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  Barbeque grillThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070044785. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] A portable barbeque is disclosed in White, U.S. Pat. No. 4,046,132, Malafouris, U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,335 and Malafouris, U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,992. This prior art barbeque has a pair of fuel trays that hold charcoal or a similar fuel. The trays are rotatably joined for movement between an open position for cooking and a closed position for storage. In addition, when the fuel trays are rotated to their closed position the fuel in the trays will be extinguished. Each tray has a pair of grill brackets having multiple slots formed in them which hold the grills which food is cooked on. The grills are movable between slots to regulate the cooking temperature. [0002] This prior art barbeque has several shortcomings. First, it can be difficult to insert the grills into the slots in the grill brackets when the unit is in use and is hot. In addition, if the grill is not fully inserted into the slots, it may not become seated in the slots and may not be at the proper angle. This can be important when the grill is inserted in the lower most slots because the grill is placed there to hold the fuel in the fuel tray when the grill is closed to extinguish the fuel, and if it is not seated properly it may not be possible to move the fuel trays to their fully closed position. In addition, the grill brackets are attached to the fuel trays by riveting and after repeated use they can become loose and rotate to where they will not receive the grill. The grill brackets in opposed food trays are offset from one another to allow them to nest when the fuel trays are moved to their closed position. If fuel drops between a grill bracket and the side of the fuel tray, it will interfere with the grill bracket in the opposed fuel tray and the unit cannot be closed. [0003] In this prior art barbeque, fuel stops are cast in the bottoms of the fuel trays, near the ends that abut one another, to hold the fuel in the fuel trays when they are rotated to their closed position. With time, these fuel stops bum out and are no longer effective. In addition, even when the fuel stops are intact, the fuel bunches up against them when the unit is closed. Having the fuel remain more evenly spread over the fuel trays would be desirable but having a second row of fuel stops located intermediate in the fuel tray would prevent placing parts of the barbeque in the fuel trays when the barbeque is packaged for sale. [0004] Finally, the grills in the prior art barbeque of this type are installed and removed from the grill brackets by inserting the opposed fingers of a handle around the outer edge of the grill. However, if the fingers squeezed the grill tightly enough to pull it out of the slots, it is difficult to remove the handle from the grill without accidentally pulling the grill away from the grill brackets. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] The barbeque of the subject invention includes a single grill bracket for each fuel tray. The grill bracket has a base which is removably attached to the bottom of the fuel tray and upright supports at each end of the base. The base and supports are a single unitary element. Slots located in the supports receive a grill and support it above fuel located in the fuel trays. [0006] The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a barbeque embodying the subject invention. [0008] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1. [0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the barbeque, similar to FIG. 1, with the grill removed to show hidden detail. [0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a grill bracket which is an element of the subject invention. [0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fence which is an element of the subject invention. [0012] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a grill which is an element of the subject invention. [0013] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing how the grill is removed from the barbeque. [0014] FIGS. 8 and 9 are bottom views showing how the handle use to remove he grill is removed from the grill. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0015] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a portable barbeque 10 has two fuel trays 12 each of which is rotatably attached to a frame 11 which carries a central lighter drawer 14. Fixed legs 16 are attached to each side of the frame 11, and rotatable legs 18 are attached to the outer end of each fuel tray. The fuel trays rotate between an open position, shown in the drawings, where the barbeque can be used for cooking, and a closed position where the rims 20 of the fuel trays abut one another. In this closed position, the rotatable legs are rotated 90 degrees and can be used as a handle to carry the device. As is explained in U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,335, which is incorporated herein by reference, when the fuel trays are in their closed position, charcoal located in the fuel trays can be ignited by building a fire in the lighter draw 14. In addition, when the fuel trays are rotated to their closed position after the cooking is completed, fuel in the fuel trays can be extinguished by closing the openings 22 at the outer ends of the fuel trays. [0016] Mounted in each fuel tray is a grill bracket 24 which supports a grill 26 at selected distances above the fuel in order to regulate the cooking temperature at the grill. Referring now also to FIG. 4, each grill bracket 24 includes a base 28 which is attached to the fuel tray 12 at the end of the fuel tray that is attached to the frame 11. The base preferably is semi-permanently attached to fuel tray but is removable when it becomes necessary to replace the grill bracket. This is accomplished in the embodiment illustrated by placing holes 29 in the base and attaching it to the fuel tray with bolts 31. [0017] Located at each end of the base 28, and extending outwardly from it at 90 degrees, is a support 30. Each support contains a plurality of slots 32 which are sized to snugly receive one of the tabs 34 which is located at each side of the grill at its inside edge. The depth of the slots 32 becomes progressively larger moving from the outer extremity of the support toward the base 28. Each slot 32 is defined by a top face 34 and a bottom face 36 and the bottom face is larger than the top face. The longer bottom face facilitates insertion of the grill into the slots by resting the grill on the bottom face at an angle and then rotating it into place in the slot. The bottom face 37 of the bottom most slot 38 is even longer. In addition to making it easier to insert the grill into this bottom most slot, having a long bottom face ensures that the grill is fully seated in the slot and not angularly offset from where it should be. This is important because the grill is placed in the bottom most slot 38 when the fuel trays are moved to their closed position and if the grill is not fully seated, the fuel trays cannot be fully closed. Preferably the depth of the bottom face 36 of the bottom most slot 38 is at least 15% greater than the depth of the top face 40. Ideally, the depth of the bottom face would be approximately 50% greater than the depth of the top face. [0018] Also located on the base 28 are a plurality of fuel stops 42 which extend outwardly from the base at 90 degrees. Finally, fuel blocks 44 extend sideways from each support 30 to prevent pieces of charcoal from getting lodged between the support and the side wall of the fuel trays which can prevent the fuel trays from being rotated to their closed positions. This can occur because the supports 30 on the grill bracket 24 located in one fuel tray are offset from the supports on the grill bracket in the other fuel tray to prevent them from interfering with one another when the grill trays are moved to their closed position. Pieces of fuel lodged between a support and the side of the fuel tray would interfere with the support on the grill bracket and the opposed fuel tray. [0019] The grill brackets are a single unitary element which is attached to the fuel trays 12 through its base 28. This prevents the supports 30 from rotating if the attachment bolts 31 become loose. Also, by having the fuel stops 42 be part of the grill bracket rather than being integral with the fuel trays, they can be replaced when they become worn. [0020] Also located in each fuel tray 12 is a fence 44, FIGS. 3 and 5. The fence 44 has a base 46 which is similar to the base 28 except that it does not have the holes 29. Located along one edge of the fence 44 are a plurality of fuel stops 48 which are similar to the fuel stops 38 on the grill bracket 24. The fence 44 is releasably attached to the fuel tray 12 at approximately its midpoint by inserting it under clips 50 which are attached to the fuel tray, FIGS. 2 and 3. While the clips 50 work well for this purpose, the fence could be releasably attached to the fuel tray in many other ways. Continue reading... Full patent description for Barbeque grill Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Barbeque grill patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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