Patent Application: US-80617585-A

Abstract:
fully adjustable , sturdy , stable , and portable outdoor cook grill that sets up instantly for cooking over an open fire ; and includes a lower post section , and a self folding grill unit assembly . the grill unit assembly consists of : a grill , permanently hinged to one end of a rigid hanger , and joined permanently to the hanger &# 39 ; s other end by two support lines ; all assembled onto an upper post section . all fits cleanly inside a compact carrying / transport / storage / shipping container .

Description:
fig1 shows , in solid lines , the present invention set up over a campfire . the campfire is shown in hashed lines . shown in bold - broken lines are two examples , of the many possible horizontal and vertical adjustment positions the present invention can be set or adjusted to , relative to the fire . shown in light - broken lines is the present invention &# 39 ; s automatic self folding action eliminating the need for disassembly and reassembly for transport / storage between uses . fig2 and 4 are arranged so as to illustrate their relative position to one another . fig2 illustrates a hook - over interface of suspension line 15a to the hanger 08 and a clearance - diametrical - slip - fit of hanger 08 to vertical post 06 allowing the hanger to slide and rotate freely on the post . the hanger 08 is a one piece rigid member including two rigid stringers 8a and 8b joined permanently together with the two rigid bearings 8c and 8d at four points 09 , as by resistance welding . the stringers have tabs 17a and 17b at their upper ends for attaching the suspension lines 15 . the tabs act as a handle to aid in one handed operation during vertical repositioning and is located distant from the heat source to be as cool as possible . the second suspension line is removed for clarity . points 23 along side stringers 8a and 8b depict the clearance necessary to clear the protrusions 07 during vertical repositioning detailed under mode of operation . fig3 illustrates several interfaces a hinge interface 16 of grill 10 to hanger 08 ; a clearance - diametrical - slip - fit of hanger 08 to vertical post 06 ; a reduced diameter end 22 on vertical post section 6a to slip fit snug into the inside diameter of vertical post section 6b ; and a bearing 8d interface at rest atop protrusion 7a , one of several such protrusions joined permanently to the exterior wall of the vertical post 06 by such means as may be convenient to manufacture such as by welding , pinning , or forming , etc .. one end 21 , of the vertical support 06 is spade flattened to ease entry into the ground and prevent torsional movement once driven into the ground . the in line protrusions 7a , b , c , . . . each provide a shelf , extended rigid outward from the vertical post , to support the load weight of the grill and hanger assembly and contents , via either hanger bearing 8c , or 8d , at rest atop one protrusion . note the spacing of the hanger bearings equals a half - integer multiple of the protrusion spacing . this provides for vertical position resolution equal one half the spacing of the protrusions in the center of the vertical adjustment range and full resolution at the outer ends of the range . fig4 illustrates at point 14 , one of two required &# 34 ; direct interface &# 34 ; means of the suspension lines 15 to the grill 10 . the center rib wire 12 is spaced with a slight end - gap to the perimeter wire 13 large enough to assemble end 14 of the suspension line 15 , yet small enough to not permit this end 14 to self - disassemble from the grill &# 39 ; s center wire 12 . fig5 illustrates numerous indents 20 around part or all of the under surface of both hanger ring bearings 8c , and 8d , that ride , individually , atop a selected protrusion 7a , b , c , or . . . . this provides a tactile or &# 34 ; detent bearing action &# 34 ; means to the mechanism to maintain a horizontal position once selected and also prevents flying - by a desired fine adjustment position to the horizontal . also shown is the opening 18 , which is part of both hanger ring bearings 8c and 8d , and provides clearance through which to pass over protrusions 07 during vertical repositioning proceedings . note fig5 is not shaded , this is to emphasize that it is an auxillary view from the bottom and not a perspective view . fig6 illustrates a reuseable carrying / transport / storage / shipping enveloping structure fitted in size to the diameter of grill 10 to contain the present invention compact and completely assembled inside , except for the lower vertical post 6b , which is a separate piece that also fits inside the enveloping structure thereby keeping storage surroundings clean . the suspension lines could be rigid and still the present invention could fold by an unlatch - and - slide - through principle that could be located at its junction point to the grill . or the suspension lines could be rigid and support by compression from below instead of by tension from above . this would require the interfaces illustrated in fig2 to relocate below the grill instead of above as shown in the preferred embodiments . the post section &# 39 ; s male , female , sequence of fitting together could be a female , male , sequence as well . hanger 08 could be a single rigid piece stamped and formed from sheet metal instead of a welded wire form , or a combination of wire and sheet metal . a screw pin or an interference dimple could be added at point 22 / fig3 of the upper and lower vertical pipes 6b and 6a to lock them together . the present invention operates in five modes : set - up , vertical repositioning , horizontal repositioning , static , and teardown . to understand these modes , it is important to understand the mechanics of the suspension principle . the suspension principle involves multiple protrusions , fixed permanently to the exterior of the vertical post , acting as ledges on which to support the weight of the hanger and grill assembly with its cooking load contents , via either of the hanger &# 39 ; s bearings 8c , or 8d . either of the hanger &# 39 ; s two bearings can rest atop any one given protrusion providing numerous vertical position selections . the hanger remains guided by its two bearings on the outside diameter of the vertical post , forcing the hanger to remain always vertical as it slides and rotates on the post . the grill subsequently suspends horizontal off the hanger by two suspension lines and the grill / hanger hinge junction . the set - up mode consists of removing the &# 34 ; grill assembly &# 34 ;, parts 6b , 8 , 15 , and 10 assembled altogether , and lower post from the transport / storage container , pounding the lower post vertical into the ground , and inserting the &# 34 ; grill assembly &# 34 ; into the top of the lower post . the present invention is then ready for use . the vertical repositioning mode consists of repositioning the grill assembly , parts 8 , 15 , and 10 assembled altogether , from at rest atop the current protrusion to atop another . this is done by executing a &# 34 ; lift / twist / set - down &# 34 ; action detailed in the following successive steps : 1 . rotate the grill assembly horizontally until either stringer 8a or 8b abuts one of the protrusions 07 . 2 . lift the grill assembly slightly , in order to the stringers to horizontally clear the protrusions , and rotate until opening 18 is aligned to pass by the protrusion ( s ) 07 . 3 . lift or lower the grill assembly to the new vertical position . 4 . rotate slightly to re - engage the hanger bearing down to rest atop the new protrusion . note , the actual vertical repositioning is much easier than reading / writing the procedure for same . the horizontal repositioning mode consists of moving the grill assembly , parts 8 , 15 , and 10 , by applying a slight lateral force to the grill 10 or handle 17 to move it to the new position . the teardown mode consists of packing up the grill for transport . this involves removing the unit from the heat source , letting it cool , separating the lower post from the rest of the assembly and putting it all inside the transport / storage container . in view of the many possible variations to manufacture of the present invention in the choice of materials , colors , shapes , etc ., it is the intent of the appended claims to cover all such variations falling within the true spirit and scope of the present invention ; 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