Patents Assigned to Metal Fusion, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9572455
    Abstract: An improved outdoor cooking apparatus features a pot with multiple cooking inserts and burner frame that supports a burner element. One insert can be used for cooking an entire poultry carcass. Other inserts are perforated baskets that can be used to fry items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: METAL FUSION, INC.
    Inventors: Norman R. Bourgeois, Michael P. Bourgeois
  • Patent number: 9474294
    Abstract: A food grilling rack provides a frame defined by a plurality of connected side walls forming a closed geometric shape. The frame includes a lower corrugated sheet that provides multiple troughs, each trough having a lowest portion. The lower sheet is attached to at least some of the side walls. An upper sheet is supported (e.g., removably) above the lower sheet. There are a plurality of openings in the upper sheet, each opening being vertically aligned with a lowest portion of a trough. A food stuffing apparatus provides a receptacle having an interior, an upper end portion with a larger opening and a lower end portion with a smaller opening, and a tapering portion in between the upper and lower end portions. A plunger is provided having a head, a lower end portion with a shaft having a lower pushing surface and a joint, joining the head to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: METAL FUSION, INC.
    Inventors: Michael P. Bourgeois, Norman R. Bourgeois, Barbara Bourgeois
  • Patent number: 9204754
    Abstract: An outdoor cooking vessel apparatus enables a user to selectively fry, boil or steam food items by reconfiguring the apparatus. The apparatus employs a cooking vessel having a bottom wall, side wall, an open top and a vessel interior. A basket is sized and shaped to fit the vessel interior. The basket having a bottom with an inner surface and an outer surface. A skewer rack is connectable to the basket bottom panel. The rack is connectable to the bottom panel inner surface for skewering the food items to be cooked in the basket interior when the basket occupies the vessel interior. The rack is connectable to the basket bottom outer surface wherein the skewer rack supports the basket in an elevated position above the cooking vessel bottom. The basket enables items to be cooked within the basket when the basket occupies the vessel interior and wherein the skewer rack is not connected to the basket such as when frying large items (for example, turkey).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: METAL FUSION, INC.
    Inventor: Norman Bourgeois
  • Patent number: 9198539
    Abstract: An outdoor grill of a teppanyaki style provides a grilling surface fueled with a propane/butane canister and burner arrangement. The grilling surface is surrounded by cool zones, one of which is in the form of easily removable tiles or plates. The pedestal and top are uniquely configured to provide multiple sitting areas with knee areas in between the pedestal and top periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: METAL FUSION, INC.
    Inventors: Barbara Bourgeois, Michael Bourgeois, Norman Bourgeois, Michael Lawson
  • Patent number: 9179799
    Abstract: A smoker apparatus is disclosed that provides a smoker cabinet having upper and lower end portions. The cabinet has a top, a bottom and a side wall or walls and an interior. The cabinet includes a plurality of vertically spaced apart shelves mounted within the cabinet interior. A cabinet door that enables access to the shelves. A gaseous fuel supplied burner element is positioned next to the lower end portion of the cabinet, the burner element being removably connectable to a source of gaseous fuel. A pair of containers is mounted within the cabinet below the shelves and above the burner element. One of the containers is preferably a water container for containing water. The other of the containers being a wood chips container for containing wood chips, wherein the wood chips container is positioned in between the water container and the burner element. A slide bracket supports the containers, the slide bracket positioned generally in between the burner element and the shelves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: METAL FUSION, INC.
    Inventors: Norman R. Bourgeois, Michael Bourgeois
  • Patent number: 9055839
    Abstract: An outdoor food frying apparatus provides a frame that includes a cabinet having an open top and a open bottom. The frame can be in the form of a plurality of cabinet walls supportive upon a plurality of legs. A burner element is supported upon the frame and within the cabinet interior. The burner element includes a pair of spaced apart burner sections. A pot removably fits the cabinet interior resting upon the pot support in a cooking position. The pot has a v-shaped bottom comprised of a pair of panels that intercept to form a obtuse angle. The pot also includes a plurality of generally flat pot side walls. One of the burner sections directs a flame against one of the bottom panels, the other of the burner sections directing a flame against the other of the bottom panels. In one embodiment, the pot has a drain opening fitted with a valve for controlling the flow of fluid from the pot after cooking has completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: METAL FUSION, INC.
    Inventor: Norman Bourgeois
  • Patent number: 8938870
    Abstract: An outdoor cooking apparatus includes a frame having a base for engaging an underlying support surface, a cooking surface for receiving a pot and a wind guard having upper and lower edges and a side wall or walls. A first removable support bracket removably attaches to the wind guard, the first bracket supporting a low pressure burner element. A second removable support bracket removably attaches to the wind guard. The second bracket supporting a high pressure burner element includes: i) a cylindrically shaped, vertically oriented tube having a tube wall that surrounds an open ended bore of uniform diameter, the bore communicating with upper and lower end openings, ii) a high pressure gaseous fuel nozzle supported within the open ended bore, the nozzle having a nozzle opening spaced inwardly of the tube wall, iii) a fuel supply tube that enables transmission of a gaseous fuel to the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Metal Fusion, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman R. Bourgeois
  • Patent number: 8919244
    Abstract: A food grilling rack provides a frame defined by a plurality of connected side walls forming a closed geometric shape. The frame includes a lower corrugated sheet that provides multiple troughs, each trough having a lowest portion. The lower sheet is attached to at least some of the side walls. An upper sheet of material is supported (e.g., removably) above the sheet of corrugated material. There are a plurality of openings in the upper sheet of material, each opening being vertically aligned with a lowest portion of a trough. In one embodiment, the frame includes a pair of flanged members attached to a lower corrugated sheet that provides multiple troughs, each trough having a lowest portion. A sheet with openings slides into the frame aligning the openings with the lowest part of the trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Metal Fusion, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman R. Bourgeois, Barbara Bourgeois, Michael P. Bourgeois
  • Patent number: 8020546
    Abstract: An outdoor grill of a teppanyaki style provides a grilling surface fueled with a propane/butane canister and burner arrangement. The grilling surface is surrounded by cool zones, one of which is in the form of easily removable tiles or plates. The pedestal and top are uniquely configured to provide multiple sitting areas with knee areas in between the pedestal and top periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Metal Fusion, Inc.
    Inventors: Barbara Bourgeois, Michael Bourgeois, Norman Bourgeois
  • Patent number: 6439107
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus enables a user to cook (boiling, steaming or frying). The apparatus includes a burner having a base that is specially shaped to cradle a pot. An upper section above the support surface of the burner for engaging the sidewall of the pot should the pot be tipped inadvertently. The burner can include upper members that are supported above the bottom of the pot and a lower member that engages an underlying supporting surface. Alternatively, the burner frame can have a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending legs. Struts are shaped and cradle the bottom of the pot and its sidewall respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Metal Fusion, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman R. Bourgeois
  • Patent number: 6058830
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus enables a user to cook (boiling, steaming or frying). The apparatus includes a burner having a base that is specially shaped to cradle a pot. An upper ring extends above the support surface of the burner for engaging the sidewall of the pot should the pot be tipped inadvertently. A table removably attaches to the burner frame, preferably at the upper ring. The burner can include an upper ring member that is supported above the bottom of the pot and a lower ring member that engages an underlying supporting ground surface. Alternatively, the burner frame has a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending legs. Struts are shaped and cradle the bottom of the pot and its sidewall respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Metal Fusion, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman R. Bourgeois
  • Patent number: 5970852
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus enables a user to cook either by steaming or by boiling. The apparatus includes a burner having a base that is specially shaped to cradle a pot. An upper ring extends above the support surface of the burner for engaging the sidewall of the pot should the pot be tipped inadvertently. A removable basket fits the pot interior, the basket having a base that registers against the bottom of the pot and a vertically extending portion that includes hooks for receiving a bail that can then removably attach to the basket at the periphery of the pot. The burner includes an upper ring member that is supported above the bottom of the pot and a lower ring member that engages an underlying supporting ground surface. Struts extend between the rings are shaped and cradle the bottom of the pot and its sidewall respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Metal Fusion, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman Bourgeois
  • Patent number: 5813321
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus enables a user to cook either by steaming or by boiling. The apparatus includes a burner having a base that is specially shaped to cradle a pot. An upper ring extends above the support surface of the burner for engaging the sidewall of the pot should the pot be tipped inadvertently. A removable basket fits the pot interior, the basket having a base that registers against the bottom of the pot and a vertically extending portion that includes hooks for receiving a bail that can then removably attach to the basket at the periphery of the pot. The burner includes an upper ring member that is supported above the bottom of the pot and a lower ring member that engages an underlying supporting ground surface. Struts extend between the rings are shaped and cradle the bottom of the pot and its sidewall respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Metal Fusion, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman R. Bourgeois
  • Patent number: 5065735
    Abstract: A convertible burner apparatus includes a primary burner frame having upper and lower parallel rings connected by struts. A burner element is contained within the primary frame that can be connected to a source of fuel gas such as a canister of propane/butane. A plurality of radially spaced grate members are positioned adjacent the upper ring for supporting a pot thereupon during use. A plurality of legs are removably connectable to the primary burner frame for supporting the primary burner frame in an elevated position. Connections are provided for removably affixing each leg to the primary burner frame at positions adjacent the upper ring and at the middle portion of the leg and a plurality of spokes discourages lateral movement of the legs at a position below the lower ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Assignee: Metal Fusion, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman R. Bourgeois, Bradley A. Robichaux