GB2233547A - Portable barbeque - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable barbeque which has a large capacity in relation to the overall size of the portable unit, comprises two complementary open hollow vessels (11 and 12), such that when the openings of the vessels are placed together the vessels form a closed container. Means (16,17, 31, 32) are provided for holding the vessels together in a closed condition. Support cradles (18) are provided for supporting the vessels side by side in an open condition with their openings facing upward. An air permeable coal support (21) for each vessel is arranged to be positioned within its respective vessel (11 or 12) with space thereunder. A food support grill (27) for each vessel is carried on grill supports 24 adapted to support the grill (27) above its respective vessel. The coal supports (21), grills (27) and grill supports (24) can be stored within the container formed by the two vessels (11 and 12). <IMAGE>

Description

PORTABLE BARBEQUE The invention relates to portable barbeques.

A typical barbeque unit is heavy and cumbersome which makes it inconvenient for use more than a few metres away from a home or car. Minaturisation of a barbeque unit could obviously make it more portable but would have the disadvantage of reducing its cooking capacity.

An object of the invention is to provide a portable barbeque which has a large capacity in relation to the overall size of tie portable unit.

In accordance with the present invention a portable barbeque comprises a first open hollow vessel; a second open hollow vessel having an opening complimentary to that of the first vessel such that when the openings are placed together the vessels form a closed container; means for holding the vessels together in a closed condition; means for supporting the vessels side by side in an open condition with their openings facing upward; an air permeable coal support for each vessel, each arranged to be positioned within its respective vessel with space thereunder; a food support grill for each vessel; and grill support means for each grill adapted to support the grill above its respective vessel; the arrangement being such that the coal supports, grills and grill supports can be stored within the container formed by the two vessels.

Preferably each vessel is part cylindrical. The opening of each vessel then has two straight parallel longitudinal sides and complimentary sides are placed next to each other when the vessels are placed side by side.

Preferably the two vessels are hinged together so that they can be pivoted between a position where they form a closed container and a position where they are open and side by side.

The barbeque may incorporate supports in the form of cradles for supporting the two vessels side by side in a stable condition above the ground or other surface on which they are placed. These supports may be carried within the closed container.

The barbeque may also incorporate a two-part carrying handle with one part on the side of each vessel remote from its hinge. The handle parts may incorporate a locking mechanism for locking the handles together and thus in conjunction with the hinges for holding the vessels together as a closed container.

Preferably the grill supports project above the vessels and are supported removably in sockets mounted on end plates of the vessels.

Each grill may be of rectangular wire construction and the grill supports may each incorporate at least two slots allowing the height of each grill above its associated vessel to be adjusted.

An embodient of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrarnatic perspective view of the complete barbeque; and, Figure 2 shows details of a handle and fastening arrangement forming part of the barbeque.

The barbeque shown in Figure 1 incorporates two steel vessels 11 and 12 which will hereinafter be referred to as base units. The two base units are complimentary in shape and of similar construction and only the base unit 12 will be described in detail. Base unit 12 incorporates a cylindrical steel wall 13 which constitutes a base and two sides of the unit. Semicircular end walls 14 and 15 complete the base unit. The structure is of welded sheet steel. The two base units are hinged together by means of hinges 16 and 17 which may be such as to allow the two base units to be separated from each other by relative axial movement. In Figure 1 the two base units are shown side by side with upwardly facing complimentary rectangular openings.

Four support cradles 18 are each formed from bent steel brackets and are arranged to engage in small sockets such as 19 on the outer surface of the base unit. The support cradles 18 have flat bases for resting on the ground or other surface and hold the base units just above the support surface to prevent excessive heat transfer in use to this surface.

A coal support 21 rests loosely in each base unit. The coal supports are made up from expanded metal sheet secured to a steel frame and are thus air permeable.

Grill support mounting blocks such as 22 are secured two to each end plate such as 15 and each of these blocks incorporates a vertical socket 23. Each pair of corresponding sockets carries a grill support 24 in the form of a wire rack having at least three inwardly spaced lateral elements 25 bridging between vertical elements 26. Spaces between lateral elements 25 form slides within which a grill 27 can be supported. Grill 27 is made up of a rectangular wire frame with additional longitudinal and lateral wire members. The length of grill 27 is slightly greater than the distance between the upright elements 26 of an opposed pair of grill supports so that the grill supports are deflected slightly on engagement of the grill, thereby holding the grill supports and grill firmly in position.

Grill supports and a grill are shown only in position on base unit 11. Corresponding grill supports and grill are in practice provided on base unit 12 but these have been omitted from the drawing in the interests of clarity.

An openable and closable vent 28 may be provided in one or both end faces of each base unit below the level of the coal supports 21 but such events may not be essential.

The grill supports, grill and support cradles are of such size and shape that they can be fitted in to one base unit.

Thus for transport, the base units should be pivoted together about their pivots 16 and 17 to form a closed container carrying other parts of the barbeque. Typically there is some additional space within the closed container and this may be used for carrying food to be cooked.

Each base unit incorporates its own part-handle 31 or 32 and details of the handle arrangement are best seen from Figure 2. Each handle part incorporates a carrying portion 33 or 34 and two support legs 35 by which the carrying parts are spaced from and supported on the respective base unit by welding. Handle part 31 incorporates an elongated slot 36 with an enlarged aperture 37 at one end. Handle part 32 also incorporates an elongated slot 38 within which is secured for longitudinal sliding movement a clasp member 39. Clasp member 39 is dimensioned to pass through aperture 37 but to be wider than the remainder of slot 36 and is also supported in such a position on handle part 32 as to be spaced therefrom by a distance corresponding to the thickness of handle part 31. Thus, when the two base units are pivoted into a closed position with clasp member 39 in alignment with aperture 37, the clasp member passes through this aperture. Sliding the clasp member along out of alignment with aperture 37 along slot 36 then locks the two base units firmly together.

The complete barbeque in its closed condition with grills, grill supports and support cradles and possibly food stored in it can be carried conveniently over some distance such as from a car to a beach or from a car to a picnic site. It is then assembled as shown in Figure 1 but with a second grill supported above base unit 12. Charcoal is placed on the coal supports 21 and can be ignited in the usual way. The degree of opening of vents 28 if provided may be adjusted to control the rate of combustion of the charcoal. However, sufficient air flow may be available down around edges of the coal support to result in effective combustion. Food to be cooked is then placed on the grills 27 in the usual way.

If only a small amount of food is to be cooked, one half only of the barbeque may be used. Similarly, if different types of food require different cooking rates, the two grills may be positioned at different heights or the quantity or combustion rate of charcoal in each half of the barbeque may be adjusted accordingly.

After use when the barbeque has cooled down, it may again be closed up with grills etc inside for transportation.

Claims (11)

1. A portable barbeque comprising a first open hollow vessel; a second open hollow vessel having an opening complementary to that of the first vessel such that when the openings are placed together the vessels form a closed container; means for holding the vessels together in a closed condition; means for supporting the vessels side by side in an open condition with their openings facing upward; an air permeable coal support for each vessel, each arranged to be positioned within its respective vessel with space thereunder; a food support grill for each vessel; and grill support means for each grill adapted to support the grill above its respective vessel; the arrangement being such that the coal supports, grills and grill supports can be stored within the container formed by the two vessels.

2. A portable barbeque as claimed in Claim 1 wherein each vessel is part cylindrical.

3. A portable barbeque as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the opening of each vessel has two straight parallel longitudinal sides and complementary sides are placed next to each other when the vessels are placed side by side.

4. A portable barbeque as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the two vessels are hinged together so that they can be pivoted between a position where they form a closed container and a position where they are open and side by side.

5. A portable container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the barbeque incorporates supports in the form of cradles for supporting the two vessels side by side in a stable condition above the ground or other surface on which they are placed.

6. A portable barbecue as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the supports are carried within the closed container.

7. A portable barbeque as claimed in Claim 4 also incorporating a two-part carrying handle with one part on the side of each vessel remote from its hinge.

8. A portable barbeque as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the handle parts incorporate a locking mechanism for locking the handles together and thus in conjunction with the hinges for holding the vessels together as a closed container.

9. A portable barbecue as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the grill supports project above the vessels and are supported removably in sockets mounted on end plates of the vessels.

10. A portable barbeque as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each grill is of rectangular wire construction and the grill supports each incorporate at least two slots allowing the height of each grill above its associated vessel to be adjusted.

11. A portable barbecue substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.