Patent Publication Number: US-7222620-B2

Title: Light for cooking apparatus

Description:
This application claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/537,878, filed Jan. 21, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a light for a cooking apparatus and, more particularly, to a light for illuminating a cooking surface and/or work surfaces of a barbecue grill. 
   Over seventy-six percent of households in the United States use barbecue grills. One industry association estimates that approximately sixty-nine percent of gas grill owners use their grills year round as the primary household cooking appliance. It has also been confirmed that many grills are used under low light conditions during evening and nighttime hours. Under such conditions, it is difficult for users to manipulate cooked food or monitor the state of food cooked with the grill. 
   One attempt to provide light for cooking in low light conditions is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,132,055 to Grisamore. There, a tube is attached with separate brackets to the lid of a grill. The tube serves as a handle for the lid and also includes bulbs fixedly disposed within the tube, which can illuminate the grill. Although this construction provides illumination, it requires precise alignment of the tube within the brackets, and the lights—which are fixedly positioned in the tube—with the grilling surface. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The aforementioned problems are overcome in the present invention which provides a lighting assembly for a cooking apparatus including a handle, a movable arm and a light source. The handle is mountable to a cooking apparatus cover and defines a recess. The arm is joined with the handle, and is selectively movable from a position at least partially in the recess to another position projecting over the cooking surface when the cover is in an open position. The light source is joined with the arm and illuminates a cooking surface and/or work surface when the arm is over the cooking surface and/or work surface. 
   In one embodiment, the lighting assembly can include a head that is movably secured to the arm. The light source can be disposed in or joined with the head. A user can move the head and aim the light source at the cooking surface, surroundings and/or a work surface. The head can be joined with the arm so that when the arm is disposed in the recess of the handle, the head is as well. 
   In another embodiment, the lighting assembly can include a power interrupt for the light source. The interrupt “breaks” contact between adjacent power sources, e.g. battery cells, thereby cutting power to the light source when the arm is at least partially in the recess. When the arm is removed from the recess and projects over a surface, the interrupt is disabled, the cells achieve electrical communication and power is provided to the light source. 
   In yet another embodiment, the handle can be formed from a single piece of material to provide an integral, single piece handle, which can be secured to the cover of the cooking apparatus. 
   In a further embodiment, the arm can be formed from an articulating coil that provides a wide range of lighting configurations to illuminate a cooking surface and/or a work surface. 
   In yet another embodiment, the lighting assembly can be secured to a cooking apparatus handle with brackets. Such a construction is suitable for add-on lighting applications. 
   The present invention provides a durable and highly adjustable lighting assembly for a cooking apparatus. When not in use, the light source and arm can be safely stored within the handle of the assembly—out of the way during daytime cooking. Furthermore, with the light source temporarily stored in the handle, it is protected from both damage during daytime cooking and/or excessive smoke residue caused by the light being exposed to the grilling surface during every use of the cooking apparatus. Further, the arm enables the user to focus light on the cooking surface with minimal effort, and without the need to disassemble and reattach the handle to the lid. When the optional movable head is included with the assembly, the light source is even more precisely configurable. Finally, when the optional interrupt is included in the assembly, the opportunity to exhaust the light source power supply is reduced because the light is turned off automatically when the arm is stored away. 
   These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be more readily understood and appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the invention and the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the lighting assembly mounted to a cooking apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a second perspective view of the lighting assembly in a storage configuration; 
       FIG. 3  is a partially exploded view of the lighting assembly; 
       FIG. 4  is a first alternative embodiment of the lighting assembly including an integral handle housing; 
       FIG. 5  is a second alternative embodiment of the lighting assembly including an alternative arm structure; and 
       FIG. 6  is a third alternative embodiment of the lighting assembly in an add-on configuration. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   I. Overview 
   A lighting assembly for a cooking apparatus incorporating an embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 1–3  and generally designated  10 . The lighting assembly  10  is mounted to the cover  110  of the cooking apparatus  100 . The lighting assembly  10  includes a handle  12 , also referred to as a housing, an arm  20 , and a light source  40 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the arm  20  is in a position so that it extends out from the recess  14  and/or housing  12 . Accordingly, the light source  40  can be positioned over the cooking surface  120  and aimed to illuminate that cooking surface. When included, the optional head  30 , which moves relative to the arm  20 , enables precise aiming of the light source  40  at the cooking surface  120 . 
   Because the arm  20  is movably mounted to the housing  12 , when not in use, the arm  20  and light source  40  can be moved to a second position shown in  FIG. 2  wherein these components are substantially concealed in the recess  14  of the housing  12 . By substantially concealed, it is meant that when the lid  110  is closed, the arm  20  is not readily visible without close inspection. Although the lighting assembly  10  is described in connection with an outdoor barbecue grill  100  herein, it is well suited for a variety of other cooking devices, such as indoor grills, ovens, stoves and the like. 
   II. Construction 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1–3 , the lighting assembly  10  will be described in more detail. The light assembly handle or housing  12  is an elongated, channel-like structure which defines a recess and/or aperture that is open to the environment, i.e. the recess is not covered with another component. The recess is generally elongated and adapted to store the arm  20  and/or head  30  of the light assembly at least partially therein. The housing can further define apertures  16  which enable a user to easily grasp the arm  20  and remove it from the recess  14 . 
   The housing further includes ends  18  which can be of a larger, smaller, or the same cross section as the remainder of the housing  12 . Joined with the ends are connectors to form a complete handle for the lid  110 . The ends  18  of the housing can fit in or over the ends of the connectors as shown in  FIG. 2  or  3 . The connectors  17  can be fastened with conventional fasteners, such as bolts, screws, pins, dowels—or even welded or glued to the lid  110 . Accordingly, with this construction it is unnecessary to have brackets to attach the completed handle to the lid  110 . 
   The connectors  17  and housing  12 , and other components of the light assembly  10 , can be constructed from one or multiple pieces of material(s). Suitable materials include, for example, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), high heat polycarbonate (HPC), polyamide (PA), unsaturated polyester, steel, wood, glass, aluminum, copper, brass, tin or leather. The housing and connectors further can be formed in any practical shape which renders them useful as a handle for raising and lowering the cover  110 , for example, an oval, elliptical or other cross section that easily fits the hand of a user. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1–3 , the arm  20  of the lighting assembly is pivotally joined with the housing  12  via pivot pin  22 . The pivot pin  22  permits movement of the arm  20  from a position substantially or entirely within the recess to a position that is oblique or substantially perpendicular to the housing  12 . In one example, the arm  120  can have a lateral range of movement, from one position to another, of about 10° to about 150°, and optionally about 120°. In this embodiment, the housing  12  and the arm  20  with the light source  40  are separate elements. Alternatively, a ball and socket-type joint can be substituted for the pivot pin configuration. Other joints can be used as well. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , the pin  22  can be removable so that the arm  20  can be removed from the housing and operate as an independent flashlight. Alternatively, the pin  22  can be substituted with depressible detents  23 . These depressible detents can be coupled to a spring  21  and housed within the arm  20 . By depressing the detents  23 , the arm  20  can be removed and can function as an independent flashlight. 
   With further reference to  FIG. 3 , the arm  20  can be constructed from a hollow housing in which a power source  25  (here shown as batteries) can be housed. As such, the housing may include a door (not shown) that is removable so that the power source  25  can be checked or replaced. Various types of batteries, such as alkaline, lithium and nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries of any size can be used. Other suitable power sources that can be used with the lamp assembly  10  include without limitation, solar cells, thermal cells, and AC and/or DC power connections. Where smaller power sources  25  are utilized, those sources may be housed within the head  30 , instead of the arm  20 . Alternatively, the power sources  25  can be housed in the housing  12 , and/or the connectors  17 , or any other component of the assembly  10  or grill  100 . An electrical connection can be established between the power source and the light source  40  through the arm  20  and/or head  30 . Electrical communication between the power source and light or other components, for example, switches, can be established using wire or other conducting material as the application requires. 
   To the arm  20 , a head  40  can be pivotally joined with another pivot pin  24 . The second pivot pin  24  can permit movement of the head from a position substantially aligned with the length of the arm  20  to a plane orthogonal to the plane of movement permitted by the pivot pin  24 . In one example, the head can have a range of rotation about the pivot pin  24  of about 45° to about 135°, and optionally about 90°. The head  30  can house a light source  40 . The head  30  can be configured so that the light source  40  projects light out any side and/or bottom of the head, depending on the application. More generally, the head  30  is movable relative to the arm  20  so that the light source  40  is aimable at the cooking surface  120  or any other work surface of the grill  100 . Although shown joined to the arm  20  with a pivot pin  24 , the head  30  may be joined to the arm  20  with a flexible conduit or other connection device. 
   The light source  40  is in electrical communication with the power source  25  via a conventional connection. The light source  40  can be any light source, for example, a light emitting diode (LED), halogen bulb, HID bulb, an incandescent bulb, or a fluorescent bulb. The light source also can be replaceable relative to the head. Furthermore, multiple light sources can be arranged in proximity to form a cluster, capsule, bulb or other array of light sources. Additionally, a reflector element, for example, parabolic reflector (not shown) may be used in conjunction with the light source to better focus the light on the cooking surface. 
   The power source  25  and/or light source  40  can be in further electrical communication with a switch mechanism  27 . As shown, the switch mechanism can be an interrupt that enables the power source  25  to provide power to light source  40  when the arm is in the open position, i.e., when the arm  20  is swung out away from the handle  12  or moved out of the recess  14 . The interrupt can also terminate power to the light source  40  when the arm  20  is seated in the recess  14 . More specifically, the interrupt “breaks” contact between adjacent power sources, e.g. battery cells  25 , thereby cutting power to the light source  40  when the arm  20  is at least partially in the recess or aperture  40 . When the arm is swung out from the recess to project over a surface, the interrupt  27  is disabled, and power is provided to the light source  40 . Furthermore, interrupts of any shape or design that interrupt the connection between adjacent cells in a multi-cell power source can be used as desired. Other switches may be suitable for use with the light assembly, for example, toggle, position rocker/push and no-touch switches. Further suitable switches are those which power the light source when the grill cover  110  is raised and/or lowered. Examples of such switches include, for example, limit, proximity, reflective and mercury bulb switches. Any combination of the aforementioned switches may also be used. 
   III. Operation/Method of Use 
   Operation of the lighting assembly to cook with the cooking apparatus  100  in low light conditions will now be described in connection with  FIGS. 1–3 . In general, the outdoor grill  100  is usually prepared by a user for cooking. To do so, the user opens the cover  110  by grasping the handle  12  and/or connectors  17 . The user moves the handle  12  so that the cover  110  opens and exposes the cooking surface  120 . The user grasps the arm  20 . When included, the aperture  16  may facilitate grasping of the arm with the user&#39;s fingertips. The user then moves the arm  20  outward from the recess  14  to a position so that the arm projects outward from the housing and/or recess, preferably over the cooking surface  120  and/or over a working surface when included. In so doing, the arm  20  pivots about the pivot pin  22  or other attachment mechanism. Additionally, when included, the interrupt  27  establishes electrical communication between the power source  25  and the light source  40  so that the light source  40  illuminates as described above. When included, the user can adjust the head  30  of the lighting assembly, i.e. aim it at the cooking surface  120  and/or any other work surface of the grill, by moving the head  30  relative to the arm  20 . After the user determines the light source  40  sufficiently illuminates the cooking surface  120 , the user may begin or resume cooking on the cooking surface  120 , or begin or resume work on the work surface. 
   IV. First Alternative Embodiment  
   A first alternative embodiment of the light assembly is shown in  FIG. 4  and generally designated  210 . This lighting assembly includes an arm  220 , head  230  and light source  240  as described in the embodiment above. These components operate in a similar manner and swing out from the recess  214  and/or in the housing  212 . The housing  212  is slightly different from that above in that the housing is lengthened on both sides of the recess  214 , and contoured so that it attaches directly to the cover  110  of the grill  100 . In this embodiment, the housing can be formed of a plastic material to form an integral, single-piece handle which houses a separate and independent light. Fasteners  115  can fasten the lighting assembly  210  directly to the cover  110 . Such fasteners can be screws, bolts, or rivets that are passed through holes (not shown) in the cover and secured to the housing  214 . Additionally, the housing of this embodiment can include a recess  214  that is slightly different than that described above. Specifically, the recess may be L-shaped, so that it conceals the arm  220  and head  230  only on the upper and front portions of those elements. In this embodiment, the housing can be of any cross section that facilitates ease of use. Furthermore, with this construction, it is unnecessary to include additional components or brackets to secure the handle  210  to the cover  110 . Finally, in this embodiment, a work surface  140  is included with the grill  100 . As with all embodiments herein, the light source  240  can be aimed at the working surface  140  and/or the cooking surface  120  with the lighting assembly to illuminate those surfaces. 
   V. Second Alternative Embodiment  
   With reference to  FIG. 5 , a second alternative embodiment of the lighting assembly, generally designated  310 , will now be described. In this embodiment, the components of the lighting assembly are generally the same as that described in the first embodiment above, however, the arm  320  is constructed in the form of a flexible conduit. With this configuration, the arm  320  can be removed from the recess  314  and “snaked” into position so that the light source  340  illuminates the cooking surface  120 . Optionally, the head  340  may be pivotally or movably joined with the end of the arm  320  to offer a greater degree of movement. Alternatively, the head  330  can be non-movably secured to the end of the arm  320  in a conventional manner. 
   In this embodiment, the light source  340  can be powered by a power source disposed in the head  330  or the housing  312 , the power source being in electrical communication with the light source  340  as desired. Furthermore, in this configuration, a switch  327 , for example, an interrupt, can be joined with the head  330  and the housing  312  as desired. Other types of switches can be used as desired. 
   V. Third Alternative Embodiment  
   With reference to  FIG. 6 , a third alternative embodiment of the lighting assembly of the present invention, generally designated  410 , will now be described. The components and features of the lighting assembly shown in  FIG. 6  are generally the same as the above embodiments, and operate under the same general principals. However, the lighting assembly  410  can be connected with brackets  406  to a handle  118 , which is further connected to the cover  110 . In this embodiment, the lighting assembly  410  is therefore held above, and is separate from, the handle  118 . The brackets may be of any conventional construction. An additional difference between this embodiment and the previous is that the arm  420  houses the light source  440 , and a separate head for the light source is absent. Additionally, the light source  440  may be comprised of multiple bulbs or an array of different light sources as shown. 
   The above descriptions are those of the preferred embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. Any references to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.