IP Library Granted Patent US 12,408,793
Granted Patent B2
US 12,408,793 · App. 17/871,654 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Methods and apparatus for automating shutdown processes of gas grills

Inventors: Kevin James Glennon (Hoffman Estates, IL); William Alexander Mecker (Kildeer, IL)
Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products LLC
A47J37/0786A47J37/0647F23N1/002
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,408,793
App. No.
17/871,654
Granted
Sep 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example methods and apparatus for automating shutdown processes of gas grills are disclosed. An example grill includes a first burner, a second burner, a first burner valve operatively positioned between the first burner and a manifold of the grill, and a second burner valve operatively positioned between the second burner and the manifold. The example grill further includes a controller operatively coupled to the first burner valve and the second burner valve. In response to determining that a shutdown request has been received at the grill, the controller is to instruct the first burner valve and the second burner valve to close.

Claims (38)

1. A grill, comprising:

a first burner;

a second burner;

a first burner valve operatively positioned between the first burner and a manifold of the grill;

a second burner valve operatively positioned between the second burner and the manifold; and

a controller operatively coupled to the first burner valve and the second burner valve, wherein the controller, in response to determining that a shutdown request has been received at the grill, is to;

initiate a timer associated with a shutdown confirmation request, the timer providing a time period by which a shutdown confirmation input must be received at the grill in response to the shutdown confirmation request;

determine whether the shutdown confirmation input has been received at the grill before the time period has expired; and

in response to determining that the shutdown confirmation input has been received at the grill before the time period has expired, instruct the first burner valve and the second burner valve to close.

2. The grill of claim 1 , wherein the shutdown request is to be received via a user interface of the grill based on a user interaction with an input device of the user interface.

3. The grill of claim 1 , wherein the shutdown request is to be received via a network interface of the grill, and wherein the network interface is to receive the shutdown request from a remote device based on a user interaction with an input device of the remote device.

4. The grill of claim 1 , wherein the shutdown request is to be received via an encoder of the grill, and wherein the encoder is to receive the shutdown request based on a user interaction with a control knob of the grill, the control knob being mechanically coupled to the encoder.

5. The grill of claim 1 , wherein the controller is to instruct the first burner valve and the second burner valve to concurrently close.

6. The grill of claim 1 , wherein the controller is to instruct the first burner valve and the second burner valve to sequentially close.

7. The grill of claim 1 , wherein the controller, in response to determining that the shutdown confirmation request has been received at the grill before the time period has expired, is further to instruct a fuel source valve to close, the fuel source valve being operatively positioned between a fuel source and the manifold.

8. A method for shutting down a grill, the method comprising:

determining, via a controller of the grill, whether a shutdown request has been received at the grill; and

in response to determining that the shutdown request has been received at the grill:

initiating, via the controller, a timer associated with a shutdown confirmation request, the timer providing a time period by which a shutdown confirmation input must be received at the grill in response to the shutdown confirmation request;

determining, via the controller, whether the shutdown confirmation input has been received at the grill before the time period has expired; and

in response to determining that the shutdown confirmation input has been received at the grill before the time period has expired, instructing, via the controller, a first burner valve of the grill and a second burner valve of the grill to close, the first burner valve being operatively positioned between a first burner of the grill and a manifold of the grill, the second burner valve being operatively positioned between a second burner of the grill and the manifold.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein instructing the first burner valve and the second burner valve to close includes instructing the first burner valve and the second burner valve to concurrently close.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein instructing the first burner valve and the second burner valve to close includes instructing the first burner valve and the second burner valve to sequentially close.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, in response to determining that the shutdown confirmation request has been received at the grill before the time period has expired, instructing, via the controller, a fuel source valve to close, the fuel source valve being operatively positioned between a fuel source and the manifold.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors of a grill to at least:

determine whether a shutdown request has been received at the grill; and

in response to determining that the shutdown request has been received at the grill:

initiate a timer associated with a shutdown confirmation request, the timer providing a time period by which a shutdown confirmation input must be received at the grill in response to the shutdown confirmation request;

determine whether the shutdown confirmation input has been received at the grill before the time period has expired; and

in response to determining that the shutdown confirmation input has been received at the grill before the time period has expired, instruct a first burner valve of the grill and a second burner valve of the grill to close, the first burner valve being operatively positioned between a first burner of the grill and a manifold of the grill, the second burner valve being operatively positioned between a second burner of the grill and the manifold.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to instruct the first burner valve and the second burner valve to concurrently close.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to instruct the first burner valve and the second burner valve to sequentially close.

15. The grill of claim 1 , wherein the controller, subsequent to instructing the first burner valve and the second burner valve to close, is to determine, via flame detection circuitry of the grill, whether the first burner and the second burner have been extinguished.

16. The grill of claim 15 , wherein in response to determining that at least one of the first burner and the second burner has not been extinguished, the controller is to re-instruct the at least one of the first burner valve and the second burner valve to close.

17. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, subsequent to instructing the first burner valve and the second burner valve to close, determining, via flame detection circuitry of the grill, whether the first burner and the second burner have been extinguished.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising, in response to determining that at least one of the first burner and the second burner has not been extinguished, re-instructing, via the controller, the at least one of the first burner valve and the second burner valve to close.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors, subsequent to instructing the first burner valve and the second burner valve to close, to determine, via flame detection circuitry of the grill, whether the first burner and the second burner have been extinguished.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors, in response to determining that at least one of the first burner and the second burner has not been extinguished, to re-instruct the at least one of the first burner valve and the second burner valve to close.

Assignments (4)
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 Oct 17, 2024
From: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLC; JUNE LIFE, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069179/0623 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2022
From: GLENNON, KEVIN JAMES; MECKER, WILLIAM ALEXANDER
To: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 060719/0128 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63242901 · Sep 10, 2021
Related Publication 20230079421A1 · Mar 16, 2023
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