Flameless flavor enhancing smoke generator

• US 6,481,344 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2001
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Margaret Jane Green
• Original Assignee: Margaret Jane Green
• Inventors: Green, Margaret Jane, Green, Forrest Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Simone, Timothy F.
• Application Number:
  US09/943,768
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 994/67, 994/81--83, 993/40, 994/46, 993/99, 995/16, 994/80, 426/235, 426/314, 426/315, 126/25.R, 126/25.A, 126/59.5, 126/79, 131/329, 131/330, 131/185, 131/200, 110/108, 110/102, 110/118, 110/196, 206/525, 206/524.6
• US Class Current: 99/482
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/052 Smoke generators ; Smoking apparatus A23B4/056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/90 in food processing or handling, e.g. food conservation

Abstract

A smoke generating device for use in providing flavored smoke in a controlled manner comprising: non combustible, sealed, pressurizable container; organic matter disposed within the container, wherein the organic matter is capable of producing a smoke without igniting; and at least one perforation in said container which enables the container to become pressurized such that smoke flows out of the container in a controlled direction and at a velocity that does not combust during heating of the container.

Claims

1. A smoke generating device for use in providing flavored smoke in a controlled manner comprising:

a. non combustible, sealed, pressurizable container;

b. organic matter disposed within the container, wherein said organic matter produces smoke without igniting;

c. at least one perforation in said container enables the container to become pressurized such that smoke flows out of the container in a controlled direction and at a velocity that does not combust during heating of the container; and

d. flavor capsules disposed adjacent the organic matter which comprise water containing aroma.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said heating of the container by a heat source is to a temperature adequate to cause the organic matter to smoke without igniting, and for the smoke to release from the container at a velocity which is sufficient to prevent burning of the smoke by the heat source.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said container is of sufficient strength and integrity to withstand heating of the multiple pieces of organic matter as well as to withstand the pressure buildup inside the container during heating of the container.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein said container is comprised of aluminum, steel, stainless steel, copper, ceramic, brass, recycled metals, alloys thereof, or combinations thereof.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein said container is biodegradable material.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said organic matter consists of:

wood chips, pelletized sawdust, sawdust, pelletized wood, small pieces of wood, non-wood organic plant material, herbs and combinations thereof.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said organic matter is a single piece of perforated wood.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the aroma is a member of the group:

woods, spices, herbs, and combinations thereof.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said container is a cylindrical 6 oz container having a top, bottom and side wall, and said at least one perforation is disposed in said side wall near said top and said perforation has a diameter of about ⅛

inch.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the diameter of said perforation is between about {fraction (1/32)}^nd and about ⅛

^th inch in diameter.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said container is a cylindrical 6 oz container having a top, bottom and side wall, and comprises three perforations with all perforations disposed within 0.5 inch of each other near the top of said container, and wherein each perforation has a diameter of about {fraction (1/32)}^nd to about {fraction (1/16)}^th of an inch.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said container has a shape that is a member of the group:

cubic, cylindrical, conical, spherical, diamond, ellipsoid, oval, and rectangular.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said container is a cylindrical 12 oz container having a top, bottom and side wall, and wherein said at least one perforation disposed in said side wall has a diameter of between about ⅛

inch and about {fraction (1/16)} inches.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is used for flavoring food with said smoke.

15. A smoke generating device for use in providing flavored smoke in a controlled manner comprising:

a. non combustible, sealed, pressurizable container;

b. organic matter disposed within the container, wherein said organic matter produces smoke without igniting;

c. at least one perforation in said container enables the container to become pressurized such that smoke flows out of the container in a controlled direction and at a velocity that does not combust during heating of the container; and

d. a relief pin comprising a top and a shaft is disposed in the top for emergency pressure release.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said relief pin comprises a tapered shaft.