Switchable Grill Grate Assembly for Horizontal Food Repositioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing barbecue grills face challenges in efficiently moving food items between uneven heat zones, leading to cumbersome food handling, potential loss, and difficulty in managing flare-ups without tools or vertical repositioning.

Innovation Solution

A switchable grill grate assembly with a main frame and two grill grate sections, where one section is slidably engaged and the other can be lifted and rotated, allowing horizontal movement of food without lifting or sliding, enabling quick repositioning and easy access to smoker boxes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If food items are moved using barbecue tools (spatula, fork, or tongs), then food items can be transferred between heat zones, but the process becomes cumbersome and difficult especially when dealing with multiple food items

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of moving food itemsVSAvoidtime required to move food items

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The grill grate is divided into multiple independently movable sections that can be shifted relative to each other. This segmentation allows food items to remain on the grate while the grate sections move to reposition food between heat zones, eliminating the need for tools and reducing handling time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The movable grate sections act as intermediaries that carry food items between different heat zones. Instead of directly moving food with tools, the grate sections serve as intermediate carriers that can be quickly repositioned to achieve food relocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If food items are slid across the grill grate, then food can be moved between heat zones, but food items may fall through the grill grate resulting in loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of moving food itemsVSAvoidfood retention on grill

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The grill grate is divided into multiple sections with each section capable of independent movement. Food items remain contained on individual sections during movement, preventing them from falling through the gaps between grate bars that would occur during sliding operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The grill grate sections are designed to be dynamically movable rather than static. This allows controlled repositioning of food-carrying sections while maintaining food containment, combining the benefits of easy movement with reliable food retention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the grill grate is raised or lowered to vertically reposition food, then food can be repositioned relative to the heat source, but the mechanisms are relatively slow and do not allow for horizontal repositioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverepositioning capabilityVSAvoidspeed of repositioning

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The grill grate is segmented into multiple movable sections that can be independently repositioned horizontally along the grill. This segmentation enables quick lateral movement of food between heat zones without the slow vertical adjustment mechanisms of traditional grills.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of vertical repositioning (one dimension), the invention introduces horizontal movement capability (another dimension) through movable grate sections. This dimensional change provides faster and more versatile food repositioning options.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Adaptability or versatility

If smoker boxes are deployed below the grill grate, then smoking function is added, but access to refill smoker boxes requires lifting the entire grill grate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesmoking functionalityVSAvoidease of accessing smoker boxes

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The grill grate is segmented into movable sections that can be independently lifted or removed. This allows selective access to smoker boxes located beneath specific grate sections without requiring removal of the entire grill grate, making refilling convenient while maintaining smoking functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The grill grate sections are designed with dynamic mobility, allowing them to be easily lifted or removed to access smoker boxes below. This dynamic design provides easy access for refilling while maintaining the structural integrity and functionality of the grill system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20230233021A1Switchable grill grate assembly for a cooking grill

Publication Date: 2023.07.27 GRILLTHINK LLC

AI summary

A switchable grill grate assembly for a cooking or barbecue grill includes a main frame configured to rest on top of a cooking grill. The main frame provides an open support framework for a horizontal slide track which extends from one end of the support framework to the other. Separate grill grate sections engage with the slide track in a manner that allows one grill grate section to be constrained to sliding back and forth on the slide track and the other grill grate section to be lifted upwardly off of the slide track and rotated up and over the other grill grate section as the first grill grate section slides underneath the second grill grate section.