Abstract:
A grill pan for grilling food is provided. The grill pan is made of a lid and a base with grill ridges and a slidably adjustable hinge-like mating portion, which allows the lid to freely adjust to various thicknesses of foods placed inside the pan.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/655,822, filed on Feb. 24, 2005, entitled “Oven Grill Pan with Adjusting Hinge,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to the field of grilling instruments, and, more particularly, to a two-part grill pan with an adjustable hinge for grilling foods inside of a conventional oven or a convection oven.  
         [0004]     2. Related Art  
         [0005]     Apparatuses for grilling food are well known and commercially available. Prior art includes grilling devices for use atop a conventional gas or electric range, as well as the famous George Foreman™ grill. Drawbacks of such devices include a dependency on an attached power source or heating element, difficulty in cleaning the device, and typically a small size, which limits the amount of food that may be cooked at one time on the cooking space.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention comprises a two-part grill pan for grilling foods of different thicknesses inside a conventional or convection oven. In an embodiment of the present invention, a grill pan is implemented as a formed heat-conducting metal rectangular base or lower portion supporting a food cooking, or grilling, surface and a formed heat-conducting metal rectangular lid or upper portion to be placed on top of food to be cooked. Preferably, the positions of the base and the lid relative to each other are set by adjustable hinge-like mating portions. The mating portions allow a vertical distance between the base and the lid to be freely adjustable to accommodate foods of various thicknesses. The mating portions prevent the base and the lid from shifting laterally relative to each other  
         [0007]     According to one aspect of the present invention, the base comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, where the upper portion is a corrugated grill surface with a plurality of elevated grill ridges, referred to herein as “veins,” disposed at a distance from one another, and grooves, referred to herein as “drain channels,” alternately positioned between the grill veins, which allow grease, juice, and/or other food liquids to drain from the food being grilled. A wall is positioned about the periphery of the base and may be upstanding such that the wall extends above the grill veins of the base. In a preferred embodiment, a front portion of the wall of the base is tall enough to meet a top surface of the lid when the lid lays on the base for storage.  
         [0008]     According to another aspect of the present invention, a collecting channel, or grease channel, runs along a lower internal section of the front portion of the wall of the base, and is in fluid communication with the drain channels. In some embodiments, the collecting channel runs along a peripheral edge of the base. The collecting channel has a top edge lower than the top of the front portion of the wall of the base. Advantageously, the grill veins of the base are positioned at a slight downward slope, from a higher elevation at a back portion of the wall of the base to a lower elevation at the front portion of the wall of the base, in order to facilitate the flow of grease, juice, and/or other food liquids from the drain channels into the collecting channel. The collected grease, juice, and/or other food liquids subsequently may be poured readily from the grill pan.  
         [0009]     In yet another aspect, the base of the grill pan includes one or more indentations in a portion of the wall. The indentations may extend through the width of the portion of the wall and, advantageously, may be located just above the top edge of the collecting channel inside the front portion of the wall. These indentations allow for one or more lift handles to be hooked onto the upper edge of the collecting channel, which allows a user to lift and move the grill pan without physically touching the grill pan, such as, for example, when the grill pan is placed into or removed from an oven. Advantageously, the lift handles may be made of any sturdy, heat-resistant material including, for example, metal encased in a wooden grip. The lift handles may be fixed to the base of the grill pan or they may be removable.  
         [0010]     According to another aspect of the present invention, the lid of the grill pan includes an upper surface and a lower surface, where the lower surface is a corrugated surface with a plurality of grill veins similar to those of the base and disposed at a distance from one another, and with a plurality of drain channels alternately positioned between the grill veins of the lid. The grill veins of the lid extend from a back edge of the lid to a front lip at a front edge of the lid. In a preferred embodiment, the lid is dimensioned smaller than the base such that it may rest within the periphery of the base for storing purposes. Preferably, the lid includes a lid handle, or lid lift lug, positioned at the front lip of the lid. Optionally, the lid handle may be centered along the front lip of the lid or may be in two or more parts positioned in a spaced relationship along the front lip of the lid. The lid handle allows a user to easily lift and lower the lid of the grill pan, either by hand or by one or more of the lift handles. The lid handle may be integrally formed from the material as the lid of the grill pan, or it may be a separate unit that is physically attached to the grill pan lid. Optionally, the lid handle may include an aperture for hooking a lift handle in order to lift the lid to an opened position relative to the base.  
         [0011]     In yet another aspect, the lid has indentations in the front lip, and spaced such that the lid indentations line up with the indentations in the base of the grill pan. The lid indentations provide clearance for the lift handles to properly hook onto the top edge of the collecting channel in order to lift and move the grill pan while the lid is resting within the periphery of the base.  
         [0012]     In a further aspect of the present invention, the lid of the grill pan is pivotally registered to the base by an adjusting hinge. The adjusting hinge comprises a plurality of lid pivot guide pins, which include outer guide pins that protrude upwards from the back portion of the wall of the base, and inner guide pins that protrude from the upper surface of the base, from a position near a back portion of the wall of the base. The lid pivot guide pins may be positioned substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the base. Optionally, other configurations of lid pivot guide pins that allow the lid to be pivotally registered to the base are within the scope of the present invention. Positioned along a portion of the wall of the base is a lid stop that allows the lid to rest in an opened position generally upright or perpendicular to the base of the grill pan, while also preventing the lid from falling backwards. Preferably, the lid stop protrudes substantially upward from the back portion of the wall of the base. The lid pivot guide pins and the lid stop may be integrally formed from the same material as the base of the grill pan, or they may be separate units that are welded or attached by other means to the back portion of the wall of the base of the grill pan. Optionally, other configurations of lid pivot guide pins that allow the lid to be pivotally registered to the base are within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0013]     In still another aspect of the present embodiment, a portion of the back edge of the lid may be machined smooth into a cylindrical bar portion. At the ends of bar portion, a small portion of the lid is carved out along a short length of the grill veins, producing two slots. To connect the lid to the base, the bar portion slides between the lid pivot guide pins and the two slots fit around the inner guide pins, allowing the lid to lay flat onto the base or within the periphery of the base. The lid pivot pins protrude from the ends of the bar portion of the lid and align the base with the lid. The lid pivot pins also provide stability to the lid when pivotally registered to the base. By not permanently affixing the lid to the base, the lid may adjust freely to the height or thickness of foods placed between the lid and the base, so that the lid lays generally flat on top of foods placed inside the grill pan. Additionally, the lid may be separated completely from the base for cleaning purposes. Accordingly, other configurations of an adjusting hinge are within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0014]     Alternatively, the bar portion and lid pivot pins may be integrally formed out of the same material as the lid of the grill pan, or they each may be separate units that are welded or attached by other means to the back edge of the lid of the grill pan.  
         [0015]     According to another aspect of the present invention, the grill pan may be made of an uncoated metal in order to produce grill marks on foods placed inside the grill pan. Preferably, the grill pan is made of aluminum, steel, or any other metal of sufficient weight and consistency to provide proper heat conduction. Advantageously, the grill veins and valleys of both the lid and the base may be triangular in shape. However, one of ordinary skill would recognize that other embodiments of the present invention may incorporate grill veins of other functional shapes, such as, for example, rectangular, semi-cylindrical, and trapezoidal.  
         [0016]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for grilling foods using the grill pan includes placing food onto the grill veins of the base and lowering the pan lid to rest on the food such that the grill veins of the pan lid rest against the food. The lid adjusts to the thickness of the food via the adjusting hinge and lays flat on top of he food. A user may hook the lift handles onto the collecting channel inside the base of the grill pan, and pick up and place the grill pan inside a conventional oven or, in the alternative, a convection oven, without having to physically touch the grill pan and risk dropping the pan or being burned. The grill pan grills food thoroughly, and, most likely, in an amount of time less than what it would take to cook the food in a conventional oven or a convection oven without using the grill pan. Additionally, the grill pan places grill marks onto the food. Advantageously, the grill pan may prevent food cooked therein from drying out, which is a common drawback of baking or broiling food inside a conventional oven or a convection oven. Once fully cooked, or grilled, the user again may use the lift handles to remove the grill pan from the oven and may use one lift handle to open the lid of the grill pan. Thus, a grilling instrument for use inside a conventional oven or a convection oven is provided. Accordingly, the grilling instrument of the present invention also may be used atop a common barbeque pit, inside a brick-oven, or in conjunction with any other type of indoor or outdoor cooking apparatus. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     The present invention will be more readily understood from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment(s) presented below considered in conjunction with the attached drawings, of which:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  presents a rear perspective view of a grill pan in a semi-opened position, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  presents an exploded perspective view of components of a grill pan and a side view of a grill pan, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0020]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are rear perspective and front perspective views of a grill pan in an opened position, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is discussed in conjunction with  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of a grill pan  100  with a base  102  and a lid  101  pivotally registered to the base  102  by an adjusting hinge  115 .  FIG. 2  presents an exploded perspective view of individual components that make up a grill pan  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. A base  102  supports a corrugated food cooking surface with grill rods  103   a , or grill veins, disposed at a distance from one another, and drain channels  103   b , or valleys, alternately positioned between the base grill veins  103   a . Similarly, a lid  101  has grill veins  104   a  disposed at a distance from one another, and channels or valleys  104   b  alternately positioned between the lid grill veins  104   a . Preferably, the lid grill veins  104   a  are sized and spaced apart such that the lid grill veins  104   a  rest in an interlocking position with the base grill veins  103   a  when the lid  101  is placed in a closing position onto the base  102  for nonuse or storing purposes.  
         [0022]     In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an upstanding wall  105  surrounds the periphery of the base  102  and, advantageously, is of a height greater than the height of the base grill veins  103   a . Two side portions  105   b  of the wall  105  and a back portion  105   a  of the wall  105  of the base  102  are adjacent to the grill Veins  103   a . A front portion  105   c  of the wall  105 , however, is spaced at a distance from the front edges of the grill veins  103   a . Within this space is a collecting channel, or grease channel  106 , which runs transverse to the base grill veins  103   a . The collecting channel  106  provides for collecting grease, juice, and other food liquids, which are produced during a grilling process. As shown in the side section view, in  FIG. 2 , the base grill veins  103   a  are positioned at a slight downward slope  107 , from a higher elevation at the back portion  105   a  of the wall  105  of the base  102  to a lower elevation at the front portion  105   c  of the wall  105  of the base  102 , in order to facilitate the flow of food liquids for easy disposal. Grease, juice, and other food liquids may run along the sides of the base grill veins  103   a  and temporarily collect in the drain channels  103   b  alternately positioned between the base grill veins  103   a . The downward slope  107  of the base grill veins  103   a  then provides for a natural flow of the grease, juice, and other food liquids into the collecting channel  106 , where it keeps until the grill pan  100  is removed from a conventional oven, or a convection oven. Although  FIGS. 1-5  present a rectangular base  102  and a rectangular lid  101 , the grill pan  100  of the present invention may have other shapes, including circular, oval, and polygonal shapes.  
         [0023]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the collecting channel  106  has a top edge  108 , which is lower than the top edge of the front portion  105   c  of the wall  105  of the base  102 . Two indents  109  are positioned on the front portion  105   c  of the wall  105  of the base  102 , above the upper edge  108  of the collecting channel  106 . The indents  109  extend through the width of the front portion  105   c  of the wall  105  and allow for lift handles  110  to be hooked onto the upper edge  108  of the collecting channel  106 , allowing a user to lift and move the grill pan  100  without physically touching the grill pan  100 , which may be heated to oven temperatures. Thus, a user may use the grill pan  100  safely without the worry of being burned and/or spilling food liquids from the grill pan  100 , which may be messy and dangerously hot.  
         [0024]     Preferably, the lift handles  110  are made of a material that is able to withstand high temperatures, able to bear a heavy weight load, and is a poor heat conductor. For example, the lift handles  110  made be made of metal encased in wood or any other material capable of withstanding high temperatures and preventing heat conduction. According to a preferred embodiment, a portion of the lift handle  110  used to hook onto a grill pan  100  may comprise two metal prongs, formed generally parallel to one another and shaped such that the prongs provide a secure fit onto the grill pan  100 . The two prongs may be machined in a bent or angled position with respect to the remaining portion of the lift handle  110 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , however, one of ordinary skill would recognize that the lift handles  110  of the present invention may be formed into multiple configurations and still perform their necessary function.  
         [0025]     A lid  101  of the grill pan  100  includes grill veins  104   a  similar to the base grill veins  103   a  and disposed at a distance from one another, with channels  104   b  alternately positioned between each grill vein  104   a . The lid grill veins  104   a  extend from a back edge  111   a  of the lid  101  to a front lip at a front edge  111   b  of the lid  101 . The front lip provides a surface area for a lid lift lug  112 , or lid handle, and two indents  113  or grooves, which serve as clearance grooves for the lift handles  110 . The lid handle  112  may be positioned in the center of the front lip of the lid  101 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , and may be integrally formed from the same material as the lid  101  of the grill pan  100 , or it may be a separate attachment. Optionally, the lid handle  112  may have an aperture  114  for hooking the lift handle  110  onto the lid handle  112  in order to lift the lid  101  to an opened position relative to the base  102 .  
         [0026]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the clearance grooves  113  in the front lip of the lid  101  are positioned such that the clearance grooves  113  line up with the indents  109  in the front portion  105   c  of the wall  105  of the base  102 . The clearance grooves  113  prevent the lid  101  from inhibiting the lift handles  110  ability to hook onto the top edge  108  of the collecting channel  108  when the lid  101  is in a closed or flat position, relative to the base  102 .  
         [0027]     The lid  101  of the grill pan  100  is pivotally registered to the base  102  via an  115  adjusting hinge, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 A- 3 B, where  FIGS. 3A and 3B . In a preferred embodiment, the adjusting hinge  115  includes a plurality of lid pivot guide pins  116 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , which protrude upwards from the back portion  105   a  of the wall  105  of the base  102  and from a location inside the base  102 , where the location is disposed at a distance from the back portion  105   a  of the wall  105  of the base  102 . The plurality of lid pivot guide pins  116 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , may be separate units that are attached to the base  102 , or may be integrally formed from the same material as the base  102 . The plurality of lid pivot guide pins  116  may include outer lid pivot guide pins, which are located along the back portion  105   a  of the wall  105  of the base  102 , and inner lid pivot guide pins, which are positioned at a relatively short distance from the outer lid pivot guide pins, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The lid pivot guide pins  116  may be positioned generally perpendicular to the base grill veins  103   a , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Alternately, other configurations of lid pivot guide pins  116  that allow the lid  101  to be pivotally registered to the base  102  are within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a lid stop  117  is positioned between the two outer lid pivot guide pins  116 , and protrudes generally upward from the back portion  105   a  of the wall  105  of the base  102  and generally perpendicular to the grilling surface. The lid stop  117  permits the lid  101  to rest in an opened position generally upright or perpendicular to the base  102  of the grill pan  100 , and also prevents the lid  101  from falling backwards when in the opened position.  
         [0029]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a portion of the back edge of the lid  101  is formed into a smooth cylindrical edge, or bar portion  118 , and when the lid  101  is registered to the base  102 , the bar portion  118  is positioned between the lid pivot guide pins  116  of the base  102 , such that it “slides” between the lid pivot guide pins  116 . Adjacent to the bar portion  118  is one or more hinge slots  119  carved into the lid  101  of the grill pan  100 , and are positioned generally parallel to the lid grill veins  104   a  and generally perpendicular to the bar portion  118 . The bar portion  118  and the hinge slots  119  register the lid  101  to the base  102  with the bar portion  118  sliding between the outer and inner lid pivot guide pins  116  while the hinge slots  119  fit around the lid pivot guide pins  116 . To align the base  101  with the lid  102 , a lid pivot pin or bolt  120  may be attached to each outer end of the bar portion  118  of the lid  101  such that the lid pivot bolts  120  extend beyond the total length of the back portion of the wall  105  of the base  102  from one outer lid pivot guide pin  116  to the other outer lid pivot guide pin  116 . Alternately, the lid pivot bolts  120  may be integrally formed from the same material as the lid  101  instead of being separate units for attachment.  
         [0030]     The adjusting hinge  115  allows the lid to move freely with respect to the base of the grill pan  100 . When food is placed onto the grill surface of the base  102 , the lid  101  adjusts to the height or thickness of the food and may lie generally flat on top of the food instead of at an angle. With the lid  101  lying generally flat, the grill pan  100  is easily placed into a conventional oven or a convection oven. Additionally, a greater surface area of the lid  101  comes into contact with the food. Advantageously, the lid  101  may be separated completely from the base  102  in order to be cleaned.  
         [0031]      FIG. 3A  is a rear perspective view of a grill pan  100 , according to an embodiment of the present invention, with a lid  101  of the grill pan  100  placed in an opened position. As shown in both  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the lid  101  is pivotally registered to a base  102  of the grill pan  100  by an adjusting hinge  115  with a bar portion resting  118  between a plurality of lid pivot guide pins  116 , similar to  FIG. 1 . The lid  101  rests against a lid stop  117 , which permits the lid to rest in an open position generally perpendicular to the base  102 .  FIG. 3B  is a front perspective view of the same grill pan  100 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a grill pan, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a closed position while not in use. In this embodiment, a lid stop runs a length of a back portion of the wall portion between two lid pivot guide pins, and both the lid stop and the lid pivot guide pins are integrally formed from the same material as the base of the grill pan. Additionally, slots carved into the lid are shown in greater detail.  
         [0033]     As will be appreciated, there are countless configurations for a grill pan that grills foods inside a conventional or convection oven.  FIGS. 1-7  illustrate only a few possible configurations, and in no way should be construed as limiting the application of the inventive apparatus to those configurations. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.