Patent ID: 12256838

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the embodiment shown inFIG.2AandFIG.2B, the barbecue cooker supporting structure100with a lifting base includes a frame10, a lifting mechanism20, a barbecue cooker support30, and a set of lifting guide rails40.

The frame10may be a metal frame10in the shape of a rectangular cuboid so as to provide the optimal support. The frame10serves not only to support, and make it easier to use, a barbecue cooker50during a barbecue, but also to replace the packaging materials that are conventionally required for packaging the barbecue cooker50and that will be discarded after unboxing. The frame10, therefore, helps reduce cost significantly and contributes to environmental protection. The bottom side of the frame10may be coupled with a plurality of casters110to facilitate movement.

The lifting mechanism20is configured to lift and lower the barbecue cooker50. The lifting mechanism20has a spiral guide rod210, a rotating shaft220, and a sliding member230. When it is desired to use the barbecue cooker50for barbecuing, the lifting mechanism20can be operated by the user in order to lift the barbecue cooker50to a height at which the cooker lid510can be easily opened.

The spiral guide rod210may be a ball screw. The spiral guide rod210is fixedly provided on one side of the frame10in a vertical standing position. An end portion of the spiral guide rod210is provided with a first toothed disc211. When the first toothed disc211is rotated, the spiral guide rod210is rotated together with, and simultaneously with, the first toothed disc211.

The rotating shaft220is fixedly provided on the frame10. When rotated by the user, the rotating shaft220drives the first toothed disc211through a second toothed disc221such that the first toothed disc211is rotated, and the spiral guide rod210is rotated along with the first toothed disc211as a result. To make it easier for the user to operate the rotating shaft220, the rotating shaft220may be coupled with a crank222by an assembly method in order for the crank222to facilitate operation of the rotating shaft220.

The sliding member230is provided on the spiral guide rod210. The sliding member230is configured to slide upward or downward when the spiral guide rod210is rotated. When sliding upward or downward, the sliding member230provides kinetic energy for lifting or lowering the barbecue cooker50.

The barbecue cooker support30serves mainly to carry the barbecue cooker50. The barbecue cooker support30is coupled to the sliding member230in such a way that when the sliding member230is moved upward, the barbecue cooker support30is moved upward along with the sliding member230, and that when the sliding member230is moved downward, the barbecue cooker support30is moved downward along with the sliding member230.

The barbecue cooker support30is an inverted square U-shaped structure310surrounding a rectangular area, and the inverted square U-shaped structure310has X-shaped braces320in the rectangular area in order for the barbecue cooker support30to provide absolutely sufficient support for the barbecue cooker50and hence be able to support the barbecue cooker50securely. To prevent the barbecue cooker50from wobbling, the inverted square U-shaped structure310may further have a set of upstanding support members330. The upstanding support members330are configured to support, and form close contact with the periphery of, the barbecue cooker50so that the barbecue cooker50is firmly held in place.

The barbecue cooker support30further has a set of supporting guide plates340. The supporting guide plates340may be coupled to two lateral sides of the barbecue cooker support30in a standing manner and configured to move along with the barbecue cooker support30. Therefore, the supporting guide plates340not only can help the barbecue cooker support30provide greater support for the barbecue cooker50, but also can join forces with the sliding member230to support the barbecue cooker support30.

The barbecue cooker support30and the sliding member230may be coupled to each other by a height adjusting member350so that the distance between the barbecue cooker support30and the sliding member230can be easily fine-tuned. The height adjusting member350includes a threaded rod351. One end of the threaded rod351is threadedly and rotatably coupled to a nut unit231of the sliding member230to enable adjustment in height. The other end of the threaded rod351may be fixed to a locking unit360of the barbecue cooker support30by a nut.

The lifting guide rails40are fixedly provided on the frame10in a standing manner, with each supporting guide plate340received in the corresponding lifting guide rail40. More specifically, each supporting guide plate340is received in the corresponding lifting guide rail40and is configured to slide in the corresponding lifting guide rail40via a corresponding guide wheel341in order to be lifted or lowered. The supporting guide plates340, therefore, can provide even support for the barbecue cooker support30and allow the barbecue cooker50to be lifted and lowered stably.

Referring toFIG.3AandFIG.3B, the barbecue cooker supporting structure100with a lifting base may further have a set of positioning modules60, wherein each positioning module60has a damper610, a fixed pulley620, and a steel cable630.

When the barbecue cooker support30is used to carry a ceramic barbecue cooker50, which may weigh more than 100 kg, the positioning modules60can prevent the barbecue cooker support30from falling due to the heavy weight of the ceramic barbecue cooker50and allow the ceramic barbecue cooker50to be stopped and supported in mid-air, or more particularly at a height at which the ceramic barbecue cooker50can be easily operated for barbecuing.

Each damper610has a damper base611fixedly provided on the frame10, or more particularly at a lower portion of the frame10. Each damper610has a telescopic rod612for bearing the force to be dampened.

The damping force of the dampers610is generally equal to the weight of the ceramic barbecue cooker50, and the difference between the damping force and the weight of the ceramic barbecue cooker50is such that when it is desired to lift or lower the barbecue cooker50, the barbecue cooker support30can be easily moved upward or downward and positioned at any height by the user applying a small amount of force to the crank222to guide the sliding member230upward or downward along the spiral guide rod210.

The fixed pulleys620can change the direction of force to facilitate force application. Each fixed pulley620is fixedly provided at, and can therefore move along with, an end portion of the telescopic rod612of the corresponding damper610.

Each steel cable630has a first end portion631fixedly provided on one of the supporting guide plates340. Each steel cable630further has a second end portion632that is wound around the corresponding fixed pulley620and then coupled to the frame10.

When the barbecue cooker support30is moved upward or downward, the supporting guide plates340are moved upward or downward by the barbecue cooker support30. As the first end portions631of the steel cables630are coupled to the supporting guide plates340, the supporting guide plates340also apply a force to the first end portions631of the steel cables630. The force applied to the first end portions631is in turn transmitted to the fixed pulleys620given that the second end portions632of the steel cables630are fixed on the frame10. Since the fixed pulleys620are fixedly provided at the end portions of the telescopic rods612, the dampers610are driven to work.

To form a complete package structure, referring toFIG.4A, the four vertical sides of the frame10are further coupled with a set of sealing panels120. The sealing panels120corresponding to one of the four vertical sides are configured as a set of door panels121. Once the door panels121are opened, the draft door520of the ceramic barbecue cooker50can be operated.

While the door panels121inFIG.4Aare designed to be opened by pulling them outward, or more specifically by pivoting them outward, each of the door panels121may alternatively be coupled to a set of L-shaped door panel slide rails150that are provided on an upper member and a lower member of the frame10, so that the door panels121can be slid, and completely retracted, to the inner sides of the adjacent sealing panels120, as shown inFIG.4BandFIG.4C.

The top side of the frame10may be further coupled with sliding top panels130, which can be viewed as sealing panels120corresponding to the top side of the frame10. When it is desired to use the barbecue cooker50, the sliding top panels130can be pulled open in opposite lateral directions to form a top opening in the top side of the frame10, allowing the barbecue cooker50to be lifted. The sliding top panels130can also function as a tabletop where objects can be placed.

In the stage in which the barbecue cooker50is being transported, the frame10, the sealing panels120, and the sliding top panels130work in place of the packaging materials conventionally used for long-distance transportation. In the stage of normal use of the barbecue cooker50, the frame10, the sealing panels120, and the sliding top panels130provide protection for the barbecue cooker50and allow the barbecue cooker50to be stored with ease.

Furthermore, in the stage of normal use, referring toFIG.5, the user may choose to remove the frame10, the sealing panels120, and/or the sliding top panels130partially so that the barbecue cooker50can be operated more conveniently. In that case, the frame10may be added with a panel-like or strip-like reinforcing member140to increase the structural strength of the frame10.

The above description is based on only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention in any way. Although the invention has been disclosed above by way of the preferred embodiment, the embodiment is not intended to limit the invention. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that equivalent embodiments can be achieved by modifying, varying, or making equivalent changes to the disclosed embodiment without departing from the scope of the technical solution of the invention. Any simple modification or equivalent change that is made to the above embodiment according to the material contents of the invention shall be regarded as falling within the scope of the technical solution of the invention.