US20060278210A1

US20060278210A1 - Smokeless grill

Info

Publication number: US20060278210A1
Application number: US11/334,889
Authority: US
Inventors: Xi-Zhi Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: XI-ZHI WANG
Priority date: 2005-06-10
Filing date: 2006-01-18
Publication date: 2006-12-14

Abstract

A smokeless grill for food includes a supporting frame and a smokeless grilling arrangement. The smokeless grilling arrangement includes a heat accumulation housing, a heat generation module and a grill rack. The heat accumulation housing is supported on the supporting frame, and has a heat reflection cavity formed therein. The heat generation module, which is arranged to generate a predetermined amount of heat, supported in the heat accumulation housing, wherein the heat generated by the heat generation module is accumulatively reflected within the heat accumulation housing to substantially radiate to an exterior of the heat accumulation housing. The grill rack, which is supported by the supporting frame, adapted for supporting the food thereon, wherein the heat generated from the heat generation module is arranged to radiate on the food for heating up the food on the grill rack for grilling thereof in a smokeless manner.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of a regular application, having an application Ser. No. 11/150,018, filed on Jun. 10, 2005 by the inventor of this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The present invention is new and practical smokeless grill which relates to the field of household food processing appliances, particularly to the electric heat grill used for cooking barbeque (BBQ) food.
2. Description of Related Arts
Most conventional BBQ grills produce a lot of smoke produced by its fire flame during the process of preparing BBQ food, thus are not suitable for household or indoor use. Regular electric heat BBQ grills cause the same problem for users, since grease, fat or oil drop produced from the heated meat will splash down on the electric heat plate in such electric heat grill.
Such problem also limits the household and indoor usage of BBQ ovens. The oil smoke produced while preparing BBQ food processes has troubled users of BBQ grill for a long time.
In order to avoid or reduce the oil smoke produced by conventional food heating devices when oil or grease drips down from the meat being cooked down onto the meat heating device during the preparation of BBQ food, the dripping of oil or grease from the meat has to be avoided.
On the front of health protection, conventional BBQ grills typically utilize charcoal as the source of energy for producing grilling flames. Therefore, charcoal particulates which result from incomplete burning of charcoal fuel will easily stick on the food which is being grilled and eventually eaten by the users of the BBQ grills. These charcoal particulates have been well-known as being carcinogenic and are obviously undesirable.
Another problem in relation to conventional BBQ grills is that of safety. Since conventional BBQ grills rely solely on burning of charcoal, it is inevitable that the BBQ grills, when operating, causes potential risk to the place in which the grill is utilized. For example, the grill may be operating in a piece of grassland so that extremely small charcoal residuals may eventually fall on the grassland and causes fire thereof. The same is true when the BBQ grill is utilized in a particular domestic garden.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A main object of the present invention is to provide a smokeless grill comprising an electric heat tube, a metal heat-reflection cover, a stand, a grill rack, and a base tray, wherein the stand is set up on the base tray, the grill rack is provided on top of the base tray, the honeycomb grid is set above the grill rack, the heat tube is provided above the honeycomb grid, the electric heat tube is provided above the arc shape metal heat reflection cover.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a smokeless grill which can be used for effectively avoiding oil smoke production when oil or grease drips from meat from splashing around, such that the grill is suitable for household and indoor use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a smokeless grill which converts electrical energy into heat energy for grilling without producing any smoke containment or charcoal residues form incomplete combustion of charcoal. In other words, the present invention may be utilized in everywhere without fearing of interfering with neighborhoods.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a smokeless grill which is easy to use, easy to clean, does not produce substantial pollution to the environment in which it is being utilized, and does not produce harmful materials which may severely affect the health of the user of the present invention.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a smokeless grill which is adapted to employ a wide variety of heat modules, such as an electric heat tube or by burning of charcoal. Where the latter heat module is utilized, the burning fire does not directly contact the food which is being grilled so as to avoid harmful substances, such as from sticking onto the food.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a smokeless grill which is capable of grilling the food supported thereon in an even manner so as to minimize energy consumption while enhancing the taste of the food which is grilled by the present invention.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a smokeless grill which is easy to assemble and disassemble so that the present invention is suitable for use in a wide variety of environments and for a wide variety of grilling activities.
Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a smokeless grill for food, comprising:
a stand; and
a smokeless grilling arrangement, which comprises:
a grill rack supported by the stand for supporting the food; and
a heat generation module for generating a predetermined amount of radiating heat towards the grill rack for grilling the food thereon in a smokeless manner so as to provide a non-pollution grilling environment for the food.
These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the smokeless grill according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the present invention according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is another side view of the present invention according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the smokeless grill according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a first alternative mode of the smokeless grill according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a second alternative mode of the smokeless grill according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a third alternative mode of the smokeless grill according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The purpose of the present invention is achieved by designing the new and practical BBQ grill which comprise an electric heat tube 1, a metal heat-reflection cover 2, a stand 4, a grill rack 5, and a base tray 6, wherein the stand 4 is set up on the base tray 6, the grill rack 5 is provided on top of the base tray 6, the honeycomb grid 3 is set above the grill rack 5, the heat tube 1 is provided above the honeycomb grid 3, the electric heat tube 1 is provided above the arc shape metal heat reflection cover 2.
Since the grill rack 5 is provided under the electric heat tube 1, the heat emitted from the electric heat tube 1 will be reflected and concentrated on the grill rack 5 by the heat-reflection cover 2.
Due to the fact that the electric heat tube 1 is set up above the grill rack 5, the heat is emitted from top to bottom, such that the oil drops from the meat can be avoided from splashing onto the electric heat tube 1.
Because of the honeycomb grid 3 is provided between the rack 5 and the electric heat tube 1, the production of oil smoke from dripping of oil from food onto the heat tube 1 is effectively avoided. The base tray 6, which is beneath the grill rack 5, is provided for holding the oil or grease dripping down from the meat.
When the smokeless grill is connected to a power source, the electric heat tube 1 begins to emit heat downwardly to the food. At the same time, the heat from the electric tube 1 will be reflected onto the grill rack 5 by the heat-reflection cover 2.
As the food is laid on the grill rack 5, the oil or grease produced from the food will drip onto the base tray 6 which is directly under the grill rack 5. As a result, the oil drips from the meat will be kept away from the heat tube 1 by the honeycomb grid 3.
The water in the base tray 6 which is underneath the grill rack 5 will cool of the oil which drips from the food, and avoiding the production of oil smoke.
The stand 4 of the present invention can be that of a ground model and a bench model. When used as the ground model, the legs of the stand 4 will be directly put onto the ground to support the grill rack 5 and the base tray 6, with the base tray 6 provided at the middle position.
When used as the bench model, the stand 4 of the present oven can be put on top of the table or bench to support the grill rack 5 and the base tray 6, and with the base tray 6 set up at its lower position.
The present new and practical invention can be easily used for avoiding a large amount of oil smoke which may result form the dripping or splashing down of oil or grease from the meat during the preparation of the BBQ food. As a result, the smokeless grill oven is suitable for household and indoor use.
According to FIG. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the structure of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the smokeless grill comprises an electric heat tube 1, a metal heat-reflection cover 2, a honeycomb grid 3, a stand 4, a grill rack 5, a base tray 6, an outer cover 7, a side cover 8, a handle 9, a switch 10, and a power cord 11.
The base tray 6 is set at a lower position than the stand 4, wherein some water is filled into the base tray 6. The grill rack 5 is provided above the base tray 6. The honeycomb grid 3 is provided above the grill rack 5. The electric heat tube 1 is provided above the honeycomb grid 3. The arc shape metal heat-reflection cover 2 is provided above the electric heat tube 1, wherein the heat-reflection cover 2 can focus and reflect the heat emitted from the electric heat tube 1 onto the grill rack 5.
Between the grill rack 5 and the electric heat tube 1 provided the honeycomb grid 3, which can prevent oil or grease dripping onto the electric heat tube 1, thus avoid the production of oil smoke. The side cover 8 is provided on the side of the electric heat tube 1. The outer cover 7 is provided outside the electric heat tube 1.
The switch 10 and handle 9 are provided on the side cover 8. The power cord is connected with the electric heat tube 1. When the switch 10 is turned on, the heat emitted from the electric heat tube reaches to cook the food.
The heat-reflection cover 2 above the electric heat tube 1 will reflect the heat onto the grill rack 5. The food will be put on top of the grill rack 5. The oil and grease from the food will then drip onto the base tray 6, which is directly underneath the grill rack 5. As a result, the oil and grease from the meat will be separated by the honeycomb grid 3.
Referring to FIG. 3 of the drawings, the structure of the present invention is shown, wherein the smokeless grill comprises the heat tube 1, the heat-reflection cover 2, the honeycomb grid 3, the stand 4, the grill rack 5, and the base tray 6. The stand 4 is that of a ground model, where the legs of the stand are placed on the ground.
The base tray 6 is provided at a middle section of the stand. The base tray 6 is provided for being filled by water prior to the grilling of food. The grill rack 5 is provided above the base tray 6, wherein the honeycomb grid 3 is provided above the grill rack 5. The electric heat tube 1 is provided above the grid 3.
The arc shape metal heat-reflection cover 2 is placed above the electric heat tube 1, such that the heat emitted from the electric heat tube 1 is focused and reflected on to the grill rack 5.
In other words, referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings, the present invention provides a smokeless grill, which comprises a supporting frame preferably embodied as the above-mentioned stand 4, and a smokeless grilling arrangement.
The smokeless grilling arrangement comprises a heat accumulation housing 21, a heat generation module 22, and a grill rack 5. The heat accumulation housing 21, which is supported on the supporting frame, has a heat reflection cavity 211 formed therein.
The heat generation module 22, which is arranged to generate a predetermined amount of radiating heat, supported in the heat accumulation housing 21, wherein the heat generated by the heat generation module 22 is accumulatively reflected within the heat accumulation housing 21 to substantially radiate to an exterior of the heat accumulation housing 21.
The grill rack 5, which is supported by the supporting frame, is adapted for supporting the food thereon, wherein the heat generated from the heat generation module 22 is arranged to radiate on the food for heating up the food on the grill rack 5 for grilling thereof in a smokeless manner.
Accordingly, the heat accumulation housing 21 comprises the above-mentioned metal heat-reflection cover 2, the outer cover 7, and the side cover 8 to define the heat reflection cavity 211 within the heat accumulation housing 21, wherein the heat generated by the heat generation module 22 is repeatedly and accumulatively reflected within the heat reflection cavity 211 for directing a radiating heat from the heat reflection cavity 211 towards the grill rack 5 for grilling the food evenly. In other words, the radiating heat from the heat generation module 22 is accumulated to reflect towards the grill rack 5 for evenly distributing the radiating heat to the grill rack 5.
Accordingly, the heat accumulation housing 21 further comprises the handle 9 and the switch 10, wherein the smokeless grilling arrangement is electrically connected to an external power source at the heat accumulation housing 21 via the power cord 11.
The heat generation module 22 is preferably embodied as the above mentioned electric heat tube 1 which is arranged to generate a predetermined amount of heat which radiates radially and outwardly therefrom for repeatedly and accumulatively reflected within the heat reflection cavity 211. The grill rack 5 is positioned below the heat accumulation housing 21 for the food to be grilled.
Referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings, the smokeless grilling arrangement further comprises a heat reflector 24 mounted on the supporting frame at a position underneath the grill rack 5, wherein the heat reflector 24 has a heat reflection surface 241 arranged to reflect heat which radiates from the heat accumulation housing 21 and passes the grill rack 5 back to the grill rack 5 at an opposite direction for enhancing a grilling strength for the food. In other words, for example, where the heat accumulation housing 21 is positioned above the grill rack 5 so that heat emitting from the heat accumulation housing 21 radiates downwardly to substantially grill a top side of the food on the grill rack 5, the heat reflector 24 is positioned underneath the grill rack 5 so as to reflect the portion of radiating heat passing though the grill rack 5 back up thereto for grilling a bottom side of the food. As a result, the grilling strength of the smokeless grill of the present invention is substantially maximized while the food can be evenly grilled at both sides to achieve a better taste. Moreover, since the energy source grilling the bottom side of the food is derived by means of reflection from the heat reflector 24, there is no extra consumption of energy. Indeed, since the food is grilled at both sides, therefore less time is expected to complete a grill so as to minimize energy consumption of the present invention.
The smokeless grilling arrangement further comprises a residual collection arrangement 40 supported on the supporting frame at a position corresponding with the grill rack 5 for collecting residuals (such as oil droplets, or charcoal particulates) which result from grilling of the food supported on the grill rack 5.
More specifically, the residual collection arrangement 40 comprises the base tray 6 and contains a through collection opening 2411 formed on the heat reflection surface 241, wherein the base tray 6 is supported at the collection opening 2411 for collecting oil droplets or other residuals dropping from the grill rack 5 as a result of extended grilling of the food supported thereon. Accordingly, the heat reflection surface 2411 is downwardly inclined to guide the oil droplets dropping from the grill rack 5 to be collected at the collection opening 2411.
In other words, the smokeless grilling arrangement is capable of reflecting heat emission from the heat accumulation housing 21 while simultaneously allowing oil droplets or other residuals to be collected at the base tray 6 so as to facilitate effective cleaning of the present invention. That is, the heat reflection surface 241 of the heat reflector 241 is extended inclinedly and downwardly towards the collection opening 2411 for not only guiding the oil residuals flowing towards the collection opening 2411 but also focusing the radiating heat back to the grill rack 5.
It is also worth mentioning the inclination of the heat reflection surface 241 is such that the heat emission from the heat accumulation housing 21 is arranged to be reflected back to and accumulated at the grill rack 5 so as to maximize the amount of heat which is reflected back to the grill rack 5 from the heat reflection surface 241.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the heat generation module 22 is embodied as the electric heat tube 1 which must be powered by electricity for generating heat in order to grill the food supported on the grill rack 5.
It is worth mentioning that the supporting frame of the smokeless grill may be embodied as a conventional supporting frame comprising a plurality of leg frames specedly apart from each other for supporting the smokeless grilling arrangement in a suspended manner. The grill rack 5 is movably mounted on the supporting frame for facilitating adjustable height with respect to the ground surface.
Referring to FIG. 5 of the drawings, as a first alternative mode of the present invention, the metal heat reflection cover 2′ of the heat accumulation housing 21′ is inclined for accumulatively reflecting heat emission generated from the heat generation module 22′ towards the grill rack 5′. Again, the metal heat reflection cover 2′ can also be made to be concave in shape for more accurately reflecting heat emission from the heat generation module 22′.
In other words, the heat accumulation housing 21′ has a semi-spherical cross section to accumulatively reflect the radiating heat at the heat reflection cavity towards the grill rack 5′.
Referring to FIG. 6 of the drawings, a second alternative mode of the smokeless grill according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The second alternative mode is similar to the preferred embodiment except the heat generation module 22″ and the heat accumulation housing 21″. According to the second alternative mode, the heat reflector 24″ is provided behind the grill rack 5″ while the heat accumulation housing 21″ and the heat generation module 22″ are provided rearwardly with respect to the heat reflector 24″ in such a manner that the heat accumulation housing 21″ is adapted to accumulatively reflect the heat generated by the heat generation module 22″ for discharging the accumulated radiating heat frontwardly towards the heat reflector 24″ which then reflects the heat upwardly towards the grill rack 5″.
According to the second alternative mode, the heat generation module 22″ is preferably embodied as a charcoal tube which is arranged to be ignited by regular fire within the heat accumulation housing 21″ to radiate heat radially, wherein the radiating heat is then reflected to the heat reflector 24″ which then directs the heat upwardly to the grill rack 5″.
It is worth mentioning that the base tray 6″ is supported underneath the heat reflector 24″ so that the oil droplets will drop onto the heat reflection surface 241″ and are guided to the corresponding collection opening 2411″ for collection by the base tray 6″.
The advantage of this second alternative mode is two fold: first, the user of the present invention is able to retain the taste of traditional grilling; second, the food is prevented from directly contacting with the fire (and the charcoal) so as to avoid any harmful effect which may result from conventional BBQ grilling of food.
Moreover, the smokeless grill may further comprise a complimentary reflection chamber 25″ provided on top of the grill rack 5″ wherein the complimentary reflection chamber 25″ has a chamber reflection surface 251″ which is shaped and sized to substantially reflect radiating heat coming from the heat accumulation housing 21″ and passing through the grill rack 5″ back to the grill rack 5″. As a result, the strength of the grilling can also be maximized with minimum energy consumption.
Referring to FIG. 7 of the drawings, a third alternative mode of the smokeless grill according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The third alternative mode is similar to the preferred embodiment except the heat accumulation housing 21A and the heat reflector 24A. According to the third preferred embodiment, the heat accumulation housing 21A is pivotally mounted with the heat reflector 24A to define a grilling cavity 26A within the heat accumulation housing 21A and the heat reflector 24A, and an access opening 27A communicating between the grilling cavity 26A and an exterior of the heat accumulation housing 21A, wherein the grill rack 5A is arranged to be detachably supported within the grilling cavity 26A in a suspended manner for grilling the food supported thereon.
In other words, a rear edge of the heat accumulation housing 21A is supported above the grill rack 5A and is pivotally mounted to the heat reflector 24A edge-to-edge to define the access opening 27A for allowing the grill rack 5A to be accessed therethrough.
As a result, the user is able to take out the grill rack 5A (with grilled food) from the grilling cavity 26A via the access opening 27A. Similarly, the user may be able to put in the grill rack 5A into the grilling cavity 26A via the access opening 27A.
According to the Third alternative mode of the present invention, the heat generation module 22A is embodied as the electric heat tube 1A which is spacedly supported on the heat accumulation housing 21A for generating heat, wherein the heat emitted is accumulatively reflected within the grilling cavity 27A for grilling the food supported on the grill rack 5A.
From the forgoing descriptions, it can be shown that the above objects have been substantially accomplished. The present invention provides a smokeless grill which is capable of grilling food which does not produce a large amount of harmful substances which may reside onto the grilled food. Moreover, the present invention does not produce substantial smoke as compared with conventional BBQ grilling, so that the present invention grills in environmentally-friendly style.
One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A smokeless grill for food, comprising:

a stand; and

a smokeless grilling arrangement, which comprises:

a grill rack supported by said stand for supporting said food; and

a heat generation module for generating a predetermined amount of radiating heat towards said grill rack for grilling said food thereon in a smokeless manner so as to provide a non-pollution grilling environment for said food.

2. The smokeless grill, as recited in claim 1, wherein said smokeless grilling arrangement further comprises a heat accumulation housing having a heat reflection cavity substantially receiving said heat generation module therein such that said radiating heat from said heat generation module is accumulated to reflect towards said grill rack for evenly distributing said radiating heat to said grill rack.

3. The smokeless grill, as recited in claim 2, wherein said heat accumulation housing has a semi-spherical cross section to accumulatively reflect said radiating heat at said heat reflection cavity towards said grill rack.

4. The smokeless grill, as recited in claim 2, wherein said smokeless grilling arrangement further comprises a heat reflector supported underneath said grill rack, wherein said heat reflector has a heat reflection surface to reflect said radiating heat from said heat accumulation housing back to said grill rack for enhancing a grilling strength for said food.

5. The smokeless grill, as recited in claim 3, wherein said smokeless grilling arrangement further comprises a heat reflector supported underneath said grill rack, wherein said heat reflector has a heat reflection surface to reflect said radiating heat from said heat accumulation housing back to said grill rack for enhancing a grilling strength for said food.

6. The smokeless grill, as recited in claim 4, wherein said smokeless grilling arrangement further comprises a residual collection arrangement which has a collection opening formed on said heat reflector and comprises a base tray supported underneath said grill rack for collecting oil residuals from said food through said collection opening.

7. The smokeless grill, as recited in claim 5, wherein said smokeless grilling arrangement further comprises a residual collection arrangement which has a collection opening formed on said heat reflector and comprises a base tray supported underneath said grill rack for collecting oil residuals from said food through said collection opening.

8. The smokeless grill, as recited in claim 6, wherein said heat reflection surface of said heat reflector is extended inclinedly and downwardly towards said collection opening for not only guiding said oil residuals flowing towards said collection opening but also focusing said radiating heat back to said grill rack.

9. The smokeless grill, as recited in claim 7, wherein said heat reflection surface of said heat reflector is extended inclinedly and downwardly towards said collection opening for not only guiding said oil residuals flowing towards said collection opening but also focusing said radiating heat back to said grill rack.

10. The smokeless grill, as recited in claim 1, wherein said heat generation module comprises an electric heat tube for radially generating said radiating heat towards said grill rack.

11. The smokeless grill, as recited in claim 3, wherein said heat generation module comprises an electric heat tube for radially generating said radiating heat towards said grill rack.

12. The smokeless grill, as recited in claim 5, wherein said heat generation module comprises an electric heat tube for radially generating said radiating heat towards said grill rack.

13. The smokeless grill, as recited in claim 9, wherein said heat generation module comprises an electric heat tube for radially generating said radiating heat towards said grill rack.

14. The smokeless grill, as recited in claim 5, wherein a rear edge of said heat accumulation housing which is supported above said grill rack and is pivotally mounted to said heat reflector edge-to-edge to define an access opening for allowing said grill rack to be accessed therethrough.

15. The smokeless grill, as recited in claim 7, wherein a rear edge of said heat accumulation housing which is supported above said grill rack and is pivotally mounted to said heat reflector edge-to-edge to define an access opening for allowing said grill rack to be accessed therethrough.

16. The smokeless grill, as recited in claim 13, wherein a rear edge of said heat accumulation housing which is supported above said grill rack and is pivotally mounted to said heat reflector edge-to-edge to define an access opening for allowing said grill rack to be accessed therethrough.

17. The smokeless grill, as recited in claim 2, wherein said heat accumulation housing is supported at a position behind said grill rack while said heat reflection cavity is frontwardly extended below said grill rack for reflectively and upwardly guiding said radiating heat towards said grill rack.

18. The smokeless grill, as recited in claim 17, wherein said smokeless grilling arrangement further comprises a residual collection arrangement which has a collection opening formed on said heat accumulation housing and comprises a base tray supported underneath said grill rack for collecting oil residuals from said food through said collection opening.

19. The smokeless grill, as recited in claim 18, wherein said smokeless grilling arrangement further comprises a heat reflector supported above said grill rack, wherein said heat reflector has a heat reflection surface to reflect said radiating heat from said heat accumulation housing to said grill rack for enhancing a grilling strength for said food.

20. The smokeless grill, as recited in claim 1, wherein said heat generation module comprises a charcoal tube for radially generating said radiating heat towards said grill rack.