CONVERTIBLE COOKING UNIT

APPAREIL DE CUISSON ADAPTABLE

English Abstract

2

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A cooking unit includes an oven with a drawer.
For storage and for transporting a folded truncated
pyramidal firebox, a folded truncated pyramidal support
member, a diffuser, a grill, a griddle, a windbreak
and cover are disposed over the oven. The cover is
releasably secured to the top of the oven and the folded
truncated pyramidal firebox, the folded truncated
pyramidal support member, the diffuser, the grill, the
griddle and the windbreak are retained therebetween in a
compact form. In use, the oven with the drawer may be
employed as the base of the cooking unit or, in the
alternative, the oven may be disposed above the extended
truncated pyramidal firebox, the extended truncated
pyramidal support member and the diffuser. In the
alternate arrangement, the cover serves as the base
for the cooking unit.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE
IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A cooking unit comprising an open-ended support member of truncated
pyramidal configuration, said support member having a small end, an open-ended
firebox of truncated pyramidal configuration disposed below and in axial
alignment with said support member, said firebox having a smaller end, said
smaller end of said firebox projecting through the opening in the smaller end
of said support member, oven means defining an enclosed cooking chamber
disposed at times below said firebox to support said firebox and at other
times disposed above said support member to be supported by said support
member, said oven means providing a base for said cooking unit when disposed
below said firebox, a cover disposed below said firebox to provide a base for
said cooking unit when said oven means is disposed above said support member,
said oven means comprising a planar top wall having upstanding flanges along
the perimeter thereof, said cover comprising depending fluency along the
perimeter thereof cooperating with said upstanding flanges of said top wall of
said oven means to define an enclosed space, said firebox being collapsible to
a relatively flat form and positionable in said space, said support member
being collapsible to a relatively flat form and positionable in said space,
said firebox when in a collapsed state and said support member when in a
collapsed state being disposed generally parallel to the top wall of said oven
means when positioned in said space, and means for locking said cover over
said oven means when said firebox in a collapsed state and said support member
in a collapsed state are positioned in said space.


2. A cooking unit comprising an open-ended support member of an inverted
truncated pyramidal configuration having a smaller lower end, an open-ended
firebox of truncated pyramidal configuration disposed below and in axial
alignment with said support member, said firebox having a smaller upper end
projecting through the opening in the smaller lower end of said support
member, a grill pivotally connected to the smaller end of said firebox to be
movable from a position over the smaller end of said firebox to a position
along a side of said firebox exteriorly thereof, said firebox being formed
with an access opening along side thereof, said firebox comprising an access
door pivotally connected to said side of said firebox from a position covering


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said access opening to a position exposing said access opening, said access
door comprising a cylindrical opening formed therein, said access door
comprising a disc rotatably mounted thereon, said access door comprising a
handle for moving said disc from a closure position in said cylindrical
opening to a position opening said cylindrical opening, an oven disposed below
said firebox for supporting said firebox, said oven defining a cooking chamber
heated by said firebox, food support means disposed over the upper end of said
support member a diffuser disposed in said support member, a windbreak
disposed on said food support means, said oven comprises a planar top wall
having upstanding flanges along the perimeter thereof, said cooking unit
comprising a cover having depending flanges along the perimeter thereof
cooperating with the side flanges of said top wall of said oven to define an
enclosed space, said firebox with said grill and said access door pivotally
connected thereto being collapsible to a relatively flat form and positionable
in aid space, said support member being collapsible to a relatively flat form
and positionable in said space, said food support means being flat and
positionable in said space, said diffuser being flat and positionable in said
space, said windbreak being collapsible to a relatively flat form and
positionable in said space, said collapsible firebox when in a collapsed
state, said collapsible support member when in a collapsed state, said food
support means, said diffuser and said collapsible windbreak when in a
collapsed state being disposed generally parallel to the top wall of said
oven, and means for locking said cover over said oven when said collapsible
firebox, said collapsible support member, said food support means, said
diffuser and said collapsible windbreak are positioned in said space.


3. A cooking unit comprising an open-ended support member of an inverted
truncated pyramidal configuration, said support member having a smaller end,
an open-ended firebox of truncated pyramidal configuration disposed below and
in axial alignment with said support member, said firebox having a smaller
end, said smaller end of said firebox projecting through the opening in the
smaller end of said support member, and oven means defining an enclosed
cooking chamber disposed at times below said firebox to support said firebox
and at other times disposed above said support member to be supported by said
support member, said firebox comprising panels having trapezoidal

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configurations and adjacent, non-parallel edges of said panels being hingedly
connected for folding and extending said firebox, said support member
comprising panels having trapezoidal configurations and adjacent, non-parallel
edges of said panels of said support member being hingedly connected for
folding and extending said support member.

4. A cooking unit as claimed in claim 3 wherein each panel of a
confronting pair of panels of said firebox comprises adjacent plates hingedly
connected for folding said firebox into a generally flat configuration, and
wherein each panel of a confronting pair of panels of said support member
comprises adjacent plates hingedly connected for folding said support member
into a generally flat configuration.

5. A cooking unit comprising a firebox of truncated pyramidal
configuration, said firebox having a smaller end, a support member of
truncated pyramidal configuration having an opening in its smaller end, said
support member having a smaller end, said support member being disposed in
inverted position over said firebox with the smaller end of said firebox
projecting through the opening at the smaller and of said support member, said
support member cooperating with said firebox to direct heat radiating from
said firebox thereabove for cooking, and an oven disposed below said firebox
for supporting said firebox, said oven being heated by heat radiating from
said firebox, said firebox comprising panels having trapezoidal configurations
and adjacent, non-parallel edge of said panels being hingedly connected for
folding and extending said firebox, said support member comprising panels
having trapezoidal configurations and adjacent, non-parallel edges of said
panels of said support member being hingedly connected for folding and
extending said support member.


6. A cooking unit as claimed in claim 5 wherein each panel of a
confronting pair of panels of said firebox comprises adjacent plates hingedly
connected for folding said firebox into a generally flat configuration, and
wherein each panel of a confronting pair of panels of said support member
comprises adjacent plates hingedly connected for folding said support member
into a generally flat configuration.

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7. A cooking unit comprising an open-ended support member of an inverted
truncated pyramidal configuration having a smaller lower end, an open-ended
firebox of truncated pyramidal configuration disposed below and in axial
alignment with said support member, said firebox having a smaller upper and
projecting through the opening in the smaller lower end of said support
member, and a grill pivotally connected to the smaller end of said firebox to
be movable from a position over the smaller end of said firebox to a position
along a side of said firebox exteriorly thereof, said firebox comprising
panels having trapezoidal configurations and adjacent, non-parallel edges of
said panels being hingedly connected for folding and extending said firebox,
said support member comprising panels having trapezoidal configurations and
adjacent, non-parallel edges of said panels of said support member being
hingedly connected for folding and extending said support member.


8. A cooking unit as claimed in claim 7 wherein each panel of a
confronting pair of panels of said firebox comprises adjacent plates hingedly
connected for folding said firebox into a generally flat configuration, and
wherein each panel of a confronting pair of panels of said support member
comprises adjacent plates hingedly connected for folding said support member
into a generally flat configuration.


9. A cooking unit comprising:
(a) a first hollow open-ended member having a truncated pyramidal
configuration, and having a smaller open end, said first member comprising a
plurality of first panels, each of said first panels having a trapezoidal
configuration;
(b) a second hollow open-ended member having an inverted truncated
pyramidal configuration and having a smaller open end, said second member
comprising a plurality of second panels, each of said second panels having a
trapezoidal configuration, said second member being disposed above said first
member and in axial alignment therewith, said smaller open ends of said first
member and said second member being disposed in telescoping relation;
(c) first hinge means hingedly connecting adjacent non-parallel edges of
said first panels of said first member for folding and extending said first
member;

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(d) second hinge means hingedly connecting adjacent non-parallel edges of
said second panels of said second member for folding and extending said second
member; and
(e) an oven disposed below said first member on which said first member
is supported.


10. A cooking unit as claimed in claim 9 wherein each panel of a
confronting pair of first panels of said first member comprises adjacent
plates hingedly connected for folding said first member into a generally flat
configuration, and wherein each panel of a confronting pair of panels of said
second member comprises adjacent plates hingedly connected for folding said
second member into a generally flat configuration.


11. A cooking unit comprising:
(a) a first hollow open-ended member having a truncated pyramidal
configuration, and having a smaller open end, said first member comprising a
plurality of first panels, each of said first panels having a trapezoidal
configuration;
(b) a second hollow open-ended member having an inverted truncated
pyramidal configuration and having a smaller open end, said second member
comprising a plurality of second panels, each of said second panels having a
trapezoidal configuration, said second member being disposed above said first
member and in axial alignment therewith, said smaller open ends of said first
member and said second member being disposed in telescoping relation;
(c) a first hinge means hingedly connecting adjacent non-parallel edges
of said first panels of said first member for folding and extending said first
member;
(d) second hinge means hingedly connecting adjacent non-parallel edges of
said second panels of said second member for folding and extending said second
member; and
(e) an oven seated on said second member.


12. A cooking unit as claimed in claim 11 wherein each panel of a
confronting pair of first panels of said first member comprises adjacent
plates hingedly connected for folding said first member into a generally flat


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configuration, and wherein each panel of a confronting pair of panels of said
second member comprises adjacent plates hingedly connected for folding said
second member into a generally flat configuration.


13. A cooking unit as claimed in claim 10 and comprising an oven
comprising a planar top wall with upstanding side flanges on which top wall of
said first member is disposed, a cover positionable over said oven and having
side flanges cooperating with the side flanges of said oven to define in
enclosed space when said cooking unit is in a collapsed state for transporting
and storing, said first member and said second member being folded,
respectively, to a generally flat form and disposed in said enclosed space
generally parallel to the plane of said top wall when said cover is positioned
over said oven to define the enclosed space, and means locking said cover to
said oven when said folded first member and said folded second member are
disposed in said enclosed space.


14. A cooking unit as claimed in claim 10 and comprising a grill
pivotally connected to the smaller end of one of said hollow open-ended
members to be movable from a position over the smaller end of said one hollow
open-ended member to a position along a side of said one hollow open-ended
member exteriorly thereof.


15. A cooking unit as claimed in claim 12 and comprising a grill
pivotally connected to the smaller end of one of said hollow open-ended
members to be movable from a position over the smaller end of said one hollow
open-ended member to a position along a side of said one hollow open-ended
member exteriorly thereof.


16. A cooking unit comprising an open-ended support member of truncated
pyramidal configuration, an open-ended firebox of truncated pyramidal
configuration disposed in axial alignment with said support member and having
the smaller end of said firebox projecting through the opening in the smaller
end of said support member, at times said support member is inverted and is
positionable over said firebox with the smaller end of said firebox projecting
through the opening in the smaller end of said support member, said support


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member and said firebox being formed with a larger end, said support member
and said firebox being of a configuration and dimensions for overlapping
support, and a grill positionable over the larger upper end of said support
member when the unit is oriented with said support member above said firebox,
and said grill being positionable over the larger upper end of said firebox
when the unit is oriented with said firebox disposed above said support
member, said support member comprising panels having trapezoidal
configurations and adjacent, non-parallel edges of said panels being hingedly
connected for folding and extending said support member, and wherein said
firebox comprises panels having trapezoidal configurations and adjacent,
non-parallel edges of said panels of said firebox being hingedly connected for
folding and extending said firebox.


17. A cooking unit comprising a firebox of truncated pyramidal
configuration, and a support member of truncated pyramidal configuration
having an opening at its smaller end, said support member being adapted to be
disposed in inverted position over said firebox with the smaller end of said
firebox projecting through the opening at the smaller end of said support
member, with the walls of said firebox enclosed by said support member
cooperating with said support member to define an oven extending around the
enclosed walls of said firebox and heated by heat radiating therefrom, said
support having trapezoidal configurations and adjacent non-parallel edges of
said panels being hingedly connected for folding and extending said support
member, and wherein said firebox comprises panels having trapezoidal
configurations and adjacent, non-parallel edges of said panels of said firebox
being hingedly connected for folding and extending said firebox.


18. The cooking unit of claim 2 further including a grill positionable on
the larger end of said support member above the oven.


19. The cooking unit of claim 2 wherein said firebox has an opening at
its upper smaller end, said further comprising a grill positionable across the
opening at said upper smaller end of said firebox.

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20. The cooking unit of claim 2 further including a griddle positionable
on the larger end of said support member above said oven.


21. The cooking unit of claim 2 further including a flat plate adapted to
completely underlie said firebox.


22. A cooking unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein each panel of a
confronting pair of panels of said support member comprises adjacent plates
hingedly connected for folding said support member into a generally flat
configuration, and wherein each panel of a confronting pair of panels of said
panels of said firebox comprises adjacent plates hingedly connected for
folding said firebox into a generally flat configuration.


23. A cooking unit comprising:
(a) a first hollow open-ended member having a truncated pyramidal
configuration, and having a smaller open end, said first member comprising a
plurality of first panels, each of said first panels having a trapezoidal
configuration;
(b) a second hollow open-ended member having an inverted truncated
pyramidal configuration and having a smaller open end, said second member
comprising a plurality of second panels, each of said panels having a
trapezoidal configuration, said second member being disposed above said first
member and in axial alignment therewith, said smaller open ends of said first
member and said second member being disposed in overlapping relation;
(c) a first hinge means hingedly connecting adjacent non-parallel edges
of said first panels of said first member for folding and extending said first
member;
(d) second hinge means hingedly connected adjacent non-parallel edges of
said second panels of said second member for folding and extending said second
member; and
(e) a cooking grill supported by said second member.


24. A cooking unit as claimed in claim 8 wherein each panel of a
confronting pair of first panels of said first member comprises adjacent
plates hingedly connected for folding said first member into a generally flat


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configuration, and wherein each panel of a confronting pair of panels of said
second member comprises adjacent plates hingedly connected for folding said
second member into a generally flat configuration.


25. A cooking unit as claimed in claim 9 wherein said first member is a
support member and said second member is a firebox.


26. A cooking unit as claimed in claim 7 wherein said first member is a
firebox and said second member is a support member.


27. A cooking unit as claimed in claim 10 wherein said support member and
said firebox are of a configuration and dimensions for overlapping support.


28. A cooking unit as claimed in claim 12 wherein said firebox and said
support member are of a configuration and of dimensions for overlapping
support.


29. A cooking unit as claimed in claim 9 and comprising a support with
upstanding side flanges on which said first member is disposed, a grill
disposed in one of said members below said cooking grill, a cover positionable
over said support and having said flanges cooperating with the side flanges of
said support to define an enclosed space when said cooking unit is in a
collapsed state for transporting and storing, said cooking grill and said
grill being disposed in said space generally parallel to the plane of said
support when said cover is positioned over said support to define the enclosed
space, said first member and said second member being folded, respectively, to
a generally flat form and disposed in said space generally parallel to the
plane of said support when said cover is positioned over said support to
define the enclosed space, and means locking said cover to said support when
said grill, said cooking grill, said folded first member and said folded
second member are disposed in said enclosed space.

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Description

~Z~ 8
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
. ~
Cooking units wrlich are assembled fcr use and
disassembled ior enclosure in a container for
facilitating t:he transportation thereof have been
heretofore avai]able. Other cooking units are
customarily u;ed on patios for harbeqlling and the like.
Such cooking Ullits have provisions fGr disassembling
or collapsing to promote C~.lSy storage. The arrangeme!lt
of parts of a cooking unit that is used in out~oor
cooking is collsidc)nlbly diffeLent th-an the arrlJlyement
of parts for cooking units used for patio cooking.
S;nce m~ny people ~d~o participate in out:door camp;ng
a(t-ivit;es may also enjoy the experierlce of patio
cooking, there is a need for a convertible cooking
unit that may be arranged in a compact form for ease
in transporting and storage and is capable not only
of being used in a camping atmosphere to perform the
heating and cook;ng chores that are required around a
campfire, hut also of be;ng used to carry out specialized
cooking operations, such as h;bachi cooking, that are
as.ociated ~ith patio fullctions.

SU.~`*'~RY OF THE INVXNTION
A cooking unit includes a truncated pyramidal
firebox and a truncated pyram;dal support member, wilich
2~ is disposed on ~he firebox to enable the cooking unit
to pc-rforin various cooking procedurcs. An oven is
disposed above the firebox and the support member to
f-nhance the versatility of the cooXing unit.
To inpLove the versatility of the cooking unit,
an oven ~ith a dr2~:er is plovided. ~rhe collapsed or


'~4 ``

~2~8~3




folded truncated pyramidal firebox, the collapsed or
folded truncaied support member, a flat grill, a flat
yriddle~ a f]at diffuser, and a collapsed or folded
windbreak are disposed above the oven and beJow the
cover ;n compact form fGr storage and tranpoLting.
~rhe cover is relea~lbly secured to the top of the oven
to reta;n the folded ,irebox, t}1e folded support ~ember,
lhe flat yrill, the f]at gri(~dle, the flat ~i~fnser and
fo]dea w;ndbreak between t]-le oven ind the ~over in 1he
compact form. In use, the extended trul1cat:ed pyr.~rnidal
firebox, tl1e exl(?nded ~Luncated ~yram;dal support and
dilfuser are disposed above the oven, w11ereby the oven
is used as a ~ase and for cooXing. In the alternative,
the cover seLvcs as a b~se with the extcnded trunca1ed
pyramidal fi1^ebox and the extcnded truncated pyramidal
support meJnber disposed above the cover. A diffuser
is disposed in t-he extended trllncated pyLamidal support
mlinber above the extcnded truncatcd pyrarnidal firebox.
The oven is disposed above the truncated pyramidal
support mernber.



DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure l is a front elevation v;ew of the con-

vertible cooXing unit of the present invention shown
in its ccmpact transporting a1-d storing mode.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation vicw of the con-
vertible cooking unit shown in Figure l.
Fig~ure 3 is a aicgr~atic perspe-ctive view of the
converti~1e cooking unit s},own in Fiaure l with the
cover thereof pivoted to the open position.



Figure 4 is a diagral~.atic exploded view of the
convfrtible cooking unit shown in Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a vertical sf~ctional v;ew taken along
li.ne 5-5 of Figure 3.
Figufe 6 is a d;ag^al-lmat;c per!--pective view of ihe
convertible cooking unit of the plesfllt ;nvent;on
assembled for use as an oven wit-h the oven seLvir3g as
i-he base of the cook;r3g unit.
Figure '7 is a diagrall~matic perSpfeCt:ive view of the
convertible cooki.ng unit of t:lle present i.nvent;.on with
t-he oven serving as the hase of the cooking Ullit and
Wii.]l ~]-e cover supported by the exte!ldfed trullcatfd
pyra~nidal ;upport menber to serve as a griddle.
Figu:re 8 i.s an eY.p]oded di.agrammatic perspective
vi.ew of the convertible cooking unit of the present
invention with the oven serving as the base of the
convertihle cooking unit and with a small grill
provi.ding a cooking surface.
Fi.gure 9 is a diagra~matic perspective view of
tlle convcrt;ble cooking unit shown in Figure 8 in an
operative condition.
Figure 10 ;s an exploded diagrammati.c perspective
v;ew of -the converti.ble cooking unit of the present
i.nvention wi.th the oven servillg as the hase of the
converti.ble cooking unit and a laL-ge grill providi.ng a
cooking surface.
Fig~lre 11 is a diagrammatic vertical sectional
v;ew of the convertible cooking unit shcwn in Figure lO
.:hen it ;s asse~lb1fd ~ith the oven for.ming t:he base of
the convert.ibl.f- cooking unit and with the large grill





providing a cooXing surface.
Fiyure 12 i.s a diagra~!mati.c vertical sectional
view of the convertible cookiny unit similar to Figure
11 hut sho~ing the co-~er providing a griddle cooking
surface instead of the larae grill provi.ding a coo'~ing
;urface.
Figure 1.3 is a diagl-alrmatic perspective view of
the convert-i.ble cooking unit of the present invent;on
with the cover serv;ng as the base of the unit and with
the oven d;-posed above the extended ~yramidal supE)ort
member .
Fiyu~-e 14 is an e~p1oded diagr.im3natic persp~ctive
view of tile convertible cooki.ng unit of the present
invcntion with the cover of the cooking unit seLving
as the base of the unit and with tile oven dispo.sed above
the extended truncated pyramiAal support member.
Figure 15 is a vertical cross sectional view taken
tllrollgh -the convertible cooking unit of Figure 14 when
it is assembled.
Figllre 16 i.s a vertical cross sectional v;ew of
the conveltible cooking unit of the present i.nvention
in the assembled condition with the oven forming the
base thereof and with a windbreak disposed on the
truncated support member and with the cover supported
by the windbreak.
Figure 17 is a diayrammatic perspective view of
the windbreak c-mployed in the convertible cooking unit
of l:he prese-nt invention~



~z~a~




Il~ustrated in Figures 1-4 i5 a convertible
cooking unit 10 embodying the present invention in the
compact ~,ode :for st,cra(3e and transporting. To~:ard this
end, the convert,ible cooXi.ng unit 10 coinprises an oven
15 made, in the preferred er~ Qcliment, of stainless steel.
The oven ]5 inc~udes a suitable stainl--ss steel dr.l~:er
16. At the rear wall 17 of the oven 15 is a suit:c~ble
opening 18. At the ~ear wall of t}-e dl:a~ier 16 is a
yieldable la1ch ]9~ ~hen i-he latch 1,9 ellgages the rear
~all 17 surrounding the opening 18, the drawer 16 is
retained in the closc,~d L~os;tion wit-l-;n the oven 15.
n the latch l9 is urged a~ay fl-om t,he rcar wall 17
against its yieldable action, the drawer ]6 is moved
manually to an open position or a positi,on extending
forwardly of a :rront wall 20 of the oven 15.
On the front wall 24 of the drawer 1.6 of the oven
15 is a handle'25 which is sw;,ngably Inounted on the
front wall 24 by suitabl.e ears 26. rrhe ears 26 are
attached to the front wall 24.
Upstanding from a top wall 30 of the oven 15 al.ong
the peri.meter thereof are four upstanding flanges 31
in a quadrilateral relation. D;,sposed above the oven
15, when the convertible cooki,ng unit 10 is in the
compact mode, ;s a suitable large flat grill 35 (Figure
4). The large grill 35 includes parallel longi1ud;nal

rows of openiilgs 36 spaced equal distances apart i-n
the transverse direction. The grill 35, in the
preerred elnhc>cii,mcnt~ is made of stainless steel.
~hove the larae grill 35 is dispcsed a folded
windbreak 40 made/ in the preferred embodiment, of

~.~Z~i88~3




st:ainless stfeel, In the preferred ernbodimentl the
windbreak 40 includes thrfe panels 41-43 to form in the
extfnaed po~,ition upright panels 41--~3 defi.ning a rear
and adjacellt sides. 'rhe side panels 47 and 42 are
hingedly attached to opposite ellds of Lhe rear panel 43
(Figure -7). Tn ~;nd blow;ng areas, t:he ~-~indbrea~ 40
reduces hfat loss during t:he cook;ng operati.on. Toward
this end, a blast of willd ~lollld have a lesser tell~ n~cy
to blow ht-~at fl-om the cook-ing ~aurf(~ce t-hat would
genera].ly he utili~,ed for coo~ing pul-poSes. Tile oyening
l~c~t~een l-he ~ide panel.s 41 and 42 would gell(?rally face
the dirf.~ction in which the wi.nd blows.
Disposed on the top of the wi.ndbreak ~0 and an
xpcsf.~d secti.on of the large yrill is a griddle or sauce
pan 50. The griddle 50 is a flat member of preferably
stain].ess steel with upstanding flanges around the
per;meter thereof to form a quadril,ateral confi.guration.
~rhe griddle 50 can lnterchangeably be used in lieu of
the l.arge gril.l 35 for performing various coo~ing

~0 procedllres.
A diffuser 55 is disposed on tl-e griddle SO and
has a quadrilateral configuration. The diffuser 55 is
a flat mem.ber made, in the preferred c~mbodiTnent, of
stainless stcel with opc-ni.ngs 56 formed in the vicinity

of the siaes thereof, but inwardly of the edges thereof.
The openings 56 define a quadril.ateral configuration.
The diffuser 55 serves to di.stribute heat from a
concentrated or localized source unjfol-mly or c-venly
throughout a brGader area or coo~ing surface, such as
t,he sriddle 50 or the large grill 35.

~Z~38~



In the compact mode, a folded or collapsed truncated
pyramidal support merrber 60 is disposed on one secti.on
of the diffuser 55. rhe truncated pyra~idal support
~ember 60 comprises, in the preferred cmbodi~ent, six
st-a;nless steel panels 61--66. ,-djacent panels 61 and
62 are il;nycd togethcr t:o form a trullcated panel, ~.hen
extended. CGIlfronti3lg adjacent panels 63 and 64 are
h;llged together and form a truncated pan~ 1hen extel-dc?d.
~anels 65 and 66 are truncated panels fo.rmed with
suitab].e open;ngs for venting of heat ar,d the conduction
of air. The panel 65 is hinged at its opposite ellds
to pane].s 62 and 64, respectively. Similarly, the panel
66 ;.s hi.n~3ed at its opposi.te ends to panels 61 and 63,
respectivel~. In the extel-ded or unfo]ded condition
for use during a cooking operation, the support member
60 assumes a truncated pyra~idal configuration. To
fold the support memher 60 for the compact mode, the
panels 61, 62 and 63, 64 are folded along t:heir
resp~ctive h;nge connections in~ardly (Figure 3) for
placement on a section of the di.ffuser 55.
The extended or unfolded truncated pyramidal
support member not only supports a cooking surface, such
as the griddle 50 or the large grill 35, but also conducts
the heat so as to apply the heat over a broader cooking
s~rface, such as t.he griddle 50 or the large grill 35.
A folded or collapsed truncated pyramidal firebox
70 is disposed on a section of the diffuser 55 for the
storage and transport COm.paCt mode. There will be a
slight overlapping re]a~ion bet~een the folded truncated
pyramidal firebox 70 and the folded trùncated pyramidal

3L2~L8~3
support member 65 i.n t}-~e compact mc)de, in the exemplary
embodiment. The t:runcated pyramidal firebox 70, in.
the preferred elrbodiment, is made of stainless steel
and compr;ses paTlels 71--76 (Figure 61. ~djacent panels
71 and 72 are hinged together to form a trllncated panel
when ext~-nQed. Confront-;ng adjacent pànels 73 and 74
are hinged together to fol:m a trllncatc-d panel, when
extended. Pane1s 75 an~ 76 (Figure 8) are truncated
panels. ~rhe panel 75 is llinged at its opposite ends
to panels 72 and 74, respectively. Simi~.arly~ the
panel 76 is h;.nyed at its opposi.te ends to panels 71
and -73, re pectively. Tn the e~tend(~d or unfolded
condition, the firebox 70 assul~es a truncated pyramidal
confi(3ul-at;on so as to be suitable for use during a
cooking operation (Fiyure 1). rO fold the firebox 70
for the compact mode, the panels 71, 72 and 73, 74 are
folded al.ong their respective hinged connections
in~-7ardly (Figure 3) for placement on a section of the
diffuser 55.
Fuel is placed in the firebox 70 on the top wa]l.
30 of the oven 15, when extended for cooking operations,
to generate the heat for cooking operations (Figure 2).
The truncated pyramidal configuration of the firebox
70 serves to concentrate or convc-rge the generated
heat and to di.rect or focus the heat on a cooking surface.
~;naedly att:ached to the panel 75 at the top thereof is
a small grill 80. The small grill 80 when folded over
the top of tile firebox 70, ~hen extended, forrns a cooXing
.s~riace. ~.hen pivoted away from the central opening
throuyh the eY.tenQed firebox 70, the small grill 80

~Z~388
11
rests against the panel 75 to provide a yreater access
area for the circulation of heat and air through the
extended firebox tO. I~ingedly (Ittached to t.he panel
76 at the bottom ther~of is a damper or access door 81.
~rhe damper or access door 81, ~hen disposed against
the panel 76, covers an access opening 82 formed in the
panel 76. For increasing the circulation of air through
the opening 82, the damper 81 is pi.voted about its
horizontally dispo ed hi.nye away from the panel 76,
thereby enabl.ing the increase of fl.ow of air through
the open;ng 82 of the f;rebox 70. Fuel may be pl.a~ed
w;tilin t~ e firebox 70 through the access opening 82.
A halldle 83 is journalled for rotation on the
da~.per 81 through ears 84. By gri.pping the handle 83,
the damper 8l can be moved about the horizontally
disposed hinge at the l:ower end of the panel 76. A
cylindrical opening 85 is fol~med in the damper 81.
Attached to the handle 83 for rotatable movement there-
with is a aisc 86. The disc serves to regulate the
exposure of the opening 85 for controlling the circllla-
tion of air through the opening 85. Thus, the disc 86
also functions as a dar~per, when the damper 81 covers
the access opening 82.
A cover 100 (Figure S) is disposed above the firebox
70 and the support member 60 during the compact mode.
~epending flang~s 101 (Figure 4) form a quadrilateral
configuration and extend out~ardly and alongside the
upstar,dirg flanges 31 of the oven 15 during the compact
l?ode. Fi ed to the top ~:all of the cover 100 is a
flexibl.e latch 102 that has a lower angular member 103

8~3
12
to grip the front upstanding flange 31 of the oven 15
to releasably secure or lock the cover 100 to the oven
l5. In this manner, a COmpact cooking unit 10 is
provided for StGraye and for transportation (Figures
1 and 2). The rear depending flange 101 of the cover
l.00 ;nclucies a li.p or c]-annel sihaped member along ;ts
lcwer edge. The ~ip or channel shaped rramber is
retained in a ch.lnnel shaped edge along the rear up-
st:anding flange 31 of the oven 15. In th;s manner,
the rear of the cover 100 is rel~asably secured and
pivotally connc~cted to the rear of l:he oven 15.
To asscml~le the conveît-ible cooking unit 10 for
a cooking operati.on, the free end of the f]exible
l.atch ]02 ;s moved away from the upstanding front flange
31 of the oven 15 to free itself from locking engagement
tllerewith. The cover 100 is lifted in pivotal manner
about the lip on the Lear depending flange 101 thereof
(Figure 3). The cover lO0 is now moved forwardly to
release the lip at the rear thel-eof from the oven 15.
rO secure the cover 100 to the oven 15, the lip at the
rear thereof is p].aced in the channel shaped edge along
the rear upstand;ng flange 31 of the oven 15 to be
reta;.ned therein (Figure 5). The cover 100 is pivoted
downwardly about the rear lip thereof until the latch
102 grips the upstanding front flange 31 of the oven
1.5 to be retained thereby. ~hen the flanges 101 extend
ao~-;nwardly, the cover 100 rnay be used as a flat griddle.
.i-,en the flanoes 101 extend upw.2rdly, the cover 100
rr.ay be fn-lployed as a sauce pan.
In the use of the convertible cooking unit 10 for

13
various cooking procedures, referer,ce is made to Figures
6-16~ The oven 15 forms the hase of the convertible
cooking unit 10 ;n Figures 8 and 9. The firebox 70 is
un~olded or e~t~ndrd and is d;sposed on the top wall
30 of the oven 15 be~ een the upst-anding flanges 31
i-hereof. The slllall ~rill 80 ;s pivoted to co~-er the
central opening through t:lne t{uncat:ed pyr midal fil-ebox
70. Fuel is p].aced in the firebox 70 on top of t.he t:op
~-all 30 of the oven 15 to gencrate the heat for cooXing.
The convertible cookiny unit~ as illustrated ;n
Figures 6, 10 and 1.1, provides for the oven 15 and the
]ar~e grill 35. Aga;n, tlle oven 15 fol-ms tlle base of
the convel-t;ble cooking unit 10. As previously des-
cribed, the firebox 70 is unfolded or extended and is
lS disposed on the top wall 30 of the oven 15 between
the upstanding flanges 31 thereof. The small grill 80
is again pivoted to cover t21e central open;.ng of the
truncated pyramidal firebox 70. At t:l-is t;me, the
support rnember 60 is unfolded or extended to assu~e
a truncated pyramidal configuration. The truncated
pyrarriidal support member 60 is placed on the firebox
70 with the narrow opening thereof at the bottom
t2-lereof. The c-xtended firebox 70 and the extended
support member 60 are ali~ned axially with tile narrow
end of the firebox 70 received by the narrow end of the
support mc-mber 60. rhus, the p~rarnidal support member
60 is inverted ~ith respect to the pyramidal firebox
70~ ~rhe diffuser 55 is now disposed in the truncated
pyrarridal. support member 6Q and is hor;.~ontally disposed.
~rhe ]arge yril.l 35 is disposed on the truncated

l~Z~ ~38
14
pyramidal Support rnem.ber 60.
In ~he alternative, the griddle SO can be used in
lieu of the large grill 35 (F;yure 12). If desired,
the cover lOO may be empl.oyed as d gr;ddle and used
;.n lieu of the g~iddle 50 (Figure 7).
In Figures 13-~5, the con~ertible cooking unit 10
providcs ~or the oven 15 io be disposcd at the top
of the cooking unit 10. T`ne cover 100 is emp~.oyed as
t:he base of the cooking unit 10. I~cnce, the flange-s
101 of the cover 100 are now upstanding. The fi.rebox
70 is d;sposea on tnc over lOO within the nE~standing
~1angcs lOl t-hercof. Tn turn, the truncated pyralnidal
support m~-JI~er 60 is placed on the f;.rebox 70 with t.he
narrow ~nd thereof rc-ceiving the firebox 70. D;sposed
within the truncatcd pyramidal support member 60 is
the dif~user 55. Now, the drawer 16 is removed from
the oven 15. The oven 15 is disposed on the truncated
~yramidal support member 60 with the flanges 101
thereof dcpending and surrounding the top of the panels
61-66 of the support mcmber 60. The dl-awer 16 is
reinsel.ted into the oven 15.
The cooking unit 10 as illustrated in Figure 16
is similar to the cooking unit 10 illustra~ed in
Figule 12. In Figure 16, the windbreak 40 is employed
to conserve the heat applied to 1he cooking surface,
such as thc griddle 50. For addcd protect:ion against
wc-ather elements, the cover 100 can be disposed on
the wi.ndbrcak 40 to provide an o~erhcad horizontal
prot~.ct;ng wall.