Modular Outdoor Cooking System
A modular outdoor cooking system having a base, a lid pivotally connected to the base, and a set of cooking components. The cooking components include a charcoal grate component, a gas burner component, and a grill rack component. The base includes a series of first horizontal supports extending from an inner surface of a first side panel and a series of second horizontal supports extending from an inner surface of a second side panel. The first side panel is parallel to the second side panel. Each first horizontal support is vertically aligned with a second horizontal support creating aligned pairs of horizontal supports. The base also includes an upper support ledge extending along the first and second side panels and a back panel. Each cooking component may be temporarily positioned on an aligned pair of horizontal supports or the upper support ledge for adjustable cooking methods.
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The present invention relates to a modular outdoor cooking system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA modular outdoor cooking system including a base, a lid pivotally connected to the base, and a set of cooking components. The base may include a back panel, a first side panel operatively connected to the back panel, and a second side panel operatively connected to the back panel. The base may also include a series of first horizontal supports extending from an inner surface of the first side panel and a series of second horizontal supports extending from an inner surface of the second side panel. The first side panel may be parallel to the second side panel. Each of the first horizontal supports may be vertically aligned with one of the second horizontal supports forming a series of aligned pairs of horizontal supports. Each of the cooking components may be dimensioned to slide onto one of the aligned pairs of horizontal supports. The set of cooking components may include a heating source component and a cooking tool component.
The base may also include an upper support ledge extending along the back panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel. The upper support ledge may be dimensioned to receive one of the cooking components or a cooking tool.
The cooking components may include two heating source components, which may include a charcoal grate component and a gas burner component. The cooking tool component may include a grill rack component. The grill rack component may have a hook dimensioned to engage a slot in the upper support ledge. The cooking tool may include a wok, a deep fryer, a griddle, a large pot, a rack for holding an infusion pan, an infusion pan, a rotisserie unit, and a wood chip plate or box.
The base may further include a first door pivotally connected to the first side panel. The base may also include a second door pivotally connected to the second side panel.
The lid may include an outwardly pivoting front panel. The lid may also include a temperature gauge and a smoke stack. A lid stop may be operatively connected to the back panel for supporting the grill lid in an open position.
The base may include a first pair of legs operatively attached to an outer edge of each of the first side panels and a second pair of legs operatively attached to an outer edge of each of the second side panels. The first and second pair of legs may each have a lower end. The lower end of each of the first pair of legs may have a wheel operatively connected thereto. The lower end of each of the second pair of legs may have a wheel operatively connected thereto. The wheels operatively connected to the second pair of legs may have a wheel base smaller than a wheel base of the wheels operatively connected to the first pair of legs. The wheels operatively connected to the second pair of legs may each have a locking means.
A support bracket may be operatively connected to one of the legs, an outer surface of the first side panel, or an outer surface of the second side panel. The support bracket may be dimensioned to engage a support bar of a side accessory. The side accessory may include a side shelf, a side table, or an accessory modular frame. The modular outdoor cooking system may further include a gas container hanger operatively connected to the outer surface of the first side panel or the outer surface of the second side panel. The gas container hanger may be dimensioned to receive a gas container. The modular outdoor cooking system may further include a guide operatively connected to one of the legs. The guide may be dimensioned to receive a gas line.
The accessory modular frame may include an accessory back panel, a first accessory side panel operatively connected to the accessory back panel, and a second accessory side panel operatively connected to the accessory back panel. The accessory modular frame may also include a series of first accessory horizontal supports extending from an inner surface of the first accessory side panel, and a series of second accessory horizontal supports extending from an inner surface of the second accessory side panel. The accessory modular frame may further include an accessory upper support ledge extending along the first accessory side panel, the back panel, and the second accessory side panel. The first accessory side panel may be parallel to the second accessory side panel. Each of the first accessory horizontal supports may be vertically aligned with one of the second accessory horizontal supports forming a series of aligned pairs of accessory horizontal supports. The series of aligned pairs of accessory horizontal supports may be spaced to slidingly receive each of the cooking components. The accessory upper support ledge may be dimensioned to receive one of the cooking components or a cooking tool.
As shown in
Base 4 may also include first door 12 and second door 13 each having handle 14. First and second doors 12 and 13 may be constructed of any type of metal appropriate for use with a grill or other outdoor cooker (e.g., aluminum or steel), and may have widths of 12 inches and heights of 26 inches. Handle 14 may be constructed of a stainless steel bar with a 1 inch diameter.
Referring still to
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As shown in
With reference to
Base 4 may also include upper support ledge 46 extending along first side panel 6, second side panel 8, and back panel 9 for supporting removable components at a top level of base 4. Upper support ledge 46 may extend 1.5 inches from first side panel 6, second side panel 8, and back panel 9. In
In
As shown in
Referring again to
In an alternate embodiment, gas burner component 40 may be placed on upper support ledge 46 and another cooking tool (e.g., a wok, griddle, or large pot) may be placed on gas burner component 40 for cooking. In this alternate configuration, the cooking tool may be supported by inner supports 66 of gas burner component 40.
System 2 may also be configured to function as a smoker. In this configuration, the food to be smoke may be placed on grill rack component 42 and a heat source supplied to cause smoke that will penetrate and cook the food. Doors 12, 13 would be closed to contain the smoke within the interior of system 2. Charcoal grate component 38 may be used to support burning charcoal that will act as the heat and smoke source. Alternatively, gas burner component 40 could be used as the heat source directing the heat to a smoke source such as wood chips contained on plate 16 or in a wood chip box set within system 2. Plate 16 or the wood chip box and wood chips could also be used with charcoal as the heat source.
It is to be understood that while certain components or cooking tools have been described herein such as deep fryer tool 83, other cooking tools can be used with system 2, as for example, an infusion pan and a rack for holding the pan, a rotisserie unit 136, a wood chip plate 16 or box, and the like.
Accessory side panels 88, 90 and accessory back panel 92 may be connected by accessory upper support ledge 96. Suspension caps 98 may be affixed to second accessory side panel 90. Accessory legs 100 may be attached to suspension caps 98 to support accessory modular frame 86. In one embodiment, suspension caps 98 are formed of 1 inch square tubing and accessory legs 100 are formed of 0.75 inch square tubing. Accessory legs 100 and suspension caps 98 may be attached by any fastening mechanism such as bolt or screw. Accessory support bracket 102 may be affixed to each of suspension caps 98 so that other tools may be linked to accessory support bracket 102 in the same way as with support bracket 28.
A series of first accessory horizontal supports 104 may extend from an inner surface of first accessory side panel 88. A series of second accessory horizontal supports 105 may extend from an inner surface of second accessory side panel 90. Each first accessory horizontal support 104 is vertically aligned with a second accessory horizontal support 105 forming aligned pairs of accessory horizontal supports 104 and 105 for supporting the removable components at various levels within accessory modular frame 86. Each of first and second accessory horizontal supports 104 and 105 may extend 1.5 inches from the inner surface of first and second accessory side panels 88 and 90 respectively. Aligned pairs of accessory horizontal supports 104 and 105 may be spaced 4 inches from one another on first and second accessory side panels 88 and 90. Each first accessory horizontal support 104 may be an L-shaped bracket attached to the inner surface of first accessory side panel 88. Each second horizontal support 105 may be an L-shaped bracket attached to the inner surface of second accessory side panel 90. Heat source components such as charcoal grate component 38 and gas burner component 40 and/or cooking components such as grill rack component 42 and deep fryer component 83 may be placed on aligned pairs of accessory horizontal supports 104 and 105 or on accessory upper support ledge 96 for cooking in the same manner as with base 4.
While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is to be understood that the embodiments are illustrative only and that the scope of the invention is to be defined solely by the appended claims when accorded a full range of equivalents, many variations and modifications naturally occurring to those skilled in the art from a review hereof.
Claims
1. A modular outdoor cooking system comprises:
- a base comprising a back panel, a first side panel operatively connected to said back panel, a second side panel operatively connected to said back panel and parallel to said first side panel, a series of first horizontal supports extending from an inner surface of said first side panel, and a series of second horizontal supports extending from an inner surface of said second side panel, wherein each of said first horizontal supports is vertically aligned with one of said second horizontal supports forming a series of aligned pairs of horizontal supports;
- a lid pivotally connected to said base;
- a set of cooking components comprising a heating source component and a cooking tool component, wherein each of said cooking components is dimensioned to slide onto one of said aligned pairs of horizontal supports of said base.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said base further comprises an upper support ledge extending along said back panel, said first side panel, and said second side panel, and wherein said upper support ledge is dimensioned to receive one of said cooking components or a cooking tool.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein said set of cooking components comprises two heating source components.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein said heating source components comprise a charcoal grate component and a gas burner component, and said cooking tool component comprises a grill rack component.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein said grill rack component comprises a hook dimensioned to engage a slot in said upper support ledge.
6. The system of claim 4 wherein said cooking tool comprises a wok, a deep fryer, a griddle, a large pot, an infusion pan, a rotisserie unit, or a wood chip plate or box.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein said base further comprises a first door pivotally connected to said first side panel.
8. The system of claim 7 further comprising a second door pivotally connected to said second side panel.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein said lid comprises an outwardly pivoting front panel.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein said lid comprises a temperature gauge and a smoke stack.
11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a lid stop operatively connected to said back panel for supporting said lid in an open position.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein the base further comprises a first pair of legs operatively attached to an outer edge of each of the first side panels and a second pair of legs operatively attached to an outer edge of each of the second side panels.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the first and second pair of legs each have a lower end, and wherein the lower end of each of the first pair of legs has a wheel operatively connected thereto.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein the lower end of each of the second pair of legs has a wheel operatively connected thereto.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein the wheels operatively connected to the second pair of legs have a wheel base smaller than a wheel base of the wheels operatively connected to the first pair of legs.
16. The system of claim 15 the wheels operatively connected to the second pair of legs each have a locking means.
17. The system of claim 12 further comprising a support bracket operatively connected to one of said legs, an outer surface of said first side panel, or an outer surface of said second side panel, wherein said support bracket is dimensioned to engage a support bar of a side accessory.
18. The system of claim 17 wherein said side accessory comprises a side shelf, a side table, or an accessory modular frame.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein said accessory modular frame comprises:
- an accessory back panel;
- a first accessory side panel operatively connected to said accessory back panel;
- a second accessory side panel operatively connected to said accessory back panel;
- a series of first accessory horizontal supports extending from an inner surface of said first accessory side panel;
- a series of second accessory horizontal supports extending from an inner surface of said second accessory side panel; and
- an accessory upper support ledge extending along said back panel, said first accessory side panel, and said accessory second side panel;
- wherein said first accessory side panel is parallel to said second accessory side panel, and each of said first accessory horizontal supports is vertically aligned with one of said second accessory horizontal supports forming a series of aligned pairs of accessory horizontal supports; wherein said series of aligned pairs of accessory horizontal supports are spaced to slidingly receive each of said cooking components; and wherein said accessory upper support ledge is dimensioned to receive one of said cooking components or a cooking tool.
20. The system of claim 17 further comprising:
- a gas container hanger operatively connected to said outer surface of said first side panel or said outer surface of said second side panel; and
- a guide operatively connected to one of said legs;
- wherein said gas container hanger is dimensioned to receive a gas container, and wherein said guide is dimensioned to receive a gas line.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 31, 2011
Publication Date: Oct 4, 2012
Applicant:
Inventor: Eric Thibodeaux (Monroe, LA)
Application Number: 13/077,059
International Classification: F24B 3/00 (20060101);