Heat distributing wave tray for a grill

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention pertains to the art of grilling and, more particularly, to a heat distributing wave tray for grilling, such as on a barbecue grill.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the heat distributing tray of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a top view of the heat distributing tray depicted in FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the heat distributing tray of FIG. 1; and

#With initial reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a heat distributing tray constructed in accordance with the present invention is indicated at 10. In general, tray 10 is constituted by a corrugated unitary body 12 of heat conducting material, such as steel. Unitary body 12 includes an upper surface 14, a lower surface 16, first and second, longitudinally spaced opposing side edges 18 and 19, and first and second opposing downwardly extending legs 22 and 23. As shown, legs 22 and 23 extend downwardly from unitary body 12 away from upper surface 14 and provide a means for supporting tray 10. The corrugated structure of unitary body 12 defines a plurality of spaced, substantially parallel channels 30 that extend from first side edge 18 to second side edge 19. In general, channels 30 are defined by respective peaks or crests 32 and troughs 33. A plurality of longitudinally spaced drainage apertures 36 preferably extend through each trough 33 in order to allow any fluids collected on upper surface 14 during a cooking operation to drain out of tray 10. Each channel 30 is further defined by both a grated wall 40 having a series of longitudinally spaced elongated apertures 41 therein, and a solid wall 42. Apertures 41 are strategically positioned such that combustion gases from below tray 10 are distributed to cool spots on upper surface 14 as will be discussed in more detail below.

#In accordance with the present invention, tray 10 is divided into a first side portion 44 and a second side portion 45. At this point, it should be noted that first and second side portions 44 and 45 are preferably, symmetrically constructed. Therefore, complete details of the construction of first side portion 44 will be provided below and it is to be understood that second side portion 45 has commensurate structure. With reference to FIG. 3, it can be seen that first side portion 44 includes a plurality of solid walls 42, each of which has a distinct angle θ1-θ4 with respect to a common horizontal plane. In a preferred embodiment, for example, a first solid wall 42A has an angle θ1 of approximately 45°, a second solid wall 42B has an angle θ2 of approximately 35°, a third solid wall 42C has an angle θ3 of approximately 30° and a fourth solid wall 42D has an angle θ4 of approximately 25° with respect to a horizontal plane. Although the exact angles employed can vary, the angle of solid walls 42A-42D preferably, progressively decreases from adjacent leg 23 towards a symmetrical centerline (not separately labeled) between first and second side portions 44 and 45 of tray 10, i.e., from solid wall 42A to solid wall 42D closest to second side portion 45. Preferably, the angles associated with solid walls 42E-42H have correspondingly varying angles with respect to a horizontal plane such that first and second side portions 44 and 45 are symmetrical, i.e., basically mirror images of each other from the centerline.

#Although the exact dimensions of tray 10 can vary, in one preferred embodiment, first side portion 44 has a length of approximately 139 mm, and the entire tray 10 has a length H of approximately 278 mm. Due to the varying angles θ1-θ4 of the channels, each channel C1-C3 is defined by solid walls 42A-C and grated walls 40A-C having different lengths. For instance, in the most preferred embodiment shown, a first channel C1 is defined by solid wall 42A having an approximate length of 24.11 mm and grated wall 40A having an approximate length of 18.70 mm; a second channel C2 is defined by solid wall 42B having an approximate length of 25.58 mm and grated wall 40B having an approximate length of 17.78 mm; and a third channel C3 is defined by solid wall 42C having an approximate length of 29.62 mm and a grated wall 40C having an approximate length of 16.99 mm. In addition, fourth solid wall 42D preferably has an approximate length of 36.19 mm. As described above, the lengths of the solid walls 42A-42C of first side portion 44 increase towards the second side portion 45.