4496-1.doc Combined Barbeque and Heater Field of Invention This invention relates to barbeques used for cooking foods outdoors, and in particular to barbeques which may also act as outdoor heaters. Background [0001] A barbeque is an apparatus for cooking foods, using the heat produced by burning solid fuel such as timber, charcoal or briquettes, or by using other heat sources such as gas or electricity. Typically a barbeque is portable. [0002] Barbeques using solid fuels require access to be provided for a user to tend the burning fuel. This may be achieved by providing a relatively shallow barbeque body with a wide opening at the top, or by providing a relatively deeper body with an opening in the side wall of the body which provides access. [0003] A barbeque may also be used as a heater. Use as a heater requires a larger opening in the side wall. Furthermore, any door which is provided for the opening tends to make the barbeque less effective as a heater, even when the door is open. [0004] Barbeques may optionally be provided with lids which act to retain heat within the barbeque and to retain moisture within the foods being cooked. The barbeque lid may be hinged to the body of the barbeque or it may be removable from the barbeque. Removable lids are placed on top of the body of the barbeque, and removed when not required, for example when lighting the barbeque or while tending to the cooking of the food. The disadvantage of 4496-1.doc -2 removable lids is that they tend to be unstable and can easily be dislodged. Summary of the Invention [0005] Embodiments of the present invention aim to provide a barbeque with improved heating capacity. Embodiments of the invention optionally provided with a removable lid aim to provide a removable lid that extends over a side opening but in which the lid is relatively stable. [0006] In one broad form the present invention provides a barbeque comprising a hollow body, wherein the body has at least one side wall and a first top end opening at a top end, and the at least one side wall has at least one first side wall opening contiguous with the first top end opening, and wherein the at least one first side wall opening is sized to allow the handle of a handled object located in the body to extend out of the body through the at least one side wall opening. [0007] The barbeque may have at least one second side wall opening positioned generally below the at least one first side wall opening. [0008] The barbeque may have the at least one first side wall opening and the at least one second side wall opening being contiguous. [0009] The barbeque may have support means for supporting items to be heated, at least part of the support means being positioned within the body below the first top end opening and such that the handle of a handled object located in the body extends out of the body through at least one side wall opening. [0010] The present invention further provides a barbeque having one or more support platforms each adapted to be mounted on the body of the barbeque by a supporting groove attached to the lower part of the support platform, the supporting groove being adapted to receive part of the side wall of the body. The 4496-1.doc -3 supporting groove may be formed by two or more generally vertical walls or protrusions adapted to fit over some part of the barbeque such that the support platform is held stably in place while being easily removable. [0011] The present invention further provides a barbeque comprising a hollow body and a removable lid, wherein: the body has at least one side wall and with a first top end opening at a top end, the at least one side wall has at least one first side wall opening, and the removable lid has a lid portion and cover portion, such that when the removable lid is positioned on the body, the lid portion covers at least part of the first top end opening and the cover portion covers at least part of the at least one first side wall opening. [0012] This type of removable lid allows a relatively larger opening to be provided in the side wall of the body of the barbeque, removes the need for a hinged or sliding door to cover the opening, and provides a removable lid which attaches more securely to the body of the barbeque than prior art removable lids. [0013] The barbeque may have a second side wall opening , wherein, when the removable lid is positioned on the body, the second side wall opening remains substantially uncovered by the cover portion. [0014] The first top end opening, and the first and second side wall openings may be contiguous. [0015] The barbeque may have lugs attached to the removable lid and/or to the body and/or to the cover portion such that lateral movement of the removable lid upon the body is restricted.
4496-1.doc -4 [0016] The removable lid and body may have a cooperating means of assisting the positioning of the removable lid upon the body. The cooperating means may be a projection attached to the removable lid which engages with a mating slot in the body, or vice versa. [0017] The barbeque may be constructed partially or substantially completely from a gas bottle. The gas bottle may be recycled or it may be a new gas bottle. [0018] The present invention further provides a method of constructing a barbeque from a gas bottle comprising the steps of: cutting the gas bottle into parts, a first part forming a body with a first top end opening and a side wall with a first side wall opening contiguous with the first top end opening, and wherein the at least one first side wall opening is sized to allow the handle of a handled object located in the body to extend out of the body through the at least one side wall opening. [0019] The parts may also include a second part forming a removable lid with an attached cover portion for covering the first side wall opening opening. [0020] The parts may also include a third part forming a detached portion creating a second side wall opening in the side wall of the body. [0021] The method may include attaching one or more lugs to the removable lid and/or to the body and/or to the cover portion such that the lugs prevent lateral movement of the removable lid with respect to the body when the removable lid is positioned upon the body. [0022] The detached portion may be formed by being detached from the cover portion, or by being detached from the body.
4496-1.doc -5 [0023] One or more support platforms may be formed from the detached portion. [0024] One or more support platforms may be formed from material other than that taken from a gas bottle. Brief Description of the Drawings [0025] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a barbeque with a removable lid according to the present invention. [0026] Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a barbeque with a removable lid according to the present invention. [0027] Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a barbeque without a lid according to the present invention. Detailed Description of Preferred and other Embodiments [0028] Figures 1 to 3 show a barbeque according to the present invention. The barbeque may have a removable lid 30, or it may be provided without a lid. [0029] The barbeque has a base 10 and a body 12. The base 10 supports the body 12 in a stable operating position. The body 12 may have handles 14 which may be used for positioning or lifting the barbeque. The body has a plurality of ventilation apertures 16, which may be circular or elongate, or any other suitable shape. [0030] The body 12 is generally hollow, and is substantially closed at a lower end. The body has a first top end opening 42 formed at a top end, with top edge 13 forming part of the boundary of the first top end opening. The first top end opening 42 lies generally in a horizontal plane. [0031] The body has a side wall with first side wall opening 44 extending down from top edge 13, and generally perpendicular to the first top end opening.
4496-1.doc -6 Optionally a second side wall opening 46 is formed in the side wall. The first top end opening, and the first and second side wall openings may be contiguous forming a single large opening which allows easy access to the inside of the body, for inserting fuel, for setting the fuel alight, and for tending the burning fuel. [0032] In the embodiment shown, the first side wall opening is larger than the second side wall opening, however it could be smaller or it could be the same size. [0033] A slot 48 may be provided in the bottom side wall portion, below and contiguous with the second side wall opening. This slot may be used for positioning a barbeque toot such as a jaffle iron within the barbeque such that the barbeque toot ties generally horizontally upon the coals/embers. The slot is sized to receive the handle of a barbeque tool. [0034] The combination of first top opening, and first and second side wall openings, whether contiguous or not contiguous, provides effectively one large opening which allows the barbeque to be used as a heater which heats the user(s) more effectively than prior art barbeques. [0035] The barbeque may be provided without a lid, or may be provided with a removable lid 30. The removable lid is adapted to be securely supported upon the body 12. The removable lid is generally hollow, and is preferably fully or substantially closed at an upper end. [0036] The removable lid 30 has a lid portion 32 and a cover portion 31. When the removable lid is positioned upon the body, the lid portion 32 covers all or part of the first top end opening 42 in the body, and the cover portion 31 covers all or part of the first side wall opening 44 in the body. [0037] The second side wall opening 46 in the body, if provided, remains 4496-1.doc -7 uncovered when the removable lid is positioned upon the body. [0038] In the embodiment shown, the cover portion 31 fully covers the first side wall opening 44 when positioned upon the body. [0039] In the embodiment shown, the first side wall opening 44 and the cover portion 31 are both shaped such that they are wider at their upper ends than at their lower ends. This assists in placing the removable lid with attached cover portion upon the body. [0040] Lugs 38 are provided on the outside of the removable lid to assist in maintaining the removable lid in a secure position on the body. [0041] The lower part of the removable lid has dimensions which match the dimensions of the upper part of the body, such that the removable lid and the body form a snug fit when placed one on the other. [0042] The removable lid may comprise additional lugs 40 on the edges of the cover portion. These lugs further assist in positioning the removable lid upon the body, and in maintaining the secure placement of the removable lid upon the body. [0043] When a removable lid is provided, the second side wall opening is preferably smaller than the first side wall opening, such part of the side wall 50 at the bottom of the first side wall opening provides additional support for the removable lid, assisting to support the removable lid in position and acting to prevent the removable lid from falling forward. [0044] The combination of the large cover portion of the removable lid engaging with the opening in the body, plus the lugs on the removable lid provides a removable lid which is more secure than prior art lid/body combinations.
4496-1.doc -8 [0045] The removable lid may have a top handle 32 and one or more side handles 34 which may be used to lift the removable lid from the body. [0046] The top handle 32 may incorporate a vent for releasing exhaust gases from the barbeque. [0047] A rear protrusion (not shown) on the removable lid and a corresponding rear slot 36 in the body are provided to assist in positioning the removable lid upon the body. [0048] A front protrusion on the removable lid (not shown) may be provided on the inside of the cover portion and preferably behind the top handle 32 such that the removable lid, when removed, may be hung from the top edge 13 by the front protrusion. [0049] To place the removable lid upon the body, the removable lid is first positioned with the front of the removable lid higher than the back, and such that protrusion 35 at the rear of the removable lid and slot 36 at the rear of the body mate. The front of the removable lid is then lowered onto the body. Lugs 38 engage the outer part of the top edge 13 of the body, preventing forward movement of the removable lid relative to the body. The cover portion 31 covers the first side wall opening in the body. Lugs 40 on the edge of the cover portion 31 engage the outer part of the sides of the first side wall opening of the body, preventing rearwards movement of the removable lid relative to the body. The combination of the lugs 38, 40 and the cover portion 31 engage the body such that the removable lid is securely mounted on the body and cannot be dislodged by lateral movement of the lid relative to the body. [0050] In use, solid fuel such as timber or charcoal is placed within the body, and is set alight. The ventilation apertures 16 allow air to be drawn towards the 4496-1.doc -9 timber or coals to allow combustion. Exhaust gases escape through the second side wall opening 46. [0051] Support rod apertures 18 in the body are provided such that one or more support rods 20 may be removably inserted between pairs of apertures. Figure 2 shows two such support rods 20, one of which is positioned in an inserted position and the other is positioned ready to be inserted into the body. [0052] The support rods are positioned below the top edge 13 such that an item to be heated such as a frying pan may be positioned upon the support rods, with the top of the frying pan lying below the tope edge 13 of the side wall, and with the handle of the frying pan passing through the second side wall opening in the body. [0053] While the support rods are preferably removable, it will be understood that they may alternatively be fixed permanently in position. [0054] It will be understood that alternative support means such as a grate may be provided in the barbeque. [0055] The barbeque may be provided with one or more support platforms 22 which may be mounted on part of the barbeque and which provide a generally horizontal surface upon which plates or food or other materials may be placed. The support platforms may be mounted on the handles 14, or may be mounted on some other part of the barbeque, such as the top edge of the body, or the lower part of the third opening. [0056] The support platforms comprise a generally flat plate 24 fixed to a support structure. The support structure comprises a support groove adapted to receive part of the side wall of the body of the barbeque. In a preferred embodiment, the support groove comprises two or more generally vertical protrusions 26 formed by two metal plates in a generally parallel curved arrangement and separated by a 4496-1.doc - 10 distance slightly larger than the thickness of side wall of the body of the barbeque. [0057] The barbeque may be provided with a removable handle 28, which may also be used as a poker for positioning the solid fuel within the body of the barbeque. The removable handle 28 may also be used to aid in the removal and positioning of the lid 30. [0058] The barbeque may be constructed from a gas bottle or from a recycled gas bottle. It will be understood that the construction materials for the barbeque may be sourced from materials other than gas bottles. [0059] The barbeque may be constructed from a gas bottle by cutting the gas bottle into parts which form the body, the removable lid (where provided), and a remnant opening. The material removed from the gas bottle to form the remnant opening forms a detached portion which may be used to form one or more of the support platforms. [0060] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and any claims the words "comprise", "comprising", and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to". [0061] The features of the invention described or mentioned in this document may be combined in any combination of features where features are not mutually exclusive. [0062] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many obvious modifications and variations may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.