Tabletop grill

Abstract

A tabletop grill generally includes a first grill unit having a first grill plate and a first heating element for heating the first grill plate. The grill further includes a second grill unit positionable relative to the first grill unit. The second grill unit has a second grill plate and a second heating element for heating the second grill plate. The grill is configured to function as a broiler.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tabletop grill comprising:
 a first grill unit comprising a first grill plate and a first heating element for heating the first grill plate; and   a second grill unit positionable relative to the first grill unit, the second grill unit comprising a second grill plate and a second heating element for heating the second grill plate,   wherein the grill is configured to function as a broiler.   
     
     
         2 . The tabletop grill of  claim 1 , wherein the grill comprises a hinge pivotably connecting the first grill unit to the second grill unit, and wherein the second grill unit comprises a housing on which the second grill plate is mounted such that the second grill plate is removable from the housing, the hinge being configured to limit the range of pivoting motion of the second grill unit relative to the first grill unit when the second grill plate is removed from the housing. 
     
     
         3 . A tabletop grill comprising:
 a first grill unit; and   a second grill unit positionable relative to the first grill unit, the second grill unit comprising:
 a housing defining an interior space; 
 a quartz-type heating element disposed within the interior space of the housing; and 
 a grill plate mounted on the housing to cover the interior space such that the heating element is configured to heat the grill plate. 
   
     
     
         4 . The tabletop grill of  claim 3 , wherein the heating element comprises a tube and a filament disposed within the tube such that open space surrounds the filament within the tube, the tube being one of transparent and translucent. 
     
     
         5 . The tabletop grill of  claim 3 , wherein the grill plate is removably mounted on the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The tabletop grill of  claim 5 , wherein the grill comprises a heat distribution member disposed within the interior space of the housing to facilitate evenly distributing energy emitted from the heating element. 
     
     
         7 . The tabletop grill of  claim 6 , wherein the heat distribution member is a grating. 
     
     
         8 . The tabletop grill of  claim 3 , wherein the second grill unit is configured for vertical displacement relative to the first grill unit to vary spacing between the grill units. 
     
     
         9 . The tabletop grill of  claim 3 , wherein the second grill unit comprises a reflector configured to direct energy emitted from the heating element toward the grill plate. 
     
     
         10 . The tabletop grill of  claim 9 , wherein the reflector has an upper surface that is contoured to define a trough sized to receive the heating element. 
     
     
         11 . The tabletop grill of  claim 10 , wherein the trough has a pair of side-by-side depressions that extend along the length of the heating element. 
     
     
         12 . The tabletop grill of  claim 11 , wherein the heating element is disposed between the depressions. 
     
     
         13 . The tabletop grill of  claim 3 , wherein the grill comprises a hinge pivotably connecting the first grill unit to the second grill unit, and wherein the grill plate is removable from the housing, the hinge being configured to limit the range of pivoting motion of the second grill unit relative to the first grill unit when the grill plate is removed from the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The tabletop grill of  claim 13 , wherein the hinge comprises a spring loaded pin configured for displacement when the grill plate is removed from the housing to facilitate limiting the range of pivoting motion of the second grill unit. 
     
     
         15 . The tabletop grill of  claim 3 , wherein the heating element is substantially linearly extending. 
     
     
         16 . The tabletop grill of  claim 15 , wherein the heating element substantially spans the interior space. 
     
     
         17 . The tabletop grill of  claim 3 , wherein the grill plate has an underside that is coated in a heat absorbing material. 
     
     
         18 . The tabletop grill of  claim 17 , wherein the heat absorbing material is a black paint. 
     
     
         19 . The tabletop grill of  claim 3 , wherein the grill plate is one of transparent and translucent. 
     
     
         20 . A tabletop grill comprising:
 a first grill unit;   a second grill unit positionable relative to the first grill unit, the second grill unit comprising:
 a housing defining an interior space; 
 a grill plate removably mounted on the housing to cover the interior space; 
 a reflector disposed within the interior space, wherein the reflector comprises an upper surface that defines a trough; and 
 a quartz-type heating element mounted within the interior space in spaced relation to the reflector, the heating element extending along the trough such that energy emitted from the heating element impacts the upper surface of the reflector within the through and is reflected toward the grill plate; and 
   a hinge pivotably connecting the first grill unit to the second grill unit, wherein the hinge is configured to limit the range of pivoting motion of the second grill unit relative to the first grill unit when the grill plate is removed from the housing.