Leg support for barbecue kettle

#The present invention relates to barbecue kettle grills, and more particularly to the leg configuration of a barbecue kettle grill.

#A number of different structures are known for assembling and securing a leg onto a kettle-type barbecue grill. The most common structure is to slidably insert a tubular leg into a mating socket member that has been fixed to the grill as by welding. A friction fit is achieved with a dimple or detent in the socket member which tightly engages the leg.

#A first disadvantage of this system is that welding is both a relatively costly and destructive method of attaching one piece to another. During the welding process, the materials joined are usually weakened. Welding is also inherently inaccurate. Dimensional tolerances for welding require additional room for variations caused by the welding process. Also, the cost of welding is relatively high in this application due to the awkwardness of the process in securing a socket to a curved kettle bowl surface. Cost, accuracy and strength of the welding process could be improved upon by incorporating another way of attaching the leg to the grill which eliminates welding all together.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a kettle-type barbecue with a leg support configuration made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support of FIG. 1 taken along the line 2—2 and in the direction indicated generally;

#FIG. 3 is a front view of the leg support of FIG. 1;

#Referring now to FIG. 1, a kettle-type barbecue is generally designated 10 and includes a barbecue kettle 12. The barbecue kettle 12 generally consists of a lid 14 and a bowl 16 which are made of porcelainized or powder coated metal. Generally, the lid 14 has a handle 18 and a vent 20, both of which are preferably located near a lid top 22, however other locations are contemplated depending on the application. Preferably, the handle 18 is used to manipulate the lid 14, and the vent 20 is used to control the airflow through the lid 14. Generally, the lid 14 rests upon a bowl upper surface 24 to provide a closed cooking chamber. As is well known in the art, a food support grill (not shown) rests near the bowl upper surface 24. Also, a separate charcoal support grid (not shown) is typically placed below the food support grill. A transport handle 26 is attached to the bowl 16 near the bowl upper surface 24. During transportation of the kettle-type barbecue grill 10, the transport handle 26 is used for added convenience and control over position of the grill 10.

#An ash receiver 28 is descendably mounted to a bowl lower surface 30 and circumscribes a lower opening (not shown) in the bowl 16. Generally, an inexpensive metal, cylindrical container serves well as the ash receiver 28 because of ease of manufacturing. To regulate the flow of combustion air to the fire, the ash receiver 28 preferably includes multiple air vents 32 which can alternatively be located in the bowl 16. An air vent controller 34, preferably an apertured ring which selectively blocks the vents 32, optionally controls the volume of incoming air for combustion. Any material may be used to construct the ash receiver 28, as long as it will withstand the temperature of hot ash and small burning embers from the fire. Metal, especially when coated with a protective coating such as porcelain, or other ceramic coating, is preferred. An ash receiver handle 36 is preferably mounted on the ash receiver 28 with standoffs 38 as insulation to simplify emptying the ash receiver when hot.

#In the preferred embodiment, the bowl 16 is configured to receive three leg supports 40. The three leg supports 40 are fastened in spaced relationship about the bowl 24, and are preferably bolted. As shown, the leg supports 40 are positioned generally mid-way between the bowl upper end 24 and the bowl lower end 30. This mounting configuration generally lowers the center of gravity of the kettle-type barbecue grill 10, which generally increases stability.