the oxygen flow through the receptacle and both increasing the rate of combustion as well as providing an enhanced convective path for the heated combustion gases. The rotation of the fire receptacle beneath one or more cooking surfaces further allows for even cooking of the food. The barbecue grill with a rotating fire receptacle includes a vertical rod having opposed lower and upper ends, a base secured to the lower end of the vertical rod, the fire receptacle, which is rotatably mounted on the vertical rod, and a vertical support rotatably mounted on the upper end of the vertical rod. The base is adapted for supporting the vertical rod on a support surface, such as the ground or a patio, and preferably includes a plurality of legs.

The fire receptacle includes a lower wall, at least one sidewall and a removable fire pan spaced above the lower wall. The lower wall and the removable fire pan each have central apertures formed therethrough. A plurality of air inlets are formed through the removable fire pan and the at least one sidewall, such that the fire receptacle is rotatably mounted on the vertical rod such that a central portion of the vertical rod projects through the central apertures formed through the lower wall and the removable fire pan. The fire receptacle is sized and shaped to receive the combustible material. The vertical support is rotatably mounted on the upper end of the vertical rod and includes an elongated housing extending coaxially with the vertical rod. The elongated housing preferably has a plurality of slots and apertures formed therethrough for removably receiving and supporting cooking utensils at a variety of user-selectable heights from the fire receptacle. The cooking utensils may include grill trays, rotating baskets, skewers and the like.

Each grill tray has a front edge adapted for releasable insertion into one of the slots formed through the elongated housing of the vertical support such that the grill tray is removably supported above the fire receptacle. Each rotating basket is sized and contoured for removably receiving food items to be cooked. Each rotating basket has opposed first and second ends, with an engaging member projecting from the first end thereof and being removably received within one of the apertures formed through the elongated housing of the vertical support. A handle portion is mounted on the second end thereof for grasping and manually rotating the rotating basket. Each skewer similarly has opposed first and second ends, with the first end thereof being removably received within one of the apertures formed through the elongated housing of the vertical support. The second end thereof is adapted for gripping by the user. Multiple slots and apertures are preferably formed through the elongated housing, arranged axially, thus allowing the user to select a desired height above the fire receptacle for removable mounting of one or more of the cooking utensils.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now toFIGS. 1 and 2, the barbecue grill with a rotating fire receptacle10includes a fire receptacle20for receiving wood, charcoal or other combustible materials. The fire receptacle20is rotatable and includes vents26formed through a lower wall24of the receptacle20through which air may flow into the receptacle20. Oxygen flow through the receptacle20increases the rate of combustion and provides an enhanced convective path for the heated combustion gases. The rotation of the fire receptacle20beneath one or more cooking surfaces (such as grill tray70inFIG. 1) further allows for even cooking of the food.

The barbecue grill with a rotating fire receptacle10includes a vertical rod12having opposed lower and upper ends14,17, respectively. A base16is secured to the lower end14of the vertical rod12. The fire receptacle20and a vertical support40are rotatably mounted on the upper end17of the vertical rod12. The base16is adapted for supporting the vertical rod12on a support surface, such as the ground or a patio, and preferably includes a plurality of legs18. It should be understood that the number, design, contouring and relative dimensions of legs18are shown in the drawings for exemplary purposes only, and that any desired number, style or configuration of legs may be used. Further, it should be understood that lower end14of vertical rod12may be secured to base16by any suitable type of connector, such as through threaded engagement or the like. It should be understood that vertical rod12and base16may be made from any suitable material, such as, for example, steel, stainless steel, grade 304 stainless steel, aluminum, cast iron, a ceramic, a ceramic coated metal, porcelain or the like.

As shown inFIG. 4, the fire receptacle20includes a lower wall24and at least one sidewall22extending from the lower wall22. Although shown in the drawings as having a substantially cylindrical contour, it should be understood that fire receptacle20may have any desired overall contouring and relative dimensions. Further, it should be understood that fire receptacle20may be made from any suitable material, such as steel, stainless steel, grade 304 stainless steel, aluminum, cast iron, a ceramic, a ceramic coated metal, porcelain or the like. It should be further understood that fire receptacle20may be rotatably mounted on vertical rod12in any suitable manner, such as by, for example, rotatable mounting of lower wall24on mounting plate34. As shown inFIG. 4, a bearing assembly38may be mounted on a lower surface36of lower wall24for making rotatable contact with the mounting plate34(FIG. 2). Bearing assembly38may be any suitable type of bearing, such as a housing containing ball bearings or the like. As shown, bearing assembly38is preferably contained in a closed or sealed housing, thus preventing ash from the burning combustible material contained in fire receptacle20from entering the interior of the bearing assembly38. Preferably, vertical rod12remains fixed with respect to base16, thus the fire receptacle20rotates with respect to the fixed vertical rod12.

As further shown inFIG. 4, internal supports72may be provided for positioning of a fire pan74above lower wall24. The spacing of the combustible materials, which rest on top of the fire pan74, from the lower wall24minimizes radiative or convective heating of the bearing assembly38. In such a configuration, the lower wall24may serve as a receptacle surface for ash produced by the combustion materials, and is preferably separated from the fire pan74by a distance of approximately four inches.

A plurality of air inlets26, or vents, are formed through fire pan74. Each of the air inlets26may be further provided with suitable vanes27or other structures for assisting in directing air upwardly through the air inlets26when the fire receptacle20is rotated with respect to vertical rod12, as best shown inFIG. 4. Additional openings76may be formed through sidewall22, as shown, allowing for entry of air into the interior of fire receptacle20. The openings76open into the chamber defined between lower wall24and fire pan74. The air flow into the interior of fire receptacle20, as discussed above, enhances the convective flow within the interior, thus enhancing the combustion rate of the combustible materials, as well as providing enhanced convective flow of the heated gases for cooking of the food.

The fire pan74has a central aperture28and a plurality of air inlets26, or vents, formed therethrough. Each of the air inlets26may be further provided with suitable vanes or other structures for assisting in directing air upwardly through the air inlets26when the fire receptacle20is rotated with respect to vertical rod12. The fire receptacle20is rotatably mounted on the vertical rod12such that a central portion of the vertical rod12projects through the central aperture28, formed through the fire pan74, and through a similar central aperture29, formed through the lower wall24.

The fire receptacle20is sized and shaped to receive the combustible material. In order to easily rotate the fire receptacle20without requiring the user to make direct contact with sidewall22or lower wall24, one or more handles30may be provided, providing the user with an insulated gripping handle spaced apart from sidewall22. Handles30may be releasably secured to sidewall22by releasable interconnection with one or more slots32formed through sidewall22, as shown.

The vertical support40is rotatably mounted on the vertical rod12, e.g., upper end17of vertical rod12, and includes an elongated housing41extending coaxially with the vertical rod12. It should be understood that vertical support40rotates separately from fire receptacle20; i.e., the angular positioning of vertical support40with respect to vertical rod12is independent of the rotation of fire receptacle20. As shown, the elongated housing41preferably has an outer frame42aincluding a plurality of slots44and apertures46formed therethrough for removably receiving and supporting cooking utensils at a variety of user-selectable heights from the fire receptacle20. The outer frame42acan be hexagonal. The housing41may include therein an inner frame42bhaving a configuration similar to that of outer frame42a, including slots and apertures for receiving portions of the cooking utensils extending within the housing41through the outer frame42a. The inner frame42bwithin the housing41can thereby increase mounting stability of the cooking utensils.

The cooking utensils may include grill trays70, rotating baskets60, skewers66and the like. As best seen inFIGS. 1 and 2, the housing41of vertical support40is shown as having a substantially hexagonal cross-sectional contour with a circular top plate80on top of housing41. A similar lower circular mounting plate81may also be provided, as shown inFIG. 7. It should be understood that this configuration is shown for exemplary purposes only, and that vertical support40may have any desired overall contouring and relative dimensions. It should be further understood that vertical support40may be made from any suitable material, such as steel, stainless steel, grade 304 stainless steel, aluminum, cast iron, a ceramic, a ceramic coated metal, porcelain or the like. It should be understood that vertical support40may be mounted on the rod12by any suitable means. For example, rod12may be received, e.g., by sliding engagement, within an opening43defined through inner sleeve42bof vertical support40, as shown inFIG. 7.

Each grill tray70has a front edge82adapted for releasable insertion into one of the slots44formed through the elongated housing41of the vertical support40such that the grill tray70is removably supported above the fire receptacle20. As shown, each grill tray70preferably has perforations48or other openings formed therethrough, similar to a conventional barbecue or grilling surface, although it should be understood that solid and continuous grill trays may be used. Preferably, at least one slot54is formed through each grill tray70, allowing for the releasable interconnection of a handle portion50. As shown, each handle portion50is provided with an engaging end52for releasable insertion within the slot54. Although shown as having a substantially triangular contour, it should be understood that grill trays70may have any desired contouring. In the example ofFIG. 3, six such triangular grill trays70are mounted on hexagonal vertical support40, each at the same height from fire receptacle20, thus forming a level cooking surface, similar to that of a conventional barbecue grill.

As shown inFIG. 1, each rotating basket60is sized and contoured for removably receiving food items to be cooked above fire receptacle20. Each rotating basket60has opposed first and second ends62,64, respectively, with an engaging member projecting from the first end62and being removably received within one of the apertures46formed through the elongated housing41of the vertical support40. A handle portion is mounted on the second end64for grasping and manually rotating the rotating basket60. Each skewer66similarly has opposed first and second ends68,71, with the first end68being removably received within one of the apertures46formed through the elongated housing41of the vertical support40. The second end71is adapted for gripping by the user. Multiple slots44and apertures46are preferably formed through the elongated housing41, arranged axially, thus allowing the user to select a desired height above the fire receptacle20for removable mounting of one or more of the cooking utensils. Although only a single rotating basket60, a single grill tray70and a single skewer66are shown inFIG. 1, it should be understood that any suitable number of utensils may be provided, and thatFIG. 1is provided for exemplary and illustrative purposes only. Further, as noted above, any suitable type of utensil may be used in combination with, and be supported by, elongated housing41of vertical support40.

It should be understood that any suitable form of motive power may be utilized to drive rotation of the fire receptacle20with respect to vertical rod12, such as the use of handles30to manually rotate the fire receptacle20. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 5, a pedal-drive system may be utilized, with foot pedal90driving rotation of pulley assembly92via interconnection through rod or level94. The pulley assembly92drives a gear train to generate rotation of fire receptacle20. In the further alternative, a powered motor96replaces foot pedal90to drive rotation of pulley assembly92. It should be understood that any suitable type of drive system may be utilized to drive rotation of fire receptacle20, such as a Stirling engine powered by the heat of combustion or the like.