Cooking grill with electrical component protection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11089904-B2
Application number	US-201816015722-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2018
Priority date	Dec 23, 2015
Publication date	Aug 17, 2021
Grant date	Aug 17, 2021

Abstract

A grill or BBQ appliance that is generally intended for outdoor use has a pivoting hood disposed in hinged connection with a grill body, both of which are raised above a firebox that receives a food support grate. The hood may include various double wall configurations or cavities configured to protect wiring or electrical components such as lights or sensors.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A grilling apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
a grill body comprising a firebox adapted to burn a source of fuel, the firebox comprising an upper rim, the upper rim adapted to support a food grate along a lateral plane defining a food supporting region above the firebox between forward, rear, left, and right edges of the upper rim; and
a hood pivotably mounted to the grill body at a pivot positioned along a side of the grill body and pivotable above the food supporting region between a closed position and one or more open positions, wherein, in the closed position, the hood is spaced away and extends above a forward portion of the food supporting region, and wherein pivoting the hood toward the open position progressively uncovers at least a forward sub-portion of the forward portion of the food supporting region adjacent to the forward edge of the upper rim;
wherein the hood comprises
a front face positioned between a forward end and a rear end and right and left sides,
double wall portions defining an arm cavity, face cavity, and front cavity,
at least one arm defining the arm cavity and extending along one of the sides of the hood and pivotably coupling the hood to the pivot, wherein the arm cavity extends between the pivot and the face cavity and the face cavity underlays at least a portion of the front face of the hood,
one or more light modules mounted in the front cavity, wherein the front cavity is located at the forward end of the hood underlying the front face, wherein the front cavity positions forward of the forward edge of the upper rim when the hood is in the closed position, wherein the front cavity connects with the face cavity, and wherein wiring to conduct power to the one or more light modules extends from the pivot through the arm cavity and the face cavity to the front cavity.

2. A grilling apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
a grill body comprising a firebox adapted to burn a source of fuel, the firebox comprising an upper rim, the upper rim adapted to support a food grate along a lateral plane defining a food supporting region above the firebox between forward, rear, left, and right edges of the upper rim; and
a hood pivotably mounted to the grill body at a pivot positioned along a side of the grill body and pivotable above the food supporting region between a closed position and one or more open positions, wherein, in the closed position, the hood is spaced away and extends above a forward portion of the food supporting region, and wherein pivoting the hood toward the open position progressively uncovers at least a forward sub-portion of the forward portion of the food supporting region adjacent to the forward edge of the upper rim;
wherein the hood comprises
a front face positioned between a forward end and a rear end and right and left sides,
double wall portions defining an arm cavity, face cavity, and front cavity,
at least one arm that extends along one of the sides of the hood and that pivotably couples the hood to the pivot, and
one or light modules disposed along the hood,

wherein wiring to conduct power to the one or more light modules extends from the grill body to the hood through the pivot,
wherein the arm cavity is defined along the arm and extends between the pivot and the face cavity,
wherein the face cavity underlays at least a portion of the front face of the hood,
wherein the one or more light modules is mounted in the front cavity,
wherein the front cavity is located at the forward end of the hood underlying the front face and positions forward of the forward edge of the upper rim when the hood is in the closed position,
wherein the front cavity connects with the face cavity, and
wherein the wiring extends from the pivot through the arm cavity and the face cavity to the front cavity.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the one or more light modules are positioned to direct light from the front cavity along the interior side of the hood to illuminate the food supporting region while overhanging the food supporting region when the hood is in an open position.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a support grate positioned above a rear portion of the food support region, wherein, when the hood is in a fully open position, the one or more light modules is forward of the upper support grate.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a switch coupled to the wiring, the switch operable to control provision of power to the one or more light modules determined by angular position of the hood.

6. A grilling apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
a grill body comprising a firebox adapted to burn a source of fuel, the firebox comprising an upper rim, the upper rim adapted to support a food grate along a lateral plane defining a food supporting region above the firebox between forward, rear, left, and right edges of the upper rim; and
a hood pivotably mounted to the grill body at a pivot positioned along a side of the grill body and pivotable above the food supporting region between a closed position and one or more open positions, wherein, in the closed position, the hood is spaced away and extends above a forward portion of the food supporting region, and wherein pivoting the hood toward the open position progressively uncovers at least a forward sub-portion of the forward portion of the food supporting region adjacent to the forward edge of the upper rim;
wherein the hood comprises
a front face positioned between a forward end and a rear end and right and left sides, and
double wall portions defining an arm cavity, face cavity, and front cavity,
one or more light modules mounted in the front cavity, wherein the front cavity is located at the forward end of the hood underlying the front face, wherein the front cavity positions forward of the forward edge of the upper rim when the hood is in the closed position, and wherein wiring to conduct power to the one or more light modules extends from the pivot through the arm cavity and the face cavity to the front cavity; and

a switch coupled to the wiring, the switch operable to provide or terminate power to light module determined by angular position of the hood, wherein the switch includes a magnetic sensor, inductive sensor, or optical sensor to determine angular position of the hood.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising:
a rear housing comprising a rear cover extending above, and spaced away from, a rear portion of the food supporting region between the rear edge and at least a portion of the right and left edges of the upper rim, the rear housing further comprising rear, right, and left walls extending around at least the rear portion of the food supporting region between the rear cover and the upper rim;
an IR burner mounted along an upper portion of the rear housing under the rear cover and above the rear portion of the food supporting region, the IR burner directed at a downward angle toward the food supporting region.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the IR burner is selectively pivotable to adjust the downward angle.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the IR burner is selectively pivotable to adjust the downward angle through a range of motion covering approximately 12 degrees.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein, when the hood is in a fully open position, the light module is positioned forward of the IR burner.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising an upper food support grate positioned above the rear portion of the food support region, wherein when, the hood is in the fully open position, the light module is forward of the upper support grate.

Assignees

• Hestan Commercial Corp

Inventors

• Wenzel Hans F
• Nilssen Ray

Classifications

• A47J37/0781 Primary

  Barbecue tables, e.g. central grilling areas surrounded by an eating table · CPC title

• A47J37/067

  Horizontally disposed broiling griddles · CPC title

• A47J37/0635

  with reflectors · CPC title

• A47J37/0704

  with horizontal fire box · CPC title

• A47J37/0652

  with reflectors · CPC title