OUTDOOR-GRILL

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an outdoor grill, in particular a gas grill, according to claim 1.

[0002] Outdoor grills are enjoying increasing popularity, especially in the form of gas grills in private homes and at corporate events. Gas-powered outdoor grills can avoid long preheating times and quickly provide different temperature levels, especially in different temperature zones, for a truly luxurious grilling experience.

[0003] One annoying chore that remains with outdoor grills is cleaning them after use. To make this easier, outdoor grills can be set to full power after cooking, allowing the grill grate and the parts around the burners to heat up so much that any food residue adhering to them chars. The charred food residue can then be brushed off with a brush. However, there are still components that need to be cleaned, such as grease trays and surfaces not in the immediate heat area that are soiled with food residue or grease. Grease trays have the additional disadvantage that the grease collected in them can overflow, at least when they are hot, if the grease tray is not emptied in time or if it is moved.

[0004] US 1 114 666 A discloses an outdoor grill having the features summarized in the preamble of claim 1.

[0005] The present invention is based on the object of providing an outdoor grill, in particular a gas grill, in which the cleaning effort is reduced and the risk of unintentional leakage of hot, liquid fat is reduced.

[0006] The object of the invention is achieved by an outdoor grill having the features of claim 1. The dependent claims describe advantageous and particularly useful embodiments of the invention.

[0007] An outdoor grill according to the invention, which is particularly designed as a gas grill, comprises a base frame and a cooking chamber arranged on the base frame. At least one infrared burner is provided with a grill grate arranged above the infrared burner. The infrared burner comprises an infrared heat-radiating thermoblock positioned beneath the grill grate with the thermoblock top facing the grill grate. The surface area of ​​the thermoblock top is smaller than the surface covered by the grill grate. The infrared burner is preferably designed as a gas-powered infrared burner.

[0008] According to the invention, a funnel is provided between the grill grate and the thermoblock. This funnel tapers in the direction from the grill grate to the thermoblock. It has an outlet surface facing the thermoblock that is equal to or smaller than the surface area of ​​the thermoblock top and is completely covered by the thermoblock top. In other words, the channel enclosed by the funnel decreases in cross-section from its inlet on the grill grate side to its outlet on the thermoblock side and directs all fat entering it toward the top of the thermoblock, preventing fat from dripping past the thermoblock. This does not preclude the possibility of individual drops of fat remaining in the funnel.

[0009] The enclosed channel is advantageously completely bounded by side walls which are arranged obliquely, i.e. neither vertically nor horizontally, at least in the section of the taper.

[0010] The invention directs the fat from the food cooked on the grill grate to the thermoblock, which, for example, has a temperature of more than 600°C, 700°C, or 800°C, where the fat is then burned without residue. The funnel also collects fat that drips from areas of the grill grate that, when viewed from above, are located outside the thermoblock or outside its upper surface. The funnel also helps to better retain heat below the grill grate.

[0011] Preferably, the funnel has an entry surface facing the grill grate that is larger than or equal to the surface covered by the grill grate. This ensures that the funnel captures all the fat dripping from the grill grate.

[0012] The funnel can be positioned at a distance from the thermoblock, protecting it from excessive heat input. However, the funnel preferably touches the thermoblock near its exit surface. This allows the exit surface to be at least approximately or exactly as large as the top of the thermoblock, without the risk of grease or oil running past the sides of the thermoblock.

[0013] The thermoblock is made primarily of ceramic and can have a large number of channels through which fuel gas flows.

[0014] It's particularly preferable for the funnel and, in particular, the grill grate to be removable in the outdoor grill. This makes them easier to clean, for example, in a dishwasher.

[0015] In particular, the outdoor grill lacks a removable grease tray positioned beneath the thermoblock. In particular, there is no grease tray at all beneath the thermoblock.

[0016] According to the invention, the outdoor grill has a side table in which the infrared burner is provided.

[0017] The side table is pivotable about a horizontal axis and is at least indirectly connected to the base frame. It can be pivoted from a horizontal use position into a substantially vertical storage position. The storage position can, for example, be offset by an angle of more than 70 degrees or 80 degrees from the use position. In particular, the storage position is achieved by pivoting the side table upward from the use position.

[0018] The articulated connection can also be provided on a wall of the cooking chamber that is connected to the base frame or arranged on it.

[0019] The invention, with its infrared burner integrated into the pivoting side table, prevents fat from escaping from the side table when the side table is pivoted.

[0020] Preferably, at least one main burner or a plurality of main burners are provided in the cooking chamber below a first grilling surface, and the grill grate above the infrared burner forms a second grilling surface. Thus, the infrared burner can also be referred to as an additional burner.

[0021] For example, the funnel can have a rectangular exit surface and, in particular, a rectangular entry surface. This makes it particularly suitable for a grill grate with a rectangular surface covered by the grill grate, and especially for a thermoblock with a rectangular thermoblock top.

[0022] In order to be able to clean the funnel in a dishwasher, it is preferably made of a dishwasher-safe material or is fully coated with such a material.

[0023] The funnel preferably has a radially outwardly projecting peripheral edge or individual radially outwardly projecting projections, with which it is mounted in the outdoor grill, in particular in the side table. For example, the peripheral edge or projections are provided at the upper end of the funnel.

[0024] The invention will be described below using an exemplary embodiment and the figures.

[0025] They show: Figure 1 shows an outdoor grill according to the invention with an infrared burner in a side part; Figure 2 shows the side part from the Figure 1 with inserted funnel; Figure 3 the side part from the Figure 1 with the funnel removed.

[0026] In the Figure 1 an outdoor gas grill is shown which has a base frame 1 with a front side 1.1, a back side 1.2 and two opposing outer sides 1.3, 1.4 which are arranged perpendicular to the front side 1.1 and the back side 1.2.

[0027] The base frame 1 is movable on wheels 2, wherein in the illustrated embodiment, a wheel 2 is provided at each of the four lower corners of the base frame 1. According to an alternative embodiment, only two wheels 2 could be provided in the area of ​​only one outer side 1.3, 1.4 and at least one, two or more feet in the area of ​​the other outer side 1.3, 1.4, so that the outdoor gas grill can be moved like a wheelbarrow with the opposite wheels 2 by lifting the outer side 1.3, 1.4 with at least one foot. In particular, two wheels 2, for example on one of the outer sides 1.3, 1.4, can be pivoted about a vertical axis, and the other two wheels 2 can be connected in a rotationally fixed manner about a vertical axis.

[0028] A cooking chamber 3 is arranged on the base frame 1. This chamber is covered by a hood 11 that can be pivoted upwards and backwards along a horizontal axis 10 to allow access to the cooking chamber. The hood 11 has, for example, a viewing window that provides a view into the cooking chamber 3 from the front.

[0029] A side table 7 is provided on each of the two outer sides 1.3, 1.4 of the base frame 1, wherein such a side table 7 can only have a storage function or can have suspensions for grilling utensils or can comprise a cooking device, such as a side cooker or a side grill.

[0030] In the illustrated embodiment, two swing doors 5 are provided on the front side 1.1 of the base frame 1, allowing access to the cabinet 4 formed by the base frame 1. The swing doors 5 can each be pivoted laterally outward about a vertical axis 6 to provide access to the interior of the cabinet 4. Instead of two swing doors 5, a single swing door 5 covering the front side 1.1 could also be provided.

[0031] In the Figures 2 and 3 A side table 7 of the outdoor grill is shown in more detail. The side table 7 is pivotable about a horizontal axis 8 upwards from a use position to a storage position and is connected to the base frame 1 in an articulated manner. As can be seen in particular from the Figure 3an infrared burner 20 is provided in the side part 7 to form a second grill surface 15 next to the first grill surface 13 in the cooking chamber 3, which is provided by the grill grate 21 above the infrared burner 20, see the Figure 2 .

[0032] The infrared burner 20 comprises an infrared heat-radiating thermoblock 22 made of a ceramic material. The thermoblock top 22.1 faces the grill grate 21.

[0033] The area 23 covered by the grill grate 21 is larger than the top side 22.1 of the thermoblock. In order to ensure that all fat dripping from the grill grate 21 is safely directed onto the top side 22.1 of the thermoblock, which has a temperature of 600°C, 700°C, 800°C or more, a funnel 24 is provided between the grill grate 21 and the thermoblock 22. The funnel 24 has a lower outlet surface 24.1 facing the thermoblock 22 and an upper inlet surface 24.2 facing the grill grate 21. The outlet surface 24.1 is smaller than the inlet surface 24.2. The inlet surface 24.2 is at least as large as the area 23 covered by the grill grate 21. The outlet surface 24.1 is at most as large as the top side 22.1 of the thermoblock.

[0034] The funnel 24 has a radially outwardly projecting peripheral edge 25 at its upper end, with which it can be placed in the side table 7 on a correspondingly opposite edge 26, which is set back in particular from an upper side of the side table 7. The grill grate 21 can then be placed directly on the edge 25 of the funnel 24. List of reference symbols

[0035] 1Base frame 1.1Front 1.2Rear 1.3Outside 1.4Outside 2Wheel 3Cooking chamber 4Cabinet 5Swinging door 6Vertical axis 7Side table 8Horizontal axis 10Horizontal axis 11Hood 13First grilling surface 14Main burner 15Second grilling surface 20Infrared burner 21Grilling grate 22Thermoblock 22.1Thermoblock top 23Surface 24Funnel 24.1Exit surface 24.2Entrance surface 25Rim 26Rim

Claims

1. An outdoor grill, in particular an outdoor gas grill, having at least one infrared burner (20) and one grill rack (21) arranged above the infrared burner (20); wherein the infrared burner (20) has a thermoblock (22), which emits infrared heat and which is positioned below the grill rack (21) with a thermoblock upper side (22.1) facing toward the grill rack (21), wherein an area of the thermoblock upper side (22.1) is smaller than an area (23) covered by the grill rack (21); wherein the outdoor grill comprises a base frame (1) and a cooking chamber (3) arranged on the base frame (1); characterized in that a funnel (24) is provided between the grill rack (21) and the thermoblock (22), which funnel tapers in the direction from the grill rack (21) toward the thermoblock (22) and has an exit area (24.1) facing toward the thermoblock (22), which is equal to or smaller than the area of the thermoblock upper side (22.1) and is completely covered by the thermoblock upper side (22.1); wherein the infrared burner (20) is arranged in a side table (7), which is pivotable from a horizontal usage position into a substantially vertical storage position, and which is at least indirectly connected to the base frame (1) in a manner articulated around a horizontal axis (8).

2. The outdoor grill as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the funnel (24) has an entry area (24.2) facing toward the grill rack (21), which is larger than or equal to the area (23) covered by the grill rack (21).

3. The outdoor grill as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the funnel (24) contacts the thermoblock (22) in the area of the exit area (24.1).

4. The outdoor grill as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the thermoblock (22) is produced from ceramic and has a plurality of channels through which combustion gas flows.

5. The outdoor grill as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the funnel (24) and in particular the grill rack (21) is / are inserted removably in the outdoor grill.

6. The outdoor grill as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the outdoor grill is free of a removable grease collection tray positioned below the thermoblock (22).

7. The outdoor grill as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one main burner (14) is provided below a first grill surface (13) in the cooking chamber (3) and the grill rack (21) forms a second grill surface (15).

8. The outdoor grill as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the funnel (24) has a rectangular exit area (24.1) and in particular a rectangular entry area (24.2).

9. The outdoor grill as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the funnel (24) is produced from a dishwasher-safe material or is coated over its entirety using such a material.

10. The outdoor grill as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the funnel (24) has a circumferential edge (15) protruding radially outward or individual projections protruding radially outward, using which it is mounted in the outdoor grill, in particular in the side table (7).