Stoves and furnaces – Stoves – Cooking
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-08
2001-03-20
Dority, Carroll (Department: 3743)
Stoves and furnaces
Stoves
Cooking
C126S380100, C126S376100, C099S340000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202637
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to improvements to charcoal and electric water smoker grills. More particularly, this invention is an automatic water replenishment system for replenishing the water supply in a water smoker grill.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Water smoker grills are used along with barbecues to provide a different type of cooking method for meats and vegetables. It is well known that a water smoker grill uses some form of heat source, usually electrical, gas or charcoal, to boil water which then cooks the meat or vegetables in question. In order to add flavor to the food being cooked, flavored chips of varying types are placed in the heat source, and the smoke particles from these flavor chips then provide a pleasing smoky flavor to the food being cooked.
The heat source in the water smoker grills heats a pan of water which then boils, providing heat and moisture which aids in the cooking of the food in question.
Existing water smoker grills allow the water pan to be filled either through a side opening where water must somehow be poured into the pan or, as is frequently the case, the user simply raises the top or lid of the smoke grill and pours water down into the pan.
The difficulty with water smoker grills is that the water supply in the pan boils away, requiring the pan to be refilled periodically during the course of cooking. Whenever this must be done, the refill method is awkward and can result in water being poured on the food being cooked, or the water might partially go into the water pan and partially onto the heat source, thus extinguishing the heat source, or in the case of an electrical grill, water will fall upon the electrical element, potentially causing damage to the element. In addition, raising the lid of the water smoker grill lets heat out of the grill. Thereafter, for cooking to continue, the heat must build up inside the grill over a period of time. Thus, cooking is interrupted while water is being added to the water pan. Failure to refill the water pan at the appropriate time results in the food being over cooked and dried out.
What would be useful is a method of refilling the water pan such that water will not get onto the heat source, or the food during replenishment of the water supply. This would lend itself to a more even cooking of the food and would also allow the water smoker grill to cook in an unattended fashion for a longer period of time since water will not be needed midway through the cooking process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to permit a convenient refilling of the water pan in water smoker grills.
It is a further object of the present invention to allow refilling of the water pan without halting the cooking process.
It is a further object of the present invention to allow water to refill the water pan in water smoker grills without the water being poured onto the food being cooked.
It is a further object of the present invention to allow water smoker grills to cook for longer unattended periods.
These and other objectives of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art by review of the specification and claims that follow.
The present invention comprises both a new type of water smoker grill as well as a retrofit apparatus for existing water smoker grills which allows automatic water replenishment of the water pan in a water smoker grill.
The present invention comprises a water compartment or container permanently or removably affixed to the side of a water smoker grill which holds additional water which is to be supplied to the water pan when the water in the water pan boils off during the cooking process. A tube extends downward from the water supply through the side of the water smoker grill into the water pan, where the end of the tube is submerged below the water level in the water pan. As water boils off out of the water pan during the cooking process, the end of the supply tube is exposed and water is permitted to enter the water pan until the end of the tube is again submerged in the water. Thus, a constant level of water is maintained in the water pan during the cooking process.
The additional water supply can be in the form of a compartment that is welded onto the side of the water smoker grill, thereby creating a complete integrated unit where the user simply fills the water pan and places the water pan in the bottom of the water smoker grill and adds an additional water supply through the supply container. Alternatively, water can simply be poured into the supply container and allowed to enter the water pan until the desired level in the water pan is achieved.
In an alternate embodiment, using the same concept, an auxiliary water supply is affixed to the side of the water smoker grill in a removable fashion. Removable affixing is via a hook that hooks onto the top ledge of the water smoker grill or through some hooks on which the auxiliary water supply is hung. In the latter case, the hooks may be affixed to the side of the water smoker grill and the water supply can simply hang on those hooks. In this case, the additional water supply can be sold as an option.
As cooking takes place, water is gradually added to the water pan, thereby assuring a constant water supply source during the cooking process. Further, since the lid of the smoker need not be raised, the heat is constantly applied to the food being cooked, thereby enhancing the cooking without having any fluctuation in the heat during the course of cooking. Further, the present invention allows water to be delivered directly to the water pan, thereby avoiding spillage on the very heat source that is heating the water pan. This again lends itself to a more even cooking procedure. Finally, since the need for water is gradual during the cooking process, the water smoker grill can cook in an unattended fashion for many hours longer than would ordinarily be possible if the water pan had to be refilled partway through the cooking process.
The water source or container can be made from metal, pyrex, aluminum, or any other material that is heat resistant and which can exist in close proximity to the water smoker grill sides which will be hot due to the cooking process.
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Dority Carroll
Lee David
Roberts Abokhair & Mardula LLC
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