Charcoal barbecue grills

Abstract

A charcoal grill includes a vessel configured to hold and burn charcoal for cooking food. The charcoal grill may include a receptacle moveable between a first position in which the receptacle is positioned for collecting ashes from charcoal burned in the vessel and a second position in which the receptacle is separated from the vessel for disposal of the collected ashes. Additionally, or alternatively, the vessel may define a passage extending from an exterior side of the vessel to an interior side of the vessel for permitting a starter device to be inserted into the passage for igniting charcoal within the vessel. Additionally, or alternatively, the charcoal grill may include a vent system including at least one vent opening extending through a portion of the vessel, a vent cover movable with respect to the vent opening between a closed position and an open position, and at least one calibration associated with the vent cover between the closed position and the open position.

1 . A charcoal grill comprising:
 a vessel including an opening extending between an interior of the vessel and an exterior of the vessel, the vessel comprising clay, ceramics, refractory materials, terra cotta or cement rock compositions;   a fire bowl configured to hold charcoal and burn charcoal for cooking food, the fire bowl positioned within the vessel, the fire bowl comprising clay, ceramics, refractory materials, terra cotta or cement rock compositions; and   a removable unit including a receptacle for collecting ashes and a vent system comprising at least one vent opening, a vent cover movable with respect to the vent opening between a closed position and an open position, and a plurality of calibrations associated with the vent cover between the closed position and the open position corresponding to an airflow through the at least one vent opening, the receptacle configured for insertion through the opening of the vessel and moveable in a substantially horizontal direction between a first position in which the receptacle is positioned in the interior of the vessel for collecting ashes from charcoal burned in the fire bowl and a second position in which the removable unit is separated from the charcoal grill for convenient removal and disposal of the collected ashes by a user,   wherein the charcoal grill is a kamado-style charcoal grill.   
     
     
         2 . The charcoal grill of  claim 1  wherein the fire bowl comprises refractory materials. 
     
     
         3 . The charcoal grill of  claim 2  wherein the vessel comprises refractory materials. 
     
     
         4 . The charcoal grill of  claim 1  wherein the vessel includes a temperature control unit to monitor temperature within the charcoal grill. 
     
     
         5 . The charcoal grill of  claim 1  further comprising a grate positioned within the fire bowl for supporting charcoal. 
     
     
         6 . The charcoal grill of  claim 5  further comprising a cooking rack. 
     
     
         7 . The charcoal grill of  claim 6  wherein the cooking rack includes an upper cooking surface and a lower cooking surface. 
     
     
         8 . The charcoal grill of  claim 7  wherein the upper cooking surface is removably coupled to the lower cooking surface. 
     
     
         9 . The charcoal grill of  claim 7  wherein the upper cooking surface is constructed of stainless steel. 
     
     
         10 . The charcoal grill of  claim 1  wherein the vent cover comprises a dial configured to be rotated by a user to selectively cover or expose at least a portion of the vent opening. 
     
     
         11 . The charcoal grill of  claim 10  wherein at least a portion of the vent system is constructed of stainless steel. 
     
     
         12 . The charcoal grill of  claim 10  wherein the at least one calibration includes a plurality of numeric indicators. 
     
     
         13 . The charcoal grill of  claim 10  wherein the at least one vent opening, the vent cover and the at least one calibration are a first vent opening, a first vent cover and a first calibration, respectively, the charcoal grill further comprising a second vent opening, a second vent cover and a second calibration positioned on an upper portion of the vessel to selectively allow air to exit the vessel. 
     
     
         14 . The charcoal grill of  claim 13  wherein the second vent cover comprises a dial configured to be rotated by a user to selectively cover or expose at least a portion of the second vent opening. 
     
     
         15 . The charcoal grill of  claim 13  wherein the second vent cover is constructed of cast iron. 
     
     
         16 . The charcoal grill of  claim 1  wherein the vent cover comprises a slidable vent cover. 
     
     
         17 . The charcoal grill of  claim 1  further comprising a support structure for holding the vessel and one or more shelves coupled to side portions of the vessel. 
     
     
         18 . The charcoal grill of  claim 1  wherein the removable unit includes an external grip portion configured for engagement by a user when moving the receptacle between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         19 . The charcoal grill of  claim 1  wherein the fire bowl comprises a ceramic material. 
     
     
         20 . The charcoal grill of  claim 19  wherein the vessel comprises a ceramic material.