GB2477592A

GB2477592A - Vertically suspended skewer cooking apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2477592A
Application number: GB1019044A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hieu Ngoc Ngo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-02-05
Filing date: 2010-11-11
Publication date: 2011-08-10
Anticipated expiration: 2030-11-11
Also published as: GB201019044D0; GB201001875D0; GB2477592B

Abstract

Cooking apparatus wherein foodstuff is impaled on vertically suspended skewers 1 above a heat source 15 with means 11 to divert liquids from the foodstuff away from the heat source without restricting the flow of heat to the suspended foodstuff. The cooking apparatus may have three sections; baseburner 15 and two-part cooking chamber 6, 10, which can be dismantled and stacked. Charcoal briquettes can be easily ignited through an aperture that also acts as an adjustable air intake 17 for precise heat control. To prevent fat dripping onto the charcoal, a draining tray 11 is positioned below the foodstuffs but above the charcoal. The draining tray diverts fat away from the charcoal whilst also allowing the upward swirling flow of hot air to the cooking chamber. The apparatus may have three or more adjustable feet 19 to allow stable configuration of the apparatus when on an uneven surface. Six static wood handles 4 may be used to allow for heat dissipation and easy lifting.

Description

Charcoal Smoke Barbecue Cooking Apparatus and Method

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention herein is a continuation of my now withdrawn original application serial number: GB 1001875-2 filed 5th February 2010. This current and novel invention relates to a charcoal smoke barbecue cooking apparatus' -of those outdoor types normally used for the cooking methods of those barbecued foodstuffs.

BACKGROUND ART

The apparatus assists a genuine need seen in most conventional arts; in their inability to cook foodstuffs placed on or inside of them efficiently and thoroughly enough, the apparatus herein is able to stop completely the possibility of undercooked and potentially dangerous foods (within a reasonable timeframe); in not being cooked right through, as the apparatus herein encourages a vortex of swirling updraft of extremely hot rising air to engulf the whole suspended foodstuff; within its chamber, placed above the heat-source in one complete way. This method ensures that it overcomes these inabilities of such prior conventional arts; the chamber conception and creative design of the overall invention is a departure from those prior arts: in how it is physically structured, and the nature of how it cooks very easily and simply.

SUMMARY OF TIlE INVENTION

In the prior and current presentation of the invention, there is a portable aspect of the apparatus which enables the three main sections it comprises of to be folded down; importantly there is a cooking-time saving element that is a beneficial component, which is achieved by the distinctive funnel-shaped body, which allows the very hot swirling air (up to 400' degrees Celsius + or -) to then be focused and delivered precisely to those suspended foodstuffs impaled on the suspended skewers from the charcoal briquettes heat-source, generated by the adjustable ability of said heat -controlled by the air intake window' at the stand-base/ash residue compartment'; also delivering that essential aroma and beautiful authentic charcoal taste coupled with those marinated foodstuffs with that mouth-watering appealing tang. Advantageously, the suspended skewers; in its characterised natural state, reduces the cooking-time and saves the overuse of the fuel source of those charcoal briquettes.

Essentially to note, is all foodstuffs remain moist and so minimal dehydration is noticed, as there is no direct flame impacting upon said foodstuff, the apparatus can have the capacity to cook more than 15 kilograms of various food-types in one complete session; including but not limited to four whole ducks/chickens -uniquely, without the need in ever rotating those foodstuff, and no burning of foodstuff occurs as a strategic distance has further been incorporated in the design of the apparatus; this design approach encourages the attractive golden/browning appearance and that barbecued charcoal taste of the prepared foodstuff.

The apparatus may be constructed through forms of sheet-metal including aluminium, stainless steel and such types with a uniformly ceramic or porcelain coating of those necessary sheet-metal utilised, such that a consistent heat deflection occurs within the chamber of those funnel compartments and burner section, whilst conforming to the ambient outside air temperature so as to balance and enable normal heat dissipation.

The stand-base burner/ash residue compartment' of the apparatus delivers precise heat through its adjustable slide panel-door with handle, where the positioned charcoal briquettes on the supporting grid above can also be easily lit as designed through this opening, by those appropriate oldldiscarded newspapers causing minimal cost with no additional fuel supply thereto. There is also less mess incurred through this lighting procedure as this is contained within the base of the unit, and also the apparatus is easy to make clean when the user has finished cooking, by further extracting the ash collector/slide panel' with handle, which is located at the bottom of the unit.

The apparatus further comes with the added ability of being extremely economical in its use; of excessively burning, those charcoal briquettes; in that it can credibly cook more than a respectable kilograms of prepared foodstuff in approximately half the time as that of a conventional model; thereby conserving those types of charcoal briquettes used.

BRIEF DISCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

By way of example, five illustrative manifestation of this invention will now be described with their respective references which show full representation of the said invention as follows: + Figure 1 shows the three (3) sections of the invention in its assembled order.

* Figure 2 shows the three (3) sections of the invention in an exploded and organisational order.

+ Figure 3 shows the three (3) sections of the invention in its 3D' presentation.

+ Figure 4 shows the unique Fat Residue Holding/Draining Tray with canopy and fixed Fin-blades along with Nozzle.

* Figure 5 shows the invention in its disassembled foldaway state ready for storage or easy carrying with peripheral attachments of the invention.

DETAILED DISCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE (S) OF TifE INVENTION The illustrated apparatus 6, 10 and 15 of Fig 1 comprises a complete barbecue cooking apparatus, and seven peripheral, functional and essential accessories noted in Fig 2, 4 thereof. The invention is designed to be collapsible and portable; therefore, it possesses essentially three (3) main sections which structurally are able to then become collapsible and so fold-down into one complete foldaway and portable unit 35, 36 and 37 of Fig 5. Note: those seven peripheral essential accessories remain an integral part of the apparatus, but should not limit the general functionality of the apparatus.

The first section being the stand-base burner/ash residue compartment' 15 which incorporates an adjustable air intake slide panel with handle' 16 and this section also couples specifically to ignite the charcoal briquettes 14 whereby the combustion by lighted oldldiscarded newspapers of said charcoal briquettes 14 is directed through the adjustable air-intake window opening' 17 used to control the precise amount of thermal intensity thus delivered to the prepared suspended foodstuff above, once combustion takes hold. The stand-base burner/ash residue compartment' 15 also has a specifically devised ash collector/slide panel' 21 where such ash can then be discharged through the ash collector aperture' 20. The stand-base burner/ash residue compartment' 15 is also devised with three specifically incorporated equidistant height adjustable feet 19 with integrated safety locking nuts 18 for any potential uneven surfaces.

The second section being the bottom funnel body' 10 which locates via safety locking-pins 13 of Fig 1 to the stand-base burner/ash residue compartment' 15 further connects in turn to the third section being the top funnel body' 6 via assembly locator' 8 which has been specifically designed with an appropriate number of skewer holding-slots herein defined as the skewer holding rack' 2 where there is a 200mm centralised aperture, to enable the skewers I with accompanying impaled foodstuff to fit: in a distinct and proportionate equidistant manner, in a circular arrangement at the head of the top funnel body' 6.

The top funnel body' 6 has the capability of initially holding a set of sixteen skewers 1, but with the possibility of having a further eight additional skewers I should the user require this option; displayed as an additional skewer holding rack' 44 of Fig 5 supplied for a larger cooking requirement of foodstuff. Notably the unit displays a temperature gauge' 3 showing the rising and decreasing internal temperature of the funnel chamber once in full operational mode. Note: although a total of 24 skewers are noted -there are no restrictions which may limit the increased or decreased amount of said skewers used in the general functionality of the apparatus.

Incorporated in the design are the six static-wood carrying handles 4 located at top funnel body' 6, bottom funnel body' 10 and also stand-base burner/ash residue compartment' 15, all three sets are established in diametrically opposing position -which avoids heat conduction, for safe and easy lifting and for easy manoeuvrability from storage place to those required areas of garden, vehicle, caravan, balcony, picnic-area or wherever the user wishes to establish the apparatus, as it is specifically designed to be compact and portable. Creatively, as an additional functional feature of the design, once collapsed; and if so desired, can become an outdoor heating-source for those late evening barbecue functions where there might be a chill in the air. The design allows for heat from the charcoal briquettes to emanate from the apertures of the housing, and so from a safety aspect, thus diminishes any intense heat that may come from the outer and third section top funnel body' in its collapsed state.

This first generation prototype is essentially composed of high-grade aluminium and has an estimated current weight of 9 kilograms. However, it is assessed that the product will finally be manufactured out of such forms of sheet-metal including aluminium, stainless steel composite with a porcelain/ceramic coating should sheet-metal be utilised in a consistent state throughout the product; therefore, the specific end-weight is not able to be entirely determined currently. A viewing access of foodstuff being cooked is instantly gained and becomes quite evident to the user through the integrally designed skewer rack aperture' 2 from the top funnel body' 6 or by very simply retracting the skewer/s 1.

The apparatus is herein accessorised with seven functional devices, the first is the -skewer' 39 (16 in total) of Fig 5, the second -skewer locking washer' 40 (16 in total), which is purposely designed to stop all foodstuff potentially falling off the skewer/s and onto the burning charcoal briquettes, it is also designed to be easily removable for cleaning purposes, the third -charcoal grid' 41 will be positioned in the upper section of the stand-base burner/ash residue compartment' 26 Fig 2, the fourth is -fat residue holdingldraining tray & nozzle with fixed fin-blades and canopy' 11 that continually takes away those excess fatljuices residue from the prepared foodstuff being cooked, which securely sits in a central orientation within the bottom funnel body' 10, designed to fit; allowing a specific 5cm perimeter/orbital gap within the centralised aperture, this design enables the unique and specific four (4) fixed fin-blades that are at a specific perspective of degree' angle, to further direct the free flowing hot swirling air; to then not be impeded whilst cooking the prepared foodstuff 5. The nozzle section of the fat residue holding/draining tray & nozzle' 11 protrudes through a specifically designed 16mm exit-hole of the bottom funnel body' enabling the excess fatljuices to collect into the fifth device of the fat container' 12, the sixth; an -additional skewer holding rack' 44 encompassing eight additional slots if the desire for the user is to increase those foodstuffs to be cooked, the seventh is a -hamburger rack locator' 22 Fig 2 a device designed specifically for hamburgers but of course is able to be utilised for other foodstuff types such as fish or sausages etc if required.

The barbecue apparatus Fig 1 requires infinitely less space than those of a conventional model, this is due to its unique collapsible and foldaway design Fig 5; further if required, the assembly can be scaled up in size and thus has the flexibility and ability to perform larger commercial operations and therefore units can of course be manufactured for this specific purpose if so desired.

Those other possible or probable future modifications of the herein presented invention and those functional accompanying accessories which are fully evident and apparent to the inventor and those individuals having sight of those complete details herein shall become equal to the knowledge of the art herein presented, and to those Claims submitted herein. However, although for the purposes of patent acquirement whereby such presentation is necessary, those aforementioned details and Claims remain the sole ownership of the inventor of the stated apparatus herein with all illustrated and written details and information becoming part of such ownership. * 5

Claims

CLAiMS 1. A apparatus through a cooking of foodstuff items impaled on skewers characterised in that the skewers are suspended in a vertical, or near vertical, orientation (from a point near their upper end) above a heat-device so that they do not touch the heat-device and in that there is a means of diverting liquids originating from the foodstuff items away from the heat-device without restricting the flow of heat to all sides of the suspended foodstuff.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein excreted liquids are diverted away by a device positioned below any impaled foodstuffs but above the heat-device and having a unique upper canopy with a number of angled and fixed fin-blades beneath that allow the directional and unrestricted upward passage of swirling hot air.
3. Apparatus according to any one of Claims I to 2 wherein skewers have a lockable washer at the lower end that prevents foodstuffs from slipping off under gravity.
4. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 3 wherein there is an adjustable air intake aperture below the heat-device.
5. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 4 wherein there is a chamber, surrounding the heat-device and foodstuffs, comprising multiple sections that can be dismantled and stacked for storage or transport.
6. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 5 wherein the apparatus can be used as a mobile space heater when collapsed.
7. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 6 wherein the apparatus has three or more adjustable feet to allow stable configuration on any uneven surface.
8. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 7 wherein the apparatus has an aperture on or near the bottom that allows residual ash to be removed.
9. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 8 wherein the heat-source is provided by charcoal briquettes.
10. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 9 wherein no additional fuel source is required to ignite charcoal briquettes.
11. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 10 wherein the liquids that are diverted away from the heat-device are collected in an external container.
12. A method of cooking with the apparatus according to Claims 2 to 11.
13. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 12 wherein material of the invention can be of aluminium, stainless steel or sheet-metal composite with a uniformly coating of porcelain/ceramic.
14. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 13 wherein there exists six (6) static wood-handles enabling heat dissipation and easy lifling.
15. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 14 wherein safety lock-pins are located in diametrically opposing positions on the perimeter of the lower chamber and slots into specially created groves on the base burner for undeviating stabilisation.
16. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 15 wherein there are no less than seven functional accessories accompanying the invention as follows: 1. Skewer (16 in total) Ii. Skewer Locking Washer (16 in total) III. Charcoal Grid IV. Fat Residue Holding/Draining Tray & Nozzle with fixed fin-blades and canopy V. Additional Skewer Holding Rack VI. Fat Container VII. Hamburger Rack
17. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 16 wherein the full dimensions of those three sections herein divulged are as follows: * stand-base burner/ash residue compartment' 331mm height (without standing feet calculation) at base 450mm diameter: open top 295mm diameter: * bottom funnel body' 360mm height -diameter: 294mm at lower aperture -450mm upper aperture.* top funnel body' 385mm height -diameter: 449mm at lower aperture -414mm top aperture with 200mm opening for air restriction where skewers are established.

* Overall height of the invention when fully erected represents a total of 1,112mm.
18. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 17 herein presented in its full and complete state as described with those references as illustrated in Fig 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of those integral accompanying drawings as submitted -becoming a complete and fundamental part of the presentation herein.Amendments to the claims have been filed as followsCLAIMS1. Barbeque apparatus comprising skewers, suspension means for suspending the skewers vertically or substantially vertically, a heater locatable beneath the suspended skewers so as to be spaced therefrom, and liquid diversion means locatable on a heat flow path between the suspended skewers and the heater, the liquid diversion means including a drip tray having at least one aperture, a canopy which covers said aperture, and a spacer for spacing the canopy from the drip tray, the drip tray and canopy being adapted to divert liquids from foodstuff on the skewers away from the heater, and the spacer allowing heat flow through the aperture of the drip tray.2. Barbeque apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the suspension means comprises a stand-base burner and ash residue compartment for supporting the heater, a bottom funnel body for supporting the liquid diversion means, the bottom funnel body being connectable to the stand-base burner and ash residue compartment, and a top funnel body having a first end and a second end, the first end having a centralised aperture for supporting the skewers, the second end being connectable to the bottom funnel body.3. Barbeque apparatus according to claim 2, the apparatus being collapsible between a storage condition, in which the bottom funnel body and the stand-base burner and ash residue compartment and top funnel body are received into the top funnel body, and an operative condition, in which the stand-base burner and ash residue compartment, the bottom funnel U) body and the top funnel body are interconnected.4. Barbeque apparatus according to claims 2 or 3, in which a plurality of skewer holding-slots (0 extends radially outwardly from the centralised aperture.5. Barbeque apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, in which the stand-base burner and ash residue compartment comprises an adjustable air intake aperture.6. Barbeque apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, in which the stand-base burner and ash residue compartment comprises at least three adjustable feet to allow stable configuration on any uneven surface.7. Barbeque apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6, in which the stand-base burner and ash residue compartment comprises an ash collector aperture.8. Barbeque apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 7, further comprising six static-wood handles arranged in diametrically opposite pairs, a first pair provided on the top funnel body, a second pair provided on the bottom funnel body and a third pair provided on the stand-base burner and ash residue compartment.9. Barbeque apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 8, in which the bottom funnel body is locatable onto the stand-base burner and ash residue compartment using safety locking-pins.10. Barbeque apparatus according to claim 9, in which the safety-locking-pins are located in diametrically opposed positions, the safety-locking pins slotting into corresponding grooves on the stand-base burner and ash residue compartment for undeviating stabilisation.11. Barbeque apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 10, further comprising a temperature gauge provided in or through a wall of the top funnel body.12. Barbeque apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 11, further comprising a skewer holding rack attachable to the top funnel body for increasing the skewer holding capacity of the apparatus.13. Barbeque apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the liquid diversion means further includes a further aperture for draining fat, said further aperture extending through the drip tray, and a fat draining pipe in fluid communication with the further aperture.14. Barbeque apparatus according to claim 13 when dependent on claim 2, in which the fat draining pipe passes through an exit-hole in a wall of the bottom funnel body for diverting liquid originating from the foodstuff externally of the bottom funnel body, for subsequent collection. L()Q 15. Barbeque apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in (0 Figures 1 and 2, or 3 of the accompanying drawings.