Inset frames for supporting cooking accessories in cookboxes of grills

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12357124-B2
Application number	US-202117472320-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2021
Priority date	Dec 2, 2020
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

Abstract

Example inset frames configured to interchangeably support cooking accessories of various shapes and sizes within a cookbox of a grill are described. An example inset frame is configured to be positioned within a cookbox of a grill. The inset frame comprises a support lattice configured to interchangeably support a rectangular cooking accessory and a circular cooking accessory within the cookbox of the grill.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A grill, comprising:
a cookbox;
a rectangular cooking accessory positioned within the cookbox, the rectangular cooking accessory having a planar bottom surface; and
an inset frame positioned within the cookbox, the inset frame including:
a first support rod;
a second support rod spaced apart from and arranged parallel to the first support rod; and
a support lattice coupled to and extending between the first support rod and the second support rod, the support lattice supporting the rectangular cooking accessory within the cookbox, the support lattice including one or more curved rods defining a central opening having a circular profile, the central opening located between the first support rod and the second support rod, the planar bottom surface of the rectangular cooking accessory extending fully across the central opening and being supported by the one or more curved rods, the first support rod and the second support rod extending above and laterally bounding the planar bottom surface of the rectangular cooking accessory such that the first support rod and the second support rod restrict lateral movement of the planar bottom surface of the rectangular cooking accessory relative to the support lattice, the support lattice configured to interchangeably support the rectangular cooking accessory and a circular cooking accessory within the cookbox, the support lattice further configured such that the central opening receives a portion of the circular cooking accessory when the circular cooking accessory is positioned on the support lattice.

2. The grill of claim 1 , wherein the rectangular cooking accessory is a rectangular sear grate, a rectangular cooking stone, a rectangular griddle, a rectangular grilling basket, or a rectangular cooking grate.

3. The grill of claim 1 , wherein the circular cooking accessory is a circular Dutch oven, a circular wok, a circular pot, or a circular grilling basket.

4. The grill of claim 1 , wherein the first support rod and the second support rod each include a first end and a second end located opposite the first end, the first end positioned on a front rail of the cookbox, the second end positioned on a rear rail of the cookbox.

5. The grill of claim 1 , further comprising a filler grate positioned within the cookbox, wherein the support lattice concurrently supports the rectangular cooking accessory and the filler grate within the cookbox.

6. The grill of claim 5 , wherein the filler grate includes a downwardly extending support flange disposed in a recess of the support lattice, the support flange configured to assist in positioning the filler grate relative to the inset frame.

7. The grill of claim 5 , wherein the filler grate is positioned on the support lattice at a location forward of the rectangular cooking accessory.

8. The grill of claim 5 , wherein the filler grate is positioned on the support lattice at a location rearward of the rectangular cooking accessory.

9. The grill of claim 1 , wherein the support lattice is configured such that the central opening receives and circumferentially bounds a base or docking feet of the circular cooking accessory when the circular cooking accessory is positioned on the support lattice.

10. The grill of claim 1 , further comprising a cooking grate located within the cookbox, wherein the inset frame located in a side-by-side arrangement relative to the cooking grate within the cookbox.

11. The grill of claim 10 , wherein the support lattice supports the rectangular cooking accessory at a vertical elevation within the cookbox that matches a corresponding vertical elevation of the cooking grate within the cookbox.

12. The grill of claim 10 , wherein the support lattice supports the rectangular cooking accessory at a vertical elevation that causes the rectangular cooking accessory and the cooking grate to collectively provide a planar and continuous cooking surface extending laterally between a right sidewall and a left sidewall of the cookbox.

13. The grill of claim 12 , further comprising a filler grate positioned within the cookbox, wherein the support lattice concurrently supports the rectangular cooking accessory and the filler grate within the cookbox, the filler grate forming part of the planar and continuous cooking surface.

14. The grill of claim 13 , wherein the filler grate is positioned on the support lattice at a location forward or rearward of the rectangular cooking accessory.

15. The grill of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first support rod and the second support rod includes a recess formed along a corresponding length of the at least one of the first support rod and the second support rod, the recess receiving a laterally extending spacer tab of the cooking grate when the inset frame and the cooking grate are positioned in the side-by-side arrangement within the cookbox.

16. The grill of claim 15 , wherein the recess further receives a laterally extending spacer tab of the rectangular cooking accessory concurrently with the spacer tab of the cooking grate when the inset frame and the cooking grate are positioned in the side-by-side arrangement within the cookbox with the rectangular cooking accessory positioned on the support lattice of the inset frame.

17. The grill of claim 10 , wherein the inset frame and the cooking grate completely occupy an opening of the cookbox when the inset frame and the cooking grate are positioned in the side-by-side arrangement within the cookbox, wherein the opening is defined by a front wall, a rear wall, a right sidewall, and a left sidewall of the cookbox, wherein the inset frame occupies a first section of the opening and the cooking grate occupies a second section of the opening adjacent the first section when the inset frame and the cooking grate are positioned in the side-by-side arrangement within the cookbox.

18. The grill of claim 1 , wherein the rectangular cooking accessory is a rectangular sear grate.

19. The grill of claim 1 , wherein the rectangular cooking accessory is a rectangular cooking stone.

20. The grill of claim 19 , wherein the rectangular cooking stone includes a notched corner.

21. The grill of claim 1 , wherein the rectangular cooking accessory is a rectangular griddle.

22. The grill of claim 1 , wherein the rectangular cooking accessory is a rectangular cooking basket.

23. The grill of claim 22 , wherein the rectangular cooking basket includes a foot coupled to the first support rod or the second support rod of the inset frame to restrict lateral movement of the rectangular cooking basket relative to the inset frame.

24. The grill of claim 1 , wherein the central opening of the support lattice is configured to support a filler ring, and wherein the filler ring includes a central opening configured to support a wok.

25. The grill of claim 1 , wherein the support lattice is coupled to respective undersides of and located at least partially below the first support rod and the second support rod, wherein the one or more curved rods are located at least partially below the respective undersides of the first support rod and the second support rod.

Assignees

• Weber Stephen Products Llc

Inventors

• Donnelly Brian C
• Cerny Shannon Ella
• Hyde Christian
• Mcvey Cassandra A S
• Mecker William Alexander
• Stohl Michelle

Classifications

• A47J37/0704

  with horizontal fire box · CPC title

• A47J37/0694

  Broiling racks · CPC title

• A47J37/0786 Primary

  Accessories · CPC title