Abstract:
The smoker device disclosed herein provides a small profile device with more control than existing technologies for both cold smoking and smoking in an electric or compact grill. One of the main advantages of the design disclosed herein is a dual concentric or nesting fuel/housing dual structure that allows for adjusting the amount of smoke or aroma that a user wants the smoker device to emit during the smoking process.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and the benefit of a U.S. Provisional Application with Ser. No. 62/296,797, filed on Feb. 18, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a food preparation apparatus and more particularly to a smoking apparatus for adding flavor to grilled foods. 
         [0003]    Devices commonly used to generate smoke for smoke curing or flavoring include burning suitable aromatic wood, or wood chips or pellets, such as on a tray in the presence of the food being grilled or with the charcoal briquettes or firewood if using natural fuel fires. Unfortunately, uncontrolled smoking fuel such as wood chips may ignite rather than smolder if they get too hot or are not wet enough when first used. Several methods of controlling the rate of burning have been utilized, such as wetting the smoking fuel with spray bottle or brief soaking before use. Wetting the fuel however may produce unsavory side effects while burning the smoking fuel in the presence of food may have unfavorable temperature effects, such as overcooking the food or changing its chemical structure (charred surfaces). 
         [0004]    Accordingly, it is an advantage of the invention to provide a smoke-generating assembly which may generate smoke adjacent a suitably enclosed food cooking enclosure. It is another advantage of this invention to provide smoke-generating assembly that includes a method of controlling the rate of burning of the fuel and therefore the rate of smoke outflow. 
         [0005]    These and other advantages shall become apparent from the description following, it being understood that modifications may be made without affecting the teachings of the invention here set out. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The various embodiments of the invention are directed to a compact pellet smoker assembly that facilitates curing or smoking in electric or compact grills or when grilling indoors or in close quarters. A compact pellet smoker that allows the user to control the amount of smoke output or extinguish the fuel pellets by varying the air flow would be advantageous. The device disclosed herein provides a small profile smoker device with more control than existing technologies for both cold smoking and smoking in an electric or compact grill. In various embodiments provided herein, concentric or nesting type configurations are provided that allow for adjusting the amount of smoke or aroma that a user wants the smoker device to emit during the smoking process. In one example embodiment, a dual concentric fuel/housing cylinder structure is provided that allows the user to move an inner housing structure up or down or to rotate relative to an outer housing that houses the inner structure (which holds the smoking or smoldering pieces) thereby adjusting the amount of smoke or aroma that a user wants the smoker device to emit (or not emit) during the smoking process. 
         [0007]    In one example embodiment, a compact smoker assembly is provided that includes a porous cylindrical fuel chamber having a closed end and an open end, the fuel chamber configured to receive and retain particulate fuel, the fuel chamber having an inner portion structure configured to support a fuel starter element adjacent to particulate fuel in the fuel chamber. The smoker assembly further includes a cylindrical housing disposed concentrically about the cylindrical fuel chamber, an inner wall of the cylindrical housing configured to frictionally engage an outer wall portion of the cylindrical fuel chamber, the cylindrical housing configured to support the fuel starter element and the cylindrical fuel chamber within the housing. The smoker assembly also includes a cover member with an insulative member attached on an outer portion of the cover member, the cover member removably engageable with the open end of the fuel chamber and configured to facilitate exposure of part or all of the fuel chamber from the housing when a user engages the insulative member. 
         [0008]    In another example embodiment, a compact smoker assembly is provided that includes an inner porous fuel chamber body having a closed end and an open end, the fuel chamber configured to receive and retain particulate fuel, the fuel chamber having an inner portion structure configured to support a fuel starter element adjacent to particulate fuel in the fuel chamber. The smoker assembly further includes a housing disposed about the inner fuel chamber body and configured to support the fuel starter element and support the fuel chamber within the housing. The smoker assembly also includes a cover member with a handle, the cover member removably engageable with the open end of the fuel chamber, the cover member configured to facilitate exposure of part or all of the fuel chamber from the housing when a user engages the handle. In a related embodiment, the inner wall of the housing and the outer wall portion of the fuel chamber body further comprise complementary threaded portions such that the user twists the insulative member of the cover member in an axial direction so as to rotate the fuel chamber body to partially or wholly expose the fuel chamber body and control an outflow of smoke from the housing. In yet another related embodiment, the inner wall of the housing and the outer wall portion of the fuel chamber body are configured to be engaged in one or more configurations to provide a range of smoking levels as a function of the outflow of smoke from the housing. 
         [0009]    In yet another example embodiment, a compact smoker assembly is provided that includes an inner porous fuel chamber body having a closed end and an open end, the fuel chamber configured to receive and retain particulate fuel, the fuel chamber having an inner portion structure configured for receiving a fuel starter element for positioning adjacent to particulate fuel located in the fuel chamber body. The smoker assembly further includes a housing configured to be disposed concentrically about, or in a nesting relationship with, the inner fuel chamber. In a related embodiment, the closed end of the fuel chamber body includes an insulative member thereon configured to facilitate exposure of part or all of the fuel chamber body from the housing when a user engages the insulative member as a handle. 
         [0010]    In a related embodiment, the housing includes a plurality of holes or pores configured to align with pores of the fuel chamber when the fuel chamber is rotated axially so as to allow smoke to be emitted from the housing in a range of smoking levels. The compact smoker assembly having an inner wall of the housing that is configured to frictionally engage an outer wall portion of the inner fuel chamber body, the housing being configured to support the fuel starter element and the fuel chamber body within the housing. 
         [0011]    The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description and any preferred and/or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete and will fully convey the full scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Other important objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of one example embodiment of a smoker assembly according to the teachings herein; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates a partially exploded perspective view of a smoker assembly according to the teachings herein; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded perspective view of a smoker assembly and method of using same according to the teachings herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The following are more detailed descriptions of various related concepts related to, and embodiments of, methods and apparatus according to the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that various aspects of the subject matter introduced above and discussed in greater detail below may be implemented in any of numerous ways, as the subject matter is not limited to any particular manner of implementation. Examples of specific implementations and applications are provided primarily for illustrative purposes. 
         [0017]    In one example embodiment, a perforated metal cylinder forms an inner fuel chamber or housing containing smoking pellets which is surrounded by a secondary solid cylinder or outer housing. The outer housing includes a cover or cap to contain the inner housing. When the inner housing is fully surrounded by the outer housing and the cover, no air flow is allowed thus smoking is discontinued and the pellets start extinguishing. When the user separates the inner fuel chamber or cylinder from the outer housing or cylinder by a pulling or twisting motion, air flow is allowed through the fuel pellets or chips allowing them to either be lit or continue to smolder and emit smoke. The amount of separation between the perforated (porous) inner cylinder and the outer housing controls the amount of perforation (or number of pores) exposed and the amount of air flow, thereby controlling the amount of emitted smoke. In related embodiments, the inner housing and outer housing are rectangular (or square or spherical) structures which fit concentric to each other and optionally have a friction fit to allow partial or whole exposure of the inner housing that contains the combustible fuel when the inner fuel chamber or housing is pulled up or out or rotated in an axial direction to allow the aroma to be emitted from the device. 
         [0018]    Referring now to the figures,  FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a perspective, partially exploded and exploded views, respectively, of a smoker assembly  10  of the invention described herein. In particular, a compact smoker assembly  10  includes an inner porous or perforated cylindrical fuel chamber  20  having a closed (or partially closed) end  22  and an open end  24 , the fuel chamber being configured to receive and retain a particulate fuel (such as wood pellets or chips; not shown). Fuel chamber  20  has an inner portion structure  26  configured to support a fuel starter element  30  adjacent to the particulate fuel that is placed in fuel chamber  20 . Smoker assembly  10  also includes a cylindrical housing  12  disposed concentrically about inner cylindrical fuel chamber  20 . In this example embodiment, an inner wall  12 A of housing  12  is configured to frictionally engage an outer wall portion  20 A of inner cylindrical fuel chamber  20 . Cylindrical housing  12  is further configured to support fuel starter element  30  and fuel chamber  20  within housing  12 . 
         [0019]    Smoker assembly  10  further includes a cover member  14  with an insulative member  16  that is removably engageable (with a locking assembly  15 ) with open end  24  of fuel chamber  20  and an open end  12 B of housing  12 . In a related embodiment, member  16  need not be insulated and can simply have a handle or hook for grasping with another tool. In this example embodiment, cover member  14  is configured to facilitate exposure of part or all of fuel chamber  20  from housing  12  when a user engages or pulls on insulative member  16 . In one example for controlling smoke output or outflow from smoker assembly  10 , the user pulls or pushes insulative member  16  of cover member  14  to partially or wholly expose fuel chamber  20 , thereby controlling the outflow of smoke from smoke assembly  10 . When the user wants to inhibit or stop the smoke altogether cover member  14  is coupled (or closed) with housing  12 , which stops outflow of smoke from housing  12  of the smoker assembly. Closing housing  12  with cover member  14  can also extinguish the burning fuel pellets or wood chips in the fuel chamber due to the lack of oxygen, thereby preserving the fuel pellets for another occasion. In an another example embodiment, an inner wall of housing  12  and an outer wall portion of fuel chamber  20  are configured to be engaged in one or more configurations with respect to each other to provide a range of smoking levels (from none to high) as a function of the outflow of smoke from housing  12  of the smoke assembly. 
         [0020]    In another example embodiment for controlling smoke outflow, inner wall  12 A of housing  12  and outer wall portion  20 A of fuel chamber  20  further include complementary threaded portions  12 C/ 20 C such that the user twists insulative member  16  of cover member  14  in either direction so as to rotate fuel chamber  20  to partially or wholly expose fuel chamber  20  and control an outflow of smoke from housing  12 . In this example embodiment, housing  12  includes (downwardly) protruding flanges  18  at a closed end of housing  12  opposite cover member  14 . In a related embodiment, a threaded screw comes up from the closed or bottom end of the inside of housing  12  and engages a threaded hole in the bottom of fuel chamber  20  to secure chamber  20  within housing  12  and facilitate a twisting-out motion of fuel chamber  20  to expose the pores of the fuel chamber. 
         [0021]    In yet another example embodiment, inner fuel chamber  20  and outer housing  12  are formed with partial perforated surfaces such that rotating inner chamber  20  in one direction aligns the pores of the perforation of inner fuel chamber  20  with the pores/holes (not shown) on outer housing  12  and emit the smoke. In this example embodiment, when inner chamber  20  is rotated in the opposite direction (or is turned further in the original direction) the pores in both cylinders are no longer aligned and the pellets are closed from receiving air and emitting smoke. With this approach, the inner fuel chamber or cylinder need not be pulled up or twisted out of housing  12  in order to emit the smoke and with this configuration smoke is emitted from housing  12  in a range of smoking levels desired by the user. 
         [0022]    Referring more particularly to  FIG. 3 , there is illustrated a method of using smoker assembly  10 . The user first inserts fuel starter  30  (arrow  1 ) within housing  12  and then fuel chamber  20  is then filled with fuel pellets or chips (arrow  2 ). Fuel chamber  20  is then inserted into housing  12  over fuel starter  30  such that the fuel starter is disposed adjacent the fuel pellets sufficiently to ignite the wood fuel pellets when the fuel starter is lit. Fuel starter  30  is not limited to a rod structure and can be a strip or can be added into the internal cylinder  26  after fuel chamber  20  is inserted into housing  12 . After lighting the fuel starter, cover member  14  if placed on fuel chamber  20  and optionally locked in to permit pulling or twisting (using insulative tab  16 ) of fuel chamber  20  during use of the smoker assembly to control the amount of smoke emitted. 
         [0023]    In various embodiments, housing  12  is formed from or made of different types of heat resistant metals or ceramics and fuel chamber  20  is formed from or made of different types of heat resistant metals or ceramics. Insulative materials described herein include heat resistant plastics and ceramics. 
         [0024]    The following patents and publications are incorporated by reference in their entireties: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,770,157; 5,048,406; and 2013/0011535. 
         [0025]    The foregoing specific embodiments of the present invention as set forth in the specification herein are for illustrative purposes only. Various deviations and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention without departing from the main theme thereof.