On-demand cooking apparatus

Abstract

An on-demand cooking apparatus for use with a cooking device having a housing, a fuel supply assembly, and a burner assembly mounted in the housing and operatively connected to the fuel supply assembly to emit fuel. An igniter operatively connects to the burner assembly to ignite the fuel into a flame, and an activation assembly operatively connects to the burner assembly, the fuel supply assembly, and the igniter. The activation assembly engages the cooking device when the cooking device is positioned in a first position relative to the burner assembly. The cooking device can be moved for movement of the activation assembly to allow flow of fuel from the fuel supply assembly to the burner assembly, and the activation assembly signals the igniter to ignite the fuel into a flame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An on-demand cooking apparatus for use with a cooking device, comprising:
 a housing;   a fuel supply assembly;   a burner assembly mounted in the housing and operatively connected to the fuel supply assembly to emit fuel;   an igniter operatively connected to the burner assembly to ignite the fuel into a flame; and   an activation assembly configured for operatively connecting to the burner assembly, the fuel supply assembly, and the igniter, the activation assembly being configured to engage the cooking device when the cooking device is positioned in a first position relative to the burner assembly, so that the cooking device can be moved for movement of the activation assembly to allow flow of fuel from the fuel supply assembly to the burner assembly, and the activation assembly signals the igniter to ignite the fuel into a flame.   
     
     
         2 . The on-demand cooking device of  claim 1 , the activation assembly comprising:
 a bracket;   an actuator valve operatively connected to the fuel supply assembly and the burner assembly, the actuator valve configured for actuation between and on position wherein fuel flows to the burner assembly and an off position wherein fuel does not flow to the burner assembly;   wherein the actuator valve includes a biasing member that biases the actuator valve to the off position;   a lever arm pivotally attached to the bracket and the actuator valve;   a plunger rod pivotally connected to the lever arm; and   a plunger attached to the plunger rod.   
     
     
         3 . The on-demand cooking device of  claim 1 , the burner assembly comprising:
 a burner head defining a bore configured for receiving at least a portion of the activation assembly, and a plurality of apertures configured to emit fuel.   
     
     
         4 . The on-demand cooking device of  claim 1 , the fuel supply assembly comprising:
 a fuel supply;   a regulator operatively connected to the fuel supply;   a manifold operatively connected to the regulator; and   a control valve operatively connected to the manifold and configured for engagement by an operator for actuation of the control valve.   
     
     
         5 . The on-demand cooking device of  claim 1 , the igniter comprising an electric spark generator.