Adjustable height gas grill

Abstract

A gas grilling apparatus includes a mechanism for raising and lowering its gas burner grilling element while keeping it level. An associated deflector tray for the gas grilling apparatus enables the gas burner element, when in its most vertical position, to be used to cook food over direct flame while and when in its lower vertical position, to cook the food by radiant heat. The mechanism for raising and lowering the gas burner element comprises a pair of upper and lower interconnected parallel arms which are pivotally connected to the gas burner element.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vertical adjustment device for a gas burner element positioned in an enclosure of a gas grilling apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a pair of lower parallel arms and mounted so as to be vertically pivotal at a proximal end of each proximate the rear of said enclosure and having distal ends located proximate the front of said enclosure;    (b) a pair of upper parallel arms mounted so as to be vertically pivotal at a proximal end of each proximate the rear of said enclosure and having distal ends located proximate the front of said enclosure, each of said upper parallel arms being positioned above and vertically aligned with a respective one of said lower parallel arms and joined thereto by pivotal connections;    (c) a vertical adjustment mechanism connected to said arms and operative to vertically pivot said arms simultaneously; and    (d) a gas burner element pivotally supported at opposite ends on said lower arms and held level during vertical movement thereof.    
     
     
         2 . A vertical adjustment device according to  claim 1  wherein said lower parallel arms are interconnected.  
     
     
         3 . A vertical adjustment device according to  claim 1  wherein said upper parallel arms are interconnected.  
     
     
         4 . A vertical adjustment device according to  claim 1  wherein said upper and lower parallel arms are interconnected.  
     
     
         5 . A vertical adjustment device according to  claim 1  wherein said lower parallel arms are interconnected at both proximal and distal ends thereof.  
     
     
         6 . A vertical adjustment device according to  claim 1  wherein each said pair of upper and lower parallel arms are interconnected at proximal ends thereof by a pivoting rod mounted so as to enable said upper and lower parallel arms to be vertically pivotable.  
     
     
         7 . A vertical adjustment device according to  claim 1  wherein said lower arms are interconnected at their distal ends by a cross bar.  
     
     
         8 . A vertical adjustment device according to  claim 1  including a handle attached to said cross bar for manually vertically pivoting said upper and lower parallel arms.