Abstract:
A barbecue ( 10 ) comprising a number of components which can be readily assembled and disassembled without the need for fixing agents, including support structures ( 12, 14 ) comprising one or more structural components ( 22, 24, 26, 28 ) which can be fitted together by interengageable elements ( 30, 32 ), the structures ( 12, 14 ) supporting holding means ( 42 ) for holding a barbecue tray ( 16 ). The structural components ( 22, 24, 26, 28 ) are also suitable for the construction of walls and the like.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a barbecue, especially for use in the garden. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Previously, it has been necessary for people who wish to have a barbecue in their garden to build it from basic components, such as bricks, mortar and concrete sheets or blocks. This is a time-consuming process and means that such barbecues are not easily assembled by people who are not familiar with various building techniques, such as bricklaying. Alternatively, it has been possible to purchase ready-made barbecues which are made of metal. These have the disadvantage that they cannot be left outdoors through the winter as they will rust and necessitate storage of a bulky item indoors. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an aim of the present invention to provide a selfbuild barbecue assembly which is easy to assemble and made from relatively few durable components. 
     Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention is directed to a structural component which can be fitted to one or more further structural components by integral interengageable elements. 
     This is advantageous in that the structural components can be fitted together to form a structure without the need for joining agents such as mastic, fine clay, sand and cement. Such a structure can be readily assembled by those unskilled in conventional building techniques, and can also be dismantled and relocated as required. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the interengageable elements comprise a protrusion and a corresponding indentation in the components being joined. The advantage of this is that the components can be joined very simply and in a structurally secure method. 
     A second aspect of the present invention is directed to a barbecue comprising components which can be assembled and disassembled, which include holding means adapted to secure a barbecue tray, and a plurality of support structures providing support for the holding means, in which the holding means engages the support structures via interengageable elements and in which each support structure comprises one or more structural components which can be fitted together by similar interengageable elements. 
     An advantage of this is that the barbecue can be put together using relatively few parts and does not need any mastic or other joining agents to secure the structure. Furthermore, the ability to break the structure down into few parts allows for easy handling of individual parts and relatively simple transport. 
     Preferably, the holding means is a top which can be equipped with a hole to accept a barbecue tray and can be fire-resistant. This has the advantage that the tray simply fits into the top and heat from the barbecue tray will not adversely affect the top. 
     Preferably, the top is further equipped with a chimney, similarly fitted together by interengageable elements. This provides the advantage that the smoke from the barbecue is directed away from the users. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the top is provided with a water drip. This may take the form of a groove running around the edge of the upper surface of the top. 
     Advantageously, the top comprises a plurality of sections which interlock along their adjacent edges. A small section is less susceptible to accidental fracture during loading, transportation and installation than a complete top, so this arrangement reduces the risk of damage to a barbecue, particularly to a large barbecue with an extensive top. 
     Preferably, the support structures comprise two side walls and a back wall. 
     In a preferred embodiment, underneath the top, spaced apart in a downward direction therefrom there is provided a shelf, which is similarly supported by and fitted together with the support structures. This provides the advantage that items such as food or implements can be stored in an easily accessible place close to the barbecue. 
     Advantageously, the top is equipped with a surround which encompasses three sides of a barbecue tray. This has the advantage that wind is kept away from the barbecue tray, and also that the food being cooked on the barbecue tray, such as hot fat droplets can only travel in wind direction. 
     Advantageously the barbecue further comprises a base of substantially uniform thickness. This may be made of, for example, stone, and be the same shape of the underside of the barbecue walls. This is advantageous in that a level surface is thereby provided on which the barbecue can be constructed more securely. 
     A third aspect of the present invention is directed to a wall comprising a plurality of structural components fitted together by integral interengageable elements. This provides a self-build wall that can be simply and rapidly assembled, and has the nature of a dry stone wall. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Examples of barbecues made in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view from the front of such a barbecue; 
     FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of this barbecue; 
     FIG. 3 shows a side view of a modified version of the barbecue in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 shows a back view of the barbecue of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 shows a top and cross-sectional view of the joint used in assembling the barbecue in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 shows an expanded barbecue; 
     FIG. 7 shows a view of one side of the barbecue shown in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 shows a back view of the barbecue shown in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 9 shows a back view of the modification of the barbecue shown in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 10 shows an exploded view of the barbecue shown in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 11 shows a modification of the barbecue shown in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 12 shows a modification of the blocks used to construct the barbecues shown in the preceding Figures; 
     FIG. 13 shows a top view of a base for the barbecues shown in the preceding Figures; 
     FIG. 14 shows (a) a side view and (b) an end view of a barbecue top; and 
     FIG. 15 shows a barbecue comprising three sections. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 shows a barbecue  10  in an assembled form comprising support structure means formed by two side walls  12  and a back wall  14 . Suspended from the three walls is a barbecue tray  16 , above which is suspended a grill tray  18 . The walls have a top surround  20 . The walls are made of blocks made of the usual building materials, which have the appearance of a brick structure, or a random stone finish. 
     FIG. 2 shows how the walls of the barbecue  10  are broken up into separate sections. There can be a number of these sections, depending upon the height and length of the barbecue required. Each section is comprised of a number of interengaging structurel components, such as; blocks. The Figure shows one such section exploded, in which there is a rear block  22  which is a castellated structure, in the middle of which fits a block  24  with a downward engaging part which fits into the middle of the two castellations in block  22 . Each end of the block  22 , at the corners thereof, engages at either end with blocks  26  which form a side wall. The top of block  26  fits over the bottom of block  22 . The other end of block  26  has a further block  28  which fits into its upper forward corner. The thus formed section has a U-shape with flat top and bottom surfaces, which are equipped with engagement (interengageable) elements to fit further sections together. In the example shown, four such sections of blocks have been assembled. The top of the constructed walls have a number of engagement elements which enable top surround  20 , in this case, or a top, to be fitted in a stable manner. On the insides of the walls there are protruding formations which support the barbecue tray  16  and the grill  18 . A side view of the assembled barbecue  10  is shown in FIG.  3 . In this case, a top  42  as shown in FIG. 10 has been inserted between two sections and a back view of this barbecue  10  is shown in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 5 shows the engagement element which is present between each of the blocks  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  and between the sections of wall and other components to ensure constructional stability. This comprises a stepped hole formation  30  and a similarly stepped protrusion  32  which engages with the hole  30  in a form fitting manner. In the example shown, the protrusions  32  project downwards, although obviously this arrangement can be reversed. 
     FIG. 6 shows a barbecue  40  which has more parts than the barbecue  10 . However, the various parts of the barbecue  40  are identical to those in barbecue  10 . In this instance, there is a top  42 , or holding means provided to support the barbecue tray in a hole formed in the top  42 . Above the top  42 , there is a U-shaped wall section  44  comprising support structure means, preferably side and back walls, and a top surround  46 . Underneath the top  42 , there is a further U-shaped supporting wall section  48  which rests on a shelf  50 . The shelf  50  rests on support structure means formed by side and back walls  52  which are composed of a number of U-shaped wall sections. The top  42  and the shelf  50  extend beyond the side of the walls  52  and  48  to create extra storage space which is supported by bottom side walls  52  to support the shelf and upper side wall  54  which supports the top  42 . 
     FIG. 7 shows an end view of the barbecue  40 . 
     FIG. 8 shows a back view of the barbecue clearly showing the extended shelf space. 
     FIG. 9 shows a modification of the barbecue  40  in which the top  42  does not extend to the side of the main barbecue to create the extra shelf space but, however, the shelf  50  does. 
     FIG. 10 shows an exploded view of the parts that make up the barbecue  40 . As can be clearly seen from this, the top  42  is composed of two parts  42   a  and  42   b ;  42   b  provides the side shelf. Similarly, the shelf  50  is composed of two parts;  50   a  which is the main barbecue and  50   b  which provides the side shelf. Similarly, each one of the wall sections  48 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54  can be broken down into similar individual blocks, as discussed with regard to barbecue  10 . 
     FIG. 11 shows barbecue  60 . In place of the U-shaped wall section  44  on barbecue  40 , there is an added chimney piece  62 ; the chimney piece  62  comprises side and back walls  64  which are comprised of three U-shaped wall sections; the top one of which  64   a  has an extending cornice  66 . On top of the walls  64 , there is a chimney piece  68  which has a base  70  that fits on top of the wall  64  with a tapering top part  72 . 
     It will be readily apparent to a reader skilled in the art that the barbecues described herein can be further expanded using parts similar to those described herein joined via the engagement elements herein to produce a larger barbecue range. For example, FIG. 12 shows the block  24 , which acts as a keystone in the previously described barbecue designs, and a further block  74  which is adapted to cooperate with the block  24  and the blocks  22  and  26  to allow the construction of a longer barbecue. 
     The barbecue may be further provided with a base  76  of, for example, stone, having uniform thickness and being of the same size as the underside of the walls of the barbecue, as illustrated in FIG.  13 . This serves to secure the sections of the walls, and to provide a level surface upon which the barbecue can be built. 
     In addition, the top of the barbecue may be provided with a groove cut around the edge of the upper surface to act as a water drip. FIG. 14 shows a side view and an end view of a barbecue top  42 , having an upper surface formed to give the appearance of bricks, stones or tiles  78 . Internal reinforcing rods  80  running the length of the top  42  are also provided. 
     Furthermore, the top may comprise a plurality of sections. FIG. 15 shows a top  42  made up of three sections  82 ,  84 , in which the sections interlock at their adjacent edges, and the central section  84  acts as a keystone to hold the sections together. In the illustrated embodiment, the central section  84  is a narrow strip. However, the width of each section may be varied as required, so that, for example, a top may comprise three sections of equal size. Such a top is suitable for use with barbecues such as those illustrated in FIGS. 6,  7  and  8 , where a relatively large top is required. 
     It will be further apparent that the structural components fitted together with interengageable elements as described herein are not only applicable to the construction of barbecues and walls, but can be readily applied to other simple structures such as pedestals for statuary.