# US 2018/0020685 A1 · Grill Smoker Apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0020685 A1 - Document ID: US20180020685A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/730,437 - Filed: 2017-10-11 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15 - Inventors: Kevin Vinett - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180020685A1 ## CPC - A23B 4/052: Smoke generators {; Smoking apparatus} - Y02A 40/90: in food processing or handling, e.g. food conservation - A23B: PRESERVATION OF FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract A grill smoker apparatus provides a container and a cover. A carrier is disposed in the container. The carrier is configured to store smoke producing material such as wood chips. The carrier may be removable from the container for filling the container, for emptying the container, for replacing the container or for cleaning the smoker apparatus. The carrier includes an outer dimension smaller than the inner dimension of the container. As such, a carrier gap is defined between the inner container wall and the outer region of the carrier. The carrier gap may form a uniform, annular gap in some embodiments. Alternatively, the carrier gap has a non-uniform radial dimension around the perimeter of the container. The carrier gap provides enhanced airflow to the smoke producing material in the carrier for improving smoker performance. A heat concentrator also focuses heat to the smoker apparatus for igniting the smoke producing material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A grill smoker apparatus (10), comprising: a container (11); a cover (20) disposed on the container (11); a carrier (14) disposed in the container (11), the carrier (14) including a plurality of carrier holes (16) for allowing air passage into the carrier (14); a carrier gap (12) defined between the container (11) and the carrier (14), the carrier gap (12) configured to allow air to flow between the container (11) and the carrier (14); a base (40) positioned at a lower end of the container (11), the base (40) including a base ramp (68) inclined inwardly toward the carrier (14), and a base vent (42) defined on the base ramp (68), the base vent (42) open to an interior of the container (11), the carrier (14) positioned above the base vent (42); a heat concentrator (30) positioned below the base (40) and the base vent (42), the heat concentrator (30) forming an inverted funnel shape, the heat concentrator (30) having a lower concentrator opening (64) and an upper concentrator opening (38), the lower concentrator opening (64) being larger than the upper concentrator opening (38), the upper concentrator opening (38) aligned below the base vent (42); a plurality of concentrator holes (58) defined in a concentrator wall (62) of the heat concentrator (30); and one or more concentrator supports (60) included on the heat concentrator (30), the one or more concentrator supports (60) resiliently biased inwardly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus (10) of claim 1, further comprising the carrier (14) having an outer perimeter, and the carrier gap (12) forming a continuous annular gap around the outer perimeter of the carrier (14). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein the carrier (14) is removable from the container (11). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein the carrier (14) comprises a wire mesh basket. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein the cover (20) is removable from the container (11). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein the cover (20) is pivotally attached to the container (11) at a hinge (15). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein the base ramp (68) has the shape of an inverted funnel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus (10) of claim 1, further comprising a carrier vent (36) defined in the carrier opposite the base vent (42). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus (10) of claim 1, further comprising an ash blocker (37) on the carrier (14) opposite the base vent (42). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus (10) of claim 1, further comprising a cover vent (22) defined in the cover (20), the cover vent (22) including a moveable vent cover plate (25). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus (10) of claim 1, the heat concentrator (30) further comprising: one or more side walls on the concentrator wall (62) of a heat resistant material and having an upper concentrator end (88) and a lower concentrator end (90); the upper concentrator opening (38) defined at the upper end (88); the lower concentrator opening (64) defined at the lower end (90), the lower concentrator opening (64) having an opening area at least two times the opening area of the upper concentrator opening (38); and the one or more concentrator supports (60) extending from the lower end (90) of the one or more side walls and configured to directly engage a heat source and support the heat concentrator (30) orienting the upper end (88) toward the container (11). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus (10) of claim 1, further comprising a carrier vent (36) defined at the bottom of the carrier (14), wherein the base vent (42) is concentrically aligned with the carrier vent (36) such that compressed and heated air passes directly into the carrier (14) from the heat concentrator (30).