Cover indexing mechanism

Abstract

A barbecue apparatus is disclosed that allows a hinged lid to be rotationally reoriented so as to serve as a wind deflector when in its open position. While the base of the apparatus remains rigidly stationary, the fire bowl to which the lid is hinged is temporarily released from the base, lifted and rotated into a desired position and positively locked in place. Rotation of the burner in one direction serves to release the fire bowl from being rotationally locked to the base yet prevents its detachment therefrom while rotation in the opposite direction locks the fire bowl and associated components in place.

1 . A barbecue apparatus, comprising: 
 a base element;    a fire bowl configured for engaging said base element in any of a plurality of discreet rotational orientations relative thereto;    a lid hinged to said fire bowl; and    a mechanism for releasably locking said fire bowl to said base element in a selected discreet rotational orientation.    
   
   
       2 . The barbecue apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said base element includes at least one upwardly extending indexing pin and said fire bowl has a circular arrangement of indexing holes formed therein such that alignment of said indexing pin with any of said indexing holes defines one of said discreet rotational orientations and receipt of said indexing pin in one of said indexing holes causes said fire bowl to be rotationally keyed to said base element.  
   
   
       3 . The barbecue apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said base element includes a plurality of upwardly extending indexing pins for receipt in selected indexing holes formed in said fire bowl.  
   
   
       4 . The barbecue apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said mechanism for releasably locking said fire bowl to said base element comprises a threaded fastener that urges said fire bowl against said base element.  
   
   
       5 . The barbecue apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said threaded fastener comprises a first threaded element extending upwardly from said base element through said fire bowl and a second threaded element for threadably receiving said first threaded element.  
   
   
       6 . The barbecue apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said first threaded element comprises a threaded tube and said second threaded element comprises a burner.  
   
   
       7 . The barbecue apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said burner further includes at least one wing element to facilitate rotation of said burner.  
   
   
       8 . The barbecue apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a starter electrode, wherein said wing element is configured to cover said electrode when said burner is tightened against said fire bowl so as to afford protection to said electrode.  
   
   
       9 . The barbecue apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a liner disposed within said fire bowl, a starter electrode extending from said fire bowl through an aperture formed in said liner and means for keying said liner to said fire bowl so as to maintain alignment of said electrode with said hole formed in said liner for all rotational orientations of said fire bowl relative to said base element.  
   
   
       10 . The barbecue apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said lid is hinged to said fire bowl by a bracket element affixed to an external surface of said fire bowl and wherein a portion of said bracket extends through said fire bowl to define a stop wherein such stop is configured for receipt in a notch formed in said liner so as to rotationally key said liner to said fire bowl.  
   
   
       11 . A barbecue apparatus, comprising: 
 a grease tray configured and positioned at the base of said barbecue apparatus wherein said grease tray has a threaded tube extending upwardly through its center and at least on upwardly extending indexing pin that is positioned near said threaded tube;    a fire bowl having a centrally positioned hole formed therein for receiving said threaded tube and a series of indexing holes formed in a circular pattern about said centrally positioned hole wherein each of said series of indexing holes is configured for receiving said indexing pin for keying the rotational orientation of said fire bowl relative to said grease tray;    a lid hinged to said fire bowl; and    a burner configured for threadedly receiving said threaded tube and urging said fire bowl against said grease tray to prevent retraction of said indexing pin from one of said series of indexing holes.    
   
   
       12 . The barbecue apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said indexing pin has a length selected so as to allow said fire bowl to be lifted clear of said indexing pin when said burner is loosened but still threadedly engaged to said threaded tube so as to allow rotational reorientation of said fire bowl relative to said grease tray.  
   
   
       13 . The barbecue apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a removable liner disposed within said fire bowl, a starter electrode extending from said fire bowl through an aperture formed in said liner and wherein said liner is rotationally keyed to said fire bowl such that said starter electrode remains aligned with said hole formed in said liner during rotational reorientation of said fire bowl relative to said grease tray.  
   
   
       14 . The barbecue apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said lid is hinged to said fire bowl by a bracket affixed to an outside surface of said fire bowl, wherein said bracket includes a tab that extends through said fire bowl to protrude inwardly from an inner surface of said fire bowl and which is configured for receipt in a notch formed in said liner to cooperate therewith to rotational key the liner to the fire bowl.  
   
   
       15 . The barbecue apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a starter electrode and wing element extending from said burner, wherein such wing element is configured for facilitating rotation of said burner and for covering said starter electrode when rotated into position so as to provide protection therefor.