Grilling appliance with lower platen position control
AssigneeCarrier Commercial Refrigeration, Inc.
InventorDennis J. Nelson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A grill is provided including a base structure. An upper platen assembly is connected to the base structure and includes an upper grilling surface. A lower platen assembly is connected to the base structure and includes a lower grilling surface. A plurality of leveling mechanisms is mounted to the base structure with a mounting bracket. A portion of each leveling mechanism is arranged in contact with the lower platen assembly. The leveling mechanisms are configured to automatically level the lower grilling surface relative to the upper grilling surface. Each of the plurality of leveling mechanisms is configured to independently move a portion of the lower grilling surface about a different axis.
Claims21
A grill comprising:
- a base structure;
- an upper platen assembly connected to the base structure, the upper platen assembly including an upper grilling surface;
- a lower platen assembly connected to the base structure and including a lower grilling surface;
- and
- a plurality of leveling mechanisms, each being mounted to the base structure with a mounting bracket such that a portion of each leveling mechanism is arranged in contact with the lower platen assembly, the plurality of leveling mechanisms being configured to automatically level the lower grilling surface relative to the upper grilling surface, wherein each of the plurality of leveling mechanisms is configured to independently move a portion of the lower grilling surface.
A method of repositioning a lower grilling surface of a grill having a lower platen assembly including the lower grilling surface and an upper platen assembly including an upper grilling surface, comprising:
- moving the lower grilling surface to a predefined reference position away from the upper grilling surface;
- adjusting the position of the lower grilling surface such that the lower grilling surface is substantially parallel with the upper grilling surface;
- and
- moving the lower grilling surface towards the upper grilling surface to define a desired gap there between.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.