Abstract: A cart suitable for supporting a grill, including a firebox. The cart has four panels each of which has all four of its edges bent to form a flange that provides structural rigidity and a connection feature for facilitating the assembly of the cart. Two opposing side panels are carried by and preferably welded to a respective side frame. The side frames are joined by upper crossbars, one at the front of the cart and a second at the rear of the cart. A bottom panel fits into and is carried by troughs formed by upturned lips on the lower edges of the side panels. The structural integrity and racking strength of the cart is enhanced by the attachment of a rear panels, which has a lower lip that locks into engagement with the rear edge of the bottom panel. The top edge of the rear panel is fastened to the rear upper crossbar to complete the basic structure of the cart. Hooks welded to the side frames allow easy and secure attachment of side and front attachments to the cart.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cooking grate for use within a barbecue grill assembly. The cooking grate is located within a cooking chamber of the barbecue grill and adjacent the heat source. The cooking grate has an energy receptor portion and cooking members depending therefrom. The energy reception portion of the cooking grate receives energy from the heat source. The energy received by the energy reception portion of the cooking grate is then conducted through the cooking grate to cooking members to cook food thereon. The present invention also provides a grease control structure for the grate to assist in directing the flow of grease away from the burners.

Abstract: A charcoal fired barbecue grill is described and shown herein. In one embodiment, a charcoal grate is disclosed which is formed from a sheet metal material. The charcoal grate includes a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls, The bottom wall includes a plurality of apertures to allow combustion air to reach the charcoal and a plurality of embossments to increase the structural rigidity of the charcoal tray. At least some of the side walls include side wall extensions which are configured to engage with the barbecue grill firebox to support the charcoal grate underneath the cooking grate. In a second embodiment, a charcoal grill firebox is disclosed which includes a dual purpose nesting target on an inside surface. The nesting target is not only configured to support a grate, it is also configured to nest with a corresponding nesting feature which is positioned on an outside surface of the firebox.

Abstract: A support comprising a generally C-shaped body having two free ends and bridging section. A threaded clamping bolt extending through the clamping bolt has a pivoting jaw at one end and a knob at the other end. The clamp body has a first passageway extending through the bridging section of the clamp body, the first passageway extending in a direction generally parallel to a direction defined by a position of the clamping bolt. The clamp body has second passageway extending through its distal end. The second passageway is generally perpendicular to the first passageway. The two passageways intersect at a grip point, and a set screw or bolt at the grip point communicates with the first and second passageways. The set screw is adapted to hold an elongated member in fixed positions while the elongated member extends through either one of the two intersecting passageways.

Abstract: A portable cooking apparatus is provided comprising a grill body having a cooking chamber having a lower firebox; the firebox has a base and two sidewall. The apparatus further comprises a frame assembly with two frame members, and a mounting assembly having at least two mounting members attached to the firebox; the first mounting member is directly connected to the first frame member and the second mounting member is directly connected to the second frame member to thereby create a distance between the cooking chamber and the frame assembly to avoid heat damage to the frame assembly when the cooking chamber is in use and the mounting assembly creating a fixed special relationship between the first and second frame members without the need of a cross member between the frame members.

Abstract: The inventions disclosed herein relate to restraint devices for gas tanks. In a first embodiment, the tank retainer includes a bracket for engaging with the collar of a gas tank and a tray for engaging with the base of the gas tank. The bracket is preferably stationary wherein the tank, while supported by the tray, is rotated into engagement with a slot formed into the bracket. The tray preferably includes a channel for receiving and restraining the base of a gas tank. The brackets and trays can be used in combination or independently of one another. The bracket and tray are preferably distinct components of a gas grill; however, it is contemplated that the features of the bracket and tray can be incorporated into other components of a barbecue grill such as the frame members and lower shelf of the grill cart.

Abstract: The present invention provides a barbecue grill assembly comprising a cooking chamber with a cover and a firebox. The cover is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The cover has an inner surface and an internal lip extending from a lower edge region of the inner surface. The firebox has a rim at an upper portion of the firebox wherein the rim defines a periphery of the firebox. When the cover is in the closed position, the internal lip is positioned inward of the firebox periphery. This means that the internal lip is positioned within the perimeter of the firebox, as defined by the rim. The grill assembly further comprises a burner element positioned in the firebox, a cooking grate positioned in the firebox above the burner element, and a frame assembly adapted to support the cooking chamber.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a gas valve and a sear-zone gas burner are described and claimed herein. One embodiment described herein relates to a control valve for regulating the flow of gas to a burner tube for a barbecue grill, wherein the control valve includes multiple flow settings, including a sear setting. At the sear setting, the valve is capable of providing additional gas flow to the gas burner to provide the intense heat needed to sear food. At the remaining settings, the valve is capable of providing an appropriate amount of gas flow for conventional cooking of food. Another embodiment of the gas valve is adapted to reduce the rotational offset between the off position and the maximum flow position as compared to the valves of the prior art. In that embodiment, the angular offset between the off position and the maximum flow position is approximately 45°.

Abstract: A portable barbecue cooking apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprising a cooking chamber comprising a topside opening and a fire bowl with opposing ends; at least two handles, each handle attached to opposing ends of the fire bowl; and at least two shelves, each shelf being pivotally attached to each of the handles, and each shelf being foldable inwardly towards the topside opening of the cooking chamber during a stowage position and extendable outwardly away from the topside opening of the cooking chamber during a usage position.

Abstract: A portable barbecue cooking apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprising a base; a fire bowl having a topside opening, and the fire bowl is mounted on the base, and the topside opening of the fire bowl is situated above the base; a grill situated within the fire bowl and is moveable within the fire bowl; and at least one shelf is pivotally attached to the base, and the shelf is foldable inwardly towards the topside opening of the fire bowl during a stowage position and extendable outwardly away from the topside opening of the fire bowl during a usage position.

Abstract: A barbecue grill light having an automatic switch is provided. The barbecue grill light is comprised of a light housing having a light source, the light housing being mounted to the lid of the barbecue grill; an automatic switch connected to the light source wherein the automatic switch is a timer, the automatic switch manipulating illumination of the light source; and, a manual switch on the light housing providing an override to the automatic switch for controlling illumination of the light source.

Abstract: A portable cooking apparatus is provided comprising a cooking chamber having a fire bowl mounted on a base; and at least one shelf being directly and pivotally attached to the base, the shelf is foldable inwardly towards the fire bowl during a stowage position and extendable outwardly away from said fire bowl during the usage position and there is a distance between the shelf and the fire bowl to avoid heat damage to the shelf when the fire bowl is in use.

Abstract: A charcoal fired barbecue grill is described and shown herein. In one embodiment, a charcoal grate is disclosed which is formed from a sheet metal material. The charcoal grate includes a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls, The bottom wall includes a plurality of apertures to allow combustion air to reach the charcoal and a plurality of embossments to increase the structural rigidity of the charcoal tray. At least some of the side walls include side wall extensions which are configured to engage with the barbecue grill firebox to support the charcoal grate underneath the cooking grate. In a second embodiment, a charcoal grill firebox is disclosed which includes a dual purpose nesting target on an inside surface. The nesting target is not only configured to support a grate, it is also configured to nest with a corresponding nesting feature which is positioned on an outside surface of the firebox.