# US 2014/0360385 A1 · Removable pan for cooking grill > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0360385 A1 - Document ID: US20140360385A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/299,253 - Filed: 2014-06-09 - Published: 2014-12-11 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-10 - Inventors: Dwayne Vaughn CAMMON - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140360385A1 ## CPC - A47J 37/0786: {Accessories} - A47J 37/0704: {with horizontal fire box} - Y10T 29/49716: Converting - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A removable pan used to adapt a cooking grill to a meat smoker. The pan can be placed into a conventional backyard cooking grill to convert the grill into a meat smoker. The pan has a central section, a raised perimeter, and at least three tabs extending outwardly from a center of the pan. The tabs can be positioned on the horizontal surface that supports the cooking grate of the grill. The cooking grate is then positioned atop the pan. The pan functions as a heat sink and provides indirect heating. The pan can also optionally be filled with a liquid like water for additional temperature control and to affect the humidity within the grill. The presence of the liquid can impact the moisture and flavor profile of the meat being smoked. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heat diffuser for use with a kettle grill comprising: a pan having a central section and a raised perimeter; and at least three tabs extending outwardly from a center of the pan. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The heat diffuser of claim 1 including a volume of water positioned atop the central section of the pan and contained within the pan by the raised perimeter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The heat diffuser of claim 2 wherein the heat diffuser comprises a metal material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The heat diffuser of claim 3 wherein the heat diffuser comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: stainless steel, aluminum, and porcelain-coated steel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The heat diffuser of claim 2 including a cut-out section of the pan, wherein a user can insert fuel into the kettle grill through an opening left by the cut-out section of the pan. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The heat diffuser of claim 1 including a cut-out section of the pan, wherein a user can insert fuel into the kettle grill through an opening left by the cut-out section of the pan. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The heat diffuser of claim 1 wherein the heat diffuser comprises a metal material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The heat diffuser of claim 7 wherein the heat diffuser comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: stainless steel, aluminum, and porcelain-coated steel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The heat diffuser of claim 1 wherein the tabs include a pair of opposed sides, and a downward-angled extension extending from the tab on each side. ### Claim 10 In combination, a kettle grill and a heat diffuser in which: the kettle grill has a substantially hemispherical bottom section, at least one substantially horizontal surface within the bottom section, and a cooking grate; and the heat diffuser includes a pan having a central section and a raised perimeter, at least three planar surfaces extending outwardly from a center of the pan, the planar surfaces being positioned atop the horizontal surface on the grill, and the grate being positioned atop the heat diffuser. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The heat diffuser of claim 10 including a volume of water positioned atop the central section of the pan and contained within the pan by the raised perimeter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The heat diffuser of claim 11 wherein the heat diffuser comprises a metal material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The heat diffuser of claim 12 wherein the heat diffuser comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: stainless steel, aluminum, and porcelain-coated steel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The heat diffuser of claim 11 including a cut-out section of the pan, wherein a user can insert fuel into the kettle grill through an opening left by the cut-out section of the pan. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The heat diffuser of claim 10 including a cut-out section of the pan, wherein a user can insert fuel into the kettle grill through an opening left by the cut-out section of the pan. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The heat diffuser of claim 10 wherein the heat diffuser comprises a metal material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The heat diffuser of claim 16 wherein the heat diffuser comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: stainless steel, aluminum, and porcelain-coated steel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The heat diffuser of claim 10 wherein the tabs include a pair of opposed sides, and a downward-angled extension extending from the tab on each side. ### Claim 19 A method of converting a kettle grill into a meat smoker including the steps of: providing a kettle grill having a substantially hemispherical bottom section and a top lid, at least one substantially horizontal surface within the bottom section, and a cooking grate; providing a heat diffuser comprising a pan having a central section and a raised perimeter; positioning the pan within the bottom section of the kettle grill; and placing the cooking grate into the bottom section of the kettle grill, the cooking grate being positioned atop the horizontal surface and atop the heat diffuser. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 including the step of placing a volume of water into the pan.