Pellet-fired BBQ

Abstract

A pellet-fired cooking apparatus is provided. The cooking apparatus may include an outer shell into which are mounted at least a fuel support member and a food support member. Pellet fuel may be placed on the fuel support member and may be used to cook food placed on the food support member. The fuel support member may have a construction that allows for controlled combustion of the pellet fuel, providing for desired cooking characteristics of the pellet fuel. Intake air for combustion may be provided to the pellet fuel through one or more hollow supports for the cooking apparatus.

1 . A cooking apparatus comprising: 
 a housing, the housing comprising: 
 a shell defining an interior and an exterior, wherein the shell includes an upper portion and a lower portion, and further wherein at least the lower portion has a substantially imperforate surface construction;  
 a food support member; and  
 a pellet fuel support member, wherein the food support member and the pellet fuel support member are disposed above a lower surface of the housing; and  
   at least one housing support, wherein the at least one housing support includes at least one air inlet to the interior of the shell.    
     
     
         2 . The cooking apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a deflective member positioned relative to the air inlet to at least substantially obstruct access to the air inlet from the interior of the housing.  
     
     
         3 . The cooking apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one housing support is an extension of the lower portion of the shell, and wherein each air inlet is configured as an opening in the lower portion of the shell.  
     
     
         4 . The cooking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one grill support is configured as at least one hollow leg mounted to the lower portion of the shell such that an interior space of the hollow leg is functionally continuous with the interior of the housing via the air inlet and with an outside environment via an opening in the at least one leg.  
     
     
         5 . The cooking apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the interior of the shell includes a deflective member positioned relative to the air inlet to at least substantially obstruct access to the air inlet from the interior of the housing.  
     
     
         6 . The cooking apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the opening in the at least one hollow leg is positioned at an end of the hollow leg distal from the shell.  
     
     
         7 . The cooking apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one hollow leg includes a removable covering obstructing at least a portion of the opening in the hollow leg.  
     
     
         8 . The cooking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the portions of the shell together describe a substantially semi-spherical shape.  
     
     
         9 . The cooking apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one grill support is configured as at least one hollow leg, and further wherein the at least one leg is mounted to the lower portion of the shell such that an interior space of the hollow leg is functionally continuous with the interior of the housing via the air inlet and with an outside environment via an opening in the at least one leg.  
     
     
         10 . The cooking apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the interior of the shell includes a deflective member positioned relative to the air inlet to at least substantially obstruct access to the air inlet from the interior of the housing.  
     
     
         11 . The cooking apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the opening in the at least one hollow leg is positioned at an end of the hollow leg distal from the shell.  
     
     
         12 . The cooking apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one hollow leg includes a removable covering obstructing at least a portion of the opening in the hollow leg.  
     
     
         13 . A cooking apparatus comprising: 
 a housing, the housing comprising: 
 means for supporting food in an interior space of the housing; and  
 means for supporting pellet fuel in the interior space of the housing, wherein the means for supporting food and the means for supporting pellet fuel are displaced vertically from a lower surface of the housing; and  
   means for supporting the housing above a surface, wherein at least a portion of the means for supporting the housing provides an air inlet for the interior of the housing.    
     
     
         14 . The cooking apparatus of  claim 13 , further including a means for deflecting wherein the means for deflecting is positioned relative to the air inlet to at least substantially obstruct access to the air inlet from the interior of the housing.  
     
     
         15 . A cooking apparatus comprising: 
 a housing, the housing comprising: 
 a shell defining an interior and an exterior, wherein the shell includes an upper portion and a lower portion each having a substantially imperforate construction and capable of being held in relatively fixed placement by a plurality of fastening devices;  
 a food support at least temporarily mounted in the interior of the shell, wherein the food support has a substantially open and planar configuration defined by a plurality of crosspieces mounted to a frame;  
 a fuel support at least temporarily mounted in the interior of the shell, wherein the fuel support has a substantially planar configuration defined by a substantially imperforate support material; and  
 a deflective member at least temporarily mounted in the interior of the shell, wherein the deflective member has a substantially planar configuration defined by an at least substantially imperforate deflective material, and further wherein the deflective member and the fuel support are mounted on a connection rod in a connection rod assembly such that the deflective member is disposed vertically below the fuel support on the connection rod; and  
   at least one housing support, wherein at least one housing support is configured with an air inlet sized suitably to allow fluid communication of air between the interior and the exterior of the shell to such an extent that combustion of a pellet fuel supported on the fuel support can occur.