Abstract:
A handle assembly mountable to a barbecue lid and which includes an integral light positioned to shine upon the cooking surface of the barbecue when the barbecue lid has been so positioned as to expose the cooking surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The subject invention relates generally to a lighting apparatus and more particularly to a combination handle/light assembly for barbecues. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     The lighting of conventional barbecues so as to permit the cooking surface to be viewed at night has presented considerable difficulties. Some approaches have included the provision of a tripod with lights mounted on it, the attaching of a light to a nearby post or wail, or the attaching of a clamp-on bendable extension light to a nearby tray or other physical object In addition to being cumbersome, awkward and expensive, such lighting arrangements are typically positioned such that shadows are cast on the cooking surface so as to obscure the desired view of food items being cooked. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved barbecue lighting apparatus; 
     It is another object of the invention to provide barbecue lighting apparatus which is simple and convenient to use; 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide barbecue lighting apparatus which eliminates the shadow problems of the prior art. 
     These and other objects and advantages are achieved according to the invention by provision of a handle assembly mountable to the barbecue lid which includes an integral light positioned to shine upon the cooking surface of the barbecue when the barbecue lid has been so positioned as to expose the cooking surface. The barbecue handle/light assembly is preferably mountable by removal of the conventional handle from the barbecue lid and attaching an assembly constructed according to the invention in place of the conventional handle. Alternatively, the handle may be made adaptable to be connected to the handle mounting hardware provided by the manufacturer of the barbecue lid or otherwise attached. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The exact nature of this invention, as well as its objects and advantages, will become readily apparent upon reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a barbecue light assembly according to the preferred embodiment installed on a conventional barbecue; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the tube portion of the assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an end view of an inner housing component according to the preferred embodiment; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the inner housing component of the preferred embodiment with various interior components installed therein; 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of a reflector component of the preferred embodiment; 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the reflector component of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 8 is an end view of the inner housing with battery installed; 
     FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken at 9--9 of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a lamp retainer component; 
     FIG. 11 is a side view of a positive contact bar component. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a combination handle/barbecue light assembly adapted for a particular type of barbecue and employing only one of many possible interior mounted light sources. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a combination handle/barbecue light assembly 11 attached to a pivotable lid 13 of a barbecue 15. The assembly 11 includes first and second mounting brackets 17, 19 shaped to position a light-containing tube 21 above the cooking surface 24 of the barbecue 15. The mounting brackets 17, 19 may be specially designed or may be those provided as part of the barbecue. A single mounting bracket may also be used, for example, centrally positioned on the tube 21. The tube 21 may be fixed to the brackets 17, 19 by conventional set screws 23, 25 or other conventional fastening means. 
     FIG. 1 further illustrates an on/off switch 27 used to activate a light source contained in tube 21. That light source is directed downwardly on the surface 24 and is therefore not visible in the view of FIG. 1. 
     The light-containing tube 21 is shown in more detail in FIG. 2. The tube 21 includes a clear plastic outer housing 67, an inner housing or mounting cradle 31, and first and second end caps 61, 63. The mounting cradle 31 is a semicircular cross-section as shown in FIG. 3 and runs substantially the length of the tube 21. The housing 31 supports four batteries 47, first and second positive contact bars 41 and first and second lamp holders or retainers 51. As further illustrated in FIG. 3, the mounting cradle 31 includes first and second side channels and a base channel formed respectively by pairs of projections 33, 35, 37. The batteries 47 are supported by these respective pairs of projections 33, 35, 37, as particularly illustrated in FIG. 8. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 5, the positive contact bars 41 and the bulb retainers 43 may be held in position by suitable crimps 49, 51 in the base channel 37. Other conventional means of retaining such components will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a reflector component 53 of arcuately curved cross-section and which includes apertures 55 positioned to permit insertion of respective lamps 45 therethrough. As shown in FIG. 9, the reflector 53 is retained in position by suitable underlying indentations in the top-most projection of each of the horizontal pairs of projections 33, 35. FIG. 9 further illustrates the respective shape and positioning of the inner housing 31 within the outer housing 67 of the tube 21. The inner housing 31 is preferably a rigid extrusion of material such as vinyl and is opaque and of a dark color such as black. The outer housing 67 may be a clear plastic tube. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of the bulb retainer 43 and particularly shows a lance element 71 conventionally used to interconnect with a bulb or lamp 45. The bulb retainer 43 includes first and second horizontal surfaces integrally formed with a vertical surface. FIG. 11 illustrates one of the positive contact bars 41 in greater detail. These components are connected by suitable electrical conductors to form an electric circuit such that switch 27 may turn the bulbs 45 or other light source &#34;on&#34; or &#34;off&#34;. Such a circuit may be similar to a typical flashlight or may include a ballast for a flourescent source. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, while one particular configuration for establishing a light-producing source within the tube 21 is depicted in FIGS. 2-5, various other well known light generation means may be used, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Various attachment mechanisms may also be provided for attachment to various shapes and styles of barbecue lids. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.