Portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil

Abstract

A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil that is easy to use and that can be easily transported, disassembled and assembled and comprises a slotted cooking member with side walls, bottom wall and a rim around the upper periphery of the cooking member with at least one slot in the rim, a bottom housing unit for charcoal or wood pieces that fits beneath the cooking member, a metal frame with hinged legs with an opening large enough for the cooking member and bottom housing unit to be suspended within, and a utensil having connecting means on the posterior side of the utensil which corresponds in size to the slots in the rim of the cooking member. The connecting means on the posterior side of the utensil allows the user to lift the cooking member out of the metal frame by connecting the connecting means of the utensil into the slots in the rim of the cooking member and lifting the cooking member vertically out of the metal frame. The portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil allows the user to quickly and easily manipulate the cooking member with the same utensil that is used for cooking thereby limiting the amount of utensils that are needed. The portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil allows the user to use interchangeable fuel sources and interchangeable cooking members with any type of cooking surface that can be interchanged using the utensil with connecting means.

1 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil comprising: 
 a slotted cooking member with a bottom wall, side walls and a rim with at least one slot in the rim;    a bottom housing unit that fits beneath the cooking member;    a metal frame with hinged legs with an opening large enough for the cooking member and bottom housing unit to be suspended within; and    a utensil having connecting means on the posterior side of the utensil to be used to remove said cooking member from said metal frame.    
   
   
       2 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said bottom housing unit is disposable and made of aluminum.  
   
   
       3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said bottom housing unit has a perforated bottom wall, an ash catching plate, and a wire handle connecting said ash catching plate to the perforated bottom wall.  
   
   
       6 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said bottom housing unit has a slotted bottom wall, an ash catching plate, and a wire handle connecting said ash catching plate to the slotted bottom wall.  
   
   
       7 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said bottom housing has a curved, perforated metal insert that fits within the interior of the bottom housing unit.  
   
   
       8 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said bottom housing has a flat perforated metal insert that fits within the interior of the bottom housing unit.  
   
   
       9 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said bottom housing has a vent in the side walls of the bottom housing unit.  
   
   
       10 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said bottom housing has a perforation in the side walls of the bottom housing unit.  
   
   
       11 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said bottom housing unit is rectilinear in shape.  
   
   
       12 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said bottom housing unit is circular in shape.  
   
   
       13 - 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said cooking member is coated with a heat resistant paint.  
   
   
       18 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said cooking member is rectilinear in shape.  
   
   
       19 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said cooking member is circular in shape.  
   
   
       20 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said cooking member has a slotted bottom wall.  
   
   
       21 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said cooking member has slotted side walls.  
   
   
       22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said cooking member has a solid bottom wall.  
   
   
       24 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said cooking member is a grid iron.  
   
   
       25 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said cooking member is a wire grate.  
   
   
       26 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said cooking member is a griddle pan.  
   
   
       27 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said cooking member is a shallow pan.  
   
   
       28 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said cooking member is a deep pan.  
   
   
       29 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said metal frame has a large enough opening for at least two cooking members to fit adjacent to one another.  
   
   
       30 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said metal frame may be supported using a collapsible inner sleeve fitting concentrically within the side walls of the metal frame.  
   
   
       31 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said hinged legs are detachable.  
   
   
       32 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said metal frame may be supported using interlocking metal plates that fit within the side walls of the metal frame.  
   
   
       33 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said metal frame may be supported using hinged pair of legs that intersect at the center of each pair of legs.  
   
   
       34 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said metal frame has side walls that end at a bottom shelf upon which the bottom housing unit lays.  
   
   
       35 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said metal frame has at least one bar extending from the bottom edge of one side wall of the metal frame to the opposite side wall to support the bottom housing unit.  
   
   
       36 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said metal frame has a catch or hook on the bottom edge of each side wall to support the bottom housing unit.  
   
   
       37 - 40 . (canceled)  
   
   
       41 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said metal frame is coated with a heat resistant paint.  
   
   
       42 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said metal frame has a top surface that is circular in perimeter.  
   
   
       43 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said metal frame has a top surface that is rectangular in perimeter.  
   
   
       44 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein said utensil has a locking arm to secure said utensil to said cooking member.  
   
   
       45 - 62 . (canceled)  
   
   
       63 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein there is a cover with a handle and rim around the bottom periphery of the cover with at least one embossment in the bottom surface of the rim.  
   
   
       64 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein there is a cover with a handle that is a spring enclosed magnet that when engaged allows the user to lift said cover out of the metal frame.  
   
   
       65 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein the unit may be used with a gas fuel where a gas burner may be mounted within the interior of the metal frame below the cooking member and provided with a flow of gas, such as from a gas tank, to provide heat for cooking the food items placed upon the cooking surface.  
   
   
       66 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein it may be used with a gas fuel where the gas burner is mounted to the metal frame and may be comprised of a burner plate and a burner base that may be mounted within the metal frame where the burner base is connected to the metal frame and the burner plate is mounted to a top of the burner base where the burner plate has a plurality of apertures.  
   
   
       67 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein it may be used with a gas fuel where the gas burner is mounted within a housing suspended within the metal frame and may be comprised of a burner plate and a burner base.  
   
   
       68 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein it may be used with a gas fuel where the gas burner is mounted to the metal frame and may be comprised of a burner base and at least one burner tube containing a plurality of apertures.  
   
   
       69 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein it may be used with a micro burner by placing the micro burner beneath the cooking member.  
   
   
       70 . A process for using the portable, collapsible cooking unit as defined in  claim 1  which comprises placing a fuel source beneath the bottom housing unit, igniting the fuel source and then placing the cooking member on the metal frame and allowing the generated heat to effect the desired cooking.  
   
   
       71 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein it may be used with an electrical power source.  
   
   
       72 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom housing unit may be removed while the portable, collapsible cooking unit remains intact.  
   
   
       73 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein the unit may be heated with any fuel source without altering the structure of said metal frame and said cooking member.  
   
   
       74 . A portable, collapsible cooking unit and utensil according to  claim 1  wherein the bottom housing unit is enclosed within a larger bottom housing unit.  
   
   
       75 - 140 . (canceled)  
   
   
       141 . A utensil having connecting means on the posterior side of the utensil to be used with lifting cookware.  
   
   
       142 . A utensil according to  claim 141 , wherein said utensil has a locking arm to secure said utensil to the cookware.  
   
   
       143 - 159 . (canceled)  
   
   
       160 . A disposable charcoal tray wherein said disposable charcoal tray has a perforated bottom wall, an ash catching plate, and a wire handle connecting the ash catching plate to said perforated bottom wall.  
   
   
       161 . (canceled)  
   
   
       162 . A disposable charcoal tray wherein said disposable charcoal tray has a curved, perforated metal insert that fits within the interior of said disposable charcoal tray.  
   
   
       163 . A disposable charcoal tray according to  claim 162 , wherein said disposable charcoal tray has a vent in the side walls of the disposable charcoal tray.  
   
   
       164 . (canceled)  
   
   
       165 . A disposable charcoal tray according to  claim 162 , wherein said curved, perforated metal insert is flat.  
   
   
       166 . (canceled)  
   
   
       167 . (canceled)  
   
   
       168 . A slotted cooking member and utensil wherein said cooking member is comprised of a bottom wall, side walls and a rim with at least one slot in the rim and said utensil has connecting means on the posterior side of the utensil to lift said cooking member.  
   
   
       169 - 172 . (canceled)  
   
   
       173 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein said cooking member is coated with a heat resistant paint.  
   
   
       174 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein said cooking member is rectilinear in shape.  
   
   
       175 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein said cooking member is circular in shape.  
   
   
       176 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein said cooking member has a slotted bottom wall.  
   
   
       177 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein said cooking member has slotted side walls.  
   
   
       178 - 179 . (canceled)  
   
   
       180 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein said cooking member is a grid iron.  
   
   
       181 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein said cooking member is a wire grate.  
   
   
       182 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein said cooking member is a griddle pan.  
   
   
       183 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein said cooking member is a shallow pan.  
   
   
       184 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein said cooking member is a deep pan.  
   
   
       185 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein said utensil has a locking arm to secure said utensil to said cooking member.  
   
   
       186 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein said utensil is a spatula.  
   
   
       187 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein said utensil is a grilling fork.  
   
   
       188 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein said utensil is a set of tongs.  
   
   
       189 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein said utensil is a knife.  
   
   
       190 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein said utensil is a brush.  
   
   
       191 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein said utensil is a spoon.  
   
   
       192 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein said utensil is a handle that terminates at said connecting means.  
   
   
       193 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein the connecting means of said utensil is a protruding metal rectilinear element.  
   
   
       194 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein the connecting means of said utensil is a metal hook.  
   
   
       195 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein the connecting means of said utensil is a magnet.  
   
   
       196 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein the connecting means of said utensil is a claw.  
   
   
       197 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein the connecting means of said utensil is a set of prongs.  
   
   
       198 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein the connecting means of said utensil is a clip.  
   
   
       199 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein the connecting means of said utensil is a wedge.  
   
   
       200 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein the connecting means of said utensil is a cam.  
   
   
       201 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein the connecting means of said utensil is a grooved rectilinear metal element.  
   
   
       202 . A cooking member and utensil according to  claim 168 , wherein the connecting means of said utensil is a recessed rectilinear element.