Outdoor cooking appliance convertible into a barbecue or fire pit

Abstract

The outdoor cooking appliance, convertible into a barbecue or fire pit, comprises: - a firebox designed to hold fuel, for example, charcoal, - a food cooking support (2) positioned horizontally above the firebox, and - a mechanism (3) for tilting the cooking support (2) above the firebox, operable from the front of the cooking appliance. This cooking appliance is particularly noteworthy in that the cooking support (2) is attached to a horizontal support frame (4) by means of the tilting mechanism (3), and in that the support frame (4) is supported above the firebox (1) in a height-adjustable manner.

Description

Title of the invention: Outdoor cooking appliance convertible into a barbecue or brazier Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of equipment used for cooking food and more particularly to an outdoor cooking appliance convertible into a barbecue or brazier. State of the prior art

[0002] Typically, cooking appliances of the barbecue type, in their simplest form, comprise an open hearth mounted on a base above which is positioned a cooking support capable of receiving the food to be grilled. Usually, the hearth is extended by two vertical lateral cheeks provided opposite one another with means for adjusting the height of the cooking support above the hearth, these means being capable of supporting the cooking support and being in the form of either vertically spaced horizontal slots or vertically spaced horizontal supports.

[0003] Very often, the cooking support is formed of two superimposed grid elements, mounted hinged to each other and defining a clamping interval intended to receive the food to be cooked. Opposite the hinge, the grid elements are equipped with locking members. These locking members ensure that the grid elements are held in the superimposed position while the food is being cooked.

[0004] The clamping interval defined by the two grid elements is usually invariable and of small thickness and for these reasons cannot accommodate pieces to be cooked of relatively large thicknesses. However, the advantage of using a cooking support formed by two grid elements defining a clamping interval is certain and lies in the possibility of reversing, during cooking, the position of this support above the hearth, while ensuring that the food is held. The latter can thus be cooked uniformly on each of their two faces. However, this turning operation for conventional barbecues is carried out manually by handling the cooking support and can prove tedious to perform.

[0005] To overcome this drawback, barbecues have been implemented which are equipped with means for reversing the position of the cooking support. Such barbecues are known in particular from documents US 261 870, FR 2 936 137 and EP 824 335.

[0006] Document US 261,870 shows a grill provided with a cooking support formed of two juxtaposed grid elements defining a holding interval intended to receive the food to be cooked. This cooking support is pivotally mounted around a horizontal geometric axis in a vertical frame in the form of a gantry. The cooking support is associated with a pivoting drive mechanism formed by a toothed pinion fixed to the cooking support and with which is meshed a toothed sector, of larger diameter, mounted to rotate on a horizontal axis fixed to the vertical frame. To this toothed sector is fixed an operating handle. By acting on the operating handle, the cooking support is caused to pivot by a half turn or a fraction of a half turn.

[0007] Document FR 2 936 137 discloses a barbecue with a mechanical turning system for the cooking support. This barbecue comprises a vertical hearth facing which is mounted a vertical cooking support provided with two trunnions by means of which it is pivotally supported around a horizontal geometric axis by two horizontal support arms. The cooking support is formed of two juxtaposed grid elements between which the elements to be cooked are arranged. The pivoting mounting of the cooking support allows the food to be cooked on each of its faces, but the verticality of the cooking support can make it difficult to hold the food to be cooked. Furthermore, the pivoting drive of the grid requires the user to bring his hands close to the heat given off by the hearth to grasp two operating handles.

[0008] Document EP 824 335 relates to a barbecue comprising a horizontal hearth above which is mounted in a movable manner in height and pivoting in a half-turn, a food cooking support formed of two juxtaposed grids, hinged to each other and defining between them an interval for holding the food to be cooked. The mobility in height of the cooking support and its pivoting drive are ensured by a set of connecting rods driven by an electric motor integrated into the barbecue. The disadvantage of using an electric motor lies in the fact that the operation of the barbecue, for the pivoting of the cooking support, is dependent on the presence of a source of electrical energy nearby to power this motor. Statement of the invention

[0009] The present invention aims to provide a cooking appliance convertible into a barbecue or brazier, the cooking support of which is mounted in a pivoting manner and is pivoted in a half-turn by a manual drive mechanism operable from the front of the barbecue.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to propose a barbecue comprising a cooking support defining an interval for receiving and holding food, adjustable in thickness and closed at the periphery.

[0011] For this purpose, the outdoor food cooking appliance, convertible into a barbecue or brazier, comprising a front area in front of which the user stands and a rear area opposite the front area, comprises: - a hearth with a fuel loading opening in the upper part, - a food cooking support, - a cooking support turning mechanism that can be operated from the front of said appliance. Such an appliance is essentially characterized in that the cooking support is secured to a supporting frame by means of the turning mechanism and in that said supporting frame is supported above the hearth in a height-adjustable manner.

[0012] Thanks to these arrangements, it becomes possible to cook food on both sides and to adjust the intensity of the cooking heat by adjusting the distance between the burner and the cooking support.

[0013] According to another characteristic of the invention, the hearth of the cooking appliance comprises in the rear zone two vertical racks and the supporting frame is provided with cooperating means for suspension on the two racks. Such an arrangement has the advantage of simplicity and easy adjustment of the height of the assembly relative to the hearth. In addition, thanks to this arrangement, the assembly formed by the supporting frame, the turning mechanism, and the cooking support can be removed from the cooking appliance, with a view to converting the latter into a brazier.

[0014] According to another characteristic of the invention, - the cooking support is formed of a first grid secured to the turning mechanism and a second grid capable of being folded onto the first, said second grid being secured to the first grid in a separable manner by cooperating articulation means, defining a horizontal geometric axis of articulation, and that opposite the articulation means, the two grids receive locking means provided to ensure that they are kept folded on top of each other, the two grids in their state folded on top of each other defining a gap for holding the food to be cooked. It is understood that the gap for holding the food is a space extending between the two grids when they are folded on top of each other, and which disappears as such when the cooking support is opened by angular movement of the second grid away from the first grid.It is reformed at will, first by angular movement of bringing the second grid towards the first and then by superimposing the two grids. We also understand that when a food is put to cook, it is placed "in a sandwich" between the two grids folded one on the other, or more exactly opposite one another, since they are not in direct contact with each other.

[0015] According to another characteristic of the invention, the food holding gap is of adjustable thickness to be adapted to the thickness of the food to be cooked. The thickness of the food holding gap corresponds to the distance separating the two grids in the folded state on top of each other.

[0016] According to another characteristic of the invention, the cooperating articulation means associated with each of the two grids are adapted to modify the normal distance between the geometric axis of articulation that they define and the geometric plane of support of the food that one of the two grids defines. Thanks to this arrangement, it is easy to adapt the cooking support to the thickness of the food to be cooked.

[0017] According to a preferred characteristic of the invention, - each grid is formed of a lattice supported by a frame having two side edges, a front transverse edge and a rear transverse edge, - the lateral and transverse edges of the two grids form, for each of the latter, an endless peripheral skirt, forming, in relation to the food support plane defined by the corresponding lattice, a projection oriented towards the geometric food support plane defined by the lattice of the other grid, - the peripheral skirt of one of the two grids is subject to penetrating into the volume delimited by the peripheral skirt of the other grid, when the two grids are superimposed, that is to say folded over each other.

[0018] Such an arrangement has the effect of constituting a barrier around the food holding interval capable of preventing it from falling outside the cooking support.

[0019] According to another preferred characteristic of the invention, the lattice of the second grid is offset laterally relative to the median geometric plane of the latter, this plane being that located midway between the two endless edges of the skirt defined by the lateral and transverse borders, and said second grid is reversibly secured to the first grid so that by simply turning over this second grid, the thickness of the food holding interval is modified. In this way, the degree of adaptability of the cooking support to foods of different thicknesses is increased.

[0020] According to another arrangement of the invention, - the turning mechanism comprises a pair of operating arms each having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of each arm being joined to the proximal end of the other arm by a spacer forming an operating handle at the front of the cooking appliance, - the two operating arms are each articulated by their distal end to the first grid of the cooking support along a horizontal geometric axis AA', located midway between the front and rear transverse edges, - the two operating arms, between their distal and proximal ends are articulated to the supporting frame along a horizontal geometric axis BB' parallel to the geometric axis AA', - the turning mechanism comprises a pair of connecting rods, each articulated on the one hand to the first grid of the cooking support along a geometric axis CC' parallel to the axis AA', and on the other hand along a geometric axis DD' to a pair of legs fixed to the lateral sides of the supporting frame, the axis DD' being parallel to the axis BB' and being located at right angles to the axis AA' when the cooking support is in a horizontal position, - the CC' axis is moved away from the AA' axis, - both legs extend vertically downwards. Such arrangements ensure the turning of the cooking support without the use of any electric motor.

[0021] According to another preferred characteristic of the invention, the appliance is provided with means for locking the cooking support in a vertical or close to vertical position. This arrangement facilitates reloading the hearth with fuel by clearing the fuel loading opening which the latter comprises.

[0022] According to another characteristic of the invention, the two racks from which the supporting frame is suspended are removably fixed to the hearth of the appliance. Thanks to this arrangement, the racks can be stored horizontally on the cooking support. The assembly formed by the supporting frame, the turning mechanism and the cooking support can then be placed directly on the hearth and positioned so as to not constitute any lateral overhang in relation to the latter, said assembly being of less lateral size than the lateral size of the hearth. The cooking appliance in this folded and gathered state can receive a waterproof covering cover.

[0023] According to another characteristic of the invention, the hearth comprises in the upper part a horizontal main hearth in which the fuel loading opening is formed.

[0024] According to another characteristic of the invention, the cooking appliance can be equipped with an additional horizontal cooking grid, mounted on three feet, capable of being placed in a removable manner on the hearth in place of the assembly formed by the supporting frame, the turning mechanism and the cooking support.

[0025] According to another characteristic of the invention: - the additional cooking grid, with its three feet, preferably rests on an additional hearth base positioned in the loading opening of the main base, - the additional sole has a central circular opening on the periphery of which the three feet of the additional grid are supported by radial lugs, - the additional sole is provided with three regularly distributed radial notches, opening into the opening and adapted to receive in a form-fitting manner respectively the feet of the additional grid, - the additional grid has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the opening of the additional sole, - the additional grid is equipped with three radial stops fixed on its upper face, projecting beyond the circular contour of this upper face and designed to rest on the upper face of the additional base.

[0026] These arrangements are intended to allow the additional grid to be stored in the hearth between two periods of use of the cooking appliance. For this storage, the feet are engaged in the radial notches and the additional grid, by the radial stops, rests on the upper face of the additional hearth. In this position, the additional grid and the feet of the latter are retracted into the hearth. Brief presentation of the figures

[0027] [Other advantages, aims and characteristics of the invention will appear on reading the description of a preferred embodiment given by way of non-limiting example in which:

[0028] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of the outdoor cooking appliance according to the invention.

[0029] [Fig.2] is an exploded perspective view of the cooking appliance.

[0030] [Fig.3] is a detailed sectional view of the cooking appliance.

[0031] [Fig.4] is a front perspective view of the assembly formed by the support frame, the turning mechanism and the cooking support, the latter being shown in partial open position.

[0032] [Fig.5] is a rear perspective view of the assembly formed by the support frame, the turning mechanism and the cooking support, the latter being shown in the partially open position.

[0033] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of the first grid of the cooking support.

[0034] [Fig.7] is a perspective view of the second grill of the cooking support.

[0035] [Fig.8] to [Fig.13] are perspective views illustrating the different stages of turning the cooking support.

[0036] [Fig. 14] is a view showing the locking of the cooking support in the vertical or near vertical position.

[0037] [Fig. 15] is a perspective view showing a fireplace equipped with an additional cooking grid.

[0038] [Fig. 16] is a perspective view of the additional cooking grid.

[0039] Description of preferred embodiments of the invention

[0040] As shown, the outdoor cooking appliance, convertible into a barbecue or brazier, is made of metal and comprises a front area in front of which the user stands and a rear area opposite the front area. In the present description, the term "front" refers to a spatial position directed or turned towards the front of the appliance and the term "rear" refers to a spatial position directed or turned towards the rear of the appliance.

[0041] The cooking appliance comprises a hearth 1 provided in the upper part with an opening 110 for loading fuel, for example charcoal, a support 2 for cooking food, arranged horizontally above the hearth and a mechanism 3 for turning the cooking support 2 above the hearth, operable from the front zone. According to the invention, the cooking support 2 is secured to a horizontal supporting frame 4 by means of the turning mechanism 3 and this supporting frame 4 is supported above the hearth 1 in a height-adjustable manner.

[0042] The hearth 1 is supported above the ground by a metal base 10, for example of hollow truncated cone shape. The hearth 1 is formed of a metal tank in the form of a spherical cap. The bottom of this hearth 1 is provided with a series of through holes for evacuating the ashes towards a removable ash drawer 13, mounted in the upper part of the base 10, sliding on horizontal guides. This ash drawer 13 is engaged in an opening made in the wall of the base 10.

[0043] The hearth 1 comprises in the upper part a main covering sole 11, horizontal, in the form of a circular disc, provided with a large opening 110, generally in a central, through position, for discharging hot gases and constituting the fuel loading opening. This main horizontal sole 11 is preferably mounted in a removable manner in the upper part of the tank constituting the hearth 1 and rests on several supports 1a internal to the hearth. The hearth 1 and more particularly the main sole 11, in the rear zone of the cooking appliance, receives two identical, vertical metal racks 12, arranged at a distance from each other and joined to each other in the upper part, by a horizontal metal spacer 120. The two racks 12 are arranged so that their teeth are oriented towards the rear zone of the appliance.More precisely, the teeth are cut from the mass of each rack 12, along a vertical axis, at regular intervals, from the rear face of this rack and define different height levels relative to the focus 1.

[0044] Advantageously, the two racks 12 are removably fixed to the hearth 1 and more particularly to the main sole 11. For this purpose, each rack 12 is provided at the lower end with an axial tenon 121, and the main sole 11 is equipped with two mortises 111 each provided to receive the tenon 121 of the corresponding rack 12. Advantageously, each mortise is formed by a perforation made in a through manner in the main sole 11, following its thickness and by a bore made in a sheath part fixed against the lower face of the main sole 11 in alignment with the perforation that the latter presents.

[0045] The supporting frame 4 is arranged in the form of a horizontal rectangular frame and comprises two parallel lateral flanks 40, correctly braced by a horizontal front crosspiece 41 and a horizontal rear crosspiece 42. These crosspieces are both perpendicular to the lateral flanks 40, the latter extending from the front to the rear of the cooking appliance. The two lateral flanks 40 each comprise a cradle shape 40a on which the cooking support 2 rests by its middle zone when the latter is in the food cooking position.

[0046] The supporting frame 4 is designed to be supported in a cantilevered manner, horizontally, above the hearth 1 by the two racks 12 and for this purpose is provided with cooperating means for suspending the latter. According to a preferred embodiment, these cooperating suspension means are constituted by the rear cross member 42 and by two horizontal pins 43 carried by the lateral flanks 40 at a height level greater than that of the rear cross member 42. The rear cross member 42 is designed to bear on the front face of each rack 12. The pins 43 are coaxial and are designed to be removably engaged in two of the teeth of the racks 12. As can be understood, the supporting frame 4, in particular under the effect of its own weight and the weight of the elements that it supports, is biased towards tilting towards the hearth 1 around the central geometric axis of the pins 43.This tilting movement is counterbalanced by the support of the rear cross member 42 against the front face of each rack 12.

[0047] The supporting frame 4 is further provided with two handling arms 44, lateral to the sides 40 and extending horizontally parallel to the latter. Thanks to these two handling arms 44, the supporting frame 4, the turning mechanism 3 and the cooking support 2 can be simultaneously moved and positioned at the appropriate height above the hearth 1. Preferably, these handling arms 44 are retractable along the supporting frame 4 and in use condition occupy a deployed position at the front of the cooking appliance. When the cooking appliance is not in use, the handling arms 44 will be retracted along the supporting frame 4.

[0048] According to a preferred embodiment, each manipulation arm 44 is carried in a sliding manner by two connecting fittings fixed to the corresponding side 40, spaced apart from each other and each forming a lateral projection oriented towards the outside of the supporting frame 4. Each fitting comprises a through-hole, capable of receiving in a sliding manner the corresponding manipulation arm 44.

[0049] The cooking support 2, made of metal, is integral with the re mechanism turning mechanism 3, itself secured to the supporting frame 4. This cooking support is formed of a first grid 20 secured to the turning mechanism 3 and a second grid 21. The two grids 20 and 21 are secured to each other in a separable manner by cooperating articulation means defining a horizontal geometric articulation axis, perpendicular to the vertical geometric planes containing the lateral flanks 40 of the supporting frame 4. Opposite the articulation means, the two grids 20, 21 are provided with locking means provided to ensure that they are kept folded on each other.

[0050] According to the preferred embodiment, each grid 20, 21 has a rectangular or square outline and is formed of a lattice 201, 211 supported by a rectangular or square frame 202, 212, forming a chassis. Each lattice 201, 211 forms a support surface for the food to be cooked. When the two grids 20, 21 are folded onto each other, the lattices 202, 212 are pressed against the food to ensure its maintenance.

[0051] Each frame 202, 212, has two lateral edges 202a, 212a, parallel to the vertical geometric planes containing the lateral flanks 40 of the supporting chassis 4, a front transverse edge 202b, 212b and a rear transverse edge 202c, 212c. The front and rear transverse edges are perpendicular to the lateral edges. The rear transverse edges 202c and 212c respectively of the grids 20 and 21 are equipped with articulation means, while the front transverse edges 202b and 202c respectively of the grids 20 and 21 are equipped with locking means.

[0052] The first grid 20 is secured to the turning mechanism by the two lateral edges 202a of its frame 202.

[0053] The two grids 20 and 21, when folded opposite each other, define by their lattice a holding gap intended to receive the food to be cooked. This holding gap is released by angular pivoting away from the second grid 21 relative to the first grid 20 and is reformed by reverse pivoting movement and superposition of the two grids.

[0054] The lateral and transverse edges of the two grids 20 and 21 form, for each of the latter, an endless peripheral skirt, creating a projection oriented towards the geometric plane of support of the food defined by the lattice of the other grid. In addition, the peripheral skirt of one of the two grids is arranged to penetrate into the volume delimited by the peripheral skirt of the other grid, when the two grids are facing each other, that is to say folded one above the other. In this way the gap for holding the food is closed at the periphery by the different edges.

[0055] According to a preferred embodiment, the food holding interval is of adjustable thickness to be adapted to the thickness of the food to be cooked. For this purpose, the cooperating articulation means associated with each of the two grids 20, 21 are adapted to modify the normal distance between the geometric axis of articulation which they define and the geometric plane of support of the food which defines one of the two grids.

[0056] According to a preferred embodiment, the cooperating articulation means are constituted, on the one hand by at least two identical, metallic, elongated racks 203, formed or fixed to the first grid 20, and on the other hand by two coaxial journals 213, carried by the second grid 21, provided to be each engaged in one of the teeth 203a of the corresponding rack 203.

[0057] The two racks 203 are fixed or arranged at the ends of the rear transverse edge 202c of the frame 202 so as to extend perpendicularly to the food support plane defined by the first grid, projecting from said edge. As shown, the teeth 203a of each rack are oriented towards the front of the cooking appliance and define several levels of adjustment of the thickness of the holding gap. Each tooth 203a is formed by a T-shaped through perforation made in the thickness of the corresponding rack. The basal branch of the T opens on the front face of the rack and extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the rack 203, while the top branch of the T extends parallel to said longitudinal axis and is designed to receive the corresponding journal 213.

[0058] The two journals 213 are fixed at the end of the rear transverse edge 212c of the frame 212 and are each provided at the free end with an annular retention stop opposing the lateral movement of the second grid 21 relative to the first grid 20.

[0059] To increase the adjustment capacity of the thickness of the food holding gap, the lattice 211 of the second grid 21 is offset laterally relative to the median geometric plane of the latter, this plane being that located midway between the two endless edges of the skirt defined by the lateral 212a and transverse 212b, 212c edges. In addition, the second grid 21 is detachably and reversibly secured to the first grid 20 so that by simply turning the latter over, the thickness of the food holding gap can be modified.

[0060] The locking means that comprise the two grids 20, 21 consist on the one hand of a lock 214 with a cylindrical pin fixed to the front transverse edge 212b of the second grid 21, and of a striker 204 fixed to the front transverse edge 202b of the first grid 20, this striker 204 being provided to receive the pin of the lock in locking relation. As can be seen, the lock 214 is positioned so that the longitudinal axis of the pin is parallel to the front transverse edge 212b of the second grid 21, while the striker 204, in the form of a rectangular plate, is positioned so as to develop perpendicular to the transverse border before 202b and by its two large faces, parallel to the lateral borders 202a.

[0061] The strike plate 204 is provided with a series of holes provided to receive the bolt of the lock. The position of these holes defines different degrees of spacing of the two grids and therefore different degrees of thickness of the food holding interval, these different degrees being correlated to the different levels defined by the teeth of each rack 203.

[0062] As stated previously, the turning mechanism 3 is secured on the one hand to the supporting frame 4 and on the other hand to the first grid 20 of the cooking support 2. This turning mechanism 3 ensures, when it is maneuvered, the pivoting of the cooking support 2 in a half-turn between two stable horizontal positions corresponding to a cooking position of the food on one of their two faces. The pivoting of the cooking support 2 is carried out partly between the sides and crosspieces of the supporting frame 4.

[0063] This turning mechanism 3 comprises a pair of operating arms 30 each comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of each arm being joined to the proximal end of the other arm by a spacer forming an operating handle 31 at the front of the cooking appliance. In addition, the two operating arms 30 are articulated by their distal end to the first grid 20 of the cooking support 2, along a horizontal geometric axis AA', located midway between the front 202b and rear 202c transverse edges. When the grid support occupies a horizontal cooking position, the axis AA' is located above the cradles 40a. The two operating arms 30, between their distal and proximal ends, are articulated to the supporting frame 4 along a horizontal geometric axis BB' parallel to the geometric axis AA'.Furthermore, the turning mechanism 3 is provided with a pair of connecting rods 32, each articulated on the one hand to the first grid 20 of the cooking support 2 along a geometric axis CC' parallel to the axis AA', and on the other hand along a geometric axis DD' to a pair of legs 33 fixed to the lateral flanks 40 of the supporting frame 4. The axis DD' is parallel to the axis BB' and is located in line with the axis AA' when the cooking support 2 is in a horizontal position. The axis CC' is spaced from the axis AA'. The two legs 33 extend vertically downwards from the supporting frame 4.

[0064] Advantageously, the operating handle 31 is curved along an arc of a circle with a radius less than the radius of the circular edge of the tank constituting the hearth 1.

[0065] The different stages of turning over the cooking support 2 are illustrated in figures 8 to 13. In [Fig.8], the cooking support 2 is positioned horizontally resting on the cradles 40a and occupies a first position for cooking the food. The first grid 20 occupies a lower position directly opposite the hearth 1 and the second grid 21 occupies a higher position. In [Fig. 9], it can be seen that a downward action exerted on the handle 31 leads to the tilting of the pair of operating arms 30 in the counterclockwise direction and to the lifting of the cooking support 2 above the hearth 1. Under the effect of the action of the connecting rods 32, the cooking support 2 is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction. During this movement, the two connecting rods 32 are urged, by a pivoting movement in the clockwise direction, from a first extreme angular position in which they are inclined relative to the vertical, to a position close to the vertical corresponding to a vertical position of the cooking support ([Fig. 10]). As the pivoting movement of the operating arms 30 continues in the counterclockwise direction, the connecting rods 32 reach a vertical position ([Fig. 11]).In this position, the cooking support 2 is inclined relative to the vertical and its second grid 21 is now turned towards the hearth 1. The operating arms 30 are now driven clockwise by action on the handle 31, the cooking support 2 during this step still being driven counterclockwise. As this movement continues, the connecting rods 33 cross the vertical while still being driven clockwise and the cooking support 2 continues its pivoting movement counterclockwise ([Fig. 12]). At the end of the movement ([Fig. 13]), the cooking support 2 reaches its second horizontal position and the connecting rods 32 reach a second extreme angular position, opposite to the previous one. In this situation, the first grid 20 occupies an upper position and the second grid 21 a lower position.

[0066] Advantageously, as can be seen in [Fig. 14], the appliance is provided with means for locking the cooking support 2 in a vertical or close to vertical position. This arrangement facilitates reloading the hearth with fuel by clearing the opening 110 that the main hearth 11 comprises. These locking means consist on the one hand of a lock 45 with a cylindrical pin fixed to one of the sides 40 of the supporting frame 4, and on the other hand of a through-hole 34, forming a striker, made in one of the operating arms 30 of the turning mechanism 3. In the locking position of the cooking support 2, the pin of the lock 45 is engaged in the through-hole 34.

[0067] As previously stated, the appliance can be converted into a brazier. To do this, the assembly formed by the supporting frame 4, the turning mechanism 3 and the cooking support 2 is separated from the racks 12. Subsequently, the latter are removed. This appliance configured as a brazier can then be used as a heating means but also as a cooking means. For this purpose, as can be seen in [Fig. 15], it receives an additional cooking grid 5, horizontal, circular, mounted on three regularly distributed feet 50. This additional grid 5 is intended to be placed in a removable manner on the hearth 1 in place of the assembly formed by the supporting frame 4, the turning mechanism 3 and the cooking support 2. Preferably, the additional grid 5 rests by its three feet 50 preferably on an additional sole 14 of the hearth 1 positioned in the opening 110 of the main sole 11 by resting on stops fixed against the lower face of the main sole 11 in a manner projecting into the opening 110.

[0068] This additional sole 14 is provided with a circular central opening 140, on the periphery of which the three feet 50 are supported by radial lugs 51. Still with reference to [Fig. 15], each foot 50 is provided with a radial lug 51 located a short distance from its lower end. The lower part of each foot located under the lug 51 is designed to be engaged in the central opening 140. To facilitate this introduction, this lower part is provided with a bevel. These arrangements are intended to facilitate the installation of the additional grid 5 and to ensure the centering and wedging of the latter relative to the hearth 1 and more particularly relative to the additional sole 14.

[0069] The additional sole 14 is provided with three radial notches 141, regularly distributed, opening into the central opening 140, and the additional grid 5 has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the central opening 140. In addition, the additional grid 5 is provided with three radial stops 52 fixed on its upper face projecting beyond the circular contour of this upper face. These arrangements are intended to allow the grid 5 to be stored in the hearth between two periods of use of the cooking appliance. For this storage, the feet 50 are engaged in the radial notches 141 and the additional grid 5 is supported by the radial stops 52 on the upper face of the additional sole 14. In this position, the additional grid 5 and the feet 50 are retracted into the hearth 1.Still during periods of non-use of the cooking appliance, the racks 12 can be removed from the main base 11 and placed horizontally on the cooking support 2. The assembly formed by the cooking support 2, the turning mechanism 3 and the supporting frame 4 can be placed on the main base 11 while avoiding being overhanging relative to the tank constituting the hearth 1. In this compact storage configuration, the cooking appliance can receive a protective cover, preferably waterproof.

[0070] According to a practical embodiment, the lock 214, 45 of each locking means as previously described, comprises a lock body in the form of a yoke provided with a basal wing and two worked lateral wings, perpendicular to the basal wing, these two lateral wings each being provided with a cylindrical through-bore provided to accommodate the cylindrical bolt. The cylindrical bolt is provided with a radial operating tab. This rectangular-shaped radial tab has a front edge parallel to the bolt and spaced from the latter. This operating tab is linked to the cylindrical pin by a radial extension forming a projection on the front edge.

[0071] Advantageously, each of the locks 214, 45 used as previously described, is equipped with means for indexing the position of the bolt in the locking position and in the unlocking position so that the transition from one to the other position can only be carried out by intervention of the user and not spontaneously, for example as regards the lock 214, under the effect in particular of the pivoting movement of the cooking assembly. These indexing means are formed of two spaced notches made in the operating tongue on either side of the radial extension and this from the front edge. These notches respectively materialize the locking position and the unlocking position.One of the notches in the locking position cooperates in a form-fitting manner with the corresponding side wing of the lock body, the other notch, in the unlocking position, cooperates in a form-fitting manner with the other wing of the lock body.

[0072] It goes without saying that the present invention can receive all arrangements and variants from the field of technical equivalents without departing from the scope of the present patent as defined by the claims below.

Claims

Claims

1. An outdoor food cooking appliance convertible into a barbecue or brazier, comprising a front area in front of which the user stands and a rear area opposite the front area, and comprising: - a hearth (1) provided in the upper part with an opening (110) for loading fuel, - a food cooking support (2) arranged horizontally above the hearth (1), - a mechanism (3) for turning the cooking support (2) above the hearth (1), operable from the front area of ​​said cooking appliance, characterized in that the cooking support (2) is secured to a horizontal supporting frame (4) by means of the turning mechanism (3) and in that the supporting frame (4) is supported above the hearth (1) in a height-adjustable manner.

2. Cooking appliance according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the hearth (1) comprises in the rear zone two removable vertical racks (12) and that the supporting frame (4) is provided with cooperating means for suspension on the two racks (12).

3. Cooking appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooking support (2) is formed of a first grid (20) secured to the turning mechanism (3) and a second grid (21) capable of being folded onto the first, that the second grid (21) is secured to the first grid (20) in a separable manner by cooperating articulation means defining a horizontal geometric articulation axis, and that opposite the articulation means, the two grids (20), (21) receive locking means provided to ensure that they are kept folded on top of each other, said two grids, in the state folded on top of each other, defining a gap for holding the food to be cooked.

4. Cooking appliance according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the cooperating articulation means associated with each of the two grids (20), (21) are adapted to modify the normal distance between the geometric axis of articulation that they define and the geometric plane of support of the food that one of the two grids defines and are constituted, on the one hand by at least two identical metal racks (203), longiform, formed or fixed to the first grid (20), and on the other hand by two coaxial journals (213), carried by the second grid (21), provided to be engaged each in one of the teeth (203a) of the corresponding rack (203).

5. Cooking appliance according to one of claims 3 or 4 characterized in that: - each grid (20), (21) is formed of a lattice (201), (211) supported by a frame (202) (212) forming a chassis, having two lateral edges (202a), (212a), a front transverse edge (202b), (212b) and a rear transverse edge (202c), (212c), - said lateral and transverse edges of the two grids (20) and (21) form, for each of the latter, a peripheral skirt forming, with respect to the food support plane defined by the corresponding lattice, a projection oriented towards the geometric food support plane defined by the lattice of the other grid, - the peripheral skirt of one of the two grids is subject to penetrate into the volume delimited by the peripheral skirt of the other grid, when the two grids are superimposed, that is to say folded one on top of the other.

6. Cooking appliance according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lattice (211) of the second grid (21) is offset laterally relative to the median geometric plane of the latter, this plane being that located midway between the two endless edges of the skirt defined by the lateral (212a) and transverse (212b, 212c) borders and that said second grid (21) is reversibly secured to the first grid (20) so that by simply turning over this second grid, the thickness of the food holding interval is modified.

7. Cooking appliance according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that: - the turning mechanism (3) comprises a pair of operating arms (30) each having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of each operating arm being joined to the proximal end of the other operating arm (30) by a spacer forming an operating handle (31) at the front of the cooking appliance, - the two operating arms (30) are each articulated by their distal end to the first grid (20) of the cooking support (2) according to

8.

9. a horizontal geometric axis (AA'), located midway between the front (202b) and rear (202c) transverse edges, - the two operating arms (30), between their distal and proximal ends, are articulated to the supporting frame (4) along a horizontal geometric axis (BB') parallel to the geometric axis (AA'), - the turning mechanism (3) comprises a pair of connecting rods (32), each articulated on the one hand to the first grid (20) of the cooking support (2) along a geometric axis (CC') parallel to the axis (AA'), and on the other hand along a geometric axis (DD') to a pair of legs (33) fixed to the lateral flanks (40) of the supporting frame (4), the axis (DD') being parallel to the axis (BB') and being located at right angles to the axis (AA') when the cooking support (2) is in the horizontal position, - the axis (CC') is spaced from the axis (AA'), - the two legs (33) extend vertically downwards from the supporting frame (4). Cooking appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with means for locking the cooking support (2) in a vertical or close to vertical position. Cooking appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: - the hearth (1) comprises in the upper part a horizontal main floor (11) in which the fuel loading opening (110) is formed, - it is equipped with an additional horizontal cooking grid (5), mounted on three feet (50), capable of being placed in a removable manner on the hearth (1) in place of the assembly formed by the supporting frame (4), the turning mechanism (3) and the cooking support (2), - the additional grid (5), by its three feet (50), preferably rests on an additional sole (14) of the hearth (1) positioned in the opening (110) of the main sole (11), - the additional sole (14) is provided with a circular central opening (140), on the periphery of which the three feet (50) are supported by radial lugs (51), - the additional sole (14) is provided with three regularly distributed radial notches (141), opening into the central opening (140) and adapted to receive in a form-fitting manner respectively the feet (50) of the additional grid (5), - the additional grid (5) has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the central opening (140) of the additional sole (14), - the additional grid (5) is provided with three radial stops (52) fixed on its upper face projecting beyond the circular contour of this upper face and designed to bear on the upper face of the additional base (14).

Images