Barbecue grill with enlarged firebox

Abstract

A barbecue grill is disclosed, including a firebox, a cooking surface disposed within the firebox, at least one burner element disposed within the firebox beneath the cooking surface, and at least one burner shield disposed between the burner element and the cooking surface. The firebox has a vertical depth A, the vertical distance between the cooking surface and the vertical shield is B, and the vertical distance between the burner shield and the burner elements is C. The value of B is between 0.6×C and 1.67×C, and the ratio A/(B+C) is between 0.40 and 0.60.

1 . A grill comprising: 
 a firebox having a front-to-back depth A;    a cooking surface disposed within the firebox;    at least one burner element disposed within the firebox beneath the cooking surface; and    a fuel source for supplying fuel to the burner;    at least one burner shield disposed between the burner element and the cooking surface, the vertical distance between the cooking surface and the burner shield defining a dimension B, the vertical distance beween the burner shield and the burner elements defining a dimension C,    wherein the value of B is between 0.6×C and 1.67×C, and the ratio A/(B+C) is between 0.40 and 0.60.    
   
   
       2 . The grill of  claim 1 , the burner shield comprising: 
 a first sloped surface;    a second sloped surface;    and a substantially flat portion joining the first and second sloped surfaces, the substantially flat portion having a top and a bottom surface,    the first sloped surface extending downwardly from the flat surface to form a first edge, the second sloped surface extending downwardly from the flat surface to form a second edge.    
   
   
       3 . The grill of  claim 1 , the burner shield comprising: 
 a first sloped surface; and    a second sloped surface,    the first and second sloped surfaces being adjacent one another to form a central ridge, the first sloped surface extending downwardly from the central ridge to form a first edge, the second sloped surface extending downwardly from the central ridge to form a second edge.    
   
   
       4 . The grill of  claim 3 , where the burner shield is disposed above the burner element such that a central vertical plane intersecting the central ridge also intersects the burner.  
   
   
       5 . The grill of  claim 3 , the burner element comprising: 
 a plurality of orifices, where the burner shield is disposed above the burner element such that a vertical plane intersecting the first edge of the first sloped surface is outside of and a substantial distance from the plurality of orifices.    
   
   
       6 . The grill of  claim 1 , the burner element comprising: 
 a plurality of orifices arranged around the periphery of a top surface of the burner element.    
   
   
       7 . The grill of  claim 1 , the burner element comprising: 
 a first row of orifices disposed to one side of a longitudinal center line dividing the burner element into a first half and a second half; and    a second row of orifices disposed to the other side of the longitudinal center line,    the first row positioned within the first half such that the first row is between the longitudinal center line and a longitudinal one-quarter line dividing the first half into a first quarter and a second quarter,    the second row positioned within the second half such that the second row is between the longitudinal center line and a longitudinal three-quarter line dividing the second half into a third quarter and a fourth quarter.    
   
   
       8 . The grill of  claim 7 , where the first row is arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal center line.  
   
   
       9 . The grill of  claim 7 , where the first row is disposed on a top surface of the burner element.  
   
   
       10 . The grill of  claim 7 , the burner shield comprising: 
 a first sloped surface; and    a second sloped surface,    the first and second sloped surfaces being adjacent one another to form a central ridge, the first sloped surface extending downwardly from the central ridge to form a first edge, the second sloped surface extending downwardly from the central ridge to form a second edge.    
   
   
       11 . The grill of  claim 10 , where the burner shield is disposed above the burner element such that a vertical plane intersecting the first edge of the first sloped surface is outside of and is a substantial distance from the first row of orifices.  
   
   
       12 . The grill of  claim 11 , where the burner element is disposed below the burner shield such that a first vertical plane intersecting the first row of orifices also intersects the burner shield.  
   
   
       13 . The grill of  claim 12 , where the burner element is further disposed such that a second vertical plane intersecting the second row of orifices also intersects the burner shield.  
   
   
       14 . The grill of  claim 1 , further comprising a manifold mounted within the firebox and configured to deliver fuel from the fuel source to the burner element.  
   
   
       15 . The grill of  claim 14 , further comprising an external burner element disposed outside the firebox, where the external burner element is supplied with fuel via the manifold.  
   
   
       16 . A grill comprising: 
 a firebox;    a cooking surface disposed within the firebox;    a first burner element disposed outside the firebox;    a fuel source for supplying fuel to the burner;    a manifold mounted within the firebox and configured to deliver fuel from the fuel source to the first burner element.    
   
   
       17 . The grill of  claim 16 , further comprising a side shelf supporting the first burner element.  
   
   
       18 . The grill of  claim 17 , further comprising a control disposed on the side shelf, the control configured to control the amount of fuel delivered to the first burner element.  
   
   
       19 . The grill of  claim 16 , further comprising a second burner element disposed within the firebox.  
   
   
       20 . The grill of  claim 19 , wherein the manifold is further configured to deliver fuel from the fuel source to the second burner element.