Patent Publication Number: US-2018035844-A1

Title: Grill and grill assembly

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/370,570 filed on Aug. 3, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a grill and a grill assembly, and more particularly a grill and a grill assembly including an opening in the lid of the grill, which can be closed and opened while the lid remains closed. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     Conventional grills include a grill base and an openable grill lid that is either hinged to the grill base or completely detachable from the grill base to provide access to a cooking grid. Some food items are grilled with the lid closed. During grilling, it is conventional for users to intermittently open the grill lid to attend to the food items. The intermittent opening of the grill lid leads to several problems, including heat loss and uneven cooking temperature. This can lead to unreliable cooking conditions and uneven cooking results. The opening of the grill lid can also lead to energy waste, as large volumes of warm air escape from the grill. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a grill that includes a main body possessing a back wall and an open top, and configured to receive a cooking grid and a heat source below the cooking grid; and a lid possessing a top wall, a back wall, a front wall, and a plurality of side walls. The lid is attached to the main body such that the lid is selectively moveable between a closed position and an open position, thereby covering or exposing the cooking grid and the heat source when the cooking grid and the heat source are received by the main body. The main body and the lid are configured such that the lid is in vertical overlapping arrangement with at least a substantial portion of the cooking grid when the cooking grid is received by the main body and the lid is attached to the main body in a closed position. The main body and the lid are configured such that when the cooking grid and the heat source are received by the main body and the lid is attached to the main body in the closed position, warm air rises vertically from the heat source through the cooking grid to the top wall of the lid, and when the cooking grid and the heat source are received by the main body and the lid is in the open position, warm air rises vertically from the heat source through the cooking grid to an outside of the grill. The lid includes one or more openings in one or more of the front wall and side walls of the lid. Each of the openings is selectively closed and opened by one or more opening members attached to the lid. Each of the opening members is selectively moveable between an open position and a closed position independently of the lid such that one or more of the opening members is openable or closable while the lid remains attached to the main body in the closed position. 
     In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a grill that includes a main body possessing a back wall and an open top, and configured to receive a cooking grid and a heat source below the cooking grid; a lid possessing a top wall, a back wall, a front wall, and a plurality of side walls; and one or more hinge members attaching the lid to the main body such that the lid is selectively movable between a closed position and an open position by rotating the lid about the one or more hinge members, thereby covering or exposing the cooking grid and heat source when the cooking grid and the heat source are received by the main body. The main body and the lid are configured such that the lid is in vertical overlapping arrangement with at least a substantial portion of the cooking grid when the cooking grid is received by the main body and the lid is attached to the main body in a closed position. The main body and the lid are configured such that when the cooking grid and the heat source are received by the main body and the lid is attached to the main body in the closed position, warm air rises vertically from the heat source through the cooking grid to the top wall of the lid, and when the cooking grid and the heat source are received by the main body and the lid is attached to the main body in the open position, warm air rises vertically from the heat source through the cooking grid to an outside of the grill. The lid includes one or more openings in the front wall of the lid, each of the one or more openings being selectively closed and opened by one or more hinged doors attached to the lid. Each of the one or more opening members is closable or openable independently of the lid such that one or more of the opening members is openable or closable while the lid remains attached to the main body in the closed position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages disclosed herein will become more apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments when read in conjunction with the attached drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a grill assembly with a grill lid in a closed position, an opening member in an open position, and another opening member in a closed position; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a grill assembly with a grill lid in an open position, an opening member in an open position, and another opening member in a closed position; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a grill assembly with a grill lid in a closed position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-3  show exemplary embodiments of a grill assembly  1000 , which includes a grill  100 , and a cooking grid  200  and a heat source  300  received by the grill  100 . The heat source can be any heat source suitable for directing warm air through the cooking grid  200 , including charcoal, wood, or a gas burner. 
     In certain exemplary embodiments, the grill  100  includes a main body  110  possessing a back wall  112  and an open top  114 , and configured to receive the cooking grid  200  and the heat source  300  below the cooking grid  200 . The grill  100  also includes a lid  120  possessing a top wall  122 , a back wall  124 , a front wall  126 , and a plurality of side walls  128 . The shape of the grill  100  and lid  120  can be any desired shape, including, but not limited to, rectangular or circular. The lid  120  can include at least one thermometer  121  measuring the temperature inside the grill  100 . 
     The lid  120  is attached to the main body  110  such that the lid  120  is selectively moveable between a closed position (see  FIG. 1 ) and an open position (see  FIG. 2 ), thereby covering or exposing the cooking grid  200  and the heat source  300  when the cooking grid  200  and the heat source  300  are received by the main body  110 . Attachment of the lid  120  to the main body  110  can be by any suitable means. In certain exemplary embodiments, there are no particular means attaching the lid  120  to the main body  110 , such that the lid  120  merely is held in place by gravity and it can be completely detached from the main body  110  by having the user lift the lid  120  off of the main body  110 . In other exemplary embodiments, the grill  100  includes one or more hinge members  150  attaching the lid  120  to the main body  110  such that the lid  120  is selectively movable between a closed position and an open position by rotating the lid  120  about the hinge member(s)  150 . Such hinges can attach the lid  120  to the main body  110 , for example, at the back walls  126  and  112  of the lid  120  and the main body  110 . In exemplary embodiments, the lid  120  can include a handle (not shown) to facilitate attachment to the main body  110 . 
     In certain exemplary embodiments, the main body  110  and the lid  120  are configured such that the lid  120  is in vertical overlapping arrangement with at least a substantial portion of the cooking grid  200  when the cooking grid  200  is received by the main body  110  and the lid  120  is attached to the main body  110  in a closed position. The main body  110  and the lid  120  are configured such that when the cooking grid  200  and the heat source  300  are received by the main body  110  and the lid  120  is attached to the main body  110  in the closed position, warm air rises vertically from the heat source  300  through the cooking grid  200  to the top wall  122  of the lid  120 , and when the cooking grid  200  and the heat source  300  are received by the main body  110  and the lid  120  is attached to the main body  110  in the open position, warm air rises vertically from the heat source  300  through the cooking grid  200  to an outside of the grill  100 . 
     In certain exemplary embodiments, the lid  120  includes one or more openings  130  in one or more of the front wall  126  and side walls  128  of the lid  120 . Each opening is selectively closed and opened by one or more opening members  140  attached to the lid  120 . Each opening member  140  is selectively moveable between an open position and a closed position independently of the lid  120  such that one or more of the opening members  140  is openable or closable while the lid  120  remains attached to the main body  110  in the closed position. In certain exemplary embodiments, each opening member  140  is selectively movable between a closed position and an open position independently of one another. In other words, one opening member  140  can be opened and closed while another opening member  140  remains open or closed. 
     Attachment of each opening member  140  to the lid  120  can be by any suitable means. In certain exemplary embodiments, each opening member  140  is attached to the lid  120  by a hinge means. In one exemplary embodiment, the doors are openable by pivoting outward of the grill. In alternative exemplary embodiments, an opening member  140  is openable by pivoting inward of the grill. In other exemplary embodiments, each opening member  140  is attached to the lid  140  via a sliding means such that opening member(s)  140  can be slid (e.g., horizontally, vertically, or in any other direction) to open/expose the opening(s)  130 . 
     In certain exemplary embodiments, each opening member  140  is entirely detachable from the lid  120 . For example, an opening member  140  can be attached to the lid  120  by resting against an opening  130 , by a press-fitting mechanism, by a snap-fitting mechanism, by a magnetic attachment, or by any other attachment allowing the opening member  140  to cover the opening  130  during cooking and to be selectively removed by a user during cooking. 
     In further exemplary embodiments, a user can thus selectively open one or more openings  130  independently of the lid  120 . This allows the user to access food items during grilling while the lid  120  remains closed, thus preventing excessive escape of warm air from the grill. For example, the user can open an opening member  140  located on the front panel of the grill lid  120  to attend to a piece of food that might be burning or not cooking properly, without undesirably disturbing the cooking process and the cooking temperature of the other food items being grilled. Reduced heat loss allows the user to cook food faster, and at a more constant and controlled temperature, thus leading to more consistent cooking results. By cooking the food faster, the amount of energy needed for grilling is also reduced compared to conventional systems. 
     In certain exemplary embodiments, the front wall  126  of the lid  120  comprises a first opening  130  and a second opening  130 , with a first opening member  140  configured to selectively close and open the first opening  130 , and a second opening member  140  configured to selectively close and open the second opening  130 . In certain exemplary embodiments, the first opening member  140  includes a first door hinged to the front wall  126  of the lid  120 , and the second opening member  140  includes a second door hinged to the front wall  126  of the lid  120  (see  FIGS. 1 and 3 ). 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the front wall  126  of the lid  120  comprises single opening  130 , with a first opening member  140  and a second opening member  140  configured to selectively close and open the opening  130  (see  FIG. 2 ). In particular exemplary embodiments, each of the first and opening members  140  are slidably attached to lid  120  such that each of first and second opening members  140  can be slid horizontally to open/expose a portion of opening  130 . In other exemplary embodiments, the opening members  140  include two doors hinged to the front wall  126  of the lid  120 , each of the two doors covering a respective portion of the opening  130  when the opening  130  is closed by the doors (see  FIG. 2 ). In another exemplary embodiment, the front wall  126  of the lid  120  comprises multiple openings  130 , and a single opening member  140  configured to selectively close and open the multiple openings  130 . 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the grill  100  is configured to receive multiple cooking grids  200 , and includes multiple opening  130 , each providing access to a respective cooking grid  200 . 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the front wall  126  of the lid  120  is disposed at an angle greater than 90 degrees relative to the top wall  122  of the lid  120 . Alternatively, the front wall  126  of the lid  120  can be disposed at an angle of 90 degrees or less, relative to the top wall  122  of the lid  120 . In an exemplary embodiment, the lid  120  is curved. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, a projection of the front wall  126  of the lid  120  onto a horizontal plane of the cooking grid  200  spans less than half of an upward facing surface area of the cooking grid  200  when the cooking grid  200  is received by the main body  110  of the grill  100  and when the lid  120  is attached to the main body  110  in a closed position (see  FIG. 3 ). In another exemplary embodiment, a projection of one of the plurality of side walls  128  of the lid  120  onto a horizontal plane of the cooking grid  200  spans less than half of an upward facing surface area of the cooking grid  200  when the cooking grid  200  is received by the main body  110  and when the lid  120  is attached to the main body  110  in a closed position. 
     Examples 
     A grill as described herein was constructed and comparative heat-loss tests were performed to determine the amount of heat lost when the lid is repeatedly opened, as would be done with conventional grills, versus when only the opening members are repeatedly opened, as is possible with the grill of the present disclosure. These tests demonstrate that cooking temperature decreases less when the opening members  140  are opened (either a single opening member or two opening members) compared to instances in which the lid  120  is open. 
     The grill utilized to perform the tests was constructed essentially as shown in  FIG. 1 . More specifically, the grill included three gas burners as the heat source  300 . The lid  120  was attached to the main body  110  via hinges. The front wall  126  of the lid  120  comprised a first opening  130  and a second opening  130 , with a first opening member  140  attached to the first opening  130  and a second opening member  140  attached to the second opening  130 , wherein each of the opening members  140  were hinged doors. 
     Table 1 below provides the results of Tests 1 through 6, which consisted of measuring the temperature inside the grill during a simulated cooking environment. Prior to beginning the test, the heat source  300  was activated and the temperature above the cooking grid  200  was raised to 475° F. (ambient temperature was 85° F.). Tests 1-3 were performed with no food items on the cooking grid  200 , while Tests 4-6 were performed with food items placed on the cooking grid  200 , as would be encountered during typical use of a grill. Tests 1 and 4 were performed by leaving the lid  120  open after initiation of the test and measuring the temperature above the cooking grid  200  at various time intervals. Tests 2 and 5 were performed by leaving a single opening member  140  open and measuring the temperature above the cooking grid  200  at various time intervals. Tests 3 and 6 were performed by leaving two opening members  140  open and measuring the temperature above the cooking grid  200  at various time intervals. The rate of temperature decrease over time was greater during Tests 1 and 4 compared to Tests 2, 3, 5 and 6. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 temp inside the grill 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 grill containing food items 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 empty grill 
                   
                 two opening 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 time of 
                   
                 single opening 
                 two opening 
                   
                 single opening 
                 members 
               
               
                 temperature 
                 lid open 
                 member open 
                 members open 
                 lid open 
                 member open 
                 open 
               
               
                 measurement 
                 (Test 1) 
                 (Test 2) 
                 (Test 3) 
                 (Test 4) 
                 (Test 5) 
                 (Test 6) 
               
               
                   
               
               
                  0 seconds 
                 475° F. 
                 475° F. 
                 475° F. 
                 475° F. 
                 475° F. 
                 475° F. 
               
               
                  15 seconds 
                 428° F. 
                 475° F. 
                 460° F. 
                 430° F. 
                 455° F. 
                 450° F. 
               
               
                  30 seconds 
                 350° F. 
                 455° F. 
                 450° F. 
                 359° F. 
                 455° F. 
                 429° F. 
               
               
                  60 seconds 
                 285° F. 
                 451° F. 
                 430° F. 
                 286° F. 
                 440° F. 
                 396° F. 
               
               
                  90 seconds 
                 282° F. 
                 451° F. 
                 412° F. 
                 262° F. 
                 403° F. 
                 373° F. 
               
               
                 120 seconds 
                 282° F. 
                 451° F. 
                 412° F. 
                 242° F. 
                 385° F. 
                 355° F. 
               
               
                 150 seconds 
                 not measured 
                 451° F. 
                 397° F. 
                 225° F. 
                 398° F. 
                 355° F. 
               
               
                 180 seconds 
                 not measured 
                 451° F. 
                 391° F. 
                 not measured 
                 387° F. 
                 350° F. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 two opening 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Tables 2 and 3 below provide the results of Tests 7 through 12, which consisted of measuring the temperature inside the grill during a simulated cooking environment in a manner similar to the procedures of Tests 1 through 6, but over longer periods of time and at a different ambient temperature. Tests 7 through 12 were performed while the ambient temperature was 35° F. Tests 7-9 (Table 2) were performed with no food items on the cooking grid  200 , while Tests 10-12 (Table 3) were performed with food items placed on the cooking grid  200 , as would be encountered during typical use of a grill. Tests 7 and 10 were performed by leaving the lid  120  open after initiation of the test and measuring the temperature above the cooking grid  200  at various time intervals. Tests 8 and 11 were performed by leaving a single opening member  140  open and measuring the temperature above the cooking grid  200  at various time intervals. Tests 9 and 12 were performed by leaving two opening members  140  open and measuring the temperature above the cooking grid  200  at various time intervals. The rate of temperature decrease over time was greater during Tests 7 and 10 compared to Tests 8, 9, 11 and 12. Tables 2 and 3 thus show significant temperature loss avoidance when using opening members, instead of opening the full lid. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 temp inside the grill (empty) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                   
                 temperature 
                   
                 temperature 
               
               
                   
                   
                 single 
                 loss 
                 two 
                 loss 
               
               
                   
                   
                 opening 
                 avoidance in 
                 opening 
                 avoidance in 
               
               
                 time of 
                   
                 member 
                 Test 8 
                 members 
                 Test 9 
               
               
                 temperature 
                 lid open 
                 open 
                 (compared 
                 open 
                 (compared 
               
               
                 measurement 
                 (Test 7) 
                 (Test 8) 
                 to Test 7) 
                 (Test 9) 
                 to Test 7) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                  0 sec 
                 560° 
                 560° 
                 0% 
                 560° 
                 0% 
               
               
                 15 sec 
                 523° 
                 554° 
                 6% 
                 554° 
                 6% 
               
               
                 30 sec 
                 478° 
                 554° 
                 16% 
                 550° 
                 15% 
               
               
                 45 sec 
                 441° 
                 552° 
                 25% 
                 509° 
                 15% 
               
               
                 60 sec 
                 405° 
                 550° 
                 36% 
                 496° 
                 22% 
               
               
                 1 min 15 sec 
                 397° 
                 549° 
                 38% 
                 480° 
                 21% 
               
               
                 1 min 30 sec 
                 370° 
                 547° 
                 48% 
                 469° 
                 27% 
               
               
                 1 min 45 sec 
                 347° 
                 543° 
                 56% 
                 468° 
                 35% 
               
               
                 2 min 
                 340° 
                 549° 
                 61% 
                 460° 
                 35% 
               
               
                 2 min 15 sec 
                 336° 
                 543° 
                 62% 
                 448° 
                 33% 
               
               
                 2 min 30 sec 
                 334° 
                 540° 
                 62% 
                 437° 
                 31% 
               
               
                 2 min 45 sec 
                 329° 
                 532° 
                 62% 
                 424° 
                 29% 
               
               
                 3 min 
                 300° 
                 532° 
                 77% 
                 433° 
                 44% 
               
               
                 3 min 15 sec 
                 279° 
                 531° 
                 90% 
                 441° 
                 58% 
               
               
                 3 min 30 sec 
                 277° 
                 529° 
                 91% 
                 435° 
                 57% 
               
               
                 3 min 45 sec 
                 277° 
                 529° 
                 91% 
                 423° 
                 53% 
               
               
                 4 min 
                 275° 
                 529° 
                 92% 
                 444° 
                 61% 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
            
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 temp inside the grill (containing food items) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                   
                 temperature 
                   
                 temperature 
               
               
                   
                   
                 single 
                 loss 
                 two 
                 loss 
               
               
                   
                 lid 
                 opening 
                 avoidance in 
                 opening 
                 avoidance in 
               
               
                 time of 
                 open 
                 member 
                 Test 11 
                 members 
                 Test 12 
               
               
                 temperature 
                 (Test 
                 open 
                 (compared 
                 open 
                 (compared 
               
               
                 measurement 
                 10) 
                 (Test 11) 
                 to Test 10) 
                 (Test 12) 
                 to Test 10) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                  0 sec 
                 543° 
                 543° 
                 0% 
                 543° 
                 0% 
               
               
                 15 sec 
                 531° 
                 540° 
                 2% 
                 541° 
                 2% 
               
               
                 30 sec 
                 482° 
                 523° 
                 9% 
                 520° 
                 8% 
               
               
                 45 sec 
                 435° 
                 522° 
                 20% 
                 511° 
                 17% 
               
               
                 60 sec 
                 401° 
                 522° 
                 30% 
                 495° 
                 23% 
               
               
                 1 min 15 sec 
                 340° 
                 510° 
                 50% 
                 484° 
                 42% 
               
               
                 1 min 30 sec 
                 313° 
                 496° 
                 58% 
                 469° 
                 50% 
               
               
                 1 min 45 sec 
                 307° 
                 489° 
                 59% 
                 460° 
                 50% 
               
               
                 2 min 
                 291° 
                 487° 
                 67% 
                 455° 
                 56% 
               
               
                 2 min 15 sec 
                 275° 
                 489° 
                 78% 
                 448° 
                 63% 
               
               
                 2 min 30 sec 
                 262° 
                 487° 
                 86% 
                 444° 
                 69% 
               
               
                 2 min 45 sec 
                 253° 
                 478° 
                 89% 
                 441° 
                 74% 
               
               
                 3 min 
                 250° 
                 477° 
                 91% 
                 437° 
                 75% 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the disclosure herein can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restricted. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and all changes that come within the meaning and range and equivalence thereof are intended to be embraced therein.