Food preparation unit

Claim 2

A food preparation unit, comprising: a base provided with a contoured bottom having an aperture formed therein; a cover provided with a contoured top and being pivotally secured to said base; a support grill; means provided on said base for supporting said support grill at a predetermined height; an electric heating element for being connected to a source of electrical energy; means for supporting said electric heating element at a predetermined distance with respect to said support grill; an adjustable vent formed in said contoured cover top, said adjustable vent having an aperture formed therein to assure that there is always an escape for excess steam and smoke from said food preparation unit, and said adjustable vent for providing a variable sized opening to provide the controlled escape of steam or smoke from said unit; upon electrical energy being supplied to said heating element, ambient air being drawn into said aperture formed in said base and said air flowing upwardly through said unit and out said vent thereby purging said food preparation unit of smoke present therein and maintaining said base cool with respect to said heating element.

Claim 3

A food preparation unit according to claim 1, further including heat reflecting means for reflecting heat provided by said heating element toward said support grill, and further including means provided on said base for supporting said heat reflecting means at a predetermined distance with respect to said heating element.

Claim 4

A food preparation unit, comprising: a base provided with a contoured bottom having an aperture formed therein; a cover; hinge means interconnecting said base and cover and providing pivoting of said cover with respect to said base thereby permitting opening and closing of said unit; a food receiving grill; means provided on said base for receiving and supporting said food receiving grill at a predetermined height; an electric heating element for being connected to a source of electrical energy; a support grill and drip pan assembly, said drip pan being made of heat reflecting material to reflect heat provided by said heating element toward said food receiving grill and for catching fat dripping from said food receiving grill and providing fast burn-off of said fat, and said support grill for receiving and supporting said electric heating element and for receiving and supporting charcoal; means provided on said base for receiving and supporting said support grill and drip pan assembly at a predetermined distance below said food receiving grill and thereby supporting said heating element at a predetermined distance below said food receiving grill; an adjustable vent formed in said cover; said adjustable vent having an aperture formed therein to assure that there is always an escape for excess steam or smoke from said food preparation unit, and said adjustable vent for providing a variable sized opening to provide the controlled escape of steam or smoke from said unit; upon said food preparation unit being closed and upon electrical energy being supplied to said heating element to heat said element, ambient air being drawn into said aperture formed in said base and said air flowing in a laminar manner along the interior of said base and along said cover and out said vent thereby purging said food preparation unit of smoke present therein and maintaining said base cool with respect to said heating element.

Claim 5

A food preparation unit, comprising: a base provided with a contoured bottom having an aperture formed therein; a cover; hinge means interconnecting said base and cover and providing pivoting of said cover with respect to said base thereby permitting opening and closing of said unit; a food receiving grill; means provided on said base for receiving and supporting said food receiving grill at a predetermined height; an electric heating element for being connected to a source of electrical energy; a support grill and drip pan assembly, said drip pan being made of heat reflecting material to reflect heat provided by said heating element toward said food receiving grill and for catching fat dripping from said food receiving grill and providing fast burn-off of said fat, and said support grill for receiving and supporting said electric heating element and for receiving and supporting charcoal; means provided on said base for receiving and supporting said support grill and drip pan assembly at a predetermined distance below said food receiving grill and thereby supporting said heating element at a predetermined distance below said food receiving grill; an adjustable vent formed in said cover; said adjustable vent having an aperture formed therein to assure that there is always an escape for excess steam or smoke from said food preparation unit, and said adjustable vent for providing a variable sized opening to provide the controlled escape of steam or smoke from said unit; upon said food preparation unit being closed and upon electrical energy being supplied to said heating element to heat said element, ambient air being drawn into said aperture formed in said base and said air flowing in a laminar manner along the interior of said base and along said cover and out said vent thereby purging said food preparation unit of smoke present therein and maintaining said base cool with respect to said heating element.

Claim 6

A food preparation unit according to claim 3 further including variable electrical energy control means secured to said base and interconnected intermediate said heating element and said source of electrical energy and for providing variable control of said heat provided by said element.

Claim 7

A food preparation unit according to claim 4 wherein said variable electrical energy control means comprises a multi-part control box of mineral filled phenolic material and having a plurality of spaCed apart spacer members for engaging said food preparation unit base and providing open space areas therebetween to permit a flow of air between said control box and said base so as to maintain said control box cool with respect to said base.

Claim 8

A food preparation unit according to claim 3 wherein said hinge means are provided with predetermined cooperating surfaces which engage and abut upon said pivoting of said cover with respect to said base thereby limiting the degree of allowable pivotal movement of said cover with respect to said base so as to preclude toppling of said unit upon the unattended opening of said cover.

Claim 9

A food preparation unit according to claim 3 further including a plurality of air-cooled legs secured to said base and for supporting said unit with respect to any surface on which said unit resides, said air-cooled legs for maintaining said base cool with respect to said surface on which said unit resides.

Claim 10

A food preparation unit, comprising: a base including four walls inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical and a contoured bottom formed integrally with said walls, said bottom having an aperture formed centrally thereof for providing a drain for any fat present on said contoured bottom and an air intake for ambient air; a cover including four walls inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical and a top formed integrally with said walls; hinge means interconnecting said base and cover and providing pivoting of said cover with respect to said base thereby permitting opening and closing of said grill; a food receiving grill; a first plurality of bosses formed at predetermined points around said walls of said base and at a predetermined height with respect to said bottom of said base, said first plurality of bosses for receiving said food receiving grill and supporting said food receiving grill at a predetermined height with respect to said bottom of said base; a convoluted electric heating element for being connected to a source of electrical energy; a support grill and drip pan assembly, said drip pan being made of heat reflecting material to reflect heat provided by said heating element toward said food receiving grill and for catching any fat dripping from said food receiving grill and providing fast burn-off of said fat, and said support grill for receiving and supporting said electric heating element and for receiving and supporting charcoal; a second plurality of bosses formed at predetermined points around the walls of said base and at a predetermined height with respect to said bottom of said base and lower than said predetermined height of said first plurality of bosses, said support plurality of bosses for receiving and supporting said support grill and drip pan assembly at a predetermined height with respect to said food receiving grill and thereby supporting said heating element at a predetermined distance with respect to said food receiving grill, said second plurality of bosses also for supporting said support grill and drip pan assembly spaced a predetermined distance from said walls of said bottom to permit air flow between the outer edges of said support grill and drip pan assembly and said walls of said bottom; an adjustable vent formed in said top of said cover substantially centrally thereof, said adjustable vent having an aperture formed therein to assure that there is always an escape for any excess steam and smoke present in said food preparation unit, and said adjustable vent for providing a variable sized opening to permit the controlled escape of any steam or smoke present in said food preparation unit; upon said food preparation unit being closed and upon electrical energy being supplied to said heating element to heat said element, ambient air being drawn into said aperture formed in said bottom of said base and said air flowing laminarily along said substantially contoured bottom of said base, along the inclined walls Of said bottom and between said space between said outer edges of said support grill and drip pan assembly and said walls of said bottom, along said inclined walls of said cover, and along said top of said cover and out said vent thereby purging said food preparation unit of any smoke present therein and maintaining said bottom of said base cool with respect to said heating element; and support means provided on said concave bottom of said base and for supporting said food preparation unit at a predetermined height with respect to any surface on which said food preparation unit resides to permit said ambient air to be drawn into said aperture formed in said bottom of said base.

Claim 11

A food preparation unit, comprising: a base including four walls inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical and a contoured bottom formed integrally with said walls, said bottom having an aperture formed centrally thereof for providing a drain for any fat present on said contoured bottom and an air intake for ambient air; a cover including four walls inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical and a top formed integrally with said walls; hinge means interconnecting said base and cover and providing pivoting of said cover with respect to said base thereby permitting opening and closing of said grill; a food receiving grill; a first plurality of bosses formed at predetermined points around said walls of said base and at a predetermined height with respect to said bottom of said base, said first plurality of bosses for receiving said food receiving grill and supporting said food receiving grill at a predetermined height with respect to said bottom of said base; a convoluted electric heating element for being connected to a source of electrical energy; a support grill and drip pan assembly, said drip pan being made of heat reflecting material to reflect heat provided by said heating element toward said food receiving grill and for catching any fat dripping from said food receiving grill and providing fast burn-off of said fat, and said support grill for receiving and supporting said electric heating element and for receiving and supporting charcoal; a second plurality of bosses formed at predetermined points around the walls of said base and at a predetermined height with respect to said bottom of said base and lower than said predetermined height of said first plurality of bosses, said support plurality of bosses for receiving and supporting said support grill and drip pan assembly at a predetermined height with respect to said food receiving grill and thereby supporting said heating element at a predetermined distance with respect to said food receiving grill, said second plurality of bosses also for supporting said support grill and drip pan assembly spaced a predetermined distance from said walls of said bottom to permit air flow between the outer edges of said support grill and drip pan assembly and said walls of said bottom; an adjustable vent formed in said top of said cover substantially centrally thereof, said adjustable vent having an aperture formed therein to assure that there is always an escape for any excess steam and smoke present in said food preparation unit, and said adjustable vent for providing a variable sized opening to permit the controlled escape of any steam or smoke present in said food preparation unit; upon said food preparation unit being closed and upon electrical energy being supplied to said heating element to heat said element, ambient air being drawn into said aperture formed in said bottom of said base and said air flowing laminarily along said substantially contoured bottom of said base, along the inclined walls Of said bottom and between said space between said outer edges of said support grill and drip pan assembly and said walls of said bottom, along said inclined walls of said cover, and along said top of said cover and out said vent thereby purging said food preparation unit of any smoke present therein and maintaining said bottom of said base cool with respect to said heating element; and support means provided on said concave bottom of said base and for supporting said food preparation unit at a predetermined height with respect to any surface on which said food preparation unit resides to permit said ambient air to be drawn into said aperture formed in said bottom of said base.

Claim 12

A food preparation unit according to claim 3 further including variable electrical energy control means secured to one of said walls of said base and interconnected intermediate said heating element and said source of electrical energy and for providing variable control of said heat of said heating element.

Claim 13

A food preparation unit according to claim 8 wherein said variable electrical energy control means comprises a multi-part control box of mineral filled phenolic material and having a plurality of spaced apart spacer members for engaging a predetermined wall of said food preparation unit base and providing open space areas therebetween to permit a flow of air between said control box and said base so as to maintain said control box cool with respect to said base.

Claim 14

A food preparation unit according to claim 8 wherein said support means comprises a plurality of air-cooled legs of a predetermined height secured to said contoured bottom of said base and for maintaining said base cool with respect to said surface on which said food preparation unit resides; each of said legs including an upper, inner annular portion of a predetermined height for engaging the bottom of said base and an upper, outer annular portion of a predetermined height less than said upper, inner annular portion and spaced therefrom and thereby providing an annular space for the circulation of air, and further including a generally annular, outwardly flared lower portion having a hollow interior for the circulation of air; said upper, inner annular portion having a longitudinal opening formed therein for receiving a threaded fastener for securing said leg to said base.

Claim 15

A food preparation unit according to claim 8 wherein said hinge means are provided with predetermined cooperating surfaces which engage and abut upon said pivoting of said cover with respect to said base thereby limiting the degree of allowable pivotal movement of said cover with respect to said base so as to preclude toppling of said unit upon the unattended opening of said cover.

Claim 16

A food preparation unit according to claim 8 further including a plurality of air-cooled legs secured to said base and for supporting said unit with respect to any surface on which said unit resides, said air-cooled legs for maintaining said base cool with respect to said surface on which said unit resides, each of said legs including an upper, inner annular portion of a predetermined height for engaging the bottom of said base and an upper, outer annular portion of a predetermined height less than said upper, inner annular portion and spaced therefrom and thereby providing an annular space for the circulation of air, and further including a generally annular, outwardly flared lower portion having a hollow interior for the circulation of air, said upper, inner annular portion having longitudinal opening formed therein for receiving a threaded fastener for securing said leg to said base; and said leg being made of a high temperature Nylon material.