Patents by Inventor Christopher L. Hanks

Christopher L. Hanks has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20250248564
    Abstract: A waste bag holder pivotably coupled to an outdoor cooking station. The waste bag holder is a rod structure with multiple bends along its length to define a u-shaped portion and first and second engaging portions. The u-shaped portion is configured to support a waste bag. The first and second engaging portions are sized and configured to couple to coupling structure to facilitate the waste bag holder to be pivotably moveable between a use position and a stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2025
    Publication date: August 7, 2025
    Inventors: Roger Dahle, Steve L. Puertas, Jeffrey D. Clark, Christopher L. Hanks
  • Patent number: 12274394
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for channeling heat in an outdoor cooking station. The cooking station includes a moveable hood, movable between open and closed positions relative to the cooking station, and one or more heating elements for generating heat to a cooking surface, such as a griddle and/or grill. Further, the cooking station includes one or more baffles sized and configured to channel heat, generated by the one or more heating elements, from below the cooking surface to above the cooking surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: North Atlantic Imports, LLC
    Inventors: Steve L. Puertas, Christopher L. Hanks
  • Patent number: 12274397
    Abstract: Embodiments of a paper towel holder, system and method thereof are provided. The paper towel holder includes a bracket, a sleeve, a pin and an arm. The bracket is sized and configured to be coupled to a main body of a cooking system. The sleeve defines a hollow portion to receive the pin with an axis extending axially through the sleeve, the sleeve being coupled to the bracket. The arm includes at least one opening so as to be rotatably coupled to the pin. The at least one opening in the arm extends to define a keyed shape that corresponds with a square shaped outer periphery of the sleeve such that the arm is rotatable about the pin and can be moved to different orientations about the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: North Atlantic Imports, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher L. Hanks, Mengyan Li
  • Publication number: 20250082132
    Abstract: A cooking station configured to expand or minimize useable surface space adjacent the cooking station. The cooking station includes a side shelf system coupled to one side of a main body of the cooking station. The side shelf system includes a first shelf, a second shelf, and a track system. The track system is coupled to opposing interior sides of the first shelf and opposing exterior sides of the second shelf such that the track system is configured to facilitate sliding the second shelf relative to an interior of the first shelf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: James C. Bush, III, Christopher L. Hanks
  • Patent number: 12185874
    Abstract: A waste bag holder pivotably coupled to an outdoor cooking station. The waste bag holder is a rod structure with multiple bends along its length to define a u-shaped portion and first and second engaging portions. The u-shaped portion is configured to support a waste bag. The first and second engaging portions are sized and configured to couple to coupling structure to facilitate the waste bag holder to be pivotably moveable between a use position and a stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: North Atlantic Imports, LLC
    Inventors: Roger Dahle, Steve L Puertas, Jeffrey D. Clark, Christopher L Hanks
  • Publication number: 20240415329
    Abstract: A cooking system for managing food byproduct, the cooking system including a main body, a griddle, and a drawer. The main body includes structure to support the griddle positioned above a heat element. The griddle includes a cooking surface with an opening defined in the griddle, the opening positioned adjacent a rear end of the cooking surface. The drawer includes a grease container, the drawer being moveable between an inserted position and a removed position. In the inserted position, the grease container is positioned below the opening of the griddle and adjacent a rear side of the main body with a front portion of the drawer accessible along a front side of the main body. With this arrangement, the drawer is removable from the front side of the main body and captures food byproduct in the grease container adjacent the rear side of the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2024
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher L. Hanks, Steve L. Puertas, Ryan D. Tirrell, James C. Buss, III
  • Publication number: 20240298843
    Abstract: Embodiments of an adjustable warming rack as an accessory component for a cooking station are provided. In one embodiment, the warming rack may include a rack panel and first and second legs. The rack panel may extend with an upper panel and a lower panel such that the upper panel is moveable relative to the lower panel to modify a surface area defined by an upper side of the rack panel. The first and second legs are each pivotably coupled adjacent respective first and second opposite sides of the rack panel such that the first and second legs are configured to suspend the rack panel above a flat cooking surface of the cooking station. Further, the first and second legs are pivotably moveable to modify a height that the rack panel is suspended from the flat cooking surface of the cooking station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2024
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher L. Hanks, James P. Miner
  • Publication number: 20240219032
    Abstract: A portable cooking stove configured to be compactable is provided. In one embodiment, the cooking stove includes a main body, a lid, a griddle, and an elongated structure. The lid is hingeably coupled to the main body. The main body includes burners positioned therein. The griddle is removably secured to the main body with the elongated structure. The elongated structure includes a handle at one end thereof to be positioned through one or more panels of the main body with the handle exposed along an exterior side of the main body and with the elongated structure configured to engage a griddle opening defined in an underside of the griddle. The griddle is further removably secured to the main body with at least one tab of the griddle configured to engage structure associated with the one or more panels of the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2023
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher L. Hanks, Gary E. Graham, Jared M. Smith, Christian S. Elkins, Dillon S. McGrew
  • Patent number: 11963634
    Abstract: Embodiments of an adjustable warming rack as an accessory component for a cooking station are provided. In one embodiment, the warming rack may include a rack panel and first and second legs. The rack panel may extend with an upper panel and a lower panel such that the upper panel is moveable relative to the lower panel to modify a surface area defined by an upper side of the rack panel. The first and second legs are each pivotably coupled adjacent respective first and second opposite sides of the rack panel such that the first and second legs are configured to suspend the rack panel above a flat cooking surface of the cooking station. Further, the first and second legs are pivotably moveable to modify a height that the rack panel is suspended from the flat cooking surface of the cooking station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: North Atlantic Imports, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher L. Hanks, James P. Miner
  • Publication number: 20240108169
    Abstract: Embodiments of a paper towel holder, system and method thereof are provided. The paper towel holder includes a bracket, a sleeve, a pin and an arm. The bracket is sized and configured to be coupled to a main body of a cooking system. The sleeve defines a hollow portion to receive the pin with an axis extending axially through the sleeve, the sleeve being coupled to the bracket. The arm includes at least one opening so as to be rotatably coupled to the pin. The at least one opening in the arm extends to define a keyed shape that corresponds with a square shaped outer periphery of the sleeve such that the arm is rotatable about the pin and can be moved to different orientations about the pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher L. Hanks, Mengyan Li
  • Publication number: 20240074613
    Abstract: A waste bag holder pivotably coupled to an outdoor cooking station. The waste bag holder is a rod structure with multiple bends along its length to define a u-shaped portion and first and second engaging portions. The u-shaped portion is configured to support a waste bag. The first and second engaging portions are sized and configured to couple to coupling structure to facilitate the waste bag holder to be pivotably moveable between a use position and a stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Roger Dahle, Steve L. Puertas, Jeffrey D. Clark, Christopher L. Hanks
  • Patent number: 11751723
    Abstract: A waste bag holder pivotably coupled to an outdoor cooking station. The waste bag holder is a rod structure with multiple bends along its length to define a u-shaped portion and first and second engaging portions. The u-shaped portion is configured to support a waste bag. The first and second engaging portions are sized and configured to couple to coupling structure to facilitate the waste bag holder to be pivotably moveable between a use position and a stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: North Atlantic Imports, LLC
    Inventors: Roger Dahle, Steve L. Puertas, Jeffrey D. Clark, Christopher L. Hanks
  • Patent number: 11723484
    Abstract: A roller spreading device for spreading a butter substance over a food product is provided. The device includes a basin structure and a roller member. The basin structure is sized to hold the butter substance for melting therein, the basin structure including a lower floor surface extending with an arcuate structure. The roller member includes a cylindrical outer surface with multiple recesses therein sized to capture the butter substance along the multiple recesses. The roller member, suspended within the basin structure, rotates about an axis such that the roller member rotates through the butter substance pooled along the arcuate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: North Atlantic Imports, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher L. Hanks
  • Publication number: 20230000284
    Abstract: An oven member that may be positioned over a cooking station base with gas flame burners. The oven member includes an inner shell, an outer shell, and lower and upper stones. The inner shell includes a ridge and a ledge and positioned over the cooking station base. The lower stone is configured to be positioned adjacent the ridge of the inner shell and the upper stone is configured to be positioned adjacent the ledge of the inner shell so that the lower stone is positioned parallel relative to the upper stone to at least partially define a baking chamber between the lower and upper stones. The outer shell is sized to be positioned over the inner shell with a gap defined between the inner and outer shells, the outer shell including an oven door positionable over an access opening defined in the outer shell. The access opening is sized and configured to facilitate accessing food product in the baking chamber such that the access opening is accessed along a front side of the oven member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Jared M. Smith, Gary E. Graham, Christopher L. Hanks
  • Publication number: 20220304488
    Abstract: A roller spreading device for spreading a butter substance over a food product is provided. The device includes a basin structure and a roller member. The basin structure is sized to hold the butter substance for melting therein, the basin structure including a lower floor surface extending with an arcuate structure. The roller member includes a cylindrical outer surface with multiple recesses therein sized to capture the butter substance along the multiple recesses. The roller member, suspended within the basin structure, rotates about an axis such that the roller member rotates through the butter substance pooled along the arcuate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventor: Christopher L. Hanks
  • Patent number: 11311125
    Abstract: A roller spreading device for spreading a butter substance over a food product is provided. The device includes a basin structure and a roller member. The basin structure is sized to hold the butter substance for melting therein, the basin structure including a lower floor surface extending with an arcuate structure. The roller member includes a cylindrical outer surface with multiple recesses therein sized to capture the butter substance along the multiple recesses. The roller member, suspended within the basin structure, rotates about an axis such that the roller member rotates through the butter substance pooled along the arcuate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: North Atlantic Imports, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher L. Hanks
  • Publication number: 20210369052
    Abstract: Embodiments of an outdoor cooking station having a main body with a pellet feeding system integrated with the cooking station for feeding heated smoke to a cooking chamber. The pellet feeding system utilizes a paddle wheel for feeding pellets to be burned and generating heated smoke. The heated smoke moves through a ducting system that is adjustable for distributing smoke to the cooking chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Tyler J. Fullmer, Christopher L. Hanks, David Clark, Michael R. Giebel, Paul J. Simon
  • Publication number: 20210251423
    Abstract: A waste bag holder pivotably coupled to an outdoor cooking station. The waste bag holder is a rod structure with multiple bends along its length to define a u-shaped portion and first and second engaging portions. The u-shaped portion is configured to support a waste bag. The first and second engaging portions are sized and configured to couple to coupling structure to facilitate the waste bag holder to be pivotably moveable between a use position and a stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Roger Dahle, Steve L. Puertas, Jeffrey D. Clark, Christopher L. Hanks
  • Publication number: 20210228020
    Abstract: Embodiments of an adjustable warming rack as an accessory component for a cooking station are provided. In one embodiment, the warming rack may include a rack panel and first and second legs. The rack panel may extend with an upper panel and a lower panel such that the upper panel is moveable relative to the lower panel to modify a surface area defined by an upper side of the rack panel. The first and second legs are each pivotably coupled adjacent respective first and second opposite sides of the rack panel such that the first and second legs are configured to suspend the rack panel above a flat cooking surface of the cooking station. Further, the first and second legs are pivotably moveable to modify a height that the rack panel is suspended from the flat cooking surface of the cooking station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher L. Hanks, James P. Miner
  • Publication number: 20210212488
    Abstract: Embodiments of an outdoor cooking kit and method of assembling the outdoor cooking kit are provided. The outdoor cooking kit includes a case, a flexible mat, one or more utensils, and a seasoning container. The case extends between first and second end portions with one or more extensions therebetween. The flexible mat may be manually moved to a rolled position to form an elongated rolled structure extending between first and second ends. The one or more utensils may be positioned within the rolled structure of the flexible mat, and the seasoning container may be positioned within the second end portion of the case. With this arrangement, the first and second ends of the rolled structure are positioned between the first and second end portions of the case and maintained with the one or more extensions being in a taut position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: James C. Bush, III, Christopher L. Hanks, James P. Miner