Abstract:
A grill smoker apparatus provides a container and a cover. A carrier is disposed in the container. The carrier is configured to store smoke producing material such as wood chips. The carrier may be removable from the container for filling the container, for emptying the container, for replacing the container or for cleaning the smoker apparatus. The carrier includes an outer dimension smaller than the inner dimension of the container. As such, a carrier gap is defined between the inner container wall and the outer region of the carrier. The carrier gap may form a uniform, annular gap in some embodiments. Alternatively, the carrier gap has a non-uniform radial dimension around the perimeter of the container. The carrier gap provides enhanced airflow to the smoke producing material in the carrier for improving smoker performance. A heat concentrator also focuses heat to the smoker apparatus for igniting the smoke producing material.

Description:
[0001]    This nonprovisional utility patent application is a nonprovisional of and claims benefit and priority to U.S. provisional patent application number 61/787,800 entitled Smoker Apparatus filed Mar. 15, 2014, all of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to an apparatus for smoking food and more particularly to an apparatus that provides a smoking apparatus for positioning inside a cooking enclosure such as a grill or smoker for smoking food. 
         [0003]    Devices for smoking food are generally known in the art. Some food smoking devices include self-contained enclosures in which the food to be smoked is placed. The enclosures can be closed and sealed to contain smoke that imparts flavor to the food, usually with a lid. Inside the enclosure, there is a support structure, such as a grid or platform, on which the meat or other food is placed. Smoke producing material such as charcoal or wood is also placed in the enclosure and ignited. The smoke producing materials are often wood chips soaked in water to facilitate the creation of the smoke, wood pellets designed to burn or smolder when a heat source is applied to the pellets, or liquids that render a flavored smoke when heated. Conventional smokers of this nature are generally large enclosures having a generally cylindrical shape. Most conventional smokers of this nature also rely on burning material for heat and smoke production, as opposed to combustion of flammable gas such as propane. 
         [0004]    One problem associated with conventional food-smoking devices is the large, cumbersome hardware associated with a stand-alone smoker. Many consumers own a conventional gas or charcoal-fired grill. Such consumers often do not want to purchase an additional enclosure for smoking food. Additionally, many consumers do not have the additional space for an additional enclosure such as stand-alone smoker on their patios or decks. 
         [0005]    Others have attempted to overcome the problems of conventional stand-alone smokers by providing smoke producing devices and materials that may be used with a conventional gas or charcoal-fired grill to smoke food. For example, wood chips may be placed directly over a heat source in a conventional gas or charcoal-fired grill. During use, the wood chips can be ignited and can burn slowly during cooking to produce smoke. However, this conventional method of producing smoke has many drawbacks. It is often difficult to produce a desired amount of smoke, or to control smoke production, using this crude method. 
         [0006]    Still others have developed containers for holding smoke producing chips for placing on a grilling surface such as a grid, grate or platform, or directly on gas burners or charcoal. These types of containers include open trays or covered pans that may be vented to permit smoke from the heated smoke producing material to escape. The food is placed on the cooking surface of the grill, and the smoke is contained by closing the cover on the grill, which may or may not allow for the regulation of the amount of smoke within the enclosed cooking area by adjustable vents in the grill cover. These devices also have problems and generally do not produce a desirable amount of smoke for smoking food. 
         [0007]    The smoked flavor imparted to the food is dependent upon the nature and amount of smoke to which the food is exposed, as well as the duration of exposure to the smoke during cooking. The more smoke produced by the smoking device, the faster the smoke flavor is imparted to the food. Consequently, more smoke flavor can be imparted to the food in less cooking time when the smoking device produces more smoke under any given cooking conditions. With more smoke, a piece of food that is cooked more rapidly at a higher temperature can be infused with as much smoke flavor as a similar piece of food cooked for a longer period of time at a lower cooking temperature. Also, with more smoke, a piece of food that is cooked to a lesser degree of doneness (e.g., rare) can have the same degree of smoky flavor imparted to it as a similar piece of food cooked at the same temperature for a longer period of time to a greater degree of doneness (e.g., well done). 
         [0008]    In conventional smoker devices, the amount of smoke generated by the smoke producing material is dependent upon several factors, including the composition of the smoke producing material, the amount and nature of the heat applied to the smoke producing material, either directly or indirectly, and the air flow around the heated smoke producing material. 
         [0009]    Many existing smoking devices that can be used with conventional barbecue grills are placed on top of the open grill, which serves solely as the heat source for the device but does not permit the use of the grill&#39;s cooking surface because the device is otherwise a closed system in which the meat is placed within the device along with the source of the smoke. The cooking capacity of those types of devices is, therefore, limited to something less than that of the grill. Because much of the heat generated by the grill is dissipated to the outside of the smoking device, these types of grill-top smokers consume more energy to produce the heat necessary to cook the meat and to cause the smoke producing material to smoke, and their lesser energy efficiency makes them more expensive to operate. 
         [0010]    Other smoking devices that are designed to be used with a conventional barbecue grill under a closed cover may allow the end-user to use the grill&#39;s cooking surface, but do not optimize the amount of smoke produced by the smoke producing material either because the source of heat used to heat the smoke producing material is diffuse and less efficient at heating the smoke producing material or because the arrangement of the smoke producing material does not optimize the production of smoke by the heated smoke producing material. Still other existing smoking devices used with conventional grills are limited with respect to the smoke producing material that may be used. In many existing devices, the heat is directed to the smoke producing material from only a single direction and/or the air flow about the heated smoke producing material is limited thus limiting the smoke producing materials&#39; exposure to the heat, heating the smoke producing material unevenly or incompletely, and/or limiting the amount of smoke produced by the smoke producing material. 
         [0011]    Other conventional smoking devices include external smokers that are attached to the outside of a conventional grill and inject smoke into the grill enclosure. Such conventional devices typically require a modification of the grill enclosure, such as drilling holes into or connecting tubing to the grill for allowing passage of smoke from the external device to the interior of the grill enclosure. This type of installation is burdensome on users of conventional grills. Additionally, many conventional grill users do not like the idea of drilling holes in their expensive grills. Another problem associated with conventional external smoking devices is exposure to the weather. By placing a smoker device on the exterior of a grill, rain, wind and snow can damage and cause corrosion in the smoker. Additionally, insects and animals may form nests in such external smoker devices. 
         [0012]    Another problem with conventional smoker devices that are rigidly affixed to a grill is that the smoker device becomes immoveable upon installation. For example, some conventional smoker devices require a user to permanently bolt or attach the smoker to the exterior or interior of a grill. This is an inconvenience for the user in the event the user desires to use the smoker apparatus on a different grill or transport the smoker apparatus independently of the grill to which it is attached. 
         [0013]    What is needed, then, are improved smoking devices that operate with a conventional grill, allowing the grill to be used both as a cooking device and a smoker. Also needed are improved smoker devices that are configured to be placed and operated on the interior of a grill enclosure. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0014]    One aspect of the present disclosure provides a grill smoker apparatus for smoking food inside the enclosure of a conventional grill. The smoker apparatus includes a heat resistant container having one or more side walls, an open upper end defined by the perimeter of the one or more side walls, and an opening in the lower end. The apparatus also includes a heat resistant carrier having one or more side walls, an open upper end and a bottom, with the one or more side walls and bottom having perforations, and the carrier having dimensions such that the carrier fits within the container. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, the grill smoker apparatus also includes a cover with one or more cover vent holes. The cover fits against the upper end of the container in a close engagement when the carrier is positioned within the container. 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, the grill smoker apparatus includes a base at the lower end of the container. The base includes a base vent shaped to allow air to pass through the base into the container. The base vent is located on an inverted base ramp defined in the base extending toward the interior of the container in some embodiments. 
         [0017]    A heat concentrator is positioned in the grill enclosure below the base in some embodiments. The heat concentrator includes a lower opening and an upper opening, the lower opening being larger than the upper opening. The heat concentrator forms an inverted funnel shape and provides a local flame or heat jet below the base vent for lighting smoke producing items retained in the carrier. 
         [0018]    One object of the present disclosure is to provide a grill smoker apparatus for use inside the enclosure of a grill. The grill smoker apparatus is configured to produce smoke inside the grill to smoke food during cooking or as a standalone smoking device using the grill enclosures. 
         [0019]    Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a grill smoker apparatus for use on a side burner of a grill to provide smoke to the interior of the grill enclosure through an opening in the grill enclosure. 
         [0020]    A further object of the present disclosure is to provide a grill smoker apparatus having a removable carrier for retaining smoke producing products such as wood chips or pellets. 
         [0021]    Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an air gap between the carrier and the container to provide improved air flow to the smoke producing material retained in the carrier. 
         [0022]    Yet another object of the present disclosure in some embodiments is to provide a single-use grill smoker apparatus having a container, cover and base with smoke producing material housed in the container. One or more air channels are defined in the container to allow air flow to the smoke producing material. The base includes a base vent, and the cover includes a cover vent to allow air flow through the device. The air channels may be formed via integral longitudinal channels or grooves formed in the container. 
         [0023]    Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a grill smoker apparatus having a container with an integral base formed together as a one-piece unit, a base vent in the base, and a cover having a cover vent disposed on the container. A carrier is positioned in the container, and an air gap is defined between the carrier and the container. 
         [0024]    A further object of the present disclosure is to provide a grill smoker apparatus having a container and a separate base, wherein the container fits onto the base, the base having a base vent. 
         [0025]    Numerous other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art, upon a reading of the following disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a grill smoker apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a grill smoker apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a grill smoker apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a grill smoker apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a heat concentrator for a grill smoker apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  illustrates a lower perspective view of an embodiment of a grill smoker apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a grill smoker apparatus with a hinged cover in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a grill smoker apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  illustrates an embodiment of a base for a grill smoker apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0035]      FIG. 10  illustrates a cross-sectional view of Section 10-10 of  FIG. 9  in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0036]      FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a grill smoker apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0037]      FIG. 12  illustrates a perspective bottom view of the embodiment of a grill smoker apparatus of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 13  illustrates a partially exploded view of an embodiment of a grill smoker apparatus with a cover removed from the container. 
           [0039]      FIG. 14  illustrates a top perspective view of an embodiment of a grill smoker apparatus including a container with carrier viewed from above with the cover removed. 
           [0040]      FIG. 15  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a grill smoker apparatus. 
           [0041]      FIG. 16  illustrates a perspective cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a grill smoker apparatus with a carrier having an ash blocker. 
           [0042]      FIG. 17  illustrates a bottom perspective cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a smoker apparatus with a carrier having an ash blocker. 
           [0043]      FIG. 18  illustrates a perspective view of a grill with a grill smoker apparatus positioned on a side burner outside the grill enclosure. 
           [0044]      FIG. 19  illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a grill smoker apparatus. 
           [0045]      FIG. 20  illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of Section 20-20 of  FIG. 19 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0046]    Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms take at least the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context dictates otherwise. The meanings identified below do not necessarily limit the terms, but merely provide illustrative examples for the terms. The meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” may include plural references, and the meaning of “in” may include “in” and “on.” The phrase “is an embodiment” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. It is understood that in the drawings not all reference numbers are included in each drawing, for the sake of clarity. In addition, positional terms such as “upper,” “lower,” “side,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” “outer,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” etc. refer to the apparatus when in the orientation shown in the drawing. The skilled artisan will recognize that objects in accordance with the present disclosure can assume different orientations when in use. 
         [0047]    Included herein are multiple illustrations of various embodiments of food smoking devices in accordance the present disclosure. Briefly stated, a grill smoker apparatus in accordance with the various embodiments of the present disclosure provides a user with a way to smoke meat and other foods in a conventional grill enclosure such as on a gas or charcoal grill. The smoker apparatus provides an improvement over conventional devices in some embodiments in that the grill smoker apparatus is configured to be placed inside the grill enclosure during the smoking and/or cooking procedures. 
         [0048]    Referring now to the drawings, an embodiment of a smoker apparatus  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Alternative embodiments of grill smoker devices are shown in  FIGS. 11-20 . Smoker apparatus  10  includes a base  40  and a container  11  positioned on base  40 . Base  40  is integrated on container  11  as a one-piece unit in some embodiments, such as being formed from a single piece of metal or welded together to form an integral unit. In other embodiments, base  40  is a separate piece from container  11 . Container  11  includes a hollow interior configured for containing a smoke producing material such as wood chips, pellets, wood shavings, smoke fuel, or any other suitable smoke producing material known in the art. Base  40  is generally configured to be placed directly onto a grill cooking surface such as a cooking grid or grilling platform  28 , seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . In some embodiments, base  40  sits directly on grilling platform  28  inside the grill enclosure during smoking procedures. 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 ,  13  and  15 - 17 , smoker apparatus  10  in some embodiments includes a container  11 , a fuel carrier  14  that fits within container  11 , and a vented cover  20  that fits on the upper end of the container  11 . Carrier  14  is generally configured to contain smoke producing materials such as wood chips or wood pellets. Carrier  14  can include any suitable heat-resistant material such as metal, ceramic, porcelain, etc. in various embodiments. Container  11  includes an inner dimension, or inner diameter, such that carrier  14  may be inserted into the interior of container  11 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . Carrier  14  defines an outer carrier dimension, or outer diameter, smaller than the inner diameter of container  11 . In some embodiments, carrier  14  includes a wire mesh basket or bowl dimensioned to fit inside container  11 . Carrier  14  in alternative embodiments can include a wire mesh screen or any suitable material for housing smoke producing materials. 
         [0050]    One aspect of the present disclosure provides enhanced airflow to the smoke producing material housed in carrier  14 . Referring further to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , in some embodiments, carrier  14  includes a plurality of carrier holes  16  defined in the carrier walls and carrier bottom. Carrier holes  16  allow air to enter into carrier  14  not only from below but also from the sides to promote burning or heating of the smoke producing materials housed in carrier  14 . Smoke producing materials stored in carrier  14  may produce smoke in relation to the amount of air available for combustion of the material. By allowing more air to enter into the carrier  14 , more smoke may be produced. Thus, carrier holes  16  operate to improve the capacity of smoker apparatus  10  to produce a sufficient amount of smoke. 
         [0051]    Referring further to FIGS.  4  and  14 - 15 , in some embodiments, carrier  14  includes an outer dimension smaller than the inner dimension of container  11  such that a carrier gap  12  is defined between the interior surface of container  11  and the outer dimension of carrier  14 . Carrier gap  12  operates as a plenum for allowing passage of air between carrier  14  and the interior walls of container  11 . By allowing air to travel upwardly into the carrier gap  12  partially or fully surrounding carrier  14 , enhanced air flow into carrier  14  via carrier holes  16  may be achieved. Thus, improved smoke production is possible as described above. Carrier gap  12  defines a carrier gap width  13 , seen in  FIGS. 8 and 15 , defined as the radial distance locally between the outer dimension of carrier  14  and the inner surface wall of container  11 . Carrier gap width  13  may be uniform around the perimeter of carrier  14  in some embodiments. In alternative embodiments, carrier gap width  13  may vary along the perimeter of carrier  14 . 
         [0052]    Referring further to  FIG. 2 , in some embodiments, container  11  defines a plurality of container legs  26  protruding downwardly from the lower edge of container  11 . Each container leg  26  provides a support for container  11 . Each container leg  26  may rest against a base  40  or alternatively may be configured to engage a grilling platform directly. A container vent  24  is defined between each adjacent container leg  26 . Each container vent  24  allows air to enter into the carrier gap  12  between carrier  14  and container  11 . As such, enhanced air flow into the carrier gap  12  and through carrier holes  16  to the smoke producing material housed in carrier  14  may be achieved via container vent  24 . 
         [0053]    Referring further to FIGS.  3  and  14 - 15 , in some embodiments, a carrier vent  36  is defined at the bottom of carrier  14 . Carrier vent  36  includes a hole defined in the bottom of carrier  14 . Carrier vent  36  allows the passage of air into carrier  14  from the bottom. In other embodiments, carrier vent  36  may be absent. In such embodiments where carrier vent  36  is absent, the bottom of carrier  14  may include carrier holes  16 . Furthermore, the bottom of carrier  14  may include an ash blocker  37  rather than carrier vent  36  so as to completely or partially block the falling of ash or remnants of the smoke producing material onto the heat source, as seen in  FIGS. 16 and 17 . Additionally, in some embodiments, smoker apparatus  10  is configured to allow ignition of the smoke producing material inside the carrier  14  by a heat source inside the grilling enclosure. As such, heat may be supplied to the smoke producing material into the carrier  14  from below the smoker apparatus  10  via the carrier vent  36 . For example, when smoker apparatus  10  is positioned on a grilling surface inside a conventional grilling enclosure, the charcoal or gas burner directly below the smoker apparatus  10  may be used in some embodiments to ignite or heat the smoke producing material stored in carrier  14 . Carrier  14  is positioned an offset height  35  above the base vent in some embodiments. 
         [0054]    In some applications, it is necessary to provide an open flame to the smoke producing material stored in carrier  14  to ignite or heat the material. As such, it may be necessary to provide a flame upwardly through the carrier vent  36  to ignite or heat the smoke producing material. Conventional grilling devices such as conventional gas grills or charcoal grills may not provide sufficient localized heat to initiate an ignition of the smoke producing material from below. Others have resorted to using lighter fluid and/or an external ignition device such as a grill lighter to initiate combustion of the smoke producing material inside the container. 
         [0055]    To accommodate direct ignition of the smoke producing material without resorting to external ignition devices, in some embodiments the present disclosure provides an optional heat concentrator  30  as seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  5  to be positioned directly below the smoker apparatus  10 . Heat concentrator  30  is also configured to be installed inside the grilling enclosure and provides localized heat directly below the smoker apparatus  10  to ignite or heat the smoke producing material. Heat concentrator  30  provides a chamber for concentrating heat that rises into heat concentrator  30  from a lower concentrator opening  64 , seen in  FIG. 5  along lower concentrator end  90 . Heat concentrator  30  includes an upper concentrator opening  38  along upper concentrator end  88  having a smaller cross-sectional dimension than the lower concentrator opening  64 . In some embodiments, heat concentrator  30  is installed directly onto a gas burner  32 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . Heat concentrator  30  may include one or more concentrator supports  60  resiliently biased inwardly to provide a clamping force against burner  32 . In other embodiments, heat concentrator  30  may be suspended from grilling platform  28  rather than supported by gas burner  32 . As heated gas or flames move upwardly into the lower concentrator opening  64  and travel toward the upper concentrator opening  38 , the heat or flames become compressed and further increase the temperature of the heat or flames. A slightly compressed and heated stream of air and/or flames  39  is emitted from the upper concentrator opening  38  directly into the carrier vent  36 . In some embodiments, where a base  40  is disposed between container  11  and the grilling platform, the compressed and heated stream of air and/or flames  39  passes through a base vent  42  defined in base  40 . In some embodiments, base vent  42  is concentrically aligned with carrier vent  36  such that the concentrated stream of heat and/or flames may pass directly into carrier  14  unencumbered. In other embodiments not illustrated, the concentrated stream of heat and/or flames may be directed to an ash blocker  37  in the bottom of carrier  14 . This stream of concentrated heat and/or flames may be used to ignite or heat the smoke producing material housed in carrier  14 . Once the smoke producing material is ignited and the combustion process has begun, the flow of gas to heat concentrator  30  via gas burner  32  may be reduced or eliminated to remove the concentrated heat and/or flames from the smoker apparatus  10 . 
         [0056]    Heat concentrator  30  in some embodiments includes a plurality of concentrator holes  58  defined in concentrator wall  62  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Each concentrator hole  58  allows air to enter the chamber defined by concentrator wall  62 . The increased airflow into heat concentrator  30  allows for a more lean equivalence ration of fuel and air inside the heat concentrator, providing more efficient combustion and allowing higher burn temperatures for igniting the smoke producing material. 
         [0057]      FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  8  illustrate embodiments of a smoker apparatus having a heat concentrator  30  positioned below container  11 . One embodiment of the heat concentrator  30  includes a chute with a plurality of side walls, as seen in  FIG. 5 . The opening  38  on the upper end of the chute has no more than one half the area of the opening on the lower end of the chute  64 . At the lower end of the chute, adjustable flaps  60  that can be adjusted laterally extend downward. In some embodiments of heat source concentrator  30 , adjustable flaps are tension adjustable. In further embodiments, heat concentrator  30  many include an adjustable opening  38  for controlling heat flow. 
         [0058]    Carrier  14  generally must be retained in container  11  in some embodiments. Referring further to  FIG. 6 , in some embodiments, a plurality of carrier support tabs  34   a,    34   b,    34   c,    34   d  may be bent inwardly toward the bottom of carrier  14  from the outer wall of container  11 . Each carrier support tab  34  is integrally formed in the wall of container  11 . As such, when each carrier support tab  34  is bent inwardly, a corresponding container vent  24  is created at the area where the carrier support tab material was positioned prior to being dislocated. This provides an advantage for manufacturing efficiency in some applications because container vents  24  and carrier support tabs  34  may be formed simultaneously. As seen in  FIG. 6 , in some embodiments, carrier  14  rests atop the upper surface of the carrier support tabs  34 . Alternatively, a variety of different supports or braces may be used to support carrier  14  in addition to or instead of support tabs  34 . In alternative embodiments, carrier  14  may be suspended in container  11  via a plurality of hooks that engage the upper perimeter of the container  11 . In yet another embodiment, carrier  14  sits directly on the surface upon which the container  11  sits, such as a grilling platform  28  or base  40 . 
         [0059]    Referring further to  FIG. 6 , in some embodiments, a plurality of side vents  18   a,    18   b,    18   c,    18   d,  are defined in the wall of container  11 . Each side vent  18  defines a hole through container  11  for providing increased air flow to carrier gap  12 . In some embodiments, as seen in  FIG. 1 , side vents  18  may include an adjustable slide  19  that can be used to alter the cross-sectional opening area of the side vent  18 . Slide  19  may be manually positioned to a desired location to allow a desired amount of air to enter through the side vent  18 . 
         [0060]    In yet another embodiment of a smoker apparatus  10 , carrier  14  is situated within the container  11  and connected to the inner walls of the container  11  such that a carrier gap remains between the outer surfaces of carrier  14  and the inner surfaces of the container  11 . 
         [0061]    In various embodiments, smoker apparatus  10  may include different versions of cover  20 . Cover  20  encloses the upper end of the container  11  during use. In some embodiments, cover  20  is conically shaped, as seen in  FIGS. 3 and 11 . Cover  20  may also include the shape of a frustrated cone as seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  7  and  8 . Cover  20  also includes a cover side wall  21  extending down from the angled portion of the cover in some embodiments as seen in  FIG. 11 . Cover  20  may also be completely detachable from container  11 , as seen in  FIG. 3  in some embodiments. As such, once carrier  14  is installed in container  11 , cover  20  is then positioned on the container  11 . In alternative embodiments, cover  20  is pivotally attached to container  11  at a cover hinge  15 , seen in  FIG. 7 . Cover  20  maybe pivoted away from container  11  for accessing carrier  14  and pivoted back toward container  11  for closing the top opening of container  11 . A cover flange  17  may also be disposed on cover  20  in some embodiments. Cover flange  17  protrudes downwardly from a portion of the lower perimeter of cover  20  in some embodiments. Cover flange  17  may provide a place for a user to engage cover  20  to rotate cover  20  away from container  11 . Alternatively, a cover handle  66  is positioned on cover  20  as seen in  FIG. 15 . A user may use a cooking utensil to engage cover handle  66  and lift cover  20  from container  11 . When cover  20  is closed against container  11 , it may be difficult to get a utensil into the small gap between the upper edge of container  11  and the lower edge of cover  20 . Cover flange  17  protrudes downwardly beyond the intersection of cover  20  and container  11  when cover  20  is in the closed position. A user may use a utensil to engage the lower edge of cover flange  17  along the side of container  11  to manually lift the cover  20  away from container  11 . 
         [0062]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  8 , and  11 , in various embodiments, cover  20  includes one or more cover vents  22  defined in the upper portion of cover  20 . Each cover vent  22  allows smoke to be released from smoker apparatus  10  and to allow air flow through the device. In some embodiments, cover vent  22  includes an adjustable opening size using one or more sliding cover vent tabs. Each cover vent tab may be rotated about a pivot point on cover  20  to selectively open or close cover vent  22 . When cover vent  22  is fully open, greater air flow may be achieved through smoker apparatus  10 , and more smoke may be produced. When cover vent  22  is in a more closed position, air flow may be restricted and less smoke may be produced. By providing an adjustable cover vent  22  in various embodiments, a user may set smoker apparatus  10  to produce just the right amount of smoke for a desired application. 
         [0063]    Referring to the optional embodiment in  FIG. 1 , cover vent  22  is illustrated. In this embodiment, the cover vent opening size is adjustable. A vent cover plate  25  with one or more vent openings is movably attached to the surface of the cover  20  such that the movement of the vent cover plate aligns the vent cover plate opening with all or part of a cover vent  22 . In another embodiment of a vent cover plate, as seen in  FIG. 11 , the vent cover plate is a solid plate connected movably to the cover  20  surface such that the movement of the vent cover plate covers all, part or none of the cover vent  22 . 
         [0064]    Also seen in  FIG. 1 , in some embodiments, a handle  66  is disposed on smoker apparatus  10 . Handle  66  may be attached to cover  20  in some embodiments. As such, a user may manually engage handle  66  to lift cover  20  from the container  11 . Alternatively, handle  66  may be attached to container  11  such that the smoker apparatus  10  as a whole may be moved using handle  66 . In other embodiments, container  11  may include handle  66  and cover  20  may include a separate handle  66 . 
         [0065]    Referring further to  FIG. 3 , in some embodiments, an integrated cover handle  27  protrudes upwardly from cover  20 . Integrated cover handle  27  includes a portion of cover  20  having a substantially uniform diameter such that a user may use a pair of tongs or pliers to grasp integrated cover handle  27  and lift cover  20  from container  11 . Integrated cover handle  27  may also include a cover vent  22  defined therein, as seen in  FIG. 2 , in some embodiments. 
         [0066]    Referring further to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , in some embodiments, container  11  includes a base  40 . Base  40  provides an ash collection function in some embodiments. Base  40  forms a bottom to container  11  in some embodiments, as seen in  FIGS. 11-17 . As the smoke producing material is burned up, ash is produced inside carrier  14 . The ash has a tendency to fall downwardly due to gravity. When container  11  is sitting directly atop the grilling platform, ash from carrier  14  may fall directly below the smoker apparatus  10 . That ash may circulate inside the grilling enclosure due to natural convection currents and inadvertently land on the food being cooked. This is generally undesirable. To overcome this problem in some embodiments, base  40  includes a plate or dish having a larger outer dimension than container  11 . Base  40  also includes an angled base ramp  68 , seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 ,  8  and  9 . Ash falling from carrier  14  collects on base ramp  68  and slides down base ramp to a collection area  70  on base  40 . Collection area  70  may include an outer upturned boundary wall in some embodiments, as seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . Ash falling from carrier  14  thus may be collected on base  40 , and when the smoking procedure is complete, the ash may be dumped from the base  40  into an appropriate trash area. 
         [0067]    In some embodiments, as seen in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , ash collected on the base  40  in collection area  70  may be exposed to the air currents inside the grilling enclosure. This may be a problem in some applications if the ash becomes entrained in the internal air currents and ends up making contact with the food items being smoked inside the enclosure. To overcome this problem, in some applications, base  40  is modified to include an outer base wall  46 , seen in  FIG. 9  and  FIGS. 1 ,  7 ,  8  and  9 . Outer base wall  46  provides a cover for ash deposited in collection area  70 . For example, as seen in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 9 , outer base wall  46  rises upwardly at an angle and forms an outer base wall opening  72 , seen in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 . Container  11  is generally dimensioned to fit inside outer base wall opening  72  in some embodiments. As such, outer base wall opening  72  includes an outer base wall opening diameter  74 , and container  11  includes an outer diameter. In some embodiments, outer base wall opening diameter  74  is substantially equal to or slightly larger than the container diameter at the lower portion of container  11  inserted into the base  40 . This results in a tight fit between the inner upper edge of outer base wall  46  and the outer perimeter of container  11 . This tight fit is desirable in many applications to prevent ash material from escaping from collection area  70 . In these embodiments, collection area  70  is defined between outer base wall  46  and inner base wall  48 , as seen in  FIG. 10 . It is noted that in some embodiments inner base wall  48  defines an inner base wall height  52 , and outer base wall  46  defines an outer base wall height  54 . In some embodiments, inner base wall height  52  is greater than outer base wall height  54 . As such, the center section of base  40  adjacent base vent  42  protrudes slightly upwardly from the outer base wall opening  72 . Additionally, in some embodiments, base vent  42  defines a base vent diameter  44  smaller than outer base wall opening diameter  74 . 
         [0068]    Referring further to  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  12 , in some embodiments, inner base wall  48  forming base ramp  68  includes a lower surface having the shape of an inverted funnel. The lower side of base ramp  68  formed by inner base wall  48  being angled upwardly at a lower base wall angle  50  provides an additional concentration of heat rising upwardly from the bottom of base  40 . As heat rises upwardly toward the underside of base ramp  68 , the heat is concentrated toward base vent  42 . This provides an additional advantage over conventional smokers for increasing the heat applied to the smoke producing material directly above base vent  42  in some embodiments. 
         [0069]    As seen in  FIG. 13 , in some embodiments, carrier  14  includes a height above base  40  greater than the height of container  11  above  40 , forming an offset height H of carrier  14  greater than container  11 . As such, carrier  14  includes a portion that extends above the upper edge  11   a  of container  11 . When cover  20  is placed on container  11 , an engagement is formed between the lower edge  20   a  of cover side wall  21  and the upper edge  11   a  of container  11 . It is advantageous in some applications to have the intersection of cover and container at a position lower on the device to distance the intersection from the cover vent  22  to reduce the likelihood of smoke escaping from the intersection instead of the cover vent  22 . 
         [0070]    Different material compositions may be used to form the various structural features of smoker apparatus  10  or heat concentrator  30 . In some embodiments, ASTM A424 Type 1 steel is used as the heat resistant material for some or all of the various components of the smoker apparatus  10  and/or heat concentrator  30 . Other possible heat resistant materials could include stainless steel or porcelain enamel coated metals. 
         [0071]    Referring further to  FIG. 18 , in some embodiments, smoker apparatus  10  is configured to be used on side burner  110  outside of a grill enclosure  102 . Smoker apparatus  10  includes a vent extension  100  coupled to cover vent  20 . The vent extension  100  is shaped to extend from the smoker apparatus  10  to an enclosure opening  104  in the grill enclosure  102 . The vent extension  100  can include a hollow tube or conduit in some embodiments. Vent extension  100  can include a flexible or rigid pipe in some embodiments. 
         [0072]    Referring further to  FIGS. 19-20 , an integrated grill smoker apparatus  200  in some embodiments includes a container body  204  with a cover  205  and a base  207 . The container, cover and base can be formed in a disposable arrangement such as a three-piece can arrangement in some embodiments. A removable cap  202  is located on cover  205  over the cover vent. The removable cap  202  may be unscrewed and removed by a user to open the cover vent. The removable cap  202  may include a plastic cap threaded onto the cover in some embodiments. The container  204  is pre-filled with smoke producing materials such as wood chips or pellets in some applications. A seal or other removable cap is located on base  207  covering the base vent. A user may remove the removable cap covering the base vent prior to use to allow air to enter the base vent. Additionally, one or more grooves or ridges  206   a,    206   b,    206   c  may be formed in the container body. Each groove or ridge provides a contoured profile to the container body in a corrugated arrangement. Each groove  206  defines a local air channel  212   a,    212   b,    212   c,  etc. on the interior of the container  204 , as seen in  FIG. 20 . Each air channel provides a passage for air to travel upwardly through the container and engage the smoke producing material  214  housed in the container. 
         [0073]    Furthermore, sizes of various structural parts and materials used to make the above mentioned components are illustrative and exemplary only, and persons of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that these sizes and materials can be changed as necessary to produce different results or different desired characteristics or capabilities. It should be understood that the smoker apparatus  10  and/or heat concentrator  30  are not limited to the examples disclosed in the specification. 
         [0074]    Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of a new and useful grill smoker apparatus and heat concentrator it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of the present invention except as set forth in the following Claims.