Contoured grill brush

Abstract

The present invention provides a grill brush for cleaning cooking grates of different types of cooking equipment, such as gas or charcoal-operated grillers and smokers. The grill brush includes a series of contoured metal bristles that easily contact top and side surfaces of the grill cooking grate to promote cleaning. The grill brush optionally includes a detachable cleaning section. Cleaning sections may be interchanged with different handles, and may optionally include other grilling tools or cleaners in a kit.

1 . A grill brush for cleaning a cooking grate, comprising: 
 a handle; and    a cleaning section having a head connected to the handle and a brush attached to a first face of the head, the brush having a plurality of bristles for contacting grate members on the cooking grate, the plurality of bristles being contoured so that a first portion of the bristles is operable to contact top surfaces of the grate members and a second portion of the bristles is operable to contact side surfaces of the grate members.    
   
   
       2 . The grill brush of  claim 1 , wherein the bristles comprise brass bristles having rounded protrusions that are so dimensioned as to be insertable through spaces between adjacent grate members.  
   
   
       3 . The grill brush of  claim 1 , wherein the bristles comprise metal bristles.  
   
   
       4 . The grill brush of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the bristles is of a first length and the second portion of the bristles is of a second length longer than the first portion.  
   
   
       5 . The grill brush of  claim 4 , wherein the second portion comprises a plurality of rounded protrusions.  
   
   
       6 . The grill brush of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions are formed of alternating bunches of the bristles.  
   
   
       7 . The grill brush of  claim 1 , wherein the head of the cleaning section is curved.  
   
   
       8 . The grill brush of  claim 7 , wherein the first face of the head is convexly curved.  
   
   
       9 . The grill brush of  claim 8 , wherein a second face of the head remote from the first face is concavely curved.  
   
   
       10 . The grill brush of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning section is removably connected to the handle.  
   
   
       11 . A method of fabricating a grill brush, comprising: 
 fabricating a handle;    forming a cleaning section having a head disposed thereon;    attaching a plurality of bristles to a first face of the head; and    shaping the bristles to provide a contoured cleaning surface in which a first portion of the bristles is operable to contact top surfaces of grate members on a cooking grate and a second portion of the bristles are operable to contact side surfaces of the grate members, wherein the first portion of the bristles is of a first length and the second portion of the bristles is of a second length longer than the first portion.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein shaping the bristles includes laser cutting the second portion of the bristles.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein shaping the bristles includes forming a plurality of rounded protrusions on the second portion.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising removably attaching the cleaning section to the handle.  
   
   
       15 . A kit of grill cleaning components comprising: 
 at least one handle; and    at least one cleaning section adapted to removably attach to the at least one handle, the at least one cleaning section having a head connected to the handle and a brush attached to a first face of the head, the brush having a plurality of metal bristles for contacting grate members on a cooking grate, the plurality of metal bristles being contoured so that a first portion of the metal bristles is operable to contact top surfaces of the grate members and a second portion of the metal bristles is operable to contact side surfaces of the grate members;    wherein the first portion of the metal bristles is of a first length and the second portion of the metal bristles is of a second length longer than the first portion.    
   
   
       16 . The kit of  claim 15 , further including at least one supplemental grilling component selected from the group consisting of a basting brush, an elongated fork, a spatula, a knife, corn cob holders, tongs, a thermometer, and skewers.  
   
   
       17 . The kit of  claim 16 , further including a non-stick cooking spray.  
   
   
       18 . The kit of  claim 15 , further including a chemical cleaner.  
   
   
       19 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the chemical cleaner comprises one or both of a degreaser or a metal polisher.  
   
   
       20 . The kit of  claim 18 , further comprising a polishing cloth.