AU784919B2 - Cooking/heating appliance - Google Patents

Description

Our Ref:.7560770 P/00/OII Regulation 3:2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): Christopher Otto Joseph Von Schomburg 43 Brahms Street Seven Hills New South Wales 2147 Australia ADDRESS FOR SERVICE

ALTERED

IVR C Address for Service: DA*vIEs ee..LLseIS CAvE -Patet&rade-Mak-A44o m-eys.

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Invention Title: The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 5020 PA\WPDOCSVMDSPECR7560770 DOC- 19/12/00 -1- COOKING/HEATING APPLIANCE Background of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooking/heating appliance, and in particular to such an appliance which has a plurality of uses for a variety of cooking and/or heating functions.

In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, the appliance is particularly useful as a barbeque, stove, oven and/or heater which has improved functional advantages over prior art barbeques, stoves, ovens, and/or heaters.

Description of the Prior Art A variety of different styles of barbeques, cooking appliances and heating appliances are currently known. Such cooking/heating appliances each include a fuel source, whilst some incorporate means for deflecting or otherwise directing the heat generated by the fuel source towards a cooking/heating region.

In relation to barbeques, traditional barbeques merely provide a grill or hot plate spaced above a fuel source, which may be gas, electric, or solid fuel such as wood, coals or heat beads. Whilst wood, coals or heat beads are traditionally used and are often preferred in order to provide barbequed or smoked flavour to the food being cooked, an ever increasing 20 trend is to utilise gas or electricity as the fuel source, as it is considered more convenient in that the hot plate or grill is able to be heated more quickly, and therefore cooking can be commenced at an earlier time.

A more recent embodiment of a barbeque is that commonly known as the Weber T M 25 'Kettle' barbeque which provides a cooking chamber formed of upper and lower members, and a solid fuel source adapted to be provided in the lower portion of the lower member, with the grill or hot plate being provided thereabove. Such a WeberTM barbeque is preferred by some persons, as it provides a more traditional barbeque or smoked flavour as a result of the use of the solid fuel. A disadvantage of such a WeberT barbeque is that a considerable time is expended, typically 30 to 40, minutes from ignition of the solid fuel until the barbeque is sufficiently heated and ready for use.

P:\WPDOCSAMD\SPECIFICATIONS\7560770 DOC 7/5/06 -2- Summary of the Invention The present invention seeks to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a cooking system barbeque which, due to its unique design, provides a more efficient heating function.

The present invention also seeks to provide a cooking/heating appliance which due to its considered design, provides a plurality of features which may be used either separately or in combination.

In one broad form, the present invention provides an appliance for cooking/heating or the like, including: a cooking chamber including: oa lower bowl member, housing at least two fuel sources; a removable upper lid member, positioned atop said lower bowl member; and, a grill/plate therein, to support food to be cooked/heated; 15 a duct, oo a first end of which includes an air inlet, and, ~a second end of which is provided adjacent to said fuel source(s), such that air which is ingressed into said air inlet is directed via said duct and towards said fuel source; characterised in that said at least two fuel sources include: a first fuel source, such as gas or electricity, to provide a source of fast cooking/heating; and, a second fuel source, such as heat beads, coal or other solid fuel, to provide a source of (smoke) or charcoal flavoured heating or like effect to said food; wherein, said second fuel source is positioned such that air entering said inlet of said duct is directed via said outlet, to thereby direct heat from said first fuel source toward said second fuel source.

P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPECIFICATIONS\756770 DOC 17/5/06 -3- Also preferably, the appliance further includes waste receptacle means being provided at a lowermost end of said duct to receive any waste material therein.

Also preferably, said duct is substantially of cylindrical configuration.

Also preferably, said air inlet means is embodied as a gap formed by the displacement between said duct and said waste receptacle.

In a preferred form, each component part is interconnected by a centrally provided shaft member.

Preferably, said gap may be varied.

S 10 Preferably, a fuel receptacle is adapted to be received in said lower member of said cooking chamber, substantially upwardly of said duct.

:Also preferably, said fuel receptacle is adapted to receive said second fuel source including wood, coal, heat beads, sawdust briquettes or like solid fuel.

S 15 Brief Description of the Drawings •ee* The present invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description of a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, described in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the cooking/heating appliance in accordance with the present invention, wherein the cooking/heating chamber is in the closed position; Figure 2 illustrates the cooking/heating appliance of Figure 1, but with the chamber in the open position; Figure 3 illustrates a view of the lower side of the duct of the cooking/heating appliance; Figure 4 illustrates a view from the outside of the duct of the cooking/heating appliance; and, Figure 5 details a cross-sectional view of the cooking/heating appliance of the present invention.

p.WPDOCS\AMDMSPECA7560770 DOC 19/12/00 -4- Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments Throughout the drawings, like numerals will be used to identify similar features, except where expressly otherwise indicated.

As shown in Figure 1, the cooking/heating appliance of the present invention, generally designated by the numeral 1 comprises a cooking/heating chamber 2, which is formed of an upper member 3, and a lower member 4. Underneath the lower member 4 is provided a duct 5. The cooking/heating appliance is supported on a support frame 6, and the embodiment shown in Figure 1 also illustrates the provision of certain accessories, including a foldable/removable table 7.

In Figure 2 is illustrated the cooking/heating appliance wherein the upper member 3 is openable and separable from the lower member 4, the upper member 3 able to be supported in position adjacent the handle portion 8 on the support frame 6. The embodiment illustrates the use of a plurality of skewers 9 supported on a truncated conical support 10, which, as will be appreciated, is also useful for supporting a wok or like cooking means.

!In use, the cooking appliance of the present invention may be utilised for a variety of S. 20 cooking functions, including cooking on a grill or hot plate, providing one or more cooking containers in the form of saucepan like containers on to the grill or hot plate, supporting a wok on the truncated conically shaped device 10, supporting skewers on the same truncated conically shaped device 10, etc.

25 The cooking appliance of the present is unique from prior art devices in that one or a combination of fuel sources may be utilised to achieve the cooking function. The embodiment as illustrated in the drawings utilises the combination of cooking beads (heat beads) and gas, such that the gas is utilised to ignite the cooking beads, and, due to the unique provision of the duct, a more efficient cooking effect is achieved due to the improved flow of air in a somewhat venturi like effect.

P.\WPDOCS\AMD\SPECI\756O770 DOC 19/12/00 As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the duct 5 includes an air inlet 11 provided at a lower end of the duct 5, below which a waste receptacle 12 is attached. The air inlet is effectively formed as a gap between the rims of the lower portion of the duct 5 and the waste receptacle, such that air is ingressed in the direction shown by arrow 13 in Figure 5, and directed upwardly through the duct 5 and towards the fuel source which is provided on the upper end of shaft 14 in the bottom of the lower member 4 of the cooking chamber 2, and/or at location at the side of the shaft 14.

In a preferred form of the invention, such as shown in Fig. 5, solid fuel, such as coal or heat beads (cooking beads), may be provided in container 17, and be positioned atop or adjacent to a gas fuel source 16 such that the heat from the gas fuel source 16 is directed, via the venturi like effect of the air entering through inlet 11 in the direction of arrow 13, to the solid fuel, to initiate combustion thereof and to maintain the cooking/heating ability of the solid fuel.

Fig. 5 illustrates that the position of the solid fuel containers 17 may be varied in position, to achieve variation in the amount of heat generated by the solid fuel, dependent upon the distance thereof from the gas fuel source 16. Variation of the position of the solid fuel containers 17 will also result in variation of the amount of heat and/or smoked effect S. 20 imparted to the food being cooked.

It will be appreciated that via the considered design of the present invention, a variety of unique capabilities are achieved, which is not presently known to be provided in such combination in any prior art cooking or heating appliance. One of the significant advantages 25 of the barbeque is that the solid fuel is ready to perform the cooking function, achieving the .oooo) barbeque or smoked flavour, in a significantly reduced time compared with prior art barbeques, such as the Weber T M as hereinbefore described. Typically, the solid fuel used in :the barbeque of the present invention is ready for use in about 5-10 minutes, instead of 30-40 minutes for the hereinbefore WeberTM barbeque.

It will be appreciated that during the cooking operation, fats and other wastes may P-\WPDOCS\AMD\SPECI\7560770.DC 1912/0 -6drip from the cooking region, via the duct 5 and into the waste receptacle 12. The waste receptacle 12 is uniquely provided such that it can be easily removed for cleaning. The waste receptacle is also provided such that it may be adjusted in height relative to the duct, such that the size of the air gap 11, through which the air may be ingressed in the direction of arrow 13 may be controlled, to thereby control the level of heating. This is achieved by means of the cross shaped handle 18, which may be rotated to thereby adjustably alter the height of the waste receptacle 12. As illustrated in the drawings, a spring or other biasing means 15 may be utilised to bias the waste receptacle in the lower position maintaining the air gap, in the adjusted position, as controlled by the use or by adjustment of adjustment means 18.

It will be appreciated that an electric heating element may additionally be provided within the appliance, or in alternative to the gas heating element, for the appropriate admission of the solid fuel. Of course, the solid fuel could be eliminated and the cooking appliance could simply be used with gas and/or electricity to perform the cooking operation, although such an embodiment would not achieve the cooking benefits achieved with the coal or heat beads and the particular barbeque or smoked flavours.

It will be appreciated that the shape of the various components, and particularly the upper and lower members of the cooking/heating chamber, are preferably provided in a dish S. 20 like configuration, such that heat is directed in an efficient manner throughout the chamber.

Other shapes, such as pyramidal shaped members may alternatively be provided. The duct is provided to be of substantially cylindrical configuration to achieve the desired effects of the air flow. It will, however, be appreciated that the particular shapes of the components may be able to be varied to perform similar functions, and that the present invention should 25 not be considered to be limited to the specific shapes as shown. For example, a rectangular ool.i or other shaped duct may alternatively be provided. It should, however, be appreciated that the particular choice of the shapes of the cooking/heating chamber has certain advantages other than just achieving the cooking function. For example, the same mold may be utilised to manufacture both the upper and lower members of the cooking/heating chamber, as they are substantially identical in shape, and are just provided with appropriate interconnection means around the lip thereof. The flattened portion at the extremities of the members is P \WPDOCS\AMD\SPEC1\7560770.DOC -19/12/00 -7usefully able to serve the dual purpose of connecting the duct to the lower member, and also, to receive and support a saucepan or upper object atop the other member of the cooking chamber when in the closed position. Appropriate air vents are preferably provided in this flat portion of the upper member, such that heat may be imparted to the bottom of a saucepan or like cooking utensil when placed or provided atop the upper member.

It will be appreciated that other features such as the provision of a temperature gauge, the provision of a window to view the cooking operation within the chamber may be usefully provided in preferred embodiments of the invention, with or without a battery (dry cell) operated light at the inside end of the handle on member 3.

The present invention therefore provides a unique device which has certain advantages over prior art cooking/heating appliances, in that a more efficient cooking operation is achieved by appropriate design or a duct to control the air flow and therefore achieve a faster and effective cooking procedure within the cooking chamber in a venturi effect. It will also be appreciated that the present invention provides a combination of fuels which may be used :...ojointly or severally, which ability is not known to be previously provided.

Whilst a specific embodiment of the invention has been hereinbefore described, it S 20 should be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications to that specific embodiment will be envisaged by persons skilled in the art. All such variations and modifications should be considered to fall within the scope of the invention as S" broadly hereinbefore described and as hereinafter claimed.

S .0

Claims (9)

1. An appliance for cooking/heating or the like, including: a cooking chamber, including: a lower bowl member, housing at least two fuel sources; a removable upper lid member, positioned atop said lower bowl member; and, a grill/plate therein, to support food to be cooked/heated; a duct, a first end of which includes an air inlet, and, a second end of which is provided adjacent to said fuel source(s), such that air which is ingressed into said air inlet is directed via said duct and towards said fuel source(s); o characterised in that said at least two fuel sources include: a first fuel source, such as gas or electricity, to provide a source of fast cooking/heating; and, a second fuel source, such as heat beads, coal or other solid fuel, to provide a source of smoke or charcoal flavoured heating or like effect to said food; wherein, said second fuel source is positioned such that air entering said inlet of said duct is directed via said outlet, to thereby direct heat from said first fuel source toward said second fuel source.

2. A cooking/heating appliance as claimed in claim 1, further including: waste receptacle means being provided at a lowermost end of said duct to receive any waste material therein.

3. A cooking/heating appliance as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said duct is substantially of cylindrical configuration.

4. A cooking/heating appliance as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said air inlet means is embodied as a gap formed by the displacement between said duct and said waste receptacle.

P \WPDOCS\AMD\SPECIFICATIONS\7560770DOC- 17/5/06 -9- A cooking/heating appliance as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each component part is interconnected by a centrally provided shaft member.

6. A cooking/heating appliance as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the length of said gap may be varied.

7. A cooking/heating appliance as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a fuel receptacle is adapted to be received in said lower member of said cooking chamber, substantially upwardly of said duct.

8. A cooking/heating appliance as claimed in claim 7, wherein said fuel receptacle is adapted to receive said second fuel source, including coal, cooking/heat beads or other solid fuel. 20 CHRISTOPHER OTTO JOSEPH VON SCHOMBURG By His Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE S. 15

9. A cooking/heating appliance, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 17th day of May, 2006 20 CHRISTOPHER OTTO JOSEPH VON SCHOMBURG By His Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE 5