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US 12,238,828 B2Granted
Removable electric grill controller with mount
AssigneeWeber-Stephen Products LLC
InventorKevin James Schmeski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure related to an electric grill's housing, controller, and a mounting bracket which mounts the controller to the housing. The mounting bracket is generally hollow and forms a thermal barrier between the controller and the housing, wherein the thermal barrier protects the controller from heat generated in the housing. As a result, the controller does not require insulation and may include lower temperature rated components. Moreover, the mounting bracket may have metallic tabs which interface with spring elements on the controller, thereby fastening the controller to the bracket. These spring elements and metallic tabs may be in electric communication with the housing, thereby allowing the controller to act as an electric ground with respect to the housing.
Claims20
An electric grill, comprising:
- a housing defining a cooking area, the cooking area to be heated;
- a mounting bracket coupled to a side wall of the housing, the mounting bracket having a cavity defined by a first side surface, a second side surface spaced apart from and located opposite the first side surface, a front surface extending between the first side surface and the second side surface, and a rear surface spaced apart from and located opposite the front surface and extending between the first side surface and the second side surface, the front surface defining a slot to allow access to the cavity, the mounting bracket defining a thermal barrier provided by an air gap between the front surface and the rear surface, the rear surface having an opening proximate the side wall of the housing when the mounting bracket is coupled to the housing, the mounting bracket being formed of an electrically conductive material;
- and
- a controller removably couplable to the housing via the mounting bracket, the controller having an engagement member structured to be at least partially received by the slot of the mounting bracket, the thermal barrier positioned between the controller and the housing when the controller is coupled to the mounting bracket, the thermal barrier to protect internal electronics of the controller from heat generated within the cooking area of the housing.
1 more element
An electric grill assembly comprising:
- a housing defining a cooking area;
- a mounting bracket mounted to the housing, the mounting bracket including:
- a front surface having an elongated slot;
- a top surface;
- a left side;
- a right side;
- a bottom surface;
- a rear surface spaced apart from and located opposite the front surface, the rear surface being open;
- a thermal barrier formed in a hollow void defined by the front surface, the top surface, the bottom surface, the left side, the right side, and the rear surface;
- a plurality of flanges adjacent the rear surface for mounting the mounting bracket to the housing;
- an upper lip and a lower lip adjacent the elongated slot and extending rearwardly towards the rear surface of the mounting bracket;
- a first and second tab respectively positioned on left and right edges of the elongated slot;
- an electronic controller coupled to the housing via the mounting bracket, the electronic controller including:
- a first wall and a second wall configured to engage the upper lip and the lower lip adjacent the elongated slot when the electronic controller is in an engaged position;
- a first spring element and a second spring element, wherein the first and second spring elements are aligned to respectively engage the first tab and the second tab when the electronic controller is coupled to the mounting bracket, the electronic controller to at least partially extend into the hollow void when the mounting bracket is coupled to the mounting bracket, and wherein the thermal barrier is to protect at least one internal electronic component from elevated temperatures when the electronic controller is coupled to the mounting bracket and heat is generated in the cooking area of the housing.
12 more elements
An electric grill comprising:
- a housing defining a cooking area;
- and
- a mounting bracket to couple to the housing, the mounting bracket defining a cavity, the mounting bracket including:
- a front surface having a slot to enable access to the cavity via the front surface;
- a rear edge spaced apart from and located opposite the front surface, the rear edge having an opening in communication with the cavity and aligned with the slot along a central axis of the mounting bracket, the mounting bracket configured to receive a controller via the slot of the front surface, the opening of the rear edge to enable a thermocouple of the controller to access a side surface of the housing of the electric grill;
- a first tab and a second tab located opposite the first tab, the first tab and the second tab being proximate the slot, the first and second tabs aligned to receive corresponding first and second springs of the controller when the controller is coupled to the mounting bracket;
- and
- a thermal barrier provided in the cavity for protecting the controller from heat when the controller is coupled to the housing via the mounting bracket.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.