Outdoor Cooker

• US 20100263654A1
• Filed: 06/30/2010
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: William E. Cusack
• Original Assignee: William E. Cusack
• Inventors: Cusack, William E.
• Application Number:
  US12/826,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20100263654A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 126/25.R
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/12 Devices for holding lids in open position on the container
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/04 Roasting apparatus with movably-mounted food supports or with movable heating implements; Spits
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0754 with blowers providing forced air circulation
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0786 Accessories

Abstract

An outdoor cooker includes a main cooking chamber defined by a base and a lid. A firebox is attached to one end of the base, and an exhaust stack is attached to an opposite end of the base. A venturi air supply has an outlet end that opens into the firebox and an inlet end that opens outside the firebox, and includes a main passage and at least one venturi passage. A blower is attached to the main passage. The firebox also includes an internal divider that divides the firebox into a lower chamber fluidly connected to an upper chamber by flow openings in a burn platform. The firebox includes a first access door with a vertical hinge axis, and a second access door with a horizontal hinge axis. A rotisserie spit support and a motor support are mounted to opposite sides of the second access door.

Claims

1. An outdoor cooker comprising:

a main cooking chamber defined by a base and a lid;

a firebox attached to one end of the base of the main cooking chamber;

an exhaust stack attached to an opposite end of the base of the main cooking chamber;

a forced air system with an outlet end that opens into the firebox and an inlet end that opens outside the firebox, and including a main passage and at least one venturi passage;

wherein the venturi passage is configured to generate a venturi flow into the firebox when air flows through the main passage into the firebox; and

the main passage has a supply port sized for connection to a fan.

2. The cooker of claim 1 wherein venturi air supply includes a first tube that includes the supply port and defines at least a segment of the main passage;

and

an outer surface of the first tube defining a portion of the venturi passage.

3. The cooker of claim 2 wherein the venturi air supply includes a venturi flow adjuster that is movable between a closed position that closes the venturi passage and an open position.

4. The cooker of claim 3 wherein the venturi air supply includes an outer tube that surrounds the first tube;

the venturi flow adjuster includes a plate movably mounted on an outer surface of the first tube;

the plate is movable along a central axis between the closed position at which the plate contacts one end of the outer tube, and the open position out of contact with the outer tube; and

the plate being stoppable at a continuum of partially open positions between the closed position and the open position.

5. The cooker of claim 4 wherein the plate has internal threads mated to a set of external threads of the first tube;

and

an electrical blower connected to the first tube.

6. The cooker of claim 5 wherein the firebox includes a fire grate platform and an internal divider that divides the firebox into a lower chamber fluidly connected to an upper chamber by flow openings in the fire grate platform;

and

the outlet end opens into the lower chamber, and the upper chamber opens into the main cooking chamber.

7. The cooker of claim 6 wherein firebox includes a first access door with a vertical hinge axis, and a second access door with a horizontal hinge axis;

the venturi air supply is mounted in the first access door; and

a rotisserie spit support mounted to the second access door.

8. An outdoor cooker comprising:

a main cooking chamber defined by a base and a lid;

a firebox attached to one end of the base of the main cooking chamber;

an exhaust stack attached to an opposite end of the base of the main cooking chamber;

wherein the firebox includes a fire grate platform and an internal divider that divides the firebox into a lower chamber fluidly connected to an upper chamber by flow openings in the fire grate platform; and

an air supply passage opens into the lower chamber, and the upper chamber opens into the main cooking chamber.

9. The outdoor cooker of claim 8 wherein the divider includes a horizontal plate and a vertical plate;

the vertical plate separates a secondary cooking chamber from a burn area above the fire grate platform;

the horizontal plate separates the secondary cooking chamber from the lower chamber; and

the firebox includes an access door, and the air supply passage extends through the access door.

10. The outdoor cooker of claim 9 wherein internal divider includes a handle attached to the horizontal plate adjacent the access door;

the burn area opens through the base into the main cooking chamber; and

a secondary cooking grate positioned in the secondary cooking chamber.

11. The outdoor cooker of claim 10 including a venturi air supply with an outlet end that opens into the firebox and an inlet end that opens outside the firebox, and including a main passage and at least one venturi passage;

wherein the venturi passage is configured to generate a venturi flow into the lower chamber of the firebox when air flows through the main passage into the firebox; and

the main passage has a supply port sized for connection to a forced air supply device.

12. The outdoor cooker of claim 11 wherein the venturi air supply includes an outer tube that surrounds the first tube;

the venturi flow adjuster includes a plate movably mounted on an outer surface of the first tube;

the plate is movable along a central axis between the closed position at which the plate contacts one end of the outer tube, and the open position out of contact with the outer tube;

the plate being stoppable at a continuum of partially open positions between the closed position and the open position, and the plate has internal threads mated to a set of external threads of the first tube; and

an electrical blower connected to the first tube.

13. The outdoor cooker of claim 12 wherein the firebox includes a first access door with a vertical hinge axis, and a second access door with a horizontal hinge axis;

and

a rotisserie spit support mounted to the second access door.

14. The outdoor cooker of claim 10 including a slidable grate movable between a first position closing the air supply passage, and a second position opening the air supply passage.

15. An outdoor cooker comprising:

a main cooking chamber defined by a base and a lid;

a firebox attached to one end of the base of the main cooking chamber;

an exhaust stack attached to an opposite end of the base of the main cooking chamber;

wherein the firebox includes a first access door with a vertical hinge axis, and a second access door with a horizontal hinge axis; and

a rotisserie spit support and a motor support mounted to opposite sides of the second access door.

16. The outdoor cooker of claim 15 including a rotisserie spit rotationally supported by the rotisserie spit bracket;

and

the rotisserie spit having an end extending through the second access door and received in a motor supported on the motor support.

17. The outdoor cooker of claim 16 wherein the rotisserie spit has a horizontal orientation perpendicular to the horizontal hinge axis when the second access door is in a closed position.

18. The outdoor cooker of claim 17 wherein the firebox includes a fire grate platform and an internal divider that divides the firebox into a lower chamber fluidly connected to an upper chamber by flow openings in the fire grate platform;

an air supply passage opens into the lower chamber;

the upper chamber includes a burn area above the fire grate platform that opens into the base of the main cooking chamber, and a secondary cooking area with a grate between the first access door and the burn area; and

the rotisserie spit is positioned in the upper chamber.

19. The outdoor cooker of claim 18 wherein the air supply passage is a portion of a venturi air supply with an outlet end that opens into the firebox and an inlet end that opens outside the firebox, and including a main passage and at least one venturi passage;

wherein the venturi passage is configured to generate a venturi flow into the lower chamber of the firebox when air flows through the main passage into the firebox; and

the main passage has a supply port sized for connection to a forced air supply device.

20. The cooker of claim 19 wherein the venturi air supply includes an outer tube that surrounds the first tube;

the venturi flow adjuster includes a plate movably mounted on an outer surface of the first tube;

the plate is movable along a central axis between the closed position at which the plate contacts one end of the outer tube, and the open position out of contact with the outer tube;

the plate being stoppable at a continuum of partially open positions between the closed position and the open position, and the plate has internal threads mated to a set of external threads of the first tube; and

an electrical blower connected to the first tube.