Patent ID: 8261657

Claim:
A combination sandwich press and grill device having a lower housing with a lower cooking surface and an upper housing with an upper cooking surface wherein: the device is adapted to function as a sandwich toasting press and a meat grill and can open from a fully closed position to a full open grill position; the upper housing is supported by a U shaped frame having two side arms and a cross-piece that serves as a handle, each side arm of the U shaped frame having a pivot for supporting the upper housing, the handle adapted to make contact with a bench or counter top so as to support the upper housing in the open grill configuration; the upper cooking surface having ribs that are parallel with the sides of the device, the lower cooking surface not having ribs; the ribs being tapered, being higher at a front than at a rear, this allowing a tip of a rib to remain generally horizontal while still providing drainage of an inclined surface that occupies a space between and around the ribs; the U shaped frame being hinged to the lower cooking surface and having an intermediate and locked orientation; the lower cooking surface being tilt adjustable, allowing the user to select between an orientation where a liquid run off is promoted and an orientation where the run off is de-emphasized in favour of a level cooking surface; the run off is deposited into a full length drip tray from a front of the lower cooking surface and a front of the upper cooking surface; the drip tray carried within the lower housing.