BACKGROUND

[0001] Food may be cooked above a heat source. For example, barbeque grills provide a method to cook food by placing an item above a heat source onto a grill. Heat from a burner or other heat source, will heat the item from the bottom until the item is cooked, such as when a target temperature is reached. Modern barbeque grills generate heath using one or more burners that burn a flammable gas, such as propane. Burners typically generate a heat from a localized position underneath the grill. Accordingly, the heat distribution at the grill may be evenly distributed.

[0002] Some food items are traditionally cooked in ovens with stone or ceramic interiors. In some cases, stone may be placed in a conventional oven to simulate cooking in a stone oven. The stone provides a more even distribution of heat as well as absorbs an appropriate amount of moisture. An example of a food item that may benefit from the use of a stone oven may be pizza.

SUMMARY

[0003] In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus. The apparatus includes a wall structure to rest on a grill. The wall structure is to support a pan. The apparatus further includes a vent plate connected to the wall structure to reduce heat from passing therethrough to the pan. In addition, the apparatus includes a vent disposed on the vent plate to allow a controlled amount of air from the grill to reach the pan.

[0004] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method. The method involves placing a pizza on a pan. Further, the method involves supporting the pan above the barbeque grill with a wall structure. The wall structure substantially follows an edge of the pan. In addition, the method involves reducing heat from the barbeque grill from passing through a space enclosed by the wall structure, wherein the heat is reduced with a vent plate. The method also involve controlling air flow the space enclosed by the wall structure with a vent disposed on the vent plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0006] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example of an apparatus to distribute heat in a barbeque;

[0007] Figure 2 is a side view of the example shown in figure 1 of an apparatus to distribute heat in a barbeque;

[0008] Figure 3 is a top view of the example shown in figure 1 of an apparatus to distribute heat in a barbeque;

[0009] Figure 4 is a bottom perspective view of the example shown in figure 1 of an apparatus to distribute heat in a barbeque;

[0010] Figure s is a perspective view of another example of an apparatus to distribute heat in a barbeque;

[0011] Figure s is a top view of the example shown in figure 5 of an apparatus to distribute heat in a barbeque;

[0012] Figure ? is a bottom perspective view of the example shown in figure 5 of an apparatus to distribute heat in a barbeque;

[0013] Figure s is a perspective view of another example of an apparatus to distribute heat in a barbeque;

[0014] Figure 9 is a perspective view of an example of an apparatus with a control plate to distribute heat in a barbeque;

[0015] Figure 10 is a view of the example shown in figure 9 of an apparatus to distribute heat in use in a barbeque; [0016] Figure 11 is a perspective view of another example of an apparatus to distribute heat in a barbeque;

[0017] Figure 12 is a perspective view of another example of an apparatus with a control plate to distribute heat in a barbeque; and

[0018] Figure 13 is a flowchart of an example of a method of cooking a pizza on a barbeque.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] As used herein, any usage of terms that suggest an absolute orientation (e.g. “top”, “bottom”, “up”, “down”, “left”, “right”, “low”, “high”, etc.) may be for illustrative convenience and refer to the orientation shown in a particular figure. However, such terms are not to be construed in a limiting sense as it is contemplated that various components will, in practice, be utilized in orientations that are the same as, or different than those described or shown. [0020] Heating food on a grill, such as a barbeque, may be used to cook some foods that can be cooked well from applying heat to one side at a time. For example, a barbeque may be used to grill meats or vegetables. However, a barbeque is generally not able to distribute heat such that heat is applied to the food item from all sides. Accordingly, food items that cook best with the application of heat from all sides, such as pizza, may be cooked in ovens with a brick, stone, or ceramic interior. By heating the brick, stone, or ceramic interior, heat may radiate from the walls to cook the food. It is to be appreciated by a person of skill in the art that such radiation of heat from the walls cannot typically be provided in a barbeque.

[0021] Increasing the types of food that may be cooked in a barbeque may provide various advantages. For example, in hot summer months, cooking outdoors may reduce the amount of heat generated inside a household. This may reduce the temperatures inside the household and/or reduce the amount of electricity used to operate an air conditioning unit to cool the household. Outdoor cooking may be preferred for other reasons such as for social gatherings or for portability to other locations such as campsites.

[0022] An apparatus is provided to distribute heat in a barbeque to simulate the cooking environment of a brick, stone, or ceramic oven. For example, the apparatus may be used to cook a pizza on a barbeque to achieve similar results to cooking the pizza in a stone oven. The apparatus is to be placed on top of a grill and does not require any modifications to the grill and can be removed easily to allow for normal cooking on a grill.

[0023] Referring to figure 1 , a perspective view an apparatus 50 to distribute heat in a barbeque is generally shown. Figures 2 to 4 show the apparatus 50 from different views. It is to be appreciated by a person of skill with the benefit of this description that the apparatus 50 may include additional features or take different forms. For example, the size of the apparatus 50 is not particularly limited and may be varied depending on the size of a pan on which the food item is placed. The apparatus 50 may also be modified to fit within a barbeque with specific dimensions. In the present example, the apparatus 50 includes a wall structure 55, a vent plate 60, and a vent 65.

[0024] The wall structure 55 is generally to rest on a grill and to support a pan at a predetermined height above the grill. The pan is not limited and in the present example, the pan is to rest on top of the wall structure 55. In the present example, the wall structure 55 forms a cylindrical wall with a diameter of about 11 inches and a height of about 5 inches to support a pan that is substantially circular with a slightly larger diameter. In other examples, the diameter may be larger, such as about 15 inches, or smaller, such as about 6 inches to accommodate pans having a different size. In other examples, it is to be understood by a person of skill in the art with the benefit of this description that the shape and size of the wall structure 55 may be varied to accommodate other types of pans or cooking sheets. For example, the wall structure 55 may be a square shaped structure having four separate wall segments. Alternatively, the wall structure 55 may also be rectangular, oval, or irregularly shaped to support pans or different shapes.

[0025] The material from which the wall structure 55 is constructed is not particularly limited. In the present example, the wall structure 55 is made from stainless steel, which may be machined, stamped, or molded into the predetermined shape. In particular, the wall structure 55 may be but from a piece of stainless steel into a rectangular piece. The stainless steel may then be bent into a circular shape and fastened using a welding or soldering techniques. In other examples, the stainless steel sheet may be fastened into a cylinder using a fastener, such as a rivet, bolt, or clips. In other examples, the wall structure 55 may be made from other types of metals, such as aluminum, or cast iron. In further examples, the wall structure 55 may be made from other materials such as a ceramic material, glass, or stone.

[0026] The vent plate 60 is connected to the wall structure 55 and is to reduce heat from passing through the vent plate 60. The vent plate 60 reduces the heat from passing through space enclosed by the wall structure 55 to the pan is by providing a physical barrier. In the present example, the vent plate 60 is a sheet of metal connected to the wall structure 55 to cover the grill. Accordingly, the vent plate 60 primarily directs a portion of the heat to the exterior of the wall structure 55. The size and shape of the vent plate 60 is designed to span the space substantially defined as within the wall structure 55. In the present example, the vent plate 60 is a circular disc with a diameter to fit within the wall structure 55. In further examples where the wall structure 55 is of a different shape, the vent plate 60 may be varied to complement the shape defined by the wall structure.

[0027] In the present example, the vent plate 60 is disposed proximate to the lower portion of the wall structure 55. However, it is to be appreciated that in other examples, the vent plate 60 may be disposed at a higher position closer to the pan or lower, such as at the base of the wall structure 55. As an example, the vent plate 60 may rest directly on the grill such that the wall structure 55 mounted onto the vent plate 60.

[0028] The manner by which the vent plate 60 is connected to the wall structure is not particularly limited. In the present example, the vent plate 60 includes tabs 70-1 , 70-2, 70-3, 70-4 (generically, these tabs are referred to herein as “tab 70” and collectively they are referred to as “tabs 70” , this nomenclature is used elsewhere in this description). The tabs 70 are disposed around the perimeter of the vent plate 60 and are designed to mate with complementary slots in the wall structure 55. In other examples, the vent plate 60 may be held in position using a friction fit, or tabs extending from the interior of the wall structure 55. Additional examples may include fastening the vent plate 60 to the wall structure 55, such as with a rivet, bolt, or screw. In further examples, the vent plate 60 may also be welded or soldered to the wall structure 55.

[0029] The material from which the vent plate 60 is constructed is not particularly limited. In the present example, the vent plate 60 is made from stainless steel similar to the wall structure 55. In particular, the vent plate 60 may be machined, stamped, or molded into a shape that is complementary with the interior space defined by the wall structure 55. In other examples, the vent plate 60 may be made from other types of metals, such as aluminum, or cast iron. In further examples, the vent plate 60 may be made from other materials that are less conductive to heat to further reduce direct heat from the burner, such as a ceramic material, glass, or stone.

[0030] The vent plate 60 includes a vent 65 to allow for a controlled amount of heated air to pass from the grill and flow to the bottom of the pan supported by the wall structure 55. The vent 65 is not particularly limited and may be varied with different examples. In the present example, the vent 65 includes a plurality of openings or holes drilled or cut through the vent plate 60 to allow air to pass therethrough. In particular, the openings are circular and aligned in a radial pattern in the present example. In other examples, the openings may be different shapes or sizes and arranged in different orientations to achieve different heat dispersions. Furthermore, the number of openings in the vent plate 60 is not particularly limited and may be increased or decreased depending on the size of each opening.

[0031] It is to be appreciated by a person of skill with the benefit that the amount of air flowing through the space bounded by the wall structure 55 may be controlled by changing proportion of opening on the vent plate 60. For example, different vent plates 60 having openings of different sizes may be switched depending on the application and the desired amount of air to be allowed into the space bound by the wall structure 55. In applications where a greater reduction of heat is to be achieved, a vent plate 60 with a vent 65 having smaller openings may be installed. Conversely, for applications where a lower reduction of heat is to be used, a vent plate 60 with a vent 65 having larger openings may be installed.

[0032] Referring to figures 5 to 7, another example of an apparatus 50a to distribute heat in a barbeque is generally shown. Like components of the apparatus 50a bear like reference to their counterparts in the apparatus 50, except followed by the suffix “a”. The apparatus 50a includes a wall structure 55a, a vent plate 60a, and a vent 65a.

[0033] In the present example, the apparatus 50a is substantially similar to the apparatus 50. In particular, the wall structure 55a is substantially similar to the wall structure 55. Similarly, the vent plate 60a is secured to the wall structure 55a using tabs 70a-1, 70a-2, 70a-3, 70a-4.

[0034] The vent plate 60a includes a vent 65a to allow for a controlled amount of heated air to pass from the grill and flow to the bottom of the pan supported by the wall structure 55a. In the present example, the vent 65a is not particularly limited and may be varied with different examples. In the present example, the vent 65a includes a plurality of openings through the vent plate 60 extending radially to allow air to pass therethrough. In particular, the openings are slots that widen radially in the present example to provide a substantially even proportion of opening area throughout the entire vent plate 60a.

[0035] Referring to figure 8, another example of an apparatus 50b to distribute heat in a barbeque is generally shown. Like components of the apparatus 50b bear like reference to their counterparts in the apparatus 50, except followed by the suffix “b”. The apparatus 50b includes a wall structure 55b, a vent plate 60b, and a vent 65b.

[0036] In the present example, the vent plate 60b is to rest directly on the grill of the barbeque. The wall structure 55b may be mounted on top of the vent plate 60b. It is to be appreciated by a person of skill with the benefit of this description that in this example, the vent plate 60b may be slightly larger than the boundary defined by the wall structure 55b. [0037] In this example, the wall structure 55b is connected to the vent plate 60b with a weld joint 70b. In other examples, the wall structure 55b may rest on the vent plate 60b. The vent plate 60b may include some guiding or alignment features such as depressions, tabs, or other mating features to align the wall structure 55b on top of the vent plate 60b. By having the wall structure 55b resting on the vent plate 60b, it is to be appreciated that separation of the vent plate 60b and the wall structure 55b may assist with cleaning of the apparatus 50b as well as for the interchanging the vent plate 60b.

[0038] Referring to figure 9, another example of an apparatus 50c to distribute heat in a barbeque is generally shown. Like components of the apparatus 50c bear like reference to their counterparts in the apparatus 50, except followed by the suffix “c”. The apparatus 50c includes a wall structure 55c, a vent plate 60c connected to the wall structure with tabs 70c-1, 70c-2, 70c-3, 70c-4, a vent 65c, and a control plate 75c.

[0039] In the present example, the vent 65c is adjustable to allow a user to control the amount of heat to be blocked. Accordingly, the controlled amount of air allowed to pass through the space bounded by the wall structure 55c can be varied without having to change the vent plate 60c. The manner by which the vent 65c is adjusted is not particularly limited. In the present example, the apparatus 50c includes a control plate 75c disposed adjacent to the vent plate 60c to allow the vent 65c to be adjusted. In other examples, it is to be appreciated that the vent 65c may be controlled using other additional components. For example, each opening of the vent 65c may be individually blocked using a valve or other mechanism to open and close the opening, such as a mechanical flap or shutter.

[0040] The control plate 75c is to provide a mechanism to cover a portion of the vent 65c to effectively change the amount of hot air through the openings by reducing the size of the openings. In the present example, the control plate 75c includes a plurality of openings 80c aligned with the openings of the vent 65c on the vent plate 60c. The control plate 75c may also include portions that can cover the openings of the vent 65c. Accordingly, the control plate 75c may be positioned in an open position to align with the openings of the vent 65c to allow hot air from the grill to freely pass into the space defined by the wall structure 55c through the openings of the vent 65c. Alternatively, the control plate 75c may also be positioned in a closed position where the control plate 75c effectively closes the openings of the vent 65c and inhibits or effectively reduces the amount of air passing from the grill into the space defined by the wall structure 55c. The control plate 75c may also be positioned to partially close the openings of the vent 65c. Therefore, the control plate 75c may be used to provide a controlled variable amount of heat reduction through the space defined by the wall structure 55c.

[0041] The manner by which the control plate 75c may switch between the open position the closed position is not particularly limited. In the present example, the control plate 75c is rotatably connected to the vent plate 60c with a rotatable fastener 90c, such as a rivet or pin. In other examples, the control plate 75c may translate in a linear direction to move between the open position and the closed position, especially for examples where the wall structure 55c is not form a circular cross section. The control plate 75c may be machined, stamped, or molded into a shape that is complementary with the openings of the vent 65c on the vent plate 60c and fits within the interior space defined by the wall structure 55c such that the control plate 75c may be moved between the open and closed positions. In other examples, the control plate 75c may be mounted outside the wall structure 55c, such as in the apparatus 50b in which a control plate may be designed to be attached to the bottom of the vent plate 60b, such that is it not constrained by the dimensions of the wall structure 55b. [0042] The material from which the control plate 75c is constructed is not particularly limited. In the present example, the control plate 75c is made from stainless steel similar to the vent plate 60c. In other examples, the control plate 75c may be made from other types of metals, such as aluminum, or cast iron. In further examples, the control plate 75c may be made from other materials that are less conductive to heat to further reduce direct heat from the burner, such as a ceramic material, glass, or stone.

[0043] In the present example, the control plate 75c may further include a control tab 85c to move the control plate 75c between the open position and the closed position. The control tab 85c may be an additional piece connected to the control plate 75c to extend through a slot in the wall structure 55c to allow for manual manipulation and rotation of the control plate 75c. It is to be appreciated by a person of skill with the benefit of this description that the control tab 85c may also be an extension of the control plate 75c instead of a separately connected component. Furthermore, the control tab 85c may also include a hole or other feature to facilitate manipulation of the tab while hot. For example, if heat is to be adjusted during use, the control tab 85c may be too hot for manipulation by hand. Accordingly, an instrument may be inserted into the hole to manipulate the control tab 85c.

[0044] Referring to figure 10, the apparatus 50c is shown in use to cook a pizza in a barbeque as an example. The apparatus 50c supports a perforated pan 100 on which a raw pizza may be placed. The apparatus 50c and the perforated pan 100 are to be placed on a grill 105 and cooked with the lid (not shown) of the barbeque closed. The cooking process is not particularly limited and may be varied depending on the food item being cooked as well as the other factors associated with cooking. In the present example, the pizza may be cooked for about eight to ten minutes using the apparatus 50c with an internal temperature of approximately 500° F to evenly cook the top and bottom of the pizza as in a stone oven. In some examples, wood or other flavoring may be placed on the grill 105 to add additional flavor to the food items being cooked. Furthermore, in other examples, the perforated pan 100 may be substituted with a solid pan or a rack.

[0045] Referring to figure 11 , another example of an apparatus 50d to distribute heat in a barbeque is generally shown. Like components of the apparatus 50d bear like reference to their counterparts in the apparatus 50, except followed by the suffix “d”. The apparatus 50d includes a wall structure 55d, an adjustment mechanism 57d, a vent plate 60d, and a vent 65d.

[0046] In the present example, the wall structure 55d includes and adjustment mechanism 57d to change the diameter of the wall structure 55d. The adjustment mechanism 57d is not particularly limited and may include a nut and bolt combination that is slidable within a complementary slot in the wall structure 55d. In other examples, the adjustment mechanism 57d may include discrete positions, such as pre-drill holes to accommodate standardized sizes. Further examples may include adjustment mechanism involving clips, tracks or other mechanisms. It is to be appreciated by a person skilled in the art with the benefit of this description that by adjusting the size of the wall structure 55d, pans and cooking sheets of different sizes may be accommodated.

[0047] Referring to figure 12, another example of an apparatus 50e to distribute heat in a barbeque is generally shown. Like components of the apparatus 50e bear like reference to their counterparts in the apparatus 50, except followed by the suffix “e”. The apparatus 50e includes a wall structure 55e, a vent plate 60e, a vent 65e, tabs 70e and a control plate 75e. The apparatus 50e is similar to the apparatus 50c except the wall structure 55e has a different shape to accommodate a square cooking sheet which may be used for cooking square pizzas.

[0048] Referring to figure 13, a flowchart of a method of distribute heat in a barbeque is generally shown at 200. In order to assist in the explanation of method 200, it will be assumed that method 200 may one exemplary way by which the apparatus 50c may be used. Furthermore, the following discussion of method 200 may lead to a further understanding of the apparatus 50c and its components. In addition, it is to be emphasized, that method 200 may not be performed in the exact sequence as shown, and various blocks may be performed in parallel rather than in sequence, or in a different sequence altogether.

[0049] Beginning at block 210, a pizza is to be prepared and placed on a perforated pan 100 above a barbeque grill 105 using the apparatus 50c. In particular, the perforated pan 100 may be supported by the wall structure 55c such that the wall structure substantially follows the edge of the pan such that most of the pan is above the volume of space defined by the wall structure 55c. [0050] Block 220 involve reducing the heat from the barbeque grill from passing through the space enclosed by the wall structure 55c and the perforated pan 100. Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that by limiting hot air entering the space with the vent plate 60c, the amount of heat that the food on the perforated pan 100 receives from the bottom is reduced compared with allowing hot air to flow directly from the grill 105 to the perforated pan 100. [0051] Block 230 comprises controlling air flow into the space enclosed by the wall structure 55c and the perforated pan 100 by adjusting the vent with the control tab 85c. Therefore, the heat at the bottom of the perforated pan 100 may be adjusted to match the heat received at the top of the pizza to achieve an even cooking process that may be achieved using other methods. The manner by which air flow is to be controlled is not limited and may involve rotating the control plate 75c between the open position and the closed position, or any position in between as described above. The control plate 75c may be controlled with the control tab 85c extending through a slot in the wall structure 55c.

[0052] It should be recognized that features and aspects of the various examples provided above may be combined into further examples that also fall within the scope of the present disclosure.