Abstract:
A grille shelter includes a housing comprising a rear wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. A roof member is pivotally connected to a top edge of the housing and at least one pivoting panel is connected to one of the first side wall and second side wall. The pivoting panels are moveable between a first (open) position, wherein a user can access the grille within the shelter, and a second (closed) position, wherein the shelter conceals a grille contained therein. The roof member is also moveable between a first and second position. The grille shelter is configured to allow use of the grille while the grille remains positioned within the grille shelter and may optionally include a floor platform and other accessories to assist the user.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to a grille shelter and particularly to a grille shelter capable of moving from a closed position for use in storing a grille to an open position that allows a user to use the grille for cooking while the grille remains positioned inside the grille shelter. 
   2. Discussion of Related Art 
   Barbecue grilles are a popular cooking device used to prepare and cook food outdoors. Typically, they are stored outdoors due to their style and weight, and to make them convenient for use. To reduce the grille&#39;s exposure to the weather, many types of covers are available. Some grille covers are made of nylon, canvas or other suitable fabric material. Unfortunately, these types of covers often tear or become damaged after prolonged exposure to the effects of sun, rain or snow. Other types of grille covers are constructed with rigid materials such as plastic or other suitable materials to provide a more robust and weather resistant cover. Although more durable, they tend to be heavy and difficult to lift and place over a grille for storage and to remove from a grille for use. 
   In addition to the aforementioned shortcomings of grille covers currently available in the art, there are no known covers capable of providing a storage facility for a grille that will also allow for use of the grille while positioned within that storage facility. When a user desires to use the grille for cooking, he or she must either remove the cover from the grille, or remove the grille from its storage location. Often, even when a grille is covered with a grille cover, the user must also move the grille to a suitable location for use in order to accommodate for smoke and heat that is generated when cooking on a grille. 
   Thus, there is a desire and need in the art to provide a grille cover or storage facility configured to provide for storage and protection of the grille while not in use, and with the ability to allow for use of the grille while it remains located within the grille storage facility. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the present invention provides a grille shelter configured to store an outdoor cooking device, such as a barbecue grille, to protect it from the effects of weather and other damaging elements while providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The grille shelter of the present invention is also configured to allow for use of the grille to cook food while the grille remains positioned within the grille shelter. 
   In one embodiment of the present invention, a grille shelter includes a housing comprising a rear wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. A roof member is pivotally connected to a top edge of the housing. At least one pivoting panel is pivotally connected to at least one of the first side walls and is moveable between a first position, wherein a user may access the grille within the shelter, and a second position wherein the shelter conceals a grille contained therein. 
   In another embodiment of the present invention, a grille shelter includes a rear wall, a first side wall and a second side wall connected to opposing ends of the rear wall. A roof member is pivotally connected to a top edge of the rear wall and at least one pivoting panel is pivotally connected to at least one of the side walls. The roof member is moveable between a first position and a second position. The pivoting panel is moveable between a first position and a second position. 
   Other features of the present invention will become more apparent to persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains from the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing features, as well as other features, will become apparent with reference to the description and figures below, in which like numerals represent like elements, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a grille shelter of the present invention in a first position; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a housing of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of a grille shelter of the present invention in a first position; 
       FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of a grille shelter of the present invention in a second position; 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of a grille shelter of the present invention in a first position with the sides fully pivoted outward; 
       FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a grille shelter of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The present invention provides a grille shelter configured to store a barbecue grille to protect it from the effects of weather and other damaging elements and provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The grille shelter of the present invention includes one or more moveable panels and a moveable roof, which allow the user to reconfigure the grille shelter between a first (open) and second (closed) position to permit use of the grille to cook food while the grille remains positioned within the grille shelter. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , in one embodiment of the present invention, a grille shelter  20  may include a frame assembly  22 , a rear wall  24 , a first side wall  26 , and a second side wall  28  forming a housing  32 , and a roof member  30 . Frame assembly  22  may include a plurality of frame members constructed with conventional materials such as steel, aluminum, fire retardant wood beams or other suitable structural framing materials. Frame assembly  22  may be bolted, nailed, threadably fastened together, or connected by any other suitable attachment method known in the art. Depending on the type of material used to construct the various walls of grille shelter  20 , frame assembly  22  may not be necessary. In such a configuration, the walls  24 ,  26  and  28  of grille shelter  20  may be connected directly to each other and the roof member  30  may be connected directly to one or more of the walls  24 ,  26  and  28 . Alternatively, rear wall  24  and first and second side walls  26  and  28  may be formed as one unit. These alternative embodiments may work best with sheet metal, plastic or other strong light-weight material. Such materials may be provided with a decorative surface layer, for example, wood grain or decorative enamel. 
   It is also noted that the embodiment of grille shelter  20  illustrated in the figures envisions a grille shelter  20  constructed primarily of wood. It is to be understood, however, that grille shelter  20  may alternatively be constructed of other materials such as masonry, steel or plastic. Other materials may be desired to achieve a specific aesthetic appearance, but will not affect the functional benefits provided by the present invention. 
   For the illustrated embodiment, rear wall  24  and first and second side walls  26  and  28  may be connected to frame assembly  22  such that first and second side walls  26  and  28  are positioned on opposite ends and adjacent to rear wall  24 . As stated, rear wall  24  and first and second side walls  26  and  28  may be constructed of wood or any other suitable material such as plastic or steel. In the embodiment shown in the figures, rear wall  24  and first and second side walls  26  and  28  may be connected to frame assembly  22  utilizing a variety of attachment methods, such as a threaded connection using screws or bolts, nails, straps, pins or any other variety of known attachment means. As shown in the figures, first and second side walls  26  and  28  only extend forwardly to about the middle of the width of the grille shelter. 
   A first pivoting panel  34  and a second pivoting panel  36  may be pivotally or hingedly attached to first and second side walls  26  and  28  respectively with first hinged attachment  27  as shown in  FIG. 1 . If a relatively small grille is to be sheltered, a single pivoting panel may suffice. First and second pivoting panels  34  and  36  may include a first section  38  and second section  40  configured to enclose the front corners of grille shelter  20  as shown in  FIG. 4 . First and second sections  38  and  40  may alternatively be pivotally or hingedly connected at the corners to allow for even more flexibility when opening grille shelter  20  as shown at connection  39  in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . In an embodiment where the housing  32  is formed with the walls  24 ,  26  and  28  as a single sheet, panels  34  and  36  may be attached to the forward edges thereof. 
   First and second panels  34  and  36  allow grille shelter  20  to be repositioned from a first position as shown in  FIG. 1 , to a second position as shown in  FIG. 4 . In the second position, first and second pivoting panels  34  and  36  form the front corners of grille shelter  20  and come together at a location in the front of grille shelter  20  as shown in  FIG. 4 . A latch assembly  42  may be used to securely connect first and second pivoting walls  34  and  36  in the second position. A variety of latch assemblies known and available in the art may be incorporated and used as latch assembly  42 . Latch assembly  42  may also be configured to accept a conventional lock to further secure the grille within grille shelter  20 . As many grilles available in the art are very expensive, it may be desirable to protect the grille or other items placed within the grille shelter from potential theft. 
   A cover such as roof member  30  may be pivotally or hingedly attached to frame assembly  22 , adjacent to rear wall  24  with a third hinged attachment  29  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . Other suitable attachment methods may be utilized that allow roof member  30  to pivot upwardly and rearwardly above rear wall  24  and side walls  26  and  28 . At least one support member  44  may be connected to the housing  32  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3  to hold roof member  30  in the first/second position. Support member  44  may include a typical hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder similar to those used to hold the hood of a vehicle in an open position. Roof member  30  may alternatively be hingedly attached directly to one of the walls  24 ,  26  and  28  in an embodiment where no frame assembly  22  is utilized. Likewise, support member  44  may alternatively be connected to first and second side walls  26  and  28  as opposed to frame assembly  22 . 
   To place first and second pivoting panels  34  and  36  in the first position, the user may move first and second pivoting panels  34  and  36  outwardly away from each other to the desired open position as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 . The pivoting relation between first and second pivoting panels  34  and  36  and side walls  26  and  28  allow first and second front pivoting panels  34  and  36  to be easily moved to the first position. The first position may include any of a variety of configurations of first and second pivoting panels  34  and  36  depending on the needs of the user. In one embodiment, pivoting panels  34  and  36  may be moved to a fully opened position to allow the greatest possible access to the grille as shown in  FIG. 5 . This type of positioning may be desirable to provide additional space for persons working with the grille or standing nearby, particularly in situations such as parties and cookouts. Also, in an embodiment where first and second sections  38  and  40  are pivotally or hingedly attached to one another, pivoting panels  34  and  36  may be positioned in a variety of additional orientations. 
   With roof member  30  and pivoting panels  34  and  36  moved to the first position, a user may access the barbecue grille contained inside grille shelter  20  and use the grille for cooking. Thus, the user may access the grille for cooking purposes without having to move the grille out of its stored position. The positioning of roof member  30  in the first position may be specifically designed to meet standard clearance requirements to protect grille shelter  20  from damage due to smoke and heat. 
   Other components may be attached to grille shelter  20  to further add to its functionality and convenience. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a platform  48  may be connected to frame assembly  22  (or to side walls  26  and  28  and rear wall  24  when no frame assembly is used) to provide a floor for which the grille may be positioned within grille shelter  20 . Platform  48  is configured to attach to housing  32  whereby the grille shelter  20  is secured from toppling in adverse weather or during use of the grille as shown in  FIG. 4 . In addition, grille shelter  20  may include a at least one accessory item mounted to an interior surface of the grille shelter  20 , such as one or more hooks  54  mounted on side panel  28  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Hooks  54  may be used to hang barbecue tools, cooking aprons or other desired tools. One or more shelves  60  may also be mounted on the interior surface of grille shelter  20  as shown in  FIG. 1  to provide further storing capabilities within grille shelter  20 . 
   Another feature that may be included on grille shelter  20  is a handle  58  as best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . Handle  58  may be constructed of a variety of different materials including, but not limited to, wood, metal or plastic, and may be attached to roof member  30  by any of a variety of attachment means known in the art. Handle  58  provides a firm grip location to assist the user with opening and closing roof member  30 . A pull cord  52  may also be connected to roof member  30  to further assist the user in moving roof member  30  between the first and second positions as shown in  FIG. 3 . Pull cord  52  may alternatively attach to handle  58  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Pull cord  52  may include a section of chain (as shown in the figures), a rope, strap, or other suitable component configured to attach to roof member  30  (or handle  58 ) to assist an individual who may be unable to reach handle  58  when roof member  30  is in the first position. 
   While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, the present invention attempts to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.