Grease Containment Systems

What is this patent about?

’895 is related to the field of outdoor cooking, specifically addressing the problem of safely and cleanly collecting grease and other fluids that drain from cooking devices like wood pellet grills. Existing open-top buckets are prone to spills, create slipping hazards, attract pests, and pose burn risks, especially to children and pets. The invention aims to mitigate these issues by providing a more secure and thermally insulated containment system.

The underlying idea behind ’895 is to create a thermally buffered enclosure around a grease collection bucket that mounts directly to the grill's drain. This enclosure provides physical protection against spills and bumps, thermal insulation to prevent burns from contact with the hot bucket, and controlled ventilation to reduce the risk of grease fires. The design also aims to improve stability and ease of cleaning.

The claims of ’895 focus on a system for catching fluid drainage from an outdoor cooking device. This system includes a receptacle to collect the draining fluids and an enclosure that houses the receptacle. The enclosure has an upper and lower portion that are separable, a support for the receptacle, and a mount to attach the enclosure to the drain of the cooking device. Crucially, the enclosure incorporates an insulation layer between the receptacle and the enclosure walls and is directly exposed to the outdoor environment.

In practice, the enclosure consists of an upper and lower portion that slide apart for easy emptying and cleaning. The upper portion mounts to the grill's drain, often using a collar or flange, and may include a channel to direct the fluid into the bucket. The lower portion houses the bucket and provides an air gap or other insulation to reduce heat transfer to the outer walls. Vents, sometimes with adjustable dampers, allow for controlled airflow to cool the bucket and manage the risk of fire.

The key differentiation from prior approaches lies in the combination of secure mounting, thermal insulation, and controlled ventilation within a single, easily serviceable enclosure. While simple buckets offer no protection, and some containers might offer spill protection, ’895 integrates these features to address the multiple safety and cleanliness concerns associated with grease collection in outdoor cooking environments. The adjustable vents also provide a unique means of controlling oxygen levels to suppress potential grease fires.