Cooking appliance with stationary grate and moveable heat source

Abstract

A cooking device having a base frame having sidewalls and a floor that at least partially define a cooking cavity; a lid assembly disposed above the base frame and comprising a cover and a heating unit; a grate disposed in the cooking cavity; a collecting pan disposed beneath the grate for collecting drippings from food being cooked; the top unit being displaceable relative to the base frame between a closed position and an open position, wherein, in the open position, the heating unit is disposed out of alignment with the grate and the top unit is disposed so as to allow access to the grate from above. The collecting pan may be disposed so as to remain below 180° F. after 20 minutes of cooking with the top unit in the closed position and the heating unit operating at a maximum setting.

1 . A cooking device, comprising: 
 a base frame having sidewalls and a floor that at least partially define a cooking cavity;    a top unit disposed above said base frame and comprising a cover and a heating unit;    a grate adapted to support food thereon, said grate disposed in said cooking cavity above said floor and below said top unit;    a collecting pan disposed in said cooking cavity above said floor and beneath said grate for collecting drippings from food being cooked on said grate;    wherein said top unit is displaceable relative to said base frame between a closed position and an open position,    wherein, in said closed position, said heating unit is disposed above and aligned generally parallel with said grate so as to direct heat toward said grate from above and said top unit generally blocks access to said grate from above;    wherein, in said open position, said heating unit is disposed out of alignment with said grate and said top unit is disposed so as to allow access to said grate from above.    
   
   
       2 . The cooking device of  claim 1  wherein said top unit is rotatably coupled to said base frame for rotational displacement with respect thereto between said closed position and said open position.  
   
   
       3 . The cooking device of  claim 2  wherein said top unit is rotatably coupled to said base frame for rotational displacement with respect thereto of at least 45° between said closed position and said open position.  
   
   
       4 . The cooking device of  claim 2  wherein said top unit is rotatably coupled to said base frame for rotational displacement of with respect thereto approximately 180° between said closed position and said open position.  
   
   
       5 . The cooking device of  claim 4  further comprising a support attached to said top unit and operative to support said top unit in a generally horizontal position in said open position.  
   
   
       6 . The cooking device of  claim 1  wherein said heating unit comprises at least one electric heating element.  
   
   
       7 . The cooking device of  claim 1  wherein said collecting pan is removable from said cooking cavity while said top unit is in said closed position.  
   
   
       8 . The cooking device of  claim 1  wherein said sidewalls support said grate.  
   
   
       9 . The cooking device of  claim 1  wherein said cooking cavity is bounded on four sides by said floor, said sidewalls, and said top unit, with said cooking cavity having front and rear walls that are less than 50% obstructed.  
   
   
       10 . The cooking device of  claim 1  wherein said cooking device is portable and further comprising at least one handle attached to at least one of said sidewalls and extending external to said cooking cavity.  
   
   
       11 . The cooking device of  claim 1  wherein said collecting pan is disposed so as to remain at a temperature below 180° F. after 20 minutes of cooking with said top unit in said closed position and said heating unit operating at a maximum setting.  
   
   
       12 . The cooking device of  claim 1:   wherein said top unit is rotatably coupled to said base frame for rotational displacement with respect thereto of at least 45° between said closed position and said open position;    wherein said heating unit comprises at least one electric heating element;    wherein said collecting pan is removable from said cooking cavity while said top unit is in said closed position; and    wherein said cooking cavity is bounded on four sides by said floor, said sidewalls, and said top unit, with said cooking cavity having front and rear walls that are less than 50% obstructed.    
   
   
       13 . The cooking device of  claim 12:   wherein said top unit is rotatably coupled to said base frame for rotational displacement with respect thereto of approximately 180° between said closed position and said open position; and    further comprising a support attached to said top unit and operative to support said top unit in a generally horizontal position in said open position.    
   
   
       14 . The cooking device of  claim 12  wherein said collecting pan is disposed so as to remain at a temperature below 180° F. after 20 minutes of cooking with said top unit in said closed position and said heating unit operating at a maximum setting.