Stoves and furnaces – Stoves – Cooking
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-28
2001-09-25
Clarke, Sara (Department: 3743)
Stoves and furnaces
Stoves
Cooking
C126S27500R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293273
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable gas grill used for cooking food, and more particularly to a portable gas grill having a LP gas cylinder dolly removably connected thereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As recently as the mid-1970's, more than 90% of all portable grills used to cook food in the United States used charcoal as the heat producing fuel. Although portable grills that use LP gas to produce heat have been and continue to be generally more expensive at the time of purchase than portable grills fueled by charcoal and other means, the convenience, cleanliness and the heat control provided by portable LP gas grills have made them the product of choice among consumers. Presently, more portable LP gas fueled grills are sold in the United States each year than all portable grills fueled by charcoal, electric and natural gas combined.
The most common LP gas used to fuel portable gas grills is propane. Propane and other LP gases are typically stored in metal containers called cylinders. The 20# class vertical LP gas cylinder is by far the most common size of LP gas cylinder used in connection with portable gas grills. A 20# class vertical LP gas cylinder can be filled with approximately four gallons of LP gas. When properly filled to capacity with propane, such cylinders weigh about 20 pounds.
Most portable gas grills comprise a wheeled grill cart having one or more vertical posts that support a fire box. The fire box supports and contains a gas burner and a generally horizontal cooking surface. Typically, a 20# class vertical LP gas cylinder is placed on a lower portion of the grill cart below and preferably to the side of the fire box. The disclosures of the following patents are hereby incorporated by reference for their teachings regarding the various configurations of portable gas grills: McIntosh, U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,988; Collins et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,834; Charlson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,256; and Schlosser et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,184.
The prior art discloses several means of securing LP gas cylinders to the lower portions of grill carts. However, each prior art reference generally requires that the user physically maneuver a 20 pound LP gas cylinder into a relatively confined space that is situated close to the ground. The following patents are incorporated by reference for their teachings regarding the various ways LP gas cylinders have been attached to the base of grill carts: Charlson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,256; Lewis, U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,149; and Schlosser et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,184.
When an LP gas cylinder becomes empty through use, the user must disconnect it from the portable gas grill and transport it to an LP gas filling station to be refilled. Once filled, the user must then transport the refilled LP gas cylinder back to the portable gas grill and reposition it on the lower portion of the grill cart. Various factors including the size and weight of a full LP gas cylinder and the design of conventional portable gas grills can make it quite difficult for a user to transport and reconnect a full LP gas cylinder to a portable gas grill. A device is needed that can be used to facilitate the transportation of LP gas cylinders used with portable gas grills and make them easier to connect to such grills.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a portable gas grill for cooking food that burns LP gas stored in a 20# class vertical LP gas cylinder having a foot ring. The portable gas grill according to the present invention comprises a grill cart comprising a plurality of vertical posts supporting a fire box and a base that connects said vertical posts. The portable gas grill further comprises a wheeled dolly comprising a generally horizontal loading platform that is adapted to receive the foot ring of a 20# class vertical LP gas cylinder. The loading platform of the wheeled dolly is adapted to removably connect to the base of said grill cart. Preferably, the wheeled dolly further comprises a generally vertical retractable frame member having a lower end that is fixedly connected to said loading platform.
The device according to the present invention facilitates the transportation and connection of 20# class vertical LP gas cylinders to the grill carts of portable gas grills. The generally horizontal loading platform of the wheeled dolly is adapted to receive the foot ring of a 20# class vertical LP gas cylinder. Preferably, the vertical frame member of the dolly is provided with a strap that further assists in securing the LP gas cylinder to the dolly. More preferably, the vertical frame member is retractable such that in a retracted position it is about the same height as a 20# class vertical LP gas cylinder having a foot ring received by the loading platform.
The device according to the present invention permits a user to transport an LP gas cylinder to and from a portable gas grill with a minimum of effort. The LP gas cylinder rests on the wheeled dolly, which facilitates relatively effortless transportation of the LP gas cylinder, including up and down stairs. Preferably, the dolly is formed from lightweight materials such as aluminum tubing. Because the dolly is constructed of lightweight materials, the LP gas cylinder need not be removed from the dolly even during transportation and refilling.
The loading platform of the dolly is adapted to removably connect to the base of the grill cart. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the loading platform removably connects to the grill cart by having a generally downwardly projecting edge portion that hooks over a horizontal post that connects a pair of vertical posts supporting a fire box. In another preferred embodiment, the loading platform removably connects to the grill cart by having a generally downwardly projecting edge portion that hooks over an axle that passes through a hole in the lower end of a pair of vertical posts. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the loading platform removably connects to the grill cart by having a generally downwardly projecting pin that fits into a hole provided in the base of the portable gas grill cart.
The foregoing and other features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the present invention may be employed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2784979 (1957-03-01), Chamberlin et al.
patent: 4356988 (1982-11-01), McIntosh
patent: 4544173 (1985-10-01), Kellermyer
patent: 4666179 (1987-05-01), Adams
patent: 5109834 (1992-05-01), Collins et al.
patent: 5318322 (1994-06-01), Home
patent: 5489183 (1996-02-01), Malden et al.
patent: 5513939 (1996-05-01), Martin et al.
patent: 5603256 (1997-02-01), Charleson et al.
patent: 5752433 (1998-05-01), Charlson et al.
patent: 5800117 (1998-09-01), Milton
patent: 5931149 (1999-08-01), Lewis
patent: 5934184 (1999-08-01), Schlosser et al.
patent: 5941543 (1999-08-01), Kazmark, Jr.
patent: 6042130 (2000-03-01), Souza
patent: 9101941-A (1992-12-01), None
patent: 2213259-A (1989-08-01), None
Byrne Robert M.
Hafeken, Sr. Kurt F.
American Trim, LLC
Clarke Sara
Rankin, Hill Porter & Clark LLP
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