Patent ID: 7703389

Claim:
A smoker apparatus, comprising: a heater a food item container that comprises a smoker chamber structure that, in use, receives a food item to be heated by said heater, and wherein said smoker chamber includes an internal smoker material reception device and a chamber wall, with said chamber wall having a smoker material access port provided therein with a removable access port cover member, and which access port is positioned relative to said smoker material reception device as to provide for a gravity feed of smoker material from the access port to said smoker material reception device, and wherein said heater is provided in said smoker chamber and is positioned as to heat smoking material placed in said smoker material reception device; a cooking characteristic monitoring system which includes, a local cooking characteristic information conveyance device which is visibly mounted externally on said food item container and which includes a control unit with a smoker chamber temperature setting adjustment device and an adjusted temperature display device; and wherein said control unit is supported by said smoker chamber as to be positioned externally to a heated cavity heated by said heater within said smoker chamber structure; a temperature probe assembly having a first food item probe, and wherein said local cooking characteristic information conveyance device comprises a probe temperature goal setting adjustment device which provides for adjustments in a predetermined value for food item cooking completion and a probe temperature display device.