BarBProp

Abstract

A BarBProp is an auxiliary device that is used for temperature control in a barbeque grill. It offers multiple levels of heat control and helps to regulate the intensity of the heat within the grill chamber. The device can be used in two different ways to regulate the cooking temperature. First, the leg of the device can be made to rest on the edge of the grill while the lid rests on one of the fishhook shaped supports. Second, the user can choose to rest the fishhook supports on the edge of the grill while the leg of the device holds the lid. In either of the two approaches, the user determines the height at which the barbeque lid remains open for to heat escape. A novel aspect of the device is that the heat tolerant handle provides for easy and safe use without any risk of injury or fire burns. This device can be attached to the barbeque grill for easy access when needed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a universal, auxiliary barbeque device that aids in the control of the temperature of traditional barbeque grills. The inventor intended this instrument to be used in any barbeque grill with a hood and most barbeques today have a grill hood. The grill hood covers the cooking surface and serves to trap the heated air inside the grill, thereby increasing the temperature. From a practical perspective, a barbeque is most effective (cooks food better and faster) when the hood is completely closed. However, cooking with the hood closed can generate too much heat while the food is cooking and increases the risk of undesirable cooking results.

The traditional barbeques as we know them today do not offer the user the ability to regulate temperature within the cooking chamber. The only available way to regulate cooking temperature while cooking is to reduce the combustible material—charcoal, wood etc, and in case of gas grill, reduce the flow of gas to the burner. However, reducing the combustible material after the barbeque fire has been set or while cooking, entails opening the fire chamber, removing the heated and burning material, and placing it in a safe container away from the reach of children. This approach leaves room for error and is therefore not advisable. Alternatively, one can leave the barbecue's lid open while cooking in the hope that the intensity of the heat from the fire chamber will dissipate as the heat is being generated. For most barbeque users, this approach is generally safer than the one previously mentioned, but it still has the drawback of losing a significant percentage of the cooking heat being generated.

To eliminate this risk, and to circumvent the aforementioned drawbacks, the BarBProp acts as a temperature control device which helps to regulate cooking temperature. This auxiliary barbeque device is a helpful and indispensable instrument for safe barbeque use. One novel aspect of the BarBProp is that its gradient features offer the user three different levels of temperature control without any risk of injury or undesirable cooking results.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Grilling is done all year round and outdoor barbequing is a very popular method of cooking in the spring and summer months. This unique and novel invention, inspired by a personal experience, addresses the issue of regulating cooking temperature within the grill's cooking chamber. As mentioned in the background section, traditional barbeques with grill hoods have the drawback of trapping too much heat within the cooking chamber which in turn may cause food burn or overcook. This device is intended to be used as a temperature regulator by leaving the grill hood slightly open at several different angles depending on the user's choice.

From statistics obtained from commercially available barbeques, it is known that when a barbeque is fully fired up with the grill hood completely closed, it is capable of generating intense heat, usually up to temperatures of 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260° C.) or more. The design of this device is such that it will allow the trapped heat within the cooking chamber to dissipate (escape) at a moderately low rate depending on the settings chosen by the barbeque operator. The operator decides when and at what height to insert the device. The unique and novel device called BarBProp, has the unique ability of propping open the barbeque for the sole purpose of letting excess heat escape as it is being generated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the outlook and the physical characteristics of the device. There are three (3) main parts that are coupled together to form the BarBProp. These are the heat tolerant leg housing, the handle and the heat guard. The handle attaches to the heat guard which in turn is attached to the heat tolerant leg housing.

FIG. 2 shows the detailed characteristics of the device and the functions associated with each part.

As shown in FIG. 2, the part numbered (1) is the heat tolerant leg housing that when in operation keeps the grill hood open at the desired angle.

As shown in FIG. 2, the part numbered (2) is the heat guard that separates the leg housing from the handle.

As shown in FIG. 2, the part numbered (3) is the device handle that is made of a hard, durable, heat resistant material.

As shown in FIG. 2, the part numbered (4) at the end of the leg is hole on both sides of the U shaped aluminum leg housing. This hole is intended to be used to attach the BarBProp to the barbeque instrument during and after use.

As shown in FIG. 2, the part numbered (5) are the fishhook shaped notches on each side of the leg housing. As explained in the previous section, this is the part that holds the grill lid at an angle to allow excess heat to escape.

As shown in FIG. 2, the part numbered (6) is a drill-through screw hole for fastening the leg housing to the heat guard.

As shown in FIG. 2, the part numbered (7) is a U-shaped depression on both sides of the leg housing that enables it to securely stand on the edge of the grill while holding the grill hood. By choice, the user can invert the leg housing and use the U-shaped depression to support the hood while one of the fishhook shaped notches attaches to the edge of the grill. The leg housings can be made from aluminum, or other lightweight metals or materials.

As shown in FIG. 2, the part labeled (8) is an interior fastener. In the preferred embodiment, the interior fastener is a long screw that fastens the handle to the rest of the device. This is designed to be completely invisible to the user unless viewed at a right angle.

As shown in FIG. 2, the part labeled (9) is an exterior fastener. In the preferred embodiment, the exterior fastener is a safety bolt that anchors the long screw, which in turn fastens the entire piece together.

FIG. 3 shows the finite dimensional details of the device and the nature of materials that could be used in fabricating the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The terminology used herein should be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being utilized in conjunction with a detailed description of a certain specific preferred embodiment of the present invention. This is further emphasized below with respect to some particular terms used herein. Any terminology that the reader should interpret in any restricted manner will be overtly and specifically defined as such in this specification. The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts throughout.

The BarBProp is comprised of a heat tolerant leg housing with a handle and heat guard affixed to the leg housing at a right angle. In the preferred embodiment, the leg housing has three (3) fishhook shaped notches on each side designed to hold the grill lid. By design, this device is inserted between the grill and the grill hood such that the closure of the grill hood leaves an aperture of about ten to thirty degrees. For example, if the grill hood is closed leaving an aperture equal to an angle of 10 degrees, it is assumed that ten (10) percent of the cooking heat generated will dissipate; if it is closed leaving an aperture equal to an angle of 20 degrees, it is assumed that twenty (20) percent of the heat will dissipate; and if it is closed leaving an aperture equal to an angle of 30 degrees, the amount of heat dissipation will be equivalent to 30 percent of the heat being generated.

The leg housing has various height settings corresponding to the examples of aperture settings mentioned above. A user of this device will simply insert it between the grill and the hood at a user determined height. A user determined height determines the aperture between the grill body and the hood. When the user wants to cook at maximum heat, then the BarBProp is not employed. If and when the maximum heat is reached, the user may then decide to reduce the intensity of the heat by employing the BarBProp. By employing the BarBProp, the user decides by what degree he or she wants to reduce the heat.

With the lower part of the leg housing resting on the outer edge of the grill, the grill hood when closed rests on one of the settings of the leg housing, thereby allowing the hood to remain slightly open at an angle, consequently allowing heat to escape.

The device handle is separated from the heat tolerant leg housing by a heat guard affixed to the leg housing. It is designed to be durable and easy to use, and adapts to a majority of the commercially available grills with a hood.

For ease of reach, the BarBProp is designed to be attached to the barbeque. This makes it possible for the user to easily engage the device at the appropriately desired time, and disengage the device as needed.

The foregoing description details certain preferred embodiments of the present invention and describes the best mode contemplated. It will be appreciated, however, that no matter how detailed the foregoing description appears, the invention can be practiced in many ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the description contained in this specification is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is only limited by the following claims and any equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A heat tolerant, universal, auxiliary barbeque device for controlling the temperature of barbeque grills with hoods.

2. A heat tolerant, universal, auxiliary barbeque device as described in claim 1 further comprising of:

a. A heat tolerant grill prop (for keeping the grill's hood propped up at different angles);

b. A handle made of heat-tolerant material that protects the handler from the heat from the grill prop;

c. A heat guard made of a heat-tolerant material that separates the leg housing from the handle;

d. A screw hole for fastening the grill prop to the heat guard;

e. An interior fastener that fastens the handle with the grill prop; and

f. An exterior fastener that secures the interior fastener to the handle and the grill prop.

3. A heat tolerant grill prop as claimed in claim 2 further comprising of a grill prop attachment that has fishhook shaped notches with U-shaped depressions.

4. A method of using a heat tolerant, universal, auxiliary device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device is used to prop open a barbeque grill hood in such a way that the food cooking temperature can be set by the user.

5. The barbeque device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the grill prop has the fishhook shaped notches that are used to set the grill at different temperatures, the U-shaped depressions are used to anchor the barbeque device on the grill equipment, and the grill prop attachment hole is used to attach the barbeque device to the grill equipment.

6. The barbeque device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the heat guard and handle are made of heat-resistant materials to protect the user from the heat generated from the barbeque grill.

7. The barbeque device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the screw hole, the interior fastener, and exterior fastener are used to attach the heat resistant handle to the barbeque grill.