Patent Abstract:
A new and improved combination smoker and barbecue pit having a housing with an open top, a grill resting on said housing, and a hood. A firebox is placed within said housing and is used for holding fuel which, when burned, creates heat and smoke. During the smoking process, the firebox is positioned below a shield which deflects and directs smoke into a pair of chambers within the housing which in turn channel smoke into elongated collection members evenly spaced below the grill. When smoke fills the collection members, is spills out the open-ended bottom of the collection members and drifts toward the grill in an even distribution. The firebox can also rest on the collection members where it is directly beneath the grill for barbecuing.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
   1. Field of the Invention  
   The present invention relates generally to the field of barbecue grills, cookers, and smokers and, more specifically, to a new design for a smoker which allows for more evenly distributed heating and smoking of food and which can also be adjusted to act as a barbecue grill or cooker.  
   2. Description of Related Prior Art  
   The prior art is crowded with barbecue grills and smokers, in combination and separately. Typically, these devices use charcoal briquettes or wood as a heat source to cook food placed on a grill near the heat source. The devices are often adjustable in some manner to allow for smoking the food as opposed to grilling it over an open flame.  
   Traditional smokers are constructed with the fireboxes located to the right or left of the grill and the smoker housing. In this type of construction, smoke and heat from the firebox is allowed to drift into the smoker housing through vents and thereby cooking and smoking the meat. The problem with this traditional type of smoker is that food items placed closer to the firebox smoke and cook faster than food items placed further away. This requires food items to be continually monitored and rotated on the grill to ensure even cooking/smoking of the food items.  
   There are many other smoker and barbecue grill designs where the cooking  surface is positioned above the heat source. An example of these designs include the following: U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,295 to Boswell, et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,467,709 to Anstedt; U.S. Pat. No. 4,495,860 to Hitch, et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,697 to Farrar; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,923 to Boswell. Typically, the fireboxes and/or the grills in the aforementioned patents are adjustable to various heights depending on whether smoking or barbecue style heating is desired. Many of these inventions also contain water pans to create steam to mix with the smoke during the cooking process.  
   A patent to Hastings, U.S. Pat. No. 2,666,425, describes a hooded barbecue grill with two sets of rails placed at different heights below in the grill to support a removable firebox. The upper rails are also used to support a heat deflector when the firebox is located and supported by the lower set of rails. A patent to Leech, U.S. Pat. No. 3,379,190, also discloses a barbecue pit which allows for a varying heights of the firebox. The Leech design has two fireboxes each of which is supported in a cantilever fashion from opposite sidewalls of the device. The fireboxes can be raised and lowered to vary the cooking heat at the grill level. While the Hastings and Leech design allow for adjustable firebox heights to vary temperatures at the grill, it does not allow for even distribution of smoke when smoking the food items placed on the grill.  
   A patent to Bussey, U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,159, discloses a smoker/barbecue pit which allows smoking and barbecuing at the same time. This invention directs heat and smoke around and towards the grilling surface from the sides of the grilling surface. This patent also describes directing smoke and heat through opening on the sides of  the units where detachable pot warmers can be attached.  
   Finally, a patent issued to Ruben, U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,979, discloses a three-chambered “smoker”. The lower chamber where the firebox is located, has a rotatable partition plate which controls and directs heat and smoke from below and catches and funnels off drippings from above.  
   Some or all of the aforementioned patents and prior art attempt to direct and channel heat and smoke in order to vary the temperature and more evenly distribute the heat and smoke. This is done with shielding devices which rest between the heat source and the grilling surface and/or the shape of the hood above the grilling surface. However, none of the aforementioned patents allow heat and smoke to collect and drift upwards toward the grilling surface in an even distribution. It can be seen that there remains a need for a smoker/barbecue grill which more effectively allows for an even distribution of smoke and heat from the fire pit.  
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a combination smoker and barbecue grill which evenly distributes smoke across food items being cooked on the grill.  
   It is another objection of the present invention to provide a combination smoker and barbecue grill which encloses a fuel burning firebox underneath the grill.  
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a combination smoker and  barbecue grill which has a smoke shield positioned between the grill and firebox which deflects and directs smoke into smoke collection members.  
   It is another object of this invention to provide a combination smoker and barbecue grill which directs smoke from the firebox into smoke collection members which in turn fill and allow smoke to drift in an even distribution towards food items cooked on the grill.  
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a combination smoker and barbecue grill which has doors and vent hatches for the easy removal of a drip pan and the firebox.  
   It is another object of the present invention to provide for vent hatches which function as air supply vents for the combustion process.  
   It is another object of the present invention to make maximum use of the features of the combination smoker and barbecue grill by providing smoke collection members which also act as a support for placement of the firebox at an upper level closer to the grill for barbecuing.  
   It is another object of the present invention to make maximum use of the features of the combination smoker and barbecue grill by providing the smoke shield which also acts as a support for the placement of the drip pan during the smoking process.  
   In satisfaction of these and related objectives, Applicant&#39;s present invention provides for a combination smoker and barbecue grill which has a grill that rests on a  housing and which is covered by a hood. The housing encloses a removable firebox for holding wood, charcoal, or other fuel while burning, a smoke shield positioned between the grill and firebox and smoke collection members are positioned between the grill and smoke shield.  
   The smoke shield is centered above the firebox and deflects and directs smoke from the firebox around the front and back edges of the smoke shield into a pair of smoke chambers positioned within the housing and below the grill. Smoke is allowed to fill the smoke chambers from top to bottom. As the smoke reaches the bottom of the smoke chambers, it spills into a plurality of elongated, evenly spaced, smoke collection members attached to interior panels forming the interior barriers for the smoke chambers.  
   Once the smoke fills the smoke collection members from top to bottom, it will spill out the open-ended bottoms of the smoke collection members. This causes a substantially even distribution of smoke to rise from the smoke collection members toward food items on the grill, allowing the food items to smoke and cook evenly.  
   A drip pan, which is placed on the top surface of the smoke shield, catches and collects drippings from the food items. These drippings will evaporate in the drip pan creating vapors which will rise back towards the food items on the grill further flavoring the food items. Water can be placed in the drip pan during the smoking process which will create steam which rises with the smoke and helps prevent the food items from drying out during the smoking process.   
   Side doors on both housing sidewalls can be rotated open to allow access to and removal of the drip pan and firebox for refueling and cleaning. A smaller vent hatch below the side doors also allow for access to and removal of the firebox and act as air supply vents for the combustion process.  
   If desired, the invention can be converted to a traditional barbecue grill by placing the firebox on top of the smoke collection members. In this manner, the firebox is positioned above the smoke shield, closer to the grill and directly heats and cooks the food items on the grill in traditional barbecue style.  
   The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent when references made to the following description taking in conjunction with the accompanied drawings.  

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is the same perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the hood and one side door in their open positions and partly cut away to show the relative positions of the internal structure.  
       FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the present invention which is partly cut away to show the relative positions of the internal structure.   
       FIG. 4  is a partial cross sectional side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a vertical cross sectional view along line  5 — 5  of  FIG. 4 .  
       FIG. 6  is a horizontal cross sectional view along line  6 — 6  of  FIG. 5 .  
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–6 , a combination smoker and barbecue grill  10  is equipped with a hood  12  and a housing  14 . The hood  12  covers a grill  15  which rests on the outer surface of opposed upper shoulder panels  16   a  and  16   b  of the housing  14 . The housing  14  has a casing  11  and housing sidewalls  13   a  and  13   b  and forms and enclosure for a firebox  18 , a smoke shield  20 , a drip pan  22 , and a plurality smoke collection members  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c , and  23   d.    
   Referring  FIGS. 1–3 , the hood  12  has a rotatable portion  30  pivotally connected to a stationary portion  32  by pins  34   a  and  34   b . The rotatable portion  30  of the hood  12  has a vertical front panel  38 , an angled front panel  40  and two rotatable sidewalls  42   a  and  42   b . The vertical front panel  38  and angled front panel  40  are constructed from one continuous sheet of material bent at its approximate centerline to form the vertical front panel  38  and the angled front panel  40  which angles upwardly and inwardly towards the crest of the hood  12 . The vertical front panel  38  is equipped with a handle  44  adjacent its lower end. A temperature indicator  46  is mounted to the upper angled front panel  40 . In the preferred  embodiment of this invention, the temperature indicator is manufactured by Taylor, Model No. 1470 and the vertical front panel  38  and angled front panel  40  are constructed of 16 gauge sheet metal.  
   Still referring  FIGS. 1–3 , the rotator sidewalls  42   a  and  42   b  are hexagonal and have front vertical edges  50   a  and  50   b  and front angled edges  52   a  and  52   b  which are shaped to conform to the outer edges of the vertical panel  38  and upper angled panel  40 . A pair of horizontal bottom edges  54   a  and  54   b  of the rotatable sidewalls  42   a  and  42   b  rest against respective upper edges of the housing sidewalls  13   a  and  13   b  when the hood  12  is in its closed position. In order to allow the rotatable section  30  of the hood  12  to pivot at the pins  34   a  and  34   b , lower back edges  56   a  
and  56   b  of the rotating sidewalls  42   a  and  42   b  extend from the back ends of the bottom edges  54   a  and  54   b  and angle upwardly and backwardly in a direction generally towards, below and slightly beyond the pins  34   a  and  34   b . Upper back edges  58   a  and  58   b  of the rotating sidewalls  42   a  and  42   b  extend vertically from the upper ends of the lower back edges  56   a  and  56   b  to points adjacent an angled back panel  49  of the stationary portion  32  of the hood  12  when the rotating portion  30  of the hood  12  is in its closed position (See  FIG. 1 ). A pair of top edges  59   a  and  59   b  
of the rotatable sidewalls  42   a  and  42   b  extend respectively from the upper ends of the upper back edges  58   a  and  58   b  of the rotating sidewalls  42   a  and  42   b  to the crest of the hood  12 . In the preferred embodiment, the rotating sidewalls  42   a  and  42   b  are constructed of 16 gauge sheet metal.   
   Still referring to  FIGS. 1–3 , the stationary portion  32  of the hood has a vertical back panel  48 , an angled back panel  49  and two stationary sidewalls  60   a  and  60   b . The vertical back panel  48  and angled back panel  49  are preferably constructed from one continuous rectangular sheet of material bent at its approximate centerline to form the vertical back panel  48  and angled back panel  49  which angles forwardly and inwardly toward the crest of the hood  12 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the angled back panel  49  does not extend to the crest of the hood  12  creating a rectangular vent opening  47  across the width of the stationary portion  32  of the hood  12  between the upper edge  45  of the upper angled back panel  49  and the crest of the hood  12 . In an exemplary embodiment, the size of the vent opening is 3 inches×24 inches. However, it is anticipated that the size of the opening could vary as long as it is sufficient to adequately vent smoke when desired.  
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–4 , a vent cover  70  is pivotally connected to the rotatable sidewalls  42   a  and  42   b . The vent cover  70  has a top portion  72  which is of sufficient width and depth to allow the vent cover  70  to cover the vent opening  47  with minimal clearance with the vent cover  70  is in its closed position (See  FIG. 1 ). Rectangular side flaps  74   a  and  74   b  extent perpendicularly from opposite side edges of the top portion  72  of the vent cover  70 . The side flaps are adjacent, parallel with, and pivotally connected to the respective rotatable sidewalls  42   a  and  42   b  with pins  41   a  and  41   b . A front flap  76  extends perpendicularly from the front edge of the top portion  72  of the vent cover  70  along the entire width of the vent cover  70 .  The height of the front flap  76  is sufficient to allow the lower edge of the front flap  76  to rest against the angled front panel  40  when the vent cover  70  is in its closed position (See  FIG. 1 ). A handle  78  is centered on and extends from the top portion  72  of the vent cover  70  to allow an operator to rotate the vent cover  70  from a closed position to an open position (See  FIG. 3 ).  
   A spring loaded pressure pin  75  is mounted to the outer surface of the angled front panel  40  adjacent the crest of the hood  12  and positioned such that a pinhead  77  of the pressure pin  75  presses against the inner surface of at least one side flap  74   a  and  74   b  of the vent cover  70  at all times. The frictional force created between the pinhead  77  and the side flap  74   b  is sufficient to allow the vent cover  70  to remain in place in any rotated position. In the exemplary embodiment, the vent cover  70  is constructed of 16 gauge sheet metal. However, it is anticipated that other gauges and material may be used.  
   Referring again to  FIGS. 1–3 , the stationary sidewalls  60   a  and  60   b  of the hood  12  have vertical back edges  62   a  and  62   b  and angled back edges  64   a  and  64   b  which conform to the shape of the vertical back panel  48  and angled back panel  49  at their side edges. The angled back edges  64   a  and  64   b  extend respectively from the upper ends of the vertical back edges  62   a  and  62   b  to a point adjacent the opposing side ends of the upper edge  45  of the angled back panel  49 . The stationary sidewalls  60   a  and  60   b  of the hood  12  each have angled front edge  66   a  and  66   b  with upper ends terminating at the crest of the hood  12  and lower  ends adjacent the vertical edges of the vertical front panel  38 . The hood is rotated to a closed position (See  FIG. 1 ). The stationary sidewalls  60   a  and  60   b  have vertical front edges  68   a  and  68   b  (See  FIG. 2 ) which extend from the lower ends of the angled front edges  66   a  and  66   b  and rest against the upper shoulder  16   a  of the casing  11 . Bottom edges  69   a  and  69   b  of the stationary sidewalls  60   a  and  60   b  
extend from respective lower ends of the front edges  68   a  and  68   b  to the lower ends of the vertical edges  62   a  and  62   b  of the stationary sidewalls  60   a  and  60   b . In the exemplary embodiment, the height of the front edges  68   a  and  68   b  is approximately 4 inches. However, it is anticipated that a range of heights are suitable as long as the rotating portion  30  of the hood  12  can open and close freely.  
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  5 , the width of the stationary portion  32  of the hood  12  is equal to the width between the interior surfaces of the housing sidewalls  13   a  and  13   b . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , rectangular mounting flanges  67   a  and  67   b  extend from respective bottom edges  69   a  and  69   b  of each of the stationary sidewalls  60   a  and  60   b  and are positioned flush against the interior surfaces of the housing sidewalls  13   a  and  13   b . The mounting flanges  67   a  and  67   b  are connected to the housing sidewalls  13   a  and  13   b  with nut and bolt combinations  65 . The stationary portion  32  of the hood  12  is mounted and fixed to the housing  14  in this manner. In the exemplary embodiment, each combination of the mounting flanges  67   a  and  67   b  and stationary sidewalls  60   a  and  60   b  are constructed of a continuous sheet of 16 gauge sheet metal.   
   The shape of the hood  12  has been described in detail in this preferred embodiment. It is anticipated that various modifications to the shape and design of the hood  12  are acceptable and would become apparent to persons skilled in the art.  
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  5 , the grill  15  rests on the upper shoulder panels  16   a  and  16   b  of the casing  11  and across the opening created between the upper shoulder panels  16   a  and  16   b . The grill  15  also rests on mounting brackets  17   a  
and  17   b  secured to the interior surfaces of the mounting flanges  67   a  and  67   b  with nut and bolt combinations  65 .  
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–4 , the housing  14  is formed by the housing sidewalls  13   a  and  13   b  mounted to the casing  11 ; the casing  11  is preferably formed by one continuous, rectangular sheet of material which is bent to form a floor panel  80 , a front panel  82 , a back panel  84 , the upper shoulder panels  16   a  and  16   b , and two smoke deflection panels  86   a  and  86   b , all of which are of equal width.  
   Still referring to  FIGS. 1–4 , the front panel  82  and back panel  84  of the casing  11  extend and angle inwardly respectively from the front edge and back edge of the upper shoulders  16   a  and  16   b . The floor panel  80  is horizontal and extends between the lower ends of the front panel  82  and back panel  84 . The upper shoulder panels  16   a  and  16   b  are horizontal and extend inwardly from the upper ends of the front panel  82  and back panel  84  respectively. In the exemplary embodiment, the length of the front panel  82  and back panel  84  is approximately  28 inches and each forms an inward angle in a range of approximately 10°–15° with a vertical plane. However, it is anticipated that the length of the front panel  82  and back panel  84  and the inward angles formed by the front panel and the back panel  84 , with a vertical plane, can vary as long as the enclosure formed by the casing  11  is of sufficient size to contain the firebox  18 , a desired quantity of fuel  19 , the smoke shield  20 , the drip pan  22 , the upper smoke deflection panels  86   a  and  86 , and the smoke collection members  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c , and  23   d  in a manner consistent with this invention.  
   Referring to  FIGS. 3–5 , the upper smoke deflection panels  86   a  and  86   b  
extend downwardly and at an inward angle from the inner ends of the upper shoulder panels  16   a  and  16   b  respectively and form upper smoke chambers  88   a  
and  88   b  within the housing between the upper smoke deflection panels  86   a  and  86   b  and the front panel  82  and back panel  84  respectively. In the exemplary embodiment, the inward angle formed with a vertical plane by the smoke deflection panels  86   a  and  85   b  are equal to or slightly greater than the inward angles formed by the front panel  82  and back panel  84  with a vertical plane. However, it is anticipated that the inward angle formed by the smoke deflection panels  86   a  and  86   b  with a vertical plane can vary as long as the smoke deflection panels  86   a  and  86   b  cause smoke from the fuel to be collected in the upper smoke chambers  88   a  
and  88   b , and direct it into the smoke collection members  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c  and  23   d  
in a manner consistent with this invention.   
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–4 , each of the housing sidewalls  13   a  and  13   b  are preferably constructed of one continuous solid sheet of material, which, in the exemplary embodiment, is 16 gauge sheet metal. The width of the housing sidewalls  13   a  and  13   b  is equal to the distance between opposing outer edges of the upper shoulder panels  16   a  and  16   b . Preferably, the housing sidewalls  13   a  and  13   b  are mounted to the casing  11  along its outer edges with welds. However, other means of attachment are acceptable and anticipated. The length of the sheets of material forming the housing sidewalls  13   a  and  13   b  are sufficient to allow the housing sidewalls  13   a  and  13   b  to extend downwardly beyond the floor panel  80  of the casing  11  and to be bent 90° inwardly and then 90° upwardly along two horizontal creases to form feet  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d  with exterior segments  101   a ,  101   b ,  10   c , and  101   d , interior segments  103   a ,  103   b ,  103   c , and  103   d , base segments  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c , and  105   d , and interior support panels  102   a  and  102   b.    
   Upper rectangular openings  104   a  and  104   b  are punched out of the housing sidewalls  13   a  and  13   b  and are covered with side doors  106   a  and  106   b  and vent hatches  136   a  and  136   b  both of which are pivotally connected to the housing sidewalls  13   a  and  13   b.    
   Still referring to  FIGS. 1–4 , lower rectangular openings  108   a  and  108   b  are punched out of the housing sidewalls  13   a  and  13   b  to form the separation between the feet  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d . In the exemplary embodiment, the depth of  each of the exterior segments  101   a ,  101   b ,  10   c , and  101   d , interior segments  103   a ,  103   b ,  103   c , and  103   d  and base segments  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c , and  105   d  
are approximately 6 inches respectfully. In addition, the width of each of the base segments  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c , and  105   d  are equal and are approximately 3 inches. However, it is anticipated that these equal widths and equal depths are of the exterior segments  101   a ,  101   b ,  10   c , and  101   d , interior segments  103   a ,  103   b ,  103   c , and  103   d , and base segments  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c , and  105   d  may vary as long as the size of the feet  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d  is sufficient to support the weight of the combination smoker and barbecue grill  10 .  
   The interior support panels  102   a  and  102   b  extend vertically from the upper ends of the interior segments  103   a ,  103   b ,  103   c , and  103   d  of the feet  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d  and connect to the bottom, outer surface of the floor panel  80  of the casing  11 . In the preferred embodiment, the interior support panels  102   a  and  102   b  connect to the outer surface to the casing with welds. However, it is anticipated that other methods of connection may be used.  
   Still referring to  FIGS. 1–4 , the interior support panels  102   a  and  102   b  have tapered edges  107   a ,  107   b ,  107   c , and  107   d . Although not shown in the drawings, it can be appreciated that the interior support panels  102   a  and  102   b  are symmetrical from front to back and the back ends of the interior support panels have identical but opposite tapered edges as those shown in the drawings. The tapered edges  107   a ,  107   b ,  107   c , and  107   d  angle inwardly from the top end of the outer  edges of the interior segments  103   a ,  103   b ,  103   c , and  103   d  of the feet  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d  to the floor panel  80  at its nearest outer edge.  
   Referring to  FIGS. 3–6 , the plurality of smoke collection members  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c , and  23   d  attach to and bridge the lower ends of the smoke deflection panels  86   a  and  86   b . As shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6 , each of the smoke collection members  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c , and  23   d  are identical in size and shape and have a sufficient length such that the opposite ends of each smoke collection members  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c , and  23   d  extend an equal length beyond the lower ends of the smoke deflection panels  86   a  and  86   b  into the upper smoke chambers  88   a  and  88   b  
at opposite ends. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , each the smoke collection members  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c , and  23   d  have an open-ended bottom with a solid upper surface designed to trap and collect smoke which drifts into it from the upper smoke chambers  88   a  and  88   b . In the exemplary embodiment, the upper surface of the smoke collection members  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c , and  23   d  is triangular and formed with two-inch angle iron. However, it is anticipated that other shapes, such as square or semicircular, are acceptable.  
   Referring again to  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6 , the smoke collection members  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c , and  23   d  are attached to the smoke deflection panels  86   a  and  86   b  by positioning them into cuts made in the lower ends of each of the smoke deflection panels  86   a  and  86   b . The cuts are evenly spaced across the width of the lower ends of each of the smoke deflection panels  86   a  and  86   b  and positioned such that the  smoke collection members  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c , and  23   d  are parallel to each other when attached. The cuts are shaped to conform to the shape of the upper surface of the smoke collection members  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c , and  23   d  so that the bottom edges of the smoke collection members  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c , and  23   d  are even with the lower edges of the smoke deflection panels  86   a  and  86   b . The preferred embodiment of this invention has four smoke collection members  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c , and  23   d . However, it is anticipated that a fewer or greater number of smoke collection members may be used.  
   Referring now to  FIGS. 2–4 , the smoke shield  20  is positioned between the firebox  18  and the lower edges of the smoke deflection panels  86   a  and  86   b . The  11  smoke shield  20  is desirably constructed of one continuous rectangular sheet of material which is bent along two horizontal creases to form a bottom panel  90  and two angled side panels  92   a  and  92   b . The smoke shield  20  is centered between the front panel  82  and back panel  84  of the casing  11  and positioned so that the bottom panel  90  is horizontal, and the angled panels  92   a  and  92   b  extend upwardly and outwardly towards the front panel  82  and back panel  84  respectively. The width of the smoke shield  20  is equal to the width of the casing  11  and is attached to the interior surfaces of the housing sidewalls  13   a  and  13   b  preferably with welds. However, it is anticipated that other means of attachment may be used. Preferably, the depth of the smoke shield  20  after bending is approximately equal to the depth of the floor panel  80  of the casing  11 . In the exemplary embodiment, the height of  the smoke shield  20  after bending is approximately 4 inches and the angled panels  92   a  and  92   b  form approximately a 30° angle with a vertical plane (See  FIG. 4 ). However, it is anticipated that the depth and height of the smoke shield  20 , as well as the angle of the angled panels  92   a  and  92   b  may vary as long as the size and shape of the smoke shield  20  is sufficient to direct smoke  21  from the firebox  18  into the upper smoke chambers  88   a  and  88   b  in a manner consistent with this invention.  
   Referring again to  FIGS. 2–4 , the rectangular firebox  18  has rectangular sidewalls and is placed on the floor panel  80  of the casing  11  during normal operation of the combination smoker and barbecue grill. The firebox  18  is small enough to fit within the perimeter of the floor panel  80  and through the upper rectangular openings  104   a  and  104   b  when a rotatable vent hatch  136   a  and  136   b  
is rotated to an open position (See  FIGS. 1 and 3 ) but large enough to hold fuel  19 , such as charcoal or firewood, sufficient to create adequate cooking temperatures.  
   Still referring to  FIGS. 2–4 , the drip pan  22  is also rectangular with rectangular sidewalls and is placed on the upper surface of the bottom panel  90  of the smoke shield  20  during normal operation of the combination smoker and barbecue grill. The drip pan  22  is large enough to catch the drippings from cooked items on the grill  15  and small enough to fit within the perimeter of the bottom panel  90  of the smoke shield  20  and through the upper rectangular openings  104   a  
and  104   b  when the side doors  106   a  and  106   b  are rotated to an open position.   
     FIG. 1  shows how one side door  106   a  and vent hatch  136   a  are mounted to the housing sidewall  13   a . It can be appreciated that a second door  106   b  and a second vent hatch  136   b  are mounted to the opposite housing sidewall  13   b  in an identical manner as depicted in  FIG. 3 . Now referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the side door  106   a  is pivotally mounted to the housing sidewall  13   a  by small cylindrical extensions  120   a  and  120   b  which extend horizontally from the lower ends of the vertical edges of the side door  106   a  and which rotate and slide within lower notches  122   a  and  122   b  between the housing sidewall  13   a  and lower door brackets  123   a  
and  123   b . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the side door  106   a  is held in its closed position by four rectangular tongue pieces  124   a ,  124   b ,  124   c , and  124   d  which are mounted to the outer face of the side door  106   a . Two tongue pieces  124   a  and  124   b  are mounted near the upper end of the side door  106   a  and extend outwardly and horizontally from opposite vertical edges of the side door  106   a . Two tongue pieces  124   c  and  124   d  are mounted near the lower end of the side door  106   a  and also extend outwardly and horizontally from opposite vertical edges of the side door  106   a . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , two tongue pieces  124   a  and  124   b  are positioned to slide into upper notches  126   a  and  126   b  in upper door brackets  128   a  
and  128   b  when the  106   a  is in a closed position. Similarly, two tongue pieces  124   c  
and  124   d  are positioned to slide into upper notches  126   c  and  126   d  in the lower door brackets  123   a  and  123   b  when the side door  106   a  is in a closed position.  
   Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the side door  106   a  is equipped with a handle   130  towards its upper end. In order to open the door  106   a , the handle  130  is lifted vertically causing the door  106   a  to slide vertically and allow the tongue pieces  124   a ,  124   b ,  124   c , and  124   d  to clear the lips of the upper notches  126   a ,  126   b ,  126   c , and  126   d . Simultaneously, the cylindrical extensions  120   a  and  120   b  slide upward within the lower notches  122   a  and  122   b . The side door  106   a  can then rotate outwardly with the lower tongue pieces  124   c  and  124   d  engaging and sliding on upper curved edges  132   a  and  132   b  of the lower door brackets  123   a  and  123   b . The vertical height of the lower notches  122   a  and  122   b  is sufficient to allow the cylindrical extensions  120   a  and  120   b  to slide vertically a sufficient height which, in turn, allows the tongue pieces  124   a ,  124   b ,  124   c , and  124   d  to clear the lips of the upper notches with minimal clearance when the side door  106   a  is lifted vertically from its closed position.  
   Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the lower brackets have shoulders  134   a  and  134   b  at the lower end of the curved edges  132   a  and  132   b . The shoulders  134   a  
and  134   b  engage the lower tongue pieces  124   c  and  124   d  as the side door  106   a  
rotates outwardly. The shoulders  134   a  and  134   b  are positioned to prevent the side door  106   a  from rotating greater than 90°. When the lower tongue pieces  124   c  and  124   d  engage the shoulders  134   a  and  134   b , the door  106   a  rests in a horizontal plane and can act as a shelf for placement of the firebox  18  and drip pan  22  during cleaning.  
   Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the vent hatch  136   a  is positioned below the  side door  106   a  such that the upper edges of the vent hatch  136   a  is adjacent the lower edge of the side door  106   a . The vent hatch  136   a  is rectangular and has a width equal to the width of the side door  106   a  and height sufficient to cover the remainder of the upper rectangular opening  104   a  which is not covered by the side door  106   a  and to allow the removal of the firebox  18  when the vent hatch  136   a  is rotated to its opened positioned. An elongated rectangular plate  138  is attached to the outer surface of the vent hatch  136   a  near its upper end. The width of the plate  138  is equal to the width of the vent hatch and the vertical height of the plate  138  is sufficient to allow the upper edge of the plate  138  to extend vertically from the upper edge of the vent hatch  136   a  and overlay the bottom edge of the side door  106   a  when the side door  106   a  and the vent hatch  136   a  are in their closed position. In the preferred embodiment, the plate  138  is attached to the vent hatch with welds. However, other methods of attachment are anticipated.  
   The vent hatch  136   a  is pivotally mounted to the lower door brackets  123   a  
and  123   b  by an elongated cylindrical rod  140  mounted to the vent hatch  136   a  
along its bottom edge preferably with welds. Opposing ends of the rod  140  extend beyond the vertical edges of the vent hatch  136   a  into holes in the lower brackets  123   a  and  123   b . The opposing ends of the rod  140  fit and rotate in the holes with minimal clearance. A handle  144  is attached to and centered on the plate  138  and is used for opening and closing the vent hatch  136   a . A spring loaded pressure pin  146  is mounted to the vent hatch  136   a  adjacent one vertical edge of the vent hatch   136   a  near its upper end. The spring loaded pressure pin  146  is positioned so that a pinhead (not shown), presses against the inner surface of the lower bracket  123   a  
creating a frictional force which allows the vent hatch  136   a  to remain in place in any rotated position. In this manner, the vent hatch can act as a vent by rotating the vent hatch into varying positions.  
   The lower bracket  123   a  has first and second holes  148   a  and  148   b . The first hole  148   a  is positioned to accept the pinhead (not shown) when the vent hatch  136   a  is in its vertical, closed position. The second hole  148   b  is positioned to accept the pinhead (not shown) when the vent hatch  136   a  is rotated 90° to a horizontal open position. In this manner, the vent hatch  136   a  will remain locked in a closed position or horizontally open position unless the pinhead (not shown) is manually released.  
   In the exemplary embodiment, the side doors  106   a  and  106   b , vent hatches  136   a  and  136   b , and plates  138  are constructed of ¼ inch sheet metal. However, it is anticipated that other materials and suitable gauges of material can be used.  
     FIG. 4  depicts how the combination smoker and barbecue grill works in normal operation. When it is desired to smoke food items placed on the grill  15 , the fuel  19  is first placed in the firebox  18  which is positioned on the floor panel  80  of the casing  11 . The fuel  19  is lit and when the temperature in the combination smoker and barbecue grill  10  reaches a desired level, food items are placed on the grill  15  and the hood  12  is closed. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the smoke  21  and heat  which rises from the burning fuel  19  is blocked by the smoke shield  20  and is caused to deflect and pass to the left and right of the smoke shield  20  and past the angled panels  92   a  and  92   b  of the smoke shield  20 . This directs the smoke  21  into the upper smoke chambers  88   a  and  88   b  where it collects and fills the upper smoke chambers  88   a  and  88   b  from top to bottom. As the collected smoke  21  reaches the bottom of the smoke chambers  88   a  and  88   b , it drifts into the smoke collection members  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c , and  23   d  from their open-ended opposite ends and bottoms. The smoke  21  will then collect and fill each of the smoke collection members  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c , and  23   d  evenly from top to bottom along the length of the smoke collection members. Once the smoke  21  has filled each of the smoke collection members  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c , and  23   d , it spills out the open-ended bottoms of the smoke collection members in a substantially even volume along the length of each of the smoke collection members. The smoke will also spill from the upper smoke chambers around the bottom edge of the smoke deflection panels  86   a  and  86   b  between the smoke collection members  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c , and  23   d  and between the housing sidewalls  13   a  and  13   b  and the outer most smoke collection members  23   a  and  23   d . This creates a substantially even distribution of the smoke  21  drifting upwards from the smoke collection members  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c , and  23   d  to the food items on the grill  15 . In this manner, the food items are cooked and smoked evenly. As the smoke  21  drifts upward past the grill and food items, it will collect in the hood  12 . The vent cover  70  can be selectively rotated to either a partially or  fully open to allow the collected smoke  21  to escape. The volume of smoke  21  which can escape from hood  12  can be regulated by the degree of rotation of the vent cover  70 .  
   Still referring to  FIG. 4 , the drip pan  22  is placed on the top surface of the bottom panel  90  of the smoke shield  20 . Drippings from the food items will fall into the drip pan  22  where they will evaporate creating vapors which will rise back towards the food items on the grill  15 , further flavoring the food items. If desired, water can be placed in the drip pan  22  during the smoking process which will create steam which mixes with the smoke  21  and helps prevent the food items from drying out during the smoking process.  
   If it is desired to barbecue the food items, the firebox  18  is placed on top of, and rests on, the outer surfaces of the smoke collection members  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c , and  23   d . In this manner, the heat and smoke  21  created by the burning fuel  19  is much closer to and directly heats and cooks the food items on the grill  15  in a traditional barbecue style.  
   Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of  the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0