Abstract:
A collapsible grill and stand which can be used indoors over a fireplace, having a grill stand which makes it possible to position and support the grill member over the burning logs, charcoal or gas within the fireplace and under the flue so the smoke, gases, odors and heat are exhausted to the outside through the flue and do not enter the interior of the room or building. The stand includes an upright center post having a vertical passageway in which a telescoping insert is received, such insert having a laterally extending arm, at the outer end of which the grill member is secured. Three support legs extend laterally from the lower end of the upright post, two of which are pivotable to enable positioning the legs in a radially spread apart configuration that will support the grill member at the outer end of the laterally extending arm over the fire in a fireplace. A vertical height adjusting mechanism is provided to adjust the height of the grill member over the fire. The laterally extending arm is rotatable through a limited arcuate path. A rotation limiting assembly is provided to limit the rotation of the laterally extending arm and grill member on its outer end to prevent the grill and stand from becoming unbalanced and tipping over.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 10/613,312 filed on Jul. 7, 2003, which is now U.S. Pat. No. ______. The application/patent is commonly owned and incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This invention relates to the field of grills, and stands for grills, which burn combustible materials such as charcoal and the like, and particularly to those which can be folded or collapsed into a compact unit for purposes of storage, portability and the like. Furthermore the invention relates to grills which can be used indoors over a fireplace, having a grill stand which makes it possible to position and support the grill member over the burning logs, charcoal or gas within the fireplace and under the flue so the smoke, gases, odors and heat are exhausted to the outside through the flue and do not enter the interior of the room or building.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Charcoal grills and those which use other combustible material that are known to the prior art cannot be used indoors because the smoke, gases, odors and heat would be trapped in the room and would create a fire hazard. The collapsible grill and stand in accordance with this invention solves that problem. Some prior art grills and stands are partially collapsible or foldable, or can be partially disassembled into a more compact unit for purposes of storage or transport and the like. However, those known to the prior art require a relatively large fire pot or bowl in which to place and burn the charcoal, and such pot or bowl is a unitary structure which cannot be collapsed or folded into a smaller more compact unit. Thus, even when prior art grills can be partially collapsed or folded, the relatively large fire pot or bowl still remains as the largest most bulky component making such grills still hard to store and transport. They still require a relatively large space or compartment for storage and are still cumbersome to carry or otherwise transport. The collapsible grill and stand in accordance with this invention solves that problem since it does not require a fire pot or bowl at all. The grill stand has been constructed in such a way that it can position and support the flat grill member itself outwardly from the stand and over an indoor fireplace, or over a campfire on the ground when used outdoors.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The grill and stand in accordance with this invention includes an upright center post with a central bore, a grill supporting member that comprises a telescoping shaft received in the central bore having a support arm extending laterally from the telescoping shaft, a height adjusting mechanism to raise and lower the telescoping shaft, a spindle extending upright at the outer end of the laterally extending support arm to receive the hub of the flat grill member itself thereon to support the grill member for use over the fire in a fireplace or over a campground fire, and three laterally extending support legs projecting outwardly from the lower end of the upright center post, each of such legs being rotatable or radially pivotable around the axis of the center post to any selected radial and spaced apart position that will support the grill member at its location at the outer end of the laterally extending support arm over a fireplace or camp fire. For example, the support legs can be rotated to form a Y-shaped configuration with two of the support legs forming the diverging fork portion of the Y which are placed facing the fireplace or campground fire and the third support leg rotated to form the leg of the Y that extends away from the fireplace or campground fire. That radial positioning of the support legs will support the grill at the outer end of the laterally extending support arm and prevent it from tipping over, even though none of the support legs are positioned below the grill member itself where the fire is burning.  
         [0005]     Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a collapsible grill and stand in accordance with this invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a collapsible grill and stand as shown in  FIG. 1  but with the grill member removed to better illustrate parts not seen as clearly in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a collapsible grill and stand in accordance with this invention shown in place over a fire in a fireplace;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a plan view showing a collapsed grill and stand in accordance with this invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of a portion of the upright center post, a portion of the telescoping insert therein, a portion of the shaft which extends out from the bore of the rotation limiting collar with its rotation limiting slot, the vertical height adjusting component in which a portion of the rotatable carrier for the lifting lugs is shown in broken lines to show it is inside of the housing on the rotatable shaft rotated by the knob seen on the exterior of the housing, a portion of the upright center post being broken away to illustrate one of the lifting lugs of the rotatable carrier inserted into one of the apertures of the telescoping insert;  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is an elevation view of the side of the telescoping insert that has the height adjusting apertures therein;  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a collapsible grill and stand in accordance with a second embodiment of this invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a collapsible grill and stand as shown in  FIG. 7  but with the grill member removed to better illustrate parts not seen as clearly in  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the collapsible grill and stand as shown in  FIG. 7  shown in place over a fire in a fireplace;  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  is a plan view showing the collapsed grill and stand as shown in  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 11  is a partial cross-sectional view taken along  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10  showing an over-rotation prevention mechanism on the collapsed grill and stand as shown in  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 12  is a partial plan view showing a grill member oscillation handle in use on the collapsible grill and stand as shown in  FIG. 7 ; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 13  is a side elevation view of a portion of the upright center post, a portion of the telescoping insert therein, a portion of the shaft which extends out from the bore of the rotation limiting collar with its rotation limiting slot, the vertical height adjusting component in which a portion of the rotatable carrier for the lifting lugs is shown in broken lines to show it is inside of the housing on the rotatable shaft rotated by the knob seen on the exterior of the housing, a portion of the upright center post being broken away to illustrate one of the lifting lugs of the rotatable carrier inserted into one of the apertures of the telescoping insert and a second lug blocked or obstructed by an upper portion of the slide member to prevent the telescoping member from drifting downward. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]     While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.  
         [0021]     A collapsible grill and stand  2  in accordance with the present invention comprises an upright center post  4  with a central passageway  6 , a grill supporting assembly  8  that comprises a telescoping insert  10  received in the central passageway  6  of the upright center post  4 , the grill supporting assembly  8  having a support arm  12  extending laterally from the telescoping insert  10 , a height adjusting mechanism  14  to raise and lower the telescoping insert  10  and support arm  12 , a spindle  16  extending upright at the outer end  18  of the laterally extending support arm  12  to receive the hub  20  of the flat grill member  22  thereon to support the grill member  22  for use over the fire  23  in a fireplace  24  or over a campground fire, and three laterally extending support legs  26 ,  28  and  30  projecting outwardly from the lower end  32  of the upright center post  4 . One of the support legs  26  is rigidly affixed to the lower end of the center post  4  and extends laterally outward therefrom. A diagonal support brace  27  extends from the center post  4  to the support leg  26 . The other support legs  28  and  30  are rotatable or radially pivotable around the axis of the center post to any selected radial and spaced apart position that will support the grill member  22  at its location at the outer end of the laterally extending support arm over a fireplace or campfire. For example, the support legs can be rotated to form a Y-shaped configuration  36  with two of the support legs  26  and  28  forming the diverging fork portion  38  of the Y which are placed facing the fireplace or campground fire and the third support leg  30  rotated to form the leg  40  of the Y that extends away from the fireplace or campground fire. That radial positioning of the support legs will support the grill  22  at the outer end of the laterally extending support arm  12  and prevent it from tipping over. None of the support legs have to be positioned below the grill member itself where the fire is burning to prevent the grill member  22  from tipping. The support leg  30  need not extend directly away from the fork portion  38  formed by the support legs  26  and  28  to form a Y configuration, but support leg  30  can be rotated to any radial position away from the fork portion  38  that will stabilize the grill and stand  2 .  
         [0022]     The height adjusting mechanism  14  comprises a plurality of vertically spaced apart apertures  42  in the telescoping insert  10  and a rotatable carrier member  44  in the housing  45  adjacent the center post  4 . The carrier member  44  has a plurality of lugs  46  carried thereon for insertion of respective ones of such lugs in respective ones of the apertures  42  that face one of such lugs  46  as the rotatable shaft  48  on which carrier member  44  is mounted is rotated in the direction that causes the inserted lug  46  to move upwardly. The upright telescoping insert  10  is moved upwardly as the inserted lug  46  in an aperture  42  is rotated to move upwardly and arcuately. As it moves in an arcuate path when the carrier member  44  is rotated, the inserted lug  46  is moved not only upward but also away from the telescoping insert  10  and thus withdrawn outwardly from the aperture  42 . At the same time, the next following lug  46  comes into registration with the next following aperture  42  in the insert  10 . That next following lug  46  is then inserted in that next following aperture  42  to continue moving the telescoping insert  10  upward. The process is repeated until the desired height of the insert  10  and grill member  22  has been reached. A knob  50  is provided to rotate the shaft  48 .  
         [0023]     The lugs  46  are mounted on the rotatable carrier member  44  to project outwardly therefrom for insertion into the respective apertures  42  of the telescoping insert  10 . The carrier member  44  is rotated in the direction of rotation that moves the lugs  46  and telescoping insert  10  upwardly.  
         [0024]     In order to move the telescoping insert  10  downwardly from an adjusted upward position, a slide member  54  is provided to slide upwardly through slots in the housing  45 . The upper end of the slide member  54  comes into contact with the lug  46  that is inserted into one of the apertures  42  of the center post  4 . As the slide member  54  is moved further upwardly, it dislodges the lug  46  from such aperture  42 . While the slide member  54  is in such moved upward position, it blocks any of the lugs  46  from insertion into apertures of the telescoping insert  10  so it can then be pushed downwardly to another selected vertical position after which the slide member  54  may be moved downwardly out of blocking contact with the lugs  46 . One of the lugs  46  can then enter the facing aperture  42  of the telescoping insert  10  to hold it at such newly selected vertical position.  
         [0025]     A rotation-limiting collar  56  is rigidly mounted at the upper end of the telescoping insert  10 , having a bore  58  in registration with the passageway of the telescoping insert  10  for reception therethrough of the shaft  60  of the grill supporting assembly  8 . The collar  56  comprises an annular wall  62  having a rotation limiting slot  64  therethrough, that extends in an arcuate path for a limited distance of about seven-eighths of an inch. A rotation-limiting lug  66  is affixed to the shaft  60  of the grill supporting assembly and is received in the rotation-limiting slot  62 . The shaft  60  and the grill support arm  12  which extends laterally from the shaft  60  can therefore rotate only a limited distance between the positions where the limiting lug  66  abuts against each opposite end of the rotation limiting slot  64 . When in use, the center post  4 , telescoping insert  10  and shaft  60  are positioned so that the rotation limiting slot  64  in its rotation limiting collar  56  faces in the direction opposite from the direction toward the fire  23  in the fireplace  24  or campground fire. Thus, when the grill support arm  12  positions the grill member  22  over the fire, the grill support arm  12  and the shaft  60  from which it extends can only be rotated in a limited arcuate direction between a first position directly over the fire  23  and a second position away from the fire  23  for access to the food cooking thereon. This rotation-limiting feature prevents rotating the grill member  22  and the food thereon so far that the grill and stand may begin to tip.  
         [0026]     When the grill and stand are collapsed, the laterally extending support legs  26 ,  28  and  30  lie adjacent to one another in one above the other relationship extending laterally from the upright center post  4 . The housing  45  of the vertical height adjusting mechanism extends laterally from the upright center post  4  in the opposite direction. The outer ends of the support legs define the outermost point  70  of the collapsed grill and stand at one side thereof and the outermost boundary of the housing  45  defines the outermost point  72  of the collapsed grill and stand at the opposite side thereof. The distance between the points  70  and  72  is twenty-two inches. The outermost ends of the support legs  28 ,  29  and  30  define the outermost point  74  of the collapsed grill and stand at the lower end thereof, and the top portion of the shaft  60  and its integrally formed laterally extending arm  12  define the outermost point  76  of the collapsed grill and stand at the upper end thereof. The distance between the points  74  and  76  is thirteen and a half inches. The grill member  22  when laid on top of the collapsed or folded support legs and laterally extending arm  12  is within those boundary dimensions. Thus, the rectangular dimension of the grill and stand  2  when collapsed is twenty-two inches by thirteen and a half inches.  
         [0027]     The depth of the grill and stand  2  when collapsed from the lowermost support legs to the uppermost grill member  22  laid thereon and adjusting knob  50  is one and three-fourths inches. Thus, the three dimensions of the grill and stand  2  when collapsed is one and three-fourths inches in depth, twenty-two inches in length and thirteen and a half inches in width. The collapsed grill and stand  2  in accordance with this invention can be stored in its entirety in a compartment or space of those relatively small dimensions. That is smaller than the space needed to store any cooking grill and stand known to the prior art.  
         [0028]     Now referring to  FIGS. 7-13 , a second embodiment of a collapsible grill and stand  2  is illustrated. Accordingly, this embodiment of the collapsible grill and stand  2  comprises an upright center post  4  with a central passageway  6 , a grill supporting assembly  8  that comprises a telescoping insert received in the central passageway  6  of the upright center post  4 , the grill supporting assembly  8  having a support arm  12  extending laterally from the telescoping insert  10 , a height adjusting mechanism  14  to raise and lower the telescoping insert  10  and support arm  12 , a spindle  16  extending upright at the outer end  18  of the laterally extending support arm  12  to receive the hub  20  of the flat grill member  22  thereon to support the grill member  22  for use over the fire  23  in a fireplace  24  or over a campground fire, and three laterally extending support legs  26 ,  28  and  30  projecting outwardly from the lower end  32  of the upright center post  4 . One of the support legs  26  is rigidly affixed to the lower end of the center post  4  and extends laterally outward therefrom. A diagonal support brace  27  extends from the center post  4  to the support leg  26 . The other support legs  28  and  30  are rotatable or radially pivotable around the axis of the center post to any selected radial and spaced apart position that will support the grill member  22  at its location at the outer end of the laterally extending support arm over a fireplace or campfire. For example, the support legs can be rotated to form a Y-shaped configuration  36  with two of the support legs  26  and  28  forming the diverging fork portion  38  of the Y which are placed facing the fireplace or campground fire and the third support leg  30  rotated to form the leg  40  of the Y that extends away from the fireplace or campground fire. That radial positioning of the support legs will support the grill  22  at the outer end of the laterally extending support arm  12  and prevent it from tipping over. None of the support legs have to be positioned below the grill member itself where the fire is burning to prevent the grill member  22  from tipping. The support leg  30  need not extend directly away from the fork portion  38  formed by the support legs  26  and  28  to form a Y configuration, but support leg  30  can be rotated to any radial position away from the fork portion  38  that will stabilize the grill and stand  2 .  
         [0029]     The height adjusting mechanism  14  comprises a plurality of vertically spaced apart apertures  42  in the telescoping insert  10  and a rotatable carrier member  44  in the housing  45  adjacent the center post  4 . (See, e.g.,  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). The carrier member  44  has a plurality of lugs  46  carried thereon for insertion of respective ones of such lugs in respective ones of the apertures  42  that face one of such lugs  46  as the rotatable shaft  48  on which carrier member  44  is mounted is rotated in the direction that causes the inserted lug  46  to move upwardly. The upright telescoping insert  10  is moved upwardly as the inserted lug  46  in an aperture  42  is rotated to move upwardly and arcuately. As it moves in an arcuate path when the carrier member  44  is rotated, the inserted lug  46  is moved not only upward but also away from the telescoping insert  10  and thus withdrawn outwardly from the aperture  42 . At the same time, the next following lug  46  comes into registration with the next following aperture  42  in the insert  10 . That next following lug  46  is then inserted in that next following aperture  42  to continue moving the telescoping insert  10  upward. The process is repeated until the desired height of the insert  10  and grill member  22  has been reached. A knob  50  is provided to rotate the shaft  48 .  
         [0030]     The lugs  46  are mounted on the rotatable carrier member  44  to project outwardly therefrom for insertion into the respective apertures  42  of the telescoping insert  10 . The carrier member  44  is rotated in the direction of rotation that moves the lugs  46  and telescoping insert  10  upwardly.  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIG. 13 , a slide member  54  allows free upward movement of the telescoping insert  10  while at the same time preventing inadvertent downward movement of the telescoping insert  10 . An upper portion of the slide member  54  obstructs the apertures  42  of the telescoping insert  10  while at the same time resting on an upper portion of portion of a lug  46  engaged within an aperture  42 .  
         [0032]     This arrangement allows free upward movement of the telescoping insert  10 . As the carrier member  44  is rotated clockwise, the slide member  54  is lifted by the rotating lug  46  wherein the obstruction caused by the upper portion of the slide member  54  is relieved. Thus, the telescoping insert  10  can move freely upward.  
         [0033]     This arrangement also prevents inadvertent counterclockwise movement of the carrier member which eliminates inadvertent downward movement by the telescoping insert  10 . A force, preferably a gravitational force, acts on the slide member  54  wherein a portion of the slide member  54  rests upon a lug  46  engaged with an aperture  42  on the telescoping insert  10 . An upper portion  55  of the slide member also obstructs at least one other aperture  42  along the length of the telescoping insert  10  to prevent a subsequent lug, located one position in a clockwise direction from the engaged lug, from entering the obstructed aperture  42 . This “locks” the carrier member  44  in position, preventing downward movement by the telescoping member  10 . Top lower the telescoping insert  10 , the slide member  54  must be lifter upwardly so the upper portion  55  no longer obstructs the aperture  42 .  
         [0034]     A rotation-limiting collar  56  is rigidly mounted at the upper end of the telescoping insert  10 , having a bore  58  in registration with the passageway of the telescoping insert  10  for reception therethrough of the shaft  60  of the grill supporting assembly  8 . The collar  56  comprises an annular wall  62  having a rotation limiting slot  64  therethrough, that extends in an arcuate path for a limited distance of about seven-eighths of an inch. A rotation-limiting lug  66  is affixed to the shaft  60  of the grill supporting assembly and is received in the rotation-limiting slot  62 . The shaft  60  and the grill support arm  12  which extends laterally from the shaft  60  can therefore rotate only a limited distance between the positions where the limiting lug  66  abuts against each opposite end of the rotation limiting slot  64 . When in use, the center post  4 , telescoping insert  10  and shaft  60  are positioned so that the rotation limiting slot  64  in its rotation limiting collar  56  faces in the direction opposite from the direction toward the source of heat  23  in the fireplace  24  or campground fire. Thus, when the grill support arm  12  positions the grill member  22  over the fire, the grill support arm  12  and the shaft  60  from which it extends can only be rotated in a limited arcuate direction between a first position directly over the source of heat  23  and a second position away from the source of heat  23  for access to the food cooking thereon. This rotation-limiting feature prevents rotating the grill member  22  and the food thereon so far that the grill and stand may begin to tip.  
         [0035]     As best illustrated in  FIG. 12 , this embodiment of the collapsible grill and stand includes a handle  68  fixedly connected to the limiting lug  66 . The handle  68  extends radially outwardly from the collar  56 . This handle  68  enables the user to selectively position the grill member  22  closer to or farther away from the fire  23 .  
         [0036]     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , when the grill and stand are collapsed, the laterally extending support legs  26 ,  28  and  30  lie adjacent to one another in vertical, one above the other relationship extending laterally from the upright center post  4 . Each leg  26 ,  28 ,  30  comprises a horizontal component and a vertical component. Each successive leg has a longer horizontal component and a longer vertical component wherein the legs  26 ,  28 ,  30  nest together in vertical alignment.  
         [0037]     The housing  45  of the vertical height adjusting mechanism extends laterally from the upright center post  4  in the opposite direction. The outer ends of the support legs define the outermost point  70  of the collapsed grill and stand at one side thereof and the outermost boundary of the housing  45  defines the outermost point  72  of the collapsed grill and stand at the opposite side thereof. The outermost ends of the support legs  28 ,  29  and  30  define the outermost point  74  of the collapsed grill and stand at the lower end thereof, and the top portion of the shaft  60  and its integrally formed laterally extending arm  12  define the outermost point  76  of the collapsed grill and stand at the upper end thereof. Legs  28  and  30  are removably attached to the post  4  with wing nut  78 .  
         [0038]     The legs  26 ,  28 ,  30  include a vertical alignment and over rotation prevention means. This means includes a bracket  80  joined to one of the legs  26 ,  28 ,  30 , preferably the uppermost leg  26 . The bracket may be joined by any suitable means but is preferably fixedly attached by welding. In the illustrated embodiment, the bracket  80  is welded to a vertical side panel of the generally a quadrilateral shaped in cross-section uppermost leg  26 . The leg  26  is preferably a rectangular, more preferably a square, in cross-section. Each leg has opposing vertical sides spaced by opposing horizontal sides. It should be understood, however, that the legs  26 ,  28 ,  30  may be of any cross-sectional shape as long as the bracket  80  is cooperatively shaped in the manner illustrated, and as explained in more detail below.  
         [0039]     The bracket  80  has a first vertical portion  84  which extends downwardly from the vertical side panel of the uppermost leg  26 . This vertical  84  portion of the bracket  80  includes means for retaining the legs in vertical alignment. The means may include a specifically shaped bracket which retains the legs with friction fit. This arrangement would be most suitable if a round cross-section were chosen for the legs, but could also be provided with legs  26 ,  28 ,  30  illustrated with little or no difficulty.  
         [0040]     In the embodiment illustrated, this means includes fastener for joining the second leg  28  to the first leg  26 , for example a male/female connection. A male member  88  is joined to a vertical side of the center leg  28 , and is alignable with and fits matingly within a first receiver  92  located on the bracket  80  below the lowermost horizontal side of the uppermost leg  26 . This first receiver  92  is preferably an aperture.  
         [0041]     The fastener&#39;s male member  88  includes a second receiver  94 , the purpose of which will become clear upon further description. This second receiver  94  is preferably an aperture passing through the body of the male member  88 .  
         [0042]     The bracket  80  further includes a horizontal portion  98  joined to the first vertical portion  84 . The horizontal portion  98  is located below the upper leg  26  and extends in length approximately the width of the upper leg  26  to form a cavity between the upper leg  26  and the horizontal portion  98 . The cavity is adapted to receive the second leg  28  therein. (See  FIG. 11 ).  
         [0043]     The bracket  80  further has a second vertical portion  102  joined to the horizontal portion  98  and extending downwardly therefrom. The second vertical portion  102  is located opposite the first vertical portion  84  and forms a stop to prevent the third leg  30  from rotating beyond the vertical plane defined by the upper leg  26 . (See  FIG. 11 ).  
         [0044]     Referring still to  FIG. 10 , in the collapsed state, the collapsible grill and stand is particularly formed and dimensioned to provide a compact and easily transportable grill and grill stand. In this collapsed state, the legs  26 ,  28 ,  30  are in vertical alignment. The legs  26 ,  28 ,  30  and the grill member  22  are bound as the male member  88  is fit within and through the first receiver aperture  92  in the bracket  80  wherein the second receiver aperture  92  in the male member  88  extends beyond the bounds of the first vertical portion  84  of the bracket  80 .  
         [0045]     The grill member  22  includes a third receiver  106 , such as an aperture in a washer joined thereto, preferably by welding. The third receiver aperture  106  is alignable with the male member  88 . The third receiver aperture  106  is adapted to receive the male member  88  wherein the second receiver aperture  92  on the male member  88  extends beyond the cooking surface of the grill  22  so that a pin  110  can be inserted through the second receiver  92  to bind the legs  26 ,  28 ,  30  and the grill member together. This prevents the legs  26 ,  28 ,  30  from unwanted rotation about the center post  4  during transport and/or storage.  
         [0046]     As further shown in  FIG. 10 , the shaft  12  includes an angled portion  114 . This angled portion extends radially outwardly relative to the center post  4  and downwardly towards the source of heat in the assembled state ( FIG. 7 ) and towards the legs  26 ,  28 ,  30  when in the collapsed state ( FIG. 10 ).  
         [0047]     The grill member  22  includes handles  118   a ,  118   b . The handles  118   a ,  118   b  offset vertically from a plane defined by the cooking surface of the grill member  22  and preferably offset above the plane.  
         [0048]     In the collapsed state, a generally horizontal support arm  120  of the shaft  12  including the spindle is loosely attached to one handle  118   a  by passing the horizontal member of the shaft  12  through the handle  118   a  wherein the handle  118   a  is located about the shaft  12 . The opposite handle  118   b  extends beyond center port  4  to from a carrying handle for the collapsed stand and grill. A portion of the peripheral edge of the grill member  22  extends between the knob  50  and the center post  4 . The result is a securely bound collapsed stand and grill with the a convenient carrying handle.  
         [0049]     A first profile length of the collapsed grill is defined by the outermost portion  70  of the longest leg to the carrying handle. This first profile length is approximately equal to or slightly longer than the horizontal distance from the outermost portion  70  of the longest leg  26  to the radially outward-most end of the handle  68 .  
         [0050]     A second profile length of the collapsed grill is approximately equal to the diameter of the grill member  22   
         [0051]     A third profile length of the collapsed grill is equal to or just slightly wider that the outermost tip of the male member  88  to an outer portion of the second vertical portion of the bracket  80 . This third profile may be increased by the size of the knob  50  or the size of the hub  20  or the offset of the handles  118   a ,  118   b.    
         [0052]     The terms “first,” “second,” “upper,” “lower,” etc. are used for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the embodiments in any way. The term “plurality” as used herein is intended to indicate any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively as necessary, up to an infinite number. The terms “joined” and “connected” as used herein are intended to put or bring two elements together so as to form a unit, and any number of elements, devices, fasteners, etc. may be provided between the joined or connected elements unless otherwise specified by the use of the term “directly” and supported by the drawings.  
         [0053]     While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the broader aspects of the invention. Also, it is intended that broad claims not specifying details of a particular embodiment disclosed herein as the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention should not be limited to such details.