Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Backg~ound--Field Of InYQntion
This invention r01ates to grid systems compris.ing a cover holder
and a replaceable cover, especially to grid systems comprising a
cover holder and a replaceable cover which is used a5 the cooking
grid in bar'becue grills, and gas barbecues. I'he replaceable cover
being used as the cooking sur~'ace, and, after becoming soiled or at
will can be remo~ed and replaced with a new replaceab:Le cover.
Baokground--~esc~iption Of Prior Art
Many, i not all users of cooking grids prefer to cook food on a
clean surface.
Heretofore variations on one basic type of cooking grid have been
proposed and implemented for use in barbecue grills, and gas
barbecues.
This basi~ grid consists oP a plurality of parallel bars, spaced
apart from one ano-ther, and fixed on an equal plane the outer most
surface providing the cooking surPace on which food is supported.
A~ter this type of grid has been used, to clean it thoroughly
requires the transPer of the grid to a suitable cleaning area such as
a sink. Then a messy, dif-ficult, and time consuming process of
scraping and scrubbing is required to thoroughly clean the grid.
What makes this type of ~rid so difficult to clean is a combination
o~ Pactors. ~ir~t~ the Pood residue lePt on the grid after use is
usually burnt on, thus, it is hard to remove and necessitates
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cleaning by hand. Second, the spaces between the bars necessitates a
c:Leaning action along the length of the 'bars usually one bar at a
time~ because a cleaning action perpendicular to the bars causes
water, suds, etc. to be sprayed into the air and of-ten on to the
user, walls, counter tops, the floor, etc.. creating a considerable
mess. Third, the weight of -the grids make them hard -to handle.
Fourth, the size o the ~rids is often too large to fit completely
into a standard sized sink. Finally, barbecue grills and ~as
barhecue~ are usually kept outdoors. The significance o~ t'his is that
a~ter preparing t'ood using the barbecue the user proceeds to eat.
After eating. -the barbecue is stored until the next time it is
re~uired, thus, the soiled ~rid is no-t out in the open reminding the
user to clean it, but rather, the soiled grid is ~orgotten about
until the next time the barbecue is to be used. At that time it is
unlikely the user would want to delay bar'becuing ~or up to twenty
minutes in order to clean the cooking grid. As a result of these
~actors users Pound -this type of co~kin~ grid unsatisfactory.
Due to the difficulty o e cleaning this type of grid various wire
brushes and the like have been proposed and implemented for cleaning
~0 the grid in place in the barbecue unit. Using this type of cleaning
method, howeverJ is deemed unsatisfactory by users because it is time
~onsuming, it can be physically demanding, and further, it removes
only the thic~er residue, thus, leaving behind a greasy charred
residue on the ~rid. In addi~ion, the residue removed i5 deposited in
the body of the bar~ecue where in the case of gas barbecues it can
damage the burner unit.
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Some users, 'because of the dif~iculty cleaning this type of grid
thoroughly with soap and water and the inadequacies of brush cleanin~
don'-t clean -their grids, thus, allowing charred cooking residue to
buiLd up until eventually they must at their own expense either
replace the old grid with a new one or spend a great deal o-P time and
e~'fort to try and salvage th0 old grid.
In essence, users found this type of grid unsatisfactory because of
the difficulty cleaning it thoroughly and the difficulties and
inadequacies o-P other cleaning methods.
A variation of the basic grid was to cut larger grids into two or
more pieces, however, the basic cleaning dif~iculties remained
requiring the use of t'he unsatisfactory cleaning procedures used on
the basic ~rid. Users" thus, ~ound this variation unsatisfactory.
Another vari.ation of the basic grid was -to coat the grid in porcelain
instead o~ chrome. The porcelain, however, becomes coated with
residue during use simi:Lar to the basic grid. Again this variation
still requires the unsatisfactory cleaning procedures as the 'basic
~rid, and thus, was ~ound to 'be unsatisfactory by users.
Mo~,t users, there~ore, would find it desirable to have a cooking grid
which could provide a clean cooking surface more easily.
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Brle~ Sl~nmar~-~Ob~ects .And Ad~anta~os
Accordingly several objects and advantages of my invention are: to
provide a novel grid system for easily, reliably, neatly, quickly,
and conYeniently providing a clean cooking surface, to provide a ~rid
system which re~uires a minimum of skill and -training to U38, to
provide a grid system which completely eliminates -the need to waste
time and ener~y to perform the difPicult and frustrating job of
cleaning a cooking grid.
In addition, more objects and advantages of my invention are: to
provide a grid system compatible with barbecue grills, gas barbecues,
broiler pans etc., to provide a ~rid system that can improve the
taste and appearance of foods prepared on it by easily providing a
clean cooking surface, thus, eliminating contact betwaen fre5hlY
prepared foods and old cooking residue, to provide a grid system that
may result in health benefits, because scientific studies have shown
that carcinogenic substances can be produced in burn-t ~ood, and since
many users of unsati.sfactory prior art cooking grids are cooking food
on a surface covered in old burnt food residue their health may be at
riskl thus, because my invention provides an easier way to obtain a
clean cooking surface proper use of my invention will eliminate
contact between fresh food and old burnt cooking residue, therefore,
health benefits may result for users of my invention.
~eader.s will find furthar objects and advantages of my invention from
a consideration o-f the ensuing dascription and the accompaning
G drawings-
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Brief Descrip-tion Of ~xawing ~i~ur~s:
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a cover holder and a replaceable
cover according to the invention.
Fig. ~ shows a back end elevation view o~ the cover holder of Fig. 1.
Fi~. 3 shows an enlarged perspec-tive view of the extensible bar and
bracket of the cover hol~2r of Fig. 1.
E'ig. 4 shows a cross section view of the extensible bar and bracket
alon~ the line 4 - 4 of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the underside of the replaceable
cover of Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 shows a perspeotive view o~ the introduc-tion of -the
replaceable cover to the cover holdex both of Fig. 1.
Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the replaceable cover being
partially ~i-tted to the cover holder both of Fig. 1.
Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of the replaceable cover being fully
fitted to the cover holder both of Fi~.1
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Fi~. 9 shows a perspectiYe view of a barbecue units upper body having
the cover holder of Fig. 1 in place with its ~ront portion support~d
above the front member of said body by the extensible bar of Fi~. 1
being in an extended position.
: Drawing Re~erence Nu~srals:
26 cover holder
28 replaceable cover
30 bars
32 front crossbar
34 rear crossbar
36 beveled corners of 30
38 ~aps between 30
40 lower portion of 30
42 uppex portion of 30
44 side of 42
46 bottom of 42
48 side o~ 40
50 T-joint spo-t weld.s joinirl~ 30 -to 32 ancl 34
52 extensible bar
54 bracket
56 pin of 52
58 frontal projection of 52
60 inverted U-shaped portion o~ 54
62 flan~es of 54
64 lap joint spot welds between 62 and 32
, 66 sleeves
68 marglns
70 wired edges
72 gaps between 66
74 sides of 66
76 opposing inwardly directed members o-f ~6
78 gaps between 7~
80 beveled corners of 76
82 barbecue unit upper body
84 OppQsing front member of 82
De~cri,ption O~ Pr~err~d ~mbodim~nt
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the cover holder 26 and the
replaceable cover 28 according -to the preferred embodiment of the
invention. The holder 26 comprises a plurality of elon~ated T-shaped
bars 30, prefera'bly made of an aluminium alloy and each having two
'beveled corners 36 loca-ted on the upper porti.on 42 and front end of
each bar 30. The beveled corners 36 help to align and ease the
sliding engagement of the replaceable covers elongated ge~erally
retangular shaped sleeves 66 with the upper portion 42 of the bars
30. The bars 30 are equal lenghts and are aligned parallel to one
another on an e~ual plane and are spaced equally apart creating
gaps 38. The T-shape of each bar 30 is illustrated best in Fig. 2
which is a back end elevation view of the holder 26 of Fig. 1. The
two main portions of each bar 30 is tha UPper portion 42 and the
lower portion 40. The upper portion 42 to be slidingly engaged by the
replaceable covers generally retangular shaped sleeves ~ of Fig. 1
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6, 6, 7, and 8.
The bars 30 are held in place by a front crossbar 32 and a rear
crosshar 34 which are both elongated retangular shaped bars with
uniform sections throughou-t their entire lengths and which are
preferably made of an aluminium alloy. The application of the
bottoms of the front and back ends of hars 30 to the top of the front
and rear cross bars 32 and 34 respectiveLy, forms T-joints which are
spot welded 50 being indicated by the symbol for a spot weld from
Patent and Trademark O~fice: Guide For Patent ~rafts~an: Washington,
D.C.~ U.S. Government Printing Office, 1975.
Again referrin~ -to Fig. 2 the gaps 38 between the bars 30 and in
particular the width of the gaps 38 between the sides 44 of the bars
~0 is determined mainly by the dimensions of the bars 30. The width
of the gaps 33 can be as wide as is practical, however, they must not
be -too narrow because the replaceable cover 28 is a one piece
constru.ction. For example, -the replacaable co~er 28 could be
constructed by folding a piece of reasonably strong and rigid
aluminum foil over a form modeled a-.fter the cover holder 26 but
having slightly larger dimensioned bars 30 to insure that the
replaceable cover 28 resulting is large enough so that the sliding
engagement of the replaceabla co~er 28 to the cover holder 26 does
not produce excessive fric-tion. Before foldin~ the piece of foil over
the form the foi:L is first cut in a pattern so that when it i5 placed
on top of the form coverin~ the tops of the bars 30 and the gaps 38
-~ between them the cuts in the foil are down the middle of the foil
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cover.ing the gaps .38 parallel to the bars 30. The foil on either side
of the cuts and the foil extending beyond the outside edges of the
extreme right and left bars .30 would then be folded down and over the
sides 44 and bottom sides 46 o~ the bars 30. l'hus, the gaps 38 must
be wide enough to insure enough ~oil is available to co~er
sufficiently the sides 44 and bottom sides 4~ of the bars 30 adjacent
the gaps 38.
Located on the top of the front crossbar 32 between two centrally
located bars 30 and illustrated best in Fig. 3 and 4 is a means for
supporting the front end of bars 30 above an apposing member in order
to -facilitate the fitting of the replaceable cover Z8 to the holder
26. It is comprised of an extensible bar 52 and bracket 54. The
ex-tqnsible bar is a small retangular shaped elongated bar preferably
made o-f an aluminium alloY having a pin 56 which is inserted in a
hole at the back end portion of the extensible bar 52 which prevents
the extensible har 52 from being pulled free from the bracket 54, and
a frontal projection 58 which is an upward right angle bend of the
front end portion of the extensible bar 52 the end of which projects
above the top of the brac.ket 54 but not so high as to interfere with
the application of the replaceable cover 28. The frontal projection
58 can be ~rasped and pulled by the user to put the extensible bar 52
in an extended position, see Fig.9, or pushed to put the
extensible bar 52 in a retracted position while preventing the
extensible bar 52 -from heing pushed -free from the bracket 54.
The bxacket 64 is a one piece construction preferably made of an
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aluminium alloy. The bracket 54 provides a guide ~nd holder for the
e~-tensible bar 52 while allowing the extensible bar 52 to be extsnded
and retracted. It is comprised of a central portion 60 which is
inverted U-shaped, and two flan~es 62 one on either side o~ the
inverted U-shaped portion 60. The bracket 54 is a-ttached to the ~ront
cross- bar 32 by spot welds ~4 indicated by -the symbol for a spot
weld from Patent and Trademark Office: Guide For Pa~ent Draftsman:
Washington, V.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, 1975. The spot
welds 64 are placed in the lap ~oints formed by the flanges 62 and
the top of the ~ront crossbar 32, see Fig. 1. The length of the
shortest sides of the bracket 54 is les.5 than the width of the
surface of the front crossbar 32 on which it located. The
bracket 54 is positiorled so that -the long side at the back of the
bracket 64 is flush to the back ed~e of the front crossbar 32, thus,
leaving the long side at the fron-t of the bracket 54 indented
suf:eiciently throughout its length so tha-t when the extensible bar 52
is in its fully retracted position, illustrated best in Fig. 3~ the
front edge of the frontal projection 58 does not extend beyond the
front ed~e o~ the front crossbar 32.
The entire cover holder 26 including the extensible bar 52 and
bracket 54 can be treated with suitable platings or coatings to
enhance durability, however, this i5 not a necessity.
The dimensions of the cover holder 26 are determined by the specific
application.
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The replaceab:le cover 28 oP Fig. 1 is also shown in a perspective
view of its underside in Fi~. 5, and top perspeckive VietJs in Fig.
6, 7, and 8. The replaceable cover 28 is a one piece construction
preferably made of reasonably strong and rigid aluminum foil, it
mainly comprises a plurality of identical elongated generally
retangular shaped sleeves 66 all aligned parallel to one another on
an equal plane and spaced e~ally apart creating gaps 72. The sleeves
66 are the emale part of the engagement between the replaceable
cover 28 and 'holder 26, the upper por-tion 42 of the bars 30 baing the
male part of the engagement.
Shown best in Fig. 5 are specific features of the sleeves 66. From
the top (bo-ttom in Fig. 5) of the sleeves 66 extending downward
(upward in Fig. 5~ at right angles are sides 74. Extending inwardly
at right an~les from the sides 74 are opposing inwardly directed
members '76 each having 'beveled corners 80 at 'both ends. Gentrally
locatecl between the mem'bers 76 are gaps 78 which run the sntire
length of the sleeves 66.
When the replaceable cover 28 is fully en~aged with the holder 26,
illustrated in ~ig. a, the sleeves 66 effec-tively cover the tops,
sides 44, and bottom sides 46 of the bars 30 over the length of the
sleeves 66 which is -the distanae between the inside edges of the
margins 68. Although the tops and sides 74 of the sleeves 66
completely cover the t,ops and side.s 44 of the bars 30 over the length
of the sleeves 66, the opposing inwardly directed members 76 do not
$ completely cover the bottom sides 46 of the b~rs 30. The gaps 78
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'betwaen the opposing inwardly directed members 76 is wider than ths
:Lower portion 40 of the bars 30 so that during the sliding en~agement
the opposed inside edges o the member.s 76 do not come in contact
with the sides 48 of the bars 30, thus, preventing unwanted friction
points. As mentioned earlier another way engagement friction is
reduced is -that the top and sides '74 o~ the sleeves 66 are wider than
the surfaces they cover namely the tops and sides 44 o~ the bars 30.
Ths 'bevels 80 on both ends of each opposing inwardly directed member
76 help to guide and ease -the engagement of the ].ower portion 40 of
th0 bars 30 into the gaps 78 of the sleeve.s 66.
Two margins 68 one at each end of the sleeves 66 are perpendicular to
the sleeves 66 and on the same plane as the tops O~e sleeves 66 which
~oin the inside edges of the margins 68 at 'both ends o~ the sleeves
66, thus~ holding the sleeves 66 in place. Fig. 6 shows a perspective
view of the in-troduction o-~ the replaceable cover 28 to the holder
26. The bottom side of either margin 68 is plaaed on top o e the top
front portion O:e bars 30, this sets the cover 28 on the correct plane
for -the sliding engagement, and aids the user in aligning each sleevs
66 with its corresponding bar 30.
The structure o~ the sleeves 66 make the replaceable cover 28 quite
rigid over the length of the sleeves 66. To make the replaceable
cover rigid over its length perpendicular to the sleeves 66, the
outside edge Oe each margin 68 is a wired edge 70. In this
application~ however, wiras inside the edges are not necsssaxy.
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The dimensions of the replaceable cover 28 are determined by the
dimensions of the holder 26.
Opera-tion O:~ Pxe~erred Embodi~ent
The cover holder 26 having a replaceable cover 28 shown in
perspective views in Fig. 11 6, 7, and 8 is one embodiment ~hich is
suitable ~or use in many barbecue grills, and most ~as barbecues.
Thess applications are such that when a cooking ~rid is installed in
a unit it is usually suppor-ted by at least two small ledges on which
the bottoms of crossbars 32 and 34 would rest
Installation of the holder 26 simply requires the usex to lift out
the old cooking grid, if one is in place, and replace it with a
relevant sized holder 26 having its top side facing up and the front
crossbar 32 at the ~`ront of the unit, and the bottoms of the
crossbars 32 and 34 resting on the supportin~ ledges. In many of the
applications cited the holder 26 restin~ on the supporting ledges
would be held on a plane inside a body 82 surrounded by opposing
members, as illustrated in Fig. 9.
The best method to apply a replaceable covex 28 to the holder 26 in
applications similar to that ill~strated in Fig. 9 is as follows:
First, the user must make sure that the unit is not emitting any heat
and that the holder 26 is cool enough to be handled. Second, with one
hand the user will grasp the upper portion 42 of a central bar 30
near its front end and then lift the ~ront o~ the holder 26 and in
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particular the front crossbar 32 above the opposing front member 84
while the rear cro.ssbar 34 remains on its supporting ledge and acts
as a pivot point. While holding the holder 26 in this positio-n the
user with his other hand then grasps the frontal projection 58 of the
e~tensible bar 52 and pulls the extensible bar 52 into its fully
extended position. Third, the user lower.s the front of -the holder 26
so that the bottom of the extensible bar 52 rests on the top of the
opposing front member 84, see Fig. 9. This position leaves the front
crossbar 32 below the opposing front member 84, thus, preventing the
holder 26 from being able to be pulled foxward and free of the body
82~ while also elevatin~ the front of bars 30 above the opposing
front member 84. This frees the users hands to ~it a replaceablc
cover 28 to the ho].der 26.
Fourth, the user holds the replaceable cover 2~ with its top facing
up and places either margin 68 parallel to the ~ront crossbar 32 and
on top of the front end o e the bars 30~ Either margin 68 can be used
as the leading edge because both halves of the replaceable co~rer 28
divided parallel to the margins 68 are identi.cal. Now the user aligns
the replaceable cover 2~ 50 that each sleevo 66 is in line with its
corresponding bar 30, as shown in Fig. 6. The margin 68 resting on
top of the bars 30 automatically sets the correct height for the
cover 28 to be slidingly engaged on to -the holder 26. Fifth, while
holdin~ the replaceable cover 28 on the same plane as the holder 26,
the user then pushes it on to the holder 26 bY its outside wired edge
3 70, see Fi~. 7. Finally, with the replaceable cover 28 fully fitted
to the holder 26, see Fig. 8, the user grasps the front upper portion
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42 of a central bar 30, now covered by the replaceable cover 28, arld
lifts the front of the holder 2B off the opposing ~ront memher 84.
The user then retracts the sxtensible bar 52 by pushing on the
frontal projection 58 and then lowers the ~ront crossbar ,32 of the
holder 26 on to its supporting ledge in the body 82. The holder 26
wi.th the replaceable cover 28 fitt,ed to it, forms an operative
cooking grid that is read.y for use.
To remove a replaceable cover 28 from the holder 26 the user
completes the first three steps above. Then the user grasps the
replaceable cover 28 by its outside wired edge 70 at the front of the
holder 26, and then pulls the cover 28 towards himself on the same
plane as the holder 26.
In some of the applications c~it,ed the opposing front member 84 of the
body 82 is low enough so tha-t when the holder 2B is in position in
the unit's body resting on its suppor-ting ledges the opposing front
member only obstructs the front crossbar 32 and perhaps the lower
part of the lower portion 40 at the front of the bars 30. This
usually provides enough clear~nce for removing or fitting a
.replaceable cover 28 without having to elevate the front of the cover
holder 26.
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While the above description contains many specifities, the reader
should not construe these as limitations on the scope of the
invention, bu-t merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments
thereo~. Those skilled in the ar-t will envision many other possible
variations that are within its scope. For example, skilled artisans
will readily be able -to change the dimensions and shapes of the
various embodiments. They will be able to make the holder and
replaceable cover of alternate materials, such as other metals,
ceramics, and even some plastics. They can put different platings
or coatings on the holder, for example, porcelain. They could make
the holder and replaceable cover in a combination of pieces. They
could change the number of bars, crossbars, etc., and could also
change their dimensions and shapes. They could cast the holder in one
piece or use bonding al-ternatives to welding. They could make the
holder to be supported in a barbecue urlits body by more than two
ledges, by using a central post, or by cantilevering the holder etc.
They could construct the replaceable cover out of separate joined
pieces rather than one piece. They could eliminate the extensible bar
and bracket leaving it to the user to locate the holder in a
position to facilitate fi-ttin~ and removal o~ the replaceable cover,
or they could change the dimensions and shape of the extensible bar
and bracket, or provide another means attached to the holder for
supporting the front of the bars above an opposing member.
Another alternative to a means attached -to tha holder for supporting
the front of the bars above an opposing member is to provide the user
with a separate bracket having a projecting ledge. After the front of
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the holder has been raised above an opposing ~ront member of a unit's
body the bracket would be hung on the opposing member with its
projecting ledge ~acing the holder. Then when the ~ront of the holder
is lowered the bottom of its front crossbar ~7ill rest on the brackets
projecting ledge, thus, being supported with -the ~ront end of its
bars above the opposin~ member o~ the unit.
My invention can also be mated with a broiler pan for oven cooking
and can he altered to per~orm ~unctions other than providing a clean
cooking ~rid sur~ac~. Those skilled in the art would readily be able
to adapt my invention to other grid like structures. For example, by
adding a flange around the perimeter o~ the holder on the same plane
as the crossbars, and also obs-truct.ing the back end of each bar, the
resulting grid system comprising a holder and a replaceable cover
could be used to replace vent registers or grills etc., for
app].icatlons in which the outer surface of the register or ~rill
becomes .incrusted with a residue which must be removed periodically.
In ~act! almost any grid like structure could be replaced by an
embodiment o~ my invention, whether ~or cooking or otherwise.
Accordin~ly, the reader is re~uested to determine the scope o~ my
inven-tion by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not
by the examples which have been given.
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