U.S. patent application number 12/954569 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-24 for all-in-one dutch oven cooking system.
Invention is credited to Rick David Caprathe.
Application Number | 20120125317 12/954569 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46063142 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120125317 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Caprathe; Rick David |
May 24, 2012 |
All-In-One Dutch Oven Cooking System
Abstract
The present invention relates to a portable all-in-one cooking
system. More specifically it relates to a portable all-in-one Dutch
oven cooking system which has a plurality of burners that may be
placed on the bottom or top of the Dutch oven so that one or more
stacked Dutch ovens may be heated. The cooking system may also
serve as a two or more burners cooking stove that can be used with
traditional cooking utensils.
Inventors: |
Caprathe; Rick David;
(Farmington Hills, MI) |
Family ID: |
46063142 |
Appl. No.: |
12/954569 |
Filed: |
November 24, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/39E ;
126/274 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C 3/14 20130101; F24C
3/087 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/39.E ;
126/274 |
International
Class: |
F24C 3/08 20060101
F24C003/08; F24C 3/10 20060101 F24C003/10 |
Claims
1. An all-in-one Dutch oven cooking system comprising: a) a fuel
source having pressure regulating means adapted to regulate the
flow of the fuel source; b) a transporting means adapted to channel
fuel from the fuel source; c) a connecting means adapted to connect
with the transporting means; d) a burner assembly including a top
burner and a bottom burner, each burner comprising: i) a connector
type fitting adapted to attach to the transporting means; ii) a
flame bar being a metal tubing connected with the transporting
means through the fitting, the flame bar having holes in the tubing
to allow the fuel to exit; iii) a bottom cover; iv) a heat
deflector being a piece of metal sheet between the flame bar and
the bottom cover of the burner to help reflect heat from the flame
bar back to the surface being heated; v) A plurality of symmetric
cut outs on side wall allowing air flow inside the burner to mix
with the fuel for combustion and providing a shelf for the flame
bar to rest on; vi) a plurality of feet attached to the bottom
cover, supporting the burner to stand on the cooking surface; and
vii) a heat non-conductive handle on the side of the burner for
safe movement and adjustment while in use.
2. The cooking system of claim 1, wherein the bottom burner is of a
diameter smaller than the diameter of the top burner so that the
bottom burner fits into the top burner.
3. The cooking system of claim 1, wherein the top burner is of a
diameter smaller than the diameter of the bottom burner so that the
bottom burner fits into the top burner.
4. The cooking system of claim 1, wherein the bottom and top
burners further comprising a means for nesting and connecting to
each other.
5. The cooking system of claim 1, wherein the top burner further
comprising a hook on the side of the burner for picking up the
handle of the Dutch oven lid;
6. The cooking system of claim 1, wherein the top burner further
comprising an ignition system.
7. The cooking system of claim 1, wherein the cooking system
further comprises a mechanism to control the amount of fuel to each
burner independently.
8. The cooking system of claim 1, wherein the flame bar further
comprises a means for providing pressure controlling baffling
effect.
9. The cooking system of claim 4, wherein the means for nesting and
connecting top and bottom burners including a short screw like
channel in the top burner and a protrusion in the bottom burner
that fits inside the screw channel in the top burner.
10. The cooking system of claim 1 further comprising a rack for
holding the fuel tanks in the proper position.
11. The cooking system of claim 6, wherein the ignition system in
top burner having one piezoelectric device.
12. The cooking system of claim 1 further comprising a temperature
sensing device that indicates whether the burners are no longer
producing heat.
13. The cooking system of claim 1 further comprising a temperature
control device, the device monitors the temp inside and outside the
Dutch oven and controls the fuel delivery system to maintain a set
temperature level.
14. The cooking system of claim 1 may be used with Dutch oven and
traditional cooking utensils including pots, pans, skillets, and
grill grates.
15. The cooking system of claim 1, wherein the bottom cover and
heat deflector may be removed to allow heating in both directions
for stacked Dutch ovens and pots cooking.
16. The cooking system of claim 1, wherein the flame bar may be in
box configuration or modified box configuration with two or more
fingers.
17. An all-in-one Dutch oven cooking system comprising: a) a fuel
source having pressure regulating means adapted to regulate the
flow of the fuel source; b) a transporting means adapted to channel
fuel from the fuel source; c) a connecting means adapted to connect
with the transporting means; d) a burner assembly including a top
burner and a bottom burner, each burner comprising: i) a connector
type fitting adapted to attach to the transporting means; ii) a
flame bar being a metal tubing connected with the transporting
means through the fitting, the flame bar having holes in the tubing
to allow the fuel to exit; iii) a bottom cover; iv) a heat
deflector being a piece of metal sheet between the flame bar and
the bottom cover of the burner to help reflect heat from the flame
bar back to the surface being heated; v) A plurality of symmetric
cut outs on side wall allowing air flow inside the burner to mix
with the fuel for combustion and providing a shelf for the flame
bar to rest on; vi) a plurality of feet attached to the bottom
cover, supporting the burner to stand on the cooking surface; and
vii) a heat non-conductive handle on the side of the burner for
safe movement and adjustment while in use. wherein, the bottom
burner is of a diameter smaller than the diameter of the top burner
so that the bottom burner fits into the top burner; the bottom and
top burners further comprising a means for nesting and connecting
to each other; the top burner further comprising a hook on the side
of the burner for picking up the handle of the Dutch oven lid; and
the top burner further comprising an ignition system.
18. An all-in-one Dutch oven cooking system comprising: a) a fuel
source having pressure regulating means adapted to regulate the
flow of the fuel source; b) a transporting means adapted to channel
fuel from the fuel source; c) a connecting means adapted to connect
with the transporting means; d) a Dutch oven; and e) a burner
assembly including a top burner and a bottom burner, each burner
comprising: viii) a connector type fitting adapted to attach to the
transporting means; ix) a flame bar being a metal tubing connected
with the transporting means through the fitting, the flame bar
having holes in the tubing to allow the fuel to exit; x) a bottom
cover; xi) a heat deflector being a piece of metal sheet between
the flame bar and the bottom cover of the burner to help reflect
heat from the flame bar back to the surface being heated; xii) A
plurality of symmetric cut outs on side wall allowing air flow
inside the burner to mix with the fuel for combustion and providing
a shelf for the flame bar to rest on; xiii) a plurality of feet
attached to the bottom cover, supporting the burner to stand on the
cooking surface; and xiv) a heat non-conductive handle on the side
of the burner for safe movement and adjustment while in use.
wherein, the bottom burner is of a diameter smaller than the
diameter of the top burner so that the bottom burner fits into the
top burner; the bottom and top burners further comprising a means
for nesting and connecting to each other; the top burner further
comprising a hook on the side of the burner for picking up the
handle of the Dutch oven lid; and the top burner further comprising
an ignition system.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a portable all-in-one
cooking system. More specifically it relates to a portable
all-in-one Dutch oven cooking system which has a plurality of
burners that may be placed on the bottom or top of the Dutch oven
so that one or more stacked Dutch Ovens may be heated. The cooking
system may also serve as a two or more burners cooking stove that
can be used with traditional cooking utensils.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] A Dutch oven is used for outdoor cooking using charcoal,
wood, or other flammable materials that are placed under the pot
for cooking with heat from the bottom, and/or placed on the top for
broiling or oven cooking. To use a Dutch oven, the user must first
ignite the flammable materials, typically charcoal, which may
require charcoal lighter fluid or a charcoal chimney with an
accelerant, such as newspaper, in an area that can safely handle
open flames, such as a prepared fire pit, or previously cleared
area on the ground. If a wood fire is used, the wood must be
gathers, kindling is usually required to start the fire, and the
fire must burn down to mostly coals to be useful.
[0005] The process to ignite the charcoal, typically takes 20 or
more minutes for the charcoal, wood, coal, or other flammable
material to be sufficiently hot to be useful. A number of hot coals
must be placed under the Dutch oven depending on the heat level
required. This requires the use of an implement to pick up or move
hot coals, typically metal tongs of long length to help prevent
burns. The handling of the coals for ignition and for attempted
temperature control leads to safety issues. Another issue
encountered in using the charcoals with Dutch oven is ash
contamination. The top lid of a Dutch oven has gaps to allow the
steam to exit. Having the hot coals on the top lid as well as
moving the entire Dutch oven to replace the coals underneath and
frequent removal of the lid for food inspection often leads to ash
contamination of the food inside the Dutch oven. Furthermore
cleaning up the charcoal residue is a messy process. The use of a
Dutch oven with charcoal could be arduous, time consuming, messy,
expensive, space consuming, and dangerous due to the need to move
hot coals. The object of this invention is to improve the Dutch
oven cooking experience in all these areas and also serves as a two
or more burners cooking stove that can be used with traditional
cooking utensils.
[0006] Alternative outdoor cooking systems and improvement upon
Dutch oven for providing improved outdoor cooking experience is
known in the prior art. More specifically, by way of example, U.S.
Pat. No. 6,076,451 to Studer, et al. discloses a cooking apparatus
for alternately cooking, broiling, or grilling foods in a single
vessel. The Dutch oven type cook system has heating fluid in the
passageways between the double walls and cooks from the sides, top,
and bottom with hot oil. However, the cooking device disclosed in
the patent is designed for institutional and commercial kitchen. It
is bulky and more costly compared to our invention (the all-in-one
Dutch oven cooking system) making it not a good choice for camping
use.
[0007] U.S. PreGrant Publication No 20070199555 to Gregory
discloses a method and portable system for cooking. The portable
cooking system has a heating chamber that can fit in multiple Dutch
ovens. The system is different from our invention in that our
invention may apply direct heat from the top of the Dutch oven for
broiling or oven cooking. Although the invention disclosed in this
PreGrant publication may also apply charcoal on top of the Dutch
oven, the issues encountered for traditional Dutch oven cooking is
not overcome.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 7,367,332 to Mosher II, et al. discloses a
folding camping stove. The folding camping stove may be formed in a
clamshell configuration, having two clamshells that fold outward to
expose at least two cooking surfaces. Because the two stoves are
not separable, it cannot be used to heat both bottom and top of the
Dutch ovens at the same time.
[0009] There is a vast amount of prior art available regarding
portable cooking systems, but not many possess the advantages of
the Dutch oven nor do they improve upon the shortcomings earlier
discussed regarding the cooking experience with the Dutch oven. The
cooking system according to the present invention is, therefore,
intended to alleviate the problems encountered in the prior
art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention discloses a portable all-in-one Dutch
oven cooking system that uses a burner underneath Dutch oven,
between its legs, and another separate burner on top of the Dutch
oven lid. Both the top and bottom burners can share a fuel source
or have individual sources, such as natural gas, propane, liquid
fuel gas. Besides, the cooking system also includes fuel source,
transporting means to channel fuel from fuel source to burners, and
regulating means to control the fuel flow.
[0011] Each burner has a flame bar that is connected to the fuel
source via transporting means, a heat deflector between the flame
bar and the bottom of the burner to increase the efficiency, a set
of airflow cut-offs along the side wall to allow air flow in and
mix with fuel, a fuel valve adjustment on the side, a plurality of
standoffs for keeping the burner's bottom from direct contact with
the cooking surface. The heat deflector may be removed or rotated
away to allow heating in both directions for stacked Dutch ovens
cooking.
[0012] In addition, each burner has a heat non-conducting handles
on the side to allow safe adjustment and movement of the burners
while in use. The top burner has a hook device to allow it to hook
the handle that is part of the Dutch oven lid. The top and bottom
burners are designed to nest and connect to each other for easier
storage and transportation. In addition, the cooking system may
include a temperature sensing device located on the burners that
would indicate whether the burners are still producing heat. The
cooking system may also include a temperature control system to
monitor the temperature inside or outside the Dutch oven and
control the fuel delivery system (valve) to maintain a set
temperature level.
[0013] The means for transporting fuel include tubes, pipes or
hoses and may be configured in multiple ways depending on the
cooking method, such as, traditional Dutch oven cooking with a
burner on the bottom and one on the top. Other cooking methods that
are enabled with this system include one burner on bottom of a
Dutch oven and another used on top of an additional Dutch oven, or
with both burners on top or underneath two Dutch ovens (or
traditional cooking utensils). Also this system can be used
optionally with grates, such as grill grates and skillets.
[0014] The more important features of the invention have thus been
outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows
may be better understood and in order that the present contribution
to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the
invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject
matter of the claims that follow.
[0015] Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited
in its application to the details of construction and the
arrangements of the components set forth in the following
description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is
capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out
in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology
and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description
and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0016] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be
utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods
and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded
as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0017] The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred
feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art
may better understand the detailed description of the invention
that follows. Additional features of the invention will be
described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the
invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can
readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a
basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out
the same purposes of the present invention and that such other
structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention
in its broadest form.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present
invention will become more fully apparent from the following
detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying
drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference
numerals.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of the
cooking system.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of the
cooking system.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a detail view of example configurations of Flame
Bar.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a detail view of example heat shield or
deflector.
[0023] FIG. 5a is a side perspective view of one embodiment of the
cooking system which is in its operative cooking position where one
burner is on the bottom and one is on the top of the Dutch
oven.
[0024] FIG. 5b is a side perspective view of one embodiment of the
cooking system which is in its operative position where both the
burners are laid flat and used with traditional pots and pans as a
conventional stove top.
[0025] FIG. 5c is a side perspective view of one embodiment of the
cooking system which is in its operating position where one burner
is on bottom of a Dutch Oven and another burner is on top of an
additional Dutch oven.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0026] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an all-in-one Dutch Oven Cooking System
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Instead
of using coals to provide heat, said cooking system uses a burner
that fits underneath Dutch oven (bottom burner), between its legs,
and another separate burner on top of the Dutch Oven lid (top
burner). The burners can share a fuel source or have individual
sources, such as natural gas, propane, liquid fuel gas. FIG. 1
illustrates a top perspective view and FIG. 2 illustrates a side
perspective view of the embodiment of said cooking system 1. The
cooking system 1 includes a burner assembly 2 (top burner 2a, a
bottom burner 2b), fuel source 3 and transporting means (such as
tubes, pipes, or hoses) 4 for channeling fuel from fuel source 3 to
burner assembly 2. In this embodiment, both burners share the same
fuel supply using a T type connector 5. The fuel source 3 may be
controlled by one or more pressure regulators 6. Both top burner 2a
and bottom burner 2b are short in height, typically circular in
shape and of a diameter adapted to best fit within the legs under a
Dutch oven. The burner on top is also sufficiently short in height
to allow stacking of Dutch ovens on top of each other or to use the
top burner on the bottom of another separate Dutch oven if desired
as illustrated in FIG. 5. In other embodiments, the shape of the
burners and the shape of the Dutch oven may vary; and thus the
configurations may be changed. Accordingly, hoses or pipes and
connectors of other types (e.g. Y type) may be used to provide the
flexibility for various shapes and configurations of cooking
systems.
[0027] Returning to FIG. 1, there may be a mechanism to control the
amount of fuel flow to each burner 2, independently. This control
mechanism can be a simple fuel adjustment valve 7 that controls the
flow from fully on to fully off, or may be indexed, such as a stove
burner dial to control the fuel flow stepwise. The transporting
means 4 may pass through this simple adjustment valve 7 and attach
to the connect type fitting on the burners 2.
[0028] Each burner 2 has a flame bar 8 that is connected to the
fuel source 3 that spreads out the fuel over the burner's surface
for even and efficient cooking. In the prototype, the flame bar is
made of copper tubing, in a spiral configuration as shown in FIG.
3a, with holes in the tubing to allow the fuel to exit. Because the
pressure drops as the fuel passes through the tube and exits out of
the holes along the way, either more holes or larger holes need to
be placed nearer the end of the tubing, to allow for a fairly
symmetrical flame within the burner area. The number of spirals and
spacing for the tubing, as well as holes placement can be optimized
for even flame and heat flow to the Dutch oven. In other
embodiments as shown in FIGS. 3b and 3c, other incarnations may be
used that provide a pressure controlling baffling effect, allowing
more symmetric spacing of fuel exit holes, such as a hollow metal
box or series of boxes, fed with the fuel in a specific area or
side. The fuel equalizes within the box, and then exists at fairly
even flow rates from each hole. This type of flame bar device 8 may
be circular in shape to be fully contained within the burner
dimensions, with a generally symmetrical hole pattern along its
edge and surface facing the Dutch Oven. The configurations of flame
bar 8 may vary depending on the shape of the burners and the shape
of the Dutch oven they are designed to work with.
[0029] Each burner 2 has a heat shield or deflector 13 (circular
piece of sheet metal in prototype) between the flame bar 8 and the
bottom of the burner as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. As shown in
FIG. 1, the burner may have small standoffs such as bumps, lip, or
feet 12 underneath to help it stand and to prevent the burner 2
from direct contact with the cooking surface. This small gap allows
an air space and thus increases the efficiency of the burners 2 as
the burner's heat is not being conducted away by the cooking
surface. In addition, the heat shield or deflector 13 reflects heat
from the flame bar 8 back towards the Dutch oven surface being
heated, increasing efficiency and at the same time, acts to
insulate the heat from the bottom of the burner. The use of heat
deflector together with the standoffs allow the burners to be
placed on many common surfaces, such as wood picnic tables, glass
tables, tables with metal tops, decks, stone counter tops,
pavement, metal platforms, metal grates, parking lots, etc.
[0030] Each burner 2 has a plurality of symmetrical cut-outs 9
along with the side wall of the burner to allow air flow into the
burner to mix with the fuel to allow for proper flame ignition.
These symmetric cut-outs also create a shelf for the flame bar 8 to
rest on so that the flame bar 8 would not directly contact with the
bottom of the burner.
[0031] Each burner 2 has a handle 10 on the side to allow safe
adjustment and movement of the burners 2 while in use. The top
burner 2a has a hook device 11 on the side to allow it to hook the
handle that is part of the Dutch oven lid, and by turning the
burner sideways and slightly rotating the burner forces the lid to
be controlled between the hook and the surface of the side burner
surface. This allows the Dutch oven lid to be opened when hot to
allow inspection of the cooking process or for the addition of
cooking materials, such as spices, etc. This feature alleviates the
need for a separate tool used to lift the hot lid. The entire Dutch
oven may also be lifted in this manner by hooking onto the Dutch
oven handle. In this case the burner would be positioned so the
hook is facing downward to hook the handle and lift upwards to move
the Dutch oven.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 2, the top burner 2a and bottom burner 2b
are designed to nest and connect to each other for easier storage
and transportation. This may be accomplished by the top burner's 2a
outer edge being a little larger (greater diameter) than the bottom
burner 2b, or vice versa, so the bottom burner can slip somewhat
inside the top burner and be affixed using a 90 degree screw motion
where there is a short screw like channel in the top burner and the
bottom burner has a protrusion (bump out) that fits inside the
screw channel, and when a screwing motion is applied, the bottom
burner twists into the top and secures the two burners to each
other.. The screw pattern is designed so the top and bottom burner
handles would be aligned when locked together. This facilitates
easier transportation and reduces the space needed for storage.
Other means may be used to accomplish the connection of the top
burner and the bottom burner for storage and transportation, such
as, slip hinges that connects the burners on one side and clamps or
latches to connect the other side, or latches on the side of the
burners that grab the opposing burner and latches on to it, or
flexible spring action buttons in one burner that the other burner
fits into and the buttons expand in holes to create a locking
action. These holes that the buttons expand into can also be some
of the same holes used for the fuel/air mixture feature described
above. These features are not shown in the prototype.
[0033] The burner assembly 2 may also include an ignition system on
the top burner to help facilitate ignition of both burners 2. This
system may be efficiently implemented using one piezoelectric
device 14 on the top burner 2a to ignite both burners. This can be
accomplished by having the two burners locked together as they
would be in storage or transportation, with the fuel hoses
connected and the fuel turned on to the bottom burner 2b only;
using the single piezoelectric device that is connected to the top
burner 2a, ignite the bottom burner 2b; disconnect the top burner
2a from the bottom burner 2b; place Dutch oven on bottom burner 2b,
place top burner 2a on lid of Dutch oven, turn fuel flow on, ignite
top burner 2a. These features are not shown in the drawings.
[0034] In one embodiment of the cooking system 1, a temperature
control system may be implemented which monitors the temperature
inside or outside the Dutch oven and controls the fuel delivery
system (valves) to maintain a set temperature level. In one
embodiment, a temperature sensing device that would indicate if the
burners are no longer producing heat as a paint spot located on
each burner 2. In other embodiments, the temperature sensing device
may be a thermometer, or other means to easily monitor heat
production. These features are not shown in the drawings.
[0035] If a propane or liquid fuel tank is used, a separate rack is
provided that is designed to hold the fuel tank in the proper
position (upright or canted up to 45 degrees), providing stability
so the tank(s) do not fall over during use. This allows for
multiple tanks to be used (e.g. one for top burner, one for bottom
burner) and allows for fuel tank height adjustments so the fuel
supply system can work with the cooking system at various heights
and in various configurations. This rack would also lift the fuel
tank off the cooking surface, perhaps about 1 inch, to prevent it
from overheating and allows control of the tank position, to
prevent the tank(s) from falling over unintentionally. This rack
would allow the tanks to be raised to allow alignment with the
cooking system when elevated, such as, during stacked Dutch oven
cooking. This rack could be simply made of a wire frame in that
spirals around the tanks, to hold the fuel tank in one, two, or
more different heights with legs to keep the tanks off the ground
and stabilize the tanks. This rack is not shown in the prototype.
In the standard configuration shown in the prototype, the fuel tank
is sitting upright and the tubes are sized to work with one Dutch
oven.
[0036] The burners 2 may have the feature of removing or rotating
away the heat deflector 13, as well as the bottom flat cover of the
burners, to allow the burners 2 to be used as a central heating
elements that heats in both directions (through the top and through
the bottom) which is useful when cooking with two or more Dutch
ovens that are stacked on top of each other, as well as allowing
the possibility to use the top burner 2a to simultaneously heat the
top lid of the Dutch ovens as well as to heat a traditional pot or
pan sitting on top of the burner 2.
[0037] The hoses or pipes for transporting fuels 4 may be
configured in multiple ways depending on the cooking method, such
as, a traditional Dutch oven cooking with a burner on the bottom
and one on the top (FIG. 5a), or with one or both burners used flat
for use with one or two Dutch Ovens (cooking from the bottom), or
the burners can be laid flat and used with traditional pots and
pans as a conventional stove top (FIG. 5b), or one burner on bottom
of a Dutch Oven and another used on top of an additional Dutch Oven
(FIG. 5c), or with both burners on top of two Dutch Ovens.
[0038] Other cooking methods that are enabled with this system
include using traditional cooking utensils (such as pots and pans)
and cooking from underneath with both burners side by side, and/or
cooking from the top when using traditional pot and pan lids. Also
this system can have optional grates, such as grill grates, that
sit over the burner surfaces to increase stability when using large
pots and pans. An optional heat spreader device that is akin to a
large cast iron skillet that may be circular in shapes can also sit
on top of the burner(s) to increate the surface area for larger
pots, pans, or to directly cook on a skillet that is sitting on top
of one or both burners depending on the size and heat requirements.
The system can be configured to have one skillet on top of one
burner, and another skillet on top of the bottom skillet, with food
items in between the two skillets, and the top burner heating the
top skillet. In this fashion, the cooking system is similar to a
Panini press type grill.
[0039] It is this feature of the cooking system, i.e. supporting
both Dutch oven cooking as well as traditional stove top oven,
skillet, and other methods of cooking, that reflects the name of
this invention--All-in-one Dutch Oven Cooking System. With this
system, a separate traditional two burner stove top, oven, or
skillet is not needed. This system works both indoors and
outdoors.
[0040] While there have been shown and described and pointed out
the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the
preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the foregoing is
considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention
and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the
precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are
possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed
were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the
principles of the invention and its practical application to enable
one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in
various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to
the particular use contemplated All such modifications and
variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by
the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth
to which they are entitled.
* * * * *