AU2005244307A1

AU2005244307A1 - Grill height adjusting apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU2005244307A1
Application number: AU2005244307A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Silvana Ferraro
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-12-13
Filing date: 2005-12-13
Publication date: 2007-06-28

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Silvana Ferraro Actual Inventor: Silvana Ferraro Address for Service: I.P. Monopoly Services P.O.Box 321 MOOREBANK NSW 2170 Invention Title: GRILL HEIGHT ADJUSTING APPARATUS FOR A BARBEQUE Details of Associated Application NIL The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing the invention known to the inventors:- 2

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SThe present invention relates to barbeques and, in particular, to a grill height adjusting apparatus for use with a barbeque.

A common problem with many barbeques is that the height of the grill upon which meat and other food is cooked cannot be adjusted during use. The Ci grill becomes extremely hot which prevents users from gripping and lifting Sthe grill, either to gain access to a grill height adjusting screw located beneath the grill, or to facilitate the supply of additional heating beads or coals into the heating vessel.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art, or at least provide a useful alternative.

According to the invention, there is provided a grill height adjusting apparatus for use with a barbeque, the apparatus comprising: movable handle means, at least one scissors assembly adapted to support a cooking grill over a heating vessel of the barbeque, and to move between a retracted position and an expanded position, means for converting movement of the handle means in a first direction into movement of the or each scissors assembly towards the expanded position, and in a second direction into movement of the or each scissors assembly towards the retracted position, whereby the grill is furthest from the vessel when the or each scissors assembly has reached the O 3

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expanded position, and is closest to the vessel when the or each scissors assembly has reached the retracted position.

Preferably, the handle means comprises at least one winding handle that is rotatably mounted to the heating vessel.

It is preferred that the or each winding handle has a winding portion at a first end thereof for gripping by a user, and a threaded shaft portion extending perpendicularly to the winding portion at a second end thereof, the threaded shaft portion screwably engaging a threaded nut mounted to the heating vessel.

There are preferably two scissors assemblies, each comprising a first scissors arm and a second scissors arm, the first and second scissors arms being pivotally interconnected intermediate their ends for enabling scissors movement of each scissors assembly.

There are preferably two winding handles, one for each scissors assembly.

In a preferred form, the threaded shaft portion has a leading edge that abuts against a trailing edge of a sliding portion at the lower end of the first scissors arm of each scissors assembly, the sliding portion being adapted to slide within a track in a forward direction under force exerted by the leading edge against the trailing edge when each handle is wound in a first direction, and in a rearward direction under the weight of at least each scissors assembly when each handle is wound in a second direction.

4 SThe track is preferably a slot.

Preferably, an upper end of the first scissors arm is rotatably mounted to a fixed position of the grill, a lower end of a second scissors arm is rotatably mounted at a fixed position relative to the heating vessel, and an upper end Ci of the second scissors arm slidably supports an underside portion of the grill.

The upper end of the first scissors arm may be rotatably mounted by a Ubolt to a cross member of the grill.

In a preferred form, the apparatus includes at least one bracket mounted across the heating vessel, the or each bracket defining the slot therewithin, the mounting location for the threaded nut, and the fixed position at which the lower end of the second scissors arm is rotatably mounted.

In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a barbeque having a hemispherical heating vessel showing a grill height adjusting apparatus according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention mounted thereon, the apparatus having its scissors assemblies in a retracted position, Fig. 2 is a side view of the barbeque of Fig. 1 showing the grill height adjusting apparatus having its scissors assemblies in an expanded position,

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SFig. 3 is a top view of the barbeque of Fig. 1, only partly showing the grill (for ease of understanding), Fig. 4 is a side view of a barbeque having a box shaped heating vessel showing a grill height adjusting apparatus according to a second preferred i embodiment of the invention mounted thereon, the apparatus having its scissors assemblies in a retracted position, Fig. 5 is a side view of the barbeque of Fig. 4 showing the grill height adjusting apparatus having its scissors assemblies in an expanded position, Fig. 6 is a front view of the barbeque of Fig. 5, showing a right side one of the scissors assemblies in an exploded view, Fig. 7 is a top view of the barbeque of Fig. 6, showing a left side one of the scissors assemblies disassembled from the heating vessel, Fig. 8 is a side view of a grill height adjusting apparatus according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention mounted to opposed side walls of a heating vessel of the barbeque of Figs. 1 to 3, or Figs. 4 to 7, Fig. 9 is a top view of the grill height adjusting apparatus of Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the barbeque of Fig. SThe barbeque 10 shown in Figs. 1,2, and 3 has a hemispherical heating Cc vessel 12 supported above the ground by tripod-like legs 14. There is a cooking grill 16 movably adjusted in its height over the heating vessel 12 by a grill height adjusting apparatus. The apparatus comprises handle means, a pair of scissors assemblies 18,20, and movement converting means to be 1 described in more detail later in this specification.

Each scissors assembly 18,20 supports the cooking grill 16 over the heating vessel 12, and comprises a first scissors arm 22 and a second scissors arm 24 which are pivotally interconnected by a scissors pin 26 located intermediate their ends for enabling scissors movement of the scissors assemblies 18,20 between a retracted position (see Fig. 1) and an expanded position (see Fig.

2).

The handle means comprises a pair of winding handles 30,32, each of which is rotatably mounted to the heating vessel 12. Each winding handle 30,32 has a winding portion 34 at a first end thereof for gripping by a user of the barbeque. The winding portion 34 comprises a grip arm 36 and a rotary arm 38. There is a threaded shaft portion 40 extending perpendicularly to the rotary arm 38 of the winding portion 34 at a second end of each winding handle 30,32. The threaded shaft portion 40 is screwably engaged to a threaded nut 42 mounted to the heating vessel 12 (see also Figs. 8 and 9 for detail).

Preferred means will now be described with reference to Figs. 1,2,3,8, and 9 for converting movement of the winding handles 30,32 in a first direction Sinto movement of the scissors assemblies 18,20 towards the expanded position, and in a second direction into movement of the scissors assemblies 18,20 towards the retracted position. When the scissors assemblies have reached the expanded position, the cooking grill 16 is furthest from the f3 heating vessel 12. When the scissors assemblies 18,20 have reached the c. retracted position, the cooking grill 16 is closest to the heating vessel 12.

There is a pair of brackets (bracket 46 shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9) C. which are spaced apart across the heating vessel 12 and mounted to respective opposed walls (walls 48,50 shown in Fig. 8) of the heating vessel.

Each bracket 46 defines a track which, in this embodiment, is in the form of a slot 52, as well as a mounting location for the threaded nut 42, and a fixed position at which a lower end 54 of the second scissors arm 24 is rotatably mounted. The threaded shaft portion 40 of each winding handle 30,32 has a leading edge 56 that abuts against a trailing edge 57 of a sliding portion 58 at the lower end of the first scissors arm 22. The sliding portion 58 is adapted to slide within the slot 52 in a forward direction (from left to right with reference to Fig. 8) under force exerted by the leading edge 56 against the trailing edge 57 when each handle 30,32 is wound in the first direction. The sliding portion 58 is adapted to slide within the slot 52 in a rearward direction (from right to left with reference to Fig. 8) under the weight of at least the scissors assemblies 18,20 when each handle 30,32 is wound in the second direction (opposite the first direction). An upper end of the first scissors arm 22 is rotatably mounted to a fixed position of the grill 16 by, in this embodiment, a U-bolt 60 which engages a cross member 62 of the grill 16. The lower end 54 of each second scissors arm 24 is rotatably mounted at Sthe fixed position defined therefor in the respective bracket 46. An upper end of the second scissors arm 24 slidably supports an underside portion of the grill 16 by, in this embodiment, a slider plate 64 which can slide against the underside of the cross members of the grill 16.

C-i In order to raise the grill 16 to, say, reduce the amount of heat (or flame) on the food being cooked on the grill, the user winds the handles 30,32 in, say, a clockwise direction which, in turn, causes the leading edge 56 of each handle to exert force against the trailing edge 57 of its respective first scissors arm 22 in a forward'direction, whereby the lower end of each first scissors arm 22 slides along its respective slot 52 in the forward direction.

This movement of the first scissors arm 22, in cooperation with the rotation of the lower end of the second scissors arm 24 at a fixed position of the bracket 46, the rotation of the upper end of the first scissors arm 22 at a fixed position of the grill 16,. and the sliding movement of the upper end of the second scissors arm 24 under the grill 16, all of which is facilitated by the scissors pin 26 which pivotally interconnects the scissors arms, enables scissors movement of each scissors assembly 18,20 to an expanded position.

In order to lower the grill 16, the user winds the handles 30,32 in an anticlockwise direction, whereby the lower end of the first scissors arm 22 slides along the slot 52 in a rearward direction and enables scissors movement of each scissors assembly 18,20 to a retracted position.

0 SThe barbeque 70 shown in Figs. 4,5,6,7 and 10 has a box shaped heating en, vessel 72 supported above the ground by vertical legs 74. Features of the barbeque 70 and its grill height adjusting apparatus which are similar to the features described above with reference to Figs. 1,2 3, and 8 are identified in f3 Figs. 4 to 7 with like numerals to represent like purpose and function.

It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in details of design and construction of the grill height adjusting apparatus for a barbeque described above without departing from the scope or ambit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A grill height adjusting apparatus for use with a barbeque, the apparatus comprising: 3 movable handle means, -i at least one scissors assembly adapted to support a cooking grill over a heating vessel of the barbeque, and to move between a retracted position C' and an expanded position, means for converting movement of the handle means in a first direction into movement of the or each scissors assembly towards the expanded position, and in a second direction into movement of the or each scissors assembly towards the retracted position, whereby the grill is furthest from the vessel when the or each scissors assembly has reached the expanded position, and is closest to the vessel when the or each scissors assembly has reached the retracted position.

2. The grill height adjusting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the handle means comprises at least one winding handle that is rotatably mounted to the heating vessel.

3. The grill height adjusting apparatus of claim 2 wherein the or each winding handle has a winding portion at a first end thereof for gripping by a user, and a threaded shaft portion extending perpendicularly to the winding portion at a second end thereof, the threaded shaft portion screwably engaging a threaded nut mounted to the heating vessel. b 11 U S4. The grill height adjusting apparatus of claim 3 wherein there are two Sscissors assemblies, each comprising a first scissors arm and a second scissors arm, the first and second scissors arms being pivotally interconnected intermediate their ends for enabling scissors movement of 3 each scissors assembly. ¢In The grill height adjusting apparatus of claim 4 wherein there are two winding handles, one for each scissors assembly.

6. The grill height adjusting apparatus of claim 5 wherein the threaded shaft portion has a leading edge that abuts against a trailing edge of a sliding portion at the lower end of the first scissors arm of each scissors assembly, the sliding portion being adapted to slide within a track in a forward direction under force exerted by the leading edge against the trailing edge when each handle is wound in a first direction, and in a rearward direction under the weight of at least each scissors assembly when each handle is wound in a second direction. 7 The grill height adjusting apparatus of claim 6 wherein the track is a slot.

8. The grill height adjusting apparatus of claim 7 wherein an upper end of the first scissors arm is rotatably mounted to a fixed position of the grill, a lower end of a second scissors arm is rotatably mounted at a fixed position relative to the heating vessel, and an upper end of the second scissors arm slidably supports an underside portion of the grill. S9. The grill height adjusting apparatus of claim 8 wherein the upper end of Ccr the first scissors arm is rotatably mounted by a U-bolt to a cross member of the grill. n

10. The grill height adjusting apparatus of claim 9 wherein the apparatus ci includes at least one bracket mounted across the heating vessel, the or each bracket defining the slot therewithin, the mounting location for the C threaded nut, and the fixed position at which the lower end of the second scissors arm is rotatably mounted.

11. A barbeque comprising a heating vessel, a grill, and the grill height adjusting apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 12 A grill height adjusting apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 13 th day of December 2005 SILVANA FERRARO Patent Attorneys for the Applicant I.P. Monopoly Services.