Shield for gas burner

Details Shield for gas burner Shield for gas burner

2000-08-08

2001-08-28

Yeung, James C. (Department: 3743)

Stoves and furnaces

Stoves

Cooking

C126S0390BA, C099S447000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06279566

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is generally related to barbecue grills, and, more particularly, is related to shields which are adapted for mounting over gas burners of barbecue grills for shielding the gas burner from materials falling from above the burner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Gas-fired barbecue grills typically incorporate one or more gas burners, which are mounted within the interior of a cooking chamber. The gas burners typically are mounted in a lower portion of the cooking chamber below a cooking surface, such as a grill or grate, and are provided with a flow of gas, such as from an LP gas tank, for providing heat for cooking food items placed upon the cooking surface.
Typical gas burners are formed of metal and are configured with an interior chamber which is adapted to receive a flow of gas from one or more gas feed lines. The interior chamber of a gas burner is adapted to distribute the flow of gas from the gas feed lines about the gas burner so that the gas may be distributed through a series of gas orifices. Typically, the gas orifices are formed about a periphery of the gas burner so as to provide a relatively large flame pattern. In some embodiments, the gas orifices are downwardly directed and typically are formed along a lower portion of the outer periphery of the gas burner. Gas burners incorporating these downwardly-directed gas orifices also typically incorporate a protruding edge or flange which is positioned above the gas orifices and which overhangs the gas orifices so that drippings exuded from food items being cooked on the cooking surface of the grill, and other materials do not fall or drain into the gas orifices.
In other embodiments, gas burners have incorporated gas orifices about an upper surface of the gas burner. This particular configuration of the gas burners typically requires the use of a cover or shield which is disposed between the gas orifices and the cooking surface for preventing drippings and other materials from falling or draining into the gas orifices, and thereby potentially clogging the gas orifices.
Barbecue grills typically are not configured with a standard size or shape of cooking chamber. Heretofore, each grill incorporating a shield for protecting the gas orifices of its gas burners has required the use of a shield which has been specifically sized and shaped for use with that particular grill. Such a lack of standardized sized and shaped cooking chambers has led to the expenditure of considerable funds in designing, producing, and maintaining inventories of numerous sizes and configurations of shields.
Therefore, there is a need for improved devices and systems which address these and other shortcomings of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an apparatus and mechanism for protecting a gas burner of a barbecue grill regardless of the size or shape of the barbecue grill's cooking chamber. In a preferred embodiment, a shield incorporates a base member and a sliding member, with the sliding member being adapted to engage the base member for adjusting the length of the shield. Preferably, the base member and sliding member each has two side panels, with a centerline fold disposed between the side panels.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4561419 (1985-12-01), Koziel
patent: 4899724 (1990-02-01), Kuechler
patent: 5355868 (1994-10-01), Gaen
patent: 5368009 (1994-11-01), Jones
patent: 5878739 (1999-03-01), Guidry

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