US-20260123790-A1 - CLAMSHELL GRILL, PLATEN ASSEMBLY, AND METHODS FOR THE USE THEREOF

US20260123790A1US 20260123790 A1US20260123790 A1US 20260123790A1US-20260123790-A1

Abstract

A clamshell grill includes a griddle plate defining a cooking surface and a platen having a sealing member defining a perimeter of an interior cooking cavity. The platen is moveable between a non-cooking position, wherein the sealing member is spaced apart from the cooking surface, and a cooking position, wherein the sealing member is engaged with the cooking surface and defines an enclosed cooking volume. A fluid source may be coupled to the platen and includes an outlet in fluid communication with the enclosed cooking volume, at least when the platen is moved to the cooking position. A platen assembly and methods for the use and assembly of the clamshell grill are also provided.

Inventors

Jason Lyle Sands
Jason David Schreiner
William Elbert Means, II
Brian Anthony Murton

Assignees

MIDDLEBY MARSHALL INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251105

Claims (20)

1 . A clamshell grill comprising: a griddle plate defining a cooking surface; a platen comprising a compressible seal defining a perimeter of an interior cooking cavity, wherein the platen is moveable between a non-cooking position, wherein the seal is spaced apart from the cooking surface, and a cooking position, wherein the seal is engaged with the cooking surface and defines an enclosed cooking volume; and a fluid source coupled to the platen and comprising an outlet in fluid communication with the enclosed cooking volume at least when the platen is moved to the cooking position.
2 . The clamshell grill of claim 1 , wherein the compressible seal comprises a closed ring defining the perimeter of the interior cooking cavity.
3 . The clamshell grill of claim 1 , wherein the platen comprises a platen plate having a surface facing the cooking surface, wherein the surface of the platen plate and/or the cooking surface are heatable.
4 . The clamshell grill of claim 1 , further comprising a housing supporting the griddle plate, and wherein the platen is coupled to the housing with a lift mechanism.
5 . The clamshell grill of claim 4 , wherein the lift mechanism is configured to pivot and/or translate the platen as the platen is moved between the cooking and non-cooking positions.
6 . The clamshell grill of claim 1 , further comprising a first handle configured to facilitate moving the platen between the cooking position and the non-cooking position via a lift mechanism.
7 . The clamshell grill of claim 6 , further comprising a releaser configured to be selectively movable to allow the platen to be pivoted or prevent the platen from being pivoted.
8 . The clamshell grill of claim 1 , further comprising a release mechanism configured to be movable between a locked state and a released state, wherein when the release mechanism is in the locked state, the platen is prevented from pivoting around a main axis, and when the release mechanism is in the released state, the platen is allowed to be pivoted around the main axis.
9 . The clamshell grill of claim 8 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a releaser and a connecting shaft extending between a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the connecting shaft is connected to the releaser, and the second end of the connecting shaft selectively engages a release shaft configured to be selectively rotatable around the main axis.
10 . The clamshell grill of claim 9 , wherein the releaser is moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein when the releaser is in the first position, the second end of the connecting shaft engages the release shaft such that the release shaft is prevented from rotating around the main axis, and wherein when the releaser is in the second position, the second end of the connecting shaft disengages the release shaft such that the release shaft is allowed to rotate around the main axis.
11 . A platen assembly configured for use with a griddle plate, the platen assembly comprising: a housing; a platen moveably coupled to the housing, wherein the platen is moveable between a non-cooking position and a cooking position, the platen comprising: a plate defining a cooking surface; a compressible seal extending from the cooking surface, wherein the seal defines a perimeter of an interior cooking cavity; and a fluid source coupled to the platen and comprising an outlet in fluid communication with the interior cooking cavity at least when the platen is moved to the cooking position.
12 . The platen assembly of claim 11 , wherein the platen is moveably coupled to the housing with a lift mechanism.
13 . The platen assembly of claim 11 , wherein the compressible seal comprises a closed ring defining the perimeter of the interior cooking cavity.
14 . The platen assembly of claim 11 , wherein the seal has a compressibility between and including 1/8 inch and 4 inches.
15 . A method of cooking a food product comprising: depositing the food product on a cooking surface of a griddle plate; moving a platen comprising a compressible seal defining a perimeter of an interior cooking cavity from a non-cooking position, wherein the seal is spaced apart from the cooking surface to a cooking position, wherein the seal is engaged with the cooking surface and —together with the platen and the cooking surface— defines an enclosed cooking volume; and introducing a fluid into the enclosed cooking volume from a fluid source coupled to the platen.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein moving the platen to the cooking position comprises compressing the seal to between and including 1/8 inch and 4 inches.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein moving the platen comprises moving a lift mechanism coupled to a housing supporting the griddle plate.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein moving the platen comprises pivoting and/or translating the platen.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein pivoting the platen comprises moving a releaser towards a first handle.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein pivoting the platen comprises moving a release mechanism from a locked state to a released state.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/716,955, filed November 6, 2024, which is hereby fully incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present application relates generally to a clamshell grill, and in particular to a clamshell grill having a platen assembly, to the platen assembly, and to methods for the use and assembly thereof. BACKGROUND Clamshell grills often include upper and lower heating plates, which may be moved toward or away from each other. The heating plates apply heat to opposite sides of a food product, which may decrease the cooking time for the food product while cooking the food product more evenly. Such systems typically do not create a seal around the food product to trap the heat surrounding the food product, and also do not provide for the introduction of any liquid, such as water, to maintain the moisture in the product. SUMMARY The present invention is defined by the following claims, and nothing in this section should be considered to be a limitation on those claims. In one aspect, one embodiment of a clamshell grill includes a griddle plate defining a cooking surface and a platen having a compressible seal defining a perimeter of an interior cooking cavity. The platen is moveable between a non-cooking position, wherein the seal is spaced apart from the cooking surface, and a cooking position, wherein the seal is engaged with the cooking surface and defines an enclosed cooking volume. A fluid source is coupled to the platen and includes an outlet in fluid communication with the enclosed cooking volume at least when the platen is moved to the cooking position. In another aspect, one embodiment of a platen assembly configured for use with a griddle plate includes a housing and a platen moveably coupled to the housing, wherein the platen is moveable between a non-cooking position and a cooking position. The platen includes a plate defining a cooking surface and a compressible seal extending from the cooking surface, wherein the seal defines a perimeter of an interior cooking cavity. A fluid source is coupled to the platen and includes an outlet in fluid communication with the interior cooking cavity at least when the platen is moved to the cooking position. In another aspect, one embodiment of a clamshell grill includes a griddle plate defining a cooking surface and a platen moveable relative to the cooking surface from a non-cooking position to a cooking position. A panel is moveably connected to the platen. The panel is engageable with the cooking surface and moveable relative to the platen as the platen is moved between the non-cooking position and the cooking position. The panel defines at least in part an enclosed cooking volume when engaged with the cooking surface. In various embodiments, a pair of side panels, front panel and/or rear panel may be moveably connected to the platen. The side panels, front panel and/or rear panel may be integrally formed as a single sealing housing moveably connected to the platen, or may be independently connected to the platen. In another aspect, a clamshell grill includes a griddle plate defining a lower cooking surface and a platen having an upper cooking surface. A sealing member is coupled to the platen and includes a sealing edge. The platen is moveable between a non-cooking position, wherein the sealing edge is spaced apart from the cooking surface, and a cooking position, wherein the sealing edge is engaged with the cooking surface and defines an enclosed cooking volume. The sealing edge is moveable relative to the upper cooking surface as the platen is moved between the non-cooking and cooking positions. In various embodiments, the sealing member may be configured as a moveable panel or a compressible seal. In yet another aspect, one embodiment of a method of cooking a food product includes depositing the food product on a cooking surface of a griddle plate, moving a platen having a compressible seal defining a perimeter of an interior cooking cavity from a non-cooking position, wherein the seal is spaced apart from the cooking surface, to a cooking position, wherein the seal is engaged with the cooking surface and defines an enclosed cooking volume, and introducing a fluid into the enclosed cooking volume from a fluid source coupled to the platen. The various embodiments of the clamshell grill, platen assembly and methods provide significant advantages over other clam shell grills, and methods for the assembly and use thereof. For example, and without limitation, the sealing member creates an enclosed cooking volume that traps heat to more quickly and evenly cook the food product. The sealing member may be compressible, which provides for different height cooking volumes that may accommodate food products of varying sides. The system further allows for the introduction of a fluid into the cavity, which can further improve the c