Patent ID: 8631739

Claim:
A grill, comprising: a heating element for heating food; a cooking grate having a surface positioned above said heating element and having a plurality of openings for permitting grease to pass where said plurality of openings are arranged around said heating element; a pan having a surface below said heating element; said pan being directly beneath said plurality of openings such that the grease passes directly to said pan from said plurality of openings without contacting said heating element; a touch control for adjusting a temperature of said heating element; said touch control having a power button, an increase button to elevate the temperature of said heating element, and a decrease button to lower the temperature of said heating element; said touch control having a plurality of lights arranged in sequential order from a first light to an nth light and arranged in an arc around said power button; an indicator light for indicating whether or not power is being supplied to the grill, an emergency power cut-off button for cutting power to the grill, and a reset button for restoring power to the grill; an automatic shut-off switch that automatically cuts power to the grill; wherein manipulation of said increase button commences illumination of said plurality of lights beginning with said first light and ending with said nth light; wherein manipulation of said decrease button extinguishes illumination of said plurality of lights beginning with said nth light and ending with said first light; and wherein n is a value selected from the group consisting of 1-1000 wherein the grill further comprises sidewalls around each side of said pan, wherein said pan extends to at least one of said sidewalls; and wherein said cooking grate includes a cover positioned over said heating element and said plurality of openings are arranged around said cover.