NZ286854A - Cooking device; apparatus and method in which a drip pan is disposed between burners and a grill supporting a food product, drip pan details - Google Patents

Description

New Zealand No 286854 International No PCT/ TO BE ENTERED AFTER ACCEPTANCE AND PUBLICATION Priority dates 19 06 1996 Complete Specification Filed 19 06 1996 Classification (6) A47J37/06.07, A47J36/00 Publication date 19 December 1997 Journal No 1423 amended una* socllon JS 'du^e- l" '7 Patent Art 1953 Item acc^tant com\ssm£BSiEB^^B-— NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Title of Invention Method of cooking food using a convertible drip pan Name, address and nationality of applicant(s) as in international application form GILBERT D CLARK, a United States citizen of 248 Summerwmds Drive, Cary, North Carolina 27511, United States of America; JOHN G MILLS, a United States citizen of 614 Durham Road, Wake Forest, North Carolina 27488, United States of America; PRESTON STOGNER, a United States citizen of 1208 Seabrook Avenue, Cary, North Carolina 27511, United States of America NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No Date COMPLETE SPECIFICATION METHOD OF COOKING FOOD USING A CONVERTIBLE DRIP PAN We, GILBERT D CLARK, of 248 Summerwinds Drive, Cary, North Carolina 27511, United States of America, JOHN G MILLS, of 614 Durham Road, Wake Forest, North Carolina 27488, United States of Amenca, and PRESTON STOGNER, of 1208 Seabrook Avenue, Cary, North Carolina 27511, United States of Amenca, all being US citizens, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly descnbed in and by the following statement (followed by page la) 28 68 5 4 FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to cooking methods and apparatuses and more particularly to grill type cooking devices BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The art of cooking has been around since the earliest days of the human race This includes both indoor and outdoor preparation of foods utilizing heat to cook the same In more recent times, Hibachis have been u3ed for both indoor and outdoor cooking while charcoal and gas grills have been used primarily for outdoor cooking, and jen-aire and other electric and gas fired units with ventilating systems are used for indoor cooking One problem universally encountered when cooking food products that have excessive juices, particularly meats, is that such juices catching on fire and burning such products People have become accustomed to seared steaks, hamburgers and the like but do not want the same charred Brown on the outside and' juicy on the inside is the usual order of the day. The problen is how to sear products the desired amount and yet prevent further flame contact which could over cook or char the same Also, when cooking food products such as poultry, including chickens, turkeys, and la 2868 54 the like, flare ups are very undesirable and yet adequate heat must be available to cook the product and brown the outside thereof In recent years, at least one barbecue device has been developed that eliminates flare ups during the cooking process This gas grill, however, xs extremely slow to heat up to cooking temperature and is slow to complete the cooking process even on relatively small pieces of meat or other food products. Also extremely high temperatures are encountered in the burner aiea during the entire cooking process. It is touted that thiB grill has no controls, just "on" and "off", but the reaBon for this is that the cooking temperature in the area of the food product is barely adequate to cook the same and any reduction in heat would give unsatisfactory results.

United States Patent Nos. 4,773,319 and 5,313,877 to Robert D. Holland both relate to the same grill and both disclose a barbecue grill with controlled heat distribution including a drip pan that covers substantially the entire horizontal area of the cooker so that grease and other drippings can be removed trom the cooker without coming in proximity to burner flame which could ignite the same. The heat below the drip pan in the enclosed area where the burner is locat ad reaches such a high elevated temperaf-'- Concise Explanation of Prior Art 2 28 6 8 5 4 that a heat deflecting shield must be placed over the burner to prevent hot spots and gum up of the juices dripping from the cooking food product Into t lift di lp pnn AI no, duo i <> the high temperatures in the burner chamber, rust outs of the lower housing occur in a relatively short period of time BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION After much research and study into the above mentioned problems, the present invention has been developed to provide a grill type cooking device that can be used ei ther indoors ox. outdoors This cooking apparatus allows the same to be preheated to cooking temperature in a matter of minutes Steaks and other food products can then be easily seared on the exterior to the desired amount followed by converting the apparatus to a flaneless grill for completion of the cooking process. Also, the cooking process can be achieved through zone cooking An example of this is poultry products can be cooked in a flare-up free environment in one zone while steaks and other food products can be seared in another zone of the same cooking apparatus.

The above is accomplished through the use of a drip pan disposed between the burners and the grill supporting the food products that can be opened for fast preheat and now^mihded' 286 85 4 / final cooking process The present invention can also be opened up for preheating and then closed for normal /Cooking without searing or the danger of flare ups regardless of the amount of juices expelled by the food product bejmg cooked In view of the above, an embodiment of the/present j/ invention provides a convertible drip pan ythat can be used in conjunction with both indoor and oiitdoor grill type / cooking devices. ^ Another ernbodiment of the present' invention provides a drip pan with a plurality o£ Choking zones that can be opened and closed as desired / Another embodiment of the present invention provides in a grill type cooking device that has an enclosed lower housing, a lid, a cooking heat source and a rack for supporting food products, a convertible drip pan that can be / opened for preheating and searing and can be closed for / flare-up free cooking r Embodiments7 of the present invention provide a t convertible drip pan that can be used in conjunction with / several different types of cooking heat sources / Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent and obvious from a study of the follov/ing description a'nd the accompanying drawings which are-merely illustrative of such invention. nz pat:hi"orFice 21 OCT 1397 RFS ElVr D # AS AMENDED final cooking process The present invention can also be opened up for preheating and then closed for normal cooking without searing or the danger of flare ups regardless of the amount of juices expelled by the food product being cooked The present invention comprises in one aspect a barbeque grill comprising: a housing, a rack within the housing, and a heat source; a convertible drip pan substantially covering the area below the rack, characterized by means for opening at least a portion of the pan between the rack and the heat source to allow heat from the source to arise upwardly to sear food on the rack; means for closing the opening in at least a portion of the pan; and means for collecting drippings from the food when the pan is closed, whereby food can be cooked m the same manner as a conventional barbeque grill when the pan is open, and can slow cook m a flare up free environment when the pan is closed. Conveniently, a sliding plate comprises the means for opening the drip pan to the heat source. Alternatively* the means may be composed of one or more pivotable vanes.

In another aspect, the above elements are incorporated within an enclosed grill having an ashless heat source.

In a further aspect, the invention comprises a method of cooking food, comprising the steps of placing a food item to be cooked on a rack, m a grill of the types described above, and closing at least a portion of the drip pan to slow-cook the food in a manner whereby flame-ups are minimized in the cooking process. Juices dripping from the food onto the drip pan, may be collected and removed to the exterior of the housing. During the cooking process, the drip pan may be opened to permit searing of the food, and subsequently closed to prevent further flame-ups during the remainder of the cooking process. i c receiv- AS AMENDED In view of the above, an embodiment of the present invention provides a convertible drip pan that can be used in conjunction with both indoor and outdoor grill type cooking devices.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a drip pan with a plurality o£ cooking zones that can be opened and closed as desired Another embodiment of the present invention provides in a grill type cooking device that has an enclosed lower housing, a lid, a cooking heat source and a rack for supporting food products, a convertible drip pan that can be opened for preheating and searing and can be closed for flare-up free cooking Embodiments of the present invention provide a convertible drip pan that can be used in conjunction with several different types of cooking heat sources Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent and obvious from a study of the following description a'nd the accompanying drawings which are merely illustrative of such invention 4A i c j;" ncpci'/p 286054 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Fig. 1 Lb an exploded pnropot'L I vo vlow <>r I ho pi lot nil drip pan disposed between the heat source and rack that supports food to be cooked Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the improved drip pan of the present invention in closed flameless position.

Fig. 3 is a perspective viei* of the improved drip pan in open position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective vo.r»w of the improved drip pan having four openable zones Fig. 5 is a front elevatlonal view of the improvement shown in Fig 5, illustrating the centrally disposed drain tube.

Fig. 6 is a front perspective view of a typical enclosure into which the present invention can be incorporated.

Fig. 7 is a rear perspective view of said enclosure.

Fig. 8 is a perspective vie" showing one type of heat source used in conjunction with the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of another type of heat source used in conjunction with the present invention; and Fig 10 is an exploded view of the drip pan of the present invention showinq its relationship to the food supporting rack 28 6 8 5 4 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION With further reference to the drawings, the prior art cooker, indicated generally at 10, includes a lower housing substantially the- entire upper opening in housing 11 has a sloped central trough with a drain tube 15 connected to the lower end of such trough This diain tube is designed to take drippings from the food being cooked to the outside of the grill housing A food supporting rack 18 is disposed above the drip pan 13.

The prior art discloses a round gas burner 16 as a heat source. This burner is centrally located in the bottom of lower housing 11. Since this type of burner concentrates such a large amount of heat in a relatively small area, a heat deflecting plate 17 must be placed over the burner 16 to prevent grease and other drippings from coagulating and burning in the area of the drip plan immediately above such burner.

Although the prior art cooker 10 does slow cook food products to being done without excessively drying out of the same, there are inherent disadvan ages in this design.

First, the drip pan 13 covers almost the entire area below the rack 18, so the heat from the round burner 16 that reaches such rack for cooking purposes is marginal This 11 and a hinged hood 12 A drip pan 13 that covers 6 21 oct 1997 28 6 8 5 4 causes the food on the rack 18 to take a long time to cook which can be very inconvenient.

In addition to the Jong cooking t Inm, l ho piolinni I nq of the cooker 10 prior to putting the food on the rark 18 is excessively long, the recommended time being thirty minutes Also, because the burner 16 must generate substantially more heat during preheating and cooking than is required in a standard grill of this type without a solid arir pan, fuel consumption is substantially greater A further problem encountered with the prior art grill shown in Fig 1 is that high temperatures are encountered in the area around the burner 16. Experience has shown that these high temperatures can cause premature rust out of the bottom of housing 11, quxte often rendering the grill not only unsafe, but inoperable, within two to three years The present invention, indicated generally at 19, is a convertible drip pan that can be opened to allow rapid preheating of the cooker, normally ten minutes or less, followed by allowing flame ups from dripping juices to sear the exterior of food products such as steaks and the like. The present invention can then be closed to prevent further flare ups and to allow the cooking process to be completed For food products that are not desired to be seared, such as poultry and large pieces of meat, the drip pan of the present invention can be opened during preheating and closed during cooking to greatly decrease the overall 7 A 28 6 8 5 4 cooking time while providing the same juicy end product as the prior art grill without flare-ups In Lhe embodiment of Lhe renent Invnni 1 <>11 nlmwn In I Figs. 2 and 3, a rectangular housing is provided with end walls 20 and side walls 21. A fixed inwardly sloping planer surface 22 is mounted between end walls 20 and one of the side walls 21 An inwardly sloping trough 23 extends between the end walls 20 and the interior edge of planer surface 22 with a drain tube 24 communicatively connected to the central portion thereof which is the lowest point in such trough On the Bide of trough 23, opposite planer surface 22, is an opening 25 having a lip 26 about the periphery of such opening.

Elongated slots 27 are provided in end walls 20 just above and parallel the juncture between planer surface 22 and said side walls. A movable planer surface 28 is so Bized to reBt on peripheral lip 26 of opening 25 Arms 29 are attached to and outwardly extend through elongated slots 27 from opposite ends of movable planer surface 28. Heat resistant knobs, made of ceramics or other suitable material, are mounted on the outer ends of each of the arms From the above it can be seen that when the movable planer surface 28 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the opening 25 in such pan will be closed; and when the planer surface 28 is moved, by manipulating knobs 30, t< 29. 8 286854 position shown in Fig. 3, the opening 25 is exposed so that drippings can drop downwardly therethrough and heat and Clare upn can rJoo therethrough Tlmn n flnro up Tioo /.nun is provided as well as a second zone Cor preheating and searing.

The version of the convertible drip pan 19 of the present invention shown in Fig 4 has four cooking zones using pivotal closures rather than sliding closures A peripheral shutter frame 31 iJ provided with a central dividing frame 32. An mwafdly sloping trough, similar to trough 23, extends across the shutter frame 31 with a central drain opening 33 below dividing frame 3? that communicates to centrally disposed drain tube 34 The pivotable shutter vanes 35, when closed, overlap with the lower edge of the upper vanes lying juxtaposed to the upper edges of the lower vane as can clearly be seen m Fig. 4 Tie rods 36 are operatively connected, through the ends of shutter frame 31, to the adjacent pivotal vanes 35. Each of these tie rods has a manipulating arm operatively attached thereto at one end and terminates in a heat resistant knob 38 Since the mounting and operation of shutter frames, pivotal vanes, tie rods and manipulating arms are all well known to those skilled in the art, further detailed description of Miis portion of the present invention is not deemed necessary If the convertible drip pan of the present invention is 28 6 85 4 in grill with an associated ventilator system, no exterior housing is be required since the present invention would be mounted below the rack on which t.) e rood I h plnrnd When the convertible drip pan of the present invention is used in conjunction with an outdoor type grill or barbecue, a housing such as that indicated at 39 would be provided. This housing has front and rear walls 40 and 41, side walls 42 and a bottom 43. This bottom 43 can either be of the pullout type to make cleaning easier, or can be permanently affixed. In either case, a central opening is provided in the bottom to allow the drain tube to pass from the bottom of the convertible drip pan to the exterior of housing 39.

A supporting under carriage, indicated generally at 44, can be either of the type shown in Figs 6 and 7, or any other suitable configuration If the cooking heat source is one or more propane type gas burners, then a propane tank 4 5 can be appropriately furnished. If natural gas or electrical cooking heat sources were used, then appropriate connections {not shown) will be provided.

Also, the present invention can be used in conjunction with other heating means such as charcoal. An appropriate holder for this type of fuel, of course, would be provided.

In the type of grill shown in Fig 6 and 7, control knobs 38 are operatively mounted on the front wall 40 of n / f-A"1. ,■!, i j~iC( 2 1 OCT 1997 z 8 6 8 5 4 housing 39 so that the zones in the convertible drip pan 19 can be opened and closed.

A 3 id 46 in necurod to r«nr wnl I 4) of IioiipIikj 19 by suitable means such as hinge 47 Burner control knobs 48 are conveniently mounted on the grill and an air control damper 49 can be provided in the front wall 40 of housing 39 with exhaust ports 50 provided in the rear of lid 46. The location and configuration of dampers, exhaust ports and the like, can of course vary depending on the specific needs of the unit produced The drip pan of the present invention, having a plurality of convertible cooking zones, can be used in conjunction with several different sources of cooking and searing heat. Fig. 8 discloses electrical heating elements 51 with operatively associated control knobs 48' When these heating elements become red hot ana one or more of the zones in the convertible drip pan 19 are opened, searing of the meat or other food product resting on the rack above the pan can be readily accomplished.

Fig. 9 discloses a plurality of elongated gas type burners 52 with associated control knobs 48. Inverted deflector shields 53 can be provided so that any juices dripping on the burners will not tend to stop up the burner orifices. Deflector shields of this type are well known to those skilled in the art and are incorporated in Webber Genisis Gas Grills as well as in other makes 2868 54 The exploded view shown in Pig 10 shows the component parts of a typical grill incorporating the features of the present; invention The food HupporLIng rnck *>4 <-nn l>« «>r any suitable configuration from expanded metal to a plurality of closely spaced rods, to flat porcelain rods incorporated in the more expensive grills or barbecues From the above it can be seen that the present invention can be incorporated into any type of cooking environment where it is desired to control flare-ups during the cooking process The present- invention has all of the advantages of the prior art flameless grill or barbecue while overcoming all of the drawbacks thereof With the present invention, preheating is quick, steaks and similar food products can be seared to the desired amount and poultry such as chickens can be cooked all the way through without flare-up.

The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of such invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all resoects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all change coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein. 12 Q, % NOW AMENDEDjI 28 6 85 4 /

Claims (17)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: /

1. A drip pan disposed between a rack fior supporting food to be cooked and a heat source for oooking said food, comprising: / a convertible drip pan substantially covering the area below the food supporting rack; means for opening at least a portion of said convertible /drip pan between the rack and the heat source Jto allow heat from the heat source to rise theretJarough to sear the food thereabove; and means for closing the opening in at least a portion of said convertibl^ drip pan whereby food can be cooked in the same manney as a conventional barbecue grill when the drip pan is ocfen and can cook in a flare-up free environment when such/pan is closed

2. The drip pan of Claim 1 wherein a means is provided for collecting dr/ppings from the food when the convertible drip pin is closed

3. The janp pan of Claim 2 wherein the rack supporting food to be /cooked, the convertible drip pan and the heat source far cooking the food are mounted within a housing; and means for flowingly removing the collected drippings from tne housing

/4. The drip pan of Claim 1 wherein the means for opening at/least a portion of the convertible drip pan is a sliding jflate pli: " ; I I 13 ( 21 OCT 139/ I AS AMENDED WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A barbecue grill comprising, a housing enclosing a rack for supporting food to be cooked and a heat source for cooking; a convertible drip pan substantially covering the area below the food supporting rack; means for opening at least a portion of said convertible drip pan between the rack and the heat source to allow heat from the heat source to rise therethrough to sear the food thereabove, means for closing the opening in at lease a portion of said convertible drip pan; and means for collecting drippings from the food when the convertible drip pan is closed whereby food can be cooked in the same manner as a conventional barbecue grill when the drip pan is open and can slow cook in a flare-up free environment when such pan is closed 2 The barbecue grill of claim 1 wherein the means for opening at least a portion of the convertible drip pan is a sliding plate 3 The barbecue grill of claim 1 wherein the means for opening at least a portion of the convertible drip pan is at least one pivotable vane. 13 i c r\' v REOFIV, NOW AMENDED I 28 6 8 5 4

5. The drip pan of Claim 1 wherein the means for openii^ at least a portion of the convertible drip pan is at le^§t one pivot able vane

6. The drip pan of Claim 1 wherein the means fo/- opening at least a portion of the ccavertible drip ^an is a plurality of pivotable vanes

7. An enclosed grill having a heat/source and a rack supporting food to be cooked dispose^ thereabove, comprising: a convertible drip pan disposed between the rack supporting food to be cooked and theyrieat source for cooking the food, said convertible pan substantially covering the supporting rack; means for the convertible entire area below the food opening at least a porltion of drip pan between the pack and the heat source to allow heat from the heat source to rise therethrough to sear the food on the rack; and/means or closing the opening in at least a portion of/the drip pan whereby food can be cooked in the same manner as a conventional barbecue grill when the drip pan ps open and can cook such food in a flare- up free environnjent when such pan is closed

8 The j^rill of Claim 7 wherein a means is provided for collecting drippings from the food when the convertible drip pan As closed

9/ The grill of Claim 8 wherein a means is provided for/flowingly removing the collected drippings from the closed drip pan. 14 i , 2 1 OCT 1SS7 RtC. M.O 0 AS AMENDED t ^ ^ ^ U v. J t' 0 4. The barbecue grill of claim 1 wherein the means for opening at least a portion of the convertible drip pan is a plura]ity of pivotable vanes 5 An enclosed grill having an ashless heat source and a rack supporting food to be cooked disposed thereabove, comprising* a convertible drip pan disposed between the rack supporting food to be cooked and the ashless heat source for cooking the food, said convertible pan substantially covering the entire area below the food supporting rack; means for opening at least a portion of said convertible drip pan having a sloping surface for removing juices when closed to prevent flare-ups between the rack and the heat source to allow heat from the heat source to rise therethrough to sear the food on the rack, means for closing the opening m at least a portion of said convertible drip pan, and means for collecting drippings from the food when the convertible drip pan is closed whereby food can be cooked in the same manner as a conventional enclosed barbecue grill when the drip pan is open and can slow cook such food m a flare-up free environment when such pan is closed 6 The grill of claim 5 where: n a means is provided for fJowingly removing the collected drippings from the closed drip pan. 14 i mow amended! ' 28 6 85 4

10 The means of Claim 7 wherein the means for opening at least a portion of the convertible drip pan is a sliding pi nlo

11. The grill of Claim 7 wherein the means for opting at least a portion of the convertible drip pan is $£ least one pivotable vane.

12. The grill of Claim 7 wherein the meaȤ for opening at least a portion of the cc avertible yarip pan is a plurality of pivotable vanes

13 The method of cooking food ifn an ^enclosed housing having a rack for supporting foodr to be cooked disposed above a source of heat to cook the food comprising* placing a convertible drip pan, with at least one area that can be opened and closed^ between the rack and the heat / source; opening the at l,6ast one area in the convertible drip pan to allow heat /irorn the heat source to preheat the enclosed housing; closing the at least one area in the convertible drip paii; placing the food to be cooked on the rack in the preh^cited housing; am. allowing said heat source to continue to/'provide heat below said convertible drip pan / until the fo,£>d on the rack is done whereby a juicy, cooiced food produtt is provided that is not seared by flame-ups caused by juices dripping from said food during the cooking process.

, 14. The method of Claim 13 including collecting the juices dripping from the food onto the convertible drip pan. 15 » * »* *- 2 1 OCT 1SB? RECQVi 0 ^ " f, as amended l "• . * 7. Tne grill of claim 5 wherein the means for opening at least a portion of the convertible drip pan is a sliding plate 8. The grill of claim 5 wherein the means for opening at least a portion of the convertible drip pan is at least one pivotable vane. 9 The grill of claim 5 wherein the means for opening at least a portion of the convertible drip pan is a plurality of pivotable vanes 10. The method of cooking food in an enclosed housing having a rack for supporting food to be cooked disposed above a source of heat to cook the food comprising placing a convertible drip pan, with at least one area that can be opened and closed, between the rack and the heat source; opening the at least one area in the convertible drip pan to allow heat from the heat source to preheat the enclosed housing, closing the at least one area in the convertible drip pan; placing the food to be cooked on the } rack in the preheated housing; and allowing said heat source to continue to provide heat below said convertible drip pan until the food on the rack is done whereby a juicy, cooked food product is provided that is not seared by flame-ups caused by juices dripping from said food during the cooking process. 11. The method of claim 10 including collecting the juices dripping from the food onto the convextible drip pan 15 I NOW AMENDED I 28 6 8 5 4 15 The method of Claim 14 including removing of^/fche ( collected juices from the drip pan to the exterior ,of the />' houfling 16 The method of Claim 13 including opening of the at / least one area in the convertible drip pan during cooking to and closing sear the food disposed on the rack thereab<^ve, / said at least one area after said food i^" seared to prevent / p further flame-ups during the remainder of the cooking process / 17. The method of cooking food in an enclosed housing having a rack for supporting food/to be cooked disposed above / a source of heat to cook the fiood comprising: placing a convertible drip pan, with at least one area that can be opened and closed, between the rack and the heat source; placing the fo^id to be cooked on the rack above the opened at least one area in the convertible drip pan to sear / the food; and closing said at least one area after said food is seared to pre/ent further flameups during the remainder of / the cooking process. 18 f A drip pan substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment shown in Figures 2-10 of the accompanying drawings. .9. An enclosed grill substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment shown m Figures 2-10 of the accompanying drawings. 20. A method of cooking food in an enclosed housing substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment shown m Figures 2-10 of the accompanying drawings. I L I ENDOFaAHjS0t|._f R'c*' J <3vUrc^ 0 4 W\\)s 16 Py the oulhorisad A J PARK Per £ as amended ; ; ■ / ft 12 The method of claim 11 including removing of the collected juices from the drip pan to the exterior of the housing 13 The method of claim 10 including opening of the at least one area in the convertible drip pan during cooking to sear the food disposed on the rack thereabove, and closing said at least one area after said food is seared to prevent further flame-ups during the remainder of the cooking process 14m The method of cooking food in an enclosed housing having a rack for supporting food to be cooked disposed above a source of heat to cook the food comprising: placing a convertible drip pan, with at least one area that can be opened and closed, between the rack and the heat source; placing the food to be cooked on the rack above the opened at least one area in the convertible drip pan to sear the food; and closing said at least one area after said food is seared to prevent further flame-ups during the remainder of the cooking process.

15. A drip pan substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment shown in Figures 2-10 of the accompanying drawings.

16. An enclosed grill substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment shown in Figures 2-10 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A method of cooking food in an enclosed housing substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment shown in Figures 2-10 of the accompanying drawings. 16 1 C J \*> i RECEIVv as amended 18 An apparatus comprising a housing enclosing a rack supporting food to be cooked and a heat source for cooking, a convertible drip pan disposed between the rack and the heat source and substantially covering the area below the food supporting rack, said convertible drip pan having a sloping surface for removing juices when closed to prevent flare-ups, means for opening at least a portion of said convertible drip pan to allow heat from the heat source to rise therethrough to sear the food there-above; and means for closing the opening in at least a portion of said i convertible drip pan whereby food can be cooked in the same manner as a conventional barbecue grill when the drip pan is open and can slow cook in a flare-up free environment when such pan is closed. 19 The apparatus of claim 18 wherein there is included a means for collecting drippings from the food when the convertible drip pan is closed 20 The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the rack supporting food to be cooked, the convertible drip pan and the heat source for cooking the food are mounted within the housing, and means for flowmgly removing the collected drippings from the housing. 17 IND OF CLAIMS i c'.j ; 0es7~p