ASSEMBLY OF A SUPPORT FRAME AND A FOOD PREPARATION APPARATUS

Abstract

Described is an assembly of a support frame and a food preparation apparatus, which food preparation apparatus comprises a bowl member the upper side of which is open, which bowl member comprises a bottom and a convexly running sidewall and which has a substantially annular cross-section at the open upper side, wherein the bowl member defines an internal heating space, wherein the bowl member is borne by the support frame characterized in that the support frame comprises five bearing elements that are positioned at a regular distance from each other and extend vertically along the height of the bowl member, which bearing elements secure the bowl member in the support frame, and the five bearing elements are interconnected by one or more horizontally extending connecting elements, which bearing elements are connected to one or more base elements, on which the food preparation apparatus, when being used, rests on the ground, wherein the bowl member is borne by the bearing elements and the one or more base elements.

Claims

1-22. (canceled)

23. Assembly of a support frame and a food preparation apparatus, which food preparation apparatus comprises a bowl member the upper side of which is open, which bowl member comprises a bottom and a convexly running sidewall and which has a substantially annular cross-section at the open upper side, wherein the bowl member defines an internal heating space, wherein the bowl member is borne by the support frame that is provided with vertically extending bearing elements that are interconnected by one or more horizontally extending connecting elements, which bearing elements comprise base elements at their bottom sides, on which bearing elements the assembly, when being used, rests on the ground, wherein the support frame comprises five bearing elements that are positioned at a regular distance from each other and extend vertically along the height of the bowl member, which bearing elements bear and secure the bowl member in the support frame.

24. Assembly according to claim 23, wherein the horizontally extending connecting elements comprise one or more first connecting elements extending such at the location of the bottom side of the bowl member that the bottom of the bowl member rests on the first connecting elements.

25. Assembly according to claim 23, wherein the support frame comprises second connecting elements, which second connecting elements are placed below and spaced apart from the bottom of the bowl member.

26. Assembly according to claim 23, wherein the one or more connecting elements comprise one or more slidable arms.

27. Assembly according to claim 23, wherein the a bearing elements extend substantially along the sidewall of the bowl member.

28. Assembly according to claim 27, wherein the bearing elements are curved such that they at least in part follow the contours of the exterior of the sidewall.

29. Assembly according to claim 23, wherein the bearing elements extend at substantially 90° to the plane of the open side of the bowl member.

30. Assembly according to claim 23, wherein a bearing element comprises an interior bearing part extending substantially along the sidewall of the bowl member, and is connected to an exterior bearing part extending at substantially 90° to the plane of the open side of the bowl member.

31. Assembly according to claim 23, which assembly at the outer circumference of the bowl member at least comprises a bearing surface extending to the outside and substantially parallel to the open side of the bowl member, wherein one or more bearing elements support the at least one bearing surface.

32. Assembly according to claim 31, wherein the support frame supports two bearing surfaces that are positioned opposite each other.

33. Assembly according to claim 31, wherein two bearing elements that are situated next to each other each support a bearing surface on either side of its axial line.

34. Assembly according to claim 31, wherein the one or more bearing elements supporting the bearing surface extend as far as the open side of the bowl member.

35. Assembly according to claim 31, wherein the one or more bearing elements supporting the bearing surface can be adjusted in height.

36. Assembly according to claim 31, wherein the one or more bearing elements supporting the bearing surface each comprise a bearing arm, which bearing arm extends substantially parallel to the open side of the bowl member, on which bearing arm the bearing surface is positioned.

37. Assembly according to claim 36, wherein the one or more bearing elements supporting the bearing surface each comprise an angular element, which angular element is connected to a bearing arm.

38. Assembly according to claim 37, wherein the angular element is configured so as to be rotatable relative to the bowl member, the arm of the angular element having a curvature that substantially corresponds to the outer circumference of the bowl member at the location of the angular element.

39. Assembly according to claim 37, wherein the angular element is designed so as to be detachable from the bearing element.

40. Assembly according to claim 23, wherein the food preparation apparatus comprises a lid with which the open side of the bowl member can be closed off.

41. Assembly according to claim 23, wherein the food preparation apparatus is designed like a kamado-type grill.

42. The support frame of an assembly of a support frame and a food preparation apparatus, which food preparation apparatus comprises a bowl member the upper side of which is open, which bowl member comprises a bottom and a convexly running sidewall and which has a substantially annular cross-section at the open upper side, wherein the bowl member defines an internal heating space, wherein the bowl member is borne by the support frame that is provided with vertically extending bearing elements that are interconnected by one or more horizontally extending connecting elements, which bearing elements comprise base elements at their bottom sides, on which bearing elements the assembly, when being used, rests on the ground, wherein the support frame comprises five bearing elements that are positioned at a regular distance from each other and extend vertically along the height of the bowl member, which bearing elements bear and secure the bowl member in the support frame.

Description

[0030] The invention will be elucidated below on the basis of the figures.

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an assembly of a support frame and a food preparation apparatus according to the state of the art;

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a support frame of an assembly of a support frame and a food preparation apparatus according to the invention;

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a top view of a star-shaped connecting element of the support frame of FIG. 2;

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a top view of a support frame of the assembly of FIG. 2;

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a view in perspective of a support frame of an assembly according to the invention; and

[0036] FIG. 6 shows a top view of the support frame of FIG. 5.

[0037] In the figures identical reference numbers are used for the same parts or constituent parts that have the same function.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a food preparation apparatus A according to the state of the art with a bowl member 2 having a flat bottom 2A and a convexly running sidewall 2B. At its upper side, the bowl member 2 is open, but in the figure this open side is closed off by a convex lid 9 having a handle 9A. When placing the apparatus A on a flat surface, the open side runs substantially horizontally. The bowl member 2 is borne by the support frame 3, comprising four bearing parts 4A, 4B extending vertically along the height of the bowl member, which bearing elements are positioned at a regular distance from each other. The bearing elements 4A, 4B extend to beyond the bottom of the bowl member 2 and at their bottom ends are connected to a star-shaped connecting element 5, extending substantially horizontally and interconnecting the four bearing elements 4A, 4B via arms 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D. At their outer ends that are oriented downward, the bearing elements 4A, 4B comprise base elements 6 that are configured as casters. Two bearing surfaces 8 designed as shelves are attached to the bowl member via a ring 7, the bearing surfaces extending substantially parallel to the open side, that means substantially horizontally, from the bowl member to the outside. These bearing surfaces 8 are not supported by bearing elements 4A, 4B of the support frame 3. The bowl member defines an internal heating space, in which fuel such as charcoal or briquettes can be placed and lit. The heating space situated within the bowl member 2 can be provided with fresh air via a damper 10A. A gridiron can be placed on the open upper side of the bowl member, on which gridiron the food to be prepared such as meat can be put. A thermometer 9B for monitoring the temperature in the heating space is incorporated in the lid 9. At the upper side, the lid 9 is bounded by a ventilation opening 9C.

[0039] In FIG. 2 a cross-section of a food preparation apparatus B is shown, in which dotted lines indicate a bowl member 2 including heating space 10 and lid 9, which bowl member 2 is accommodated in a support frame 3. The support frame 3 comprises a number of bearing elements 4A, 4B placed at a regular distance from each other and extending vertically along the height of the bowl member 2, which bearing elements extend beyond the bottom of the bowl member. The bearing elements 4A, 4B are interconnected via a first connecting element 11 extending substantially horizontally and on which the bottom of the bowl member 2 rests. First connecting element 11 is made of square profile material, from which arms 11A, 11B can be extended and retracted (shown by the horizontal arrow), because such arms are made of a larger square profile material in order for the arms 11A, 11B to be slidable. At the bottom side the bearing elements 4A, 4B are interconnected via a second connecting element 5 having slidable arms 5A, 5B. Because the arms 4A, 4B of the first connecting element 4 and the arms 5A, 5B of the second connecting element 5 are designed so as to be slidable, the distance between the bearing elements 4A and 4B can be varied, depending on the dimensions of the bowl member 2.

[0040] The bearing parts 4A, 4B comprise an interior bearing part 4A1, 4B1 extending substantially along the wall of the bowl member, as well as an exterior bearing part 4A2, 4B2 extending substantially at 90° to the plane of the open side of the bowl member 2. This plane is indicated by a dotted line 12. Exterior bearing parts 4A2, 4B2 thus substantially extend purely vertically. At the bottom side the bearing parts 4A1, 4A2, 4B1, 4B2 are interconnected via the second connecting element 5, as well as to base elements 6 configured as casters.

[0041] The presence of interior and exterior bearing parts ensures that the support frame, in which the bowl member is accommodated in a secured manner, is very sturdy. However, either the interior or exterior bearing parts can be dispensed with in the support frame, as a result of which the bearing elements are constituted by either the interior or the exterior bearing parts. Via additional connecting elements, they can be reinforced to each other and/or to the horizontal connecting elements. Bearing part 4A, 4B is connected to an angular element 13A, 13B, which angular element comprises an arm 14A, 14B extending substantially parallel to the open side of the bowl member. The shelves 8A and 8B rest on the arms 14A and 14B, respectively. The bearing elements 4A, 4B thus directly support the shelves, as a result of which they are capable of withstanding considerably more downward forces than the shelves in FIG. 1.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows a connecting part 5 with five arms, with which five bearing elements that are positioned at a regular distance from each other are interconnected.

[0043] FIG. 4 shows an exploded top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, wherein for the sake of clarity connecting element 11 is not shown, so that in this figure the connecting element 5 is looked down onto. Arrows indicate the slidability of arms 5A-E of connecting element 5. The dotted circle 15 represents the annular cross-section of the open upper side of the bowl member. Bearing elements 4A, B, C and E are each time connected to an angular element 13A, B, C and E. Both shelves 8A and 8B are supported by two adjacent bearing elements 4A and 4E, 4B and 4C via angular elements 13A and E, 13B and C by arms 14A, E, B and C. M indicates the axial line of the shelf 8B. The bearing elements support the shelves on either side of its axial line.

[0044] The angular elements can be connected to the bearing elements so as to be detachable and/or rotatable. The arms of the angular elements may also have a curvature corresponding to the curvature of the outer circumference of the bowl member. In that way the arms can easily be rotated against the bowl member to save space when the apparatus is stowed away. The two adjacent arms 13A and 13E, and arms 13B and 13C can all be rotated in the same direction (clockwise or anticlockwise). The curvature for arm 14E is shown in dotted lines, wherein the arm can be rotated clockwise against the bowl member. Preferably, the bowl member is placed such in the support frame that any hinge between a present lid and the bowl member is placed at the rear side of the frame, that means placed above the bearing element 4D.

[0045] FIG. 5 shows an alternative support frame for an assembly according to the invention, wherein the vertical tubular bearing elements 4A-E extend vertically and are curved such as to follows the curvature of the exterior of the sidewall of a bowl member (not shown). The bottom side comprises base elements 6, which are provided with castors. At the upper end the bearing elements 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4E comprise horizontal bearing arms 14A, 14B, 14C and 14E, respectively, that are connected thereto, and that are designed so as to hinge vertically. Shelf 8A rests on bearing arms 14A and 14E, shelf 8B rests on bearing arms 14B and 14C. The shelves can either be hinged upwards or downwards so as to be able to fold the shelves in and out, respectively. Each bearing element 4A-E is provided with a lip 41A-E that is only shown for bearing arm 4C, and therefore indicated by 41C. Said lips form an additional support for the bowl member. At their upper sides, bearing elements 4A-4E comprise an extendable portion 42A-E which is only shown for bearing elements 4B and 4D, and therefore indicated by 42B and 42D, respectively. As a consequence, the bearing elements can be adjusted in height. This is particularly advantageous for bearing elements comprising a bearing arm for supporting a shelf, in order to be able to adjust their height. However, the adjustability of in this case bearing element 4D is advantageous due to the possibility of accommodating different sizes of bowl members. First connecting elements 11A-E, against which the bottom of the bowl member will rest when it is placed in the support frame, are interconnected by a cross-shaped element 52. Second connecting elements 5A-E are interconnected by a disk-shaped connecting element 51.