Grilling appliance comprising a warming rack

Abstract

The invention relates to a grilling appliance (1) comprising: a support surface (11) for receiving food from above along the vertical axis (Z); and a warming rack (15) for receiving food from above along the vertical axis (Z), the warming rack (15) being located above the support surface (11) along the vertical axis (Z). The grilling appliance (1) is characterised in that the warming rack (15) is designed, in a first horizontal orientation, to receive food from above along the vertical axis (Z), and, in a second vertical orientation, to receive at least one accessory element (17) along the longitudinal axis (X) in such a manner that the accessory element (17) is positioned above the support surface (11) along the vertical axis (Z).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Grill with warming rack

[0003] The invention relates to a grill with a warming rack.

[0004] Grilling has long been a traditional method of preparing food. Grilling essentially cooks the food through radiant heat, roasting it on the surface. Thorough cooking is achieved through heat conduction, also known as heat conduction, from the surface of the food into the food.

[0005] Grilling can be done over an open fire, which is why it's usually done outdoors. Open fires can be created using combustible materials such as charcoal or gas. Wood fires, embers, or a gas flame serve as heat sources. Grilling outdoors can be quite laborious, as a grill, fuel, a gas source, and the food to be grilled must all be transported outside, set up, and operated, and then later dismantled and removed.

[0006] Alternatively, grilling can also be done using an electrically operated grill with electric heating coils, which can also be referred to as an electric grill. This has the advantage that, since an open flame is avoided, this type of grilling can also be done indoors. Mobile or stationary electric grills can be used for this purpose. However, heating outdoor grills with an electrically operated heat source is also known.

[0007] All barbecues usually have a grill grate, which is usually made of metal. The grill grate has an upward-facing support surface on which the food to be grilled can be placed. The support surface is usually formed by a large number of webs, which are usually aligned parallel to one another and spaced from one another by openings or slots, which are also usually parallel to one another. During operation, the grill grate is arranged with its lower side opposite the support surface above the respective heat source, which can be an open fire or, in the case of an electric barbecue, an electrically operated heater, as described above. The heat or energy given off by the heat source during operation.Heat can therefore rise from below to the grill grate and warm the grill grate and thus affect the food being grilled, as well as reach the food directly through the openings.

[0008] It is also common practice for such grills to have a warming rack at a higher level than the actual grilling surface, i.e., the support surface. This is particularly the case with cuboid grills with a rectangular support surface. The warming rack then typically extends across the entire width of the support surface, but takes up significantly less space in depth than the actual grill or its support surface, so as not to obstruct it for the user. The warming rack typically extends over one-third of the depth of the support surface and is positioned higher above the rear of the support surface.

[0009] A disadvantage of the known warming racks is that the actual function of the warming rack, namely "keeping warm", can usually only be fulfilled inadequately, since the heat development on the warming rack is a firmly coupled result of the heat applied at the grill level, i.e. the heating depends on the heat which rises from the support surface of the actual grill to the warming rack.

[0010] Another disadvantage of conventional warming racks is that they usually only offer warming as their sole function. Conventional warming racks currently do not offer any options for preparing food.

[0011] Attachments are also known which, instead of a warming rack in the rear area of ​​the support surface, can be placed on the edges of the grill grate or on the frame of the grill next to the grill grate in order to offer additional options for holding grilled food above the support surface.

[0012] The invention therefore addresses the problem of providing a grill with improved grilling and heat-retaining capabilities. This should be as simple, cost-effective, compact, and / or intuitive as possible for the user. At the very least, an alternative version of such a grill should be provided.

[0013] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a grill, by a warming rack and by an accessory element having the features of the independent claims.

[0014] Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention emerge from the following dependent claims.

[0015] The invention thus relates to a grill with a support surface for receiving grilled food along the vertical axis from above and a warming rack for receiving grilled food along the vertical axis from above, wherein the warming rack is arranged along the vertical axis above the support surface. The support surface or the grill grate forming the support surface can preferably be designed to be removable, which can facilitate cleaning. The grill can be heated in any possible way, in particular by fire, using coal or charcoal, as well as gas, or electrically.

[0016] The grill is characterized in that the warming rack is designed to receive grilled food from above along the vertical axis in a first horizontal orientation and to receive at least one accessory element along the longitudinal axis in a second vertical orientation such that the accessory element is positioned along the vertical axis above the support surface.

[0017] Thus, according to the invention, the warming rack can not only be used, as previously known, to hold grilled food that is to be kept warm on top of it, which corresponds to its first and so-called classic function or use when horizontally aligned. In addition, the warming rack can be used vertically aligned, preferably along the rear edge of the grill grate or the housing of the grill appliance running along the transverse axis, to form a rear wall of the grill grate or the support surface, which can accommodate at least one accessory element from the front, so that the accessory element can be positioned above the grill grate or the support surface. Such an accessory element can be a partition wall element, a warming rack element, a chicken holder, a drip tray, a skewer holder with skewer and / or a bowl holder, the function of which can thus be utilized in the grill appliance according to the invention.

[0018] The present invention is based on the realization that numerous accessories for barbecues are available today. However, these accessories are not intended to be used directly on the grill grate, but rather along the vertical axis above the grill grate or its support surface, in order to prevent the grilled food from being exposed to too much heat from the heat source below the grill grate, such as a chicken holder or the skewer of a skewer holder, and thus from overcooking it. This also applies to accessories such as drip trays and tray holders, the contents of which should also not be overheated to avoid burning. Such accessories must therefore be held by the barbecue device or its housing or frame without touching the grill grate.

[0019] At the same time, warming racks are and remain very popular and represent a widespread basic function of a barbecue that should not be done without.

[0020] According to the invention, the warming rack of the grill is therefore designed in such a way that the warming rack can be arranged both in a horizontal orientation precisely for keeping grilled food warm as previously known and alternatively by rotating it through 90° into the vertical orientation, preferably as a receiving surface comparable to a multifunctional tool wall, for receiving at least one accessory element, preferably in different positions along the vertical axis and / or along the transverse axis, and preferably several accessory elements at the same time, preferably in the same and different positions to one another along the vertical axis and / or along the transverse axis, above the grill grate or its support surface.

[0021] This allows the warming function to be enabled as before. In addition, the warming rack, without any accessories attached, can be positioned in the second vertical orientation to completely free up the support surface, allowing it to be fully utilized. The warming rack can be stowed and stored within the grill, so that the warming rack is always available and directly usable for both functions, cannot be lost, and does not require additional storage space. Furthermore, accessories from the vertically oriented warming rack can be used directly without the need for additional holders.

[0022] According to one aspect of the invention, a housing of the grill device has holding elements which are designed to receive the warming rack from above in its first horizontal orientation along the vertical axis and to support it from the front in its second vertical orientation along the longitudinal axis.

[0023] Thus, in its first horizontal orientation, the warming rack can simply be placed on the holding elements, which are preferably provided in pairs, i.e. spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis and on both sides along the transverse axis, which can be particularly simple and intuitive for the user. Likewise, in its second vertical orientation, the warming rack can rest from behind against the holding elements, which are also preferably provided in pairs, i.e. spaced apart from one another along the vertical axis and on both sides along the transverse axis, which can be just as simple and intuitive for the user. In this case, the upper and rear holding elements can preferably be used in both orientations. In any case, this can represent a particularly simple, cost-effective, space-saving and / or intuitive implementation option.

[0024] According to a further aspect of the invention, the housing is designed to support the warming rack from behind in its second vertical orientation along the longitudinal axis. This can improve or ensure the hold or positioning of the warming rack in the second vertical orientation, i.e. prevent it from tipping backwards. According to a further aspect of the invention, the warming rack has a plurality of passages, preferably horizontal elongated holes, which are designed to allow the heat of the support surface to reach the grilled food held by the warming rack directly through them along the vertical axis in the first horizontal orientation. This can improve the warming effect.

[0025] According to a further aspect of the invention, the warming rack has a plurality of receptacles, preferably vertical slots, which are each designed to accommodate a suspension of the accessory element along the longitudinal axis in the second vertical orientation in order to hold the accessory element positioned along the vertical axis above the support surface. This can make it easy to specifically accommodate the accessory element as described above. Implementing this using vertical slots can be particularly simple and enables particularly precise positioning along the transverse axis.

[0026] According to a further aspect of the invention, the suspensions of the accessory element are designed to be suspended from above into the receptacles of the warming rack along the vertical axis and to be held in a form-fitting manner at least, preferably precisely, along the longitudinal axis when the warming rack is arranged in its second vertical orientation. This can represent a concrete implementation possibility. In particular, this can enable a robust suspension without slipping, twisting, and / or sagging.

[0027] According to a further aspect of the invention, the receptacles of the warming rack are distributed along the transverse axis in its second vertical orientation such that the accessory element can be accommodated in several different positions along the transverse axis. This can increase the flexibility of the arrangement of the accessory element along the transverse axis.

[0028] According to a further aspect of the invention, the different positionings are provided in quarters or eighths of the total width of the warming rack. This can enable a defined arrangement or use of several accessories simultaneously.

[0029] According to a further aspect of the invention, the receptacles of the warming rack are arranged one above the other along the vertical axis in its second vertical orientation, so that the accessory element can be accommodated at several different heights. This can increase the flexibility of the arrangement of the accessory element along the vertical axis. In particular, the heat that can act on the accessory element can be reduced or increased by positioning the accessory element higher or lower along the vertical axis.According to a further aspect of the invention, the support surface has a plurality of combustion chambers, preferably arranged next to one another, along the transverse axis, wherein the passages of the warming rack in its first horizontal orientation are arranged as cooking surfaces along the vertical axis above the combustion chambers, wherein the receptacles of the warming rack in its second vertical orientation are arranged as intermediate spaces along the transverse axis at the edge of the combustion chambers.

[0030] One practical way to achieve this is to position the warming rack mounts for the accessory element(s) directly at the edge or next to the combustion chamber, so that the accessory element can only be positioned above a combustion chamber. This can make the use and positioning of the accessory element intuitive for the user.

[0031] According to a further aspect of the invention, receptacles for the warming rack are arranged in the center of the combustion chambers in its second vertical orientation along the transverse axis. This can enable subdivision or use of the combustion chambers beyond the edge by accessory elements.

[0032] According to a further aspect of the invention, the warming rack is designed separately from the grill. The warming rack is thus designed as a separate device, preferably as a one-piece, i.e., integrally formed part, and in particular as a sheet metal part with punched-out portions, which can simplify production. This can also simplify use as described above, as well as cleaning.

[0033] According to a further aspect of the invention, the accessory element is a partition element, a warming rack element, a chicken holder, a drip tray, a spit holder with spit, and / or a tray holder. This can enable the use or implementation of the corresponding properties and functions as previously described.

[0034] The invention also relates to a warming rack for use in a grill as described above. This makes it possible to provide a warming rack for implementing a grill according to the invention as described above and utilizing its properties and advantages.

[0035] The invention further relates to an accessory element for use with a grill as described above. This makes it possible to provide an accessory element for implementing a grill according to the invention as described above and for utilizing its properties and advantages.

[0036] An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a grill according to the invention with a warming rack in a first horizontal orientation;

[0037] Figure 2 shows the representation of Figure 1 with the warming rack at the beginning of a pivoting movement;

[0038] Figure 3 shows the representation of Figure 1 with the warming rack in the middle of the pivoting movement;

[0039] Figure 4 shows the representation of Figure 1 with the warming rack at the end of the pivoting movement in a second vertical orientation;

[0040] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the grill according to the invention directly from the front with the warming rack in the second vertical orientation;

[0041] Figure 6 shows a joint representation of the horizontal support surface with the warming rack in the second vertical orientation;

[0042] Figure 7 is a front plan view of the warming rack in the second vertical orientation with the warming rack divided into eighths in the second vertical orientation;

[0043] Figure 8 shows the representation of Figure 7 with further possibilities for dividing the warming rack in the second vertical orientation;

[0044] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the left area of ​​the grill device according to the invention with a detailed view thereof;

[0045] Figure 10 shows the representation of Figure 4 with an accessory element in the form of a

[0046] Partition wall element;

[0047] Figure 11 shows the representation of Figure 4 with an accessory element in the form of a 14-warming rack element;

[0048] Figure 12 shows the representation of Figure 4 with an accessory element in the form of a 3-warming rack element;

[0049] Figure 13 shows the representation of Figure 4 with an accessory element in the form of a chicken holder and with an accessory element in the form of a drip tray underneath;

[0050] Figure 14 shows the representation of Figure 4 with an accessory element in the form of a spit holder with spit; and

[0051] Figure 15 shows the representation of Figure 4 with an accessory element in the form of a bowl holder and with an accessory element in the form of a drip tray next to it.

[0052] The figures above are viewed in Cartesian coordinates. There is a longitudinal axis X, which can also be referred to as depth X or length X. Perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X extends a transverse axis Y, which can also be referred to as width Y. Perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis X and the transverse axis Y extends a vertical axis Z, which can also be referred to as height Z and corresponds to the direction of gravity. The longitudinal axis X and the transverse axis Y together form the horizontal X, Y, which can also be referred to as the horizontal plane X, Y.

[0053] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a grill 1 according to the invention with a warming rack 15 in a first horizontal orientation. Figure 2 shows the view of Figure 1 with the warming rack 15 at the beginning of a pivoting movement A. Figure 3 shows the view of Figure 1 with the warming rack 15 in the middle of the pivoting movement A. Figure 4 shows the view of Figure 1 with the warming rack 15 at the end of the pivoting movement A in a second vertical orientation. Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the grill 1 according to the invention directly from the front with the warming rack 15 in the second vertical orientation.

[0054] The grill 1 represents a gas grill 1. A housing 10 of the grill 1 holds or surrounds the elements of the grill 1. Within the upper area of ​​the grill 1, several heating elements (not shown) are arranged, each of which can be individually adjusted in terms of its power by means of a control element 12, which can be read by the user on a display element 13.

[0055] Above the heating elements, a grill grate (not labeled) is arranged in several separate parts or placed on the housing 10. The top or upper surface of the grill grate represents a support surface 11 on which the user can place food to be grilled in order to cook it there using the heat of the heating elements.

[0056] A pivoting grill hood 14 is provided at the rear of the housing, facing away from the user, along the longitudinal axis X, to cover the support surface 11 and keep the heat there, which can increase the cooking temperature and reduce the cooking time.

[0057] In the rear area of ​​the support surface 11, three holding elements 16 in the form of cylindrical projections are provided on each of the two inner sides of the housing 10 along the transverse axis Y, each forming a right-angled triangle. Thus, two holding elements 16 are arranged at the same height along the vertical axis Z, i.e., aligned horizontally to one another, and spaced from one another along the longitudinal axis X. The two pairs of horizontal holding elements 16 are arranged directly opposite one another along the transverse axis Y. A third holding element 16 is arranged along the vertical axis Z below the respective rear holding element 16, which are also directly opposite one another along the transverse axis Y.

[0058] The holding elements 16 serve to accommodate a warming rack 15 according to the invention both in a first horizontal orientation on the two first-described pairs of horizontal holding elements 16 and in a second vertical orientation behind the respective rear horizontal holding element 16 and the respective third holding element 16 below it. In the second vertical orientation, the housing 10 supports the warming rack 15 from behind. The transition from the first horizontal orientation of the warming rack 15 to the second vertical orientation of the warming rack 15 can be achieved by means of the aforementioned pivoting movement A, see Figures 2 to 4. The warming rack 15 can be returned to the first horizontal orientation by the reverse movement.

[0059] In the first horizontal orientation, the warming rack 15 can be used for a normal or known warming function by placing food to be grilled from above onto the top of the horizontally oriented warming rack 15. The warming rack 15 has passages 15b in the form of horizontal elongated holes 15b through which the heat from the support surface 11 can directly reach the food to be grilled on the warming rack 15, see Figure 6, which shows a joint representation of the horizontal support surface 11 with the warming rack 15 in the second vertical orientation.

[0060] The warming rack 15 further has receptacles 15a between the horizontal elongated holes 15b, which extend as vertical slots 15a in the second vertical orientation, see also Figure 6. The vertical slots 15a serve in pairs to receive corresponding suspensions 17a of accessory elements 17 in order to hold the respective accessory element 17 above the support surface 11 when the warming rack 15 is in the second vertical orientation, as will be described in more detail below with reference to Figures 10 to 15. Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the left area of ​​the grill device 1 according to the invention with a detailed view thereof in order to illustrate the suspension 17a of an accessory element 17 in more detail.

[0061] The vertical slots 15a are arranged multiple times both along the vertical axis Z and along the transverse axis Y to allow different positioning of the accessory elements 17. The support surface 11 can be divided along the transverse axis Y into several, here four, combustion chambers 11a. The vertical slots 15a of the vertically oriented warming rack 15 are accordingly provided as spaces 15d where there is a boundary between two immediately adjacent combustion chambers 11a on the support surface 11. The areas of the warming rack 15 which are located between two immediately adjacent spaces 15d and thus directly along the vertical axis Z above a combustion chamber 11a can be referred to as cooking surfaces 15c of the warming rack 15. In addition, several vertical slots 15a can be provided one above the other along the transverse axis Y, exactly in the center of a cooking surface 15c.This results in divisions of the vertically oriented warming rack 15 by means of its vertical slots 15a, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. Figure 7 thus shows a plan view from the front of the warming rack 15 in the second vertical orientation with the warming rack 15 being divided into eighths in the second vertical orientation. Figure 8 shows the representation of Figure 7 with further possibilities for dividing the warming rack 15 in the second vertical orientation. If the accessory elements 17 are thus formed along the transverse axis Y over 1 / 8, 1 / 4 or 1 / 2 of the entire width of the support surface 11 and thus also of the warming rack 15, a plurality of accessory elements 17 can be held comparatively flexibly along the transverse axis Y by the vertically oriented warming rack 15 above the support surface 11, as shown by way of example in Figure 8.

[0062] Figure 10 shows the representation of Figure 4 with an accessory element 17 in the form of a partition wall element 17. The partition wall element 17 is arranged centrally along the transverse axis Y, so that two equally sized areas of the support surface 11 are formed.

[0063] Figure 11 shows the representation of Figure 4 with an accessory element 17 in the form of a 14-inch warming rack element 17. The warming rack element 17 extends along the transverse axis Y over a quarter of the width of the support surface 11 and is arranged above the leftmost burning surface 11a. The warming rack element 17 extends comparatively far along the longitudinal axis X toward the user.

[0064] Figure 12 shows the representation of Figure 4 with an accessory element 17 in the form of a 14-inch warming rack element 17. The warming rack element 17 extends along the transverse axis Y over half the width of the support surface 11 and is arranged above the two rightmost burning surfaces 11a. The warming rack element 17 extends comparatively short along the longitudinal axis X toward the user.

[0065] Figure 13 shows the representation of Figure 4 with an accessory element 17 in the form of a chicken holder 17 and with an accessory element 17 in the form of a drip tray 17 underneath. The chicken holder 17 is one-eighth the width of the support surface 11 and is arranged centrally above the drip tray 17, which is one-quarter the width of the support surface 11.

[0066] Figure 14 shows the representation of Figure 4 with an accessory element in the form of a spit holder 17 with a spit. The spit holder 17 is half the width of the support surface 11 and is arranged on the far left along the transverse axis Y.

[0067] Figure 15 shows the representation of Figure 4 with an accessory element 17 in the form of a tray holder 17 and with an accessory element 17 in the form of a drip tray 17 next to it. Both accessory elements 17 are one-quarter the width of the support surface 11. List of reference symbols (part of the description)

[0068] X Longitudinal axis; Depth; Length

[0069] Y transverse axis; width

[0070] Z vertical axis; height

[0071] X, Y Horizontal; horizontal plane

[0072] A swivel movement

[0073] I Grill; Gas grill

[0074] 10 housings

[0075] II Supporting surface for the food

[0076] 11a Combustion chambers of the support surface 11

[0077] 12 controls

[0078] 13 Display element

[0079] 14 Grill hood

[0080] 15 Warming rack

[0081] 15a shots; vertical slots

[0082] 15b Passages; horizontal slots

[0083] 15c Cooking surfaces of the warming rack 15

[0084] 15d Spaces of the warming rack 15

[0085] 16 Holding elements of the warming rack 15

[0086] 17 accessories; partition element; warming rack element; chicken holder;

[0087] Drip tray; skewer holder with skewer; bowl holder

[0088] 17a Suspension of the accessories 17

Claims

Patent claims 1. Grilling device (1) with a support surface (11) for receiving grilled food along the vertical axis (Z) from above and a warming rack (15) for receiving grilled food along the vertical axis (Z) from above, wherein the warming rack (15) is arranged along the vertical axis (Z) above the support surface (11), characterized in that the warming rack (15) is designed to receive grilled food along the vertical axis (Z) from above in a first horizontal orientation and to receive at least one accessory element (17) along the longitudinal axis (X) in a second vertical orientation such that the accessory element (17) is positioned along the vertical axis (Z) above the support surface (11).

2. Grilling device (1) according to claim 1, wherein a housing (10) of the grilling device (1) has holding elements (16) which are designed to receive the warming rack (15) from above in its first horizontal orientation along the vertical axis (Z) and to support it from the front in its second vertical orientation along the longitudinal axis (X).

3. Grilling device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the housing (10) is designed to support the warming rack (15) from behind in its second vertical orientation along the longitudinal axis (X).

4. Grilling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the warming rack (15) has a plurality of passages (15b), preferably horizontal elongated holes (15b), which are designed to allow the heat of the support surface (11) to reach the grilled food held by the warming rack (13) directly through them along the vertical axis (Z) in the first horizontal orientation.

5. Grilling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the warming rack (15) has a plurality of receptacles (15a), preferably vertical slots (15a), which are designed to receive a suspension (17a) of the accessory element (17) along the longitudinal axis (X) in the second vertical orientation in order to hold the accessory element (17) positioned along the vertical axis (Z) above the support surface (11).

6. Grilling device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the suspensions (17a) of the accessory element (17) are designed to be suspended from above in the receptacles (15a) of the warming rack (15) along the vertical axis (Z) and to be held in a form-fitting manner at least, preferably exactly, along the longitudinal axis (X) when the warming rack (15) is arranged in its second vertical orientation.

7. Grilling device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the receptacles (15a) of the warming rack (15) in its second vertical orientation are arranged distributed along the transverse axis (Y) such that the accessory element (17) can be received in several different positions along the transverse axis (Y).

8. Grilling device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the different positionings are provided in quarters or eighths of the total width of the warming rack (15).

9. Grilling device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the receptacles (15a) of the warming rack (15) in its second vertical orientation are provided one above the other along the vertical axis (Z), so that the accessory element (17) can be received at several different heights.

10. Grilling device (1) according to claim 4 and according to one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the support surface (11) has a plurality of combustion chambers (11a), preferably arranged next to one another, along the transverse axis (Y), wherein the passages (15b) of the warming rack (15) in its first horizontal orientation are arranged as cooking surfaces (15c) along the vertical axis (Z) above the combustion chambers (11a), wherein the receptacles (15a) of the warming rack (15) in its second vertical orientation are arranged as intermediate spaces (15d) along the transverse axis (Y) at the edge of the combustion chambers (11a).

11. Grilling device (1) according to claim 10, wherein receptacles (15a) of the warming rack (15) in its second vertical orientation along the transverse axis (Y) are arranged in the center of the combustion chambers (11a).

12. Grilling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the warming rack (13) is formed separately from the grilling device (1).

13. Grilling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the accessory element (17) is a partition wall element (17), a warming rack element (17), a chicken holder (17), a drip tray (17), a spit holder with spit (17) and / or a tray holder (17).

14. Warming rack (13) for use in a grill (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13.

15. Accessory element (17) for use in a grill (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13.

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