Abstract:
A foldable grilling device is provided. The grilling device includes a foldable grilling area, metal skewers, and a grilling surface. The grilling area is comprised of hinged walls that allow the grilling area to fold flat. When assembled, the grilling area provides a charcoal pit and ash collection area. The metal skewers can be easily manipulated using a removable skewer handle and a kabob removing utensil. The grilling area, grilling utensils, and grilling surface all fit in a custom carrying case.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed toward the field of outdoor grilling. Specifically, the present invention discloses a foldable metal barbeque that is notched to hold skewers and can be stored in a portable carrying case. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    There are many products aimed at portable barbeque systems. Currently, these devices lack the capability to provide a collapsible barbeque grill made from light, yet durable metal which is easily foldable. In addition, these products lack the capability to be stored and carried in a convenient case and the additional benefit of providing and storing barbeque skewers. 
         [0003]    For example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,539,901, 4,621,608, 4,888,988, 5,174,197, 6,532,951 and 6,792,935 all disclose portable barbeque grills. However, none of these devices can be folded down to be easily stored in a carrying case. 
         [0004]    Similarly, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,646,711, 6,672,303 and 6,321,741 disclose barbeque grills that can be disassembled for storage purposes. These devices cannot be easily folded down, nor do they provide specifically designed carrying cases. 
         [0005]    There have been many products developed that provide collapsible or portable barbeque grill stands. Examples of such are U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,163,414, 5,819,720 and 6,422,230. These products do not provide portable grill designs or carrying cases which can transport disassembled barbeque grills. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,111 is directed toward a collapsible barbecue grill that includes a body in a box shape capable of being pivoted with two side plates respectively disposed at both side walls thereof, and a cover plate disposed at a rear wall thereof. While this device may be disassembled for easy storage, it is not capable of easily being folded flat like the present invention. 
         [0007]    Other disclosures are directed to foldable barbeque grills but do not contain areas where fuel, such as charcoal, may be added to heat the grill. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,195 is directed toward a foldable outdoor cooking device, having wall assemblies which are hinged and foldable and when erected, form an enclosure. The device may be used with gaseous fuels or may be positioned on a pan so wood or charcoal can be used as a fuel. 
         [0008]    Presently, there is a need for a foldable barbeque grill comprising of lightweight and durable material that provides an area for fuel storage, that can be easily folded down to a space saving form, and that can be transported in a convenient specially designed carrying case. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, the present invention encompasses these elements to create a foldable metal barbeque grill as described herein. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a foldable metal barbeque grill made from a lightweight durable metal. 
         [0011]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a grilling surface which can be placed atop the foldable barbeque grill and stored along with the grill once it has been folded for transport or storage. 
         [0012]    It is a further object of the invention to provide skewers that can be placed in notches on the foldable grill. The skewers have releasable handles and the food from the skewers can be readily removed using grilling utensils that are also provided. 
         [0013]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a charcoal pit that is used to heat the grilling surface and skewers. 
         [0014]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a resilient, hard plastic carry case which can be used to transport the grill. The carry case also provides spaces to transport the skewers and other barbeque utensils. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0015]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view showing the various components of the grilling device. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view showing the hinged movement of the walls in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the grilling area in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4   a  illustrates a perspective view of the charcoal pit in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4   b  illustrates a cross sectional view of the charcoal pit in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the grilling surface in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view showing the side walls of the grilling area in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view showing the side and bottom walls of the grilling area in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view showing the bottom wall of the grilling area in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of the grilling skewers in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of the present invention in use. 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of the grilling utensils in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  illustrates a perspective view of the carrying case in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different formulations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the compositions or formulations of the present invention are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but are merely representative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention. 
         [0030]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the present invention comprises a grilling device  10 , the partition  12  which separates the charcoal pit from ash collection area and a grilling surface  11 . The components of the grilling device will be made from a light, strong metal. 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  depicts the walls of the grilling device  10 . The longer side walls  18  are connected to the shorter side walls  17  at a hinge point  20 . The bottom corners where the longer side walls  18  and the shorter side walls  17  meet form the four legs  22  of the grilling device  10 . The shorter side walls  17  are hinged at their center  21  so that the walls can be folded inward. When the grilling device  10  is folded, the shorter side walls  17  fold inward at the hinge point  21 . The longer side walls  18  then fold flat above and below the shorter side walls  17 . 
         [0033]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show the rectangular segments  23  that are connected to form the bottom wall of the grilling device  10 . The rectangular segments  23  are connected to the longer side walls  18  at a hinge point  24 . The rectangular segments fold upward when the grilling device  10  is folded flat. One rectangular segment will be longer than the other. This segment will fall over the shorter rectangular segment to form the bottom wall of the grilling device  10 . The shorter rectangular segment is secured to the shorter side walls by the slot hooks  25  that are connected to the side walls  17 . The slot hooks  25  are inserted into the slots  41  found on the lower ends of the shorter rectangular segment  23 . When the rectangular segments  23  are connected, they form the bottom wall of the grilling device  10 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the dimensions of the grilling device  10  are shown. The height of the side walls, which forms the height of the grilling device  10 , is twelve inches. The length of longer side walls  18 , which forms the length of the grilling device  10 , is twenty-four inches. The length of shorter side walls  17 , which forms the length of the grilling device  10 , is twelve inches. The height of the legs  22  of the grilling device  10  to the bottom of the longer side walls  18  is five inches. From the bottom of the side walls  18 , to the hinged point  24  where the rectangular segments meet the longer side walls, form the bottom of the grilled area and create a half inch space. There is two and a half inches of space between the bottom wall and the slots  16 . This forms the height of the ash collection area. From the slots  16  to the top of the grilling device  10 , there is a space of four inches. This forms the height of the charcoal pit. 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 4   a  and  FIG. 4   b,  the partition  12  which separates the ash collection area  48  and the charcoal pit  47  is shown inserted into the grilling device  10 . The partition  12  is twenty-four inches in length and twelve inches in width. The area above the partition  12  is the charcoal pit  47  where charcoal can be added to heat the grilling surface  11  or skewers  26 . The partition  12  contains a plurality of holes  13  where ashes can be released to the ash collection area  48  below the charcoal pit. There is a handle  14  in the center of the partition  12  so that it can be placed or removed from the grilling device  10 . The partition  12  is secured to the grilling device  10  though flaps  15  that are perpendicularly connected to the partition  12 . These flaps  15  fit into slots  16  which are located in the side walls of the grilling device  10 . This forms a secure fit and creates the charcoal pit  47  above the partition  12  and the ash collection area  48  below the partition  12 . The ash collection area  48  is ventilated by holes  19  which are cut into the longer side walls  18 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 5  shows the grilling surface  11  fitted over the grilling device  10 . The grilling surface  11  fits into notches  31  located on the top of the longer side walls  18  and notches  42  located on the top of the shorter side walls  17 . The grilling surface is comprised of a plurality of metal rods which are connected by four long metal rods running perpendicularly to them. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , the skewers  26  for use with the grilling device are shown. The skewers are comprised of a flat metal skewer  27 , which is used to hold foods used in grilling, and a removable wooden skewer handle  29 . The metal skewers  27  are approximately twenty inches in length and two and a half centimeters in height. The metal skewers  27  have a pointed end  44  used to pierce food and a flat end  45  that is inserted into the skewer handle. The metal skewers  27  have a notch  43  that is located five inches from the flat end  45 . As best seen in  FIG. 10 , the metal skewers can be used with the grilling device  10  when the grilling surface  11  is removed. The metal skewers  27  can then be placed in the notches  31  of the grilling device  10  and are heated from the charcoal in the charcoal pit below. The grilling device  10  can hold approximately twenty-four metal skewers  27 . The metal skewers  27  can be easily transported using the skewer handle  29 . The wooden skewer handle  29  is six inches in length, one inch in height, and a half inch in width. The metal skewers fit into the slot  30  in the skewer handle  29 . The skewer handle is fitted with a metal release button  28  used to secure the metal skewer in the skewer handle. When pressed down, the release button  28  fits into the notch  43  on the metal skewer  27  to hold it in place. When the metal skewer  27  is placed on the grilling device  10  for use, the skewer handle  29  can be removed by releasing the metal release button  28 . 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIG. 11 , the kabob remover  32  is shown. The kabob remover  32  is approximately seven inches in length and one inch in height. One end of the kabob remover  32  has a semi-circular end  46  that has a diameter of approximately one inch. The semi-circular end  46  contains two rectangular slits  34 . These slits  34  are approximately one and a half centimeters apart and are two centimeters in height and three and a half centimeters in width. There is a semi-circular metal flap  33  which is perpendicularly connected to the end  46  and has a diameter of approximately one inch. The two rectangular slits  34  fit over the metal skewers  27 . The kabob remover  32  can then be used to remove grilled foods from the metal skewers  27  with the semi-circular metal flap  33  acting as a guide for the food. 
         [0039]    When the grilling device  10  is folded, the shorter side walls  17  fold inward at the hinge point  21 . The rectangular segments  23  which form the bottom wall fold upward at the hinge point  24  to lie flat against the longer side walls  18 . The longer side walls  18  then fold flat above and below the shorter side walls  17 . The folded grilling device  10  can then be easily stored in the carrying case  36 . 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIG. 12 , the carrying case  36  is shown. The carrying case  36  contains a compartment  38  for holding the grilling surface  11 , the partition  12  for the charcoal area and ash collection area, and the folded grilling device  10 . There is also a compartment  37  that can hold the skewers  26 , the kabob removers  32  and other grilling utensils. The carrying case  36  also has a handle  39  and a locking component  40 . The carrying case  36  is made from a sturdy plastic and is approximately twenty-five inches in length, thirteen inches in height, and five inches in width. 
         [0041]    It is to be appreciated that additional advantages, modifications and equivalent embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details and representative devices shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.