Food or edible material: processes – compositions – and products – Processes – Treatment or preparation of farinaceous dough – batter – or...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-17
2001-02-13
Yeung, George C. (Department: 1761)
Food or edible material: processes, compositions, and products
Processes
Treatment or preparation of farinaceous dough, batter, or...
C099S401000, C099S447000, C099S450000, C126S0250AA, C126S04100R, C126S27300R, C126S27500R, C426S523000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06187359
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to baking tools and, in particular, to a baking implement for use in a standard barbeque grill.
Cooking of foods on a barbeque grill has become an extremely popular method of food preparation around the world, be it in the backyard, at a picnic, etc. The typical modern barbeque grill comprises a heat source in the form of a gas burner and a grill suspended above the heat source. This grill serves as means to support the food being cooked over the heat source. Foods typically grilled in this way include chicken, beef, pork, etc. In order to contain the heat, most modern barbeque grills also include a hinged lid or cover which provides a substantial enclosed space above the grill.
One example of a modern barbeque grill is that shown in Presigiacomo U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,704, patented Sep. 7, 1993. It shows a special type of flame suppressant marinating grill overlay which is particularly designed to collect juices from the food and prevent them from falling down into the flame. This is typically intended for the grilling of meats, with flammable animal fats being collected.
Another form of barbeque system is shown in Gallagher U.S. Pat. No 4,332,828, patented Jun. 1, 1982. It shows a grill overlay in the form of a flat rigid pad having a central core of heat insulating material supported between two sheets of reflective material, such as foil. The idea behind this is to form a kind of convection oven within which food such as a meat roast can be cooked without drying out.
Other forms of grill overlays have been proposed such as that shown in Plumley U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,741, patented Jan. 22, 1974. This device utilizes a quite heavy structure for placing over a grill which is a closed heat reflective member and support member. It is designed to combine both smoking and cooking in a single operation, i.e. it is designed to permit a flow of smoke around the food.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a form of barbeque grill overlay and support which will permit a barbeque with the lid closed to function as a baking oven, within which such things as cakes, pizza and other pastries may be baked.
It is a further object to provide a baking support unit particularly adapted for baking pizzas.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a unit for supporting a baking pan within a closed barbeque having a separate enclosed heating zone beneath the baking pan.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of baking foods on a barbeque grill having a closed top. A flame suppressant and heat dispersing grill overlay is provided for placing on the grill. This overlay is a flame resistant metal plate having a plurality of small openings therein whereby heat from the flame flows upwardly through the small openings such as to provide a zone of uniform heating within the barbeque above the plate. A support rack is arranged to sit above the flame resistant plate and is adapted to sit above the flame resistant plate and is adapted to hold a baking pan preferably about 2 to 6 inches above the plate. A baking pan containing food to be baked, e.g. a pizza, is placed on the support rack and the food can then be baked in the baking pan under controlled uniform heat within the barbeque without direct flame heating of the pan.
In a preferred embodiment, the flame suppressant and heat dispersing grill overlay of this invention is of a special design which lets a uniform flow of heat pass through the plate while suppressing any direct flame. This is achieved by providing a series of small louvered openings in the plate which serve to prevent the flame from passing through the openings while allowing heat from the flame to pass through. By providing this design of flame suppressant and heat dispersing plate and the raised support rack for supporting a baking pan, a very uniform heating is achieved similar to a standard baking oven. The result is that excellent baked products can be baked in a barbeque. This is of particular interest for the baking of pizzas, but it can be used for other baking purposes.
The louvered openings are typically in the form of louvered slits, which may be arranged in a variety of configurations within the plate. The important advantage of the louvers is that they allow for greater variation in the level of flame from the barbeque burner without overcooking or burning the bottom of a baking pan. This becomes very significant at a backyard party where the person attending to the barbeque may not be giving individual attention to what is cooking on the barbeque. Thus, even if the flame is left at too high a level for a period of time, it does not rise up and sear the bottom of the baking pan. Instead, there is only a gradual increase in the heat beneath the pan in the same manner as a regular baking oven that becomes hotter than desired.
It has also been found to be advantageous to have the grill overlay unit in the form a louvered metal plate as described above and enclosing side walls extending upwardly from the periphery of the plate. When a baking pan is placed on top of these side walls, an enclosed heating zone is created above the louvered plate and beneath the baking pan.
It has been found to be convenient to form the enclosing side walls and louvered metal plate as separate items with the louvered plate placed within the side walls. Accordingly, to a preferred feature, the louvered plate sits on and is rotatable on a bottom panel joined to the side walls. This bottom panel has a series of slots mating with the louvered openings such that the air flowing through the louvered openings can be adjusted by rotation of the louvered plate relative to the slotted bottom panel.
It has also been found advantageous to provide for a uniform movement of heated air within the enclosed heating zone beneath the baking pan. One convenient way of achieving this is to provide brackets at the top of the side walls which support the baking pan with a small gap between the top of the side walls and the pan. Another alternative is to provide the enclosing side walls with small openings, preferably in the form of louvered slits similar to those of the bottom plate.
According to a still further feature of the invention, a perforated tray may be provided for setting on top of the side walls and serving as a support for a baking pan, e.g. a pizza pan. The perforated tray preferably includes brackets for connecting a detachable handle. With this arrangement, a baking pan, e.g. a pan holding a pizza to be baked, is placed on the perforated tray, and using the handle, the tray and pizza pan are placed on the grill overlay unit. The handle is then detached and the barbeque lid closed. When the pizza is cooked, the lid is raised, the handle is connected to the perforated tray and the tray with the cooked pizza are lifted out of the barbeque.
While the above description refers primarily to the baking of pizzas and the invention is of particular value for this purpose, it is to be understood that it may be used for a wide variety of baking purposes. Thus, by proper control of heat and using the grill overlay unit of this invention, a gas barbeque can be used to bake most items that would normally be baked in a standard baking oven.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1862420 (1932-06-01), O'Brien
patent: 2722883 (1955-11-01), Rignell
patent: 3040651 (1962-06-01), Nolte, Jr.
patent: 3548736 (1970-12-01), Wahl
patent: 3786741 (1974-01-01), Plumley et al.
patent: 3793936 (1974-02-01), Wills
patent: 4332828 (1982-06-01), Gallagher
patent: 4446776 (1984-05-01), Gelfman
patent: 5211105 (1993-05-01), Liu
patent: 5242704 (1993-09-01), Prestigiacomo
patent: 5365833 (1994-11-01), Chen
patent: 5437222 (1995-08-01), Franklin
patent: 5458054 (1995-10-01), Yu
patent: 5523104 (1996-06-01), Kirk
patent: 5562023 (1996-10-01), Harrison
patent: 5605143 (1997-02-01), Hebert et al.
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for baking foods in a barbeque grill does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for baking foods in a barbeque grill, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for baking foods in a barbeque grill will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2589685