IP Library Granted Patent US 11,248,800
Granted Patent B2
US 11,248,800 · App. 16/677,959 · Granted Feb 15, 2022

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 11,248,800
App. No.
16/677,959
Granted
Feb 15, 2022
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 end, a second end located opposite the first end, and an outer wall extending between the first and second ends. The main body has a lateral extent defined by the first and second ends. The example pellet grill further includes a hopper mounted to a rear portion of the outer wall of the main body. The hopper includes a fuel intake opening extending from a first location within the lateral extent of the main body to a second location outside of the lateral extent of the main body.

Claims (24)

1. A pellet grill, comprising:

a main body defining a cooking chamber, the main body including a first end, a second end located opposite the first end, and an outer wall extending between the first and second ends, the main body having a lateral extent defined by the first and second ends;

a hopper mounted to a rear portion of the outer wall of the main body, the hopper including a fuel intake opening extending from a first location within the lateral extent of the main body to a second location outside of the lateral extent of the main body, the second location being on a first side of the main body;

a user interface mounted on a front wall of the hopper, the user interface located on the first side of the main body outside of the lateral extent of the main body; and

a side table coupled to the main body, the side table located on the first side of the main body outside of the lateral extent of the main body, the side table further located forward of the front wall of the hopper and below the user interface.

2. The pellet grill of claim 1 , further comprising a first end cap and a second end cap, the first end cap defining the first end of the main body, the second end cap defining the second end of the main body.

3. The pellet grill of claim 1 , wherein the hopper further includes a lid, the lid being movable between an open position and a closed position to selectively cover the fuel intake opening.

4. The pellet grill of claim 1 , wherein the fuel intake opening includes a first portion located within the lateral extent of the main body and a second portion located on the first side of the main body outside of the lateral extent of the main body, the second portion of the fuel intake opening located above the side table and above the user interface.

5. The pellet grill of claim 4 , wherein the second portion of the fuel intake opening is accessible to a user from a front of the pellet grill without requiring the user to reach over the main body.

6. The pellet grill of claim 1 , wherein the hopper further includes an interior wall, the interior wall separating the hopper into a first volume configured to contain pellet fuel and a second volume configured to contain an electronic component of a control system of the pellet grill.

7. The pellet grill of claim 1 , wherein the hopper further includes a rear wall located opposite the front wall of the hopper, the front wall of the hopper having an opening located within the lateral extent of the main body, the rear wall of the hopper having an opening located within the lateral extent of the main body and aligned with the opening of the front wall of the hopper, the opening of the rear wall of the hopper being selectively covered by an access door.

8. The pellet grill of claim 7 , further comprising an engine located within the lateral extent of the main body and forward of the rear wall of the hopper, the engine including an auger assembly located partially within the main body and partially outside of the main body, the auger assembly configured to receive pellet fuel from a feed duct of the hopper, the auger assembly including an auger and an auger motor, the auger motor configured to rotate the auger, the auger extending through the opening of the front wall of the hopper, the auger assembly being removable from the main body through the opening of the rear wall of the hopper when the access door is open, and while the hopper remains mounted to the main body.

9. The pellet grill of claim 7 , further comprising an engine located within the lateral extent of the main body and forward of the rear wall of the hopper, the engine including an ignitor carrier located partially within the main body and partially outside of the main body, the ignitor carrier configured to carry an ignitor, the ignitor carrier being slidable through the opening of the front wall of the hopper, the ignitor carrier being removable from the main body through the opening of the rear wall of the hopper when the access door is open, and while the hopper remains mounted to the main body.

10. A pellet grill, comprising:

a main body defining a cooking chamber, the main body including a first end, a second end located opposite the first end, and an outer wall extending between the first and second ends, the main body having a lateral extent defined by the first and second ends; and

a hopper mounted to a rear portion of the outer wall of the main body, the hopper including a front wall and a rear wall located opposite the front wall, the front wall of the hopper having an opening located within the lateral extent of the main body, the rear wall of the hopper having an opening located within the lateral extent of the main body and aligned with the opening of the front wall of the hopper, the opening of the rear wall of the hopper being selectively covered by an access door.

11. The pellet grill of claim 10 , further comprising an engine located within the lateral extent of the main body and forward of the rear wall of the hopper, the engine including an auger assembly located partially within the main body and partially outside of the main body, the auger assembly configured to receive pellet fuel from a feed duct of the hopper, the auger assembly including an auger and an auger motor, the auger motor configured to rotate the auger, the auger extending through the opening of the front wall of the hopper, the auger assembly being removable from the main body through the opening of the rear wall of the hopper when the access door is open, and while the hopper remains mounted to the main body.

12. The pellet grill of claim 10 , further comprising an engine located within the lateral extent of the main body and forward of the rear wall of the hopper, the engine including an ignitor carrier located partially within the main body and partially outside of the main body, the ignitor carrier configured to carry an ignitor, the ignitor carrier being slidable through the opening of the front wall of the hopper, the ignitor carrier being removable from the main body through the opening of the rear wall of the hopper when the access door is open, and while the hopper remains mounted to the main body.

13. The pellet grill of claim 10 , further comprising a first end cap and a second end cap, the first end cap defining the first end of the main body, the second end cap defining the second end of the main body.

14. The pellet grill of claim 10 , wherein the hopper further includes a fuel intake opening extending from a first location within the lateral extent of the main body to a second location outside of the lateral extent of the main body, the second location being on a first side of the main body.

15. The pellet grill of claim 14 , further comprising a user interface mounted on the front wall of the hopper, the user interface located on the first side of the main body outside of the lateral extent of the main body.

16. The pellet grill of claim 15 , further comprising a side table coupled to the main body, the side table located on the first side of the main body outside of the lateral extent of the main body, the side table further located forward of the front wall of the hopper and below the user interface.

17. The pellet grill of claim 16 , wherein the fuel intake opening includes a first portion located within the lateral extent of the main body and a second portion located on the first side of the main body outside of the lateral extent of the main body, the second portion of the fuel intake opening located above the side table and above the user interface.

18. The pellet grill of claim 17 , wherein the second portion of the fuel intake opening is accessible to a user from a front of the pellet grill without requiring the user to reach over the main body.

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 050956/0919 →
Cited By (4)
US 1,063,483 US 12,446,730 US 12,478,213 US 12,653,342