Abstract: The outdoor cooking apparatus comprises an enclosed area defining a heat containment structure, a spine operably connected to the heat containment structure, a collar operably connected to the spine, a quick release device or hinge attachable to a collar on the spine or a spine sleeve, and at least one cooking support attached or attachable to the device or hinge. The device or hinge is adapted for efficient attachment and removal of the cooking support to and from the spine and further adapted for rotatable movement around a central vertical axis of the spine and vertical movement along a vertical length of the spine, thus allowing the user to adjust and customize the intensity of the heat on the cooking support. The cooking supports are also adapted to accommodate a plurality of cooking surfaces.

Abstract: A user adjustable coupling device or hinge adapted to be attachable to a spine is disclosed. The device or hinge comprises a curved, hook end on a horizontally oriented upper bracket, a vertically oriented support brace, and a curved, oval-shaped end on a horizontally oriented lower bracket that gives the hinge a C-shaped configuration. The hook and oval ends allow the hinge to be quickly and easily attached and removed from the spine without the use of tools. The coupling device or hinge may be utilized in an outdoor cooking apparatus. The apparatus comprises an enclosed area defining a heat containment structure, a spine operably connected to the heat containment structure, a collar operably connected to the spine, and at least one cooking support attached or attachable to the coupling device or hinge.