Patent Publication Number: US-2007119445-A1

Title: Multifunctional cooking apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of Invention  
      The present invention relates to cooking appliances and more particularly to a portable, multifunctional cooking apparatus.  
      2. Related Art  
      A conventional cooking apparatus such as gas stove or barbecue is intended for a single cooking purpose only. Moreover, for example, either stove or barbecue has its specific fuel such as gas bottle or charcoal. This also bothers users in preparing it before taking a picnic or the like. Thus, a need for improvement exists.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a multifunctional cooking apparatus comprising a grill assembly including a raised stand and a grill fitted on the stand; a stove assembly adapted to mount on the grill assembly and including a top opening, an internal heating block, a frame fitted on the opening, a pan fitted on the frame, a rotation adjustment knob on an outer surface of the stove assembly connected to the heating block for adjusting a heating direction of the heating block, and an open space formed between the stove assembly and the grill; and a drive assembly provided under the stand and including a motor, gear means driven by the motor, and a shaft extended from the gear means through the stand into a center of the grill such that the grill is adapted to rotate in response to activating the motor; wherein in response to adjusting the heating direction of the heating block to a downward direction, placing meat on the grill, and activating both the drive assembly and the heating block, an effective heat is transferred from the heating block to the meat.  
      In one aspect of the present invention, the pan is adapted to keep foodstuffs placed therein warm in the heat transfer.  
      In another aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a rack disposed on the frame, and wherein in response to adjusting the heating direction of the heating block to an upward direction, placing a pot filled with liquid on the rack, and activating both the drive assembly and the heating block, an effective heat is transferred from the heating block to the pot.  
      In yet another aspect of the present invention, the heating block is a stove powered by gas bottle.  
      In a further aspect of the present invention, the motor is a battery powered motor.  
      In yet further aspect of the present invention, the stove assembly is detached from the grill assembly and is placed upside down, both the frame and the pan are removed with the rack placed in the stove assembly, and the pot filled with liquid is placed on the rack such that adjusting the heating direction of the heating block toward the pot and activating both the heating block will transfer an effective heat from the heating block to the pot.  
      The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of multifunctional cooking apparatus according to the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the cooking apparatus;  
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the cooking apparatus;  
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the cooking apparatus;  
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the cooking apparatus;  
       FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  for illustrating the operation of drive assembly of the cooking apparatus;  
       FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  for illustrating the operation of adjusting heating direction of heating block; and  
       FIG. 8  is a side view showing another configuration of the cooking apparatus. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to FIGS.  1  to  5 , a multifunctional cooking apparatus  1  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a grill assembly  2 , a stove assembly  3 , and a drive assembly  5 . Each component is discussed in detailed below.  
      The grill assembly  2  comprises three equally spaced legs  21 , a raised circular stand  23  formed on the legs  21 , and a circular grill  22  fitted on the stand  23 . The stove assembly  3  is adapted to mount on the grill assembly  2  in one configuration and comprises a rectangular top opening  31 , a heating block (e.g., stove powered by gas bottle)  34  in the opening  31 , a rotation adjustment knob  35  on an arcuate outer surface of the stove assembly  3  connected to the heating block  34  for adjusting its heating direction, a rectangular frame  311  fitted on the opening  31 , and a pan  32  fitted on the frame  311 . Alternatively, the pan  32  can be replaced by a rack  33  for other cooking purposes. An opening  4  is formed between the stove assembly  3  and the grill  22  such that a user may place meat on the grill  22  through the opening  4  for cooking or remove same through the opening  4  after cooking.  
      The drive assembly  5  is provided under the stand  23  and comprises a battery powered motor  53 , a first shaft  54  rotatably extended from the motor  53 , a pinion  55  fixedly put on the first shaft  54  and co-rotated therewith, a gear  56  in gear connection with the pinion  55 , a second shaft  51  extended from a center of the gear  56  through a bottom of the stand  23  into a center of the grill  22 , a sleeve  52  having its top in contact with the grill  22  and its lower portion formed with the bottom of the stand  23 , and a bearing  57  formed on a bottom of the second shaft  51  under the gear  56 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5  specifically, the heating block  34  has been adjusted to have its heating direction downward by operating the rotation adjustment knob  35 . Thus, meat placed on the grill  22  can be well heated in a cooking zone  6  defined between the arcuate surface of the stove assembly  3  and the heating block  34  after activating the drive assembly  5 . Moreover, foodstuffs placed in the pan  32  can be kept sufficiently warm by the heating block  34 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 6 , an operation of the drive assembly  5  will be described in detailed below. In response to activating the drive assembly  5  the first shaft  54  rotates and the pinion  55  rotates same. Thus, the gear  56  rotates. And in turn, the second shaft  51  rotates to cause the grill  22  to rotate in a predetermined speed. As a result, meat on the rotating grill  22  can be well cooked by broiling.  
      Referring to  FIG. 7 , an operation of adjusting the heating direction of the heating block  34  by operating the rotation adjustment knob  35  will be described in detailed below. In this configuration a pot  7  full of water is placed on the rack  33  which is supported by the frame  311  on the opening  31 . Also, operating the rotation adjustment knob  35  to turn the heating block  34  to an upward heating direction for heating the pot  7 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 8 , the stove assembly  3  is detached from the grill assembly  2  and is used independently in a picnic or outdoor party. The stove assembly  3  is placed upside down. Also, both the frame  311  and the pan  32  are replaced by the rack  33  which is placed on another opening  37  of the stove assembly  3 . Further, the pot  7  is placed on the rack  33 . A portion of the arcuate surface of the stove assembly  3  is formed as a hood  36  for preventing strong wind from interfering with the heating of the pot  7 .  
      While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.