HEAT CHANNELING SYSTEM FOR OUTDOOR COOKING STATION AND METHOD THEREOF
Devices, systems, and methods for channeling heat in an outdoor cooking station. The cooking station includes a moveable hood, movable between open and closed positions relative to the cooking station, and one or more heating elements for generating heat to a cooking surface, such as a griddle and/or grill. Further, the cooking station includes one or more baffles sized and configured to channel heat, generated by the one or more heating elements, from below the cooking surface to above the cooking surface.
1 . An outdoor cooking station configured to channel heat, comprising:
a frame extending to define a front side, a rear side, a first side and a second side each extending between a lower end and an upper edge, the frame including multiple gas flame burners controlled along the front side and coupled to the frame;
a griddle configured to be supported by the frame and positioned above the gas flame burners and positioned above the upper edge of the frame, the griddle having a cooking surface and a splash guard extending upward above the cooking surface to a splash guard top edge, the splash guard extending along a periphery of the cooking surface and extends to define an outer peripheral side of the splash guard;
a hood extending to define a top hood portion and a peripheral side hood portion, the hood sized and configured to be positioned over the griddle in a covered position such that the hood is configured to enclose and surround the griddle; and
a duct unit including multiple duct panels sized and configured to channel heat from an underside of the griddle, wherein, upon the hood being in the covered position, the duct unit is positioned along the outer peripheral side of the splash guard so as to be positioned between the splash guard and the peripheral side hood portion of the hood such that the duct unit extends upward from adjacently below the griddle, above the upper edge of the frame, and adjacent to the top edge of the splash guard of the griddle, the duct unit being coupled to the frame and configured to funnel heat from the gas flame burners under the griddle to above the cooking surface of the griddle so that the multiple duct panels of the duct unit are configured to shield and minimize heating of the peripheral side hood portion of the hood.
2 . The outdoor cooking station of claim 1 , wherein the hood is operatively coupled to the frame.
3 . The outdoor cooking station of claim 1 , wherein the hood is pivotably coupled to the duct unit such that the hood, upon being in the closed position, is positioned over the duct unit and the griddle.
4 . The outdoor cooking station of claim 1 , wherein, upon the hood being moved to the closed position, the duct unit is configured to direct heat upward to above the griddle and under the hood.
5 . The outdoor cooking station of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes at least one of a first side shelf and a second side shelf coupled to the first and second sides, respectively, of the frame such that the duct unit substantially prevents heat from moving directly over the at least one of the first side shelf and the second side shelf.
6 . The outdoor cooking station of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises panels coupled thereto to define a cabinet structure below the one or more gas flame burners.
7 . The outdoor cooking station of claim 1 , wherein the duct unit defines upward extending walls and an upper side wall, the upward extending walls each extending to define an open-ended bottom side and the upper side wall defining vents therein, the upper side wall extending adjacent the top edge of the splash guard.
8 . An outdoor cooking station configured to channel heat, comprising:
a main body extending to define a front side, a rear side, a first side and a second side each extending between a lower end and an upper edge, the main body including one or more gas flame burners controlled along the front side and supported by the main body;
a griddle configured to be supported by the main body and positioned above the one or more gas flame burners and positioned above the upper edge of the main body, the griddle having a cooking surface and a splash guard extending upward above the cooking surface to a splash guard top edge, the splash guard extending along a periphery of the cooking surface and extends to define an outer splash guard side;
a hood extending to define a top hood portion and a side hood portion, the hood sized and configured to be positioned over the griddle in a covered position such that the side hood portion extends to surround the outer splash guard side and encloses the griddle; and
a duct unit including multiple duct panels sized and configured to channel heat from an underside of the griddle, wherein, upon the hood being in the covered position, the duct unit is positioned along the outer splash guard side of the splash guard so as to be positioned between the splash guard and the side hood portion of the hood such that the duct unit extends upward from adjacently below the griddle, above the upper edge of the main body, and adjacent to the top edge of the splash guard of the griddle, the duct unit being coupled to the main body and configured to funnel heat from the one or more gas flame burners under the griddle to above the cooking surface of the griddle so that the multiple duct panels of the duct unit are configured to shield and minimize heating of the side hood portion of the hood.
9 . The outdoor cooking station of claim 8 , wherein the hood is operatively coupled to the main body.
10 . The outdoor cooking station of claim 8 , wherein the hood is pivotably coupled to the duct unit such that the hood, upon being in the closed position, is positioned over the duct unit and the griddle.
11 . The outdoor cooking station of claim 8 , wherein, upon the hood being moved to the closed position, the duct unit is configured to direct heat upward to above the griddle and under the hood.
12 . The outdoor cooking station of claim 8 , wherein the main body includes at least one of a first side shelf and a second side shelf coupled to the first and second sides, respectively, of the main body such that the duct unit substantially prevents heat from moving directly over the at least one of the first side shelf and the second side shelf.
13 . The outdoor cooking station of claim 8 , wherein the main body comprises panels coupled thereto to define a cabinet structure below the one or more gas flame burners.
14 . The outdoor cooking station of claim 8 , wherein the duct unit defines upward extending walls and an upper side wall, the upward extending walls each extending to define an open-ended bottom side and the upper side wall defining vents therein, the upper side wall extending adjacent the top edge of the splash guard.