MODULAR GRILL

Abstract

A modular grill having at least one grilling configuration for grilling food and having a carrying configuration for carrying the food is provided. The grill includes a heating-function group, having an interchangeable heating module for heating the food by way of a vertical radiating surface in the grilling configuration, and also includes a food-carrier-function group, which is connected to the heating-function group and has a food-carrier module. The heating-function group includes at least one guide device for guiding the heating module, and also includes a number of fastening elements for fastening the heating module in a releasable manner on the heating-function group. The food-carrier module includes at least one food carrier, which is intended for accommodating the food and is mounted in the grilling configuration in front of the radiating surface such that it can be rotated about a vertical axis of rotation.

Claims

1. A modular grill with at least a) a grill configuration for grilling food and a carrying configuration for carrying the grill, b) a heating function group, c) a replaceable heating module for heating the food with a vertical radiating surface in the grilling configuration, and d) a food carrying function group connected with a heating function group with a food carrying module wherein the heating function group includes at least e) a guidance device for guiding the heating module and f) a number of fastening elements for detachable fastening of the heating module to the heating function group, and the food carrying module includes at least g) a food carrier for taking the food in the grilling configuration, mounted to rotate about a vertical axis in front of the radiating surface, wherein the heating module includes at least one connection element for electrically conducting connection of the heating module to a heating function group counter-element complementary to the connection element for the transfer of at least one of electrical control signals, measuring signals and, a electrical power supply.

2. The grill according to claim 1, wherein the heating function group and the food carrying function group are interconnected detachably via a number of connection elements, wherein the connection elements are designed for movable connection of the heating function group with the food carrying function group.

3. The grill according to claim 1, wherein the food carrying function group includes a number of fastening elements for detachable fastening of the food carrier module to the food carrier function group and a guidance device for guiding the food carrying module.

4. The grill according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a) the connection element is formed as a socket and the counter-element as a plug complementary to the socket; and b) the counter-element is integrated into the heating function group guidance device.

5. The grill according to claim 1, wherein the heating module includes a solid fuel and an encasement enclosing the solid fuel, wherein the encasement a) is heat-permeable at least in the area of the radiating surface, and b) includes a number of adjustable ventilation openings which are at least one of at a side of the heating module facing a cooking area of the grill in the grilling configuration and at a side of the heating module facing away from the cooking area.

6. The grill according to claim 1, wherein the heating module includes an ignition device, for lighting a fuel.

7. The grill according to claim 1, wherein a housing function group enclosing at least one cooking area of the grill, wherein the housing function group a) is connected detachably via a number of connection elements, with at least one of the heating function group and the food carrying function group; b) includes a plurality of housing elements, wherein at least one of the housing elements is designed as folding and is connected foldingly with a further housing element, and c) includes a number of adjustable ventilation openings.

8. The grill according to claim 1, wherein the at least one food carrier a) is fastened detachably and/or in a height-variable manner to a holding element; and b) is fastened eccentrically to the rotating axis at a, L-shaped, holding element.

9. The grill according claim 1, wherein it includes at least one drive module for turning the at least one food carrier about the rotating axis, wherein the food carrying function module includes a number of fastening elements for detachable fastening of the drive module to the food carrying function group.

10. The grill according to claim 1, wherein it includes at least one power supply module for supplying at least one function group of the grill with energy, wherein the food carrying function group includes a number of fastening elements for detachable fastening of the power supply module to the food carrying function group.

11. The grill according to claim 1, wherein it includes at least one lighting module with at least one light source for illuminating the grill and/or the food, wherein at least one of the food carrying function group and a grill housing function group include a number of fastening elements for detachable fastening of the lighting module to the relevant function group.

12. The grill according to claim 11, wherein at least one optical fibre cable for conducting light from the at least one light source of the lighting module to the food.

13. The grill according to claim 1, wherein it includes at least one control module for monitoring, controlling and/or regulating a food cooking process, wherein at least one of the food carrying function group and a grill housing function group include a number of fastening elements for detachable fastening of the control module to the relevant function group.

14. The grill according to claim 13, wherein the control module includes at least one communication element for wireless exchange of measurement and/or control data with a mobile communication device, wherein the control module includes at least one camera for depicting the food, wherein the grill includes an image conductor for conducting a picture of the food to the camera.

15. The grill according to claim 13, wherein the control module includes a remotely readable display element for displaying an operating state of the grill and a cooking state of the food, wherein the display element includes a colour-changing light source.

16. The grill according to claim 6, wherein the ignition device is electric.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0117] Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

[0118] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a grill according to embodiments of the invention;

[0119] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a heating module according to embodiments of the invention;

[0120] FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of a housing function group according to embodiments of the invention;

[0121] FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of a housing function group according to embodiments of the invention; and

[0122] FIG. 5 shows a isometric view of another housing function group according to embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0123] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a grill 100 according to embodiments of the invention. The illustrated grill 100 includes a heating function group 310, a food carrying function group 330 and a housing function group 320. The heating function group 310 includes a heating module with a radiating surface 211 for radiating heat on to the food carried by the food carrying function group 330, wherein the radiating surface 211 in the illustrated grilling configuration of the grill 100 is aligned vertically and the food carrying function group 330 is arranged in front of the radiating surface 211.

[0124] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a heating module 210 according to embodiments of the invention. The view is, for example, directed at a radiating surface of the heating module 210 in the plane of the paper. Advantageously, the depth of the heating module at right angles to the plane of the paper is less than its expansion in the plane of the paper.

[0125] The illustrated heating module 210 includes a solid fuel 215, for example charcoal briquettes, which is enclosed by an encasement 212, for example a metal basket. The heating module 210 includes, arranged in particular inside the solid fuel 215, an ignition device 213, for example an electric grill lighter for the solid fuel 215 and, arranged in particular underneath the solid fuel 215, a collection device 214, for example a metal tray, for combustion residues from the solid fuel 215.

[0126] The illustrated heating module 210 includes, arranged in particular on a top side of the heating module 210, a grip element 202 for carrying the heating module 210. Between the grip element 202 and the solid fuel 215 is arranged a means of insulation or insulation 203, for example, in particular foamed heat-resistant plastic, so that the grip element 202 is not overheated while operating the heating module 210.

[0127] FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of a housing function group 320 according to embodiments of the invention. The housing function group 320 includes a left side wall element 221, a right side wall element 222, a base element 225 and a cover element 226, which enclose the cooking area 110 of the grill. The cutting plane of the illustration runs parallel to a rear wall element (not illustrated) of the housing module 220.

[0128] The illustrated housing elements 221, 222, 225 and 226 are Interconnected by joints 229 (labelled only by way of example), for example hinges. Furthermore, the left side wall element 221 and the right side wall element 222 in each case include a joint 229 (labelled only by way of example), whereby the side wall elements 221 and 222 are designed to fold.

[0129] By means of the joints 229 it is possible to transfer the housing module 220 from the grill configuration (FIG. 3a) into a space-saving, folded together carrying configuration (FIG. 3c). FIG. 3b shows an intermediate state between the grill configuration and the configuration, wherein there is clarity through the absence of labelling.

[0130] FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of a housing function group 320 according to embodiments of the invention. Like the housing function group 320 from FIG. 3, the housing function group 320 illustrated here also include a left side wall element 221, a right side wall element 222, a base element 225 and a cover element 226. A rear wall element 223 is also illustrated, which is formed as a heating function group and includes a heating module 210, for example an electric radiant heater.

[0131] The illustrated housing elements 221, 222, 223, 225 and 226 are Interconnected by joints 229 (labelled only by way of example), for example hinges. Furthermore, the left side wall element 221 and the right side wall element 222 in each case include a joint 229 (illustrated with dotted lines, labelled only by way of example), whereby the side wall elements 221 and 222 are designed to fold. In a similar manner to FIG. 3b, FIG. 4 shows an intermediate state between the grilling configuration and the carrying configuration of the housing module 220. In order to move from the grilling configuration into the carrying configuration, the rear wall element 223 can be folded about a joint 229 at a rear edge of the cover element 226 on to the cover element 226. In a similar manner, the rear wall element 223 could also be folded about a joint (not illustrated) at the rear edge of the base element 225 under the base element 225. A front wall element (not illustrated) could be folded in the same manner as the rear wall element 223.

[0132] FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of another housing function group 320 according to embodiments of the invention in the grill configuration. In the illustrated design, the left side wall element 221, the right side wall element 222, the cover element 226 and the rear wall element 223 are interconnected rigidly.

[0133] The aforementioned housing elements 221, 222, 223 and 226 are connected via two joints 229 with the base element 225, which is designed in the form of a tray in the illustrated example, for example for housing the food carrying function group (not illustrated). By means of the joint 229, the base element 225 can be folded in a space-saving manner into the carrying configuration of the housing module 220 in the cooking area enclosed by the side wall elements 221 and 222, the cover element 226 and the rear wall element 223.

[0134] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in greater detail with reference to the preferred exemplary embodiment, the invention is not limited to the examples disclosed, and further variations can be inferred by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

[0135] For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of a or an throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and comprising does not exclude other steps or elements.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0136] 100 Grill [0137] 110 Cooking area [0138] 202 Grip element [0139] 203 Means of insulation or insulation [0140] 210 Heating module [0141] 211 Radiating surface [0142] 212 Encasement [0143] 213 Ignition device [0144] 214 Collection device [0145] 215 Solid fuel [0146] 221 Left side wall element [0147] 222 Right side wall element [0148] 223 Rear wall element [0149] 225 Base element [0150] 226 Cover element [0151] 229 Joint [0152] 310 Heating function group [0153] 320 Housing function group [0154] 330 Food carrying function group