Apparatus and methods for providing an improved cooking grate for an outdoor cooking grill

Abstract

Provided is a cooking grate for improving cooking performance on an outdoor cooking grill. The cooking grate has a metallic plate, configured to be placed over a heat source in the outdoor cooking grill, where the metallic plate has a plurality of perforation holes. The cooking grate further includes a plurality of cooking surface ribs, configured to support food during cooking and positioned above the metallic plate. Also provided are methods of providing an improved cooking grate for an outdoor cooking grill including the steps of: perforating a metallic plate, configured to be positioned above a heat source on the outdoor cooking grill; forming a plurality of cooking surface ribs, configured to receive food to be cooked thereon.

At least the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A cooking grill, comprising:
 a housing having a cavity;   a heat source mounted within the cavity of the housing; and   a cooking surface, supported in the housing at a position above the heat source, the cooking surface comprising
 a perforated plate, and 
 a plurality of cooking surface ribs positioned above the perforated plate, said perforated plate and ribs formed from a single sheet of material such that said plate and said ribs form a unitary structure, and in which said perforations are located between said ribs for restricting air flow between said heat source and said ribs, thereby suppressing flames from reaching the food being cooked 
   
     
     
         2 . The cooking grill of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cooking surface ribs are arranged in a substantially parallel configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The cooking grill of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one cooking surface rib support structure on the grill housing. 
     
     
         4 . The cooking grill of  claim 1  including a plurality of cooking surface rib support structures within said housing for supporting said cooking surface above the heat source. 
     
     
         5 . A cooking grate for improving cooking performance on an outdoor grill. comprising a metallic plate, configured to be placed over a heat source in the outdoor cooking grill, the metallic plate comprising:
 a plurality of cooking ribs, configured to support food, formed into the metallic plate; and   a plurality of perforated sections arranged, in an alternating arrangement, between the plurality of cooking ribs.   
     
     
         6 . A cooking grate as defined in  claim 5  in which said cooking ribs have an upper surface for supporting food and generally vertical side walls extending downwardly from said upper surface and connected to said plurality of perforated sections. 
     
     
         7 . A cooking grate as defined in  claim 6  in which an open space is created between said cooking ribs, said space being defined by said side walls on each side, said perforated sections at the bottom, and by the food being cooked at the top, thereby creating a box-like space in which air flow is substantially restricted and flames are suppressed.