Side burner for a grill

Abstract

A grill side burner assembly including a burner having a generally disc-shaped body with an oval cross-section. Louvered main ports are arranged around the upper part of the burner body and create a cyclone-like distribution of heat to the cooking surface thereby improving efficiency. A fuel feed channel is formed integrally into a lower portion of the burner and provides fuel to the interior of the burner body. The burner can be attached to the bottom of a bowl-like recess in a side-burner base and covered with a grid. The side burner assembly can be implemented with a very low parts count.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A burner comprising: 
 a burner body; and    a fuel feed channel, the fuel feed channel being coupled to the burner body for delivering fuel to the burner body,    wherein the burner body comprises a plurality of openings arranged on an upper portion of the burner body and wherein the burner body has a substantially circular shape with a substantially oval cross section.    
     
     
         2 . The burner of    claim 1   , wherein the burner body comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, each of the upper and lower portions comprising a flange for joining the upper and lower portions.  
     
     
         3 . The burner of    claim 1   , wherein the plurality of openings are arranged radially about a center of the burner body.  
     
     
         4 . The burner of    claim 1   , wherein the plurality of openings includes a plurality of louvered ports, the louvered ports having the same orientation.  
     
     
         5 . The burner of    claim 4   , wherein each of the plurality of louvered ports emits a flame which is directed above an adjacent louvered port.  
     
     
         6 . The burner of    claim 1   , wherein the fuel feed channel comprises a drainage gutter.  
     
     
         7 . A burner assembly comprising: 
 a base;    a burner, the burner including a burner body and a fuel feed channel, the fuel feed channel being coupled to the burner body for delivering fuel to the burner body, and the burner body including a plurality of openings arranged on an upper portion of the burner body, the burner body having a substantially circular shape with a substantially oval cross section;    a grid, the grid being comprised of stamped sheet metal,    wherein the burner is arranged in the base and the grid is arranged on the base, over the burner.    
     
     
         8 . The burner assembly of    claim 7   , wherein the grid comprises a plurality of spokes coupled to a central hub.  
     
     
         9 . The burner assembly of    claim 8   , wherein the spokes and central hub have cupped bottom surfaces.  
     
     
         10 . The burner assembly of    claim 7    comprising an ignitor subassembly.  
     
     
         11 . The burner assembly of    claim 10   , wherein the ignitor sub-assembly includes two ignitors, each generating a spark between itself and the burner body when activated.