Abstract:
Provided is a barbecue apparatus which uses charcoal, gas or electricity as a main heat source and does not allow only barbecuing with the addition of auxiliary heating source such as a halogen lamp, but also enables a long term heat retention of the meat barbecued hereby.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This U.S. non-provisional patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Korean Utility Model Application No. 20-2013-0010023, filed on Dec. 5, 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention disclosed herein relates to a barbecue apparatus, and more particularly to, a barbecue apparatus which uses charcoal, gas or electricity as a main heat source and does not allow only barbecuing with the addition of auxiliary heating source such as a halogen lamp, but also enables a long term heat retention of the meat barbecued hereby. 
     Generally, a barbecue apparatus is devised for barbecuing meat by use of charcoal, gas or electricity. Various types of barbecue apparatuses are disclosed in Korean Utility Model No. 20-0227462 entitled “Rotary Loess Charcoal Barbecue Roaster”, Korean Utility Model No. 20-0179438 entitled “Charcoal Barbecue Oven Apparatus”, and Korean Utility Model No. 20-0206805 entitled “Portable Charcoal Barbecue Roaster”. 
     Typical barbecuing apparatuses use charcoal as a source of heat for roasting meat. In other words, hot rising heat roasts meat. Accordingly, when the burning charcoal is removed after the roasting of the meat, the meat cools fast and is difficult to keep warm. 
     When charcoal is not removed to keep the warmth of the meat, the meat may be burned. Accordingly, there is a limitation in that it is difficult to provide properly-cooked meat at right time. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a barbecue apparatus, which uses char coal, gas or electricity as a main heat source and does not allow only barbecuing with the addition of an auxiliary heat source such as a halogen lamp, but also enables a long term heat retention of the meat barbecued hereby. 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide barbecue apparatuses having a roasting space in which meat is roasted and roasting meat by heating the roasting space, the apparatus including: a main body including a casing of a box shape with a top thereof opened so as to form the roasting space, a cover disposed on an upper part of the casing to open/close the roasting space of the casing and having a smoke hole for discharging smoke from roasting of meat in the roasting space, and a first hinge disposed to connect the casing and the cover so as to open/close the cover; a roasting part including circular plates disposed at left and right sides to roast meat in the roasting space provided in the main body, roasting bars whose ends are disposed at a certain interval along the circumference of the circular plate, and a shaft outwardly protruding from a center of the circular plate equipped with the roasting bars; a driving part including a gear and a motor that are coupled to and rotate the shaft so as to rotate the roasting part; a main heating source including one or both of a charcoal basket and a burner disposed at a lower part of the roasting space to heat the roasting space such that meat is roasted in the roasting space of the main body; and an auxiliary heat source disposed at an upper part of the roasting space to provide heat to the roasting space separately from the main heating source such that meat roasted by the main heating source keeps warm when the main heating source is removed, wherein the auxiliary heat source including a halogen lamp includes; an opening formed in a rear surface of the casing such that the halogen lamp is disposed at an upper part of the roasting space so as to be adjacent to the roasting part disposed in the roasting space; a cover part protruding from the rear surface of the casing to block the opening and providing an installation space in which the halogen lamp is disposed; and a second hinge disposed to connect the cover part and the rear surface of the casing such that the cover part opens/closes, and the halogen lamp disposed in the installation space is replaced by the second hinge. 
     In some embodiments, the roasting part may be configured such that the centers of the circular plates disposed on the left and right sides thereof are connected by a connecting bar, the roasting bars are detachably coupled to the circular plate, both ends of the roasting bar are formed to have a hexagonal head, fitting slits are formed along the circumferential direction of the circular plate so as to divide the circular plate into four equal parts and the hexagonal head of the roasting bar is detachably coupled to the fitting slits. 
     In other embodiments, the roasting part may include a grill rack in which meat is seated, and may be configured such that a protruding peg disposed at a quarterly position along the circumference on the inner side of the circular plate hooks the grill rack and the grill rack rotates suspending on the protruding peg while maintaining a horizontal state by the roasting part. 
     In still other embodiments, the barbecue apparatus may include an inclination plate disposed at a lower end portion of the roasting space such that oozing drops of fat from roasting gather at one place and a fat drain hole formed at a lowermost portion of the inclination plate. 
     In even other embodiments, the barbecue apparatus may include a tempered glass disposed in the cover such that roasted meat is checked with naked eyes and a grip disposed on a front surface of the cover to allow a user to open/close the cover by the first hinge. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain principles of the present invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a barbecue apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a barbecue apparatus from an angle different from as in  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a rear surface of a barbecue apparatus such that an auxiliary heat source disposed in the barbecue apparatus can be shown according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a barbecue apparatus with the cover opened for showing an internal structure thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a drawing illustrating an internal structure of a barbecue apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating an example of a roasting part according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating another example of a roasting part according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating a roasting bar to be detachably coupled to the roasting part shown in  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating a grill rack suspending on the roasting part shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be constructed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     As shown in the drawings, a barbecue apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a main body  110  having a roasting space  102  provided therein, where meat can be roasted by heating the roasting space  102 . 
     The main body  110  may include a casing  112 , a cover  114  and a first hinge  116 . The casing  112  may be formed to have a box shape with the top opened, and may have a roasting space  102  formed therein. 
     Also, the bottom surface of the casing  112  may be configured for inclination plate  104  to be disposed under the roasting space  102  such that fat drops from roasting meat may gather at one place, where fat drain hole  106  is formed at the lowest point of the inclination plate  104 . 
     The cover  114  may be formed at the top of the casing  112  so as to open and close a roasting space  102  of the casing  112 . A smoke hole  114   a  may be formed on the cover  114  such that smoke generated during the roasting of meat in a roasting space  102  can be discharged. The smoke hole  114   a  may be formed to penetrate the upper and lower portions of the cover  114 . 
     Also, a first hinge  116  may be disposed to connect the casing  112  and the cover  114  so as the open/close the cover  114 . Thus, the cover  114  of the casing  112  by the first hinge  116  may be opened or closed by the first hinge  116 . 
     In this case, the grip  115  may be disposed on the front surface of the cover  114  to easily open/close the cover  114  by the first hinge  116 . Accordingly, the cover  114  may be easily opened and closed using the grip  115 . 
     Also, a tempered glass  118  may be disposed in the cover  114  so as to easily check roasted meat with naked eyes. The tempered glass  118  may be disposed to replace a portion of the cover  114  such that a user can easily check the state of roasted meat with naked eyes through the tempered glass  118 . 
     As shown in the drawings, a barbecue apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a roasting part  120 . The roasting part  120  may be disposed in the roasting space  102  of the main body  110  so as to roast meat. 
     The roasting part  120  may have circular plates  122  disposed at the left and right sides thereof that are spaced from each other by a certain distance. The circular plates  122  may be fixed to both ends of roasting bars  124 . In this case, the roasting bars may be disposed along the circumference of the circular plates  122  at a certain interval. 
     Also, the circular plate  122  may include a shaft  126  that is configured to protrude outward from the center of the circular plate  122 . The shaft  126  may be connected to a gear  132  disposed in a driving part  130  so as to rotate. 
     In the roasting part  120 , the centers of the circular plates  122  disposed on the left and right sides hereof may be connected to each other through a connecting bar  121 , and roasting bars  124  may be detachably coupled to the circular plates  122 . In this case, both ends of the roasting bar  124  may be formed to have a hexagonal head  124   a . Fitting slits  122   a  may be formed along the circumference of the circular plate  122  to divide the circular plate  122  into four equal parts, allowing the hexagonal head  124   a  of the roasting bars  124  to be detachably coupled to the fitting slits  122   a.    
     Also, the roasting part  120  may be equipped with a grill rack  128  on which meat can be placed. A protruding peg  129  may be disposed at a quarterly position along the circumference on the inner side of the circular plate such that the grill rack  128  can suspend on the protruding peg  129 . When the roasting part  120  rotates with the grill rack  128  suspending on the protruding peg  129 , the grill rack  128  may rotate while maintaining the horizontal state. 
     Chicken, duck and sweet potato may be placed in pieces in the grill rack  128  and may be roasted. Also, a whole pork may be tied onto the roasting bar  124  and rotated for roasting. 
     As shown in the drawings, a barbecue apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a driving part  130 . The driving part  130  may include a gear  132  and a motor  134  such that the roasting part  120  can rotate. 
     In the driving part  130 , the shaft  126  may be coupled to the gear  132 , and may be rotated by the gear  132  rotated by the motor  134 , allowing the roasting part  120  to rotate. 
     A user may rotate the shaft  126  by operating the motor  134  using a driving motor switch  173 . 
     Meanwhile, a separate auxiliary handle  127  may be coupled to the shaft  126 . When the shaft  126  cannot be rotated by the motor  134 , e.g., due to electricity outage, a user may rotate the auxiliary handle  127  to forcibly rotate the shaft  126 . 
     As shown in the drawings, a barbecue apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a main heat source part  140 . The main heat source part  140  may heat the roasting space  102  such that meat can be roasted in the roasting space  102  provided in the main body  110 . 
     The main heat source part  140  may be disposed at a lower part of the roasting space  102  provided in the main body  110 , and may heat the whole of the roasting space  102 , allowing meat to be roasted in the roasting space  102 . The main heat source part  140  may include either or both of a detachable charcoal basket  142  and a burner  144 . In this case, the burner  144  may be a gas burner that uses gas for fuel. 
     The whole of the roasting space  102  may be heated to roast meat by placing burning charcoal in the detachable charcoal basket  142 . 
     The detachable charcoal basket  142  may be easily separated through one side of the casing  112 . 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a user may open a front door  117  to place the detachable charcoal basket  142  on a stand disposed inside the front door, and then may close the front door  117 . Thus, a user may insert the detachable charcoal basket  142  into the casing  112  or may separate the detachable charcoal basket  142  from the casing  112 . 
     As shown in the drawings, a barbecue apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an auxiliary heat source part  150 . The auxiliary heat source part  150  may be disposed to provide heat to the roasting space  102  separately from the main heat source part  140   
     The auxiliary heat source part  150  may be disposed at an upper side of the roasting space  102  such that meat roasted by the main heat source part  140  can keep warmth even after the main heat source part  150  is removed. The auxiliary heat source part  150  may also enable roasting without the main heat source part  140 . 
     The auxiliary heat source part  150  may include a halogen lamp  152 . The halogen lame  152  may be disposed at an upper part of the roasting space  102  so as to be close to the roasting part  120  disposed in the roasting space  102 . For this, an opening  154  may be formed in an upper part of the rear surface of the casing  112 . 
     Meanwhile, the main heat source part  140  may further include a water tank  145 . 
     The water tank  145  may be disposed over the burner  144  and may be seated inside the casing  112  while being filled with water. The water tank  145  may be formed of a metallic material, and may be heated by the burner  144  to generate vapor. The generated vapor may directly be applied to meat being roasted by the roasting part  120 , and may serve to prevent the meat juice from drying. 
     Meanwhile, a barbecue apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a converter temperature controller  171  that is disposed to control a target temperature of the auxiliary heat source part  150 , and a temperature gauge  172  that indicates the temperature of the auxiliary heat source part  150 . 
     Also, a cover part  156  is disposed to protrude to the rear surface of the casing  112  to block the opening  154 . The cover part  156  may provide an installation space  157  in which the halogen lamp  152  can be disposed. 
     Meanwhile, a second hinge  158  may be disposed to connect the cover part  156  and the rear surface of the casing  112  such that the cover part  156  may open/close. The halogen lamp  152  disposed in the installation space  157  may be replaced by means of the second hinge  158 . 
     The barbecue apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention may barbecue by rotating the roasting part  120  using the driving part  130  while meat is being fixed to the roasting bar  124  or the meat is being seated on the grill rack  128 . In this case, a method of fixing meat to the roasting part  120  may be a well-known method. 
     In this case, the roasting space  102  may be heated by placing burning charcoal in the detachable charcoal case  142  of the main heat source part  140 , or may be heated by flame of the burner  144  supplied with gas. Additionally, the roasting space  102  may be heated by a halogen lamp  152  of the auxiliary heat source part  150  to more quickly roast meat When meat is roasted in the roasting space  102 , the main heat source part  140  may be cut off so as not to burn the roasted meat. In other words, charcoal may be removed from the detachable charcoal case  142 , and gas supplied to the burner  144  may be blocked such that the roasting space  102  is not heated by the main heat source part  140 . 
     However, when the heating by the main heat source part  140  is removed, roasted meat may cool fast. According to an embodiment of the present invention, roasted meat can be prevented from cooling by continuously providing auxiliary heating to the roasting space  102  using the halogen lamp  152  of the auxiliary heat source part  150 . 
     Accordingly, roasted meat can be kept warm for a long time only by the auxiliary heat source without the main heat source. 
     According to the embodiments of the present invention, a barbecue apparatus can quickly roast meat with an auxiliary heat source in addition to a main heat source, and can also provide properly-cooked meat at right time by keeping already-cooked meat warm for a long time only with an auxiliary heat source without a main heat source. 
     The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.