FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a barbecue grill and oven with an optional detachable preparation mat for outdoor cooking using charcoal fuel either away from or at home, primarily aimed at the consumer market but not to exclude professional catering services.

This invention can be used in a number of sizes, materials and usage frequencies; from disposable, instant-light single use to ongoing repeated use where fuel replenishment, maintenance and cleaning is required.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Barbecuing is synonymous with outdoor cooking: using an open fire source to grill or roast food where the fire source is ideally an indirect heat source rather than a direct flame. Its origins are long standing and widespread with global variations often influenced by food types and diet. Cooking indoors is a more recent phenomenon by comparison. Barbecuing, being outdoors but not wholly fixed to, is generally associated with good weather and a social occasion.

The commonplace fuel today is charcoal (briquette or lump-wood) with gas a recent alternative, as appliances became more sophisticated. The variety of barbecue equipment is extensive, ranging from small hibachi types to high specification types resembling small kitchens. In basic terms, charcoal adds more flavour through its 'smoking' affect while gas is more efficient and easier to control— charcoal cooking requires more patience and experience but encapsulates the spirit and taste of outdoor cooking.

A typical hazard associated with barbecuing, is knowing when food is cooked properly, compounded by varying temperatures and carbonisation coating the food to make it look cooked from the outside while it remains uncooked on the inside - which can cause food poisoning. Guidelines and cooking conventions suggest that some meat and fish need to be pre-cooked in the oven and men finished on the barbecue grill - a convention that is difficult in most barbecue apparatus, although many now have lids to try and create an 'oven' effect but this tends to be confined to the grill area only.

Most domestic barbecues are of a size conducive to cooking small items. Should a whole pig need to be cooked, then the apparatus is very expensive to buy or to rent. At the other end of the spectrum are disposable barbecues, none of which are large enough to cook a whole pig - traditional disposable barbecues are: standard size - 250mm x 310mm x 51mm; party size 480mm x 310mm x 61mm. By definition they are simple in construction and low cost to suit single usage, however the performance is limited (what can be cooked, how quickly and how long food can be cooked for) and sometimes not fit for purpose. They can also damage the environment by scolding the surface on which they sit.

There appears to be an opportunity to design a modestly priced barbecue manifested in different sizes mat embraces oven pre-cooking with grill finishing, with all the benefits this brings; which might be single or repeated usage where Όη-the-go' is its prime focus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to develop a barbecue that uses a single heat source to provide a grill and oven facility simultaneously.

An object of mis invention is to develop a barbecue grill that can operate independently from the oven facility, has easy oven access and will elevate hot parts at all times. An object of this invention is to develop a barbecue that is environmentally friendly in terms of fuel sourcing and fuel usage with efficient performance and cooked food output. An object of this invention is to develop a barbecue that is environmentally friendly in terms of protecting the environment consistently and inherently.

An object of Ibis invention is to develop a barbecue that accommodates and promotes safe cooking conventions within health and safety guidelines, especially in the cooking of hazardous meats such as chicken where the meat should be pre-cooked in an oven to a safe internal temperature and men finished on a grill for crisping and adding the barbecue 'look and flavour'.

An object of this invention is to accommodate and embrace international cultural and cooking differences especially in relation to barbecuing.

An object of this invention, when presented as a disposable product, is to provide the output of an existing 'party size' disposable barbecue within the cooking area of an existing 'standard' disposable barbecue but with added cooking techniques and of similar volume to the existing 'party size' disposable barbecue during transportation.

An object of this invention is to have an overall package with a volume that is as small as possible for transportation but that can grow easily for operation. An object of mis invention is to accommodate supermarket food packaging conventions, so that pre-packed food and its container alongside separated or pre- prepared food items can be used.

An object of this invention is to use appropriate materials, always recyclable but disposable and single usage when necessary. An object of this invention is to use materials and processes in a clever way so as to minimise component numbers and assembly time without compromising ease of use and performance or risking food contamination. An object of this invention is to be able to provide a barbecue oven that sits under a barbecue grill; cooks food in a similar style, end result and cooking time to a domestic oven, including adherence to heat convection; that helps to protect food from the elements and with features such as temperature control and juice collection. An object of this invention is to ensure that there is no material failure that could result in food contamination, which is exaggerated in lower specification disposable products where higher fuel volume can generate higher temperature especially during initial lighting and a 'volcano' fuel stack. An object of this invention is to add value and function to components, such as the role of packaging, to improve the overall cooking experience.

An object of this invention is to ensure that operation is easy to understand, use and familiar.

An object of this invention is to ensure that any solution or manifestation is commercially viable and with mass appeal.

The invention provides a barbecue grill and oven comprising:

a grill assembly and an oven assembly nested one within the other, and slidable relative to each other, wherein the grill assembly is movable between a stowed position and an elevated use position, and wherein an oven space is defined by the grill assembly and the oven assembly. The grill assembly and the oven assembly preferably are slidable relative to each other in a direction mat increases the volume of the oven space, i.e., in a vertical direction when the barbecue grill and oven is in a use orientation. The grill assembly might include a tray for receiving charcoal and a grate (or grill) above the tray on which food to be grilled can be placed in use. The grate might be a mild steel mesh material or a metal wire construction; removable or pivoting, possibly with mechanical or manual adjustment to vary the cooking height above the charcoal.

The grill assembly might include an additional metal plate within the tray underneath the charcoal, typically when the tray is made from a thin gauge aluminium material rather than a conventional metal, sheet or cast

The grill assembly might have perforations added to the tray in the bottom and/or sides.

The grill assembly might include a sidewall that supports the tray, either directly or indirectly, e.g., by means of a tray support. The sidewall can include four walls such that the grill assembly has a rectangular cross section. The sidewall can include a planar top flange that can support the tray. The planar top flange can be integral with the sidewall or fixed or adhered to it The tray can be sized to be received within an opening defined by inner edges of the planar top flange. The sidewall might be made of metal, wood, heat resistant plastic or a cardboard material with an inner heat proof surface that might be a specific coating, e.g., a reflective foil lamination. In one arrangement, the sidewall might have a construction similar to that of existing cardboard boxes where the cardboard is doubled over and optionally interlocked such that the sidewall is double thickness. The oven box (see below) might be slidably received within the sidewall of the grill assembly. The tray support might be a steel wire frame material or a perforated metal sheet material, fixed or independent to the tray and fixed or independent to the sidewall, allowing the tray to be removed independently to the sidewall. The grill assembly might include at least one carrying handle. The handle might be integrated pivoting flaps or separate components, pivoting or otherwise, attached to the sidewall mechanically or with adhesive. If the sidewall is of double layer cardboard, the outer layer might be provided with at least one slot or opening in a pivoting flap that defines at least one integral carrying handle which can be used to lift the grill assembly while the inner layer provides an integral wall that protects the user from the heat of the oven space.

The grill assembly might have additional features such as windows, thermometers or timers.

The grill assembly might be used separately from the oven assembly in some situations, e.g., in a similar way to the conventional barbecue.

The oven assembly might include an oven box. The oven box might be made of metal, wood, heat resistant plastic or a single or double layer cardboard material with an inner heat proof surface that might be a specific coating, e.g., a reflective foil lamination.

The oven box might include at least one vent. Each vent can have any suitable construction ranging from a simple tear-off label revealing a hole or opening, to a sliding plastic moulding assembly with a series of holes, which can be open or closed, for different cooking methods.

The oven assembly might include a cooking tray positioned within the oven box, e.g., resting on a base of the oven box, the oven box having a base and an upstanding sidewall. The sidewall of the oven box can include four walls such that the oven box has a rectangular cross section. The cooking tray might include drip channels, air convection channels and an upstanding centring detail at each corner. The cooking tray, might be, when not made in a conventional gauge and type of material, made in a thin gauge material such as aluminium foil, pressed card or pulp material foil either singly or with several interlocking components and a cooking tray support. The cooking tray might have side walls that may extend to the top of the oven box. The cooking tray might include details or shaped recesses for placing additional items such as hot charcoal or smoking chips. The cooking tray support might be a steel wire frame material or a perforated metal sheet material, fixed or independent to the cooking tray. The cooking tray might have details to accommodate accessories (tongs, skewers, smoking chips etc.) either individually or collectively. The cooking tray may be provided with an upstanding lifting frame or handle that allows it to be conveniently lifted out of the oven box.

The oven assembly might have additional features such as windows, thermometers or feet

In one specific arrangement, the grill assembly includes a tray for receiving charcoal and a sidewall, and the oven assembly includes an oven box, the oven space being defined between the tray, the sidewall, and the oven box. The volume or capacity of the oven space when the grill assembly is in the elevated use position is preferably larger than the volume or capacity of the oven space when the grill assembly is in the stowed position. However, it might be the case that the oven space is sufficiently large to accommodate food to be cooked, warmed or smoked when the grill assembly is in the stowed position. In other words, the grill assembly does not necessarily need to be in the elevated use position for the oven space to be utilised.

The barbecue grill and oven might further comprise spacer means for supporting the grill assembly in the elevated use position. It will be readily appreciated by the skilled reader that a wide variety of different spacer means can be utilised. In practice, the spacer means can have any construction as long as they support the grill assembly in the elevated use position.

In one arrangement, the spacer means might comprise at least one spacer mat is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position where it supports the grill assembly in the elevated use position. A pair of spacers might be provided. Each spacer might be made in a metal or a heat resistant plastic material; with integrated adjustment or relate to different positions on the oven box or grill assembly, to provide different heights. Each spacer, with a profile that might allow easy access and control of its movement, might be attached to the inside or outside of the oven box and operated with a mechanical device such as a rotary knob. Each spacer might be attached to the grill assembly sidewall or handles and relate to different positions on the oven box either manually or with a mechanical engagement Each spacer might be attached at different positions on the oven box sidewall to provide a ledge on which the grill assembly can sit

The spacer means might be an independent component, supplied separately or otherwise, to provide a physical distance, such as a block or brick.

The spacer means might be attached to the cooking tray.

The spacer means might be a tray, e.g., an aluminium food tray that can be placed in the oven space to support the grill assembly in the elevated use position.

The spacer means might be a plurality of clips or supports made in a metal or a heat resistant plastic material that are releasably fixed to the oven assembly (e.g., to the inside, outside or upper edge of the oven box) and which engage with the grill assembly to support the grill assembly in the elevated use position. In one arrangement, each clip might be pushed over the upper edge of the oven box and define a flange or bracket that engages with the lower edge of the sidewall of the grill assembly. To assemble the barbecue grill and oven, the grill assembly can be removed from the oven assembly, the clips can be pushed over the upper edge of the oven box, and the grill assembly can be nested with the oven assembly and maintained in the elevated use position. Other supports can be releasably fixed to the oven assembly, e.g., using magnets if the oven box is made of a suitable material, by engaging an engagement feature of each support with a complementary engagement feature on the oven box, or by using any suitable mechanical fixing. Still other supports can be integral with the oven assembly and selectively moved, repositioned or actuated so that they engage with the grill assembly to support the grill assembly in the elevated use position. The spacer means might provide a seal between the nested grill assembly and the oven assembly (e.g., between the sidewall and the oven box) to prevent the escape of hot gases and steam from the oven space. The spacer means might extend substantially all the way around the barbecue grill and oven. The spacer means might be made in any suitable material, e.g., a metal, a heat resistant plastic material, or a heat resistant compressible material that might provide an enhanced seal, and might be foldable for compact storage when not being used. In one arrangement, the spacer means might be a removable double channel sealing component where a first channel might receive the upper edge of the oven box and a second channel might receive the lower edge of the sidewall of the grill assembly. The spacer means will support and maintain the grill assembly in the elevated use position.

The present invention further provides a pre-packaged assembly comprising a barbecue grill and oven as herein described received within a packaging sleeve. The packaging sleeve might be made from card, textile, leather, wood or plastic, folds, either inherently or with a mechanical hinge detail, around the barbecue grill and oven and might have a handle, integrated or a mechanically fixed component with storage feature. The packaging sleeve might be openable into a preparation mat. The preparation mat might have a preparation mat flap, single or double, and include a detachable plate, single or multiple. The preparation mat detachable plate might be permanently detached using perforations or detached and reattached using a mechanical solution such as a magnet, a fastener or an interlocking detail. The preparation mat might be used as a windbreaker.

The barbecue grill and oven assembly might have a lid which might be made of metal, wood, heat resistant plastic or a cardboard material with an inner heat proof surface that might be a specific coating, e.g., a reflective foil lamination. The lid sits on top of the grill assembly and might lift off as an independent component or pivot with a hinge detail, which might be adhesive tape or a mechanical hinge, integrated or otherwise. The lid might have additional features such as window, venting detail, thermometer and timer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show a telescopic barbecue grill and oven with detachable preparation mat in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a pre-packaged assembly that includes a "telescopic' barbecue grill and oven and a preparation mat;

Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the barbecue grill and oven after it has been removed from the preparation mat;

Figure 3 shows section A~A of the barbecue grill and oven in a stowed configuration; Figure 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the barbecue grill and oven;

Figure 5 shows an exploded perspective view of the grill assembly;

Figure 6 shows section B~B of the grill assembly;

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the grill assembly with the grill grate removed and charcoal 'volcano';

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the grill assembly with the grill grate and the performance plate removed and showing the perforations in barbecue grill tray;

Figure 9 shows an exploded perspective view of the oven assembly;

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the oven assembly with the spacers in a deployed position;

Figure 11 shows a perspective view of the oven assembly cooking tray with the spacers in a deployed position;

Figure 12 shows section D~D of the oven assembly with the spacers in a deployed position;

Figure 13 shows section C~C of the oven assembly with the spacers in a stowed position;

Figure 14 shows a perspective view of the oven assembly cooking tray with the spacers in a stowed position; Figure IS shows a perspective view of the barbecue grill and oven in a use configuration;

Figure 16 shows section E~E of the barbecue grill and oven with the spacers in a deployed position;

Figure 17 shows section E~E of the barbecue grill and oven with the spacers in a deployed position and with an existing aluminium food container tray in the oven assembly;

Figure 18 shows section E~E of the barbecue grill and oven with the spacers in a stowed position and with the grill assembly resting on an existing aluminium food container tray in the oven assembly;

Figure 19 shows a plan view of the barbecue grill and oven;

Figure 20 shows a front view in direction X of the barbecue grill and oven in a stowed configuration;

Figure 21 shows a front view in direction X of the barbecue grill and oven in a use configuration with the spacers in a deployed position;

Figure 22 shows a side view in direction Y of the barbecue grill and oven in a stowed configuration;

Figure 23 shows a side view in direction Y of the barbecue grill and oven in a use configuration with the spacers in a deployed position;

Figure 24 shows a perspective view of the preparation mat;

Figure 25 shows a perspective view of the unfolded preparation mat;

Figure 26 shows a perspective view of an alternative 'telescopic' barbecue grill and oven with a lid;

Figure 27 shows section F~F of the alternative barbecue grill and oven with a lid; Figure 28 shows a perspective view of an alternative barbecue grill and oven with push on clips as the spacer means;

Figure 29 shows section G~G of the barbecue grill and oven of Figure 28 with the grill assembly resting on the clips;

Figure 30 shows a perspective view of an oven assembly of an alternative barbecue grill and oven with a sealing component as the spacer means;

Figure 31 shows a perspective view of the barbecue grill and oven of Figure 30 with the grill assembly supported by the sealing component in a use configuration; and Figure 32 shows a partial section H-H of the sealing component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Figure 1 shows a pre-packaged assembly 1 that includes a telescopic' barbecue grill and oven 2 and a preparation mat 3 which acts as a packaging sleeve. The preparation mat 3 is optional. The barbecue grill and oven 2 can be slidably removed from the preparation mat 3 as shown in Figure 2. Figure 3 shows a front section through the barbecue grill and oven 2 along line A~A of Figure 2. As shown more clearly in Figure 4, the barbecue grill and oven 2 consists of two main assemblies: a grill assembly 4 and an oven assembly S. The grill assembly 4 is 'nested' within the barbecue over assembly 5 and the two assemblies can slide relative to each other. The barbecue grill and oven 2 is typically rectangular in plan shape but could extend to round, square or any other appropriate shape.

Figure 5 shows an exploded view of the grill assembly 4. The grill assembly 4 has a sidewall 6, a tray 7, charcoal 9 and a grate 10. Figure 6 shows a front section along line B~B of Figure 2 through the grill assembly 4 with a handle 16 in a carrying position, and where food 27 is being prepared on top, i.e., where the grill assembly 4 is being used independently from the oven assembly 5. The sidewall 6, which might be, when not made in a conventional gauge and type of material including wood, made of fluted cardboard material with an inner surface 30. The sidewall 6 has a foot 15 at each corner, a handle 16 located at both ends and an assembly detail 17. The inner surface 30 might be, when not using a conventional material such as steel, a reflective foil lamination coating or other heatproof coating. The sidewall 6 might have an integrated window (not shown) and in some arrangements an integrated thermometer (not shown). The feet IS, which might be omitted, add stability and air flow to the grill assembly 4 when it is standing independently from the oven assembly S. The handles 16, which might be integrated pivoting flaps or separate components, pivoting or otherwise, attached to the sidewall 6 mechanically or with adhesive, allow for easy removal and replacement of the grill assembly 4. The tray 7, which might, when not made in conventional gauge and type of material, be made in a thin gauge material such as aluminium foil either singly or with several interlocking components. The tray 7 might have a performance plate 8 and a tray support frame 18. The tray support frame 18, which might be a steel wire frame material, helps to hold the weight of the charcoal 9 and the food 27, and transfer the weight to the sidewall 6. The tray support frame 18 might be fixed to the sidewall 6, allowing the tray 7 to be removed independently to the sidewall 6. The charcoal 9, which might be instant-light charcoal briquettes or lump-wood, might be supplied separately or housed in the tray 7 either in a single bag, a number of bags or loose.

The grate 10, which might be a mild steel mesh material, might be removable for easier access to the charcoal 9. The grate 10 might be mechanically or manually adjustable to vary the cooking height above the charcoal 9.

The assembly detail 17, which might be mechanical fastenings, allows the tray 7 and the sidewall 6 to be simply held together and maintain structural integrity when the grill assembly 4 is in its elevated use configuration above the oven assembly S.

The sidewall 6 is of sufficient height, typically the same height as the oven assembly 5, so that when the grill assembly 4 is used independently from the oven assembly 5, the underside of the tray 7 is always lifted above the surface or ground on which the grill assembly 4 sits, helping to protect this surface or ground.

Figure 7 shows the grill assembly 4 with the grate 10 removed. The performance plate 8, which might be a mild steel material, allows the charcoal 9 to burn at a higher temperature and accommodates a charcoal 'volcano' ignition format 20, where loose or stacked bags of charcoal 9 create a greater and quicker burn temperature at point of ignition. Figure 8 shows the grill assembly 4 with both the grate 10 and the performance plate 8 removed, so that the tray 7 can be clearly seen. The tray 7 might have perforations 19 applied to allow greater heat transfer to the oven assembly 5 below. Figure 9 shows an exploded assembly of the oven assembly 5.

The oven assembly 5 has an oven box 11, a cooking tray 12 and a spacer assembly which consists of a pair of spacers 13 that are movable between a deployed position and a stowed position. The oven assembly 5 might be supplied with or house a number of barbecue cooking accessories 34, including such items as skewers, tongs, thermometers, gloves and smoking chips etc. that might sit comprehensively in the cooking tray 12 like an airline meal tray or independently in their own container.

The oven box 11, which might be, when not made in a conventional gauge and type of material including wood, made of fluted cardboard material with an inner surface 31, is an open-topped box and provides a cooking chamber when placed under an ignited grill assembly 4. The inner surface 31 of the oven box 11 might be, when not using a conventional material such as steel, a reflective foil lamination coating or other heatproof coating. The oven box 11 might have feet to raise it off the ground, an integrated window and an integrated thermometer (not shown).

In the base of the oven box 11, is situated a cooking tray 12 of similar footprint. The cooking tray 12, which might be, when not made in a conventional gauge and type of material, made in a thin gauge material such as aluminium foil, pressed card or pulp material foil either singly or with several interlocking components has a tray support frame 21 to help hold the weight of food 28 to be cooked or warmed in the oven box (see Figures 11 and 12). The cooking tray 12 provides a cooking surface, with or without side walls that may extend to the top of the oven box 11, onto which food 28 or an existing aluminium food container tray 26 can be placed. The cooking tray 12 also provides a drip tray to collect juices from the food 28, and a convection tray to allow heated air to circulate effectively around the food or the existing aluminium food container tray 26. The cooking tray 12 has upstanding centring details 29 at each corner to keep an existing aluminium food container tray 26 (see Figures 17 and 18) away from the sides of the oven box 11 and to balance the convection effect. The cooking tray 12 also includes an interlock detail or shaped recess 35 to capture the spacers 13 when they are in the deployed position. The cooking tray 12 might have a detail or shaped recess (not shown) to place hot charcoal and smoking chips if these are used to give the food 28 a smoky flavour.

A spacer 13 is positioned at each end of the oven box 11. The spacers 13 are made in a mild steel wire material, and can pivot in or under the cooking tray 12 and sit substantially within the depth of the cooking tray 12 and beneath the underside of the tray 7, as necessary, when in their stowed position. The profile of the spacers 13 allows easy access and control of movement. The spacers 13 might be attached to the inside or outside of the oven box 11 and operated with a mechanical device such as a rotary knob. The spacers 13 might be adjustable or relate to different positions on the oven box 11, to provide different heights for the grill assembly 4. The spacers 13 might be attached to the sidewall 6 or handles 16 and relate to different positions on the oven box 11 either manually or with a mechanical engagement The spacers 13 might help to remove the cooking tray 12 from the oven box 11. The oven box 11 has a vent 14 to control the internal temperature during cooking. A vent 14 might be positioned on more than one side of the oven box 11. Figure 9 shows a vent 14 at both ends of the oven box 11, for example. Each vent 14 can have any suitable construction ranging from a simple tear-off label revealing a hole or opening, to a sliding plastic moulding assembly with a series of holes, which can be open or closed, for keeping food warm, or for cooking or smoking food inside the oven assembly 5. The position of the vents 14 might be under the handles 16, where the handle flaps are cut out to accommodate the vents when in the down position.

Figure 10 shows the oven assembly 5 with the spacers 13 in an open or deployed position. Figure 11 shows the cooking tray 12 with the spacers 13 in the deployed position and Figure 12 shows a front section of the oven assembly 5 along line along line D~D of Figure 10. Each spacer 13 is bent with a base part 13a and a support part 13b substantially perpendicular to each other. The base part 13a of each spacer 13 is positioned underneath the cooking tray 12 and is substantially parallel to the plane of the cooking tray. The support part 13b is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the cooking tray 12 and is shaped to support the grill assembly 4. The support part 13b of each spacer 13 projects above the oven box 11 in the deployed position.

Figure 13 shows a front section of the oven assembly 5 along line C~C of Figure 4 with the spacers 13 in a closed or stowed position. Figure 14 shows the barbecue oven cooking tray 12 with the barbecue oven spacers in the stowed position 13. The base part 13a of each spacer 13 is positioned underneath the cooking tray 12 and the support part 13b is received in the interlock detail or shaped recess 35 in the cooking tray.

Figures 15 to 17 show the barbecue grill and oven 2 where the grill assembly 4 is held above the oven assembly 5, i.e., in a use configuration. Figures 16 and 17 show more clearly how the grill assembly 4 is supported by the spacers 13 in the deployed position. In Figure 16, food 28 is shown positioned directly on top of the cooking tray 12 whereas in Figure 17 the food is shown to be in an existing aluminium food container tray 26 positioned on the cooking tray. Figure 18 shows how, in another arrangement, the spacers 13 can be in a stowed position and the grill assembly 4 can be supported by an existing aluminium food container tray 26. In other words, where the aluminium food container tray 26 functions as a spacer means for supporting the grill assembly 4 in a use configuration where it has been elevated with respect to the storage or stowed configuration.

The barbecue grill and oven 2 is inherently 'telescopic* as the oven assembly 5 is 'nested ¹ within the grill assembly 4 such that the grill assembly can slide relative to the oven assembly. This allows the grill assembly 4 to move between a non-elevated position (i.e., where the barbecue grill and oven 2 is in a storage or stowed configuration shown in Figures 2 and 3) and an elevated position (i.e., where the barbecue grill and oven 2 is in a use configuration shown in Figures 15 to 18). In the use configuration, the grill assembly 4 can be supported by the spacers 13 or an existing aluminium food container tray 26, or other spacer means. The spacers 13 allow the height at which the grill assembly 4 sits above the oven assembly 5 to be fixed in operation, whilst minimising the volume of the barbecue grill and oven 2 for shipping and retail. The oven cooking depth between the underside of the barbecue grill tray 7 and the top of the cooking tray 12 can be increased. The spacers 13 also allow for varied depths of existing aluminium food container tray 26 and a greater variety of food 28 to be warmed, cooked and/or smoked in the oven assembly 5.

The spacers 13, when deployed, engage the underside of the tray 7 or the tray support frame 18 or a flange detail on the sidewall 6. The spacers 13 can be manually moved by the user between the stowed position and the deployed position.

If the spacers 13 are not deployed, varied depths of existing aluminium food container tray 26 can still be placed in the oven assembly 5, with the underside of the tray 7 sitting directly on the top surface of the existing aluminium food container tray 26, creating a more intense cooking effect. The existing aluminium food container tray 26 might hold food pre-packaged by a supermarket or pre-prepared by the user.

Figures 19 to 23 show the barbecue grill and oven 2 in the storage and use configurations.

The barbecue grill and oven 2 provides multi-cooking from the same heat source supplied by the grill assembly 4. This means mat food 27 can be cooked on the grill assembly 4 while food 28 is being cooked in the barbecue oven 5. Alternatively, food can be pre-cooked and/or smoked in the oven assembly 5 and finished on the grill assembly 4, perhaps being kept hot back in the oven assembly, or food can be cooked on the grill assembly and then kept hot in the oven assembly.

Figure 24 shows the preparation mat 3 as it would be in a sleeve configuration, e.g., when the barbecue oven and grill 2 has been removed. The preparation mat 3, which might be made from card or plastic, folds, either inherently or with a mechanical hinge detail, around the barbecue grill and oven 2 as a containing wrap, which might provide graphic collateral for marketing information. The preparation mat 3 has a preparation mat handle 22 for easy portability. The preparation mat handle 22 might be an integrated element or an applied component fixed mechanically or with adhesive and might be tucked away for transportation using the preparation mat handle storage feature 23, which might be an integrated detail or a mechanical solution including adhesive material.

When the preparation mat 3 is removed from the barbecue grill and oven 2, which might be by removal of the preparation mat handle 22, it can be opened (see Figure 25) to provide a flat surface onto which the barbecue grill and oven 2 can be placed, keeping the barbecue grill and oven clean and helping further to protect the environment, especially when the grill assembly 4 is separated from the oven assembly 5 during use. The preparation mat 3 might be used as a windbreaker. The preparation mat 3 has a preparation mat flap 24, single or double, that opens out to provide a larger area. The preparation mat 3 optionally includes a preparation mat detachable plate 25, single or multiple. The preparation mat detachable plate 25 might be detached using perforations or detached and reattached using a mechanical solution such as a magnet, a fastener or an interlocking detail. Figures 26 and 27 show an alternative arrangement in which the barbecue grill and oven 36 has a lid 32. The lid 32 which might be, when not made in a conventional gauge and type of material including wood, made of fluted cardboard material with an inner surface 33. The inner surface 33 might be, when not using a conventional material such as steel, a reflective foil lamination coaling or other flameproof coating. The lid 32, which sits on top of the grill assembly 4 might lift off as an independent component or pivot with a hinge detail, which might be adhesive tape or a mechanical hinge, integrated or otherwise. The lid 32 might have an integrated window, venting detail and thermometer (not shown). Figures 28 and 29 show an alternative barbecue grill and oven that is similar to the barbecue grill and oven described above and the same reference numerals have been used to identify the same components where appropriate. The barbecue grill and oven 2 utilises clips 40 as spacer means. The clips 40 can be made in a metal or a heat resistant plastic material and are pushed onto the upper edge of the oven box 11 after the grill assembly 4 has been removed. Although four clips 40 are shown in Figure 28, it may be that only two clips are used on oppositely facing walls of the oven box 11. Each clip 40 includes an outwardly facing flange 41 which engages with the lower edge of the sidewall 6 of the grill assembly 4 as shown in Figure 29 to support the grill assembly in the elevated use position. The clips 40 can be removed from the oven box 11 to allow the grill assembly 4 to be placed in the stowed position. Figures 30 to 32 show an alternative barbecue grill and oven that is similar to the barbecue grill and oven described above and the same reference numerals have been used to identify the same components where appropriate. The barbecue grill and oven 2 utilises a sealing component 50 as spacer means. The sealing component can be made in a metal, a heat resistant plastic material, or a heat resistant compressible material and includes a first channel 51 and a second channel 52 as shown most clearly in Figure 32. The grill assembly 4 can be removed and the sealing component 50 can be pushed onto the upper edge of the oven box 11 so that the upper edge is received in the second channel 52. The grill assembly 4 is then fitted to the sealing component 50 with the lower edge of the sidewall 6 received in the first channel 51. The sealing component 50 supports the grill assembly 4 in an elevated use position and provides a seal between the sidewall 6 and the oven box 11 that prevents the escape of hot gases and steam from the oven space. The sealing component 50 can be removed from the oven box 11 and the sidewall 6 to allow the grill assembly 4 to be placed in the stowed position. It will be readily appreciated that the spacer means can have any other construction that provides a seal between the grill assembly 4 and the oven assembly 5, and in particular between the sidewall 6 and the oven box 11.