Abstract:
A cooking apparatus includes a frame with an upper section for holding a pot and a lower surface for resting upon an underlying support surface. The frame has a burner element that can be a nozzle tube having a commercially available burner nozzle for generating a cooking flame during use. The nozzle can be fueled with propane, butane or the like using a commercially available tank, regulator and supply hose. The frame can include upper and lower rings, the lower ring providing the lower surface and the upper ring having pot support members for holding the bottom of a pot. One or more heat shields positioned below the flame during use lessen heat transfer from the flame to the underlying support surface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/435,994, filed Dec. 23, 2002, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed. 

   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable 
   REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
   Not applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to outdoor cooking devices and cooking accessories and more particularly to a gaseous fuel fired outdoor cooker that is supplied with a source of gaseous 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 that protects the underlying support (eg. deck or table) when a user foolishly places the burner on a combustible or heat sensitive surface (for example, wood, paper, or plastic). 
   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 often a component part of natural gas fired hot water heaters. 
   Examples of these prior art type outdoor cooking devices can be seen on the Metal Fusion website (www.KingKooker.com). 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 patents that relate to cooking devices include the aforementioned, and patent numbers 1,335,375; 1,671,677; 1,679,567; 1,859,615; 2,355,948; 2,414,679; 2,485,774; 5,065,735; 5,758,569; 5,813,321; 5,970,852; 6,058,830; 6,314,869; 6,439,107, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
   The burner nozzle can be a cast iron hot water heater type burner nozzle or a jet burner arrangement that uses a single orifice or outlet centered in a cylindrically-shaped, vertically oriented metallic tube. Probably the most common version of the prior art “jet burner” arrangement is seen in Metal Fusion&#39;s catalog as Model No. 90 PK. 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. 82 PK, 83 PK, 85 PK, 86 PK, and 86 PKJ. A prior art portable propane outdoor cooker, various outdoor fryers, and other outdoor cookers and related accessories are shown on the Metal Fusion website (www.KingKooker.com). 
   One of the problems with outdoor cookers is the unfortunate and foolish user that places the burner on a combustible or heat sensitive surface such as a wooden deck, wooden table, plastic table, plastic deck or on newspaper that is spread on a table, floor, etc. If the burner is operated at a very high intensity for a long period of time over a dry wood surface such as an old deck or table, fire could result. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention includes a burner frame having a base for engaging an underlying support surface, the burner frame having a burner nozzle for generating a high intensity flame for use in cooking. A supply hose can be connected to the nozzle for supplying butane, propane or other gaseous fuel product to the burner nozzle. The burner frame has a support surface for cradling a pot. 
   The burner frame includes a base portion (e.g. ring) and an upper portion (e.g. ring) with legs connecting the upper and lower portions. 
   The upper portion supports pot support bars or a grate (e.g. multiple grate members) that can extend horizontally to cradle the bottom of a cooking pot. 
   A heat shield is supported by the burner frame, at a position below the flame that emits from the nozzle tube. A pair of heat shields can be provided (e.g., welded to the frame). A first shield can be positioned just below the top of the nozzle tube and a second shield can be positioned below the first shield. 
   One of the shields can be positioned at an elevation next to the burner element. 
   The burner element can be a vertically oriented tube with a hollow bore. A nozzle is typically placed inside the tube bore so that during cooking the nozzle discharges gaseous fuel upwardly to supply a flame for cooking. Such a vertical tube, bore and nozzle arrangement per se is well known in the art, having been widely sold for decades. 
   One of the shields can be placed below the burner nozzle. When a vertical tube and nozzle are used, one of the shields can be placed below the vertical tube. 
   The shields can be of a transverse diameter that is much greater than the transverse diameter of the tube, and can be approaching pot diameter or a greater than pot diameter. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional, elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention taken along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the top view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a fragmentary perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating te vertical tube, nozzle and shield in detail; 
       FIG. 5  is perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a fragmentary view of the alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded, partial perspective view of the alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention shown in a collapsed, storage or shipping position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Burner apparatus  10  provides burner frame  40  that includes a lower end portion with a base that can be a ring  11  and an upper end portion that can be a ring  15 . A plurality of preferably three legs  12 ,  13 ,  14  span between base ring  11  and upper end portion ring  15 . The rings  11 ,  15  and legs  12 ,  13 ,  14  can be connected together using welding, for example. The rings  11 ,  15  and the legs  12 ,  13 ,  14  can be of steel or stainless steel as examples. 
   The upper end portion of frame  40  provides a grate  38  for holding a known pot  39  with known liner or basket  41 . A plurality of preferably three or more pot support bars (e.g., steel)  16 ,  17 ,  18  can define grate  38  and can be attached to the upper surface of upper ring  15 , for example, being welded thereto. Legs  11 ,  12 ,  13  can be welded to the combination of ring  15  and pot support bars  16 ,  17 ,  18  (see  FIGS. 1–3 ). 
   A fuel supply line  19  extends horizontally, being welded to frame  40  at leg  12  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Fuel line  19  provides at one of its end portions an inlet fitting  20  to which a commercially available hose  37 , pressure regulator, and fuel (e.g. propane, butane, etc.) tank (or other suitable fuel supply) can be attached. 
   An end of fuel line  19  opposite fitting  20  provides an elbow  21  that carries a known and a commercially available nozzle jet  42 . Nozzle tube  22  has an open ended bore  35 . Tube  22  extends around the nozzle jet  42  and channels the flame that is generated at the nozzle  42  upwardly toward the cooking pot  39  that is supported by bars  16 ,  17 ,  18  of grate  38 . 
   A jet baffle  23  can be rotated to a position above nozzle tube  22  as shown in  FIG. 1  or can be mounted to tube  22  so that it can be rotated toward or away from nozzle tube  22  as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4  to vary heat intensity that is directed to the pot  39 . 
   Baffle rod  24  is mounted in baffle sleeve  27 . Jet baffle  23  is mounted (for example, welded) to top of baffle rod  24 . A bend  26  in baffle rod  24  provides an offset lower end portion  25  that can be gripped by a user and rotated in order to rotate baffle rod  24  and jet baffle  23  to position it in a desired location before lighting of the burner  10 . Such jet baffles  23  are known prior art. 
   Upper heat shield  28  is supported by the frame  40 . Shield  28  can be attached to frame  40  at the legs  12 ,  13 ,  14 , being welded thereto, for example. The upper heat shield  28  can be positioned at an elevation that is next to tube  22 , e.g., in between the upper end  36  and bottom of nozzle tube  22  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Shield  28  extends radially from nozzle tube  22  to periphery  33  (See  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 ). 
   Lower heat shield  29  is attached to the frame  40  at legs  12 ,  13 ,  14 , (for example, being welded thereto). Lower heat shield  29  is at an elevation that is below nozzle tube  22  providing a gap  34  that enables air to enter the bottom of nozzle tube  22  so that air can enter nozzle tube bore  43  and reach the flame that emits from the nozzle jet  42  in tube  22  and ensure combustion. 
   Periphery  33  can be at the outer edge of lower ring  11 , or at the outer edge of grate  37 , or it can be about equal to or greater than the diameter of pot  39 . Notice in  FIG. 1  that the periphery  33  of upper heat shield  28  can extend further from nozzle tube  22  than the periphery  32  of pot support bars  16 ,  17 ,  18  (and can extend beyond the periphery of any pot  39  placed on bars  16 ,  17 ,  18 . This configuration ensures that the flame exiting the top  36  of nozzle tube  22  will be reflected upwardly, preventing excessive heat from being transferred to a surface  44  upon which lower ring  11  rests. 
   The upper and lower heat shield  28 ,  29  provide a safety feature for preventing excess heat transfer to surface  44 . The heat shields  29 ,  30  thus prevent excessive transfer to surface  44  and, hopefully, prevent fire if a user foolishly places the burner  10  on a combustible or heat sensitive surface such as a wooden deck, wooden table, plastic, or paper articles. 
   In  FIGS. 5–9 , an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention is shown, designated generally by the numeral  50 . Outdoor cooking apparatus  50  is an alternate embodiment that illustrates a collapsible outdoor cooking apparatus that can more easily be stored in a reduced area. Base ring  51  supports preferably three legs  52 ,  53 ,  54 . Each leg has an upper end portion  55  that is hollow and provides an internal thread  56 . Each leg  52 ,  53 ,  54  can removably attach at its upper end portion to a strut  57 ,  58 ,  59  respectively. 
   Each strut  57 ,  58 ,  59  provides a lower end portion  60  that has a bend  61  and hollow sleeve  62 . Sleeve  62  is preferably generally vertically oriented and provides sleeve bore  63 . For assembling the outdoor cooking apparatus  50  in the operating position that is shown in  FIG. 5 , bolt  64  passes through bore  63  of sleeve  62  and forms a threaded connection with internal threads  56  at upper end portion  55  of each leg  52 ,  53 ,  54 . 
   In order to disassemble the apparatus for storage or shipment, the bolts  64  are removed in the direction of arrows  65  as shown in  FIG. 7  so that each strut  57 ,  58 ,  59  separates from its respective leg  52 ,  53 ,  54 . 
   An upper ring  66  is attached to the upper end portion of each of the struts  57 ,  58 ,  59  with a connection that can be welded, for example. A pot support bar is attached (i.e. welded) to upper ring  66  next to each of the struts  57 ,  58 ,  59 . As shown, for example, in  FIGS. 5 ,  8  and  9 , pot support bar  67  attaches to upper ring  66  next to strut  57 . Pot support bar  68  attaches to ring  66  next to strut  58 . Pot support bar  69  attaches to ring  66  next to strut  59 . 
   A conduit  70  is provided for supplying a selected gas fuel product such as propane, butane or the like to burner element  71 . A flexible hose  77  can be used to supply a selected food product to conduit  70 . Burner element  71  can be provided with a jet baffle  72 . The construction of conduit  70 , burner element  71  and jet baffle  72  can be as shown and described with respect to the preferred embodiment of  FIGS. 1–4 , providing a horizontal fuel line, elbow, nozzle, and nozzle tube such as is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The jet baffle  72  can be provided with a rotary connection to the outside of the nozzle tube as shown with respect to  FIGS. 1–4 . 
   Upper baffle plate  73  can be attached (for example, welded) to struts  57 ,  58 ,  59  as shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  8  and  9 . Lower baffle plate  74  can be attached (for example, welded) to struts  57 ,  58 ,  59 . The lower baffle plate  74  is welded to struts  57 ,  58 ,  59  next to the bend  61  portion thereof as shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  8  and  9 . The upper baffle plate  73  can be attached to struts  57 ,  58 ,  59 , being welded thereto at a position generally in between bend  61  and ring  66  and below the top of burner element  71 . 
   Upper baffle plate  73  has a periphery  75  provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart opening  76 . In the collapsed storage or transport position of  FIG. 9 , bolts  64  can be placed through openings  76  in baffle plate  73  and then connected to the internal threads  56  of upper end portion  55  of struts  52 ,  53 ,  54 . 
   Parts List 
   The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention: 
   
     
       
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               Parts Number 
               Description 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
               10 
               outdoor cooking apparatus 
             
             
               11 
               base ring 
             
             
               12 
               leg 
             
             
               13 
               leg 
             
             
               14 
               leg 
             
             
               15 
               upper ring 
             
             
               16 
               pot support bar 
             
             
               17 
               pot support bar 
             
             
               18 
               pot support bar 
             
             
               19 
               fuel line 
             
             
               20 
               inlet fitting 
             
             
               21 
               elbow 
             
             
               22 
               nozzle tube 
             
             
               23 
               jet baffle 
             
             
               24 
               baffle rod 
             
             
               25 
               lower end portion 
             
             
               26 
               bend 
             
             
               27 
               baffle sleeve 
             
             
               28 
               upper heat shield 
             
             
               29 
               lower heat shield 
             
             
               30 
               attachment 
             
             
               31 
               attachment 
             
             
               32 
               periphery 
             
             
               33 
               periphery 
             
             
               34 
               gap 
             
             
               35 
               tube bore 
             
             
               36 
               upper end 
             
             
               37 
               hose 
             
             
               38 
               grate 
             
             
               39 
               pot 
             
             
               40 
               burner frame 
             
             
               41 
               basket 
             
             
               42 
               nozzle jet 
             
             
               43 
               tube bore 
             
             
               44 
               underlying support surface 
             
             
               50 
               outdoor cooking apparatus 
             
             
               51 
               lower ring 
             
             
               52 
               leg 
             
             
               53 
               leg 
             
             
               54 
               leg 
             
             
               55 
               upper end portion 
             
             
               56 
               internal thread 
             
             
               57 
               strut 
             
             
               58 
               strut 
             
             
               59 
               strut 
             
             
               60 
               lower end portion 
             
             
               61 
               bend 
             
             
               62 
               sleeve 
             
             
               63 
               sleeve bore 
             
             
               64 
               bolt 
             
             
               65 
               arrow 
             
             
               66 
               upper ring 
             
             
               67 
               pot support bar 
             
             
               68 
               pot support bar 
             
             
               69 
               pot support bar 
             
             
               70 
               conduit 
             
             
               71 
               burner element 
             
             
               72 
               jet baffle 
             
             
               73 
               upper baffle plate 
             
             
               74 
               lower baffle plate 
             
             
               75 
               periphery 
             
             
               76 
               opening 
             
             
               77 
               hose 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   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.