Abstract: A cooking facilitator which is preferably portable and well suited for use as both a timer and cooking process facilitator having particular usefulness with cooking objects which have a characteristic associated with establishing a cooking time such as the weight of a turkey in the case of deep frying a turkey or the thickness of a steak in deep frying the same. A gas flow timer for shutting off an overheated or unattended cooking system is also featured.

Abstract: A cargo carrier apparatus with cargo platform and vehicle hitch receiver bar. The cargo platform is supported by the receiver bar and the cargo carrier apparatus has an adaptor supported by the receiver bar. The adaptor having an additional component assembly joining device and a sleeve portion secured to a free end of the receiver bar with the sleeve being C-shaped cross-sectioned that is supported by an underlying portion of the receiver bar. The adaptor having a joining device receiving an extension device extending between the joining device and an above supported additional component as in a bike carrier assembly or grill assembly. The cargo platform, adaptor and receiver bar are stacked with one or more bolts extending through all elements in the stack. The extension device includes a straight or bent support post with attachment device at both ends for connection with the joining device and the additional component.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus with an information exchange system that involves an assembly featuring a cooking apparatus such as a smoker or an electric turkey fryer and an information exchange system that provides for local and/or remote monitoring of cooking characteristic that preferably includes food item temperature probing that is displayed externally on the cooking appliance as in a local remote cooking characteristic information conveyance device that are preferably either in unidirectional of bi-directional.

Abstract: A smoker having a smoke generating material loader which preferably is insertable and retractable through a housing aperture and is adjustable between a no dump state and a dump state once inserted, preferably relative to a receiver tray that is closer to a heat source, as in an electric heat resistance bar, to cause smoke generation of smoke generating material received from the loader when placed in a dump state. The loader preferably has one or more seal off end caps or sections relative to the receiving housing aperture to provide a heat retention function. A preferred embodiment features a nested arrangement between the inserted loader and receiver tray and preferably the receiver tray is in a sliding supported relationship with the loader as in a semi-cylindrical loader main body in contact with one or more concave supporting surfaces of the receiver tray. The receiver tray also preferably has opposing shielding walls extending up from opposite sides of an apertured base receiving tray.

Abstract: A cooking facilitator which is preferably portable and well suited for use as both a timer and cooking process facilitator having particular usefulness with cooking objects which have a characteristic associated with establishing a cooking time such as the weight of a turkey in the case of deep frying a turkey or the thickness of a steak in deep frying the same. A gas flow timer for shutting off an overheated or unattended cooking system is also featured.

Abstract: A domestic fryer assembly and method of using which includes interconnected shell and cooking pot with the shell having an interior cavity receiving the cooking pot. A heating unit as in a resistance bar heater unit is supported by the combination shell and cooking pot and extends down into the cooking pot and features a generally horizontal portion suspended above the cooking pot bottom and preferably having a configuration of a horse-shoe with outer curved sides that generally follow the curvature of the supporting pot. The cooking pot is designed to hold sufficient cooking fluid to provide for deep flying relatively large single item food pieces as in a whole turkey of, for example, 8 to 18 pounds. The food item is preferably retained in a cooking basket that is dimensioned for insertion into the cooking pot. The cooking pot also preferably includes one or more volume reduction step-ins such as a bottom or lower one for doubling as a cooking basket support and/or an upper annular ledge step-in in the pot.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus that has a support stand having a grill coupling section and a grill assembly releasably coupled with the coupling section of the support stand, and the grill assembly having a stand alone leg assembly which is supported by the support stand when the grill assembly and support stand are coupled. The coupling assembly preferably includes a telescoping relationship as in a projection off the grill assembly received in a pedestal stem representing the support stand which is at a height suited for stand up cooking. The leg assembly is preferably provided with an interconnected linkage and slide assembly which allows for the legs to expand out and lock in place and to then be collapsed again for telescopic insertion into the pedestal stem as in a collapsed state which allows for a free dangling extension in the support stem while the projection is in sliding contact with the upper cavity surface of the stem.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus, as in a domestic fryer, includes a stacked shell, cooking pot and basket combination. A heater element extends into the cooking pot and has a generally horizontal portion suspended above the pot bottom and supported by a support platform as in a volume reduction step-in region in the cooking pot and/or a removable basket support platform. The pot holds sufficient cooking fluid to provide for deep frying large food items as in a whole turkey (e.g., 3.63 Kg to 8.16 Kg). An embodiment includes a drain spigot with adjustable drain spigot cover assembly. The heating device includes a combination control unit and heating element that is releasably supported by the shell with a fail-safe electrical disconnect connection. The basket support platform and one or more temperature sensors are connected to the heating element and thus removable as well. The cooking pot has an edge recess for receipt of the heating element and for pot drainage.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus for improved heat circulation and containment when smoking or grilling using electric, gas, or charcoal as the heat source. The base pan design enhances heat containment, and offers a channel design in the bottom of the base pan. A flame disk for even heat distribution is provided and can be used in conjunction with the base pan, and prevents internal food drippings from escaping through the disk. The disk design enhances the heat efficiency, and safeguards against drippings or ashes falling through to the burner or ground. The holes in the disk are raised, and has attached covers strategically placed over the holes to deter drippings or ashes from falling through. A fire pit container is also provided and designed for use with the base pan. The fire pit container supports a heat source such as a gas burner which directs a flame toward the base pan open hole and also toward the underside of a flame disk when a flame disk is suspended above the base pan hole.