Teppanyaki grill

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/170,167, filed Jul. 9, 2008 (issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 8,020,546 on Sep. 20, 2011), which is a nonprovisional of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/948,623, filed on Jul. 9, 2007, each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/948,623, filed Jul. 9, 2007, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed.

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1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to outdoor grills. More particularly, the present invention relates to an outdoor grill of the type that employs a propane or butane fueled burner element placed under a flat grilling surface of a table top, wherein a specially configured tabletop and pedestal arrangement enables a cook to stand next to and cook food on the tabletop grilling surface, and wherein a plurality of individuals are able to sit next to the table at positions next to a cool zone that has quickly removable tiles for easy replacement spaced away from the cook.

2. General Background of the Invention

Teppanyaki is a type of Japanese cuisine. It can also refer to a type of grill. In Japan, Teppanyaki can refer to a number of different dishes that are cooked using a flat iron or other metal plate that is heated. It is popular to locate the hot plate at the center of a diner's table. In America, the Benihana® Restaurant chain has for years employed a Teppanyaki style grilling table for the cuisine that they served.

Teppanyaki style or Asian style table grills are commercially available. One example is a Teppanyaki Asian table grill by Silit-Werke Gmbh & CoKG and sold at www.amazon.com.

A website that offers a Teppanyaki style cooking apparatus is www.cook-n-dine-usa.com. The product offered by Cook 'N Dine.com provides a cooking center which sinks down slightly and thus forms a shallow pit of up to sixteen (16) inches diameter (thermal expansion towards the heat source underneath). A second area is a warming area, said to be a ring of about three (3) inches width surrounding the cooking center. The temperature in that warming area is approximately fifty percent (50%) lower than the set cooking temperature at the cooking center. A third area is a dining area which is the remaining space toward the edge of the table surface which stays completely cold. The Cook 'N Dine.com product provides a foot having stabilizer arms, a pipe or stand, a heating element and a heating element enclosure with a tabletop cooking surface that includes the three aforementioned zones or areas.

Large and relatively expensive, Teppanyaki style grills are available from www.Become.com, such as for example the model DI-48-12KW Drop In Teppanyaki Grill which measures 48″H×23″W×1″deep. A larger 60″×23″×1″ model is also available. Similar commercial model Teppanyaki grills are available from www.instawares.com.

The following possibly relevant U.S. Patents are incorporated herein by reference:

The apparatus of the present invention comprises an improved teppanyaki style cooking apparatus having a specially configured base or pedestal and table top.

For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, taken along lines 2 - 2 of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, taken along lines 3 - 3 of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, taken along lines 4 - 4 of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6 - 6 of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a partial plan view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the pedestal;

FIG. 12 is a partial perspective exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the burner and burner support; and

FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the burner and burner support.

FIGS. 1-13 show a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral 10 . Outdoor cooking apparatus 10 provides a teppanyaki style grill that can be used to cook or grill food items for one or more persons that are seated around the grill at a position spaced away from a cook who is standing at a cooking station. Outdoor cooking apparatus 10 provides a pedestal 11 that can have one or more pedestal walls 12 .

Pedestal 11 provides a pedestal interior 13 having a receptacle 14 for holding a canister 31 of fuel such as a canister 31 of butane or propane or the like. Receptacle 14 can provide a circular opening 15 in a horizontal panel 32 that is attached to the wall or walls 12 of pedestal 11 . The receptacle opening that is receptive of canister 31 is designated by the numeral 15 .

Outdoor cooking apparatus 10 provides a top or tabletop 16 that sits upon pedestal 11 as shown in FIGS. 1-4 . Top 16 has a top periphery 17 and a top upper surface 18 . In FIGS. 2 and 3 , a knee and lower leg area 19 is provided around some of the top periphery 17 but not all of it (e.g. three sides). The tabletop 16 provides an underside or lower surface 20 above knee area 19 .

Tabletop 16 provides for a part of its area, a griddle 40 with cooking surface 21 that can be supported by diagonally extending supports 41 of framework 30 (see FIGS. 8-10 ). A cooking station 39 is provided as an area that a cook 27 can stand next to and cook food that is placed upon cooking surface 21 of griddle 40 . Griddle 40 can be a rectangular panel of cast iron or any like food grade cooking or grilling material surrounded by a cool zone 22 , 23 , 35 or multiple cool zones 22 , 23 , 35 as shown. In the preferred embodiment, a pair of cool zones 22 , 23 are provided on opposite sides of cooking surface 21 . Another cool zone can be in the form of a trough 35 . Trough 35 can receive food scraps that are scraped from surface 21 during or after cooking.

A burner element 33 is positioned under cooking surface 21 . The burner element 33 would preferably be connected to canister 31 using a fuel supply hose 36 and appropriate regulator. Such burner element 33 , regulator, and hose 36 are commercially available. Control knob 29 enables a cook or chef 27 to regulate a flame generated by burner element 33 .

In between the periphery 17 of top 16 and the area defined by cooking surface 21 and cool zones 22 - 23 , 35 is provided a plurality of tiles 24 that can be removable tiles 24 . Tiles 24 can be as an example, 12 inch×12 inch, 18 inch×18 inch or other sized square or rectangular tiles. These tiles 24 can be built-in or removable and merely rest upon top 16 . A framework or grillwork 30 of beams can be provided to removably support tiles 24 and griddle 40 . In this fashion, the outdoor cooking apparatus 10 of the present invention can be shipped with multiple tiles 24 in a separate box. Tiles 24 can be placed upon tabletop 16 after it is received by an end user. Tiles 24 can be quickly and easily replaced if and when an owner wants to change colors, replace chipped or broken tiles, or remove for cleaning purposes. Tiles 24 could thus be made of dishwasher safe material, which is important since a user or guest 26 will be eating food next to tiles 24 .

In FIG. 5 , a chef or cook 27 is shown. Also shown are a plurality of users/guests 26 . Each of the users or guests 26 typically sits upon a chair or stool or other seat 34 or 37 . Cook or chef 27 stands at cooking station 39 next to control panel 28 . The chef or cook 27 operates control panel 28 , which provides a knob or knobs 29 for regulating a supply of gaseous fuel (e.g. propane) to burner element 33 . A knob or button 38 can be provided for igniting the burner element 33 when gaseous fuel is flowing from canister 31 to burner element 33 .

Pedestal walls 12 can be perforated as shown, providing circular or rectangular or other shaped openings 25 to assist in venting heat that is generated below cooking surface 21 and within pedestal 11 . Each wall 12 has a concavity 42 that is receptive of the knees/legs of a user or guest 26 . Flanges 43 at the ends of each wall 12 can be bolted or otherwise fastened or connected together using fasteners 55 , welding or like connection or other suitable connection (see FIGS. 10-11 ).

FIGS. 12 and 13 show burner element 33 and the various components that support it upon walls 12 of pedestal 11 . Beams 53 each provide flanges 43 , 44 . The flanges 43 can be used to connect beams 53 to a pair of opposed walls 12 of pedestal 11 using fasteners 55 at provided openings 52 such as bolted connections. Beams 45 , 46 and 47 can be bolted or otherwise connected to beams 53 as shown in FIGS. 12-13 . Heat shield 48 provides flanges 49 , 50 that enable it to be connected to beams 53 using fasteners 54 such as bolted connections, rivets, tack welding or the like. Each beam 45 , 46 , 47 , 53 and heat shield 48 are provided with openings for enabling bolted connections or like fasteners 54 to be employed. Alternatively, these beams 45 , 46 , 47 , 53 and heat shield 48 can be welded together. Beam 47 can likewise be connected to beams 53 using welding or fasteners 54 . Beams 47 can support burner element 33 and ignition 51 .

The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention.

10 outdoor cooking apparatus

11 pedestal

12 pedestal wall(s)

13 pedestal interior

14 receptacle

15 receptacle opening

16 top

17 top periphery

18 top upper surface

19 knee/lower leg area

20 underside/lower surface

21 cooking surface

22 cool zone

23 cool zone

24 tile

25 opening

26 user/guest

27 chef/cook

28 control panel

29 control knob

30 framework/grillwork

31 canister

32 horizontal panel

33 burner element

34 chair/seat

35 cool zone/trough

36 hose

37 seat

38 knob/button

39 cooking station

40 griddle

41 diagonally extending support

42 concavity

43 flange

44 flange

45 beam

46 beam

47 beam

48 heat shield

49 flange

50 flange

51 ignition

52 opening

53 beam

54 fastener

All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise.

The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.