Patent Document

This is a Utility Patent Application for Provisionally File Application No. 60/252,693 filed on Nov. 24, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a barbecue grill and more particularly to an adjustable barbecue grill apparatus that includes a grill surface that is adapted to easily and quickly expand or decrease in length for innately providing an increased or decreased cooking surface and/or increase or decrease in height, consequently providing a customized and comfortable fit for the particular cook. Inherently providing a grill that will enable a cook to efficiently and successfully accommodate any amount of food by rendering a cook to utilizes the desired amount of grill space for optimizing the cooking process for the comestibles on the grill surface. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     It is undeniable that food cooked on a grill is not only deliciously but also provides a healthy means of preparing comestibles. Many find that grilling produces tasty cuisine, at the same time providing the act of grilling to be an easy and enjoyable task. Thus, it is not surprising that most homes today do have one form or another of a grill. Grills come in a variety of shapes, sizes, forms and even being configured for a specialized task, such as smoking. 
     To aid and assist the cook, devices have been developed for improving on a variety of grilling apparatus. For example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,964 issued to Kitten there is disclose a barbecue pit that is designed and configured to improve the process of barbecuing by providing a barbecue pit that will providing even heat distribution in the even by providing an oven that is rarely opened. Thereby preventing the smoke and heat to escape therefrom. To enable such a configuration, this grilling apparatus comprises an oven and a firebox mounted upon a frame. Access to the oven is provided for by a rack opening wherein a rack rolls in and out of the oven on rollers and features a series of doors which close the rack opening of the oven when the doors are properly aligned. 
     For food which require different heat for successful cooking a grill is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,390 issued to Ceravolo wherein there is disclosed is a food support grid that is adjustable both vertically and rotatively so as to provide for the food to be position at a certain location above the heat source. 
     Yet another example of a device which does not drastically disrupt the cooking temperature when inspecting the cooked food is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,118 issued to Rinehart. In this patent there is disclosed a grill having a grate or tray which is sidably mounted on tracks. This grate or tray is pulled horizontally outwardly from the interior of the housing for rendering an inspection of food in a smoke-free environment. 
     To address the concerns of flames that can develop as drops of fat fall into the heating chamber of a grill, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,896 issued to Baynes discloses a barbecue grill featuring a moveable grid. This grid can be shifted horizontally to move the meat away from the heating chamber, and once the flames subside can be replace thereon at the desired position. 
     Accordingly, it is seen that there exist a numerous styles of grills, each address a specialized concern or problem generally associated with grilling. What is not disclosed is a grill that includes a means of adjusting, either by increasing and/or decreasing the particular cooking surface. In addition, the prior is silent to a means of adjusting the height of the actual grill for consequently providing a grill that can easily be transportable as well as convenient to the user. As can be seen, what is needed is a grill apparatus that will successfully and efficiently accommodate any amount of food without adversely affecting the time, space, energy and fuel used with the cooking particular of the particular amount of food. 
     As will be seen, the present invention achieves its intended purposes, objectives and advantages by accomplishing the needs as identified above, through a new, useful and unobvious combination of component elements, which is simple to use, with the utilization of a minimum number of functioning parts, at a reasonable cost to manufacture, assemble, test and by employing only readily available material. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a unique multifunctional portable barbecue grill that is designed and configured to expand in order to increase the total size the cooking surface of the particular grill. In addition, for convenience and added comfort, the mainframe of the grill can be altered in sized to provide for a comfortable height for the cook as well as provide for an easy means for storage and transportability. 
     In order to provide for such a configuration, the present invention comprises a support frame that maintains housing. The support frame and housing each include an inner member and an outer member. The inner member being slideably mounted within the outer member. As such, the outer member of the support frame includes a horizontal support arm and a pair of vertical legs attached to a side thereof. The outer support arm includes an opening, which forms a sleeve for receiving and maintaining a support arm of the inner frame. A second pair of vertical legs is attached to the opposite side of the inner frame. In use the inner arm will slide into the sleeve of the outer arm and the legs of the inner and outer supports will maintain the grill body of the present invention. For ease of adjustment and for ease in transportability, each leg can include lockable wheels. 
     The inner member of the housing is attached to the inner arm. Thus, as the arm is slid outward, the inner member of the housing will inherently slide outward. The inner member and outer member of the housing each include a lower section and an upper section. The lower section maintains the heating element, such as lava rocks for gas grills or coals for charcoal grills. The lower section of the inner member includes an access means for allowing access to the interior for permitting maintenance to occur as necessary. Hindgedly secured to lower section is the upper section. This upper section acts as the lid and as such each includes a handle for lifting the lid and apertures for ventilation. A thermostat or the like can also be located on each lid for displaying the temperature within the housing. A shelf or the like can be exteriorly attached to the housing of the inner frame member, outer frame member or a combination thereof. 
     To enable the slideable connection of the housing, the inner member is substantially the same shaped, but smaller in size to allow for inner member to slide freely into the outer member. A locking device can be attached to provide for the inner member to be in a locked and secured position once the desired length is met. 
     Removably secured the lower section of the inner and outer housings is a grate. The outer grate member includes a plurality of parallel disposed hollow sleeves. Slideably located within each sleeve is a rod. As the inner frame is pulled outward, the housing is inherently adjusted horizontally, causing the rods to be removed from the hollow sleeves. Once at the desired located, the housing and/or frame are locked into position, and the sleeves and rods form the cooking surface. Thus providing for the sleeves and rods to form the grate. 
     For enhancing the present invention, the legs on the inner and outer frame member can be adapted to be adjustable vertically. To provide for such an adjustment, conventional adjusting means can be utilized. Thereby, providing a grill that can be used by any individual, regardless of size and height, as well as provide for a grill that can easily be transported and stored. 
     Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide a multifunctional portable barbecue grill that includes expandable capabilities so as to provide for a grill apparatus that will overcome the deficiencies, shortcomings, and drawbacks of the prior art and methods thereof. 
     Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention is to provide a novel and unique multifunctional portable barbecue grill which is adapted to easily and efficiently adjusted in length so as to innately increase the cooking surface of the portable grill. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a multifunctional portable barbecue grill apparatus that is easy to operate, successful in grilling regardless of its size and one that will safely allow for alternating size differences. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a multifunctional portable barbecue grill apparatus that is lightweight, adjustable in height, and one that is completely portable. 
     A final object of the present invention, to be specifically enumerated herein, is to provide a portable expansion barbecue grill in accordance with the preceding objects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that would be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation. 
     Although there have been other barbecue grills, none of these inventions utilize a means of extending the cooking area of the grill as disclosed with the present invention. In addition the present invention will prove to be sufficiently compact, low cost, and reliable enough to become commonly used. The present invention meets the requirements of the simplified design, compact size, low initial cost, low operating cost, ease of installation and maintainability, and minimal amount of training to successfully employ the invention. 
     The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and application of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the detailed description of the preferred embodiments in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the multifunctional portable barbecue grill apparatus of the present invention, in an expanded position. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the multifunctional portable barbecue grill apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective front view of the multifunctional portable barbecue grill apparatus of the present invention in an extended position. 
     FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the multifunctional portable barbecue grill apparatus of the present invention in an extended position. 
    
    
     Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to the drawings, in particular to FIGS. 1-4 thereof, the present invention, denoted by reference number  10 , known as a portable expandable barbecue grill will be described. As seen in the figures, the present invention is a grill apparatus  10  designed and configured to adjust in length so as to provide for an increase or decrease in cooking surface. In addition, the present invention can be altered in height so as to accommodate any size person, or alternatively, to provide for a device that can easily be towed via vehicle or stored at any location. 
     To provide for such a configuration, the present invention comprises a present invention comprises a support frame  12  that maintains a housing  14 . The support frame and housing each include an inner member  16   a ,  18   a , respectively, and an outer member  16   b ,  18   b  respectively. The inner member  16   a  of the frame being slideably mounted within the outer member  16   b  of the frame. The inner member of the housing  18   a  being slideably mounted within the outer member of the housing  18   b.    
     As such, the outer member  16   b  of the support frame  12  includes a horizontal support arm  20 . This support arm  20  includes an outer end and an inner end. Secured to the outer ends is a pair of vertical legs  22   a . Slideably mounted to the inner end of the support arm  20  is the inner frame member  16   a . To receive the inner frame member  16   a , the support arm  20  includes a groove  24  that forms a sleeve. The outer support arm  20  includes an opening, which forms a sleeve for receiving and maintaining a support arm of the inner frame. This outer support arm  20  is secured exteriorly to the outer housing  18   b.    
     An inner support arm  26  includes an outer end and an inner end. The inner end is received within the groove  24  and as such provides for the inner support arm  26  to be slideably mounted within the groove  24 . Located at the outer end of the inner support arm  26  is an attaching member  28 . This member receives the outer end of the inner housing  18   a  so as to provide for the outer end of the inner housing to be secured to the inner support arm  26  via the attaching member  28 . Also secured to this attaching member  28  is a second set of vertical legs  22   b . Though not illustrated, a handle can be attached to this attaching member for enabling the user to grab the handle and pull or push the inner support arm  26  out or in the groove of the outer support arm  20 . Accordingly, as the user pulls out the attaching member, the inner support bar slides out of the groove. Since the attaching member is attached to the inner housing, the inner housing is inherently slid out or m as well. Thus rendering an extended or non-extended grill. 
     A locking device, as illustrated but not labeled, can be located on the frame. This locking device is conventional and will ensure that the inner frame member will be secured to the outer frame member when in a desired position. 
     As seen in the various drawings, FIGS. 1-4, the inner member  18   a  and outer member  18   b  of the housing  14  each include a lower section  30  and  32 , respectively and an upper section  34  and  36 , respectively. The lower section  30  and  32  maintains the heating element, such as lava rocks for gas grills or coals for charcoal grills. The lower section will be designed so as to accommodate the preferred heating system. The lower section  30  of the inner member  18   a , and/or the lower section  32  of the outer member  18   b  include an access means  38  for allowing access to the interior for permitting maintenance to occur as necessary. Hindgedly secured to lower section  30  and  32  is the upper section  34  and  36 . This upper section  34  and  36  act as the lid and as such each includes a handle  40  for lifting the lid and apertures  42  for ventilation. This aperture can include a pivotally or hingedly located cover for enabling the user to decide the need and the amount for ventilation. It is noted that the handle located on the inner housing is sized such that the housing can slid freely within the outer housing and be non-obtrusive. A thermostat  44  or the like can also be located on each lid for displaying the temperature within the housing. A shelf  46  or the like can be exteriorly attached to the housing  14  of the inner housing, outer housing or a combination thereof. 
     To enable the slideable connection of the housing  14 , the inner member  18   a  is substantially the same shape, but smaller in size to allow for inner member  18   a  to slide freely into the outer member  18   b . A locking device  48  can be attached to provide for the inner member to be in a locked and secured position once the desired length is met. This locking member  48  can be any conventional locking device. This locking device can be located on the lid, on any surface of the housing or a combination thereof This will provide for a locking device that can be located at any location that will enable adequate locking capabilities. 
     Removably secured the lower section  30  and  32 , respectively, of the inner and outer housings  18   a  and  18   b , respectively is a grate  50 . The grate comprises an inner grate member  52   a  and an outer grate member  52   b , wherein the inner grate is slideably secured to the outer grate member. As seen in the drawings the outer grate  52   b  is secured to the lower section of the outer housing via conventional means such as by hooks, groove or the like. This grate  52   b  includes a plurality of parallel disposed hollow sleeves  54 . Perpendicular crossbars  56  can be secured to the hollow sleeves for additional support. 
     Slideably located within each sleeve  54  is a rod  58 . Each rod includes an inner end and an outer end. The inner is received within the sleeve. The outer end is secured to a perpendicularly disposed cross bar  60 . This cross bar  60  is removably secured to the inner housing via conventional means, such as by hooks or the like. Optionally, the front most and back most rod can be secured to the side of the housing. This will ensure the securement of the grate. 
     Accordingly, as the inner frame is pulled outward, the housing is inherently adjusted horizontally, causing the rods to be removed from the hollow sleeves. Once at the desired length is located, the housing and/or frame are locked into position, and the sleeves and rods form the cooking surface. Thus providing for the sleeves and rods to form the grate. A handle can be secured to the inner and outer portions of the grate. This handle is illustrated but not labeled. As seen in the drawings, the handle is secured to the outer grate and is slideable mounted to the inner grate. To provide for a slideably connection, conventional means is utilized. In this embodiment, as shown, the handle on the inner grate includes an aperture. This aperture receives a rod of the inner grate. The rod slides within this aperture and thus enables the handle to accommodate any length grate. Two handles can be located thereon to provide for a handle to be located near the front of the grill and a second handle to be located in the rear of the grill. This arrangement will ensure adequate removal of the grate. 
     For enhancing the present invention, the legs can include lockable wheels, illustrated, but not labeled. The wheels can be enlarged to provide for the grilled to be transported across a variety of terrain, easily and effortlessly. In addition the legs can be adjusted and/or removably from the support bars. This provides for a grill that can be utilized by any cook, regardless of their size or stored for easy transportation. 
     The legs can be adjusted via any conventional means, but preferably, and as illustrated, the legs can be adjusted via the system as shown in the figures. As seen, the support  20  and attaching member  28  include a receiving member  62  for each leg. The receiving member will lock the upper end of the leg via the use of a butter fly nut  64 . The upper portion of each leg  66  is secured to the receiving member  62 . This upper portion  66  is designed and configured to slideably receive the lower portion of the leg  68 . In order to achieve the desired height, the lower portion of the leg  68  is slid within the upper portion  66 . Once the desired height is achieved, the lower portion is locked into place via a butterfly pin or the like, as shown. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

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