RIGID GRILL STRUCTURE

STRUCTURE DE GRIL RIGIDE

English Abstract

A cart suitable for supporting a grill, including a grill bowl. The cart has two union members with curved channels for receiving tubular, U-shaped frame members. The union members may be in the form of two similar (but not necessarily identical) halves joined together to enclose the frame members. The tubular channels of the union members resist movement (such as twisting and tilting) in at least two directions. The union members lock the frame members in place with internal protrusions that fit into mating depressions or holes in the frame members. Extra rigidity is added to the cart by one or more side tables which are structural members as well as functional tables. The side tables thus serve as cross- members between two frame assemblies. The grill's lid can easily be tilted back to rest in place on lid supports underneath the bottom edge and contact points on the side tables.

French Abstract

Un chariot convient pour soutenir un gril, y compris une cuve de gril. Le chariot comporte deux éléments d'union courbés dotés de canaux courbés servant à recevoir les éléments de cadre tubulaires en forme de U. Les éléments d'union peuvent avoir la forme de deux moitiés similaires (mais pas nécessairement identiques) jointes ensemble pour enfermer les éléments de cadre. Les canaux tubulaires des éléments d'union résistent au mouvement (comme la torsion et l'inclinaison) dans au moins deux directions. Les éléments d'union bloquent les éléments de cadre en place à l'aide de protrusions internes qui s'adaptent à des dépressions d'accouplement ou des trous dans les éléments de cadre. Une rigidité supplémentaire est ajoutée au chariot par une ou plusieurs tables latérales qui sont des éléments structuraux ainsi que des tables fonctionnelles. Les tables latérales servent ainsi d'éléments croisés entre les deux ensembles de cadres. Le couvercle du gril peut facilement être basculé vers l'arrière pour reposer en place sur les supports de couvercle sous le rebord du fond et les points de contact des tables latérales.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A cart for a barbecue grill, the cart comprising:
a first union member, wherein the first union member comprises at least two
internal channels;
an upper frame and a lower frame rigidly connected together by the union
member, the connected upper frame and lower frame forming a first frame
assembly, wherein the internal channels are capable of receiving a portion of
the upper
and lower frames, and wherein the first union member resists rotation of its
associated
upper frame and lower frame; and
at least one cross-member extending between the first frame assembly and a
second frame assembly.
2. The cart of claim 1, wherein the first union member comprises two
substantially
similar halves joined together to connect the upper frame and the lower frame.
3. The cart of claim 2, wherein the first union member comprises at least
one
protrusion for engaging with at least one depression in the upper frame or the
lower
frame.
4. The cart of claim 2, wherein the first union member comprises at least
two
protrusions, the first protrusion engaging with a depression in the upper
frame, and the
second protrusion engaging with a depression in the lower frame.
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5. The cart of claim 1, wherein the first union member comprises at least
one
protrusion for engaging with at least one depression in the upper frame or the
lower
frame.
6. The cart of claim 1, wherein the first union member comprises at least
two
protrusions, the first protrusion engaging with a depression in the upper
frame, and the
second protrusion engaging with a depression in the lower frame.
7. The cart of claim 4, further comprising a second cross-member.
8. The cart of claim 5, further comprising:
a second union member;
a second upper frame and a second lower frame rigidly connected together by
the second
union member, the connected upper frame and lower frame forming the second
frame
assembly.
9. The cart of claim 8, wherein the at least one cross-member comprises a
substantially rigid table connected to the upper frames of the first frame
assembly and the
second frame assembly.
10. The cart of claim 9, wherein each upper frame comprises a tube that is
substantially "U" shaped, and wherein the first and second union members are
attached to
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the upper frames at a point substantially equidistant from the ends of the "U"
shaped
tubes.
11. The cart of claim 10, further comprising at least two side tables
rigidly connected
to an upper portion of the first frame assembly and an upper portion of the
second frame
assembly, wherein the at least two side tables comprise structural components
of the cart.
12. The cart of claim 11, further comprising at least two lid supports
positioned
between the at least two side tables and a grill bowl to support an edge of a
grill lid in an
open position, wherein the grill lid is supported between the at least two lid
supports and
a part of each side table when the grill lid is in the open position.
13. The cart of claim 12, wherein the at least two lid supports are
attached to the grill
bowl.
14. The cart of claim 1, further comprising:
a second union member;
a second upper frame and a second lower frame rigidly connected together by
the
second union member, the connected upper frame and lower frame forming the
second
frame assembly;
a second union member, wherein each union member comprises two substantially
similar halves capable of being joined together to connect the associated
upper frame and
lower frame, and wherein each union member comprises at least two protrusions,
each

protrusion engaging with an associated depression in the upper frame and the
lower
frame;
wherein each upper frame comprises a tube that is substantially "U" shaped,
and
wherein the first and second union members are attached to the upper frames at
a point
substantially equidistant from the ends of the "U" shaped tubes;
at least two substantially rigid side tables connected to the upper frames of
the
first frame assembly and the second frame assembly, the at least two
substantially rigid
side tables comprising the at least one cross-member, the at least two
substantially rigid
side tables further comprising structural components of the cart;
at least two lid supports positioned between the at least two side tables and
a grill
bowl to support a grill lid in an open position, wherein the grill lid is
supported between
the at least two lid supports and a part of each side table when the grill lid
is in the open
position.
15. The cart of claim 1, wherein the first union member includes two
substantially U-
shaped channels for securing the upper frame and lower frame, the U-shaped
channels
providing resistance to movement of the upper frame and the lower frame.
16. The cart of claim 15, wherein the first union member resists rotation
of the upper
frame and the lower frame about at least two points of each frame.
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17. A union member for a barbecue grill, the union member comprising:
a first piece having a first curved, internal channel for receiving a first
frame
member and having a second curved, internal channel for receiving a second
frame
member;
a second piece having a third curved, internal channel for receiving the first
frame
member and having a fourth curved, internal channel for receiving the second
frame
member;
the first and second pieces being connectable together and capable of holding,
when connected, the first frame member and the second frame member in fixed
position
relative to each other and relative to the union member, and capable of
resisting, when
connected, rotation of the first and second frame members.
18. The union member of claim 17, wherein the first piece includes at least
one
protrusion capable of engaging at least one depression in the first or second
frame
member.
19. The union member of claim 17, wherein the first piece includes at least
a first
protrusion and a second protrusion, the first protrusion capable of engaging a
depression
in the first frame member and the second protrusion capable of engaging a
depression in
the second frame member.
20. The union member of claim 19 wherein the first protrusion is a
different size than
the second protrusion.
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21. The union member of claim 20 wherein the first and second piece are
connectable
together with threaded fasteners.
22. The union member of claim 17, wherein the first piece and the second
piece are
substantially similar halves.
23. A union member for a barbecue grill, the union member comprising:
a first piece having a first curved, internal channel for receiving a first
frame
member and having a second curved, internal channel for receiving a second
frame
member, the first piece including at least a first protrusion and a second
protrusion, the
first protrusion capable of engaging a depression in the first frame member
and the
second protrusion capable of engaging a depression in the second frame member,
the first
protrusion and the second protrusion being of different sizes;
a second piece, substantially similar in overall shape to the first piece and
having
a third curved, internal channel for receiving the first frame member and
having a fourth
curved, internal channel for receiving the second frame member;
the first and second pieces being connectable together with threaded fasteners
and
being capable of holding, when connected, the first frame member and the
second frame
member in fixed position relative to each other and relative to the connected
union
member.
24. A union member for a barbecue grill, the union member comprising:
a first curved, internal channel for receiving a first frame member;
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a second curved, internal channel for receiving a second frame member;
a first threaded fastener element for securing the first frame member to the
union
member; and
a second threaded fastener element for securing the second frame member to the
union member.
25. The union member of claim 24, further comprising at least a first
protrusion
capable of engaging at least one depression in the first or second frame
member.
26. The union member of claim 25 wherein the first protrusion further
comprises the
first threaded fastener element.
27. The union member of claim 26 wherein the first threaded fastener
element
comprises an internally-threaded hole.
28. The union member of claim 26 wherein the first threaded fastener
element
comprises an externally-threaded element.
29. The union member of claim 25, further comprising at least a second
protrusion
capable of engaging at least one depression in the first or second frame
member.
30. The union member of claim 29, wherein the first threaded fastener
element and
the second threaded fastener element each comprise an internally-threaded
hole.
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Description

CA 02716638 2010-10-07
Rigid Grill Structure.
Background and Summary of the Invention
Carts for barbecue grills are quite common and come in a variety of forms.
Most carts
used to support a barbecue grill are left outside and are, therefore, exposed
to extreme
environmental conditions, including being left outside through a harsh winter
and a hot summer.
In addition, grill carts undergo rough treatment, since they are designed to
be frequently moved
about an owner's property.
Grill bowls that are supported by barbecue grill carts tend to be quite heavy
and require
substantial structural support. Furthermore, since the temperature inside the
bowl of a barbecue
grill can get extremely high, for safety purposes, structural stability of a
barbecue grill cart is of
utmost importance.
The exemplary grill cart described here achieves great structural strength and
rigidity
with a minimum number of fasteners, and is very visually appealing. These
advantages are
achieved, at least in part, by a pair of clamshell-like castings that secure
pairs of tubular legs and
upper frame members, and by incorporating side tables that are not only
functional, but also
serve as structural members to add rigidity to the cart without adding
additional parts.
In an exemplary embodiment of the cart, a clamshell-like union member is used
to
connect together an upper frame and a lower frame to form a first frame
assembly. The upper
frame and lower frame may be U-shaped tubes, with the lower frame being an
upside-down "U"
and the upper frame being right-side up. The union member may be a rigid metal
casting in the
form of two mating halves. Other materials and manufacturing techniques may be
used to form
the union member. The two halves of each union member can be joined together
by any well-
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CA 02716638 2010-10-07
known fasteners, such as screws, bolts, rivets, or equivalent fasteners. The
two halves may also
be welded together.
The union member can be used to create a substantially rigid frame assembly
because its
internal shape (a curved tubular channel) conforms to the upper and lower
frames, preventing
twisting and movement in multiple directions. Further, the union member can be
formed with
protrusions that mate with holes or depressions in the upper and lower frame
members to hold or
lock the frame members in place. Such protrusions will also ease the assembly
of the cart, since
they ensure that the upper and lower frame members are positioned properly
even before the two
halves of the union member are completely joined and fastened together. The
protrusions inside
the union member can be of different sizes¨for example, the protrusion may be
larger on the
upper side of the union member, so that only the upper frame will mate with
it. This prevents
improper assembly of the grill cart.
The exemplary embodiment may also include one or more cross-members to connect
the
first frame assembly to a second frame assembly. The second frame assembly may
be
substantially the same as the first frame assembly, or it may be different.
Two bowl supports
extending between the two frame assemblies hold the bowl of the grill to the
assembled frame.
One or more rigid side tables also serve as structural cross-members that
connect the first frame
assembly to the second frame assembly. The side tables need not be attached to
the bowl, but
may be separated from the bowl by a space. The side tables (or alternatively,
the grill bowl) may
be fitted with pivot points that support the lip of the grill's lid when the
lid is lifted off the bowl
and tilted back. In such an embodiment, the lid is prevented from falling by
the back edges of
the side tables, so that the lid may be easily opened and closed without any
hooks or other
devices attached to the lid itself.
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CA 02716638 2010-10-07
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the grill cart and grill
with the bowl
and lid in place;
Figure 2 is a close up view of a first embodiment of the union member of the
grill cart of
Figure 1 with the upper and lower frames installed;
Figure 3a is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment the union member
and the
upper and lower frames;
Figure 3b is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the union member
and the
upper and lower frames;
Figure 3c is a cross-sectional view of a third alternative embodiment of the
union
member and the upper and lower frames;
Figure 4 is an exploded view of the first embodiment of a union member and
upper and
lower frames before assembly;
Figure 5 is the exploded view of Figure 5 from a different angle;
Figure 6 is and exploded view of the upper frames and a side table; and
Figure 7 is a view of the grill with the lid in the open position.
Detailed Description of the Invention
While the inventions shown and described herein are capable of being practiced
with
numerous alternative embodiments, a particular one is shown and described in
detail herein.
However, the embodiment shown and described in detail is merely an example of
the many
embodiments that could be made in accordance with the grill cart claimed
herein, and which will
be apparent to those skilled in the art of grill cart design.
As illustrated in Figure 1, a grill cart 10 includes two generally U-shaped
lower frames 12
and 14, and two generally U-shaped upper frames 16 and 18. The upper and lower
frames may
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CA 02716638 2010-10-07
be metal tubes. Each lower frame is attached to each upper frame by a rigid
union member 20,
which may be a metal casting or other rigid material such as, for example, a
thermosetting
plastic. Each upper frame in the embodiment shown is attached to its
counterpart by two side
tables, 22 and 24. The lower frames also hold two bowl supports 26 and 28 in
place. The two
side tables may be attached to the upper frames with bolts, screws, or other
fasteners that pass
through brackets that are rigidly attached to the upper frames. As will be
discussed in more
detail below, each side table functions as a rigid cross-member in addition to
providing a
convenient surface for barbecue tools, food, etc. The side tables may be made
of thermosetting
plastic or they may be made of any other suitable, rigid material, such as
metal.
To simplify construction and save on fasteners, the bowl supports 26, 28 may
simply be
inserted into blind holes in the upper frames 16, 18, and be held in place
because the two upper
frames 16, 18 are held at a fixed distance from each other by the side tables
22, 24. Preferably,
the bowl supports 26, 28 may be curved so that their shape supports the bowl.
In this way, just a
single screw (rather than two) can support the bowl, and the support can float
between the upper
frames 16, 18. More specifically, the bowl supports 26, 28 support the bowl
primarily at two
points, one on either side of the screw. The bowl contacts the bowl supports
at two points due to
the curved shape of the bowl supports 26, 28, and because they are placed
below the great circle
of the bowl, the bowl has no natural freedom or tendency to rotate or move
about the supports.
In addition to the bowl supports, a wire rack 30 mounted between the lower
frames 12, 14
also "floats"¨that is, it is held in place not by fasteners but by the fact
that the lower frames 12,
14 are held at a fixed distance apart by the overall structure of the grill
cart. The ends of the wire
rack 30 are simply inserted into holes in the lower frames during assembly,
with no fasteners
required. Two wheels 32, 34 of the grill cart also serve to hold the wire rack
30 in place, because
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CA 02716638 2010-10-07
the end "wire" of the wire rack extends through the lower frame and serves as
the axle to wheels
32, 34.
Figures 2 and 3a show the union member 20 and the lower and upper frames 12,
16 in
greater detail. (Although upper frames 12, 16 are shown in these figures, the
opposite side of the
grill cart is substantially similar, so the figures could also represent the
other side, with union
member 20 joining lower frame 14 and upper frame 18). Figure 3a in particular
shows a cross-
sectional view of one frame assembly¨that is, an upper frame and a lower frame
held together
by a union member 20. The front half of union member 20, labeled 20f, is shown
with internal
protrusions that fit into holes (or depressions) in the lower and upper frame
tubes 12 and 16,
respectively. Of course, the protrusions could be on the rear half of union
member 20 instead of
the front half, or both the front and rear halves could have protrusions. As
shown in Figure 3a,
the protrusions may be different sizes, which prevents improper assembly of
the grill cart. The
protrusions also serve to hold the upper and lower frames in place during
assembly. The
protrusions also add rigidity to the grill cart by helping to hold the upper
and lower frames firmly
in place once the grill cart is assembled¨they prevent the frames from sliding
or rotating within
the union member 20.
Figure 3b shows an alternative embodiment, where the protrusions are
internally threaded
to receive threaded fasteners to hold the two halves of the union member 20
together. In this
embodiment, union member half 20f would receive threaded fasteners 36 while
union member
half 20r would have additional holes through which the fasteners 36 would fit.
As yet another
alternative, shown in Figure 3c, a single-piece union member could be used to
join the lower and
upper frames. This embodiment could also be accomplished by internal threads
on the
protrusions on piece 20f (or on another internal part of piece 20f that does
not protrude through
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CA 02716638 2010-10-07
or into frame 12 or 16), which could receive threaded fasteners 36 that pass
through holes in
lower frame 12 and upper frame 16. Of course, for added strength and rigidity,
more than one
fastener per frame member could be used, which fastener may or may not fit
into a protrusion as
shown in Figure 3c.
Figure 4 shows the union member 20 (represented by pieces 20f and 20r) and an
upper
and lower frame member prior to assembly. As shown, the two halves of union
member 20 can
be joined by screws or bolts 36. Each half of union member 20 has channels for
receiving the
frame members-an upper channel for the upper frame, and a lower channel for
the lower frame.
Due to the construction of the union member halves, the channels are not shown
as being
"solid"¨that is, they are not in contact with the frame continuously, although
such a
construction would of course be possible. Rather, the channels include a
number of semi-
circular ribs that contact the frames members to hold them securely in place.
Figure 4 shows that
union member half 20r has three such ribs, but a channel comprising more or
fewer ribs is also
possible, and would perform the same function of preventing twisting or other
unwanted
movement of the frames within the union member.
Figure 5 is another view of the union member 20 and two frame members prior to
assembly. In this view, the protrusions on union member half 20f can be seen
before they are
inside the mating holes in the upper and lower frames.
Figure 6 is an exploded view of the upper portion of the grill cart. Figure 6
illustrates
how side table 22 is a structural part of the grill cart, in addition to being
a functional table. (It
should be noted that the other side of the grill, not shown in Figure 6, may
be similarly
constructed). First, the side table 22 may be attached to the upper frames
(also called table
supports) by brackets 38 and 40, which are rigidly attached to the upper
frames. In the
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CA 02716638 2014-01-10
=
embodiment shown, brackets 38, 40 are welded to upper frames 16, 18,
respectively. In
addition, side table 22 may be formed to have a rigid internal structure, such
as the ribs 42 in the
illustrated embodiment. As also shown, each bracket may have holes or
depressions that mate
with protrusions on the side table 22. In the illustrated embodiment, each
bracket has four holes.
This construction ensures a rigid construction of the grill cart with a
minimum of fasteners. As
shown, only one fastener (44, 46) is needed for each bracket, but because the
holes in the
brackets mate with protrusions in the side table, there is no swaying or
"parallelogram effect."
For clarity, roller 48 and spring clip 52 are shown in this figure also, but
will be discussed in
more detail with respect to Figure 7.
Figure 7 illustrates another feature of the grill cart: Since the side tables
are spaced-apart
from the grill bowl, the side tables can be used to help hold the grill lid in
place. As shown, the
lower edge of the grill lid is supported in two places by rollers 48 and 50.
The lid is prevented
from falling by spring clips 52, 54 attached to the side tables.
Alternatively, the side tables
themselves could serve to hold the lid in place. In accordance with these
embodiments, the lid
can be simply lifted by handle 56 and moved to the position shown. In this
manner, opening the
grill is easier than some grills which have a bracket inside the lid that must
be hooked on the
upper edge of the grill bowl to hold the lid in place. The present embodiment
is easier to open
because the lid rests on rollers 48 and 50 as soon as the handle 56 is lifted,
so the user does not
need to support the weight of the lid.
The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set
forth in
the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with
the description as a
whole.
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Representative Drawing