Refractory cooking devices

Abstract

A cooking device may include a refractory oven and a housing. The refractory oven may define a cooking chamber that may be configured to receive thermal energy from an external heat source. The refractory oven may further define an opening configured to allow foodstuffs to be introduced into the cooking chamber. The refractory oven may be further configured to substantially surround the foodstuffs while the foodstuffs are positioned inside the cooking chamber. The housing may at least partially surround the refractory oven. The housing and the refractory oven may define a heated volume between an external surface of the refractory oven and an internal surface of the housing. The heated volume may be configured to receive thermal energy from the external heat source and to reduce transfer of thermal energy from the cooking chamber through refractory oven.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooking device comprising:
 a refractory oven that includes a refractory top piece, two refractory side pieces, a refractory rear piece, and a refractory bottom piece, wherein:
 the refractory oven defines a cooking chamber configured to receive thermal energy from an external heat source that is adjacent to an external surface of the refractory bottom piece; 
 the refractory oven defines a vent at least partially between an end surface of the refractory bottom piece and the refractory rear piece; 
 the vent is configured to enable transfer of convective thermal energy from the external heat source to the cooking chamber; 
 the refractory oven further defines an opening opposite the refractory rear piece; and 
 the refractory oven is configured to allow foodstuffs to be introduced into the cooking chamber and to allow at least a portion of the convective thermal energy to exit the cooking chamber. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cooking device of  claim 1 , wherein the refractory top piece, the two refractory side pieces, and the refractory rear piece are a single piece. 
     
     
         3 . The cooking device of  claim 1 , wherein the refractory bottom piece contacts the two refractory side pieces. 
     
     
         4 . The cooking device of  claim 2 , wherein the refractory rear piece is secured relative to the two refractory side pieces. 
     
     
         5 . The cooking device of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a housing that surrounds external surfaces of the refractory top piece, the two refractory side pieces, and the refractory rear piece when the refractory oven is positioned in the housing; and   a volume defined between the external surfaces of at least one of the refractory top piece, the two refractory side pieces, and the refractory rear piece and an internal surface of the housing when the refractory oven is positioned in the housing.   
     
     
         6 . The cooking device of  claim 5 , wherein the volume is configured to:
 receive thermal energy from the external heat source; and   reduce transfer of thermal energy from the cooking chamber.   
     
     
         7 . The cooking device of  claim 5 , wherein the housing includes:
 side portions that when the refractory oven is positioned in the housing and centered therein are apart from the refractory side pieces such that two side sub-volumes are defined between the side portions and the refractory side pieces;   a top portion that when the refractory oven is positioned in the housing and centered therein is apart from the refractory top piece such that a top sub-volume is defined between the refractory top piece and the top portion; and   the volume includes the two side sub-volumes and the top sub-volume.   
     
     
         8 . The cooking device of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the housing includes a front panel that defines a front panel opening; and   the front panel opening corresponds to the opening defined by the refractory oven and positioned substantially adjacent to a front surface of the refractory bottom piece, front surfaces of the two refractory side pieces, and a front surface of the refractory top piece.   
     
     
         9 . The cooking device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the housing further includes a rear panel and two side panels;   the rear panel is adjacent to the refractory rear piece;   the two side panels are positioned apart from the refractory side pieces; and   the volume is configured to receive thermal energy from areas between the side panels and the refractory side pieces.   
     
     
         10 . The cooking device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the two side panels are oriented substantially parallel to the refractory side pieces, and   the housing includes a top cover positioned apart from an external surface of the refractory top piece.   
     
     
         11 . The cooking device of  claim 9 , further comprising a support brace that is attached to the two side panels, wherein the support brace is configured to at least partially secure the refractory oven to the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The cooking device of  claim 5 , further comprising an insulative insert that is affixed to the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The cooking device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the refractory oven includes an internal surface that is configured as a boundary of the cooking chamber; and   the refractory oven is configured to transfer thermal energy from the internal surface to the foodstuffs via thermal radiation during heating of the foodstuffs while positioned inside the cooking chamber.   
     
     
         14 . The cooking device of  claim 1 , wherein the refractory oven includes a cooking surface on which the foodstuffs are positioned during cooking and which is configured to transfer thermal energy to the foodstuffs via thermal conduction. 
     
     
         15 . The cooking device of  claim 1 , wherein the external heat source includes a charcoal grill, a wood grill, a natural gas grill, or a propane grill. 
     
     
         16 . The cooking device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the external heat source includes a grilling surface and a lid; and   the cooking device is configured to be positioned on the grilling surface with the lid placed in a closed position or partially closed position over the cooking device.   
     
     
         17 . The cooking device of  claim 1 , wherein the refractory bottom piece, the two refractory side pieces, the refractory rear piece, and the refractory top piece are substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         18 . The cooking device of  claim 1 , wherein the refractory top piece, the two refractory side pieces, and the refractory rear piece is a single piece. 
     
     
         19 . The cooking device of  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the refractory oven and the refractory bottom piece include Cordierite. 
     
     
         20 . The cooking device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the refractory bottom piece is configured to absorb a first portion of the thermal energy received from the external heat source and to transfer the first portion of the thermal energy to the foodstuffs in contact with the refractory bottom piece via thermal conduction;   the refractory top piece, the two refractory side pieces, and the refractory rear piece are configured to absorb a second portion of the thermal energy received from the external heat source and to transfer the second portion of the thermal energy to the foodstuffs via thermal radiation; and   the vent is configured to receive a third portion of the thermal energy from the external heat source into the cooking chamber and to transfer the third portion of the thermal energy to the foodstuffs or to the refractory top piece, the two refractory side pieces, the refractory rear piece, and the refractory bottom piece via thermal convection.