Grill with grill hood

Abstract

The invention relates to a grill (1) with a support surface (12) for receiving grilled food from above and with a grill hood (13) for enclosing the support surface (12) laterally and from above, wherein the grill hood (13) is designed to be movable, preferably pivotable, relative to the support surface (12) and to be moved back and forth between a position enclosing the support surface (12) and a position exposing the support surface (12). The grill (1) is characterized by an operating element (14) which is designed to be operated by a person and by a movement element (16) which is designed to move the grill hood (13) in response to the person operating the operating element (14).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a grill with a grill hood.

[0002] Grilling has long been a traditional method of preparing food. Grilling essentially cooks the food through radiant heat, roasting it on the surface. Thorough cooking is achieved through heat conduction, also known as conduction, from the surface of the food into the food.

[0003] Grilling can be done over an open fire, which is why it is usually done outdoors. Open fires can be created using combustible materials such as charcoal or gas. The heat source is a wood fire, embers, or a gas flame. Grilling outdoors can be quite laborious, as a grill, fuel, a gas source, and the food to be grilled must all be transported outside, set up, and operated, and then later dismantled and removed.

[0004] Alternatively, grilling can be done using an electrically operated grill with electric heating coils, which can also be referred to as an electric grill. This has the advantage that, since an open flame is avoided, this type of grilling can also be done indoors. Mobile or stationary electric grills can be used for this purpose. However, heating outdoor grills with an electrically operated heat source is also known.

[0005] All barbecues usually have a grill grate, which is usually made of metal. The grill grate has an upward-facing support surface on which the food to be grilled can be placed. The support surface is usually formed by a plurality of webs, which are usually aligned parallel to one another and spaced from one another by openings or slots, which are also usually parallel to one another. During operation, the grill grate is arranged with its lower side opposite the support surface above the respective heat source, which can be an open fire or, in the case of an electric barbecue, an electrically operated heater, as described above. The heat or energy given off by the heat source during operation.Heat can therefore rise from below to the grill grate and both heat the grill grate and thus affect the food being grilled, as well as reach the food directly through the openings.

[0006] It is also common practice for these types of grills to enclose the area above the grill grate with the support surface using a grill hood to trap heat there, thus increasing the temperature or shortening the cooking time. Due to the required heat resistance, grill hoods are usually made of metal. The grill hood can be removable, which is usually the case with kettle grills with a circular support surface, or it can be attached to the grill frame in a movable manner, particularly pivoting or folding backwards.

[0007] In any case, a handle of the grill hood is grasped and moved with at least one hand by a person operating the grill to attach or detach it, or to swing it back and forth. Accordingly, in any case, one of the user's hands is required or must be free to move the grill hood.

[0008] The disadvantage of this is that, at least at this moment, only the user's other hand can be used for other activities such as holding the food to be prepared on a plate, platter, tray or the like, which may not be sufficient for larger or unwieldy and relatively heavily loaded plates and the like. This also applies to plates and the like loaded with a relatively large piece of food such as pulled pork. In any case, the plate and the like, which is carried with both hands, must be put down in order to have one hand free to move the grill hood, which requires effort from the person as the user. The plate must also be put down appropriately, which requires a corresponding storage option, which not every grill offers.

[0009] Another disadvantage is that with relatively large grills, grill grates or support surfaces, such a grill hood can be correspondingly large and therefore heavy. This can require the user to move it using both hands, which therefore both have to be free of objects. Moving the grill hood can also be perceived as strenuous and therefore annoying by the user. This can be particularly true for physically weaker or physically limited users. Furthermore, a relatively large grill hood can also require the user to have a certain arm length in order to reach the handle of the grill hood, also called the hood handle, throughout the entire movement and thus to be able to control the movement continuously, especially with a grill hood that can be swung back. Likewise, the hood handle must be accessible to the person using the grill, especially when it is swung back.

[0010] Another disadvantage of hinged or retractable grill hoods is that the user has to stretch their hand or arm completely from front to back across the support surface to reach and grip the hood handle in the retracted position. This can be uncomfortable for the user due to the heat above the support surface. The user may also touch the grill, its support surface, or its edge with their clothing from the front, which can lead to soiling of the grill, its support surface, or its edge.

[0011] Another disadvantage is that the hood handle itself can become contaminated, which can transfer to the user's hand when grasping the handle. Such contaminants can include, in particular, grease, sauce, or marinade from the grilled food, whether it's still cooking or already cooked, as well as soot.

[0012] The invention therefore addresses the problem of providing a barbecue with a grill hood that offers improved usability and mobility for the user. In particular, the user should be relieved of the burden of grasping and moving the grill hood themselves. This should be possible, in particular, with barbecues with a pivoting grill hood, particularly one that pivots backwards away from the user. In any case, this should be as simple, cost-effective, compact, and / or intuitive to use as possible. At the very least, an alternative option for such a barbecue with a grill hood should be provided.

[0013] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a grill having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention emerge from the following dependent claims.

[0014] The invention thus relates to a grill with a support surface for receiving grilled food from above and a grill hood for enclosing the support surface laterally and from above, wherein the grill hood is designed to be movable, preferably pivotable, relative to the support surface, so that it can be moved back and forth between a position enclosing the support surface and a position exposing the support surface. The movable connection between the grill hood and the support surface can preferably be made via a frame of the grill, which receives the support surface and relative to which the grill hood is movable and in particular pivotable. The support surface can preferably be designed to be removable, which can make cleaning easier. The grill can be heated in any possible way, in particular with fire, using coal or charcoal, as well as gas or electricity.

[0015] The grill device according to the invention is characterized by an operating element which is designed to be operated by a person, and a movement element which is designed to move the grill hood in response to the person operating the operating element. The operating element can be any mechanical, electrical and / or electronic element which can experience or recognize operation by a person as the user. This can be done mechanically by means of a lever, a pedal or the like. This can be done electrically by means of a switch, a lever or the like, in particular by closing and opening a contact. This can be done electronically by means of a touch sensor, a light barrier or the like. In any case, an operation can be carried out by the person which directly or indirectly triggers or causes a movement of the grill hood in one direction or the other.can cause.

[0016] Thus, according to the invention, an automatic movement of the grill hood, in particular an opening of the grill hood by an automatic movement from the enclosing position to the releasing position, can take place, so that the user can be relieved of this movement. Accordingly, the person's hands do not have to be free in order to have to grasp and move the grill hood themselves, in particular in order to open the grill hood. This can enable the person to move the grill hood or have it opened even with laden hands. This can also relieve the person of the need to exert the corresponding force to move the grill hood. Furthermore, the person's physical strength and / or arm length are no longer important in order to be able to reach and move the grill hood and, in particular, to open it. Furthermore, the person can no longer get dirty or burnt on the grill hood, since the grill hood no longer has to be touched to move it.

[0017] In any case, this operation can be performed by the person without having to have a free hand. This can be achieved, in particular, by operating the person's foot, which can be done by pressing or stepping on a pedal or the like, or by pressing or touching a corresponding sensor or by interrupting a light barrier or the like, which can be detected by a control unit of the grill and trigger the movement.

[0018] According to one aspect of the invention, the control element is designed to be operated by the person's foot, preferably as a foot switch or foot sensor, preferably as an infrared foot barrier. This can represent a concrete implementation of a control element, as already mentioned. A foot control element, which cannot be accidentally reached or triggered, can ensure conscious or deliberate operation by the person.

[0019] According to a further aspect of the invention, the grill device further comprises an actuating element which is designed to start a movement of the grill hood from the enclosing position into the releasing position in response to the person operating the operating element, wherein the moving element is designed to continue the started movement into the releasing position.

[0020] In other words, the person's operation can initiate the movement from the enclosing position, which can be continued and completed by a corresponding movement element. This can be achieved, in particular, by means of appropriate mechanical and / or hydraulic or pneumatic means, as described in more detail below. This can enable an independent opening movement, which can occur relatively smoothly and, in particular, end slowly, which can be perceived by the user as particularly unobtrusive and thus particularly unobtrusive.

[0021] According to a further aspect of the invention, the actuating element comprises a pin configured to push the grill hood, preferably an edge of the grill hood, upwards. The movement element comprises a hydraulic lifting element and / or a spring element configured to move the grill hood into the release position, preferably to pivot it open, when the pin has pushed the grill hood upwards sufficiently. This may represent a concrete implementation possibility.

[0022] According to a further aspect of the invention, the grill device further comprises an actuating element which is designed to release a hold, preferably a lock, of the grill hood in the enclosing position in response to the person operating the operating element, wherein the released movement element is designed to carry out the movement into the releasing position.

[0023] This can be an alternative and comparatively simple implementation option by releasing a movement, especially one that is spring-loaded, and then executing it automatically. However, this can potentially lead to a jerky movement and, in particular, to a stop at the end of the movement, which may be unpleasant for the user. This can be prevented or at least reduced by appropriately dimensioning the movement force to be triggered.

[0024] According to a further aspect of the invention, the actuating element comprises a latch configured to hold the grill hood, preferably an edge of the grill hood, in the enclosing position. The movement element comprises a hydraulic lifting element and / or a spring element configured to move the grill hood into the release position, preferably pivoting it open, when the latch releases the grill hood. This may represent a concrete implementation possibility.

[0025] According to a further aspect of the invention, the movement element is designed as a drive element to carry out the movement from the enclosing position into the releasing position and / or from the releasing position into the enclosing position. Although this may require the effort of supplying the drive element with electricity, hydraulics or / or pneumatics, it does enable movement in both directions, i.e. to open the grill hood from the enclosing position into the releasing position and to close the grill hood from the releasing position into the enclosing position. This can also enable continuous movements between these two positions. This can increase comfort and the possibilities of use for the person, as will be described in more detail below.

[0026] According to a further aspect of the invention, the drive element is an electric motor, preferably a stepper motor. This can represent a concrete and comparatively simple way of implementing the drive element, although it requires an electrical power supply, which is already provided in an electric grill.

[0027] According to a further aspect of the invention, the drive element is designed to execute the movement for the duration of the person operating the operating element. Thus, the person as user can initiate or start the movement by means of the drive element by operating the operating element and have it continue as long as the person is operating the operating element. When the person stops operating the operating element, the movement of the drive element also ends. This can enable the person to precisely control the movement of the grill hood by means of the drive element and, in particular, to end the movement when the support surface is sufficiently exposed when the grill hood is being opened. This can prevent unnecessary or unintentional complete opening of the grill hood, which could result in heat escaping and being lost.

[0028] According to a further aspect of the invention, the drive element is designed to begin the movement when the person operates the control element in one position and to end it automatically when the other position is reached. This can relieve the person as user of having to operate the control element for longer than necessary to trigger the movement, which can be more convenient for the person. Reaching the other position can be detected, for example, by means of an end stop switch or from the parameters of the drive element, in particular as an electric drive, and the control unit can react to this, i.e. end operation of the drive element.

[0029] Several embodiments of the invention are shown purely schematically in the drawings and are described in more detail below. Fig. 1 a perspective view of a grill according to the invention according to a first embodiment in an enclosing position of a grill hood of a support surface of the food to be grilled when an operating element is operated by a person's foot; Fig. 2 the representation of the Fig. 1 in a releasing position of the grill hood; Fig. 3 a perspective view of a grill according to the invention according to a second embodiment in the enclosing position of the grill hood of the support surface of the food to be grilled; Fig. 4 the representation of the Fig. 3 in the release position of the grill hood when a control element is operated by a person’s foot; and Fig. 5 the representation of the Fig. 3 in the enclosing position of the grill hood when the control element is operated by the person's foot.

[0030] The figures above are viewed in Cartesian coordinates. There is a longitudinal axis X, which can also be referred to as depth X or length X. Perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X extends a transverse axis Y, which can also be referred to as width Y. Perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis X and the transverse axis Y extends a vertical axis Z, which can also be referred to as height Z and corresponds to the direction of gravity. The longitudinal axis X and the transverse axis Y together form the horizontal X, Y, which can also be referred to as the horizontal plane X, Y.

[0031] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a grilling device 1 according to the invention according to a first embodiment in an enclosing position of a grill hood 13 of a support surface 12 of the food to be grilled when an operating element 14 is operated by a foot 2 of a person. Fig. 2 shows the representation of the Fig. 1 in a releasing position.

[0032] The grill 1 has a frame 10, at the lower end of which a foot 11 is arranged at each corner so that the grill 1 can stand securely on a surface (not shown). Along the vertical axis Z in the upper region of the frame 10, the aforementioned support surface 12 for holding grilled food (not shown), which is formed by a grate or a grill grate (not labeled), is arranged on the frame 10 along the vertical axis Z and can be removed from above. Below the support surface 12, a heat source (not shown) is arranged on the frame 10, which in the first exemplary embodiment is a tray (not labeled) for holding charcoal to generate a flame or fire.

[0033] In order to keep the heat of the fire in the area above the support surface 12 and thus cook the food faster and more evenly, the aforementioned grill hood 13 is provided. This cuboid-shaped hood is open downwards along the vertical axis Z and is pivotally attached to a lower edge (not designated) of the rear surface (not designated) by means of a hinge (not shown) to the corresponding rear edge (not designated) of the frame 10 next to the support surface 12. The pivot axis (not shown) of the grill hood 13 runs along the transverse axis Y.

[0034] In order to relieve the user of having to move the grill hood 13 by hand, according to the invention, according to the first exemplary embodiment, the aforementioned operating element 14 is arranged as a foot switch 14 between the feet 11 of the grill device 1, so that the user can reach it with one foot and press or step down from above along the vertical axis Z. As a result, a rod (not designated) can be moved directly upwards about a pivot axis (not shown) of the foot switch 14 along the vertical axis Z and, at its upper end, an actuating element 15 in the form of a pin 15 or a metal pin 15 can press from below against the edge (not designated) of the grill hood 13 as an actuating movement A, which edge lies opposite the hinge of the grill hood 13 along the longitudinal axis X. As a result, the closed grill hood 13, which is thus in the enclosing position, can be lifted slightly upwards relative to the support surface 12.

[0035] This small actuating movement A along the vertical axis Z upwards is sufficient to overcome a point from which a pair of moving elements 16 in the form of hydraulic lifting elements 16, cf. Fig. 2, can apply sufficient force to pivot the grill hood 13 completely upwards against gravity along the vertical axis Z into the release position by means of an opening movement B. Thus, the support surface 12, including the food being grilled, can be released independently for the person as user, without the person having to have a free hand to grasp and move the grill hood 13. This can relieve the person of this strain and avoid the risk of burns and soiling.

[0036] To close the grill hood 13 from the released position back into the enclosing position, according to the first embodiment of the grill device 1 according to the invention, the person must still act manually and push the grill hood 13 down again using a handle (not shown) against the force of the pair of hydraulic lifting elements 16. There, the grill hood 13 is automatically held by its own weight.

[0037] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a grilling device 1 according to the invention according to a second embodiment in the enclosing position of the grill hood 13 of the support surface 12 of the food to be grilled. Fig. 4 shows the representation of the Fig. 3 in the releasing position of the grill hood 13 when operating a control element 14 by a foot 2 of a person. Fig. 5 shows the representation of the Fig.3 in the enclosing position of the grill hood 13 when the control element 14 is operated by the person's foot 2.

[0038] In this case, a foot sensor 14 in the form of an infrared foot barrier 14 is provided as an operating element 14 in the lower area of the frame 10 between the feet 11 of the grill 1, to be penetrated and thus operated or triggered by the person's foot 2. If this is the case, this is detected by a control unit (not shown) of the grill 1, and in response, a drive element 16 in the form of an electric motor 16 as a stepper motor 16 is operated into the release position.

[0039] This allows the grill hood to move directly from the enclosing position to the releasing position as an opening movement B, and alternatively, vice versa, from the releasing position to the enclosing position as a closing movement. This can be triggered by interrupting the infrared foot barrier 14 in one position and carried out automatically by the control unit until the other position is reached. This allows both movements to be carried out independently and completely. The end of the respective movements can be detected by means of a sensor or switch (not shown) as an end stop, or by the control unit from at least one parameter of the electric motor 16, and then the power supply to the electric motor 16 can be terminated.

[0040] In this case, the heat source is designed to be electrically heated, so that an electrical supply for the control unit, for the infrared foot barrier 14 and for the electric motor 16 is already available. List of reference symbols (part of the description) X Longitudinal axis; Depth; Length Y transverse axis; width Z vertical axis; height X, Y Horizontal; horizontal plane A actuating movement B Opening movement 1 grill 10 frame 11 feet 12 Supporting surface for the food 13 Grill hood 14 Control element; foot switch; foot sensor; infrared foot barrier 15 Actuating element; (metal) pin 16 Moving element; hydraulic lifting element; drive element; electric motor; stepper motor 2 feet of the person

Claims

[1] Grill (1) with a support surface (12) for receiving grilled food from above and a grill hood (13) for enclosing the support surface (12) from the sides and from above, wherein the grill hood (13) is designed to be movable, preferably pivotable, relative to the support surface (12), so as to be moved back and forth between a position enclosing the support surface (12) and a position releasing the support surface (12), characterized by an operating element (14) which is designed to be operated by a person, and a movement element (16) which is designed to move the grill hood (13) in response to the person operating the control element (14). [2] Grilling device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the operating element (14) is designed to be operated by a foot (2) of the person, preferably as a foot switch (14) or as a foot sensor (14), preferably as an infrared foot barrier (14). [3] Grilling device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an actuating element (15) which is designed to start a movement of the grill hood (13) from the enclosing position to the releasing position in response to the person operating the operating element (14), wherein the movement element (16) is designed to continue the started movement into the releasing position. [4] Grilling device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the actuating element (15) has a pin (15) which is designed to push the grill hood (13), preferably an edge of the grill hood (13), upwards, wherein the movement element (16) comprises a hydraulic lifting element (16) and / or a spring element which is designed to move the grill hood (13) into the releasing position, preferably to pivot it open, when the pin (15) has pushed the grill hood (13) sufficiently far upwards. [5] Grilling device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an actuating element (15) which is designed to release a hold, preferably a lock, of the grill hood (13) in the enclosing position in response to the operation of the operating element (14) by the person, wherein the released movement element (16) is designed to carry out the movement into the releasing position. [6] Grilling device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the actuating element (15) has a latch which is designed to hold the grill hood (13), preferably an edge of the grill hood (13), in the enclosing position, wherein the movement element (16) comprises a hydraulic lifting element (16) and / or a spring element which is designed to move the grill hood (13) into the releasing position, preferably to pivot it open, when the latch releases the grill hood (13). [7] Grilling device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the movement element (16) is designed as a drive element (16) to carry out the movement from the enclosing position into the releasing position and / or from the releasing position into the enclosing position. [8] Grilling device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the drive element (16) is an electric motor (16), preferably a stepper motor (16). [9] Grilling device (1) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the drive element (16) is designed to carry out the movement for the duration of the operation of the operating element (14) by the person. [10] Grilling device (1) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the drive element (16) is designed to start the movement when the person operates the operating element (14) in one position and to end it automatically when the other position is reached.

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