AU760082B2 - Barbecue - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: ROSS PANETTA and SUSANA PANETTA ROSS PANETTA and SUSANA PANETTA SANDERCOCK COWIE 69 Robinson Street, DANDENONG VIC 3175

BARBECUE

Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): No(s): Australian Provisional Application No. PP4196 4o The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 1 1999-06-16-,A:\206PANE'TA.FIL.spd, I la- TITLE: BARBECUE FIELD OF INVENTION *.e a This invention relates to simulated barbecues for use on a stove top or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Barbecues' are popular in Australia, but tend to be appropriate only as an outdoor activity because of the associated smoke. The problems associated with indoor use of barbecues and the like have been exacerbated in recent years with the introduction of legislation requiring installation of smoke detectors in new buildings.

Traditionally meat is barbecued in a charcoal burning device. Combustion of the charcoal is one source of the smoke. Attempts have been made at simulating barbecues 9MO616.A:\202PANETTA.CAP.wpdI for indoor use by using a non-combustion heat source, such as electric rotisseries.

However, eliminating smoke from the heat source does not eliminate all smoke associated with barbecues. Another source of the smoke is the combustion of fats and otherjuices which land on the hot surfaces of the barbecue utensil. (Throughout the rest of this specification, including the claims, the term 'drippings' will be used to describe the fats and other juices generated by cooking.) The drippings which land on hot surfaces also produce a charred residue, which is difficult to clean off.

The present invention accordingly seeks to reduce the smoke associated with a simulated barbecue.

The present invention also seeks to provide a simulated barbecue in which at least some of the internal surfaces are relatively easy to clean.

The present invention also seeks to provide apparatus for simulation of a barbecue, in which the volume of drippings contacting hot surfaces is reduced.

20 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION S The present invention provides apparatus for provision of barbecue style cooking, comprising an annular pan for use on a stove top, a lid for closing the pan and creating a cooking space, a passageway defined by an upstanding wall of the annular pan for transmitting heat from the stove into the cooking space and food support means for supporting food to be cooked in the cooking space surrounding the upstanding wall and capable of draining into the annular pan.

o• PREFERRED ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION Preferably, the apparatus further includes:- SRgi a base pan which has a periphery and which is adapted for use on a stove top; and 30221 ,A:\432pancua.clairns.wpd,2 -3a lid adapted to cooperate with the base pan so as to define an interior of the apparatus between the base pan and the lid; wherein the base pan is adapted to contain a body of water into which drippings may fall.

Preferably, the annular pan includes a tubular passageway which, in use, is orientated substantially vertically for the transmission of heat from the stove top to the interior.

Preferably, the lid includes a reflector for reflecting heat downwards.

Preferably, the lid is detachably connected to the lid.

Preferably, the apparatus further includes a rack which is adapted to be readily detachably mounted on the upper peripheral lip of the base pan.

The invention will now be described by way of example thereof with reference to the accompanying drawing of an exploded perspective view of one embodiment.

o.

3fi 1,A:\432pn x-claim, wpd.3 -4- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention.

INTEGER LIST 1. Base pan 2. Outer peripheral side wall 3. Inner side wall S.4. Passageway 6. Lower surface 7. Grating 8. Lip 9. Bend 11. Lid 12. Detachable reflector 14. Plate 16. Safety ring DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH RESPECT TO THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 illustrates a stove top barbecue which is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with a conventional gas stove top, which has gas burners arranged in conjunction with saucepan supports.

The stove top barbecue includes a base pan 1 which has an upstanding outer peripheral side wall 2 and an inner side wall 3 spaced radially inward from peripheral side wall 2.

The inner side wall 3 defines a passageway 4 which extends from the lower surface 6 of the base pan into a region in the interior of the barbecue.

In use, the barbecue is placed on a stove top with the lower surface 6 resting on a 990616,A:\202PANETTA.CAP.wpd.4 saucepan support (not illustrated) and with the lower aperture of the passageway 4 encompassing a gas burner.

A grating 7 which is adapted to support the food is mountable by any suitable means to the base pan 1. Preferably, the grating 7 rests on the upper peripheral lip 8 of the base pan 1 and comprises a rectilinear grid of support wires, some of which are angled downwards by a bend 9 in order to locate the grating 7 in the horizontal plane and prevent horizontal movement.

It is preferred that the lid 11 include a detachable reflector 12. The reflector 12 locates above the upper aperture of the passageway 4 in order to reflect heat downwards onto the cooking food.

:Preferably the barbecue includes a plate 14 adapted for locating on the grating 7, where it functions as a 'hot plate' for cooking food.

S"Before cooking food, water is placed in the base pan 1. Heat generated by the gas burner (not illustrated) cooks food from below the grating 7, but the primary cooking effect is by reflection of heat downwards by reflector 12 onto the upper surfaces of the food.

Drippings from the food tend primarily to fall into the reservoir of water within the base *pan 1, where they cannot generate smoke. The provision of the reservoir of water in the S•base pan 1 also has the effect that charred residues do not tend to form on the surfaces which are covered by water, making it easier to clean the base pan 1.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the apparatus also includes a safety ring 16, adapted for placement on the top of a gas stove and around a gas burner (not illustrated) so that the gas burner protrudes into the safety ring 16. The safety ring 16 in turn protrudes into the passageway 4 of the base pan 1.

In this embodiment of the invention, with the base pan 1 sitting on the trivet of a stove, the placement of the safety ring 16 around a gas burner and within the passageway 4 allows the rotation of the base pan (and so of any food which is sitting on the grating 7) 990616,A:2O2PANETTA.CAP..pdS -6about the safety ring. The cook may thus reach food which is placed on the far side of the flame from the gas burner by rotating the base pan 1, rather than by reaching over the gas flame.

Finally it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit and ambit of the invention.

The drawings form part of the disclosure of this specification.

990616,A:\202PAN ETlA. CAP. wpd 6

Claims (6)

1. Apparatus for provision ofbarbecue style cooking, comprising an annular pan for use on a stove top, a lid for closing the pan and creating a cooking space, a passageway defined by an upstanding wall of the annular pan for transmitting heat from the stove into the cooking space and a food support means for supporting food to be cooked in the cooking space surrounding the upstanding wall and capable of draining into the annular pan.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the lid is reflective or reflecting heat downwards.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the drainable food supporting means is supported on the periphery of the annular pan.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the means is an annular rack.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1-4, wherein the lid is detachably connected to the pan.

6. Apparatus constructed and adapted for use substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings. Dated this 21 s t day of February, 2003. SANDERCOCK COWIE PATENT ATTORNEYS FOR ROSS PANETTA and SUSANA PANETTA 30221,A:\432panena.claims. wpd,7