Abstract:
A collapsible barbecue apparatus includes a base housing a fuel supply. First and second wings are pivotally attached to the base and movable between a closed position wherein the wings face one another, and an open position wherein the wings are generally co-planar with one another. Each wing includes a grill cooking surface and an underlying gas burner. First and second supports are movable from a retracted position adjacent to the base to extended positions for supporting the first and second wings, respectively.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention generally relates to barbecues and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to a collapsible barbecue apparatus which is transportable so as to be used either indoors or outdoors.  
           [0002]    Barbecues, camping stoves, and the like are well-known. Often, such barbecues are rather large and stored on a patio or a deck of a homeowner. Once assembled, the barbecue can only be moved to a limited extent with the use of a pair of wheels at one lower end thereof. Oftentimes, such a large barbecue device is not required, or not even feasible. For example, many people live in town homes, condos, or apartments which do not provide sufficient space for such a large barbecue device.  
           [0003]    There are, however, many collapsible and portable barbecuing devices. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,499 to Rensch et al. discloses a portable grill comprised of fuel pans which are removable between horizontal and vertical positions and which include removable grates which confine charcoal brickettes within the fuel pan. The grill device is extended in use, and can be folded and collapsed for storage. However, such device utilizes charcoal, prohibiting its use indoors. Also, the use of charcoal brickettes requires that the ashes from such brickettes be disposed of immediately after use and before the grill is collapsed and stored.  
           [0004]    Another known collapsible barbecue grill is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,593,701 to Youmans. This barbecue grill employs vertically adjustable grills which are pivotally attached to the center post. A flexible, heat-resistant material, e.g. asbestos cloth, forms a fire pan when open for supporting charcoal brickettes. Once again, however, even though the grill is collapsible in nature so as to be easily stored and transported, the device requires the storage of charcoal brickettes and disposal of the ashes from such brickettes after use before the device can be collapsed and stored. Furthermore, asbestos cloth is no longer offered commercially due to the health hazards associated therewith.  
           [0005]    There are also known propane gas grills which are relatively small and portable. Such typically comprise an underlying pan housing the gas burner, a grill disposed over the lower pan, and an upper pan serving as a lid. The fuel source, typically a propane tank, is typically attached to an inlet nozzle at the side of the grill. Such barbecue grills are often used in camping settings. However, such grills are esthetically unpleasing and rarely used indoors.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, there is continuing need for a compact and collapsible barbecue apparatus. Such an apparatus should be gas-based so as not to require the time and mess associated with charcoal grills. Such a grill should be portable so as to be used both indoors and outdoors. Also, the grill should be esthetically pleasing. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention resides in a barbecue apparatus which is collapsible to render it easy to store and transport. The barbecue apparatus of the present invention is also esthetically pleasing and easy to use.  
           [0008]    The barbecue apparatus generally comprises a base having a first wing attached thereto and pivotable between a closed position wherein the wing is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the base, and an open position generally perpendicular thereto. A second wing is similarly attached to the base and pivotable between a closed position wherein the wing is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the base, and an open position generally perpendicular thereto. The first and second wings include first and second grill cooking surfaces, respectively. First and second cooking surfaces face one another when the wings are in their closed positions, and are generally co-planar when the wings are in their open positions. Preferably, the cooking grills are removably attached to the first and second wings. A heating unit, preferably a gas burner, is disposed in at least one, and preferably both of the first and second wings. An electric igniter is disposed adjacent to the one or more gas burners.  
           [0009]    A source of combustible fuel is operably connected to the gas burner. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the source of fuel comprises one or more propane tanks disposed within the base.  
           [0010]    Distal ends of the first and second wings cooperatively form a handle when the wings are in the closed position. Preferably, a latch is associated with the handle for locking the handle in the closed position.  
           [0011]    A first support is movable from a retracted position adjacent to the base to an extended position for supporting the first wing in the opened positioned. Similarly, a second support is movable from the retracted position adjacent to the base to an extended position for supporting the second wing in an open position. The supports each include collapsible arms which retract into and extend from the base. Preferably, the supports nest within side walls of the base in their retracted position. A grease cup may underlie either the first or second wing, and typically held in place by the supports.  
           [0012]    In a particularly preferred embodiment, the base includes a light source of illuminating the barbecue apparatus when in use.  
           [0013]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible barbecue apparatus embodying the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the barbecue apparatus;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the barbecue apparatus;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the barbecue apparatus;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a partially exploded perspective view of the barbecue apparatus in an unfolded and operating state;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the various component parts of the barbecue apparatus of the present invention; and  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line  7 - 7  of FIG. 5. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]    As shown in the accompanying drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention resides in a barbecue apparatus, generally referred to by the reference number  10 . As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the barbecue apparatus  10  of the present invention can be folded for storage in a very compact, yet esthetically pleasing manner. The barbecue apparatus  10  of the present invention generally comprises a base  12  having a major vertical axis so as to be relatively thin and vertically oriented. Wings  14  and  16  are pivotally connected to the base  12  at an upper end thereof and movable between closed positions, illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, so as to be generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the base  12  for storage purposes; and an open position, as illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein the wings  14  and  16  are generally horizontal and generally co-planar with one another.  
         [0023]    Distal ends  18  and  20  of the wings are formed such so as to create a handle, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, when the wings  14  and  16  are brought towards one another in the closed position. Preferably, a latch  22 , such as that illustrated in FIG. 6, is provided for locking the handles  18  and  20  to one another to maintain the apparatus  10  in the closed position. Such a latch may be a pivoting member, as illustrated, wherein the latch  22  is hinged over the opposite handle end  20  and snapped into place or the like.  
         [0024]    With reference now to FIGS. 5-7, the wings  14  and  16  can be pivoted downwardly so as to lie generally horizontal and expose the cooking surfaces thereof. In a particularly preferred embodiment, supports  24  and  26  extend outwardly from the base  12  to support the respective wings  14  and  16  in the generally horizontal position. These supports  24  and  26  are configured to nest within recesses  28  and  30  of the base so that when the supports  24  and  26  are in their retracted position, they appear to be part of the base  12 . The supports  24  and  26  are connected to the base  12  by telescoping or hinged arms  32  and  34  which are capable of being extended outwardly from the base  12  to position the support  24  or  26  under its respective wing  14  and  16 , and retracted back towards the base  12  to enable the supports  24  and  26  to nest with the base  12 . Preferably, each support  24  and  26  includes a support foot or base  36  and  38 , respectively, which provides a platform or support with the ground or resting surface so that the apparatus  10  is secure and stationary in the in-use and open position. An upper end of each support  24  and  26  may include an elastomeric pad, or be configured to be received within an indentation of the outer surface of the wing  14  and  16  so that a stable connection is made therebetween.  
         [0025]    With continuing reference to FIGS. 5-7, and particularly FIG. 6, the wings  14  and  16  in a particularly preferred embodiment each include an outer rim  40  and  42 , the distal ends  18  and  20  of which form a handle. Generally concave sidewalls  44  and  46  are attached to, or formed with the rims  40  and  42 . Typically, the sidewalls  44  and  46  are comprised of metal, such as aluminum or sheet metal. The outer rims  40  and  42  may be comprised of a hardened plastic material, or formed integrally with the sidewalls  44  and  46 . Semi-circular grills  48  and  50  overlie the sidewalls  44  and  46 . The grills  48  and  50  form a cooking surface upon which meat, vegetables, or other food to be cooked is placed. In a particularly preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the grills  48  and  50  are removably attached to the wings  14  and  16  so that they can be cleaned separately.  
         [0026]    Heating units in the form of gas burners  52  and  54  are disposed between the sidewalls  44  and  46  and the grills  48  and  50 , respectively. Such gas burners are typical for gas or propane barbecues in that they have a hollow interior which allows the combustible gas to enter therein, and a series of apertures on an outer edge thereof (not shown) which allow the gas to escape and become ignited to cook the food on the grills  48  and  50 .  
         [0027]    A source of combustible fuel, such as propane tanks  56  are operably connected to the burners  52  and  54 . In a particularly preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the propane tanks  56  are disposed within the base  12 , and include conduits extending to the gas burners  52  and  54 . The base  12  is generally hollow and configured to receive a pair of propane tanks  56 . Each propane tank  56  may be connected to a respective burner  52  and  54 , or a single propane tank  56  may be connected to both burners  52  and  54 , the other propane tank  56  acting as a reserve. In any event, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the base includes bottom doors  58  and  60  which can be removed or opened for the insertion and removal of the propane tanks  56  therein. The doors  58  and  60  can be closed shut and locked to prevent the propane tanks  56  from falling from without the base  12  as the apparatus  10  is carried from one location to another.  
         [0028]    Although the gas exiting from the burners  52  and  54  can be ignited by a match or exterior flame, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes an electric igniter operable by switch  62  such that when switch  62  is depressed, a spark is generated and the propane exiting from the burner  52  or  54  is ignited.  
         [0029]    Preferably, the gas supplied to each burner  52  and  54  is altered by gas flow dials  64  and  66 . Thus, one burner  52  or  54  can be used to cook the meat, while the other burner  52  or  54  is used to merely keep the cooked food warm by lowering the gas output thereof, thus reducing the flame and cooking temperature. Such flow switches or dials  64  and  66  also enable the end user to quickly cook or sear the meat, or slowly cook the food as desired.  
         [0030]    It will be appreciated by those who barbecue that during the cooking process juices, grease and liquid from the cooked meat and vegetables fall through the grill  48  and  50  as the food is cooked. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the sidewalls  44  and  46  are generally concave so that the drippings collected in the lowermost portion thereof. One or more apertures may be formed at this lowermost point and a dripping or grease cup  68  is positioned underneath the one or more apertures for collecting the grease and drippings. Typically, the grease cups  68  are pivotally attached to the supports  24  and  26  so that the grease cups  68  can be positioned underneath the cooking wings  14  and  16  during cooking, and retracted towards the supports  24  and  26  when the supports are retracted back into base  12 . The grease cups  12  are detachably connected to the supports  24  and  26  so that they may be removed and the grease and other drippings disposed of and the grease cups  68  washed as necessary.  
         [0031]    In the particularly preferred and illustrated embodiment, a clear or translucent dome  70  extends upwardly from the base so as to be positioned above the unfolded wings  14  and  16 . A light source  72 , such as a small light bulb is disposed within the dome  70 . A source of power, such as batteries, are connected to the light bulb  72  and a switch  74  so that the light bulb can be selectively powered on and off. This enables the user to view the cooking surface grills  48  and  50 , and the food thereon, while barbecuing during night time conditions. The light bulb  72  could also assist the unfolding and set-up of the apparatus  10  during low light conditions.  
         [0032]    Although the barbecue apparatus  10  of the present invention can be offered in a variety of sizes, typically, the apparatus  10  is approximately two feet in height, and less than eight inches in width when folded for storage, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. This enables the apparatus  10  to be easily transported in a car or from a closet to a patio or the like. The compact nature of the apparatus  10  also enables it to be easily stored.  
         [0033]    The apparatus  10  of the present invention offers many advantages. Unfolding the wings  14  and  16 , as well as extending supports  24  and  26 , are intuitive allowing easy use of the apparatus  10 . The use of removable grease traps  68  and grills  48  and  50  also enable the apparatus  10  to be easily cleaned. As the apparatus  10  utilizes a gas fuel source, there is no need to remove and dispose of ash and unused brickettes. The apparatus  10  is also visually appealing and capable of being used indoors.  
         [0034]    Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.