IP Library › Patent Application 11359117
Patent Application
App. No. 11/359,117

Cooking apparatus for use with a plurality of fuels

Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
11/359,117
Abstract

A convertible fuel orifice apparatus for a cooking device and a cooking device having a convertible fuel apparatus are disclosed, wherein the convertible fuel orifice apparatus includes a body, a fuel passage extending through the body, wherein the fuel passage includes an inlet and an outlet, an insert disposed within the body, wherein the insert intersects the fuel passage, a first orifice extending through the insert, wherein the first orifice is configured for a first fuel, and a second orifice extending through the insert, wherein the second orifice is configured for a second fuel, wherein the insert is adjustable by a user to select between the first orifice and the second orifice.

Claims (29)

1 . A convertible fuel orifice apparatus for a portable cooking device, comprising:

a body;

a fuel passage extending through the body, wherein the fuel passage includes an inlet and an outlet;

an insert disposed within the body, wherein the insert intersects the fuel passage;

a first orifice extending through the insert, wherein the first orifice is configured for a first fuel; and

a second orifice extending through the insert, wherein the second orifice is configured for a second fuel;

wherein the insert is adjustable by a user to select between the first orifice and the second orifice.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first fuel is natural gas and the second fuel is liquid petroleum.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a valve cap coupled to the insert to hold the insert in the body.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the body and the insert includes indicia configured to enable a user to align the fuel passage with at least one of the first orifice and the second orifice.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the fuel passage is configured to be aligned to one of the first and the second orifice by rotating the insert in relation to the body.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the insert is configured to be adjusted by a tool that is operated by the user.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first orifice is approximately orthogonal to the second orifice.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of a cross-section of the first orifice is a different size than at least a portion of a cross-section of the second orifice.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the insert is further configured to restrict rotational motion of the insert to a range defined by the first orifice and the second orifice.

10 . A cooking device having a fuel transport system comprising:

a fuel passage configured to transport fuel between a fuel source and a fuel destination; and

an adjustable orifice disposed within the fuel passage, wherein the adjustable orifice is configured to be varied by a user between at least a first orifice and a second orifice, wherein at least a portion of the first orifice has a different cross-sectional area than the second orifice.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the first orifice is configured for natural gas and the second orifice is configured for liquid petroleum.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the adjustable orifice is configured to receive a tool, wherein the tool enables a user to vary the adjustable orifice between the first orifice and the second orifice.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the adjustable orifice is configured to be varied by rotation of the adjustable orifice in relation to the fuel passage by the user.

14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the fuel destination is at least one burner.

15 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the adjustable orifice is configured to be varied by a user between more than two orifices.

16 . A method of operating an outdoor grill configured to utilize a plurality of fuel types, wherein the grill includes a fuel passage configured to transport fuel between a fuel source and at least one burner, and an adjustable orifice structure disposed within the fuel passage, wherein said adjustable orifice structure is configured to be adjusted by a user between a first orifice configured for a first fuel and a second orifice configured for a second fuel, the method comprising:

attaching a fuel source containing a selected fuel type to the fuel passage; and

adjusting the adjustable orifice structure in response to the selected fuel type.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said adjusting the adjustable orifice structure includes rotating the adjustable orifice to align one of the first orifice and the second orifice with the fuel passage.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first fuel is natural gas and the second fuel is liquid petroleum.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said adjusting the adjustable orifice may be performed without disassembling the grill.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 21, 2006
From: SHINGLER, ROBERT A.
To: EVO, INC.
Reel/Frame 017617/0931 →