Abstract:
An outdoor food frying apparatus includes a frame having a pot support, a burner element supported upon the frame, and a pot that removably fits the frame. The pot has end walls, a rear wall, a front edge portion, and a bottom wall that gradually increases in curvature from said rear wall to said front edge portion. A basket is pivotally attached to the pot rear wall with one or more hinges. The basket is correspondingly sized and shaped to fit the pot interior. The basket is movable about the hinge between cooking and food discharge positions. The lid is pivotally attached to the pot. The lid is movable between a cooking position wherein the lid covers the pot upper opening and food discharge position wherein the lid rotates at least 180 degrees from said cooking position, forming a tray for receiving food discharged from the basket.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a non provisional patent application of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/373,069, filed 12 Aug. 2010, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/405,983, filed 22 Oct. 2010. 
     Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/373,069, filed 12 Aug. 2010, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/405,983, filed 22 Oct. 2010, each of which are hereby 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 gaseous fueled fired outdoor frying devices such as deep fat fryers. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved outdoor frying apparatus having a specially configured pot and a basket with shallow and deep sections that fits the pot interior, the basket being pivotally connected to the pot at a hinge and along a first edge of the pot, the basket having a ramp section opposite the hinge for camming or biasing or pushing cooked food items to gravitate toward the deep section of the basket as the basket is rotated from a cooking position to a dumping position. The pot has a configuration that corresponds to and conforms generally to the basket. 
     2. General Background of the Invention 
     Many food frying devices have been patented. Examples can be found in the following table. 
     The following U.S. Patents are incorporated herein by reference: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 ISSUE DATE/ 
               
               
                 Pat. No./ 
                   
                 PUBL. DATE 
               
               
                 Pat. PUBL. 
                 TITLE 
                 MM-DD-YYYY 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 2,550,758 
                 French Fryer 
                 May 1, 1951 
               
               
                 2,707,428 
                 Food Boiling Apparatus 
                 May 3, 1955 
               
               
                 3,714,889 
                 Outdoor Deep Fryer 
                 Feb. 6, 1973 
               
               
                 3,971,307 
                 Deep Fat Fryer 
                 Jul. 27, 1976 
               
               
                 3,975,070 
                 Flour and Batter Apparatus 
                 Aug. 17, 1976 
               
               
                 4,250,803 
                 Deep Fryer 
                 Feb. 17, 1981 
               
               
                 4,420,006 
                 Spray Cleaning System for Frying Apparatus 
                 Dec. 13, 1983 
               
               
                 4,580,024 
                 Microwave Deep Fat Fryer 
                 Apr. 1, 1986 
               
               
                 4,623,544 
                 Constant Temperature Fryer/Cooker Assembly 
                 Nov. 18, 1986 
               
               
                 5,209,218 
                 Deep Frying Apparatus 
                 May 11, 1993 
               
               
                 5,398,668 
                 Deep Frying Apparatus 
                 Mar. 21, 1995 
               
               
                 5,577,438 
                 Gas Fired Deep Fat Fryer 
                 Nov. 26, 1996 
               
               
                 5,642,660 
                 Gas Fired Deep Fat Fryer 
                 Jul. 1, 1997 
               
               
                 5,918,535 
                 Apparatus for Suspending an Inner Basket Within 
                 Jul. 6, 1999 
               
               
                   
                 an Outer Pot of a Cooking Vessel, and Method for 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Using Same 
                   
               
               
                 2006/0260602 
                 Cooking Apparatus 
                 Nov. 23, 2006 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a food frying apparatus for use in an outdoor setting. The apparatus includes a frame fitted with one or more burner elements supported upon the frame, the burner element(s) being positioned below a pot that is supported by the frame. The pot is eccentrically shaped to concentrate more of the pot total volume near a provided pivotal connection, hinged connection, or hinge that joins a basket to the pot. The pot rests upon the base, the pot having a bottom wall, side walls and an open top. 
     An eccentrically shaped basket that is sized and shaped to conform to the shape of the pot and occupy the pot interior, the basket pivotally connecting to the pot along a pot edge and with the hinge or hinged connection. 
     A pot lid removably fits and covers the open top. The lid can be pivotally or hingedly connected to the frame. 
     The pot depth gradually decreases from a maximum depth to a minimum depth at a position spaced farthest away from the hinge. 
     In one embodiment, at least one side wall has a partial elliptical shape. In one embodiment, at least two of the side walls have a partial elliptical shape. 
     The present invention includes a seafood boiler apparatus, comprising a base, a pot that rests upon the base, the pot having a bottom wall, side walls, an open top, a pot shallow end portion and a pot deep end portion, a basket that is sized and shaped to occupy the pot interior, the basket pivotally connecting to the pot at a hinge, a pot lid that removably fits and covers the open top, and the pot depth gradually decreasing from a maximum depth vertically below the pivot to a minimum depth at a position spaced farthest away from the hinge. 
     Optionally, at least one side wall has a partial elliptical shape. 
     Optionally, at least two of the side walls has a partial elliptical shape. 
     Preferably, the pot bottom wall is curved. 
     Preferably, the lid is hingedly attached to the pot. 
     Preferably, the lid is rotatably attached to the pot. 
     Preferably, the pot has a hinge mounted above the pot deep end portion, the lid being rotatably attached to the pot at the hinge. 
     Preferably, the lid is rotatably attached to the pot and the apparatus further comprises multiple stops that enable the lid to be opened to different positions, said lid positions forming different angles with the top of the pot. 
     Optionally, one of said angles is an obtuse angle. 
     Optionally, one of said angles is an angle of about 180 degrees. 
     The present invention includes a seafood boiler apparatus comprising a frame having a pot support, a burner element supported upon the frame, a pot that removably fits the frame, the pot having end walls, a rear wall, a front edge portion, and an inclined bottom wall that gradually changes the water depth in said pot from a deep pot depth next to said rear wall to a shallow pot depth next to said front edge portion, said bottom connecting between said rear wall and said front edge portion, said bottom wall connected to each of said end walls, a basket that is pivotally attached to the pot rear wall, the basket being correspondingly sized and shaped to said pot so that it fits within the pot interior, the basket being movable about the hinge between cooking and food discharge positions, and a lid that is movably attached to the pot, said lid being movable between a cooking position wherein the lid covers the pot upper opening and food discharge position wherein the lid rotates through at least an obtuse angle from said cooking position, wherein said lid forms a tray for receiving food discharged from the basket when the basket rotates to the discharge position. 
     Preferably, the bottom wall is curved. 
     Preferably, each of the two end walls has a partial elliptical shape. 
     Preferably, the pot bottom wall is elliptically curved. 
     Optionally, the lid is pivotally attached to the pot. 
     Optionally, the lid is rotatably attached to the pot. 
     Preferably, the pot has a pot deep end portion, and the apparatus further comprises a hinge mounted above the pot deep end portion, the lid being rotatably attached to the pot at the hinge. 
     Preferably, the lid is rotatably attached to the pot and the apparatus further comprises multiple stops that enable the lid to be opened to different positions, said lid positions forming different angles with the top of the pot. 
     Optionally, one of said angles is an obtuse angle. 
     Optionally, one of said angles is an angle of about 180 degrees. 
     Preferably, said basket has a planar rear wall that forms a connection with said basket hinge. 
     Preferably, the basket pivotally connects to the pot with a pinned hinged connection that is removable so that the basket can be separated from the pot by removing the pinned hinged connections. 
    
    
     
       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 a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a fragmentary perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a side sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a side sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a side sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a side sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an elevation view of the alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is an elevation view of the alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of the alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1-8  show a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral  10 . Apparatus  10  is preferably of welded steel or welded aluminum construction. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , outdoor frying apparatus  10  provides a base or frame  12 . The frame or base  12  can be somewhat elevated, supported on a plurality of legs or feet  84 . Burner element or elements  13  are supported on frame or base  12  for generating a flame or flames  85  for transferring heat to a cooking vessel or pot  11 . A fuel supply line  14  can be in the form of a pipe that supplies fuel to each burner element  13 . The burner elements  13  are conventional in that they can comprise a burner jet  86  inside of a vertically positioned open ended pipe or tube  87 . Such burner elements  13  are commercially available. Fuel supply line  14  is provided with an influent fitting  15  for enabling a connection to be made to a fuel supply hose  88  that is connected to a source of fuel such as a pressurized canister of propane or butane or a source of natural gas. 
     Pot  11  has a pot interior  16  that is receptive of basket  40 . Pot  11  has a pair of opposed end walls  17 ,  18 , a rear wall  19 , and a bottom wall  20 . A seam or joint (for example, welded connection)  21  joins pot rear wall  19  to pot bottom wall  20 . A seam or joint  21  joins end wall  17  to bottom wall  20 . A curved seam or curved joint  23  (e.g. welded) joins end wall  17  to pot bottom wall  20 . Similarly, a curved seam or curved joint  22  joins end wall  17  to pot bottom wall  20  (see  FIGS. 1-3 ). 
     Each end wall  17 ,  18  has an upper edge  24 ,  25 . End wall  17  has upper edge  24 . End wall  18  has upper edge  25 . Rear wall  19  has upper edge  27 . An upper edge  26  is provided as an end of bottom wall  20 . The upper edge  26  is generally opposite and can be parallel to upper edge  27  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     Each of the curved joints or seams  22 ,  23  provides a curvature  28  that gradually increases in curvature between upper edge  26  and seam  21  (see  FIGS. 1-2 ). As an example, each of the end walls  17 ,  18  can be in the shape of a part (e.g., one fourth) of an ellipse. In the drawings, a reference point  29  is the intersection of between upper edge  26  and upper edge  25  (see  FIGS. 2-3 ). Another reference point  30  is the intersection of rear wall  19  and bottom wall  20  (see  FIG. 2 ). The curvature between reference points  29  and  30  gradually increases beginning at reference point  29  with a smaller radius of curvature for the curvature  28  or curved seam or joint  22 ,  23  and ending with a greater radius of curvature at reference point  30 . 
     The plurality of upper edges  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27  define a horizontal plane  31  (see FIG.  2 - 3 ). Notice that the bottom wall  20  provides a first ramp section  32  that extends to this horizontal plane  31 , meeting upper edge  26  (see  FIG. 2 ). This arrangement concentrates items to be cooked closer to the intersection (see reference point  30 ) of bottom wall  20  and rear wall  19 . In the drawings, a vertical reference line  33  is positioned exactly halfway between the upper edge  26  and rear wall  19 . Thus, the dimensions  34  and  35  are equal. However, a greater volume of liquids is contained in that part of the pot  11  interior  16  in between vertical reference line  33  and rear wall  19  when compared to the volume of liquid contained in pot  11  interior  16  in between vertical reference line  33  and upper edge  26 . 
     Pot  11  can be provided with a pair of handles  36 ,  37  for enabling one or more users to lift the pot  11  from base  12  for purposes of cleaning, for example (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     The pot bottom wall  20  includes inclined first ramp section  32  and a lesser inclined second ramp section  38  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     Basket  40  has a size and shape that corresponds to pot  11 . In this fashion, basket  40  fits into pot  11  interior  16  during cooking. Basket  40  pivotally attaches to pot  11  at one or more hinges or pivotal connections  41 . Basket  40  has end walls  42 ,  43 , rear wall  44  and bottom wall  45 . A pair of handles  46 ,  47  can be provided for lifting basket  40  when emptying its contents. When the handles  46 ,  47  are lifted upwardly, basket  40  rotates upon its hinges or pivotal connections  41  with pot  11 . Recesses at  48 ,  49  can be provided on pot  11  for receiving handles  46 ,  47 . 
     Basket  40  can be of a plurality of sheets of welded aluminum material or the like, perforated with perforations or openings  50 . As with the pot  11 , basket  40  provides a first inclined ramp section  64  and a lesser inclined second ramp section  82  (see  FIG. 8 ). 
     When the handles  46 ,  47  (see  FIG. 3 ) are lifted upwardly, basket  40  rotates as illustrated by arrow  65  in  FIGS. 6-7  from a cooking position ( FIG. 5 ) to a discharge position ( FIG. 8 ). When this occurs, any seafood items  60  that are being cooked are canned, biased or pushed in the direction of arrow  66  so that they very quickly occupy the deepest part  39  of basket  40  which is that portion in between vertical reference line  33  and basket rear wall  44 . This arrangement concentrates the food items to be lifted very close to pivotal connection or hinge  41 . In this fashion, the apparatus of the present invention can cook very large volumes or pounds of seafood such as for example, 100-200 pounds of seafood items and yet still easily discharge those food items  60  from basket  40  to lid  51 . 
     Lid  51  attaches at hinges  52  in a pivotal fashion to pot  11 . Lid  51  can provide a pair of handles  53 ,  54  for lifting the lid  51  from a cooking position wherein it covers the open top of pot  11  to a discharge position ( FIG. 8 ) wherein the lid  51  rotates about 180 degrees or preferably more than 180 degrees. The lid  51  can be provided with side walls  55 ,  56  for preventing escape of food items  60  that are discharged from basket  40  to lid  51  when lid  51  is in the open or food discharge position. In  FIG. 8 , food items  60  travel upon lid  51  to container  59  as indicated by arrow  67 . Food items  60  can slide upon lid  51  via gravity or be pushed using a spoon, paddle or other utensil. Stops or lid supports  57 ,  58  can be provided for limiting the degree of opening of lid  51  relative to pot  11 . After cooking is complete, fluid contained within pot  11  can be drained via fluid outlet fitting  61  and valve  62 . Valve  62  can be provided with a valve handle  63  for opening and closing the valve. 
       FIGS. 9-13  show an alternate arrangement for supporting the lid  51  in an open position such as when food items are to be discharged from the pot  11  after cooking is complete. In this alternate arrangement of  FIGS. 9-13 , the lid  51  can be selectively supported in one of multiple positions. The pot  11  and basket  40  can be similarly configured to the frame  12 , pot  11  and basket  40  shown in  FIGS. 1-8 . For example, the lid  51  can be supported in a generally horizontal open position ( FIG. 12 ) or in an inclined open position that forms an obtuse angle with the plane that is defined by upper edges  24 - 27  of the pot  11  (see  FIG. 13 ). In the horizontal open position, food items discharged from pot  11  to the opened lid  51  remain on the lid  51  for further transfer to plates, trays, or other vessels. In the inclined position of  FIG. 13 , the food items discharged to the lid  51  slide downwardly into a large receptacle such as a bucket, basket, ice chest or the like  59  as the lid  51  functions as a discharge ramp. 
       FIGS. 9-13  show a lid support  68  that enables support of lid  51  in one of multiple selected positions for enabling receipt by lid  51  of food items  60  that are discharged from pot  11  and basket  40 . Lid support  68  includes an upper frame  82  that is hingedly attached to the frame or base  12  using hinges  69  (see  FIG. 11 ). Each hinge  69  supports a shaft  78  portion of the lid support  68 . The shaft  78  can be supported by two, three or more hinges  69 . Shaft  78  connects at its end portions to arms  79 . Each arm  79  is connected to horizontal section  77 . Horizontal section  77  can be parallel to and spaced from shaft  78 . There can be a bend  80  at the joint between each arm  79  and horizontal section  77 . When lid  51  is opened, it rests upon horizontal section  77 . 
     Diagonal support  70  holds upper frame  82  in the selected position. Diagonal support  70  includes support arms  76 , horizontal section  75  and pivots or bushings or hinges  72 . These pivots, bushings or hinges  72  define a pivotal connection at horizontal section  77  between upper frame  82  and diagonal support  70 . Horizontal section  75  can be selectively supported in an upper position by upper receptacles or hooks  73  (see  FIGS. 11 ,  12 ) or in a lower position by lower receptacles or hooks  74  (see  FIG. 13 ). In the upper position, the upper frame is generally horizontally positioned to support the lid  51  in an upper, generally horizontal position. In this upper generally horizontal position, the lid  51  retains food items that are discharged to it from pot  11  and basket  40 . In the lower position, lid  51  is inclined so that food items discharged upon lid  51  from pot  11  and basket  40  slide upon lid  51  into a receptacle (e.g., ice chest  59 ) placed next to lid  51 . It should be understood that other positions of the upper frame  82  could be provided by providing other hooks on frame  12  in addition to the upper and lower receptacles or hooks  73 ,  74 . Clasp  81  is also included on frame  12 . 
     A steamer plate can be bolted to basket  40  for enabling food items to be steamed. In such a case, water is placed in pot  11  but filled to a level that is below the steamer plate. The steamer plate can be bolted so that it can be removed when not needed, such as when food items are to be boiled in pot  11 . During steaming, the steamer plate would be generally horizontally supported in basket  40  about one quarter to one half the distance between the top and bottom of basket  40 . As with the preferred embodiment, pot  11  can be drained using valved drain  71 . 
     PARTS LIST 
     The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Parts Number 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 10 
                 outdoor food boiler 
               
               
                   
                 11 
                 pot 
               
               
                   
                 12 
                 base/frame 
               
               
                   
                 13 
                 burner element 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 fuel supply line 
               
               
                   
                 15 
                 influent fitting 
               
               
                   
                 16 
                 pot interior 
               
               
                   
                 17 
                 end wall 
               
               
                   
                 18 
                 end wall 
               
               
                   
                 19 
                 rear wall 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 bottom wall 
               
               
                   
                 21 
                 seam/joint 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 curved joint/seam 
               
               
                   
                 23 
                 curved joint/seam 
               
               
                   
                 24 
                 upper edge 
               
               
                   
                 25 
                 upper edge 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 upper edge 
               
               
                   
                 27 
                 upper edge 
               
               
                   
                 28 
                 curvature 
               
               
                   
                 29 
                 reference point 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 reference point 
               
               
                   
                 31 
                 horizontal plane 
               
               
                   
                 32 
                 first ramp section 
               
               
                   
                 33 
                 vertical line 
               
               
                   
                 34 
                 dimension 
               
               
                   
                 35 
                 dimension 
               
               
                   
                 36 
                 handle 
               
               
                   
                 37 
                 handle 
               
               
                   
                 38 
                 second ramp section 
               
               
                   
                 39 
                 deepest part 
               
               
                   
                 40 
                 basket 
               
               
                   
                 41 
                 hinge(s)/pivotal connection(s) 
               
               
                   
                 42 
                 end wall 
               
               
                   
                 43 
                 end wall 
               
               
                   
                 44 
                 rear wall 
               
               
                   
                 45 
                 bottom wall 
               
               
                   
                 46 
                 handle 
               
               
                   
                 47 
                 handle 
               
               
                   
                 48 
                 recess 
               
               
                   
                 49 
                 recess 
               
               
                   
                 50 
                 perforation/opening 
               
               
                   
                 51 
                 lid 
               
               
                   
                 52 
                 hinge 
               
               
                   
                 53 
                 handle 
               
               
                   
                 54 
                 handle 
               
               
                   
                 55 
                 side wall 
               
               
                   
                 56 
                 side wall 
               
               
                   
                 57 
                 stop/lid support 
               
               
                   
                 58 
                 stop/lid support 
               
               
                   
                 59 
                 container/receptacle/ice chest 
               
               
                   
                 60 
                 seafood items/food items 
               
               
                   
                 61 
                 fluid outlet fitting 
               
               
                   
                 62 
                 valve 
               
               
                   
                 63 
                 valve handle 
               
               
                   
                 64 
                 inclined ramp section 
               
               
                   
                 65 
                 arrow 
               
               
                   
                 66 
                 arrow 
               
               
                   
                 67 
                 arrow 
               
               
                   
                 68 
                 lid support 
               
               
                   
                 69 
                 hinge(s) 
               
               
                   
                 70 
                 diagonal support 
               
               
                   
                 71 
                 valved drain 
               
               
                   
                 72 
                 hinge/bushing/pivot 
               
               
                   
                 73 
                 upper receptacle/hook 
               
               
                   
                 74 
                 lower receptacle/hook 
               
               
                   
                 75 
                 horizontal section 
               
               
                   
                 76 
                 support arm 
               
               
                   
                 77 
                 horizontal section 
               
               
                   
                 78 
                 shaft 
               
               
                   
                 79 
                 arm 
               
               
                   
                 80 
                 bend 
               
               
                   
                 81 
                 clasp 
               
               
                   
                 82 
                 upper frame 
               
               
                   
                 83 
                 lesser inclined second ramp section 
               
               
                   
                 84 
                 legs or feet 
               
               
                   
                 85 
                 flame or flames 
               
               
                   
                 86 
                 burner jet 
               
               
                   
                 87 
                 open ended pipe or tube 
               
               
                   
                 88 
                 fuel supply hose 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     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.