Grilling surface

#The present invention relates generally to a grilling surface having a low constant of thermal expansion employed to cook food.

#Grills or griddles are used to cook various foods, such as hamburgers. In one prior grill, the sides of the food are grilled separately. The food is placed on a flat grill portion, grilling the side of the food that contacts the flat grill portion. After that side of the food is cooked, the food is manually flipped to allow cooking the opposite side. After the food is cooked, the food is manually removed from the grill for serving.

#In another prior grill, both sides of the food are grilled simultaneously. After programming the type of food into a control unit, the food is placed on a lower grill portion. A platen having an upper grill portion is then lowered over the food, positioning the food between the upper and lower grill portions and grilling the food simultaneously on both sides. After lowering the platen, the distance between the upper and lower grill portions is automatically adjusted according to the type of food which is programmed into the control unit. After a predetermined amount of time has passed, the platen raises, and the food is manually removed from the grill.

#The various features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:

#FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a grilling component;

#FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a grilling component employing a conveyor belt as the grilling surface; and

#FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a grilling component 10 employed to grill food items 12, such as hamburger patties. The grilling component 10 includes a heater 14 to cook the food items 12 and a grilling surface 16 made of a suitable material having a low constant of thermal expansion.

#In one example, the grilling surface 16 is made of Invar™ commercially available from Imphy S. A. Corporation of Paris, France. Invar™ is a metal allow comprised of Iron and 36% Nickel, and may include other trace elements. Invar has a low constant of thermal expansion and therefore moves and expands very little when heater. Although Invar™ has been disclosed, it is to be understood that other suitable materials having a low constant of thermal expansion can be used.

#The grilling surface 16 further includes a non-stick coating 18. In one example, the non-stick coating 18 is Teflon™ commercially available from E. I. DuPont Nemours and Company Corporation of Wilmington, Del. However, other suitable materials can be used as the non-stick coating 18.