Abstract: A mobile computing device runs multiple activities concurrently and provides at least two modes for interacting with the activities. The user may toggle between the modes as desired. In a full-screen mode, one activity occupies substantially an entire display screen. In a windowed mode, the activity is visible within a window, and a portion of at least one other window is also visible. In the windowed mode, the user can cause windows to move, thereby changing focus from one activity to another. For example, the window having focus can be moved off the screen, to be replaced by a new window that is then given focus. The windows are ordered in a sequence and move in concert with one another; pushing one window off one edge of the screen causes a new window to appear at the opposite edge. A persistent positional relationship can be established among windows.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a kamado-style grill and smoker having one or more air-intake openings and one or more exhaust openings. Like conventional kamado-style grills and smokers, a user may manually adjust the air-intake opening(s) and/or exhaust opening(s) to manually control the air flow, and thus the temperature, within the cooking chamber. However, unlike the prior art, the kamado-style grill and smoker includes an integrated fan unit that provides a completely different and alternative air-intake pathway for drawing air into the cooking chamber and controlling the cooking or smoking temperature using a fan. By providing this alternative mechanism for controlling the temperature in the cooking chamber, the kamado-style grill and smoker disclosed herein can be operated using either manual or automated temperature control, making it accessible to both novice and experienced users alike.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a kamado-style grill and smoker having one or more air-intake openings and one or more exhaust openings. Like conventional kamado-style grills and smokers, a user may manually adjust the air-intake opening(s) and/or exhaust opening(s) to manually control the air flow, and thus the temperature, within the cooking chamber. However, unlike the prior art, the kamado-style grill and smoker includes an integrated fan unit that provides a completely different and alternative air-intake pathway for drawing air into the cooking chamber and controlling the cooking or smoking temperature using a fan. By providing this alternative mechanism for controlling the temperature in the cooking chamber, the kamado-style grill and smoker disclosed herein can be operated using either manual or automated temperature control, making it accessible to both novice and experienced users alike.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a firebox basket for a barbeque grill or smoker. In one form, the present disclosure provides a grill comprising an ash depository, a firebox basket positioned in the grill above the ash depository; and a cooking rack positioned above the firebox basket. The firebox basket comprises: a support basket defining an internal area, the support basket comprising: a plurality of concentrically stacked rungs that define a side wall of the firebox basket; and a grate positioned at a bottom of the plurality of concentrically stacked rungs; and a plurality of ceramic pieces disposed within the support basket. The support basket is configured to support the plurality of ceramic pieces around the internal area of the support basket.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a kamado-style grill and smoker having one or more air-intake openings and one or more exhaust openings. Like conventional kamado-style grills and smokers, a user may manually adjust the air-intake opening(s) and/or exhaust opening(s) to manually control the air flow, and thus the temperature, within the cooking chamber. However, unlike the prior art, the kamado-style grill and smoker includes an integrated fan unit that provides a completely different and alternative air-intake pathway for drawing air into the cooking chamber and controlling the cooking or smoking temperature using a fan. By providing this alternative mechanism for controlling the temperature in the cooking chamber, the kamado-style grill and smoker disclosed herein can be operated using either manual or automated temperature control, making it accessible to both novice and experienced users alike.

Abstract: A kamado-style grill and smoker having one or more air-intake openings and one or more exhaust openings is provided. A user may manually adjust the air-intake opening(s) and/or exhaust opening(s) to manually control the air flow, and thus the temperature, within the cooking chamber. In addition, the kamado-style grill and smoker includes an integrated fan unit that provides a completely different and alternative air-intake pathway for drawing air into the cooking chamber and controlling the cooking or smoking temperature using a fan. By providing this alternative mechanism for controlling the temperature in the cooking chamber, the kamado-style grill and smoker can be operated using either manual or automated temperature control, making it accessible to both novice and experienced users alike.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a kamado-style grill and smoker having one or more air-intake openings and one or more exhaust openings. Like conventional kamado-style grills and smokers, a user may manually adjust the air-intake opening(s) and/or exhaust opening(s) to manually control the air flow, and thus the temperature, within the cooking chamber. However, unlike the prior art, the kamado-style grill and smoker includes an integrated fan unit that provides a completely different and alternative air-intake pathway for drawing air into the cooking chamber and controlling the cooking or smoking temperature using a fan. By providing this alternative mechanism for controlling the temperature in the cooking chamber, the kamado-style grill and smoker disclosed herein can be operated using either manual or automated temperature control, making it accessible to both novice and experienced users alike.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a portable charcoal grill and smoker that includes a lower body panel and a lid. A unitary body liner may be positioned within the lower body panel and configured to support a grill rack. The body liner may include a grease pan and a support well for a fuel basket. The fuel basket supports a fuel-grate assembly with a fuel grate which together form a hopper above the fuel grate. A variable-speed fan may be used to control an amount of combustion air that flows into the fuel basket and fuel-grate assembly and, thus, the amount of heat and smoke that is generated and distributed to a food product being cooked or smoked on the grill rack. A removable battery pack may be used to provide power to the fan.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a temperature controlled charcoal grill and smoker that enables users to better control the cooking and smoking temperature relative to previous solutions. In some embodiments, for example, a user may place a divider in the interior of a fuel basket to coarsely adjust the amount and type of solid fuel used to heat a food-cooking enclosure of the temperature controlled charcoal grill and smoker. In addition, the user can also position a heat deflector tent above one or more heat transfer openings in a grease tray to further adjust the cooking and smoking temperature. Further still, the user can provide even finer control (including closed-loop control) over the cooking and smoking temperature using a controller that controls the speed of a fan that directs combustion air into the fuel basket.

Abstract: A gravity fed smoker includes a smoking enclosure and an external stack. The stack is double walled with an inner wall, and an outer wall. A vented cooling space exists between the inner wall and the outer wall. An inner chamber of the external stack includes a fire box with a fire grate and a feed hopper positioned above the fire box. A smoke tunnel with a series of openings for releasing smoke into the smoking enclosure extends along the bottom of the food smoking enclosure and is connected to the external fire box at one end. Fuel, including charcoal, lump coal, or wood pellets, is loaded into the feed hopper. As the fuel burns on the fire grate and turns to ashes, the fuel is fed from the hopper onto the fire grate by gravity. A fan and dampers controls air flow through the fire grate and into the smoke tunnel.

Abstract: A gravity fed smoker includes a smoking enclosure and an external stack. The stack is double walled with an inner wall, and an outer wall. A vented cooling space exists between the inner wall and the outer wall. An inner chamber of the external stack includes a fire box with a fire grate and a feed hopper positioned above the fire box. A smoke tunnel with a series of openings for releasing smoke into the smoking enclosure extends along the bottom of the food smoking enclosure and is connected to the external fire box at one end. Fuel, including charcoal, lump coal, or wood pellets, is loaded into the feed hopper. As the fuel burns on the fire grate and turns to ashes, the fuel is fed from the hopper onto the fire grate by gravity. A fan and dampers controls air flow through the fire grate and into the smoke tunnel.

Abstract: A gravity fed smoker includes a smoking enclosure and an external stack. The stack is double walled with an inner wall, and an outer wall. A vented cooling space exists between the inner wall and the outer wall. An inner chamber of the external stack includes a fire box with a fire grate and a feed hopper positioned above the fire box. A smoke tunnel with a series of openings for releasing smoke into the smoking enclosure extends along the bottom of the food smoking enclosure and is connected to the external fire box at one end. Fuel, including charcoal, lump coal, or wood pellets, is loaded into the feed hopper. As the fuel burns on the fire grate and turns to ashes, the fuel is fed from the hopper onto the fire grate by gravity. A fan and dampers controls air flow through the fire grate and into the smoke tunnel.

Abstract: A gas-fired smoker constitutes a cabinet for holding food products to be cooked. A gas burner in the cabinet is connected to a source of flammable gas by means of a valve. The gas burner heats the cabinet and thereby cooks the food products. In one embodiment a pilot light ignites the flammable gas at the gas burner. A control circuit powered by a DC source controls the operation of the gas-fired smoker including igniting and extinguishing the gas burner in order to maintain a cooking temperature in the cabinet. A battery powers the control system. In another embodiment a rechargeable battery is recharged by a Seebeck thermal electric generator that is exposed to the heat from the gas burner.

Abstract: A smoker with a smoke on demand system includes a wood chunk or wood chip enclosure with a wood heating element, a wood temperature sensor, and a controller. In response to the sensed wood temperature, the controller causes the wood heating element to maintain the wood chunks or wood chips within a target temperature range above which the wood chunks or wood chips can sustain combustion without added heat. The actual temperature can also be maintained by timed sequences based on the cold mass and species of the wood.

Abstract: A stand-alone gas-fired smoker constitutes a cabinet for holding food products to be cooked. A gas burner in the bottom of the cabinet is connected to a source of flammable gas by means of a variable gas valve. The gas burner heats the cabinet and thereby cooks the food products. An oil filled temperature sensing bulb is connected by means of a capillary tube to the variable gas valve in order to modulate the gas delivered through the variable gas valve to the gas burner and thereby modulate the temperature within the cabinet. A safety/ignition valve is connected between of the gas source and the variable gas valve. The safety/ignition valve is connected to a flame sensor, and the safety/ignition valve closes if the flame sensor senses that the gas burner has been extinguished.

Abstract: A stand-alone gas-fired smoker constitutes a cabinet for holding food products to be cooked. A gas burner in the bottom of the cabinet is connected to a source of flammable gas by means of a variable gas valve. The gas burner heats the cabinet and thereby cooks the food products. An oil filled temperature sensing bulb is connected by means of a capillary tube to the variable gas valve in order to modulate the gas delivered through the variable gas valve to the gas burner and thereby modulate the temperature within the cabinet. A safety/ignition valve is connected between of the gas source and the variable gas valve. The safety/ignition valve is connected to a flame sensor, and the safety/ignition valve closes if the flame sensor senses that the gas burner has been extinguished.

Abstract: A gas-fired smoker constitutes a cabinet for holding food products to be cooked. A gas burner in the cabinet is connected to a source of flammable gas by means of a valve. The gas burner heats the cabinet and thereby cooks the food products. In one embodiment a pilot light ignites the flammable gas at the gas burner. A control circuit powered by a DC source controls the operation of the gas-fired smoker including igniting and extinguishing the gas burner in order to maintain a cooking temperature in the cabinet. A battery powers the control system. In another embodiment a rechargeable battery is recharged by a Seebeck thermal electric generator that is exposed to the heat from the gas burner.