WO2012001346A2

WO2012001346A2 - Heating rack

Info

Publication number: WO2012001346A2
Application number: PCT/GB2011/000967
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ian Geoffrey Worton; Peter Karl Neath; Jeffrey Alexander Moore
Original assignee: Ian Geoffrey Worton; Peter Karl Neath; Jeffrey Alexander Moore
Priority date: 2010-07-02
Filing date: 2011-06-29
Publication date: 2012-01-05
Also published as: GB2482045A; WO2012001346A3; GB201011190D0; GB201111008D0

Abstract

A heating rack (10) comprises a plurality of support bars (11 ) whereby items to be heated or cooked may be supported over a heat source, each support bar having associated therewith a channel (14) to receive exudate from the item being heated or cooked and to direct the exudate to a collection zone (15) at one or each end of the channel, said collection zone extending substantially wholly around the plurality of support bars and the collection zone being able to receive exudate flowing from one or either of the ends of each channel.

Description

HEATING RACK

This invention relates to a heating rack and in particular, although not exclusively, to a heating rack for heating and cooking food.

The invention relates also to a barbecue comprising a heating rack and support structure. The invention has particular relevance to the cooking of fatty foods over naked flames such as in the use of barbecues.

However it is to be understood that the present invention is not confined to a heating rack for a barbecue and may be applied to, for example, cooking ovens or grills or industrial ovens. Where the context permits, heating racks of the present invention may be used in the heating of other objects where heating an object results in the melting or exuding of at least a part of the object.

One of the main problems with cooking fatty foods such as sausages, meats, kebabs, beef burgers and the like over charcoal or gas heated synthetic charcoal or coals is that the fat runs down and drips onto the heated coals and ignites. This causes flames to rise and over-cook or burn the food being cooked, as well as potentially resulting in a flare up which may cause personal danger to the user.

Constructions of heating racks which have been found to substantially reduce the dripping of exudate onto a heat source are described in the specifications of our International patent application publications WO 2004/041041 and WO 2005/112719. In these specifications there are described inter alia heating racks suitable for use in barbecuing and comprising a plurality of support bars for supporting an item to be cooked, each support bar comprising a channel to receive exudate and direct the exudate to a collection zone at one or each end of the channel. The neighbouring support bars are more closely spaced apart than is conventional for the hitherto known heating racks whereby advantage is taken of surface tension effects, and including related surface wetting effects, to result in exudate tending to be attracted to and run down the sides of the support bars in contrast to dripping directly downwards between the support bars onto the heat source. The exudate attracted to the support bars then enters channel formations and flows towards one or each end of each support bar to be received in collection zones provided one each at the two opposite ends of the assembly of support bars.

The aforedescribed type of construction has been described particularly but not exclusively in the context of heating racks of a generally rectangular shape.

In the case of circular type heating racks as employed for kettle type barbecues it has been proposed in WO 8804907 to support the heating rack on a bowl-like body which includes a central support for a fuel bed or a gas burner and wherein the body includes a collection zone near the bottom of the body to surround the heat source and collect exudate which has dripped from between the support bars of the heating rack downwards onto the side walls of the bowl-like body.

Depending on the nature of the items being cooked and the period of time for which the barbecue is in continuous use it may be necessary to check at intervals that the collection capacity of the collection zone(s) is not exceeded since otherwise there is a risk of exudate then overflowing from the collection zone and contacting the heat source.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention we provide a heating rack comprising a plurality of support bars whereby items to be heated or cooked may be supported over a heat source, each support bar having associated therewith a channel to receive exudate from the item being heated or cooked and to direct the exudate to a collection zone at one or each end of the channel, said collection zone extending substantially wholly around the plurality of support bars and the collection zone being able to receive exudate flowing from one or either of the ends of each channel. Accordingly, in the context of a rectangular type heating rack, the collection zone typically will comprise two end portions at respective ends of the channels and two side portions which extend substantially parallel with the general direction of the length of the support bars, said side portions thereby serving to inter-connect and allow flow of exudate between end portions as well as serving to provide extra capacity for the accumulation of exudate during, for example, a prolonged period of cooking.

In the case of a heating rack for a kettle type barbecue, that is, a heating rack having a generally circular shape as viewed in plan, the invention teaches that the channels of the support bars of the heating rack are bounded by a substantially annular collection zone. As in the case of a collection zone as aforedescribed for a rectangular shaped heating rack, the annular collection zone may comprise side portions and said side portions typically may be of a curved shape and each extending to or between positions at which the collection zone is able to receive exudate from one or each end of an outermost channel of the plurality of channels

The collection zone preferably is of a kind which, in use, lies substantially in a horizontal plane. The channels associated with the support bars preferably lie inclined relative to the plane of the collection zone whereby, in use, exudate is encouraged to flow lengthwise of the channels, to one or each end of each channel depending on the directions of inclination of the channel over the length of the channel. Preferably the angle of inclination is in the range 1⁰ to 5° more preferably in the range 2° to 4° though higher levels of inclination may be employed, typically for example up to 8°. However, greater angles of inclination are not excluded from the invention. Preferably each channel encourages exudate to flow in the same, single direction away from one end of the channel towards the other end.

The collection zone preferably comprises a substantially continuous troughlike formation but it is to be understood that the trough-like formation may have at least one region of discontinuity such that exudate is not able to flow continuously around the trough. Thus the collection zone may comprise one or more barrier regions which may, for example, be positioned either between neighbouring ends of two channels or in or near a portion of the collection zone into which exudate does not directly flow from one or either of the ends of each channel.

Additionally or as an alternative to preventing exudate from flowing

continuously around the trough-like formations, the trough-like formations may comprise at least one region of discontinuity which acts in the manner of a dam whereby exudate initially accumulates in a first part of the trough and then flows over the discontinuity into a second part of the trough when the level of exudate in the first part has risen sufficiently.

The collection zone may comprise a trough-like formation having two dam formations which lie spaced to define a first collection region for receiving exudate from the channels and a second collection region which receives excess exudate that flows from the first collection region over one or each of the dam formations. Preferably the first collection region comprises less than 50% of the length of the collection zone, more preferably less than 40%.

The collection zone may be formed integrally with all or part of the plurality of support bars. The collection zone may serve to maintain the support bars and associated channels of the plurality in position relative to one another. In the case of a heating rack comprising support bars which are each of the kind comprising a support section and an associated collector section having a channel to receive exudate from the support section of the bar and in which a plurality of support sections are separable from the plurality of collector sections, such as is described in the specification of our International patent publication WO 2005/112719, the collection zone may be formed integrally with the plurality of collector sections.

In the case of support bars comprising separable support and collector sections an integral construction of a collection zone and collector sections may, for example, be formed as a pressing of sheet metal, or by casting. The support section also may be formed as a sheet metal pressing. Alternatively they, and also support bars of the type having integral support and collector sections, may be of a cast construction, and that may be preferred by users having a preference for a heating rack that provides an enhanced searing action when cooking food such as meat.

If the support bars each comprise a support section and an associated collector section, it is envisaged that preferably each section is equally inclined relative to the plane of the collection zone. That is particularly preferred if the support section is of the type having an upper surface that defines an exudate collection channel which is additional to that channel provided by the collector section. However in an alternative construction the support sections may have upper surfaces which lie in a plane substantially parallel with that of the collection zone, typically a plane which in use of the heating rack is substantially horizontal. Thus even if food items such as sausages are being heated, there is less risk of them rolling off the support bars than if the support sections had the same inclination as the collector sections, particularly in the case of relatively steeply inclined collector sections.

The collection zone may have an edge lip to provide a position from which exudate may be preferentially poured to drain the collection zone. In an alternative construction the collection zone may be provided with a drain hole or position below which a collection vessel may be positioned. A collection vessel may be removably secured to the collection zone for ease of removal and emptying of exudate. For a heating rack to be used in a barbecue the removable collection vessel preferably is supported at a position outside of the barbecue body so as not to be directly exposed to radiant or convected heat arising from a heat source within the barbecue body. In a further alternative the collection zone may be provided with a drain positioned so as to allow exudate to drip down the inner wall of the support bowl of a kettle barbecue to beneath or aside a heat source. Preferably the support bars of a heating rack, whether or not wholly or in part formed integrally with the collection zone, have supporting contact surfaces which are spaced apart less than 15mm, more preferably by less than 8mm, as described in our aforementioned International patent specifications, thereby to achieve a preferential collection of exudate and minimisation of that proportion of exudate which would drip directly between support bars if the benefits of surface tension effect was not utilised.

The collection zone may be formed with location formations for assisting location of the heating rack relative to a support body which surrounds or contains the heat source, for example the support bowl of a kettle barbecue.

Particularly, but not solely, in the case of a heating rack for which the support bars extend parallel with the plane of the collection zone, adjustable support means may be provided whereby the height of the collection zone and spacing from an upper rim of a support body may be selectively adjusted, for example to ensure that the collection zone is horizontal or, if preferred by the user, that it has a desired angle of inclination to the horizontal.

Hook shaped hanger supports may be provided to hook over the upper rim of the support bowl and allow the heating rack to be suspended or elevated at a desired position/height within or above the bowl. The supports may be of a kind which enables the heating rack to be supported at different heights thereby, in use, to allow the rack to be supported horizontally or inclined.

In the case of a circular type heating rack, preferably side portions of the collection zone lie spaced from outer support bars of the plurality of support bars thereby to provide access openings of a size sufficient to enable a user to insert fingers or other means for the purpose of lifting the heating rack and collection zone from a support body for cleaning and storage and/or, in the case of a two part heating rack as described in our International publication WO 2005/112719, for lifting the upper part of the heating rack, comprising a plurality of support sections, away from the plurality of collector sections and collection zone. Additionally or alternatively said access openings may be of a size sufficient to allow fuel, such as pieces of charcoal, to be fed onto the heat source without the need to remove the heating rack.

The heating rack may be of a kind comprising other features as described in our aforementioned International patent specifications. Thus, for example, the heating rack may comprise elongate collection channels or collector units which when in use are curved as viewed in a vertical plane, thereby to encourage flow of exudate lengthwise of the channels.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a barbecue comprising a support body in combination with a heating rack of the present invention. Preferably at least the collection zone of the heating rack is removable from the support body.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper part of a two-part heating rack in accordance a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the lower part of the heating rack of the first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the heating rack parts of Figures 1 and 2 in an assembled condition;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 3;

Figures 5 and 6 each show in perspective a detail of part of the heating rack component(s) of Figures 2 and 3 respectively;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of another detail of the heating rack of Figure 3; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a heating rack in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of parts, shown separated, of a heating rack in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 10 is a side view of the rack of Figure 9, in the direction of arrow X of Figure 12, when in an assembled condition;

Figure 11 is an isometric view of a collector section of the rack of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a plan view of the collector section of Figure 11 ;

Figure 13 is a section on the line A-A of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a section on the line C-C of Figure 12;

Figure 15 is a sectional view of a barbecue in accordance with the present invention, and

Figure 16 is a sectional view of another barbecue in accordance with the present invention.

A heating rack 10 (see Figures 1 to 7) for mounting on the support bowl of a kettle type barbecue comprises an upper section 11 comprising a plurality of support bar upper support sections 12 for supporting an object to be heated and a lower collector section 13 comprising a plurality of collector section channels 14 each to receive exudate from a respective upper section support bar. The lower section (see Figures 2 and 4) additionally comprises an annular trough formation 15 that is circumferentially continuous and is positioned such that, in use, exudate collected in each of the collector section V-section channels 14 and V-section channels of the upper support sections 12 is able to flow from either end of each channel into the trough formation which thereby acts as a collection zone.

The support and collector sections lie spaced apart across the rack so as to define slit-like openings through which radiant and convected heat can pass from a heat source to an object supported on the rack.

The upper section 11 comprises a pair of outermost upper support sections 7 which each differ from the intermediate support sections 12 in

consequence of each being provided with a downwardly extending flange formation 18. The flange formation is shaped and positioned such that in the assembled condition as shown in Figure 4 the flange formations serve to ensure that the upper and lower sections 11 ,13 of the heating rack are correctly aligned against displacement in a direction perpendicular to a the direction in which the support bar sections 12,14 extend. Movement of the upper and lower sections relative to one another in the direction of the length of the support bar sections is restrained by lug formations 19 provided on the lower section and which engage with end faces 20 of the outermost of the slitlike openings 21 of the upper section. The lug formations 19 serve also to support the upper section in a position spaced slightly above the collector section 13. As the upper section 11 is lowered onto the lower section 13 alignment is further assisted by the skirt formation 35 of the upper section being guided over the inner wall 36 of the trough 15.

The lower section 13 additionally is provided with edge lugs 24 (see Figures 5 and 6) for locating support hangers 25 by means of which the heating rack can thereby be secured to a supporting bowl body (not shown) of the kettle barbeque. Each hanger has an upper hook-shaped end 31 for placing over the upper rim of a bowl body and a plurality of cut outs 32. Each cut out is able to receive an edge lug 24 and therefore by suitable choice of the position of a cut out into which each lug is positioned, the heating rack can be suspended to be horizontal or inclined. As most clearly seen in Figure 3, the outermost support bars lie spaced inwards from side portions 30 of the annular collection trough 15 thereby to define substantially D shaped openings 27 which permit a user readily to engage with the aforementioned flange formations 18 and/or underside of the outermost collection bars thereby either to lift the upper section 1 1 from the lower section 13 and/or remove the complete heating rack from the supporting bowl body of the barbecue.

The base of the annular collection trough 15 lies in general below the level of the collection channels 14, as shown most clearly by Figure 4. Accordingly when in use in a level orientation, the exudate received by each collection channel from the respective support bar of the upper section, can flow along the channel to either end thereof and be received by the end portions 29 of the collection zone which lie between the aforementioned side portions 30.

The collection zone may also be provided with a drain hole 46 beneath which a collection vessel 47 may be suspended from the side of the collection zone as shown in Figure 7.

In a modification of the aforedescribed embodiment the support bars 12 and collection channels 14 may be curved along their length as viewed in a vertical plane thereby to lie inclined to the horizontal and thus encourage flow exudate in a direction lengthwise of the channels.

In a second embodiment of the present invention a heating rack 40 has a construction substantially similar to that aforedescribed except that as viewed in plan it is of a rectangular profile as shown in Figure 7. In this construction the aforedescribed D shaped openings are absent and removal of the upper section from the lower section may, for example, be achieved by simple inversion of the heating rack. In the rectangular version it can be seen that, in common with the circular version, the side sections of the collection zone 43 inter-connect the end sections 42 thereby to provide additional capacity for the accumulation of exudate and for enabling an excess of exudate as collected near one edge of the heating rack to flow around to and utilise the storage capacity of the collection channel at the opposite edge of the heating rack. As shown in Figure 8, the support bars are curved along their length in the manner described in the preceding paragraph.

Optionally the collection zone may incorporate a barrier 44 whereby it is rendered discontinuous to the flow of exudate there around.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention (see Figures 9 to 14) a heating rack 50 for mounting on the support bowl of a kettle type barbecue comprises an upper section 51 comprising a plurality of support bar upper support sections 52 for supporting an object to be heated and a lower collector section 53 comprising a plurality of collector section channels 54 each to receive exudate from a respective upper section support bar.

The upper section is supported in a position spaced slightly above the collector section by means of support lugs (not shown) and corresponding with the lugs 19 described in respect of the first embodiment of the invention

The lower collector section (see Figures 12 to 14) additionally comprises an integrally formed annular trough formation 55 that is integral with the collector section and is shaped such that, in use, exudate collected in each of the V- section channels 54 is able to flow, as described in more detail below, from an end of each channel into the trough formation which thereby acts as a collection zone. In use the upper section 51 rests on the lower section 53, as also described in more detail below, with the bars of the upper section vertically aligned with the respective channels 54 of the lower section such that exudate flowing down the sides of the upper bars is collected in the channels 54. The upper bars have V section channels in their upper surfaces and said channels also are arranged to drain into the trough formation 55.

The upper section 51 comprises a pair of outermost upper support sections 57 which each differ from the intermediate support sections 52 in

consequence of each being provided with a downwardly extending flange formation 58. The flange formation is shaped and positioned such that in the assembled condition as shown in Figure 9 the flange formations serve to ensure that the upper and lower sections 51 ,53 of the heating rack are correctly aligned against displacement in a transverse direction perpendicular to a the direction in which the support bar sections 52,54 extend. Additionally said transverse alignment and the alignment of the upper and lower sections 51 ,53 relative to one another in the direction of the length of the support bar sections is restrained by a circumferentially extending skirt formation 59 which extends downwards to engage with the radially inner wall region 60 of the trough (see Figure13) and adjacent ends of the lower collector sections 53 in a manner similar to the relative positions of the surfaces 35, 36 described in respect of the first embodiment with reference to Figure 4.

As most clearly seen in Figure 9, the outermost support bars 57 lie spaced inwards from side portions 70 of the annular collection trough thereby to define substantially D shaped openings 67 which permit a user readily to engage with the aforementioned flange formations 58 and/or underside of the outermost collection bars 54 thereby either to lift the upper section 51 from the lower section 53 and/or remove the complete heating rack from the supporting body of the barbecue.

Features of the heating rack lower section will now be described in further detail. To encourage flow of exudate along the channels 54 and into the trough 55 each channel and also the upper edge of each of the collector section bars lies inclined at an angle of 2° relative to the plane of the base of the trough. The channels 54 thus all drain to a first zone 80 of the trough, being a zone extending circumferentially between the outermost channels 57 (see Figure 12). For the purpose of allowing this drainage the skirt formation 59 of the upper section 51 extends downwards over only a part of the ends of the collection bars, to terminate above the channels 54 and thereby avoid restricting the flow of exudate from the channels.

The upper section of the heating rack 51 comprises support bar sections 52 which are of uniform depth along their respective lengths. The upper section lies in a plane parallel with the upper surfaces of the collector sections and channels 54 and thus the channels of the upper support sections 52 similarly will lie at an angle of 2° relative to the base of the trough, thereby encouraging flow of exudate along the upper channels and into the first zone 80 of the trough.

The trough 55 is formed with two dams 78,79 arranged at tends of the zone 80 and substantially aligned with the outermost of the channels 54. The dams thus separate the first trough zone 80 from a second zone 81. The height of each dam is less than the depth of the trough (see Figures 10 and 14) and thus the dams serve normally to contain exudate in the first zone 80 but in the event of an excessive amount being collected, the excess can flow over the dams to be held in the second zone 81.

In contrast to the provision of edge lugs 24 and support hangers as described in the context of the first embodiment for supporting the heating rack on the bowl of a kettle type barbecue, in this embodiment the underside of the trough provides the means by which the trough is supported. The heating rack 92 of this embodiment is suitable for use with a kettle barbecue having a bowl body 90 which either has an annular shoulder region 91 as shown in Figure 15 or three or more radially inwardly extending lugs 93 as shown in Figure 16.

A particular and advantageous feature of a continuous or substantially continuous collection zone trough is that by carefully tilting the rack or collection zone the exudate may be drained away at a single position. This is particularly advantageous in the case of a rectangular shaped heating rack of the previously known type because it avoids the need to drain from two spaced apart positions. In the case of a circular type heating rack exudate may be collected at a zone, such as the aforedescribed zone 80, positioned away, diametrically opposite, from the user thereby to minimise the risk of contact with hot exudate.

WN3DE5

Claims

1. A heating rack comprising a plurality of support bars whereby items to be heated or cooked may be supported over a heat source, each support bar having associated therewith a channel to receive exudate from the item being heated or cooked and to direct the exudate to a collection zone at one or each end of the channel, said collection zone extending substantially wholly around the plurality of support bars and the collection zone being able to receive exudate flowing from one or either of the ends of each channel.

2. A heating rack according to claim 1 wherein the collection zone comprises a substantially continuous trough-like formation.

3. A heating rack according to claim 2 wherein the trough-like formation comprises at least one region of discontinuity such that exudate is not able to flow continuously around the trough.

4. A heating rack according to claim 3 wherein the trough comprises a discontinuity in the form of a barrier region positioned either between neighbouring ends of two channels or in or near a portion of the collection zone into which exudate does not flow directly from one or either of the ends of each channel.

5. A heating rack according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the trough-like formation comprises at least one region of discontinuity which, in use, acts in the manner of a dam whereby exudate initially accumulates in a first part of the trough and then flows over the discontinuity into a second part of the trough when the level of exudate in the first part has risen sufficiently.

6. A heating rack according to claim 5 wherein the trough-like formation comprises two dam formations which lie spaced to define a first collection region for receiving exudate from the channels and a second collection region which receives excess exudate that flows from the first collection region over one or each of the dam formations.

7. A heating rack according to claim 6 wherein the first collection region comprises less than 50% of the length of the collection zone.

8. A heating rack according to claim 7 wherein the first collection region comprises less than 40% of the length of the collection zone.

9. A heating rack according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support bars are bounded by a substantially annular collection zone having side portions which each extend to or between positions at which the collection zone is able to receive exudate from one or each end of an outermost channel of the plurality of channels.

10. A heating rack according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the collection zone comprises two end portions at respective ends of the channels and two side portions which extend substantially parallel with the general direction of the length of the support bars, said side portions serving to interconnect and allow flow of exudate between said end portions.

11. A heating rack according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the channels associated with the support bars lie inclined relative to the plane of the collection zone whereby, in use, exudate is encouraged to flow lengthwise along the channels to one or each end of each channel.

12. A heating rack according to claim 11 wherein the angle of inclination of each channel encourages exudate to flow in only one direction away from one end of the channel in a direction towards the other end of the channel.

13. A heating rack according to claim 2 wherein each channel is inclined to encourage exudate to flow in the same direction.

14. A heating rack according to any one of claims 11 to 13 wherein the angle of inclination is in the range 1° to 5°.

15. A heating rack according to claim 14 wherein the angle of inclination is in the range 2° to 4°.

16. A heating rack according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the collection zone is formed integrally with all or part of the plurality of support bars.

17. A heating rack according to claim 16 wherein the support bars each comprise a support section and an associated collector section having a channel to receive exudate from the support section of the support bar and wherein the plurality of support sections are separable from the plurality of collector section, said collection zone being formed integrally with the plurality of collector sections.

18. A heating rack according to claim 17 wherein the support sections and collector sections are equally inclined relative to the plane of the collector section.

19. A heating rack according to claim 17 wherein the support sections have upper surfaces which lie in a plane substantially parallel with that of the collection zone.

20. A heating rack according to any one of the preceding claims wherein collection zone is annular and two access openings are defined by spaces between the collection zone and the two outermost support bars of the plurality of support bars whereby as user may insert fingers or other means for the purpose of lifting the heating rack or a part thereof from a support body.

21. A heating rack according to claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described.

22. A barbecue comprising a support body and a heating rack according to claim 1 and arranged to be supported by the support body.

23. A barbecue according to claim 22 wherein at least the collection zone of the heating rack is removable from the support body.

24. A barbecue according to claim 22 or claim 23 wherein the support body comprises an annular shoulder or inwardly extending formation on which the collection zone of the heating rack is supported.

25. A barbecue according to claim 22 and substantially as hereinbefore described.

WN3CL1