Abstract:
A portable combination cooking and storage unit having: 
     a housing having at top, a bottom, a front, a back and two sides, and at least one access door at the front;
 
at least two stackable removable grilling trays containable within the housing;
 
at least one removable storage tray containable within the housing;
 
wherein each of the at least two removable grilling trays have at least one burner, a cooking grid proximate the at least one burner, and at least one burner control for controlling fuel to the at least one burner.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to a portable combination cooking, grilling, cooling, warming and storage unit and method of using same. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Current portable cooking units lack the ability to allow for numerous cooking surfaces that may be individually regulated. Current units also lack the ability to allow for storage of food items in either a cold or warm/hot environment. Furthermore, current units lack the ability to house the numerous cooking surfaces in a single unit to allow for facile portability and storage. There is a need for a portable cooking, grilling, warming, cooling and storage unit. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    According to one aspect, there is provided a unitary portable combination cooking, grilling, warming, cooling and storage unit comprising: 
         [0000]    a housing, preferably having a top, a bottom, a front, a back and two sides, and at least one access door, preferably at said front;
 
at least two stackable removable grilling trays containable within said housing, preferably said at least two stackable removable grilling trays are spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other when contained within said unit;
 
at least one removable storage tray containable within said housing, preferably said at least one removable storage tray is spaced apart a predetermined distance from said at least two stackable removable grilling trays when contained within said unit;
 
wherein each of said at least two removable grilling trays comprise at least one burner, a cooking grid proximate said at least one burner, said cooking grid for receiving items for at least one of cooking, grilling, warming, cooling, storage and combinations thereof, said cooking grid having a top surface and a bottom surface, preferably said cooking grid being removable, preferably said at least one burner being proximate the bottom of said cooking grid, and at least one burner control for controlling fuel to said at least one burner.
 
         [0004]    In a preferred embodiment, said unit further comprises at least one temperature gauge with a temperature indicator visible outside said unit for measuring internal temperature of said unit and communicating the internal temperature to a user. In another embodiment, said unit further comprises a moisture gauge for monitoring the moisture level in said unit. In yet another embodiment, said unit further comprises a timer for setting a predetermined period of time. 
         [0005]    In yet another preferred embodiment, each of said at least two grilling trays further comprise a shield, preferably between said at least one burner and said cooking grid, preferably between said at least one burner and said bottom surface of said cooking grid, for reducing contact of food items and/or liquid with said at least one burner. Preferably said shield is for reducing flare ups during the cooking/grilling process. 
         [0006]    In yet another preferred embodiment, said unit further comprises at least one rotisserie attachment to allow for rotisserie of at least one comestible item within said unit. Preferably said at least one rotisserie attachment comprises an attachment at one side of said unit and a complimentary attachment at another side of said unit, for receiving a rotisserie shaft and allowing for rotation of said rotisserie shaft. 
         [0007]    Preferably, said unit further comprises at least one handle, preferably telescopic, for transporting said unit. More preferably said unit further comprises at least one wheel, preferably two wheels, more preferably four wheels proximate said bottom of said unit for transporting said unit along a surface. 
         [0008]    In a preferred embodiment, said housing, each of said grilling trays, said cooking grid, said shield is made of a material preferably capable of withstanding up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit, more preferably selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, magnesium alloys, water hardened steel, chromoly 4130, copper, vanadium, nickel, tungsten, Ultrathin®, platinum, titanium, carbon steel brass, aluminum or other suitable materials, more preferably aluminum of grade 061, and combinations thereof. 
         [0009]    Preferably, said unit further comprises a secondary access door, preferably at the front of said unit and proximate the bottom of said unit, for allowing access to the bottom of said unit and to said burner control of said at least one grilling tray, preferably when said unit is used as an oven. 
         [0010]    Preferably, each of said at least two stackable removable grilling trays are separated a predetermined distance from each other and at least one storage tray is separated a predetermined distance from each of said at least two stackable removable grilling trays. 
         [0011]    According to another aspect, there is provided the use of the unit described herein for cooking, keeping warm, storing and combinations thereof of at least one comestible inside said unit. 
         [0012]    According to another aspect, there is provided the use of the unit described herein for cooling of at least one comestible inside said unit. 
         [0013]    According to yet another aspect, there is provided a method of cooking an item in the unit described herein comprising: 
         [0000]    Introducing one grilling tray into said unit proximate the bottom of said unit;
 
Introducing one storage tray into said unit and above said one grilling tray;
 
Introducing an item to be cooked proximate said storage tray;
 
Igniting said burner of said one grilling tray;
 
Optionally closing said access door;
 
Cooking said item a predetermined time; and optionally
 
Turning off said burner.
 
         [0014]    According to yet another aspect, there is provided a method of cooking a plurality of items on each of said at least two stackable removable grilling trays comprising: 
         [0000]    Removing each of said at least two stackable grilling trays from said unit;
 
Placing each of said at least two stackable grilling trays on a surface;
 
Igniting at least one burner of each of said grilling trays allowing for cooking said items on said grilling trays.
 
         [0015]    According to yet another aspect, the unit may be manufactured by use of tinsmith, bending, stamping, water jet and other forms of metal forming/bending techniques as would be understood by a person of skill in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a view of the front of the unit according to one embodiment 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a view of the inside of the unit when empty according to one embodiment 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a view of the inside of the unit with all trays inside and secondary access door closed according to one embodiment 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a view of the inside of the unit with all trays inside and secondary access door open according to one embodiment 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a view of a warming tray according to one embodiment 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a view of the grilling tray according to one embodiment 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a view of the grilling tray of  FIG. 6  without the cooking grid according to one embodiment 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a view of three grilling trays in use according to one embodiment 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a view of the unit with wheels and a telescopic handle according to one embodiment 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a view of a warming burner tray according to one embodiment 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the burner control according to one embodiment 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a view of the rotisserie attachment according to one embodiment 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    The figures contained herein are protected under copyright by copyright holder Robert John Thorndyke. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is provided a portable combination cooking, grilling, warming, cooling and storage unit  10  in the shape of a box container (other shapes suitable to accommodate the following may also be used). The front  20  of the unit includes a first access door  21  and a second access door  22 . Access door  21  is hinged at one side of the unit  10 . Access door  22  is hinged at the bottom of the unit  10 . The first access door  21  is larger and located above the second access door  22 . Located on the front access door  21  is a temperature gauge  23  for measuring the internal temperature of the unit  10 , although the temperature gauge  23  may located at other areas of the unit. Also located on the front access door  21  is a locking mechanism  30  to ensure the unit  10  is secure when being transported. In this embodiment, the locking mechanism  30  is a latch type mechanism, however any suitable locking mechanism may be used herein. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , both the first and second access doors  21 ,  22  are open and an empty unit  10  is show. Inside the unit  10  are as series of spaced apart tray supports. In this embodiment the spaced apart tray supports are shelves  40 , although any suitable support may be used herein. On one side  50  of the unit  10  are three shelves  40  spaced apart from each other. One the opposing side  60  of the unit  10  are three shelves  40  spaced apart from each other to complement the shelves  40  of side  50  and to provide for either a grilling tray  70  and/or storage tray  80  and/or burner tray  90  to be substantially level when in the unit  10 . Each of the shelves  40  runs substantially the length of each side  50  and  60 . In this embodiment, each of the shelves  40  are “L” shaped but may be of any shape to accommodate the trays  70 ,  80  and/or  90 . In this embodiment, the shelves  40  are secured in place along the inside walls of the unit by rivets but may also be secured in place by welding, spot welding and combinations thereof or the like as understood by a person skilled in the art. The spacing  41  between shelves  40  at each side  50  and  60  is such that it accommodates the facile insertion and removal of either a grilling tray  70 , storage tray  80  and/or burner tray  90 . 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there is provided an open view of the unit  10  depicting the grilling trays  70  and storage tray  80  in the unit  10 . In  FIG. 3 , the secondary access door  22  is in the closed position. In  FIG. 4 , the secondary access door  22  is in the opened position and the burner tray  90  is seen. 
         [0032]    As can best be seen in  FIG. 5 , the storage tray  80  comprises a substantially square bottom  81 , two side walls  82 , a back wall  83  and a front wall  84  forming a chamber within the storage tray  80 . At the top end of each wall  82 ,  83 ,  84  there is a flange  85  running along the length of each wall, for strengthening the tray  80 . The front  84  of tray  80  includes a handle  86  and two hooks  87  saddling said handle  86 . The hooks  87  are used to wrap a portion of a fuel hose (not shown) when the trays  70  and  80  are in storage in the unit  10 . The storage tray  80  may be used to store food in the unit and when used in combination with a burner tray  90 , items in the storage tray  80  may be cooked and/or kept warm in the unit  10 . In practice, for keeping food warm, storage tray  80  is placed in the unit above burner tray  90 . Burner tray  90  is preferably placed at the inside bottom of the unit  10 . Access door  21  is kept closed during the cooking or warming process. Access door  22  may also be kept closed and when adjustment of temperature in the unit  10  is required, access door  22  may be opened to adjust the temperature of burner tray  90 . An alternative is to keep items in the unit cool and/or cold by placing ice in the storage tray  80  and placing the storage tray  80  on an upper shelf and placing food items to be kept cool/cold beneath storage tray  80 , preferably on the bottom of the unit  10 , although food items may be placed above the storage tray  80 . In either instance, both doors  21 ,  22  may be kept closed and the unit  10  acts as a cooler for storage of food items. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , there is provided a grilling tray  70 . Grilling tray  70  comprises a bottom  71 , two side walls  72 , a back wall  73  and a front wall  74 , forming a chamber within the grilling tray  70 . At the top of the back wall  73 , two side walls  72  and front wall  74 , there is a flange  75  running along the length of each wall, for strengthening the tray  70  and concentrating heat in the chamber of the grilling tray  70 . The flange being less wide at the front wall  74  than the flange at the back wall  73  and two side walls  72 . The opening formed by the flange  75  allows for support of a removable cooking grid  100 . The cooking grid  100  is a mesh type grid to allow support of the item to be cooked and/or grilled while allowing heat to contact the item to be cooked. The cooking grid in this instance, is a perforated basket  101  with a flange  102  at the front and back of the basket  101  to allow for support of the basket  101  on the flange  75  at the front  75  and back  73  walls. The cooking grid  100  further comprises a shield  110  which runs along the bottom of said cooking grid  100  and is aligned to sit a predetermined distance above the burner  120 . In this embodiment, the shield  110  is rectangular in shape and is narrower than the cooking grid  100  such that the shield  110  reduces the likelihood of food particles and liquids, such as liquids produced during the cooking and/or grilling process from making contact with the burner  120  (which could result in flare ups) while allowing for heat to contact the item to be cooked. In this instance, the shield  110  is connected to the cooking grid  100  by a pair of screw connectors  111  each being proximate an opposite end of the shield  110 . 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a burner  120  is seen in a grilling tray  70  with the cooking grid  100  removed. The burner  120  is a conventional gas burner used in cooking units and know to persons of ordinary skill in the art. When the cooking grid  100  is removed from said grilling tray  70 , the grilling tray  70  may be used as a heat source (or as a burner tray  90  or  140 ) at the bottom of the unit  10  to keep items warm in the storage tray  80  when inserted above the grilling tray  70 . Given the shelves  40  are at various heights in the unit  10 , the user may select the appropriate level to place the grilling tray  70  to keep items warm. 
         [0035]    Grilling tray  70  may also be used to store a griddle  141  (see  FIG. 8 ) when not in use. Griddle  141  is placed above the burner  120  and the cooking grid  100  is placed above the griddle  141  and the tray  70  is then placed inside the unit  10  for storage and transportation. 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , there is shown three grilling trays  70  side by side to allow for cooking various items simultaneously. The trays  70  are each connected to a fuel source  71 , such as a fuel tank, by fuel passageways  72 , such as appropriate hoses. In this manner, depending on the item being cooked, the user will adjust the individual burner control  130  to regulate the heat to each grilling tray  70 . If desired, the user can also use a side burner tray  140  (see  FIG. 10 ) to cook items in a pot or pan (not shown) or griddle  141  on a grilling tray  70 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 9  depicts the unit  10  with an optional telescopic spaced apart handle  180  connected to the back wall  24  of the unit  10 . The handle  180  has proximate the bottom  181  thereof a pair of wheels  182  to facilitate moving the unit  10  along a surface. The handle  180  and wheels  182  are made of a material that is light and also resistant to heat. The handle may be integral to the unit  10  or it may be removable to facilitate cleaning as well as storage of the unit  10 . 
         [0038]    Although not shown in the Figures, the unit  10  may also be used as an ice box to keep items cold. In this instance, the used would place ice in the storage tray  80  and place the storage tray  80  containing the ice on a shelf above the items to be kept cold. 
         [0039]      FIG. 11  depicts a typical burner control  130 , which includes a burner handle  140 , a fuel inlet connection  150  and a fuel outlet connection  160 . Each connection  150  and  160  may be quick connects or any suitable connector as understood by a person skilled in the art. 
         [0040]      FIG. 12  depicts a perspective view of the unit  10  with a rotisserie shaft receiver  170  on each side wall  50  and  60 . This allows for receiving a rotisserie shaft (not shown) and using the unit  10  as a rotisserie oven. The receiver  170  also includes a bracket  171  to allow the unit  10  to receive a rotisserie motor (not shown). 
         [0041]    The unit is preferably made of stainless steel, aluminum and other materials listed herein or combinations thereof such that structural integrity and safety of the unit  10  is not compromised 
         [0042]    As many changes can be made to the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope thereof; it is intended that all matter contained herein be considered illustrative and not in a limiting sense.