Patents by Inventor Joseph A. Pruitt

Joseph A. Pruitt 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: 20240068666
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of a system and method for bimodal air control in a kettle-style grill are configured to be detachably mounted to the exterior of a kettle-styled grill such as, but not limited to, a Weber® charcoal grill. When mounted to the kettle-styled grill, a plenum-like component directs air flows to the interior of the grill's kettle via the kettle's lower body damper holes. A manually adjustable intake damper in the plenum component allows, restricts, or prevents a drawn ambient air flow into the plenum component. Separately, a forced air flow generated by a fan may also be provided into the plenum component. Adjustment of the intake damper may also adjust damper blades inside the grill's kettle. Ash that falls out of the kettle's damper holes falls through the plenum component and is captured in an ash receptacle that is removably mounted to the plenum component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Spider Grills, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Pruitt, Jeffrey Broadrick
  • Publication number: 20240008680
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of a kamado cooker that looks like an iconic kettle-style grill are disclosed. Certain embodiments comprise a ceramic kettle base having an exterior surface and an interior surface and defining an aperture at its bottom, a ceramic lid hinged to the ceramic kettle base, a kettle support bowl defining an inner concave surface and an outer convex surface and a central aperture, a kettle securing collar defining an inner concave surface and an outer convex surface and a central aperture, and a plurality of legs mechanically received by a plurality of leg support extensions associated with the outer convex surface of the kettle support bowl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: Spider Grills, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Pruitt, Kyle Aasness
  • Patent number: 11852346
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of a system and method for bimodal air control in a kettle-style grill are configured to be detachably mounted to the exterior of a kettle-styled grill such as, but not limited to, a Weber® charcoal grill. When mounted to the kettle-styled grill, a plenum-like component directs air flows to the interior of the grill's kettle via the kettle's lower body damper holes. A manually adjustable intake damper in the plenum component allows, restricts, or prevents a drawn ambient air flow into the plenum component. Separately, a forced air flow generated by a fan may also be provided into the plenum component. Adjustment of the intake damper may also adjust damper blades inside the grill's kettle. Ash that falls out of the kettle's damper holes falls through the plenum component and is captured in an ash receptacle that is removably mounted to the plenum component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Spider Grills, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Pruitt, Jeffrey Broadrick
  • Patent number: 11819161
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Premier Specialty Brands LLC
    Inventors: Adam Carter, Donald Stephen Gazdick, III, Joseph Pruitt, Daniel Mercer, Kyle Aasness
  • Publication number: 20230337856
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: Premier Specialty Brands LLC
    Inventors: Adam Carter, Donald Stephen Gazdick, III, Joseph Pruitt, Daniel Mercer, Kyle Aasness
  • Publication number: 20230292956
    Abstract: A griddle adapted for use on a kamado-style grill is disclosed herein. The griddle may comprise a flat cooking surface suitable for cooking, for example, meats, vegetables, and breakfast foods. The griddle may comprise a grease chute that provides a receptacle within or adjacent to the flat cooking surface for removing grease during cooking. The grease chute directs the grease to one or more holes in the grease chute through which the grease can drain into the fuel chamber below the griddle. The griddle may comprise an outer lip that extends upwardly away from the flat cooking surface to prevent grease or food from falling over perimeter edges of the flat cooking surface. Additionally, the griddle may comprise one or more notches for coupling the griddle to a cooking grate and/or other structure, thereby helping to secure the griddle's position on the cooking grate of the kamado-style grill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Donald Stephen Gazdick, III, Joseph Pruitt
  • Publication number: 20230276988
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of a system for conversion of a kamado cooker to a griddle comprises a support rack and a griddle component. The support rack is configured to seat within a lower bowl portion of the kamado cooker and define a plurality of vertical post structures. The griddle component defines a sloped cooking surface and comprises a rim aspect at least partially surrounding the sloped cooking surface and a drain slot. The griddle component is configured to be received by the plurality of vertical post structures of the support rack. When in use, grease on the sloped cooking surface is directed to the drain slot which discards the grease into combusting fuel (such as charcoal) beneath the griddle component, thereby mitigating or preventing grease fires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: Align Machine Works, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Pruitt, Kyle Aasness
  • Patent number: 11744402
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of a kamado-style cooker pizza oven conversion device are disclosed. Certain embodiments detachably mount within a kamado-styled cooker such that the lid of the cooker rests at an angle on the top of the device and thereby “closes off” and defines a cooking space within the interior that takes advantage of the pizza oven-like features of a kamado cooker. With an embodiment of the solution installed in a kamado cooker, an open doorway or window is defined for allowing a user to insert a pizza into the cooking space and place the pizza on a pizza stone held by the device. Embodiments allow for cooking to occur simultaneously via conductive, convective and radiant thermal energy transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Align Machine Works, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Pruitt, Jeffrey Broadrick, David Matthew Williams Hemming
  • Publication number: 20230272914
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of a pelletized fuel delivery and combustion system are disclosed. Certain embodiments are configured to be detachably mounted to the exterior of a kettle-styled grill such as, but not limited to, a Weber® charcoal grill. When mounted to the kettle-styled grill, a firebox is external to the kettle and delivers thermal energy and smoke to the interior of the kettle by, and through, at least one damper port in the kettle. In this way, embodiments of the solution do not require significant, if any, modification to the kettle-styled grill in order for the kettle-styled grill to use a pelletized fuel source. Embodiments may also include temperature loop control and/or a thermal energy and smoke distribution plate configured to be set within the kettle of the grill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: Spider Grills, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Pruitt, Jeffrey Broadrick, Kyle Aasness, Brandon Wells
  • Patent number: 11725825
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of a pelletized fuel delivery and combustion system are disclosed. Certain embodiments are configured to be detachably mounted to the exterior of a kettle-styled grill such as, but not limited to, a Weber® charcoal grill. When mounted to the kettle-styled grill, a firebox is external to the kettle and delivers thermal energy and smoke to the interior of the kettle by, and through, at least one damper port in the kettle. In this way, embodiments of the solution do not require significant, if any, modification to the kettle-styled grill in order for the kettle-styled grill to use a pelletized fuel source. Embodiments may also include temperature loop control and/or a thermal energy and smoke distribution plate configured to be set within the kettle of the grill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Spider Grills, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Pruitt, Jeffrey Broadrick, Kyle Aasness, Brandon Wells
  • Publication number: 20230235887
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of a system and method for bimodal air control in a kettle-style grill are configured to be detachably mounted to the exterior of a kettle-styled grill such as, but not limited to, a Weber® charcoal grill. When mounted to the kettle-styled grill, a plenum-like component directs air flows to the interior of the grill's kettle via the kettle's lower body damper holes. A manually adjustable intake damper in the plenum component allows, restricts, or prevents a drawn ambient air flow into the plenum component. Separately, a forced air flow generated by a fan may also be provided into the plenum component. Adjustment of the intake damper may also adjust damper blades inside the grill's kettle. Ash that falls out of the kettle's damper holes falls through the plenum component and is captured in an ash receptacle that is removably mounted to the plenum component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: Spider Grills, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Pruitt, Jeffrey Broadrick
  • Patent number: 11707158
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of a kamado-style cooker pizza oven conversion device are disclosed. Certain embodiments detachably mount within a kamado-styled cooker such that the lid of the cooker rests at an angle on the top of the device and thereby “closes off” and defines a cooking space within the interior that takes advantage of the pizza oven-like features of a kamado cooker. With an embodiment of the solution installed in a kamado cooker, an open doorway or window is defined for allowing a user to insert a pizza into the cooking space and place the pizza on a pizza stone held by the device. Embodiments allow for cooking to occur simultaneously via conductive, convective and radiant thermal energy transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Align Machine Works, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Pruitt, Jeffrey Broadrick, David Matthew Williams Hemming
  • Patent number: 11644197
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of a system and method for bimodal air control in a kettle-style grill are configured to be detachably mounted to the exterior of a kettle-styled grill such as, but not limited to, a Weber® charcoal grill. When mounted to the kettle-styled grill, a plenum-like component directs air flows to the interior of the grill's kettle via the kettle's lower body damper holes. A manually adjustable intake damper in the plenum component allows, restricts, or prevents a drawn ambient air flow into the plenum component. Separately, a forced air flow generated by a fan may also be provided into the plenum component. Adjustment of the intake damper may also adjust damper blades inside the grill's kettle. Ash that falls out of the kettle's damper holes falls through the plenum component and is captured in an ash receptacle that is removably mounted to the plenum component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventors: Joseph Pruitt, Jeffrey Broadrick
  • Publication number: 20230055811
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: MASTERBUILT MANUFACTURING, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Carter, Donald Stephen, Robert V. Terrell, Daniel Mercer, Joseph PRUITT
  • Publication number: 20230017011
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of a kamado-style cooker pizza oven conversion device are disclosed. Certain embodiments detachably mount within a kamado-styled cooker such that the lid of the cooker rests at an angle on the top of the device and thereby “closes off” and defines a cooking space within the interior that takes advantage of the pizza oven-like features of a kamado cooker. With an embodiment of the solution installed in a kamado cooker, an open doorway or window is defined for allowing a user to insert a pizza into the cooking space and place the pizza on a pizza stone held by the device. Embodiments allow for cooking to occur simultaneously via conductive, convective and radiant thermal energy transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Align Machine Works, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Pruitt, Jeffrey Broadrick, David Matthew Williams Hemming
  • Patent number: D983602
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Align Machine Works, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Pruitt, Jeffrey Broadrick, David Matthew Williams Hemming
  • Patent number: D984844
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Premier Specialty Brands LLC
    Inventors: Adam Carter, Donald Stephen Gazdick, III, Allison Frey, Joseph Pruitt, Jeffrey Broadrick, Kyle Aasness
  • Patent number: D987371
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Premier Specialty Brands LLC
    Inventors: Adam Carter, Donald Stephen Gazdick, III, Robert V. Terrell, Daniel Mercer, Joseph Pruitt
  • Patent number: D997631
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Align Machine Works, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Pruitt, Kyle Aasness
  • Patent number: D997643
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Align Machine Works, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Pruitt, Kyle Aasness