FIREPLACE STRUCTURE, PARTICULARLY AN OUTDOOR BARBECUE FOR FOOD COOKING

Abstract: Fireplace structure, particularly for outdoor barbecue for food cooking, provided with a dynamic part being pivoting with respect to an underlying base static one, comprising a place suitable to the dispersion of the coals on the same, and from which two sides and a back rise perpendicularly, being eventually suitable to support the fireplace hood with relative duct for the smokes discharge; and in which said structure provides a cooking area divided in two parts, respectively combustion chamber and cooking chamber, said division being obtained by a baffle plate wall engaged with one end along the sides, delimiting a hollow space close to the back and leaving visible two openings respectively an upper one and a lower one, of which the underlying one makes up the access mouth for the drawing of the coals generated.

Description: DESCRIPTION FIREPLACE STRUCTURE. PARTICULARLY AN OUTDOOR BARBECUE FOR FOOD COOKING. Technical Field The present invention, has for object a fireplace structure, particularly an outdoor barbecue for food cooking. The invention, finds particular even if not exclusive application in the field of production and marketing of manufactured products, also of the prefabricated type, for realizing some complementary equipment, in the outdoor furnishing. Background Art The fireplace structure and functioning is known. It is characterized in that it is provided with a base, essentially static, on whose upper side, covered with refractory material and made in pseudo-refractory material, the cooking plane is obtained. Above the cooking plane, the hood, of different shapes, which collects, conveys and sends the combustion smokes into a suitable chimney provided for this purpose develops. The great amount of fireplaces which is today on the market, makes the field very crowded, so that it is very difficult to summarize it according to a precise classification, nevertheless, a first distinction may be done according to the different origin. Thus, for instance, the first are the handicraft ones, which being mostly manufactured by art masters, are considered the so called pre- eminent fireplaces. The second ones derive from the first ones, but have a typically industrial character, because their components are made up of prefabricated manufactured, modular, products, to be installed on site by using concrete for integrating the group. Finally, a third category is known, considered a hybrid one, which uses some base prefabricated components, such as for example the fire plane and the back, and on which, once installed as unrefined, a finishing cover according to the needs is carried out using the handicraft skills. A second possible distinction, concerns the fireplace final use, thus there are those for inside and for outdoor, where among these latter ones the barbecue typology may be comprised. This latter kind, having Anglo-Saxon origin, is different from the previous ones only because it does not utilize a chimney vertically built along a building walls for discharging the burned smokes, this because it is generally a structure, also movable, sometimes not integrated with the main structure. The barbecue more in detail, comprises many solutions, among which also the electric ones are indicated. The reference technology, to which this invention is directed, mainly concerns the first type of applications, that is the traditional solutions of certain dimension, made on site, non- movable, and obtained by using mainly prefabricated components. In this case, the presence of a base can be noticed, steadily fastened to the ground, sometimes provided with a recess for housing the wood, the so called wood-shed, above which there is a plane, in refractory material, which makes up the fire plane. A back and two sides which rise from the fire plane, and support the hood, conic, with a short vertical section on the top which acts as a chimney for the collection and dispersion of smokes in the surrounding environment, complete the structure. A common characteristic of the barbecue, is that the operational opening, delimited by the three walls, is substantially prepared for two functions, respectively for burning wood up to obtain a certain amount of coals, and for cooking some food products laid on a front grill, also of the adjustable type. In the first of the two functions, the operator must provide for charging the barbecue with a fair amount of wood, then turn on the equipment and continue to feed the fire also during the food cooking phase. This latter operation is carried out on the barbecue front part and may concern a more or less wide surface, of the remaining part which is not occupied by the burning wood. The operator, then, proceeds, time by time, to remove the formed coals for placing them suitably beneath the grill removing the exhausted ash which has no more caloric power. With the purpose of producing a greater amount of coals, in the large size barbecues, some suitable metal structures are provided, which keep lifted, from the plane, the burning wood, so that only the coals can get into the underlying part, and that, as it was mentioned, will be, time by time, removed and evenly laid beneath the grill. Such procedure my cause problems, which mainly may be fastidious for the body. First, because it is necessary to feed the flame continuously, during the cooking process, the operator leaning forward for handling the food as well as for controlling the procedure, is continuously surrounded by the flame heat, which, besides, is not constant. This causes an excessive overheating of the concerned body part, which may cause, together with a working discomfort with persistent perspiration and probable percolation over the food, also some health problems. The drawback increases in the hot periods, during which such equipment is most frequently used, where, at our latitudes, the sunbeams concentration together with the flame heat makes unbearable, because of the highest temperatures, the working in front of the brazier. But furthermore, the excessive heat produced by the burning wood, prevents the operator from moving the food suitably, because the heat is often so high that it is impossible, or at least painful to reach the products which are closest to the grill end and thus closest to the heat source. Also this aspect must be kept into account during the cooking. In fact, the food subjected to cooking is usually rotated, because, generally, the food placed at the grill end is subjected to temperatures different from those, rather lower, which concern the products placed on the front part. Finally, problems concern also the flame feeding, when, in order to bring new wood, the arms must be exposed to the heat. A second negative aspect, but not to be disregarded, concerns the barbecues irremovability. The most important of these, as far as the manufacturing characteristics are concerned, are generally firmly fastened to the ground, so that the installer, during the installation and in general, should always consider its correct position, avoiding the cook to be frontally and directly hit by the sunbeams. This condition, avoids a correct sight, mainly of the food subjected to a cooking phase, and may increase the temperatures of the surrounding environment, having at disposal a larger thermal exchange surface, making the cooking even more unbearable. A purpose of the present invention is also that of obviating the above mentioned drawbacks. This and other purposes are reached with the present invention according to the characteristics as in the enclosed claims, solving the mentioned problems by a fireplace structure, particularly an outdoor barbecue for food cooking, also provided with a dynamic part being pivotable respect to a base static underlying one, comprising a plane suitable to the dispersion of the coals on the same, and from which two sides and a back rise perpendicularly, being eventually suitable to support the fireplace hood with relative duct for the smokes discharge; and in which said structure provides a cooking area divided in two parts, respectively combustion chamber and cooking chamber, said division being obtained by a baffle plate wall engaged with one end along the sides, delimiting a hollow space close to the back and leaving visible two openings respectively an upper one and a lower one, of which the underlying one makes up the access mouth for the drawing of the generated coals. For what concerns the combustion chamber, for allowing an easier feeding, without interfering with the flames produced from the wood burning inside of said hollow space thus obtained, some variations to the barbecue structure provide only some openings made in logic correspondence, respectively on the sides top or on the back. Thus, through the considerable creative contribution whose effect represents an immediate technical progress, many advantages are obtained. First of all, the fact that the wood is allowed to burn, also very powerfully avoiding its flames and heat to interfere with the cooking area. Such a condition eases the cook's work, because he is not hit by excessive heat sources, thus obtaining a healthier and less tiring food cooking. Furthermore, it can be noticed that the separation of the barbecue in two chambers, respectively a combustion one and a cooking one, avoids a substantial unevenness in the heat distribution, so that also the food placed on the grill, will no more be hit directly by the heat originated from the flames, obviating the danger of an excessive roasting. From the structural point of view, furthermore, the creation of alternative openings for feeding the flame, allows a minor exposition of the body parts to the heat, thus practically easing the operation of wood loading. Finally, the fact of having a combustion chamber, essentially protected, allows a minor interference of the atmospheric conditions and in particular of the wind whirling action, with a considerable reduction of costs. Also another advantageous aspect, is being able to have a structure, made up of a base which supports the group barbecue- smokes collection and discharge hood, of the orientatable type. Practically this means that it is possible to easily orientate the structure, making possible for the operator to remain always with his shoulders exposed to the sunbeams, independently from his position. By the practical viewpoint, it offers a substantial reduction of the sunbeams effects, with a consequent reduction of the temperature on site and anyway, easing the operations of the cook who, will consequently also be less hot and tired. These, and other advantages will appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment solution with the aid of the enclosed drawings, whose execution details are not to be considered as limitative but only as examples. Figure 1., shows a front perspective of an outdoor barbecue solution, of the frontally feedable type. Figure 2., shows a side section view of the barbecue as in Figure 1. Figure 3., shows a plan view of the barbecue as in Figure 1. Figure 4., shows a front perspective of a second solution of an outdoor barbecue, of the type feedable from the back. Figure 5., shows a side section view of the barbecue as in Figure 4. Figure 6., shows a plan view of the barbecue as in Figure 4. Figure 7., shows a front perspective of a third solution of an outdoor barbecue, of the type feedable from the side. Figure 8., shows a side section view of the barbecue as in Figure 7. Figure 9., shows a plan view of the barbecue as in Figure 7. Figure 10., shows a front perspective of a fourth solution of an outdoor barbecue, of the type feedable from the back, and also pivotable at its base. Figure 11., shows a side section view of the barbecue as in Figure 10. Figures 12. and 13., show respectively, a plan view of the barbecue as in Figure 10, without the hood, and a view of the sole base. Figure 14., shows a front perspective of a further solution of an outdoor barbecue, of the type feedable from the back, and with pivoting plane. Figure 15., shows a side section view of the barbecue as in Figure 14. Finally, Figures 16. and 17., show respectively, a plan view of the barbecue as in Figure 14, without the hood, as well as a view of the supporting lower structure of said pivoting plane. Referring now also to the figures, at first it can be noticed that an outdoor barbecue (A), may be of the static or dynamic type (A'). To the first type belongs a structure made up of more modules for example prefabricated ones, and which may be essentially divided into three parts, respectively a lower one supporting a plane and the wood-shed, an intermediate one comprising the combustion and cooking area, and an upper one for the smokes collection and discharge. The lower one provides, essentially, a module made up of two symmetrical sides (1, 1') and a back (2), which in its lower part is preferably buried in a base structure, for example a concrete slab, not shown. The upper edge of said module, is suitable to support a shelf (3), with a perimetral surface (3') which protrudes beyond said base module, having the function of a shelf, while the intrados (3") on which the coals are laid is preferably obtained in refractory material or the like. From said shelf (3), three walls respectively two sides (4, 4') and a back (5), rise perpendicularly, defining the intermediate area. Finally, said three essentially "C"-like positioned walls, support an essentially conic hood (6), and provided with chimney (7) for the smokes dispersion in the surrounding environment. Both specular walls (4, 4') vertically provide, along the intrados, the realization of a cavity (8) for each part, which has the same development, in section, of the head (9') of a baffle plate wall (9) thus housed. Said wall (9), more in detail, remains suspended, at a certain distance from the shelf (3) obtaining an opening, and from the back (5), in order to divide the whole intermediate area in two chambers, respectively a combustion back one (a), where the flame is fed, and a front one (b) suitable to the food cooking. Furthermore, in this case, some horizontal guides ( 10) may be provided, obtained specularly on the sides, (4, 4') and at different heights allowing the support, above said shelf (3), of a relative grill. Additionally, referring to the combustion chamber (a), it can be noticed that the baffle plate wall (9), according to a transversal section, is not straight, but provides a first vertical lower section (9") followed by a skew and divergent upper section (9"'), in order to increase the capacity of the hollow space in the chamber (a), in the upper part, making up a suitable housing for the burning wood. Close to the combustion chamber base (a), some longitudinal grids ( 11) are provided, of the removable type, being laterally extractable, which have the purpose of upperly supporting the bunch of wood to be burned, making only the coals fall in the underlying part, and which through the base opening ( 19) are time by time removed by the operator. In the following illustrations, (see for example Figs. 4 and 7) two typologies of barbecue are further provided. They are substantially characterized in that they have a different position of the access to the combustion chamber (a) for the feeding. And in fact, while in the first solution described, the wall (9), and in particular the skew section (9'") is rather low, and anyway lower than the front edge (6') of the hood (6), in both the variations to the first solution, the same section (9"') and therefore the wall (9) in its totality is mainly developed in height up to coincide with the hood (6) base, clogging the easy access for the front feeding. In this case, thus, the feeding can be anyway ensured, providing for one of the two variations a mouth ( 12 ) , obtained at a suitable height on the back ( 5 ) corresponding to the combustion chamber (a) , alternatively providing a mouth ( 13 ) , always made corresponding to the combustion chamber (a), along the sides (4, 4'). Said solution of barbecue, finally, may provide a dynamic structure (A') meaning that it allows, substantially, a rotation of also 360° of at least one part of the same. More in detail, it is proposed in two variations, one in which a fair part of the structure rotates, and a second one, which finalizes to the rotation only the upper part comprising the shelf (3). Even more in detail, in case of the first one, it is provided the steady disposition on the ground, of a footboard ( 14), in which a pivoting ring ( 15) is buried, being possibly placed on ball bearings and over which a base ( 16) is fastenable, at the bottom provided with a base plate ( 16') suitable to provide, along the underlying edge, some means for the reciprocal engagement along said ring ( 15). In alternative, instead of said ring (15) only a circular guide may be provided, inside of which some wheels, also spherical ones, slide, engaged on the lower part of the base plate (16'). The base ( 16), in this case, supports the group shelf (3), sides (4, 4'), back (5) and hood (6,7), and the whole rotates with respect to the static footboard ( 14). In a possible variation, the barbecue (A') which may be divided in two parts, comprises a first static part, made up of a footboard (14) to which the base ( 16) is steadily joined, provided with wood-shed. On the base ( 16) top, some bearings ( 17) are peripherally engaged on which are keyed some sliding small wheels ( 18). In this way over said surface the shelf (3) is laid, eventually provided on the intrados of a corresponding guide, and the relative structure made up of the group sides (4,4'), back (5) and hood (6,7), which thus results rotatable independently from said base ( 16), footboard (14).

Claims: Claims 1. Fireplace structure, particularly for outdoor barbecue for food cooking, comprising at least a plane (3) suitable to the dispersion of the coals on the same, and from which two sides (4,4') and a back (5) rise perpendicularly, being eventually suitable to support the fireplace hood (6) with relative duct (7) for the smokes discharge; characterized in that the area defined by the plane (3) sides (4,4') and back (5), is divided in two parts, respectively a combustion chamber (a) and a cooking chamber (b), said division being obtained by a baffle plate wall (9) engaged with the end (9') along the sides (4,4'), delimiting a hollow space close to the back (5) and leaving visible two openings respectively an upper one and a lower one, of which the underlying one makes up the access mouth (19) for the drawing of the coals generated in said combustion chamber (a). 2. Fireplace structure, particularly for outdoor barbecue, according to claim 1., characterized in that the baffle plate wall (9), being engaged with the end (9') along the sides (4,4'), is suspended with respect to an underlying shelf ( 3 ) , obtaining a base opening ( 19). 3. Fireplace structure, particularly for outdoor barbecue, according to claims 1. and 2., characterized in that from said shelf (3), three walls respectively two sides (4, 4') and a back (5), rise perpendicularly, defining the intermediate area in which both specular walls (4, 4') vertically provide, along the intrados, the realization of a cavity (8) for each part, which has the same development, in section, of the head (9') of a baffle plate wall (9) thus housed. 4. Fireplace structure, particularly for outdoor barbecue, according to previous claims, characterized in that referring to the combustion chamber (a), it can be noticed that the baffle plate wall (9), according to a transversal section, is not straight, but provides a first vertical lower section (9") followed by a skew and divergent upper section (9'"), increasing the capacity of the hollow space in the chamber (a), in the upper part, making up a suitable housing for the burning wood. 5. Fireplace structure, particularly for outdoor barbecue, according to previous claims, characterized in that close to the combustion chamber base (a), some longitudinal grids ( 11) are provided, of the removable type, being laterally extractable. 6. Fireplace structure, particularly for outdoor barbecue, according to previous claims, characterized in that the skew section (9'") of the baffle plate wall (9) does not develop up to the top of the sides (4,4'), stopping beneath the front edge (6') of the hood (6), making up the front feeding mouth of the combustion chamber (a). 7. Fireplace structure, particularly for outdoor barbecue, according to previous claims, characterized in that a variation provide a skew section (9'") and then the wall essentially coinciding with the base of the hood (6), and in which a mouth ( 12) for the feeding of the burning wood is obtained at a suitable height on the back (5) corresponding to the combustion chamber (a) , alternatively providing a mouth ( 13 ), always made corresponding to the combustion chamber (a), along the sides (4, 4'). 8. Fireplace structure, particularly for outdoor barbecue, according to previous claims, characterized in that it provides a dynamic structure (A'), made up of a footboard ( 14), provided with supporting means of an independent part, rotatable with respect to it and comprising the group shelf (3), sides (4,4') back (5) and eventually hood (6.7). 9. Fireplace structure, particularly for outdoor barbecue, according to previous claims, characterized in that to the footboard ( 14) is steadily joined the base ( 16), on whose top, supporting means ( 17-18) for a plane rotation (3) are provided, and relative structure made up of the group sides (4,4') back (5) and eventually hood (6,7).

Inventors: CASAGRANDE ISIDORO, CASAGRANDE, ISIDORO
Applicants: CASAGARDEN S R L, CASAGARDEN S.R.L.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: F24B1
IPC codes: A47J37, F24B1