barbecue

Abstract

A barbecue 1 has a support frame 51 for supporting a grill grate 9 and a carrier frame 55 for carrying a fire blocker 62 or a pizza stone. The support frame 51 comprises first supports 52 being in a first support plane P1 and second supports 53 being in an second support plane P2. The grill grate 9 consists of two halves that are carried by the supports at two different levels. The carrier frame 55 has a carrier 56 being in a third plane P3 and legs 57 attached to the carrier. The legs 57 are provided with feet which extend in a fourth plane P4. The carrier frame 55 hangs with the feet 58 at the first supports 52 and carries the fire blocker 62. The carrier frame 55 can also rests with the feet 58 upon the second supports 53 to support a pizza stone.

Description

[0001]Barbecue equipped with a lift mechanism for adjusting the height of the charcoal basket Technical field of the invention The invention relates to a barbecue comprising: - a housing part which is open at the top and comprises a side wall and a bottom and which is provided with a number of closable air supply openings, - a removable lid present on the housing part for closing the open top of the housing part, and - a grill grate which during barbecuing being at a distance above the bottom, - a charcoal basket being in the housing part below the grill grate and above the bottom. All types of charcoal barbecues have their charcoal in the lower part of the barbecue. With a number of barbecue types it is possible to regulate the grill temperature by moving the charcoal basket closer to or further away from the grill grate. Background of the invention Most barbecues have an air vent system to adjust the grill temperature, typically two vents, one on the bottom and one on the top of the grill, with the lower vent used to control the amount of oxygen reaching the charcoal, while the upper vent controls the amount of heat that is allowed to escape from the grill. While the slides on the openings suggest precise temperature control, in practice it is difficult to know exactly how much to open or close to achieve the desired temperature. Each adjustment has a delayed response and can take up to half an hour to achieve the desired change. Small adjustments can have a significant impact on the temperature inside the grill, so there is no fine tuning and it often comes down to a situation where the temperature is too hot or too cold to use. So the main problem with these two types of barbecues is that the grill temperature is very difficult to control. The second problem is that the maximum grill temperature is relatively low, since the distance between the charcoal and the food grill is relatively large in both types of barbecues. While the temperature of charcoal is about 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature decreases exponentially with distance from the charcoal. Searing a steak requires 600-800 Fahrenheit, which is not possible with these types of grills, even when using excessive amounts of charcoal. A barbecue according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from US4281633. In this known barbecue there is a hole in the middle of the bottom of the housing part and a tube is attached to the bottom of the housing part at the location of this hole. Inside the chute is a rod which is attached to the charcoal basket at its upper end and is provided with a perpendicular pin extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction and protruding through a vertical slot in the chute. By sliding the pin through the slot, the height of the charcoal basket can be changed. The tube is furthermore provided with a number of transverse slots which connect to the vertical ones at a mutual distance and into which the pin can be turned to fix the height of the charcoal basket. Thus, the distance between the charcoal basket and the grill grate can be adjusted in steps and a specially shaped housing part must be produced when manufacturing the known barbecue. Summary of the invention An object of the invention is to provide a barbecue of the type described in the preamble, having more possibilities for temperature adjustment when baking and grilling. To this end, the barbecue according to the invention is characterized in that it further comprises: - a support frame for the grill grate, comprising first supports being in a first support plane and second supports being in an second support plane at a greater distance from the bottom than the first support plane, said support frame further comprising hanging hooks with which the support frame hangs on the border of the housing part, and - a carrier frame for carrying a fire blocker or a pizza stone, said carrier frame comprising a carrier being in a third plane and legs being with a first end attached to the carrier and being at a second end provided with a foot, wherein the feet extending in a fourth plane at distance from the third plane, said carrier frame can be in a first position to carry the fire blocker, in which first position the carrier hangs with the feet at the first supports and the third plane being at a smaller distance from the bottom than the first support plane, and in a second position to carry the pizza stone, in which second position the carrier rests with the feet upon the second supports and the third plane being at greater distance from the bottom than the second support plane. The barbecue according to the invention offers with a minimum of additional aids (only the support frame and the carrier frame) the possibility to use a fire blocker above the charcoal basket to reduce the heat transfer to the grill grate and to arrange a pizza stone in the top of the lid where the temperature is high. The position of the hanging hooks is adjustable in radial direction to fit on the border of the housing part. This invention is particularly intended for Kettle and Kamado (egg- shaped) type barbecues since in these types the grill grate is at a fixed distance from the charcoal. Barbecues of the Kamado and Kettle type have in common that: - their shape is round and both have an egg-shaped body, - have charcoal as a fuel source, - both have the fuel source relatively far away from the grill grate, - in both cases the surface of the charcoal is smaller than the surface of the grill grate, - both can be used for different types of cooking, including grilling, smoking, roasting and baking, - both have a lid with which the housing part can be closed, - both have an air vent system to adjust the grill temperature, typically two vents, one on the bottom and one on the top of the grill, with the lower vent used to control the amount of oxygen reaching the charcoal, while the upper vent controls the amount of heat that is allowed to escape from the grill. An embodiment of the barbecue according to the invention which is suitable for a Kettle-type barbecue is characterized in that it further comprises a lift mechanism for adjusting the height of the charcoal basket above the bottom, which lift mechanism is present between the bottom of the housing part and the charcoal basket and has a spindle and a nut for the height adjustment of the charcoal basket, which lift mechanism comprises a lift support for positioning the lift mechanism on the bottom and / or against the side wall of the housing part of the barbecue, and a basket carrier for carrying the charcoal basket, wherein the spindle is attached to the bottom of the charcoal basket and extends at right angles to the charcoal basket and the lift support being provided with the nut in which the spindle can rotate. The temperature can be controlled precisely by rotating the charcoal basket. It is noticed that application of this lift mechanism can also be applied to barbecues that are not provided with the support frame and the carrier frame as described above. A further embodiment of the barbecue according to the invention is characterized in that that the charcoal basket at the outer circumference is provided with a number of protrusions extending outwards and that the barbecue comprises a hook for hooking behind one of the protrusions to rotate the charcoal basket and thereby adjust the distance of the charcoal basket to the bottom of the housing part. In this way the charcoal basket can be rotated during barbecuing. Another embodiment of the barbecue according to the invention suitable for a Kamado-type barbecue is characterized in that it further comprises a lift mechanism for adjusting the height of the charcoal basket above the bottom, which lift mechanism is present between the bottom of the housing part and the charcoal basket and has a spindle and a nut for the height adjustment of the charcoal basket, which lift mechanism comprises a lift support for positioning the lift mechanism on the bottom of the housing part of the barbecue, a basket carrier for carrying the charcoal basket, and a scissor lift comprising at least two scissor legs hingedly connected to each other in the middle, which scissor legs each with one end are rotatably connected to the lift support, the lower ends being movable towards and away from each other in a direction parallel to the bottom, the spindle extending in a direction parallel to the bottom and the nut being connected to the lower end of one of the scissor legs, with the spindle passing through an opening in the housing part of the barbecue and the end of the spindle outside the housing being provided with a crank to rotate the spindle to operate the lift mechanism. It is noticed that also application of this lift mechanism can be applied to barbecues that are not provided with the support frame and the carrier frame as described above. In both embodiments, existing barbecues can be taken as a starting point and the lift mechanism can be fitted in the existing barbecue without modification of the existing barbecue. Brief description of the drawings The invention will be explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments of the barbecue according to the invention shown in the drawings. Hereby shows: Figure 1 a Kettle-type barbecue; Figure 2 a first embodiment of the barbecue according to the invention with the carrier frame in a first position; Figure 3 the barbecue shown in figure 2 with the carrier frame in a second position; Figure 4 the barbecue shown in figure 2 in exploded view; Figure 5 the support frame with adjustable hanging hooks of the barbecue shown in figure 2; Figure 6 the carrier frame of the barbecue shown in figure 2; Figure 7 shows the situation of figure 2 in perspective view; Figure 8 shows the situation of figure 3 in perspective view; Figure 9 the barbecue shown in figure 2 with the charcoal basket in the upper position; Figure 10 the barbecue shown in Figure 2 with the charcoal basket in the lower position and with a different lift support of the lift mechanism; Figure 11 a Kamado-type barbecue; Figure 12 a second embodiment of the barbecue according to the invention in cross section; Figure 13 the barbecue shown in figure 12 with the charcoal basket in the lowest position; Figure 14 the barbecue shown in figure 12 with the charcoal basket in the upper position; Figure 15 the barbecue shown in figure 12, provided with a stone inner wall; and Figure 16 the barbecue shown in figure 12 in exploded view. Detailed description of the drawings Figure 1 shows a known Kettle-type barbecue. This barbecue has a housing part 3 which is supported by an undercarriage 4. The housing part 3 is open at the top and is provided with a bottom 5, which is closed except for a number of closable air supply openings, and a side wall 6. This barbecue furthermore has a lid 7 which is present on the housing part 3 for closing off the open top of the housing part. The air supply openings in the bottom 5 also function as discharge openings for ash. An ash collector 8 is therefore located under these air supply openings. The lid 7 is provided with air discharge openings which can be opened and closed by a slide. In figures 2 and 3 the housing part 3 with the lid 7 thereon of a first embodiment of the barbecue 1 according to the invention is shown in cross section. This barbecue 1, like the known barbecue shown in figure 1, has a grill grate 9, which is present at a fixed distance above the bottom 5 of the housing part 3 during barbecuing, and a charcoal basket 11, which is positioned below the grill grate 9 and above the bottom 5 and is present in the housing part 3. The barbecue 1 is provided with a lift mechanism 13 for moving the charcoal basket 11 in height. This lift mechanism 13 is present between the bottom 5 of the housing part 3 and the charcoal basket 11 and is provided with a lift support 15 for placing the lift mechanism on the bottom 5 and / or against the side wall 6 of the housing part 3 of the barbecue, as well as a basket carrier 17 for carrying the charcoal basket 11. The lift mechanism 13 has a vertically oriented spindle 19 and a spindle nut 20 thereon which is fixed to the lift support 15. The basket carrier 17 is coupled to the charcoal basket 11 in such a way that it is fixed relative to the charcoal basket in the direction of rotation about the longitudinal axis. The basket carrier 17 is furthermore fixed on the spindle 19, so that when the charcoal basket 11 is rotated, the spindle 19 also rotates and is thereby displaced in vertical direction relative to the spindle nut 20. The barbecue 1 further has a support frame 51 for supporting the grill grate 9 and a carrier frame 55 for carrying a fire blocker 62 or a pizza stone 61. The support frame 51 comprises first supports 52 being in a first support plane P1 and second supports 53 being in an second support plane P2 at a greater distance from the bottom 5 than the first support plane 52. The grill grate 9 consists of two halves that can be carried by the supports 52 and 53 at two different levels. The support frame 51 further comprising hanging hooks 54 with which the support frame 51 hangs on the border of the housing part 3. The hooks 54 are clamped on the support frame 51 by a screw (not shown) and the distance to the supports can be adjusted. The carrier frame 55 has a carrier 56 being in a third plane P3 and legs 57 attached with a first end to the carrier 56. The second end of the legs 57 are each provided with a foot 58. These feet extend in a fourth plane P4 at distance from the third plane P3. The carrier frame 55 can be in a first position to carry the fire blocker 62. This position is shown in figure 2. In this first position the carrier frame 55 hangs with the feet 58 at the first supports 52. The first plane P1 and fourth plane P4 coincide. The third plane P3 being at a smaller distance from the bottom 5 than the first support plane P1. The carrier frame 55 can also be in a second position to carry the pizza stone 61. This position is shown in figure 3. In this second position the carrier frame 55 rests with the feet 58 upon the second supports 53. The second plane P2 and fourth plane P4 coincide. The third plane P3 being at greater distance from the bottom 5 than the second support plane P2. In figure 4 the barbecue 1 is shown in exploded view. The grill grate 9 consists of two halves, one of which rests on the first supports 52 of the support frame 51 and the other half rests on the second supports 53 of the support frame 51. The carrier frame 55 is shown both in the first position carrying a half of the fire blocker 62 as in the second position carrying a pizza stone 61. In order to be able to rotate the charcoal basket 11, all parts present above must first be removed. The charcoal basket 11 can then be rotated with the aid of a hook 69. To this end, the charcoal basket is provided along the periphery with protrusions 12 behind which the bent end of the hook 69 can hook. By turning the charcoal basket 11, the spindle 19 also turns in the spindle nut 20, which is mounted in the lift support 15. The lift support 15 is blocked against rotation by inwardly protruding ribs 10 on the inside of the housing part 3. Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the support frame 51 with adjustable hanging hooks 54 of the barbecue and figure 6 is an enlarged view of the carrier frame 55 of the barbecue. In figure 7 the situation of figure 2 is illustrated in perspective view with the level of the planes P1-P4 indicated and in figure 8 the situation of figure 3 is illustrated in perspective view with the level of the planes P1-P4 indicated. Figures 9 and 10 show the barbecue 1 with the charcoal basket 11 in the upper and lower position respectively, the lid being omitted. In the embodiment shown in figure 10 the lift support 15 of the lift mechanism 13 is different from the lift support 15 shown in figure 9. This lift support 15 is mounted on the bottom 5 of the housing part 3 and is advantageous if there are no inwardly projecting ribs on the inside of the housing part. Figure 11 shows a known Kamado-type barbecue. This barbecue also has a housing part 23 which is supported by an undercarriage 24. The housing part 23 is also open at the top and provided with a bottom 25. In the side wall 26 of the housing part 23 directly above the bottom 25, a closable opening 43 is present for regulating the air supply. This barbecue also has a lid 7 with which the open top of the housing part 23 can be closed. This lid 27 is pivotally attached to the housing part 23. In figure 12 the housing part 23 with the lid 27 on it of a second embodiment of the barbecue 21 according to the invention is shown in cross section. This barbecue 21, like the known barbecue shown in figure 11, has a grill grate 29, which is present at a fixed distance above the bottom 25 of the housing part 23 during barbecuing, and a charcoal basket 31, which is positioned below the grill grate 29 and above the bottom 25 and is present in the housing part 23. The barbecue 21 is provided with a different lift mechanism 33 for moving the charcoal basket 31 in height. This lift mechanism 33 is also present between the bottom 25 of the housing part 23 and the charcoal basket 31 and is provided with a lift support 35 for placing the lift mechanism on the bottom 25 of the housing part 23 of the barbecue, as well as with a basket carrier 37 for carrying the charcoal basket 31. The lift mechanism 34 is formed by a scissor lift provided with a number of scissor legs 41 which are pivotally connected to each other in the middle. The lower scissor legs 41 are each rotatably connected to the lift support 35 at one end. The end of one of the lower scissor legs is fixed in horizontal direction with respect to the lift support 35 and the end of the other lower scissor leg 41 is movable in horizontal direction with respect to the lift support 35. This lift mechanism 34 is also provided with a spindle 39 and a spindle nut 40 present thereon. However, the spindle 39 now extends in horizontal direction and the spindle nut 40 is connected to the horizontally movable end of one of the shear legs 41. The spindle 39 protrudes through the opening 43 in the housing part 23 of the barbecue 21 and is provided with a crank 45. By turning the spindle 39, the lower ends of the lower scissor legs 41 are moved towards or away from each other, as a result of which the carrier 37 moves in vertical direction. Figures 13 and 14 show the barbecue 21 with the charcoal basket 31 in the lower and upper position, respectively, with the lid omitted. Figure 15 shows the barbecue 21 but now provided with wall stones 65 and a smaller diameter charcoal basket 31. These wall stones 65 retain the heat longer. In figure 16 the barbecue 21 is shown in exploded view. The grill grate 29 also consists of two halves. The carrier frame 55 is shown both in the first position carrying a half of the fire blocker 62 as in the second position carrying a pizza stone 61. Although the present invention is elucidated above on the basis of the given drawings, it should be noted that this invention is not limited whatsoever to the embodiments shown in the drawings. The invention also extends to all embodiments deviating from the embodiments shown in the drawings within the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Barbecue (1; 21) comprising: - a housing part (3; 23) which is open at the top and comprises a side wall and a bottom (5; 25) and which is provided with a number of closable air supply openings, - a removable lid (7; 27) present on the housing part (3; 23) for closing the open top of the housing part, - a grill grate (9; 29) which during barbecuing being at a distance above the bottom (5; 25), and - a charcoal basket (11; 31) being in the housing part (3; 23) below the grill grate (9; 29) and above the bottom (5; 25), characterized in that the barbecue further comprises: - a support frame (51) for the grill grate (9; 29), comprising first supports (52) being in a first support plane (P1) and second supports (53) being in an second support plane (P2) at a greater distance from the bottom (5; 25) than the first support plane (52), said support frame (51) further comprising hanging hooks (54) with which the support frame (51) hangs on the border of the housing part (3; 23), and - a carrier frame (55) for carrying a fire blocker (62) or a pizza stone (61), said carrier frame (55) comprising a carrier (56) being in a third plane (P3) and legs (57) being with a first end attached to the carrier (56) and being at a second end provided with a foot (58), wherein the feet extending in a fourth plane (P4) at distance from the third plane (P3), said carrier frame (55) can be in a first position to carry the fire blocker (62), in which first position the carrier frame (55) hangs with the feet (58) at the first supports (52) and the third plane (P3) being at a smaller distance from the bottom (5; 25) than the first support plane (P1), and in a second position to carry the pizza stone (61), in which second position the carrier frame (55) rests with the feet (58) upon the second supports (53) and the third plane (P3) being at greater distance from the bottom (5; 25) than the second support plane (P2).

2. Barbecue (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the position of the hanging hooks (54) is adjustable in radial direction to fit on the border of the housing part (3; 23).

3. Barbecue (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it further comprises a lift mechanism (13) for adjusting the height of the charcoal basket (11) above the bottom, which lift mechanism (13) is present between the bottom (5) of the housing part (3) and the charcoal basket (11) and has a spindle and a nut for the height adjustment of the charcoal basket (11), which lift mechanism (13) comprises a lift support (15) for positioning the lift mechanism (13) on the bottom (5) and / or against the side wall (6) of the housing part (3) of the barbecue, and a basket carrier (17) for carrying the charcoal basket (11), wherein the spindle is attached to the bottom of the charcoal basket and extends at right angles to the charcoal basket and the lift support being provided with the nut in which the spindle can rotate.

4. Barbecue (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the charcoal basket (11) at the outer circumference is provided with a number of protrusions (12) extending outwards and that the barbecue comprises a hook (69) for hooking behind one of the protrusions (12) to rotate the charcoal basket (11) and thereby adjust the distance of the charcoal basket (11) to the bottom (5) of the housing part (3).

5. Barbecue (21) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it further comprises a lift mechanism (33) for adjusting the height of the charcoal basket (31) above the bottom, which lift mechanism (33) is present between the bottom (25) of the housing part (23) and the charcoal basket (31) and has a spindle and a nut for the height adjustment of the charcoal basket (31), which lift mechanism (13) comprises a lift support (35) for positioning the lift mechanism on the bottom (25) of the housing part (23) of the barbecue, a basket carrier (37) for carrying the charcoal basket (31), and a scissor lift comprising at least two scissor legs (41) hingedly connected to each other in the middle, which scissor legs (41) each with one end are rotatably connected to the lift support (35), the lower ends being movable towards and away from each other in a direction parallel to the bottom, the spindle (39) extending in a direction parallel to the bottom and the nut (40) being connected to the lower end of one of the scissor legs (41), with the spindle (39) passing through an opening (43) in the housing part of the barbecue (21) and the end of the spindle outside the housing being provided with a crank (45) to rotate the spindle to operate the lift mechanism.

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