Stoves and furnaces – Stoves – Cooking
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-12
2001-04-03
Yeung, James C. (Department: 3743)
Stoves and furnaces
Stoves
Cooking
C126S276000, C099S482000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209533
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to barbecue grills and, more particularly, to grills for smoking food items.
2. Description of the Related Art
Food items, such as meat, fish, etc., are commonly smoked by placing the items in a container or smoke box wherein the smoke from smoldering wood, such as hickory, mesquite, etc., is provided. The smoldering wood emits an aromatic smoke which fills the smoke box and which imparts a distinctive smoked flavor to the food items. Such devices typically operate at a relatively low temperature and, in order to ensure complete cooking, for the smoked flavor to deeply penetrate the food items, and develop to a desirable flavor intensity, the wood is allowed to smolder for prolonged periods of time, i.e. several hours. The food items are thus continuously surrounded, flavored and cooked by the smoke and heat created by the wood.
Many prior art devices for smoking food items, known as smokers, exist which typically include a smoker chamber for containing the food items and a firebox which communicates with the interior of the smoker chamber. The firebox is configured for containing smoldering wood and is adapted to provide a suitable amount of smoke to the interior of the smoker chamber for smoking the food items. Heretofore, it has been commonplace to provide an exhaust or smokestack at a location along the smoker chamber that is interior of one of its end walls, such as on an upper surface of the smoker chamber, that promotes a flow of smoke from the firebox, through the interior of the smoker chamber, and upwardly through the smokestack. Thus, the smokestack cooperates with the firebox to provide an air flow (and its accompanying smoke) within the smoker that tends to surround the food items that are placed within the smoker chamber between the firebox and the smokestack.
However, for food items placed within the smoker chamber at locations on the opposite side of the smokestack from the firebox, smoking of these food items can be more difficult, i.e. more time consuming, as those locations within the smoker chamber tend to coincide with a relatively cool location within the smoker chamber. This cool location or “cold zone” typically is created by the air flow pattern within the smoker chamber that tends to flow across the interior of the smoker chamber from the firebox and then upwardly into the smokestack without flowing to the end wall of the smoker chamber. Thus, in a typical prior art smoker, approximately six to eight inches extending inwardly from the end wall along the length of the smoker chamber is particularly undesirable for use. This cold zone also may tend to maintain a less dense smoke, on average, than other locations within the smoker chamber.
Additionally, the placement of the smokestack on the upper surface of the smoker chamber typically has resulted in an inability to increase the size of the opening of the smoker chamber, through which the food items are placed into the smoker interior, because the door utilized to cover the opening is designed so as not to impinge the smokestack. This configuration, however, oftentimes results in an opening of the smoker chamber which is capable of receiving a smaller food item than would normally fit within the interior of the smoker chamber if a larger opening were provided.
Therefore, there is a need for smoker grills which address these and other shortcomings of the prior art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly described, the present invention comprises a smoker grill incorporating a smoker chamber and a firebox. The smoker chamber defines a smoker interior, which is adapted for receiving food items for smoking, and includes an opening for providing access to the smoker interior. The firebox engages in fluid communication with the smoker interior so that smoke produced within the firebox can flow into the smoker interior for smoking the food items placed therein. Preferably, the firebox is sized and shaped so that it is insertable through the opening and into the smoker interior. In embodiments so configured, the firebox may be placed within the smoker interior, such as during shipping of the smoker grill, thereby allowing the grill components to be stored and shipped in a container that is smaller than could otherwise be utilized.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, some embodiments incorporate a smoker chamber which includes first and second end walls, with the first end wall being adapted to mount the firebox, and the second end wall being adapted to mount a smokestack. Preferably, the smokestack is mounted at an upper portion of the second end wall so that smoke from the firebox is drawn into and across the length of the smoker interior, and then outwardly through the smokestack.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, some embodiments incorporate a smoker chamber defining a smoker interior and having an opening formed therethrough, with the opening providing access to the smoker interior. A firebox defining a firebox interior also is provided, with the firebox interior engaging in fluid communication with the smoker interior so that smoke formed within said firebox can enter the smoker interior. Additionally, means for exhausting smoke from the smoker interior is provided.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, a preferred method includes: providing a container sized and shaped to receive therein the smoker chamber of a smoker grill; inserting the smoker chamber within the container; inserting the firebox through the opening of the smoker chamber and into the smoker interior; and, sealing the container. Preferably, the smoker chamber has a movable lid attached thereto, with the lid being movable between an open position and a closed position, and the step of inserting the firebox through the opening includes moving the lid to the closed position after the firebox is inserted into the smoker interior.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such objects, features, and advantages be included herein within the scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 745618 (1903-12-01), Hubbs
patent: 858872 (1907-07-01), Kimmel
patent: 2568022 (1951-09-01), Parker
patent: 2790380 (1957-04-01), Shryack
patent: 2867208 (1959-01-01), True et al.
patent: 4665891 (1987-05-01), Nemec et al.
Kayden James W.
Thomas Kayden Horstemeyer & Risley
W. C. Bradley Company
Yeung James C.
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