IP Library Granted Patent US 11,181,277
Granted Patent B2
US 11,181,277 · App. 16/677,938 · Granted Nov 23, 2021

Pellet grills

Inventors: Brian C. Donnelly (Naperville, IL); Ryan P. Lundberg (Park Ridge, IL); Ethan Albrecht (Chicago, IL); David A. Larson (Ingleside, IL)
Assignee: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLC
F24B13/04A47J36/32A47J37/0704A47J37/0709A47J37/0786F23B40/08F24B15/005G05B23/027G05B23/0262H04L67/125A47J36/321A47J37/0754
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,181,277
App. No.
16/677,938
Granted
Nov 23, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Pellet grills and associated methods of operation are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a main body defining a cooking chamber. The main body includes a first opening extending through a bottom portion of an outer wall of the main body. The main body further including a grease channel formed along the bottom portion of the outer wall and extending to the first opening. The example pellet grill further includes a burn pot located within the main body. The burn pot includes a lower end having a second opening aligned with the first opening. The second opening is configured to enable pellet fuel ash to pass downwardly from the burn pot onto an ash slide positioned below the second opening. The example pellet grill further includes a waste collection drawer located below the main body. The waste collection drawer is movable relative to the main body between a closed position and an open position. The waste collection drawer includes a grease bin positioned below the first opening and configured to receive grease from the grease channel when the waste collection drawer is in the closed position. The waste collection drawer further includes an ash compartment positioned below the ash slide and configured to receive pellet fuel ash from the burn pot, via the ash slide, when the waste collection drawer is in the closed position.

Claims (30)

1. A pellet grill, comprising:

a main body defining a cooking chamber, the main body including a first opening extending through a bottom portion of an outer wall of the main body, the main body further including a grease channel formed along the bottom portion of the outer wall and extending to the first opening;

a burn pot located within the main body, the burn pot including a lower end having a second opening aligned with the first opening, the second opening configured to enable pellet fuel ash to pass downwardly from the burn pot onto an ash slide positioned below the second opening; and

a waste collection drawer located below the main body, the waste collection drawer being movable relative to the main body between a closed position and an open position, the waste collection drawer including:

an ash compartment having a rear portion, the rear portion positioned below the ash slide and configured to receive pellet fuel ash from the burn pot, via the ash slide, when the waste collection drawer is in the closed position; and

a grease bin positioned below the first opening and located within the ash compartment at a position forward of the rear portion of the ash compartment, the grease bin configured to receive grease from the grease channel when the waste collection drawer is in the closed position.

2. The pellet grill of claim 1 , wherein the waste collection drawer extends forward of the main body when the waste collection drawer is in the open position.

3. The pellet grill of claim 1 , wherein the waste collection drawer is configured to slide between the closed position and the open position.

4. The pellet grill of claim 1 , wherein the grease bin is in vertical alignment with the grease channel when the waste collection drawer in in the closed position.

5. The pellet grill of claim 1 , wherein the rear portion of the ash compartment is in vertical alignment with the ash slide when the waste collection drawer is in the closed position.

6. The pellet grill of claim 1 , wherein the ash slide is configured to guide pellet fuel ash downwardly from the burn pot to the ash compartment.

7. The pellet grill of claim 1 , wherein the ash slide has a length between 2.0 inches and 10.0 inches.

8. The pellet grill of claim 1 , wherein the ash slide is angled downwardly from the lower end of the burn pot at an angle of 5.0 degrees or greater.

9. The pellet grill of claim 1 , wherein the waste collection drawer further includes a grease bin receptacle configured to carry the grease bin.

10. The pellet grill of claim 9 , wherein the grease bin receptacle is located within the ash compartment at a position forward of the rear portion of the ash compartment.

11. A pellet grill, comprising:

a main body defining a cooking chamber, the main body including a first opening extending through a bottom portion of an outer wall of the main body;

a burn pot located within the main body, the burn pot including a lower end having a second opening aligned with the first opening, the second opening configured to enable pellet fuel ash to pass downwardly from the burn pot onto an ash slide positioned below the second opening; and

a waste collection drawer located below the main body, the waste collection drawer being movable relative to the main body between a closed position and an open position, the waste collection drawer including:

an ash compartment having a rear portion, the rear portion positioned below the ash slide and configured to receive pellet fuel ash from the burn pot, via the ash slide, when the waste collection drawer is in the closed position; and

a grease bin positioned below the first opening and located within the ash compartment at a position forward of the rear portion of the ash compartment, the grease bin configured to receive grease from the first opening when the waste collection drawer is in the closed position.

12. The pellet grill of claim 11 , wherein the waste collection drawer extends forward of the main body when the waste collection drawer is in the open position.

13. The pellet grill of claim 11 , wherein the waste collection drawer is configured to slide between the closed position and the open position.

14. The pellet grill of claim 11 , wherein the rear portion of the ash compartment is in vertical alignment with the ash slide when the waste collection drawer is in the closed position.

15. The pellet grill of claim 11 , wherein the ash slide is configured to guide pellet fuel ash downwardly from the burn pot to the ash compartment.

16. The pellet grill of claim 1 , wherein the grease channel is stamped into the bottom portion of the outer wall.

17. The pellet grill of claim 1 , wherein the grease channel is partially covered by a lower portion of a frame of an engine of the pellet grill, the frame located within the cooking chamber above the first opening.

18. The pellet grill of claim 11 , wherein the main body further includes a grease channel formed along the bottom portion of the outer wall and extending to the first opening, and wherein the grease bin is configured to receive grease from the grease channel when the waste collection drawer is in the closed position.

19. The pellet grill of claim 18 , wherein the grease channel is stamped into the bottom portion of the outer wall.

20. The pellet grill of claim 18 , wherein the grease channel is partially covered by a lower portion of a frame of an engine of the pellet grill, the frame located within the cooking chamber above the first opening.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2025
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 073364/0477 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2025
From: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLC; JUNE LIFE, LLC; NORTH ATLANTIC IMPORTS, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 072994/0778 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2025
From: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLC; JUNE LIFE, LLC; NORTH ATLANTIC IMPORTS, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 072995/0099 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2022
From: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 061300/0624 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Mar 23, 2020
From: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 052205/0329 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 8, 2019
From: DONNELLY, BRIAN C.; LUNDBERG, RYAN P.; ALBRECHT, ETHAN; ECKHARDT, DAVID; LARSON, DAVID A.
To: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 050956/0863 →
Cited By (2)
US 1,138,439 US 12,708,237