I may be wrong but I do not think that you have to worry about any "infrared" patent. I had one of the first infrared gas grills made by Thermal Engineering Corp located in Columbia, South Carolina. Nice grill, all thick stainless, and expensive. The manufacturers have improved this technology. It was made in 1995. I think that their patent expired and Charbroil was one of the first to start using that technology which should be open to everyone?