Idea Next Step :: Are you ready for the next step?

I.BACKGROUND:
And so it goes...In the begining man and woman hunted, caught and cooked his and her meager food over an open fired pit. Less today because we have evolved from the dinosaur era. Many of us are always enjoying a barbecue. Right after shoulder surgery I needed an easier way to do the task. I say task because in barbecuing you always cook with the lid closed.

We should all know when doing it this way it cooks the food more evenly fast or slow, but hotter, by saving moisture and fuel usage.

II. REASONING:
Upon raising the hot gas and smoke contained cover lid, it will quickly release this at the chefs face, because of the closeness and angle the lid allows while handling. O K it just might be a near miss. Time after time we become use to it. But today "NO HANDS"is a good thing. The foot operated trash lid has been distributed and used for over 40 years and continues, so it must be good.

III. SOME BENEFITS:
Avoids the possible smoke in the eyes while raising cover lid. Also now you have both hands to use; for moving or turning the heavier and delicate foods. Enables the extra hand or hands to use your favorite basting brush with holding your delicious sauce.

IV: TESTING THE DEVELOPMENT:
By having the springs specification we were able to avoid over stretching. Allowing safe (no nip) spring tensions provided the go ahead and reason for a motorized challenge to open and close lid over 20,000 times, trouble free. This same unit is shown in the video and still sits the same way today outside with no cover protection. Mechanical advantage is about 1 1/2 inches foot travel, multiplying to end of lid movement of 21".

IV.V: Not much to talk about:
Costing of main spring is $2.00 each. The painted steel levers costing $.50 each at 3 pieces. Lid bracketry 3 pieces $2.50. A beaded chain and two L brackets $3, were mounted about bottom of unit. Hardware $2. Approx cost total $16.50

V: APPLICATIONS & GREEN::
As seen by pictures this device is external fastened to a hinged cover with a simple utility design. Most hinged covers of barbecues can be adapted by mounting with standard fasteners. A manufactures integral option can be designed into possible units without adaption. Means would be achieved by pre-drilled holes.

This aide for opening the smoke filled lid should help the beginner chef. It allows comfort with using the cover lid. Without it he or she may not feel to use the lid, and then cook the food by grilling only.
Grilling we know mostly cooks food from the bottom. The combusted heat after hitting, and slightly surrounding the foods is then released into the atmosphere along with the moisture and other gases.
Using the cover lid conservatively saves 70% by holding and renewing to cook with. Another way of explaining this, is you will use less fuel to barbecue with, costing $.70 on the dollar less. So for every dollar spent you save $.70.
Not to mention, but I will anyway, you will stop making trips to the store for fuel two times for every three times going.