Abstract:
A cooking apparatus enables a user to cook bu boiling, steaming or frying food items. The apparatus includes a burner having a base that is specially shaped to cradle a pot. The pot has a valved flowline that enables the user to drain any fluid that was used for cooking (eg. water, oil, seasoned water, stock, etc.). An upper section above the support surface of the burner for engaging the sidewall of the pot should the pot be tipped inadvertently. The burner includes upper members that are supported above the bottom of the pot and a lower member that engages an underlying supporting surface. The upper pot support members include a ring with a bent, U-shaped section that extends on opposite sides of and under the valved drain flowline. The burner frame can have a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending legs. Radial and circumferentially spaced struts define part of the frame and are shaped and cradle the bottom of the pot and its sidewall respectively.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/229,313, filed Aug. 27, 2002 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,335), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/838,091, filed Apr. 19, 2001 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,107), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/703,993, filed Nov. 1, 2000 (now abandoned) which is a continuation in part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/567,676, filed May 9, 2000 (now abandoned) which is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/426,210, filed Oct. 25, 1999 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,830), which is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/149,842, filed Sep. 8, 1998 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,852), which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/813,463 filed Mar. 10, 1997 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,321), each of the above being incorporated herein by reference. 

   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 outdoor cooking devices and cooking accessories and more particularly to a natural gas fired outdoor cooker that is supplied with a source of fuel such as butane or propane from a canister and that includes a stand, pot, and pot liner, the improvement including a special configuration of the burner and a connected table that enables a user to quickly support a pot liner or basket upon the table after it is removed from the pot of boiling liquid. 
   2. General Background of the Invention 
   A number of outdoor cookers have been sold commercially for a number of years and are admitted as “prior art” type burners. These “prior art” burners have traditionally included a metallic frame that supports a burner nozzle, such as a cast iron burner nozzle. Such burner nozzles are commercially available and are used to fire most natural gas fired hot water heaters. 
   Examples of these prior art type outdoor cooking devices can be seen in the Jan. 1, 1996 brochure of Metal Fusion, Inc., of Jefferson, La. Patents have issued naming Norman Bourgeois as inventor that relate to burners and related cooking apparatus. Examples include U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,735 for a “Convertible Burner Apparatus” that features different primary burner frames and legs that can elevate the burner frames. Other Bourgeois patents that relate to cooking devices include the aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,813,321; 5,970,852; and 6,058,830. 
   The burner nozzle can be a cast iron hot water heater type burner nozzle or a jet burner arrangement that uses a single outlet centered in a cylindrically-shaped, vertically oriented metallic tube. The most common version of the prior art “jet burner” arrangement is seen in Metal Fusion&#39;s catalog as Model No. 90PK. Another version of this type of cooker includes two spaced apart circular rings connected with struts and having a cylindrically-shaped wind guard or shroud. This type of prior art burner can be seen for example as Metal Fusion Model Nos. 82PK, 83PK, 85PK, 86PK, and 86PKJ. 
   For cooking some food items such as poultry items, it is sometimes desirable to fry the object in a basket that can be lifted from the pot. An example of this type of “prior art” arrangement is seen in the 1996 Metal Fusion catalog as Model No. 32TPK. For a combination cooking arrangement that includes a burner, pot and liner, the user typically places the poultry item in the basket and lowers it into boiling oil using a bail. In the prior art, bails have often been detachable from the basket so that the user can lower the basket into the pot and the contained boiling oil and then remove the handle or bail therefrom. This allows the user to eliminate the transfer of heat from the basket to the handle during the elongated cooking process. 
   A number of patents have issued that relate to cooking devices and utensils for use in combination with cooking vessels. The Walker U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,135 provides a utensil assembly and kit including same for cooking vessels used in preparing and supporting combustibles above the bottom of the cooking vessel and away from its inner walls. The utensil kit comprises a base supported above the bottom of the cooking vessel, a plurality of support attachments separately detachable and interchangeably mountable on the base for supporting selected combustible products, and releasable latch mechanism having two parts, one part disposed on the base, and the other part is disposed on each of the support attachments for engaging the base. One of the utensils is a poultry support attachment that fits inside the cavity of a chicken or other poultry enabling it to be positioned upright. 
   The Rappaport U.S. Pat. No. 3,053,169, discloses a poultry supporting device that sits upon a base in the form of a pan. 
   A rotisserie cooking arrangement is disclosed in the French Patent 2685862. 
   A roasting support for fowl is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,642. The apparatus includes a longitudinally extending rod that extends through the center of the turkey having an eyelet at its upper end. 
   A roaster for poultry and meat is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,602. The apparatus includes a vertical roasting apparatus wherein a predetermined amount of liquid for generating the moisture required to produce a high quality and flavorful roasting of the meat is included in a reservoir formed within the support structure itself and disposed internally of the poultry or meat being roasted. 
   A vertical spit for displaying roasting or warming is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,999. 
   A combination outdoor cooker and smoker is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,154. The apparatus includes a cooker having a gas burner coupled to an external gas source through a control valve by a gas supply conduit. 
   An Austrian patent 217592 discloses a cooking device that has a central member upon which a turkey or chicken is supported during the cooking operation. 
   British patent 2205734A discloses a device for use in preparing and cooking kebabs that includes walls which are interconnected to define a tube member and into which a first end wall is slidably received to further reinforce the shape formed by the sidewalls and whose end position is determined by the engagement of lips projecting inwardly from the sidewalls. The sidewalls are appertured longitudinally for receiving a knife to cut food within the tube member. 
   Issued patents to Barbour (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,758,569 and 5,896,810) disclose a cooking apparatus directed to the frying of poultry items such as turkeys. 
   Several patents have issued that are directed to a cooker or pot having a spigot provided on the pot wall that enables liquid to be withdrawn from the pot via the spigot. An example of such an early patent is the Saroni U.S. Pat. No. 57,577 entitled “Apparatus for Steaming Vegetables.” In the Saroni 577 patent, a spigot B is provided for withdrawing liquid from the receptacle or pot. 
   The Paterson U.S. Pat. No. 74,123 discloses in  FIG. 1  a spigot mounted on the wall of a pot. 
   The Durham U.S. Pat. No. 123,876 discloses a boiler (see  FIGS. 1 and 3 ) in the form of a pot having handles and a lid H. The Durham &#39;876 patent states that one or more of the lower components are using for cooking solids, and the others are either for soup or other liquid, the latter C or either of them being provided with a tap D at the bottom for drawing off the contents. 
   The Goodwyn patent provides a cooking vessel. A faucet B is provided at the lower end of the boiler A. 
   The Harper U.S. Pat. No. 1,054,114 discloses a furnace that includes a vat that can be fastened to the top of the fire box by means of a sleeve D formed integral therewith and adapted to fit over the smoke pipe E. This vat is provided with a cover D′ and also an outlet pipe E having a spigot E′. 
   A cooking vessel is disclosed in the Clayton U.S. Pat. No. 1,272,222 that includes a cooking vessel  10  having an outlet nipple  11  in which is rotatably mounted on a valve plug  12 . This valve structure enables the liquid to be easily drawn off. 
   The Jobe U.S. Pat. No. 1,390,908 discloses a cooking vessel that has an outer pipe  20  that has one end communicating with the inner receptacle for drawing liquids therefrom, the pipe extending through the outer receptacle and equipped with a valve  21 . 
   The Austin U.S. Pat. No. 1,827,131 provides a pot drain in the form of pipe  12  that is fitted with a cap  13 . 
   The Baker U.S. Pat. No. 2,350,335 discloses a brewer or cooker that has a drain valve  7  adjacent its lower end through which brewed coffee may be withdrawn. 
   The Shipman U.S. Pat. No. 3,838,680 discloses a combination heating and serving assembly having a drainage outlet or spigot  32  by which the liquid contents of the container may be drawn off from time to time. 
   One of the problems with outdoor cookers is the handling of very large pots that contain a high volume of cooking fluid such as vegetable oil. It is desirable that such an outdoor cooking apparatus have good stability to support the very heavy and often tall pot during cooking, and during placement of or removal of the pot, liner or both from the burner. Further, the cooking fluid is desirably reused for certain cooking fluids such as vegetable oils. One solution is to drain the pot, yet also provide for drainage without removal from the burner. However, the burner must enable such drainage and still provide a safe, stable cooking platform for very large capacity cooking pots. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention includes a burner frame having a base for engaging an underlying support surface, the burner having a nozzle for generating a high intensity flame for use in cooking, and a supply hose for supplying propane to the burner. The burner frame has a support surface for cradling a pot. 
   A pot is provided that includes a flat bottom portion and cylindrically-shaped continuous side walls, the pot having a generally cylindrically-shaped interior for receiving a basket. The basket or liner removably fits the pot interior. The basket can include a base that registers against the bottom of the pot and a vertically extending portion adjacent to the pot wall that connects to a bail. 
   The burner frame includes a ring that is supported above the bottom of the pot on the exterior of the pot for engaging the sidewall of the pot should the pot be tipped. 
   The upper ring is supported by a plurality of generally “L” shaped struts that extend from the upper ring downwardly along a generally vertical path and then horizontally to cradle the bottom of the pot. 
   The upper ring is specially configured as will be described more fully hereinafter to enable drainage of the pot and without removal from the burner. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the cooking apparatus provides a plurality of food holding inserts that fit the pot interior, wherein a first insert is selectively connectable to and supported by a second insert and wherein the second insert has an upper end with a connector and is configured to extend between the pot bottom portion and the pot upper end portion and support a food item when it is not supporting nor connected to the first insert. The cooking apparatus also provides a lifting hook that selectively connects to or disconnects from the connector of the second insert. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEW 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 perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the basket, steam plate, and bail; 
       FIG. 3  is a partial perspective of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the basket portion thereof; 
       FIG. 4  is a fragmentary perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the burner portion thereof; 
       FIG. 5  is a fragmentary sectional elevation view of the burner of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a fragmentary sectional elevation view of the burner of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the burner, pot, and basket portions thereof during steaming; 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the burner, pot, and basket portions thereof during boiling; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing an alternate burner construction; 
       FIG. 10  is a top view of the burner of  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a sectional view taken along lines  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 13  is a sectional view taken along lines  13 - 13  of  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIG. 14  is a sectional view taken along lines  14 - 14  of  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 17  is a partial perspective view of the third embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 18  is another partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 19  is a partial sectional elevation view of the third embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 20  is a partial perspective view of the third embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 22  is a partial perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 23  is a partial perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the burner portion thereof; 
       FIG. 24  is a fragmentary view of the fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating a portion of the burner and a portion of the pot illustrating its valved drain line; 
       FIG. 25  is a partial perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 26  is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 27  is a partial perspective view of the fifth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the burner portion thereof. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an outdoor cooking apparatus designated generally by the numeral  10  in  FIG. 1 . The apparatus  10  includes a burner  11 , pot  12 , supply valve  13 , a commercially available flexible hose for supplying propane or like fuel for firing the burner  11 , and a basket  14  (see  FIGS. 2-3 ) that can be lowered into the interior  15  of pot  12 . In  FIGS. 4-8 , burner  11  includes a lower ring  16  and an upper ring  17 . Burner  11  has a nozzle or jet surrounded by cylindrically-shaped wind guard  22 . 
   The rings  16 ,  17  are connected with a plurality of struts  18 . Each strut  18  includes radially extending, inclined lower strut section  19 , upper strut section  20 , and vertical center strut section  21 . Each of the lower strut sections  19  is linear in shape, and inclined to form a connection between the lower or base ring  16  and the bottom of central strut section  21  (see  FIG. 6 ). 
   Upper strut sections  20  are generally “ell” shaped having a lower end portion  23  that forms a connection with the upper end of central strut section  21  and an upper end  24  that forms a connection with upper ring  17 . 
   The “ell” shaped upper strut sections  20  include upper linear section  24 , lower linear section  23 , and bend sections  25 ,  26 . This configuration provides both a base for holding the bottom surface  27  of pot  12  and a vertically extending portion that envelopes the lower end of pot sidewall  28 . 
   In a preferred embodiment, the ring  17  can be positioned, for example, about 2-8 inches above the bottom surface  27  of pot  12 . Further, the upper ring  17  has an inside diameter indicated as  29  in  FIG. 7  that closely approaches the outside diameter  30  of pot  12 . A clearance of about ½-1½ inches is provided in between the inside of ring  17  and the outside of pot wall  28  during use. 
   In  FIGS. 1-3 , basket  14  includes a wire basket frame base  31  that can be, for example, in the form of a plurality of connected (e.g., welded) wire members arranged in a cross (see  FIG. 3 ). 
   In  FIGS. 2-3 , basket  14  includes a base comprised of a pair of linear intersecting members  32 ,  33 , a pair of vertical members  34 ,  35  and a bail  36 . The base can have feet for spacing it from the bottom  27  surface of pot  12 . Each vertical member  34 ,  35  has a hook  37 ,  38  respectively for connecting to the lower ends  39 ,  40  of bail  36 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Bail  36  can be trapezoidal in shape, having handle portion  51 , sides  52 ,  53  and cross beam  54 . The enlarged handle  51  enables a user to grip with both hands. 
   Steamer plate  41  can optionally be placed upon basket  14  if food items are to be steamed. Plate  41  has a generally circular shape, providing peripheral edge  42  and central opening  43 . Plate  41  is preferably perforated providing an array of openings therethrough that enable steam to access all surfaces of a food item that is placed on the upper surface  45  of plate  41 . Drippings from food items can flow through the openings as well. 
   Support  46  extends upwardly from base  31  of basket  14 . Support  46  has a dual function of holding steamer plate  41  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 7  and of supporting a food item such as chicken, turkey or other selected item as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
   A pair of laterally extending posts  47 ,  48  support the peripheral edge  42  of steamer plate  41  when the steamer plate is assembled to the basket  14 . Central opening  43  of steamer plate  41  rests upon support  46  when the steamer plate is put in an operational position. The steamer plate is thus supported at its periphery with posts  47 ,  48  and at its center with support  46 . Steamer plate  41  has peripheral slots at  49 ,  50  that fit vertical members  34 ,  35  respectively. 
   The apparatus of the present invention thus provides a dual function cooking apparatus that enables a user to either steam food products such as crabs, lobsters, clams and the like, or boil food items such as fish, shellfish, or poultry items. 
     FIGS. 9-11  show an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral  55  in FIGS.  12  and  17 - 18 . 
   Outdoor cooking apparatus  55  includes a burner for supporting pot  12 . Burner  55  ( FIGS. 9-11 ) includes upper ring  56  and a plurality of horizontal struts  57 - 59 . Vertical struts  60 - 62  are connected integrally to horizontal struts  57 - 59  respectively. As shown in  FIGS. 9-11 , a plurality of legs  63 ,  67 ,  71  are attached to horizontal struts  57 ,  58 ,  59  respectively. Each leg  63 ,  67 ,  71  is formed of a pair of straight sections and a bend section. The leg  63  includes straight sections  64  and  66  connected by bend  65 . The leg  67  includes straight sections  68 ,  70  connected by bend  69 . The leg  71  is similarly configured to legs  63  and  67 . 
   A cylindrical flue  72  is placed at the vertical central axis  91  of burner  55  as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . The cylindrical flue  72  attaches to each of the legs  63 ,  67 ,  71  by welding for example. Each leg  63 ,  67 ,  71  attaches to a horizontal strut  57 ,  58 ,  62 , preferably by welding. Each of the vertical struts  60 ,  61 ,  62  attaches to upper end  56  by welding, for example. A fuel supply line  73  is used to supply combustible gas such as propane or butane to nozzle  75 . The nozzle  75  is preferably attached to the vertical bore  74  of cylindrical flue  72  by welding or like means known in the art. 
   Circular plate  76  is attached to the inner end portions of horizontal struts  57 ,  58 ,  59  as shown in  FIGS. 9-11 . This attachment of plate  76  to horizontal struts  57 ,  58 ,  59  can be by welding at welds  77  for example. 
   In  FIG. 11 , the apparatus  55  of the present invention is shown in operating position wherein pot  12  occupies a position on top of the horizontal struts  57 ,  58 ,  59 . A flame  78  extends upwardly from nozzle  75 . The nozzle  75  can be ignited when propane, butane or like gas is transmitted to the nozzle  75  via pipe line  73  using a match, or like starter. Flame  78  strikes the bottom of plate  76  diverting flame  78  laterally to provide even distribution of heat to the bottom of pot  12 . This distribution of the flame  78  outwardly and laterally away from plate  76  is indicated schematically by arrows  79  in  FIG. 11 . 
     FIGS. 12-14  show an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral  81  in  FIGS. 12-14 . Burner apparatus  81  includes a frame  82  comprised of a plurality of beams. Frame  82  can be of welded steel construction, for example. Frame  82  thus includes beams  83 ,  84  that are parallel to each other and central beam  85  that is generally perpendicular to the beams  83 ,  84 . 
   At the extreme end portions of frame  82 , beams  86 ,  87  extend between respective end portions of beams  83 ,  84  as shown in  FIG. 12 . Each of these end beams  86 ,  87  is connected to a leg  88  or  89 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , attachments  93  (for example, welded attachments) form a connection between each leg  88 ,  89  and frame  82  at beams  86 ,  87  respectively. 
   In  FIGS. 13 and 14 , each leg  88 ,  89  is comprised of a horizontal member  90  and a pair of inclined members  91 ,  92 . 
   In the embodiment of  FIGS. 12-14 , a pair of burners  94  are provided, each comprising a cylindrically shaped shroud  95 , a contained burner element  96  positioned within the shroud  95  as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14  and grate members  98  that support shroud  95  and its contained burner element  96 . A ring  97  forms an interface between frame  82  and the plurality of grate members  98 . Rings  97  can be welded to the beams at the top of frame  82 . In  FIG. 12 , ring  97  on the left hand side of  FIG. 12  is welded to beams  83 ,  84 ,  85  and  86 . The ring  95  on the right hand side of  FIG. 12  is welded to beams  83 ,  84 ,  85 , and  87 . Grate members  98  are welded to ring  97  at attachments  102 . Grate members  98  are also connected at attachments  103  to shroud  95 . The attachments  103  can be welded connections, for example. 
     FIGS. 15-20  show a third embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, designated generally by the numeral  104  in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . Cooking apparatus  104  is in the form of a combination smoker/burner. This apparatus enables a smoker to be used with the burner that is shown and described with respect to the first and second embodiments of  FIGS. 1-14 . Smoker apparatus  104  provides a lower section  105 , middle section  106 , and upper section  107 . The upper section  107  basically functions as a cover. The middle section  106  is a cooking chamber. The lower section  105  can be used to contain a bowl that has a liquid that can include seasoning. Alternatively, the sections  105 ,  106 ,  107  can be assembled as a free standing smoker separate from burner  11  wherein the bowl  119  can be filled with charcoal. 
   Lower section  105  is specially configured to mate with and be supported by burner  11 . The lower section  105  provides a larger cylindrical side wall  109  and a smaller cylindrical side wall  113 . A tapered annular wall  114  joins the larger cylindrical side wall  109  and the smaller cylindrical side wall  113  as shown in  FIG. 19 . A bottom panel  112  connects to the lower end of the smaller cylindrical side wall  113 . When not in use upon burner  11 , the smoker sections  105 ,  106 ,  107  can be supported by any means known in the art such as for example, a plurality of legs  115  or a separate base that is not a burner and that fits the contours of bottom  112 , small side wall  113 , tapered annular side wall  114 , and/or larger cylindrical side wall  109 . 
   An access door  120  can be provided in lower section  105  as can be air vent openings  116 . The lower section  105  can provide a flat, annular flange  117  or other suitable mating surface for supporting middle section  106 . Similarly, upper section  107  is configured to fit upon the upper edge  126  of middle section  106 . 
   A cooking grate  118  can be supported upon one or more supports  121  provided on the interior of lower section  105 . Similarly, a plurality of supports  121  can also be provided at the upper end portion of middle section  106  for supporting a cooking grate. Handles  122  can be provided on any of the sections  105 ,  106 ,  107  as desired for manipulating the various sections. The cover can be provided with usual thermometer and burner  11  can provide a jet or nozzle  125  and/or a flame diffuser  124 . 
   It should be understood that the general concept of a smoker that includes multiple sections such as  105 ,  106 ,  107  is old in the art, having been sold commercially a number of years such by Brinkman and others. 
     FIGS. 21-25  show a fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral  130 . Cooking apparatus  130  includes a pot  131  having a pot side wall  132  that is generally cylindrically shaped and provided with a pair of handles  133 . Pot  131  provides a generally flat, circular bottom  134  and has an interior  153  that can retain items to be cooked, cooking fluid and a perforated basket  135  or liner that enables food items to be inserted into the pot interior  153  and removed therefrom when cooking is completed. The perforated basket enables draining of any cooking fluid while retaining the food items that are to be cooked such as for example, crabs, poultry items, seafood items and the like. The perforated basket  135  can be lifted using bail  136 . 
   Drain outlet fitting  137  is provided in pot sidewall  132  and at a lower position that is next to pot bottom  134  as shown in  FIGS. 21 ,  22  and  24 - 25 . The drain outlet fitting  137  has an attached valve  138  that can be opened or closed by rotating valve stem  139 . Such an outlet  137  and valve  138  can be welded e.g. to the pot  131  wall  132 . This concept of providing a drain outlet fitting  137  with an attached valve  138  is per se known, being disclosed for example in the Durham U.S. Pat. No. 123,876; the Clayton U.S. Pat. No. 1,272,222, and the Baker U.S. Pat. No. 2,350,335 each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Burner  140  supports pot  131  during cooking. The burner  140  includes a lower ring  141 , an upper ring  142 , and a plurality of struts  148 ,  149 ,  150  that extend between the upper ring  142  and lower ring  141  as shown in  FIGS. 21 ,  22  and  23 . A feature of the present invention is the special burner configuration at upper ring  142  that enables fluid to be drained from pot  131  without removing pot  131  from burner  140 . 
   Upper ring  142  has a U-shaped section  146  defined by bends  143 ,  144 ,  145 . The U-shaped section  146  thus extends below upper surface  147  of upper ring  142  as shown in  FIGS. 21 ,  22  and  24 - 25 . The U-shaped section  46  provides a recess  151  that enables valve  138  to extend a radial distance beyond the outer periphery of upper ring  142  as shown in  FIGS. 21 ,  22  and  24 - 25 . The combination of drain outlet fitting  137  and valve  138  provide a flow bore  152  during use. The valve  138  can be opened for draining fluid from the pot  131 . This can be helpful when cooking with large volumes of cooking fluid such as vegetable oil that is commonly used is the cooking of poultry items such as large turkeys. After the vegetable oil that is used to cook a turkey has cooled, it can be drained easily into its original one gallon container by opening the valve  138  with a rotation of stem  139  in a counterclockwise direction. Peanut oil, for example, is commonly used for frying turkeys and is commonly sold in one gallon containers. 
   Each of the struts  148 ,  149 ,  150  has a plurality of sections. These sections include a lower section  154  and an upper section  155 . As shown in  FIG. 23 , the upper section  155  is generally L-shaped being attached to upper ring  142  at connection  157  (for example, a welded connection). The strut lower section  154  is an elongated, partially inclined and partially vertical member that attaches to upper section  155  at connection  156 , a connection that can be welded, for example. The lower section  154  is attached to lower ring  141  at connection  158 , preferably a welded connection. The upper sections  155  each provide a generally horizontal upper surface portion  159  that cradles the bottom  134  of pot  131  during use as shown in  FIGS. 21 and 22 . 
   A wind guard or shroud  160  can be provided to burner  140  as shown in  FIGS. 21 and 22 , surrounding these three struts  148 ,  159  and being attached thereto by welding, for example. Shroud  160  can provide a support bar  161  for supporting a burner element  162 . The burner element  162  can be a common, commercially available cast iron burner element that is fueled by a gaseous fuel such as propane or butane. 
   A fifth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 26 and 27 , designated generally by the numeral  164 . Cooking apparatus  164  includes a burner  165  that is configured to support a pot  131  having a generally cylindrically shaped pot side wall  132  and a generally circular, flat pot bottom  134 . In  FIGS. 26 and 27 , burner  165  has a plurality of struts  166 ,  167 ,  168  that are attached to cylindrically shaped shroud  169 . The upper end portion of each of the struts  166 ,  167 ,  168  support upper ring  170  which is cylindrically shaped, having cylindrical ring wall  172 . Bolted connections  171  can be used to attach upper ring  170  to each of the struts  166 ,  167 ,  168 . The upper ring  170  provides an upper edge  173  and lower edge  174 . Recess  175  is cut out of upper ring  170 , wall  172 . Recess  175  is surrounded by surfaces  176 ,  177  and  178  as shown in  FIG. 27 . The recess  175  enables the pot drain outlet fitting  137  and valve  138  to extend radially beyond the circumference of ring  170  as shown in  FIG. 26 . 
   Each strut  166  is comprised of a plurality of sections. However, each strut  166  can be an integral structure. In  FIGS. 26 and 27 , each strut  166 ,  167 ,  168  is comprised of a vertical upper section  179  and horizontal section  180  that cradles the pot  131  during use. Vertical section  179  and horizontal section  180  are connected at bend  186 . The horizontal sections  180  each providing a flat upper surface  181  upon which the pot  131  bottom  134  rests during cooking. Vertical section  182  extends between bend  187  and bend  188 . Inclined section  183  of each strut  166 ,  167 ,  168  extends between bend  188  and curved foot  184 . The curved foot  184  connects to inclined section  183  at bend  189 . An upturned end portion  185  of each strut  166 ,  167 ,  168  can be fastened (for example bolted using bolted connection  171 ) to lower ring  190 . 
   PARTS LIST 
   The following is a list of suitable parts and materials for the various elements of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   
     
       
             
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               Part Number 
               Description 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
               10 
               cooking apparatus 
             
             
               11 
               burner 
             
             
               12 
               pot 
             
             
               13 
               supply valve 
             
             
               14 
               basket 
             
             
               15 
               interior 
             
             
               16 
               lower ring 
             
             
               17 
               upper ring 
             
             
               18 
               strut 
             
             
               19 
               lower strut section 
             
             
               20 
               upper strut section 
             
             
               21 
               center strut section 
             
             
               22 
               wind guard 
             
             
               23 
               lower linear section 
             
             
               24 
               upper linear section 
             
             
               25 
               bend 
             
             
               26 
               bend 
             
             
               27 
               bottom surface 
             
             
               28 
               pot sidewall 
             
             
               29 
               inside diameter 
             
             
               30 
               outside diameter 
             
             
               31 
               base 
             
             
               32 
               intersecting member 
             
             
               33 
               intersecting member 
             
             
               34 
               vertical member 
             
             
               35 
               vertical member 
             
             
               36 
               bail 
             
             
               37 
               hook 
             
             
               38 
               hook 
             
             
               39 
               end 
             
             
               40 
               end 
             
             
               41 
               steamer plate 
             
             
               42 
               peripheral edge 
             
             
               43 
               central opening 
             
             
               44 
               openings 
             
             
               45 
               upper surface 
             
             
               46 
               support 
             
             
               47 
               horizontal post 
             
             
               48 
               horizontal post 
             
             
               49 
               slot 
             
             
               50 
               slot 
             
             
               51 
               handle portion 
             
             
               52 
               side 
             
             
               53 
               side 
             
             
               54 
               transverse beam 
             
             
               55 
               outdoor cooking apparatus 
             
             
               56 
               upper ring 
             
             
               57 
               horizontal strut 
             
             
               58 
               horizontal strut 
             
             
               59 
               horizontal strut 
             
             
               60 
               vertical strut 
             
             
               61 
               vertical strut 
             
             
               62 
               vertical strut 
             
             
               63 
               leg 
             
             
               64 
               straight section 
             
             
               65 
               bend 
             
             
               66 
               straight section 
             
             
               67 
               leg 
             
             
               68 
               straight section 
             
             
               69 
               bend 
             
             
               70 
               straight section 
             
             
               71 
               leg 
             
             
               72 
               cylindrical flue 
             
             
               73 
               fuel supply line 
             
             
               74 
               vertical bore 
             
             
               75 
               nozzle 
             
             
               76 
               circular plate 
             
             
               77 
               weld 
             
             
               78 
               flame 
             
             
               79 
               arrows 
             
             
               80 
               central axis 
             
             
               81 
               burner apparatus 
             
             
               82 
               frame 
             
             
               83 
               beam 
             
             
               84 
               beam 
             
             
               85 
               beam 
             
             
               86 
               beam 
             
             
               87 
               beam 
             
             
               88 
               leg 
             
             
               89 
               leg 
             
             
               90 
               horizontal member 
             
             
               91 
               inclined member 
             
             
               92 
               inclined member 
             
             
               93 
               attachment 
             
             
               94 
               burner 
             
             
               95 
               shroud 
             
             
               96 
               burner element 
             
             
               97 
               ring 
             
             
               98 
               grate member 
             
             
               99 
               horizontal section 
             
             
               100 
               vertical section 
             
             
               101 
               bend 
             
             
               102 
               attachment 
             
             
               103 
               attachment 
             
             
               104 
               smoker apparatus 
             
             
               105 
               lower section 
             
             
               106 
               middle section 
             
             
               107 
               upper section 
             
             
               109 
               cylindrical sidewall 
             
             
               110 
               open top 
             
             
               112 
               bottom panel 
             
             
               113 
               cylindrical sidewall 
             
             
               114 
               tapered annular wall 
             
             
               115 
               leg 
             
             
               116 
               air vent opening 
             
             
               117 
               annular flange 
             
             
               118 
               cooking grate 
             
             
               119 
               bowl 
             
             
               120 
               door 
             
             
               121 
               support 
             
             
               122 
               handle 
             
             
               123 
               thermometer 
             
             
               124 
               flame diffuser 
             
             
               125 
               nozzle 
             
             
               126 
               upper edge 
             
             
               130 
               cooking apparatus 
             
             
               131 
               pot 
             
             
               132 
               pot side wall 
             
             
               133 
               handle 
             
             
               134 
               bottom 
             
             
               135 
               perforated basket 
             
             
               136 
               bail 
             
             
               137 
               drain outlet fitting 
             
             
               138 
               valve 
             
             
               139 
               stern 
             
             
               140 
               burner 
             
             
               141 
               lower ring 
             
             
               142 
               upper ring 
             
             
               143 
               bend 
             
             
               144 
               bend 
             
             
               145 
               bend 
             
             
               146 
               U-shaped section 
             
             
               147 
               upper surface 
             
             
               148 
               street 
             
             
               149 
               strut 
             
             
               150 
               strut 
             
             
               151 
               recess 
             
             
               152 
               bore 
             
             
               153 
               pot interior 
             
             
               154 
               lower section 
             
             
               155 
               upper section 
             
             
               156 
               connection 
             
             
               157 
               connection 
             
             
               158 
               connection 
             
             
               159 
               upper surface 
             
             
               160 
               shroud 
             
             
               161 
               support bar 
             
             
               162 
               burner element 
             
             
               164 
               cooking apparatus 
             
             
               165 
               burner 
             
             
               166 
               strut 
             
             
               167 
               strut 
             
             
               168 
               strut 
             
             
               169 
               shroud 
             
             
               170 
               upper ring 
             
             
               171 
               bolted connection 
             
             
               172 
               ring wall 
             
             
               173 
               upper edge 
             
             
               174 
               lower edge 
             
             
               175 
               recess 
             
             
               176 
               surface 
             
             
               177 
               surface 
             
             
               178 
               surface 
             
             
               179 
               vertical section 
             
             
               180 
               horizontal section 
             
             
               181 
               flat surface 
             
             
               182 
               vertical section 
             
             
               183 
               inclined section 
             
             
               184 
               curved foot 
             
             
               185 
               upturned end portion 
             
             
               186 
               bend 
             
             
               187 
               bend 
             
             
               188 
               bend 
             
             
               189 
               bend 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   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: