Ash disposal and damping means for barbecue grill

Details Ash disposal and damping means for barbecue grill Ash disposal and damping means for barbecue grill

1999-08-13

2001-11-20

Yeung, James C. (Department: 3743)

Stoves and furnaces

Stoves

Cooking

C126S242000, C126S245000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06318356

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to barbecue grills and, more particularly, to an ash disposal and damping means for grills that burn carbon-based fuels.
BACKGROUND
Barbecue grills are very widely used today. One popular type of barbecue grill is referred to as a kettle-type grill. A barbecue kettle may consist of a generally semi-spherical bottom bowl that has a circular opening with a cooking grid located slightly below the upper rim of the bowl. A generally semi-spherical top cover can be placed on the bottom bowl to enclose the barbecue kettle. The barbecue kettle is supported on a leg arrangement. This kettle configuration is a registered trademark of the Assignee of the present invention.
Presently, one of the most popular barbecue grills is marketed by the Assignee of the present invention. One type of these barbecue grills that has received very favorable acceptance by consumers is disclosed in U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 33,091, owned by the Assignee of the present invention, and is sold under the trademark ONE-TOUCH®.
Barbecue kettles that are designed for burning charcoal or some other carbon-based product as a fuel generally have a second or lower grid for supporting the charcoal below the cooking grid. Additionally, both the bottom bowl and top cover generally have vent openings. The vent openings provide the interior of the kettle grill with the necessary oxygen for combustion of the charcoal while the cover is located on the bottom bowl.
During operation, the charcoal on the second grid bums, turns to ash, and falls to the bottom of the bowl. Additionally, grease, cooking fat, pieces of the food being cooked, portions of hot coals and other things also might fall to the bottom of the bowl. A plurality of openings are commonly located at the bottom of the bowl to allow this material to be discharged out of the bowl. Often, these openings are also employed as the vent openings for allowing air into the kettle for combustion of the charcoal fuel. As the ash from the burned fuel falls from the second grid, however, it may accumulate in the bottom of the bowl. A successful apparatus for scraping and disposing of this ash and debris from the bottom of the kettle through the openings, and for controlling the air intake into the bottom of the kettle is disclosed in U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 33,091 (“the '091 patent”).
The scraping and disposing means disclosed the '091 patent includes a disc mounted immediately above the center of the bottom for rotation about a vertical axis and has three arms secured thereto. The handle is positioned below the bottom of the grill and secured to the disc. The arms are generally triangular in cross-section and have distal edges fitting closely to the bottom. In one position, the arms cover the bowl openings, but may be rotated back and forth to push ash along the bottom of the bowl to the openings where it will fall out. The disc, arms and handle are designed to be assembled without using any tools. However, to assemble the scraping and disposal means described in the '091 patent a separate releaseable retaining means is provided. Thus, the scraping and disposal means is often difficult to assemble and costly to manufacture.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved scraping and disposing means that is easily assembled, does not require a separate retaining means, and does not require tools to assemble while at the same time is less costly to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The barbecue grill of the present invention includes an ash disposal and damping means for disposing of ash which accumulates at the bottom of the barbecue grill and for venting the barbecue grill with oxygen as it bums combustible fuel. The present assembly is extremely easy to assemble and connect to a barbecue grill. Further, the present assembly can be easily disassembled to clean and repair. The barbecue grill comprises a grill housing, a damper means, and an elongated handle interconnected to the damper means.
The grill housing includes a bottom generally centered about a vertical axis. An ash disposal opening is positioned along the bottom of the barbecue grill. The bottom of the grill includes an aperture which is in alignment with the vertical axis.
The damper means may selectively cover the ash disposal opening. The damper means includes a drive hub assembly which is rotatable about the vertical axis. The drive hub is adapted for covering the ash disposal opening. The damper means includes a drive hub assembly rotatable about the vertical axis. A damper body is connected to the drive hub assembly and extends outwardly therefrom.
The drive hub assembly is received into the aperture located at the bottom of the barbecue grill. An end portion of the hub assembly is positioned below the bottom of the barbecue grill. The end portion includes an opening which defines a passageway.
An elongated handle is positioned below the bottom. The elongated handle has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is adapted to be received into the passageway of the end portion of the hub assembly. The handle engages the hub assembly and is frictionally secured to the hub assembly.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings.


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