FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a smoker vessel used for imparting smoked flavour to foods during outdoor cooking.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] Food can be cooked many ways including outdoor cooking. This method of cooking continues to rise in popularity with one of the biggest attractions being the imparted smoked flavour in the food.

[0003] In order to impart a smoked flavour wood chips are typically placed in a metal box that is then placed in the cooking apparatus, such as a kettle barbeque. As the metallic box is heated the woods chips char and give off smoke.

[0004] Current smoker boxes do have a number of drawbacks. With too much heat applied to the metallic box, the wood chips often ignite and quickly burn and thus not produce any smoke. In order to prevent the wood chips from igniting many of the boxes inhibit the desired

combustion. They are also unwieldy to use, too thick and inhibitive of the desired air flow. They also may provide uneven smoke distribution causing an uneven smoke flavour imparted to the food.

[0005] The object of this invention is to alleviate the above problems, or at least provide the public with a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In a first aspect the invention provides for a smoker vessel for use in producing smoke in a cooking environment comprising:

a base having a plurality of apertures having a tray mounted thereupon in a spaced relationship to define a space for holding combustible material that produces smoke due to the combination of applied heat in the cooking environment and air flow between the base and the tray, the tray including a plurality of apertures;

a cover mounted on the base and in a spaced relationship to the tray and including at least one side opening to direct the smoke horizontally into the cooking environment.

[0007] In preference the lid includes multiple openings for the flow of smoke into the cooking environment.

[0008] In preference the smoker vessel further includes a spacer attached to the base and extending outwardly horizontally.

[0009] In preference the tray includes a number of protrusions extending upwardly to support the cover.

[0010] In preference the smoker vessel is of a rectangular configuration.

[0011] In preference the smoker vessel is of a circular configuration.

[0012] In preference the cover includes an indent adapted to engage the tray to effect a spatial separation thereof.

[0013] It should be noted that any one of the aspects mentioned above may include any of the features of any of the other aspects mentioned above and may include any of the features of any of the embodiments described below as appropriate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows.

Figure 1 is a rear view of a smoker vessel according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a partial perspective sectional view of the smoker vessel;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the smoker vessel;

Figure 4 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of a smoker vessel;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the smoker vessel of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the assembled smoker vessel of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is an exploded view of a smoker vessel according to a third embodiment; and

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the smoker vessel of Figure 7. DRAWING COMPONENTS

[00151 The drawings include the following integers

10 smoker vessel

12 base

14 longitudinal walls

16 side walls

18 apertures

20 tray

22 perforations

24 cover

26 walls

28 protrusions

30 flue

32 spacer

34 cutouts

36 legs

38 circular smoker vessel

40 openings

42 indent

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts. Dimensions of certain parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration.

[0017] Turning now to the drawings in details illustrated in Figures 1-3 is a first embodiment of a smoker vessel 10 that is of a rectangular configuration. The smoker vessel or box in this embodiment includes a base 12 having parallel and opposite longitudinal walls 14 and parallel and opposite side walls 16. He base includes apertures 18 to provide for airflow into the base. A tray 20 sits on top of the base and includes perforations 22. Cover 24 includes downward walls 26 that engage over the tray 20 and the base 12 and includes a flue 30 that extends horizontally. The tray includes protrusions 28 that ensure that the cover is spaced apart from the tray. [0018] The reader would no appreciate that in a cooking environment air flow would come up through the apertures in the base, through the perforations in the tray and out of the smoker box through flue 20 in the cover 24. Wood chips that are placed in the base (not shown) will with heat produce smoke that will thus be directed horizontally into the cooking environment.

[0019] To assist in the positioning of the smoker vessel say in a barbeque kettle or the like a spacer 32 having upstanding legs 36 that engage cutouts 34 in the base. The edge of the spacer is located against the inside wall of the kettle to keep it in a position optimal for smoking.

Alternatively the base may include legs or the like that engage the spacing in the grills in such barbeques.

[0020] In an alternate embodiment illustrated in Figure 4-6 instead of a rectangular configuration the smoker vessel is a circular smoker vessel 38 as are the other elements being the tray and the cover. However instead of there being one flue there are multiple side openings 40 in the cover that assist in distributing the smoke to the cooking environment. In addition the cover is spaced apart from the tray with the cover having indent 42. Of course other ways of keeping the cover off the tray to provide for airflow can be easily engineered by the skilled addressee.

[0021] In a yet further embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 the smoker vessel is again of a rectangular configuration but instead of one flue as shown in the first embodiment, the cover includes multiple side openings 40 for the distribution of smoke in the cooking environment.

[0022] The reader will now appreciate the present invention which by having an integral cover controls the amount of airflow that is distributed to the wood chips and ensures that they smoke rather than igniting an d providing no smoking benefit. By controlling the size of the flue or the openings this can be adjusted to suit the size of the smoking vessel.

[0023] Typically the apparatus is made from metal but can be made from other non- combustible material such as ceramic. With the cover and the tray being easily removable form the base the smoker vessel can be easily cleaned.

[0024] Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in this field.

[0025] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.