Abstract:
An outdoor cooking apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus features a cabinet having a firebox that heats an oven interior within the cabinet. The firebox also cooks food items placed on a grill panel that is supported above the firebox with a grill support frame. The firebox and grill support frame can be removably attachable to the cabinet.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/628,810, filed Nov. 17, 2004, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an improved outdoor cooking apparatus that includes an oven portion and one or more grilling portions, each heated by the same firebox. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to an outdoor cooking apparatus providing a cabinet having sides that define an interior oven, a firebox that fits the top of the cabinet, the firebox holding fuel (e.g. charcoal) for grilling food above the firebox and for radiating heat to the oven interior, wherein the grill support frame and firebox portions can optionally be removable. 
     2. General Background of the Invention 
     Outdoor cooking typically utilizes charcoal or like fuel for cooking. Some outdoor cooking devices provide ovens with an interior for slow cooking a selected food item. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an improved outdoor cooking apparatus that features a cabinet having an interior for slow cooking a desired food item, a firebox that is positioned at the upper end portion of the cabinet, and a grill support frame that supports one or more grills, grilling surfaces or cooking racks for cooking food items at a position spaced above the firebox. The firebox and grill support frame can each optionally be removably attached to the cabinet. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention with the door in an open position; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the cabinet with firebox and grill support frame removed; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is fragmentary view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the oven shelves; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial side perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the firebox, grill support frame and grill in operating, cooking position; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the cabinet, cabinet interior, upper shelf and with the firebox and grill support frame removed; 
         FIG. 9  is a fragmentary perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the grill support frame; and 
         FIG. 10  is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the firebox. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1-8  show the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, designated generally by the numeral  10  in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 , and  6 . Outdoor cooking apparatus  10  provides a cabinet  11  having an interior  12 . The cabinet  11  interior  12  functions as an oven for cooking items that are placed within interior  12 . Food items to be cooked can be placed within interior  12  upon upper shelf  16 A or lower shelf  16 B. 
     Cabinet  11  can be wheeled, providing a plurality of wheels  13 . Door  14  is moveable between closed ( FIG. 1 ) and open ( FIG. 2 ) positions. When in the open position, door  14  provides a pair of pivotally attached, spaced apart legs  15  that pivot to rest upon an underlying support surface, holding the door  14  in a substantially horizontal position. Door  14  supports lower shelf  16 B when shelf  16 B is pulled away from cabinet  11  to the position shown in  FIG. 2 . Thus, the door  14  and legs  15  help support a large food item such as a turkey, pig or the like after it has finished cooking and is to be removed by pulling the lower shelf  16 A to the position of  FIG. 2 . Door  14  can be equipped with one or more thermometers for displaying temperature of interior  12 . Door  14  can have one or more vent openings or dampers. 
     Cabinet  11  provides rear wall  17 , side walls  18 ,  19 , front wall  21  and bottom  20 . Front wall  21  has an opening that is covered by door  14  when door  14  is closed ( FIG. 1 ). Cabinet  11  provides an open top  22  having a plurality of perimeter beams  23  that are welded or otherwise connected to each respective wall  17 ,  18 ,  19 ,  21 . The perimeter beams  23  can for example be angle shaped flanged beams. 
     The perimeter beams  23  support firebox  24  near the top of cabinet  11  when firebox  24  is placed in operating position of  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Firebox  24  has a bottom panel  25 , a plurality of side panels  26 , and a plurality of horizontally extending flanges  27 . The flanges  27  rest upon perimeter beams  23  when firebox  24  is placed in an operating, cooking position at the upper end portion of cabinet  11 . Firebox  24  is provided with handles  28  at its opposing end portions as shown in  FIG. 10 . The handles  28  enable the firebox  24  to be placed upon cabinet  11  or removed from cabinet  11 . During cooking, a user places fuel such as charcoal, wood or the like in firebox  24  and on its bottom panel  25 . 
     Shelf supports  29  slideably support the shelves  16 A,  16 B. A stop pin  43  can be provided for limiting the distance that shelves  16 A,  16 B can be moved outwardly such as to the position shown for shelf  16 B in  FIG. 2 . Stop pin  43  can be removable so that a shelf  16 A or  16 B can be completely removed such as for cleaning or to increase space within interior  12 . 
     Grill support frame  30  can be placed upon the combination of cabinet  11  and firebox  24 . Grill support frame  30  includes a rectangular base  31  that rests upon the combination of perimeter beams  23  and flanges  27  of firebox  24 . The rectangular base  31  can be constructed of a plurality of angle shaped flanged beams as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     Grill support frame  30  provides a pair of spaced apart columns  32 ,  33 . Each column has a plurality of flanged supports  34 ,  35 ,  36 ,  37 . The flanged supports preferably extend horizontally and are spaced apart providing a gap  44  between supports  34 ,  35  for receiving grill panel  38 . Another gap  45  is between supports  36 ,  37 . 
     Grill panel  38  can be comprised of a plurality of closely spaced apart bars that are welded together to provide a grilling surface for cooking food. The grill panel  38  can provide one or more handles  39  that enable it to be attached to or removed from a selected gap  44  or  45  between flanged supports  34 ,  35  or  36 ,  37 . 
     An operating cooking position for grill panel  38  can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 6 . When cooking items within cabinet  11  below firebox  24  and simultaneously food items upon grill panel  38 , a user places the desired food item (or items) upon one or both of the shelves  16 A,  16 B and closes door  14 . Door  14  is secured in a closed position with latch  40 . For a very large food item, the upper shelf  16 A can be removed. Door  14  can be opened and closed using handle  42 . 
     For transporting the outdoor cooking apparatus  10  to the present invention from one location to another, handles  41  can be provided at each end portion so that a user can simply grip the handle  41  and push on the cart to transport it to the selected locale. 
     The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 PARTS LIST 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Part Number 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 10 
                 outdoor cooking apparatus 
               
               
                 11 
                 cabinet 
               
               
                 12 
                 interior 
               
               
                 13 
                 wheel 
               
               
                 14 
                 door 
               
               
                 15 
                 leg 
               
               
                   16A 
                 shelve, upper 
               
               
                   16B 
                 shelve, lower 
               
               
                 17 
                 rear wall 
               
               
                 18 
                 side wall 
               
               
                 19 
                 side wall 
               
               
                 20 
                 bottom 
               
               
                 21 
                 front wall 
               
               
                 22 
                 open top 
               
               
                 23 
                 perimeter beam 
               
               
                 24 
                 firebox 
               
               
                 25 
                 bottom panel 
               
               
                 26 
                 side panel 
               
               
                 27 
                 flange 
               
               
                 28 
                 handle 
               
               
                 29 
                 shelf support 
               
               
                 30 
                 grill support frame 
               
               
                 31 
                 rectangular base 
               
               
                 32 
                 column 
               
               
                 33 
                 column 
               
               
                 34 
                 flanged support 
               
               
                 35 
                 flanged support 
               
               
                 36 
                 flanged support 
               
               
                 37 
                 flanged support 
               
               
                 38 
                 grill panel 
               
               
                 39 
                 handle 
               
               
                 40 
                 latch 
               
               
                 41 
                 handle 
               
               
                 42 
                 handle 
               
               
                 43 
                 stop pin 
               
               
                 44 
                 gap 
               
               
                 45 
                 gap 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise. 
     The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.