Transportable gas barbecue

Abstract

The invention relates to a transportable gas barbecue comprising at least one support device for heating food and / or products to be barbecued, at least one gas burner, and at least one housing, wherein: the housing can be reversibly transferred from a transport configuration to a use configuration; in the use configuration, the housing is designed to define an interior space, to receive the at least one gas burner, and to support the at least one support device above the at least one gas burner; and, in the use configuration, the at least one gas burner can be locked between at least two opposing first and second side elements of the housing in order to stabilise the gas barbecue.

Description

[0001]Portable gas grill The present invention relates to a portable gas grill. Portable grills or grilling devices are already known from the prior art. For the purposes of the present invention, grills are understood to be portable if they have a small volume in a so-called transport configuration or have a small pack size and are particularly easy to transport in the transport configuration. The portable grills can be disassembled or folded up, in particular for assuming the transport configuration. In the transport configuration, the portable grilling devices are usually not usable, as they are disassembled into their individual elements or folded up. In the use configuration, however, the grills are assembled or unfolded and ready for use for grilling and / or heating food.In the usage configuration, the housing of the grill defines an interior space, wherein the interior space is designed to accommodate at least one heat source, such as a gas burner, and further to store a support device, in particular in the form of a grill grate, above the at least one heat source. Portable grills can comprise, for example, coal, electric heat sources or gas burners for generating heat in the housing. A disadvantage of the portable grills known from the prior art is that they either enclose too large a volume in the transport configuration due to the rigid design of the housing and are therefore unsuitable for flexible transport.Alternatively, foldable or stackable portable grills are also known. A disadvantage of these known grills is that they often comprise very unstable / easily deformable housings, which, in particular, tend to deform under the influence of heat from the grill, become unstable, and may even cause individual parts to become detached. Based on the aforementioned prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide a portable gas grill that can be reduced in size and volume in a transport configuration, while still maintaining long-term stability in the use configuration.According to the invention, this object is achieved by a portable gas grill comprising at least one support device for heating food and / or grilled items, at least one gas burner, and at least one housing. The housing is designed such that it can be reversibly converted from a transport configuration to a use configuration. In terms of reversibility, the housing can, for example, be folded, pivoted, disassembled, and / or plugged in from the transport configuration to the use configuration. In the use configuration, the housing delimits an interior space designed to accommodate the at least one gas burner and to store the at least one support device above the at least one gas burner.In the usage configuration, the at least one gas burner can be locked between at least two opposing first and second side elements of the housing to stabilize the gas grill. Within the scope of the present invention, the at least two opposing first and second side elements can also be designed as a one-piece, continuous, in particular curved, integral component, which extends, for example, along a circular arc or a similar geometry. The one-piece, continuous element can also comprise two opposing first and second side elements, for example in the form of opposing first and second side surfaces. For example, the first and second side elements can be formed by opposing surface portions, for example of a circular cylindrical surface.According to the invention, the gas burner can be locked between the at least two opposing first and second side elements without the use of tools. Within the context of the present invention, the term "locking" refers, for example, to a positive connection between the elements of the gas burner and the side elements. For example, the gas burner can be clamped between the first and second opposing side elements, with the elasticity of the individual elements being used in particular to clamp and lock the gas burner to the first and second side elements. In the transport configuration, the portable gas grill, and in particular the housing of the aforementioned grill, takes up a smaller volume than in the use configuration.Preferably, the individual elements forming the transportable gas grill, in particular the first and second side elements, can be arranged in the transport configuration essentially flat in planes running parallel to one another, for example parallel to the plane of extension of the at least one support element. Preferably, the at least one gas burner has a cylindrical burner body which extends along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end, wherein the burner body has a cross-sectional area with a first circumference and wherein in the region of the second end the circumference of the cross-sectional area is reduced to a second circumference. The cross-sectional area of ​​the burner body is understood to mean a sectional surface of the burner body which extends essentially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.Furthermore, it can be provided according to the invention that the at least one second side element comprises at least one opening or a pocket for receiving and preferably for locking the second end of the burner body. In particular, it can be provided according to the invention that the opening of the second side element is larger than the second circumference of the gas burner and smaller than the circumference of the burner body. The aforementioned configuration makes it possible to insert the second end with a reduced cross-sectional area into the opening of the second side element, wherein further passage of the burner body along the longitudinal axis of the burner is prevented by the expanded cross-sectional area of ​​the burner body over the region of the circumferentially reduced second end, whereby the burner body can be fixed in the region of the second side element except for translational movements along the longitudinal axis in a first direction.According to the invention, it can be provided that the at least one gas burner can be reversibly transferred from a first insertion position into a second locking position by rotation about the longitudinal axis and / or by pivoting, wherein the at least one gas burner can be introduced into the area between the opposite first and second side elements in the insertion position and is locked or preferably clamped between the opposite first and second side elements in the second locking position. The burner body of the at least one gas burner can comprise a locking element in the region of the first end, and the first side element can comprise at least one locking position adapted to the locking element for locking the burner body to the first side element.According to the invention, the locking element can preferably be designed as a locking projection and the at least one locking position as a depression or recess adapted to the size and shape of the locking element. According to the invention, the locking element can also be designed as an at least two-stage locking nose which protrudes circumferentially beyond the first circumference of the burner body by a first and second height, and wherein the at least one first side element of the housing comprises a first opening adapted to the first circumference for the passage of the burner body, wherein the opening comprises a first recess with the dimension of the second height at at least one insertion position and a second recess with the dimension of the first height at at least one locking position. The opening can particularly preferably be designed as a round hole, wherein the first and second recesses are designed as material notches along the circumference of the hole.According to the invention, the locking lug of the burner can alternatively be clamped to the first locking element by bracing it; in this embodiment, a locking position does not necessarily have to be provided. The first height can be selected to be lower than the second height. The burner body can have a round cross-sectional area at least in the region of the first and / or second element. Particularly preferably, the entire burner body has a circular cross-section. The housing of the portable gas grill can further comprise an upper frame or an upper frame element, wherein the at least two opposing side elements are pivotally attached to two opposing sides of the frame or frame element in the region of their upper ends.In particular, a frame with a rectangular shape can be provided, wherein the first and second opposing side elements are pivotally arranged along two opposing longitudinal or transverse sides of the rectangular frame element. The first and / or second side elements can comprise two projections on opposite end faces of the respective side element, and wherein the upper frame comprises depressions or cutouts facing the projections for pivotally receiving the side elements on the frame. According to the invention, it can be provided that the support device is formed by at least one element selected from the group consisting of a grill grate, grill plate, plancha, spit holder, mangal attachment, rotisserie attachment, or any desired combination of the aforementioned elements. In the use configuration, the at least one support device can preferably be attached to the upper frame orthe upper frame element can be mounted interchangeably. In particular, recesses adapted to the at least one support device can be formed in the frame element for inserting the at least one support device. The at least one support device is thus mounted above the at least one gas burner in the use configuration. According to the invention, a flame tamer or a heat distributor can also be arranged between the at least one gas burner and the at least one support device. The at least one flame tamer can in turn be mounted interchangeably in the upper frame element. For this purpose, material projections can be provided on the respective flame tamer and recesses adapted to the material projections can be provided in the frame element such that the projections of the flame tamer can be introduced into the recesses for mounting the flame tamer.According to the invention, it can be provided that the aforementioned elements forming the support device are made of cast iron, stainless steel, stone, or similar materials suitable for foodstuffs and temperatures. It can further be provided that the housing additionally comprises a lower frame element for receiving, for example, a grease tray, wherein the frame element is preferably guided displaceably on the opposite side elements of the housing. Preferably, the lower frame element can be guided displaceably in a height-adjustable manner relative to two opposite side elements. For the displaceable guidance of the lower frame element, at least two opposite side elements can each comprise at least one slot for the displaceable mounting of the lower frame element.The slot preferably extends vertically and thus orthogonally to the imaginary course of an upper frame element or also of the lower frame element to be accommodated. In particular, the slot-shaped at least one receptacle runs orthogonally to a pivot axis of the respective side element. The aforementioned embodiment makes it possible, when the opposite side elements are folded out from a transport configuration into a use configuration, for the lower frame element to fold out automatically, for example by utilizing the effect of weight. It can be provided that the housing additionally comprises at least two third and fourth side elements lying opposite one another, and wherein the first to fourth side elements delimit the interior of the housing on four sides. The housing and / or preferably the support device can have a rectangular cross-sectional shape.According to the invention, the housing can comprise at least four side elements, each formed by flat, individual sheet metal elements that are each pivotally connected to one side of an upper rectangular frame element in the region of their upper end of the respective sheet metal panel. The lower end regions of the first and second side elements can be fixed or clamped between the lower frame element and the grease pan. In particular, it can be provided that a first and second opposite side element are designed as a completely smooth sheet metal panel, and the third and fourth side elements arranged orthogonally thereto are also made of sheet metal panels, wherein the third and fourth side elements are angled in the region of their lower ends to form standing elements or feet. In particular, rubberized elements or rubber feet can be provided as standing elements.Furthermore, it can be provided that the portable gas grill additionally comprises a lid, which can particularly preferably be pivotally attached to the upper frame or the upper frame element. The lid can be used to accommodate the elements of the grill, in particular the side elements, the gas burners and other objects of the gas grill in a transport configuration. The frame can be designed such that the lid can be arranged on both sides of the frame so that it can be locked via holes and adapted round pins provided in the lid. It can be provided that the grease tray can be locked between the lower frame element and two opposite side elements. The grease tray and / or at least one side element and / or the at least one support device and / or the at least one planch and / or the at least one flame tamer can be formed from a sheet metal panel.In particular, the invention provides for the individual elements forming the portable gas grill to be constructed from sheet-like sheet material, with the exception of the burner and any rubber feet provided. Within the scope of the invention, sheet material also includes material unwound from a coil. According to an alternative second aspect, the invention relates to a gas grill comprising at least one support device for heating food and / or grilled items, at least one gas burner, and at least one housing. The housing is configured such that it has an interior space designed to permanently accommodate the at least one gas burner and to support the at least one support device above the at least one gas burner.The at least one gas burner is designed to be lockable between at least two opposing first and second side elements of the housing to stabilize the gas grill. In the alternative second embodiment, the housing can no longer be reversibly converted from a use configuration to a transport configuration, but instead remains in the use configuration. The gas grill according to the second alternative aspect of the invention can of course be combined with the aforementioned optional or preferred embodiments, in particular according to the dependent claims. An exemplary embodiment of a transportable gas grill according to the invention is described below with reference to the attached figures.1A shows a schematic perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a portable gas grill according to the invention in the use configuration; Figure 1B shows an exploded view of the gas grill according to the invention according to Figure 1A; Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a gas grill according to the invention in the transport configuration; Figure 3 shows a view of the exemplary first embodiment of the gas grill according to Figures 1A and 1B in the transport configuration; and Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a gas burner according to the invention in an exemplary embodiment. Figures 1A and 1B show a first exemplary embodiment of a portable gas grill according to the invention. The portable gas grill is shown in Figure 1A in the use configuration.The gas grill comprises two support devices 3, which in the illustrated embodiment are shown as grill grates designed for heating food and / or in particular for grilling grilled items. The two grill grates shown can be produced, for example, from a sheet of metal by punching or cutting. Alternatively, the support devices 3, such as in particular the grill grate, can also be designed as a cast part. Furthermore, the exemplary embodiment of the gas grill comprises two gas burners 5 and a housing 7. The housing 7 shown can be reversibly converted from the illustrated use configuration into the transport configuration shown in Figure 3 by folding the side elements 71, 72, 73, 74 relative to the frame element 75.In the usage configuration shown in Figure 1, the housing 7 is designed to define an interior space 70, to accommodate the two gas burners 5 shown, and to support the support devices 3 above the two gas burners 5. In the usage configuration shown, the two gas burners 5 are arranged between the two opposing first and second side elements 71, 72 of the housing 7 to stabilize the gas grill. The housing 7 shown has an upper frame 75, wherein the illustrated, opposing first and second side elements 71 and 72, as well as the additional third and fourth side elements 73, 74, are each pivotably attached or arranged in their upper end regions on the two opposite sides of the frame 75.Figure 1B shows that the side elements 71-74 comprise two material projections 79 on opposite end faces of the respective side element 71-74 for pivotable attachment to the frame element 75, wherein the upper frame 75 has recesses facing the material projections 79 or, as shown in Figure 1B, holes 752 for receiving the projections 79 of the side elements 71-74. The exemplary embodiment has the advantage that the elasticity of the panel-shaped side element can be used to temporarily / elastically deform it during insertion into the receptacles 751 of the frame element 75 such that the corresponding side element 71-74 can be inserted into the corresponding receptacles 752 of the frame element 75.After insertion, the corresponding side element 71 - 74 then elastically springs back into its original shape and a pivotable attachment of the respective side element 71 - 74 to the frame element 75 is possible. In Figures 1A and 1B, the two support devices 3 are designed as a grate, but it can also be provided according to the invention that, as an alternative to the grill grates shown, plates, planchas, skewer holders, mangal or rotisserie attachments can be used and, in particular, to support them via the frame element 75. Of course, different support devices 3 can also be used, such as, for example, a grill grate with a proportionate surface area in combination with a grill plate. As can be seen from Figures 1A and 1B, it can be provided according to the invention for this purpose, in the area of ​​the support device 3 on opposite end sides of the respective support device 3Lugs are to be provided which can be inserted or introduced into corresponding recesses in the frame element 75 for the exchangeable mounting of the respective support element 3 via the frame element 75. As has already been described with regard to Figure 1A, it can be provided according to the invention that the housing 7, in addition to the at least two first and second side elements 71, 72, further comprises at least two opposing third and fourth side elements 73, 74, and it is also provided that the first to fourth side elements 71-74 delimit the interior 70 of the housing 7 on four sides or on at least four side surfaces. According to the invention, it can be provided, as can be seen in Figure 1B, to additionally provide a lower frame element 76, via which a grease pan 9 can be received and mounted.Preferably, the lower frame element 76 can be slidably guided on at least two opposite side elements 71-74 and can thus be fastened. According to the invention, the housing 7 and / or preferably the support device 3 can, as shown in the figures, have a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape, wherein in particular the housing 7 is delimited on the four side surfaces by respective side elements 71-74 and thus preferably by four side elements. For this purpose, it can be provided that the housing 7, as shown in the figures, comprises four each panel-shaped side elements 71-74, which are each pivotally connected to one side of the rectangular frame element 75 in the region of an upper end of the respective sheet metal panel.It can further be provided according to the invention that at least two opposing side elements 71 - 74 are folded over or partially bent at an angle in the region of their lower ends to form standing elements or feet. To improve slip resistance, rubberized feet can also be provided in the region of the lower ends or in particular in the region of the standing elements. In particular, it can be provided that the grease pan 9 and / or at least one side element 71 - 74 and / or the support device 3 are formed from a sheet metal panel. As shown in Figure 1B, so-called flame tamers 80, which can also be referred to as heat distributors, can be provided between the gas burners 5 and the support devices 3. The flame tamers 80 can also be received and stored via the frame element 75.According to the invention, as shown in Figures 1A and 1B and in Figure 3, the gas grill can further comprise a lid 78, wherein the lid 78 can preferably be pivotally attached to the frame element via material projections or protruding pin-shaped elements. For this purpose, it can be provided to provide holes or material recesses in the region of the upper frame element to accommodate the aforementioned material projections of the lid 78. In particular, it can also be provided to provide several round holes on different sides of the frame element 75, such that the lid 78 can be pivotally attached to different sides of the frame element 75. Consequently, the pivot axis of the lid 78 can be arranged either at the front or rear of the frame element. Fig.4 shows a gas burner 5 with a cylindrical burner body 50, wherein the burner body 50 extends along a longitudinal axis 50l from a first end 51 to an opposite second end 52 and wherein the burner body 50 has a cross-sectional area 50a with a first circumference u1, wherein in the region of the second end 52 the circumference of the cross-sectional area 50a is reduced to a second circumference u2. The second side element 72 can comprise at least one opening 720 or alternatively also a pocket for receiving and locking the second end 52 of the burner body 50. The burner body 50 of the gas burner 5 has a locking element 55 in the region of the first end 51, wherein the first side element 71 comprises at least one locking position 710 adapted to the locking element 55 for locking the burner body 50 to the first side element 71.The locking element 55 is designed in the exemplary embodiment of Figure 4 as a two-stage locking lug which protrudes circumferentially beyond the first circumference u1 of the burner body 50 by a first and second height h1, h2 and wherein the first side element 71 comprises an opening 710 adapted to the first circumference u1 for the passage of the burner body 50, wherein the opening 710 comprises a first recess 711 with the dimension of the second height h2 in at least one insertion position and a second recess 720 with the dimension of the first height h1 in at least one locking position.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 4 October 2023 (04.10.2023) 1. Portable gas grill, including: - at least one support device (3) for heating food and / or grilled food; - at least one gas burner (5); and - at least one housing (7), wherein the housing (7) is reversibly convertible from an inner transport configuration to a usage configuration; wherein the housing (7) in the usage configuration is designed to define an interior space (70), to accommodate the at least one gas burner (5) and to store the at least one support device (3) above the at least one gas burner (5), and wherein in the usage configuration the at least one gas burner (5) can be locked between at least two opposing first and second side elements (71, 72) of the housing (7) to stabilize the gas grill, wherein a positive-locking connection is formed between the elements of the gas burner (5) and the side elements (71, 72).

2. Portable gas grill according to claim 1, wherein the at least one gas burner (5) comprises a cylindrical burner body (50) which extends along a longitudinal axis (501) from a first end (51) to a second end (52), wherein the burner body (50) has a cross-sectional area (50a) with a first circumference (ul) and wherein in the region of the second end (52) the circumference of the cross-sectional area (50a) is reduced to a second circumference (u2).

3. Portable gas grill according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second side element (72) comprises at least one opening (720) or a pocket for receiving and locking the second end (52) of the burner body (50).

4. Portable gas grill according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one gas burner (5) can be reversibly moved from a first insertion position to a second locking position by a rotation about the longitudinal axis (50I) and / or by a pivoting, wherein the at least one AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) The gas burner (5) can be inserted into the area between opposing first and second side elements (71,72) in the insertion position and is locked in the second locking position between the opposing first and second side elements (71,72).

5. Portable gas grill according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the burner body (50) of the at least one gas burner (5) comprises a locking element (55) in the region of the first end (51) and wherein the first side element (71) comprises at least one locking position (710) adapted to the locking element (55) for locking the burner body (50) with the first side element (71).

6. Portable gas grill according to claim 5, wherein the locking element (55) is designed as a locking lug of at least two stages, which projects circumferentially beyond the first circumference (ul) of the burner body (50) by a first and second height (hl, h2), and wherein the first side element (71) comprises an opening (710) adapted to the first circumference (ul) for the passage of the burner body (50), wherein the opening (710) comprises a first recess (711) with the dimension of the second height (h2) at at least one insertion position and a second recess (720) with the dimension of the first height (hl) at at least one locking position.

7. Portable gas grill according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the burner body (50) has a round cross-sectional area (50a) at least in the area of ​​the first and / or second end (51, 52).

8. Portable gas grill according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (7) further comprises an upper frame (75), wherein the at least two opposing side elements (71, 72) are pivotably attachable to two opposite sides of the frame (75) in the area of ​​the upper ends.

9. Portable gas grill according to claim 8, wherein the side elements (71, 72) have two projections (712, 722) on opposing end faces of the AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) side elements (71, 72) and wherein the upper frame (75) comprises recesses or indentations (750) facing the projections (712, 722) for pivotally receiving the side elements (71, 72).

10. Portable gas grill according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support device (3) is formed by at least one element selected from the group of: grate, plate, plancha, skewer holder, mangal attachment, rotisserie attachment or by any combination of elements selected from the aforementioned group.

11. Portable gas grill according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (7) additionally comprises at least two opposing third and fourth side elements (73, 74), and wherein the first to fourth side elements (71, 72, 73, 74) define the interior (70) of the housing (7) on four sides.

12. Portable gas grill according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (7) further comprises a lower frame element (76) for receiving a grease tray (9), which is preferably slidably guided on at least two opposing side elements (71, 72, 73, 74).

13. Portable gas grill according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (7) and / or preferably the support device (3) has a rectangular cross-sectional shape.

14. Portable gas grill according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (7) comprises four side elements (71, 72, 73, 74), each formed by flat individual sheet metal panels, each pivotably connected in the region of an upper end of the respective sheet metal panel to a side of a rectangular upper frame element (75).

15. Portable gas grill according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (7) further comprises a lid (78). AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) 16. Portable gas grill according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the grease tray (9) and / or at least one side element (71, 72, 73, 74) and / or the support device (3) are formed from a sheet metal panel. AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

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