Back to results
US 11,162,684 B2Granted
Pellet hopper liner
AssigneeTraeger Pellet Grills, LLC
InventorsMichael Colston, Daniel Sluder, Phuong Hoang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pellet hopper for use in a pellet grill includes a first bottom panel, a second bottom panel, and a third bottom panel. Each bottom panel has an inner edge that partially defines a pellet evacuation opening. The first, second, and third bottom panels form respective first, second, and third nonzero angles relative to a horizontal plane. In this way, each bottom panel tilts downward toward the pellet evacuation opening.
Claims11
A pellet hopper for use in a pellet grill, the pellet hopper comprising:
- a first bottom panel having a first inner edge;
- a second bottom panel having a second inner edge, the second bottom panel connected to the first bottom panel at a first interface;
- a third bottom panel having a third inner edge, the third bottom panel connected to the second bottom panel at a second interface;
- a wall panel extending between the first bottom panel and the third bottom panel and connected to the first bottom panel at a third interface and the third bottom panel at a fourth interface, the wall panel comprising:
- a main portion extending vertically upward from the third and fourth interfaces;
- and
- a bottom angled surface connected to and extending from a bottom edge of the main portion, the bottom angled surface having a fourth inner edge;
- wherein:
- the first, second, and third inner edges of the respective bottom panels and the fourth inner edge of the bottom angled surface at least partially define a pellet evacuation opening;
- and
- the first, second, and third bottom panels respectively form first, second, and third nonzero angles with respect to a horizontal plane such that each bottom panel tilts downward toward the pellet evacuation opening.
8 more elements
A pellet hopper assembly, comprising:
- a hopper bottom, comprising:
- a first panel connected to a second panel at a first interface and the second panel connected to a third panel at a second interface, wherein a first inner edge of the first panel, a second inner edge of the second panel, and a third inner edge of the third panel together define a pellet evacuation opening, and wherein:
- the first panel forms a first nonzero angle with respect to a horizontal plane such that the first panel tilts downward toward the pellet evacuation opening,
- the second panel forms a second nonzero angle with respect to the horizontal plane such that the second panel tilts downward toward the pellet evacuation opening;
- and
- the third panel forms a third nonzero angle with respect to the horizontal plane such that the third panel tilts downward toward the pellet evacuation opening;
- and
- a wall panel extending between first and third panels and connected to the first and third panels at third and fourth interfaces, respectively, the wall panel comprising:
- a main surface extending vertically upward from the third and fourth interfaces;
- and
- a bottom angled surface connected to and extending from a bottom edge of the main surface, the bottom angled surface including a fourth inner edge that at least partially defines the pellet evacuation opening, the bottom angled surface forming a fourth nonzero angle with respect to the horizontal plane such that the bottom angled surface tilts downward toward the pellet evacuation opening.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.