BARBEQUE GRILL AND METHOD

Abstract: A hinged cooking surface for a barbeque grill (10) in which one part of the cooking surface (16) may be pivoted upwardly with respect to the other part so that ready access is provided to a renewable heat source positioned below the cooking surface. The invention also includes a method of renewing a heat source in a barbeque grill.

Description: BARBEQUE GRILL AND METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a hinged grill adapted to fit in a barbeque cooking device using a renewable heat source positioned underneath the grill. This invention also relates to a method of renewing a heat source in a barbeque cooking device. Outdoor barbeque cooking devices are well-known and commonly used. In general, such outdoor cooking devices include a metal cooker body on which the cooking grill will be supported. A renewable heat source, such as charcoal, wood chips, or the like may be placed di¬ rectly within the body or may be placed on a charcoal rack located underneath the cooking grill but raised above the bottom surface of the cooker body. Once the cooking grill is put in place over the wood or charcoal, and the food to be cooked is placed on the grill, it becomes extremely difficult to add additional wood or charcoal to the fire. This is a particular problem in slow-cook, smoker-type grills which require a relatively low heat over a long time. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The pr esent inven ti on overcomes the problem of prior art cooking grills, particularly slow-cook, smoker-type grills, by providing a hinged cooking grill which is adapted to fit in the barbeque cooker body. The hinged grill is placed over a renewable heat source. The hinged grill includes a cooking surface and a hinge element fixed to the cooking surface so that one part of the cooking surface may be rotated upwardly with respect to the other part. This allows ready access to the renewable heat source directly underneath the cooking sur face . It also allows for easi er access to the interior of the barbeque cooker for adding water to an interior container when such a container is used for cleaning. The hinge may be positioned either in the center of the cooking surface to provide two equally sized parts either of which may be rotated upwardly, or may be placed asymmet¬ rically on the cooking surface. The present invention also comprehends a method for renewing a heat source in a barbeque cooking device in which a horizontal cooking surface is positioned above a renewable heat source. The method includes the steps of providing a hinge element on the cooking surface so that one part of the cooking surface may be pivoted upwardly with respect to the other part. When it is desired to add charcoal, wood chi ps or ot her fuel to the heat source, one part of the cooking surface is pivoted upwardly about the hinge element, fuel is added to the heat source and the upwardly pivoted part of the cooking surface is then pivoted downwardly into a horizontal position so tha t cooking may continue. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a barbeque cooking device with the grill of the present invention mounted therein. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a grill according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in Figure 1, a cooking grill according to the present invention is intended to be placed in a slow-cook, smoker-type grill as shown generally at 10. Other type grills in which it is desired to renew the heat source may, of course, also be used. In general, such barbeque grills include a rack 12 on which charcoal, wood chips, or other heat source is supported above the bottom 14 of the barbeque cooker body. Alternatively, the heat source could be placed directly on bottom 14. Positioned above rack 12 is a grill or cooking surface 16 which is supported on support brackets 18 fixed to cooker body 20. Grill 16 includes at least one hinge element 22 which allows one part of grill 16 to be pivoted upwardly with respect to the other part, as shown in Figure 2. Handles 24 may be fixed to grill 16 to facilitate pivoting part of the grill about hinge element 22. When using barbeque grill 10 as a slow-cook, smoker-type, it becomes necessary to frequently replenish charcoal, wood chips or other heat source contained on rack 12. Using the present invention, one part of grill 16 may be conveniently pivoted upwardly about hinge ele¬ ment 22 so that ready access is provided to the heat source on rack 12. After the desired amount of charcoal or wood chip is provided to the heat source, the upwardly pivoted part of the grill is returned to its horizontal position and cooking continues. G rill 16 may be made in any desired shape or size in order to accomodate the particular needs of the barbeque grill with which it is being used. Addi tionally, grill 16 may include more than one hinge element and the hinge element may be placed asym metrically on the cooking surface, as shown in Figure 2. Although the invention has been described with respect to a pre¬ ferred embodiment, it is not intended that the invention will be lim¬ i ted thereto. Various modifications will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art and the invention is de fined only in the following claims.

Claims: CLAIMS .1. A hinged grill adapted to fit in a barbeque cooking device using a heat source positioned underneath the grill, said grill com- 'prising: a horizontal cooking surface; and a hinge element fixed to said cooking surface so that- one part of said cooking surface may be pivoted upwardly with respect to the ot her part in order to provide access to the interior of the barbeque cooking device. 2. A hinged grill as recited in claim 1 wherein said hinge element is positioned asymmetrically on said cooking surface. 3. A m ethod of rene wi ng a heat source in a barbeque cooking device having a horizontal cooking surface and a renewable heat source posi tioned underneath the cooking surface comprising the steps of: providing a hinge element on said cooking surface so that one part of the cooking surface may be pivoted upwardly with respect to the other part; pivoting upwardly part of said cooking surface about said hinge element in order to provide access to the renewable heat source positioned underneath the cooking surface; adding fuel to the renewable heat source; and pivoting downwardly said part of said cooking surface into a horizontal position.

Inventors: KNIGHT EDWARD S, KNIGHT, EDWARD, S.
Applicants: MASTERPIECE K C PROD INC
Application year: 1985
Main classification: A47J37
IPC codes: A47J37