Abstract:
An improved outdoor cooking apparatus features a specially configured pot with multiple specially configured cooking inserts and burner frame that supports a burner element. One insert is a rack that can be used for cooking one or more whole poultry carcasses. Another insert is a perforated basket that can be used to hold items to be cooked. The pot has a lower tapered section that includes a tapering downwardly sidewall or walls meeting a smaller, generally rectangular bottom panel. The pot has an upper section with a larger transverse cross section than the pot bottom, preferably comprised of generally vertically oriented side all sections. The basket can be correspondingly shaped to the contour of the pot interior.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/659,129, filed Mar. 7, 2005. This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/862,553, filed Jun. 7, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,237,476 and U.S. Ser. No. 10/862,601, filed Jun. 7, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,325,482 each hereby 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 that are fueled with gaseous fuel (e.g. propane, butane) and more particularly to an improved outdoor cooking device that can be used in a number of different cooking situations including boiling, steaming, and with water or oil as a cooking medium. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to an improved cooking apparatus that has a specially shaped pot and one or more food holding inserts that can optionally be placed inside the pot. The inserts can include a specially configured insert can hold one or more entire poultry carcasses (e.g. turkey, chicken, etc.). 
   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 brochure of Metal Fusion, Inc., of Jefferson, La. and at the 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 Bourgeois patents that relate to cooking devices include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,813,321; 5,970,852; and 6,058,830; 6,314,869; 6,439,107; 6,698,335; 6,957,649; and 6,964,273, each said Bourgeois patent hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
   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. 
   Patents issued 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. 
   Various patents have issued for cooking vessels or pots. Examples include U.S. Pat. No. 1,276,749 entitled “Cooking Utensil.” A similar device can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 1,488,150 entitled “Steaming and Draining Vessel.” 
   A cooking rack is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,360,026. A combined cooker and steamer is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 2,555,720. An electrically heated boiler is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,859,505. The Lee U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,486 discloses a perforated inner pan that nests completely in a nonperforated open top pan. That U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,486 is entitled “Cooking Utensil.” 
   The McLemore U.S. Pat. No. 6,711,992 discloses a fryer, boiler and steamer cooking apparatus. 
   Another frying apparatus shown in the Johnston Patent 2005/0051035. 
   Design Patents D226,940, D237,578, and D402,155 disclose various cookers or fryers. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an improved outdoor cooking apparatus that includes a burner frame having upper and lower end portions, wherein the lower end portion is configured to engage an underlying support surface, the upper end portion providing a pot support. 
   A burner element is mounted on the frame for providing a flame to be used during cooking. A specially configured pot rests upon the pot support during cooking, the pot having a generally square or rectangular bottom panel of a first, smaller area, a plurality of sidewalls, an open top of a second, larger area, a pot rim, and an interior for holding a cooking fluid. The pot sidewalls include lower inclined walls that extend upwardly from the bottom panel. 
   One or more inserts or racks are provided that are sized and shaped to fit the pot interior. Each insert or rack optionally rests upon the pot bottom panel in a cooking position and can be attached to the pot rim in a draining position. One of the racks is a poultry cooking insert that can hold an entire poultry carcass (for example turkey, chicken, or a plurality of poultry carcasses). The rack preferably extends above the bottom panel when cooking and extends laterally beyond the bottom panel. This configuration is particularly useful when frying large poultry items (such as a turkey), minimizing the volume of frying medium (e.g. peanut oil) that is required. 
   Another rack that can be placed in a cooking medium within the pot interior is a perforated basket for frying items such as fish, poultry, vegetables or the like. Two frying baskets could be placed inside the pot in a side-by-side position or configuration. 
   The apparatus of the present invention can be used to steam items when a steamer plate is placed above and supported by the poultry cooking insert. 
   The present invention can be used with more than one cooking medium, such as with oil or with water. Water is preferably used when steaming, or when cooking certain seafood items that are boiled such as shrimp or crabs. An oil cooking medium is used when frying certain items such as poultry, fish, or vegetables. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 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 front elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the pot; 
       FIG. 3  is a top partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the pot liner; 
       FIG. 4  is a partial side view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the pot liner; 
       FIG. 5  is a partial end view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the pot liner; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a partially broken away side elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the optional pot insert rack; 
       FIG. 9  is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the optional pot insert rack; 
       FIG. 10  is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the optional pot insert rack; and 
       FIG. 11  is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the steamer plate that can optionally be used with the rack of  FIGS. 8-10 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1-7  show the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention which is designated by the numeral  10  in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Outdoor cooking apparatus  10  provides a burner frame  11  for supporting a pot  12 . The burner frame  11  has a base  13  for engaging an underlying support surface such as a concrete slab  45 . Frame  11  includes a pair of unshaped legs  14 ,  15 . The leg  14  is comprised of a pair of vertical sections  16 ,  17  connected to a horizontal section  18  at bends  22 ,  23 . Similarly, leg  15  has a pair of spaced apart vertical sections  19 ,  20  connected to a horizontal section  21 . Likewise, bends  22 ,  23  can be used to connect the horizontal section  21  to the vertical sections  19 ,  20 . 
   A shroud or wind guard  24  is connected to each of the legs  14 ,  15  with a plurality of grate members  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28 . A burner element  29  is supported just below the shroud  24 . The shroud  24  can be generally cylindrically shaped as shown. A burner support bracket or bar  30  can be attached to the bottom of shroud  24  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . The burner support bar or bracket  30  can be used to support the burner element  29  near the bottom the shroud  24 . Burner element  29  can be a commercially available element, and can be fastened at  42  ( FIG. 6 ) to support bracket  30  using a bolted connection. 
   Each grate member  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28  can be generally hook shaped, providing a bend  32  that connects grate end portions  33 ,  34 . The end portion  33  connects to shroud  24  with a connection such as a weld  31 . The end portion  34  of each grate member  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28  connects to a leg  15  or  16  with a connection such as a weld  31 . In the preferred embodiment, the connection of end  33  to shroud  24  can be a weld  31  to the inner cylindrical surface  35  of shroud  24 . 
   Frame  11  includes a rectangular upper section  36 . This rectangular upper section  36  can be defined by a plurality of four horizontal bars  37 ,  38 ,  39 ,  40 . The bars  37 ,  38 ,  39 ,  40  can be welded end to end, or can be a single bent bar that forms a rectangle as shown in  FIG. 5 . The rectangular upper section  36  can then be welded to legs  14 ,  15  at the corners of rectangular upper support  36  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   Burner element  29  can be a commercially available cast iron burner element such as the type that are used in hot water heaters. These burner elements  29  can be either high pressure or low pressure depending upon the amount of heat that is to be generated during cooking. A fuel source such as a commercially available cannister of butane or propane can be used to fuel burner element  29 , connected thereto using a hose  41 , regulator (not shown), and an inlet fitting  43  in a manner that is known in the art. 
   In  FIGS. 3-7 , pot  12  includes a pot rim  46 , a pot interior  47 , a plurality of wall panels, and can include a liner  80 . Handles  48 ,  49  can be welded to end panels  64 ,  65 . When pot  12  has cooled, handles  48 ,  49  enable the pot  12  to be moved. Pot  12  includes bottom panel  66 , end panels  64 ,  65  and side panels  71 ,  72 . The pot  12  provides an open top  44  into which an item to be cooked (such as a poultry carcass  63 ) can be inserted. 
   End panels  64 ,  65  each include a lower trapezoid shaped section and an upper rectangularly shaped section. The end panel  64  has a lower trapezoid section  67  and an upper rectangular section  69 . Similarly, the end panel  65  provides a lower trapezoid shaped section  68  and an upper rectangular section  70 . Each side  71 ,  72  has an inclined lower panel  73  and an upper generally vertically oriented panel  74 . A horizontal seam  75  defines the intersection between inclined panel  73  and vertical panel  74  for each side  71 ,  72 . 
   In  FIG. 7 , the dimension “A” line  76  indicates the width of pot  12  at seams  75 , measured from one seam  75  to the other seam  75 . In  FIG. 6 , the dimension line  78  indicates the length of pot  12  at seam  75 . The combination of the dimension lines  76  and  78  define a larger transverse cross sectional area of pot  12  next to the seams  75  that can be about equal to the area of open top  44 . A second, smaller transverse cross sectional area is defined by bottom panel  66 . During use, pot  12  is laterally restrained the bars  37 ,  38 ,  39 ,  40  of frame  11 . The larger transverse cross sectional area of pot  12  at seams  75  as defined by dimension arrows  76  and  78  is positioned next to rectangular upper section  36 . 
   This improved configuration places the larger transverse cross sectional area of the pot  12  next to rectangular upper section  36  to prevent or restrain lateral movement of the pot during cooking. The smaller bottom panel  66  in combination with the inclined panels  73  minimizes the volume of typically expensive cooking oil that is required for cooking the poultry carcass  63 . 
   Different food holding inserts can be placed in pot  11 , such as the rack insert  50  ( FIGS. 8-11 ) or the basket  80  ( FIGS. 3-7 ). Insert  50  is comprised of longitudinal beam or beams/members  51  and one or more transverse beams/members  52 . Vertical beams  53 ,  54  have lifting hooks  55 ,  56  respectively. Beam  54  can have a thickened section  88  that provides openings  89  enabling skewer  57  to be bolted to member  54  as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
   One or more generally vertically oriented skewers  58  can be removably (e.g. threaded connection) attached to beam  52  at internally threaded opening  87 . Each skewer  58  has a threaded lower end  59  with threads that engage correspond threads of an opening  87 . When attached to openings  59 , the skewers  58  can be used to support one or more smaller poultry carcasses (e.g. chickens)  63  (see  FIG. 9 ). In this fashion, either skewer  57  or skewers  58  can be attached to rack  50 . Skewer  57  is typically used to skewer a horizontally positioned turkey or other larger poultry carcass  63  by occupying a part of its body cavity. 
   Curved supports  62  help cradle and support a turkey or poultry carcass  63  during cooking when insert  50  rests upon bottom panel  66  of the pot  12 . Spaced apart curved members  62  enable a larger poultry carcass (e.g. turkey)  63  to be supported as the carcass  63  rests in a horizontal position upon members  51  and cradled by curved members  62 . Hanger  60  can be formed using a pair of transverse beams  52  and preferably two spaced apart, downwardly extending hooks  61  that connect to beams  52  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Hooks  61  engage a pot end panel  64  or  65  at the periphery next to open top  44  when a poultry carcass is to be drained of excess oil after cooking. 
   An elongated bar (not shown) can engage hooks  55 ,  56  and thus be used to lift insert  50  and carcass  63  from pot  12  after cooking in a selected cooking medium (e.g. peanut oil). For draining, insert  50  can be centered roughly over bottom panel  66  but at an elevated position on rim  46  next to open top  44  wherein hanger  60  hooks  61  engage the upper edge of an end panel  64  or  65 . Hooks  61  can be mounted at an angle relative to beams  51  so that the carcass  63  is positioned to drain excess cooking oil back into the pot  12  when rack  50  is attached to pot  12  at pot rim  46 . 
     FIGS. 10 and 11  show an optional perforated steamer plate  79  that rests upon the upper ends  77  of curved members  62  and in between vertical members  53 ,  54  (see  FIG. 11 ). Items to be steamed can be placed upon plate  79  and a water level maintained in pot  12  that is below the level of plate  79 . 
   Another food holding insert  80  can be employed with pot  12  instead of or interchangeably with insert  50 . Insert  80  is a wire basket shape to conform to the contour  84  of the pot interior. The wire frame  81  can be shaped to conform to the inside contour  84  of pot  12 , then covered with wire cloth  83  so that basket insert  80  will hold food items such as a poultry carcass  63 . Basket insert  80  can be provided with feet  82  that space the wire cloth  83  (and any contained food item) away from pot bottom  66 . Basket  80  can be lifted and manipulated using handles  85 ,  86 . 
   The following is a list of suitable parts and materials for the various elements of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               PARTS LIST 
             
           
        
         
             
               Parts Number 
               Description 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
               10 
               outdoor cooking apparatus 
             
             
               11 
               burner frame 
             
             
               12 
               pot 
             
             
               13 
               base 
             
             
               14 
               u-shaped leg 
             
             
               15 
               u-shaped leg 
             
             
               16 
               vertical section 
             
             
               17 
               vertical section 
             
             
               18 
               horizontal section 
             
             
               19 
               vertical section 
             
             
               20 
               vertical section 
             
             
               21 
               horizontal section 
             
             
               22 
               bend 
             
             
               23 
               bend 
             
             
               24 
               shroud 
             
             
               25 
               grate member 
             
             
               26 
               grate member 
             
             
               27 
               grate member 
             
             
               28 
               grate member 
             
             
               29 
               burner element 
             
             
               30 
               burner support bracket 
             
             
               31 
               weld 
             
             
               32 
               bend 
             
             
               33 
               end portion 
             
             
               34 
               end portion 
             
             
               35 
               inner cylindrical surface 
             
             
               36 
               rectangular upper section 
             
             
               37 
               horizontal bar 
             
             
               38 
               horizontal bar 
             
             
               39 
               horizontal bar 
             
             
               40 
               horizontal bar 
             
             
               41 
               hose 
             
             
               42 
               bolted connection 
             
             
               43 
               fitting 
             
             
               44 
               open top 
             
             
               45 
               concrete slab 
             
             
               46 
               pot rim 
             
             
               47 
               pot interior 
             
             
               48 
               handle 
             
             
               49 
               handle 
             
             
               50 
               poultry cooking insert 
             
             
               51 
               longitudinal beam 
             
             
               52 
               transverse beam 
             
             
               53 
               vertical beam 
             
             
               54 
               vertical beam 
             
             
               55 
               lifting hook 
             
             
               56 
               lifting hook 
             
             
               57 
               poultry skewer 
             
             
               58 
               Poultry skewer 
             
             
               59 
               threaded end 
             
             
               60 
               hanger 
             
             
               61 
               hook 
             
             
               62 
               curved member 
             
             
               63 
               poultry carcass 
             
             
               64 
               end panel 
             
             
               65 
               end panel 
             
             
               66 
               bottom panel 
             
             
               67 
               trapezoid section 
             
             
               68 
               trapezoid section 
             
             
               69 
               rectangular section 
             
             
               70 
               rectangular section 
             
             
               71 
               side 
             
             
               72 
               side 
             
             
               73 
               inclined panel 
             
             
               74 
               vertical panel 
             
             
               75 
               horizontal seam 
             
             
               76 
               dimension 
             
             
               77 
               end 
             
             
               78 
               dimension 
             
             
               79 
               steamer plate 
             
             
               80 
               basket 
             
             
               81 
               frame 
             
             
               82 
               foot 
             
             
               83 
               wire cloth 
             
             
               84 
               inside contour 
             
             
               85 
               handle 
             
             
               86 
               handle 
             
             
               87 
               internally threaded opening 
             
             
               88 
               thickened section 
             
             
               89 
               opening 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   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.