SMOKER DEVICE FOR THE PREPARATION OF FOODSTUFFS OR BEVERAGES

Abstract

A smoker device for the preparation of foodstuffs or beverages, comprising a tubular main body with a frontal opening communicating with an internal combustion chamber wherein combustible, aromatic material is disposed before a grille or filter, and with a smoke outlet on the opposite side of said tubular body communicating, via an orifice foreseen for this purpose, with a hood suited to cover a container with the foodstuffs or beverages, there also being a flame generator directed through the frontal opening to burn the combustible material, generating a flow of smoke into the hood. The smoke outlet is constituted by multiple outlets, and next to the grille or filter an impurity collector is located, closing the extremity of the tubular main body.

Claims

1. A smoker device for the preparation of foodstuffs or beverages, comprising: a tubular main body including: a front opening connected to an internal combustion chamber where combustible and flavoring material are arranged in front of a grill or filter; a smoke outlet on the opposite side of said tubular body, which, through a hole provided for this purpose, is connected to a hood, lid or cover suitable for covering a container with foodstuffs or beverages; a flame generator, which is driven through the front opening to burn the combustible and flavoring material generating a flow of smoke into the interior of the hood, lid or cover; and an impurity collection tank located behind the grille or filter.

2. The smoker device for the preparation of foodstuffs or beverages according to claim 1, wherein the impurity collection tank is removable.

3. The smoker device for the preparation of foodstuffs or beverages according to claim 1, the tubular body further comprising a hatch that provides access to the inner grille or filter.

4. The smoker device for the preparation of foodstuffs or beverages according to claim 1, wherein the flame generator is a driven flame generator, optionally of noble gas, generating a flow of smoke into the tubular main body towards the inside of the hood, lid, or cover.

5. The smoker device for the preparation of foodstuffs or beverages according to claim 1 further comprising an internal fan.

6. The smoker device for the preparation of foodstuffs or beverages according to claim 1, wherein: the hole of the hood, lid, or cover is dimensioned to insert a part of the tubular body; and the smoke outlets are oriented towards the internal walls of the hood, lid, or cover.

7. The smoker device for the preparation of foodstuffs or beverages according to claim 6, wherein the smoke outlets are in a vertical position.

8. The smoker device for the preparation of foodstuffs or beverages, according to claim 6, wherein the tubular body is arranged vertically, being incorporated into the hood, lid, or cover through a hole made at the top thereof, the tubular body further comprising: a front opening located at the top, at the end of a first angled section of the tube; smoke outlets in a second section of the wall on the side opposite of the tube that is housed inside the hood, lid, or cover; and an impurity collection tank in the form of a receptacle that closes the lower end of the tube.

9. The smoker device for the preparation of foodstuffs or beverages according to claim 6, wherein: the tubular body is incorporated into the hood, lid, or cover in a horizontal position through a hole made laterally therein; and the front opening is located laterally at the end of the external section of the tube.

10. The smoker device for the preparation of foodstuffs or beverages according to claim 9, wherein the tubular body is straight.

11. The smoker device for the preparation of foodstuffs or beverages according to claim 9, wherein the tubular body is angled.

12. The smoker device for the preparation of foodstuffs or beverages according to claim 9, wherein the tubular body is divided into separable and attachable sections.

13. The smoker device for the preparation of foodstuffs or beverages according to claim 9, wherein: the grille or filter of the tubular body is incorporated in an inclined position; in the vicinity of the inner end of the tube such that the tubular body defines a surface on which the combustible and flavoring material to be burned is supported; and the impurity collection tank is located in the lower section of the tube under the inclined grille or filter.

14. The smoker device for the preparation of foodstuffs or beverages according to claim 9, wherein the smoke outlets are arranged vertically and are defined by a plurality of perforations made in the wall that closes the rear end of the tube.

15. The smoker device for preparing foodstuffs or beverages, according to claim 6, wherein the tubular body incorporates a stop so that it does not slide inside the hood, lid, or cover beyond what is provided for.

16. The smoker device for the preparation of foodstuffs or beverages according to claim 6, wherein the tubular body further comprises a handle to extract the tubular body from the hole of the hood, lid, or cover.

17. The smoker device for the preparation of foodstuffs or beverages according to claim 16, wherein the handle defines a surface capable of including advertising elements.

18. The smoker device for the preparation of foodstuffs or beverages according to claim 6, further comprising a sealing means to cover the hole of the hood, lid, or cover.

19. The smoker device for the preparation of foodstuffs or beverages according to claim 18, wherein the sealing means to cover the hole of the hood, lid, or cover is one or more of a cork stopper, a closing gate that slides horizontally like a peephole on a door or a hatch, a closure, or a clamp with a wire tie.

20. The smoker device for the preparation of foodstuffs or beverages according to claim 1, the tubular main body further comprising: one or more covered smoke outlets, an additional body comprising: one or more connectable outlets located on its perimeter; one or more directional ducts coupled to the one or more connectable outlets that allow directing the flow of smoke simultaneously inside one or more hoods, lids or covers located independently of the tubular body and to which they are coupled at their opposite end through a hole made therein for that purpose.

21.-33. (canceled)

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0067] To complement the present description and in order to provide a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of this description, which is purely illustrative and not limiting, in which:

[0068] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a side perspective view of an embodiment of the smoker device for the preparation of foodstuffs or beverages object of the invention, showing the main parts and elements that it comprises as well as the configuration and arrangement of the same, including some internals elements represented by dashed lines in an embodiment with an upper hole for the insertion of the main tubular body and hood in the shape of a frustopyramidal dome;

[0069] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a side perspective view of another embodiment of the device according to the invention, also showing the parts and elements that it comprises, in this case in an embodiment with a side hole for the insertion of the main tubular body and conical dome-shaped hood;

[0070] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a side perspective view of an example of the tubular main body of the device in an option that incorporates an additional body with multiple connectable outlets for directional tubes, represented prior to its coupling to said main body; and

[0071] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a perspective view of the main body of the device with the additional body and directional tubes attached to it, and with said tubes connected in turn to two containers with a spherical dome and a flat lid, respectively.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0072] In view of the aforementioned figures, and according to the adopted numbering, two non-limiting embodiments of the smoking device for the preparation of foodstuffs or beverages of the invention can be seen therein, which includes what is described below.

[0073] Thus, as can be seen in said figures, the device (1) of the invention comprises, in a known manner, a tubular main body (2) with a frontal opening (3), which communicates with an internal combustion chamber (4) wherein combustible, aromatic material (5) is placed before a grille or filter (6), and with a smoke outlet (7) on the opposite side of said tubular body (2) communicating, via a hole (8) provided for this purpose, with a hood, lid or cover (9) suitable for covering a container (10) with the foodstuffs or beverages to be smoked, there also being a flame generator (11) that is directed through the frontal opening (3) to burn the combustible, aromatic material (5), generating a flow of smoke towards the interior of the hood, lid or cover (9).

[0074] And, essentially, the device (1) is distinguished by comprising, as a smoke outlet (7) from said main tubular body (2), multiple smoke outlets (7), which, when said tubular body (2) is used partially inserted in the properly sized hole (8) of the hood, lid or cover (9), as shown in the examples of FIGS. 1 and 2, are oriented towards the inner walls of the hood, lid or cover (9), for which, preferably, they are placed in a vertical position, as well as an impurity collection chamber (12) located below the grille or filter (6), which is preferably removable to facilitate cleaning.

[0075] In addition, the tubular body (2) preferably also comprises a hatch (13), which can be opened or closed to prevent smoke from escaping, arranged on the surface of said body and which provides access to the grille or filter (6) inside to be able to place and remove it easily even without disassembling the tubular body (2) from the hood, lid or cover (9).

[0076] It should be noted that, in order to generate the flow of smoke in the main tubular body (2) towards the interior of the hood, lid or cover (9), the flame generator (11) is preferably a directed flame generator, ideally consisting of a torch, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, although it may optionally include an internal fan (not shown).

[0077] FIG. 1 shows how, in one embodiment, the tubular body (2), which is arranged vertically and is incorporated into the hood, lid or cover, (9) through a hole (8) of a size adjusted to said tubular body (2) made at the top thereof, has the frontal opening (3) located above, at the end of a first elbowed section (2a) of the tube, having multiple vertical smoke outlets (7) constituted, preferably, by a plurality of slots made in a second section (2b) or lower section of the wall on the opposite side of the tube (2) that is housed inside the hood, lid or cover, (9), and has the impurity collection chamber (12) as a removable receptacle that closes the lower end of the tube (2).

[0078] In this embodiment it can be seen how the device also has a stop (14) to support the tubular body (2) that rests on the hole (8) of the hood, lid or cover (9) as well as a handle (15) to grab it and uncover it, when appropriate, thereby preventing burns.

[0079] FIG. 2 shows another embodiment in which the tubular body (2) is incorporated into the hood, lid or cover (9) in a horizontal position through a hole (8) of a suitable size and laterally made in it, and has the frontal opening (3) located laterally at the front end of the external section of the tube (2).

[0080] The tubular body (2) can be straight or slightly angled; if it is straight, the introduction of the combustible, aromatic material (5) is carried out laterally, with the possibility of using a torch or other instrument, and if it is angled, it is introduced through the semi-vertical opening at the corresponding angle, and gravity helps settle it into position. The tubular body (2) can have different lengths such that the combustible, aromatic material (5) and the grille or filter (6) can be located outside the hood, lid or cover (9), speeding up its placement and removal in possible replacements.

[0081] Optionally, the tubular body (2) can be divided into separable and connectable sections, for example by threading, to place said elements with greater ease and precision, or alternatively through a hatch (13) suitably provided with a gate or similar so that it opens and closes at the height of the space where the combustible, aromatic material (5) and the grille or filter (6) are placed, to facilitate placement and cleaning, both its final cleaning and intermediate cleaning between uses with different foodstuffs, thereby avoiding the mixing of flavors.

[0082] Preferably, in this embodiment the grille or filter (6) is incorporated in an inclined position in the vicinity of the inner end of the tube (2), such that it defines a surface on which the combustible, aromatic material (5) to be burned is supported and has the impurity collection chamber (12) formed by the lower section of tube that remains under said inclined grille or filter (6), also having the preferably vertical smoke outlets (7) preferably defined by a plurality of perforations made in the wall that closes said rear end of the tube (2).

[0083] In addition, in either of the two embodiments of the device of the invention, the tubular body (2) can incorporate the stop (14) so that it does not slide inside the hood, lid or cover (9) beyond what is intended and it is removable from the hole (8) of said hood, lid or cover (9) by means of a fastening handle (15) for faster actions and to prevent burns. Optionally, said handle (15) defines a surface capable of including advertising elements.

[0084] Preferably, the hole (8) of the hood, lid or cover (9), once the smoker device has been removed, can be covered with a sealing means (not shown in the figures) that is preferably a plug of materials that absorb aromas—cork style, although this is not a limitation, as it can also be metallic, ceramic, etc., and have different shapes, such as spherical, cork stopper style, inverted cone, flat layer, and even with the possibility of incorporating decorative or advertising elements. Alternatively, the means of sealing the hole (8) of the hood, lid or cover (9) may have a gate, in the style of a hatch or similar, which slides across thereby blocking said hole (8) to prevent smoke from escaping when the tubular main body (2) of the smoker is removed.

[0085] As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, in another embodiment the device (1) comprises, covering the smoke outlets (7) of the tubular main body (2), an additional body (16) with one or multiple connectable outlets (7a) located on its perimeter, to which one or more directional ducts (17) are attached, preferably consisting of flexible food-grade rubber or silicone tubes that allow the flow of smoke to be directed simultaneously into the one or several hoods, lids or covers (9) located independently of the tubular body (2) and which are attached at their opposite end through a hole (8) made therein for that purpose.

[0086] Preferably, said hole (8) is of reduced size, according to the diameter of the directional ducts (17) or of the coupling nozzle that is preferably provided at the end thereof and in any case, also preferably, has a self-closing valve.

[0087] As can be seen in the aforementioned FIGS. 3 and 4, said additional body (16) is an accessory that can be attached to the bottom end of the tubular body (2) which, for example by interposing a threaded annular part (20), fits over the same covering the smoke outlets (7) used to introduce the smoke directly into the hood, lid or cover (9).

[0088] In addition, in this embodiment, the tubular main body (2) has a support base (18) that allows for its autonomous and independent support from the hood, lid or cover (9) and may alternatively include elements for fastening or attaching to tables, bars, platforms and other surfaces, although this has not been represented in the figures.

[0089] As can be seen in the various figures, the hood, lid or cover (9) has different shapes and is made of different materials, depending on the different applications for which the device (1) is intended, and it may be an element specifically manufactured for use with the device (1) or an existing element intended for other uses, for example in its shape as a cooking vessel lid that has been adapted with the hole (8) to engage the tubular body (2) or the nozzle (17a) of a directional tube (17). In addition, in any case, the hood, lid or cover (9) can have fasteners (19) for coupling to the container (10), for example as shown in FIG. 1. More specifically, in said example such holders (19) are determined by respective extensions of the surface of the hood, lid or cover (9) suitable for being inserted under the handles of the container (10).

[0090] Thus, for example, and without implying any limitation, the hood, lid or cover (9) can be frustoconical, frustopyramidal, dome-shaped with a circular base, dome-shaped with an elliptical base, a prismatic- or rectangular- or square-based parallelepiped, circular or rectangular, flat, or other shapes.

[0091] And, in terms of materials, the hood, lid or cover (9) can be made of stainless steel, glass, crystal, ceramic, terracotta, polymers suitable for use in cooking and with foodstuffs (polyethylene, Teflon, Bakelite, silicone, etc.), iron, titanium, anodized aluminum, wood or others.

[0092] Finally, it should be noted that in a preferred embodiment the combustible, aromatic material (5) can be a capsule of pressed material, preferably in the form of a tablet or disc similar to a thick medallion.

[0093] In addition, the combustible, aromatic material (5) can optionally be an organic component with other elements shredded into particles, such as pellets, grains, powder or the like, or with elements in a liquid, resinous, vaporous, creamy or congealed state, or, it can be made up of salts, spices, arils, seeds, flowers, dried flowers, roots, rhizomes, wood, fruits, dried fruits, nuts, dried barks, plant barks, dried or powdered vegetables, condiments, plants, particularly medicinal plants, resins, or oils, particularly essential oils, as well as any possible combination of said elements.

[0094] Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, as well as the method for putting it into practice, further explanation is not deemed necessary as any person skilled in the art will understand its scope and the advantages derived from it.