Bent Charcoal Raking Tool for Through-Grate Heat Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tools for relocating charcoal in barbecue grills are limited in reach, require lifting or removing the food grate, and expose users to heat, risking food displacement and hand injury.
Innovation Solution
A barbecue grill implement with a handle and an extension portion featuring two bends and a raking head with a geometric perimeter and central opening, allowing for extended reach and safe relocation of charcoal without lifting the food grate, formed from heat-resistant materials like stainless steel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional straight tool with hoe or hook is used to relocate charcoal, then the tool structure is simple, but the reach is limited and the user's hand is exposed to heat
Solution Approach 1:
The extension portion transitions from a straight linear structure to a bent multi-dimensional structure with first and second bends at different angles, allowing the raking head to reach charcoal at various locations on the charcoal grate while keeping the user's hand outside the heat zone. This dimensional change enables the tool to access hard-to-reach areas without compromising user safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension portion is segmented into multiple sections with different bend angles, where the first extension portion segment has length l1, the second extension portion segment has length l2, and the third extension portion segment has length l3. This segmentation allows each section to serve a specific function in navigating around the cooking grate and reaching the charcoal.
2Ease of operation
If the cooking grate is lifted or removed to relocate charcoal, then full access to charcoal is achieved, but food may be displaced or dumped
Solution Approach 1:
The bent extension portion acts as an intermediary that passes through openings in the cooking grate to reach the charcoal below, enabling charcoal relocation without removing the grate. The raking head with geometric perimeter and central opening navigates through the grate structure to access and relocate charcoal while the cooking grate remains in place to protect food.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool extends into the vertical dimension by passing through openings in the cooking grate, allowing the user to access charcoal at a lower level while maintaining the grate's protective function. The multi-bend structure enables navigation through the three-dimensional space between the user's hand, the grate, and the charcoal.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and implement for a barbecue grill are provided. The barbecue grill implement comprises a handle, and an extension portion coupled with the handle and including a first bend, and a second bend in the opposite direction of the first bend. The extension portion may include first, second and third extension portion segments having respective lengths ‘l1’, ‘l2’ and ‘l3’, where ‘l1’ is greater than each of ‘l2’ and ‘l3’. A raking head extends from the extension portion, the raking head having a geometric perimeter with a substantially central opening. The raking head may have a pentagon-shaped perimeter. The barbecue grill implement is inserted in the barbecue, and moved along the charcoal grate. Charcoal is captured at the raking head, and the charcoal is relocated.