US20060042641A1

US20060042641A1 - Device for producing smoke in/on grills

Info

Publication number: US20060042641A1
Application number: US11/207,959
Authority: US
Inventors: Byron Young
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-25
Filing date: 2005-08-22
Publication date: 2006-03-02

Abstract

An assembly comprising of a first layer, a second layer that contains the first layer and said second layer has vent holes. When entire assembly is added to sufficient heat, the first layer will begin to smolder and produce smoke suitable for adding flavor to foods.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a smoke-producing device, usable as, but not restricted to, a disposable container or wrapping filled with material that when heated produces smoke suitable for adding flavor to foods.
2. Background Information
Various forms and designs of smoking devices are readily available. Further, and becoming more popular, are smoke-producing devices that may be added to gas, electric and/or charcoal grills in order to provide the flavor of real smoke. These devices are cumbersome because they do not come prepackaged and hence require the user to fill and assemble. These devices also require the wood or filling material to be soaked in water or some type of liquid prior to use in order for the filler material to smoke without igniting. This dramatically delays the time in which smoking begins and is not convenient. Further, the filler material, commonly wood, still tends to ignite once the liquid evaporates. These devices are typically reusable but in order to reuse must be handled by the user. This is very messy since they are covered in soot after the first use.
As will be seen from the subsequent description, the preferred embodiments of the present invention overcome these and other shortcomings of prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a disposable unit comprised of two layers. The first layer, most likely being wood, but more generally being a material that when heated produces smoke suitable for adding flavor to foods, and the second layer being an outer covering which completely contains the first layer.
Said second layer is made of a material suitable for hot surfaces so that when sufficient heat is applied, said second layer will not ignite, but will conduct heat enough to make first layer smolder and smoke.
Said second layer also has vent holes that allow smoke to seep out, but do not allow enough oxygen to enter and reach said first layer for first layer to ignite.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a device for producing smoke in/on grills, where layer two (2) contains layer one (1) and said second layer (2) has vent holes (2B).
FIG. 2 illustrates a cross section of layer one (1) and layer two (2) whereas the first layer (1) is a substance, that when heated, produces smoke suitable for adding flavor to foods.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows one example of a shape that could be used to contain layer one by layer two. When layer two containing layer one is added to sufficient heat, layer one should begin to smolder and produce smoke. Vent holes (2B) allow smoke to seep through layer two (2), but do not allow enough oxygen to enter layer two and reach layer one for layer one to ignite. Layer two (2) is a material suitable for high temperatures that, when sufficient heat is applied, does not ignite but does conduct heat well enough to cause layer one smolder and produce smoke.
FIG. 2 shows a cross section of layers one and two wherein layer two is a substance that, when sufficient heat is applied, produces smoke suitable for adding flavor to foods.
Although the description above contains much specificity, this should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, it should be obvious that the shape of layers one and two may be of any shape, not merely the shape as displayed in FIG. 1. Likewise, the amount, size, location and shape of vent holes (2B) may vary and the filler material in layer one (1) may be any of a variety of materials that, when sufficient heat is added, produces smoke suitable for flavoring foods.
Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims in the formal application and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

Claims

1. An assembly, which is a device for producing smoke in grills comprising:

a first layer, and

a second layer;

wherein layer one is contained by layer two.

2. An assembly of claim 1 where layer two (2) has vent holes (2 b).

3. An assembly of claim 1, where layer one (1) is a filler material that, when sufficient heat is applied, produces smoke suitable for adding flavor to foods.

4. The system of claim 1, where when sufficient heat is added to any or all sides of layer two, layer one will begin to smolder and produce smoke.

5. The system of claim 2, where the said smoke is allowed to seep through the vent holes in layer two.

6. The system of claim 2, where said vent holes do not allow enough oxygen to enter and reach layer one to allow layer one to ignite.

7. The system of claim 1, where layer two does not ignite when heat is added but does conduct heat well enough to allow layer one smolder and produce smoke.