Inclusive single-use cooking apparatus

Abstract

A single-use cooking apparatus utilizing a non-charcoal fuel source that is all-inclusive in nature; providing all tools, accessories and ignition means necessary for a complete cooking session. The cooking apparatus may be suitably fueled with a semi-solidified or gelled alcohol fuel, which provides immediate and controlled heat, a finite and predictable cooking time period, and rapid cool-down due to the invention's minimal mass and high material efficiency. The device is manufactured with sufficient economy to justify complete discard at the conclusion of the cooking session.

1 . A fuel vessel assembly comprising: 
 a fuel vessel having side walls, a lip and a bottom, the side walls defining an opening having a width; the fuel vessel containing a fuel;    a combustible sealing film having a top side and a bottom side, wherein the bottom side of the film contacts the lip of the fuel vessel and covers the opening of the fuel vessel.    
   
   
       2 . The fuel vessel assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a restrictor plate having a top side, a bottom side and an aperture, wherein the bottom side of the restrictor plate is positioned over the top side of the combustible sealing film.  
   
   
       3 . The fuel vessel assembly of  claim 1  wherein fuel is gelled alcohol.  
   
   
       4 . The fuel vessel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the combustible sealing film is an aluminum metallized polymer film.  
   
   
       5 . The fuel vessel assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a porous membrane having a top side and a bottom side, the bottom side of the porous membrane covering the fuel.  
   
   
       6 . The fuel vessel assembly of  claim 4  wherein the porous membrane is paper.  
   
   
       7 . The fuel vessel assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a combustion enhancing strip in contact with the combustible sealing film.  
   
   
       8 . The fuel vessel assembly of  claim 7  wherein the combustion enhancing strip is positioned between the top side of the combustible sealing film and the bottom side of the restrictor plate.  
   
   
       9 . The fuel vessel assembly of  claim 2  wherein the aperture of the restrictor plate has a width narrower than the width of the fuel vessel opening.  
   
   
       10 . A fuel vessel assembly comprising a pouch formed from a sheet, the pouch having an inside and an outside; a spring strip attached to the pouch; and an ignition strip attached to the pouch; wherein fuel is located in the inside of the pouch and the pouch is closed and sealed.  
   
   
       11 . The fuel vessel assembly of  claim 10  wherein the pouch has adhesive portions and the pouch is closed and sealed by the adhesive portions.  
   
   
       12 . The fuel vessel assembly of  claim 10  wherein the sheet is made of laminated paper.  
   
   
       13 . The fuel vessel assembly of  claim 10  wherein the sheet is made of aluminum foil.  
   
   
       14 . The fuel vessel assembly of  claim 10  wherein the fuel is gelled alcohol.  
   
   
       15 . A cooking grate comprising a metal sheet having a top side, a bottom side, a plurality of grate peaks and grate valleys, a plurality of apertures, and a plurality of grease drip initiation tabs adjacent to each aperture.  
   
   
       16 . The cooking grate of  claim 15  further comprising a thermal feedback label affixed to the top side of the metal sheet.  
   
   
       17 . The cooking grate of  claim 15  further comprising a thermal insulator in contact with the top side of the metal sheet, and a thermal feedback label affixed to the thermal insulator.  
   
   
       18 . The cooking grate of  claim 15  wherein the metal sheet further comprises a food lip which is positioned higher than the grate peaks.  
   
   
       19 . A cooking assembly comprising: 
 a main housing having side walls, a bottom, an outer rim, and inside and an outside;    a fuel vessel assembly located in the inside of the main housing comprising: 
 a fuel vessel having side walls, a lip and a bottom, the side walls defining an opening having a width; the fuel vessel containing a fuel;  
 a combustible sealing film having a top side and a bottom side, wherein the bottom side of the film contacts the lip of the fuel vessel and covers the opening of the fuel vessel;  
   a cooking grate comprising a metal sheet having a top side, a bottom side, a plurality of grate peaks and grate valleys and a plurality of apertures; wherein the bottom of the cooking grate is in contact with the outer rim of the main housing.    
   
   
       20 . The cooking assembly of  claim 19  further comprising a restrictor plate having a top side, a bottom side and an aperture, wherein the bottom side of the restrictor plate is positioned over the top side of the combustible sealing film.  
   
   
       21 . The cooking assembly of  claim 19  wherein the main housing further has a side air ventilation aperture in a side wall of the housing.  
   
   
       22 . The cooking assembly of  claim 21  wherein the assembly further comprises an ignition sheet which has a tab, wherein the ignition sheet is positioned between the fuel vessel assembly and the cooking grate, and the ignition tab protrudes from the air ventilation aperture.  
   
   
       23 . The cooking assembly of  claim 20  wherein the restrictor plate further has two end edges, two side edges and a pair of support legs having a top and bottom ends, one leg being attached at the top end to one end edge of the restrictor plate, and the other leg being attached at the top end to the other end edge of the restrictor plate; the bottom ends of the support legs being connected to the bottom plate of the main housing.  
   
   
       24 . The cooking assembly of  claim 23  wherein the restrictor plate is secured to the fuel vessel, and the side walls of the fuel vessel have a height less than the height of the support legs.  
   
   
       25 . The cooking assembly of  claim 20  wherein the restrictor plate further has two end edges, two side edges and a pair of support legs having a top and bottom ends, one leg being attached at the bottom end to one end edge of the restrictor plate, and the other leg being attached at the bottom end to the other end edge of the restrictor plate; the top ends of the support legs being connected to the outer rim of the main housing.  
   
   
       26 . The cooking assembly of  claim 19  wherein the fuel the bottom of the fuel vessel assembly is integral with the bottom of the main housing.  
   
   
       27 . A cooking assembly comprising: 
 a main housing having side walls, a bottom wall, an outer rim, and inside and an outside;    a fuel vessel assembly located in the inside of the main housing;    a cooking grate comprising a metal plate having a top side, a bottom side, a plurality of grate peaks and grate valleys and a plurality of apertures; wherein the bottom of the cooking grate is in contact with the outer rim of the main housing.    
   
   
       28 . The cooking assembly of  claim 27  further comprising an insulating wrap, wherein the wrap is connected to at least a portion of the outside of the main housing.  
   
   
       29 . The cooking assembly of  claim 27  wherein the insulating wrap has grip sections.  
   
   
       30 . The cooking assembly of  claim 27  wherein the main housing further has a side air ventilation aperture in a side wall of the housing.  
   
   
       31 . The cooking assembly of  claim 30  wherein the assembly further comprises an ignition sheet which has a tab, wherein the ignition sheet is positioned between the fuel vessel assembly and the cooking grate, and the ignition tab protrudes from the air ventilation aperture.  
   
   
       32 . The cooking assembly of  claim 27  wherein the fuel vessel assembly comprises: 
 a fuel vessel having side walls, a lip and a bottom, the side walls defining an opening having a width; the fuel vessel containing a gelled alcohol;    a combustible sealing film having a top side and a bottom side, wherein the bottom side of the film contacts the lip of the fuel vessel and covers the opening of the fuel vessel.    
   
   
       33 . The cooking assembly of  claim 32  further comprising a restrictor plate having a top side, a bottom side and an aperture, wherein the bottom side of the restrictor plate is positioned over the top side of the combustible sealing film and wherein the aperture of the restrictor plate has a width narrower than the width of the fuel vessel opening.  
   
   
       34 . The fuel vessel assembly of  claim 32  wherein the combustible sealing film is an aluminum metallized polyester film.  
   
   
       35 . The fuel vessel assembly of  claim 32  further comprising a porous membrane having a top side and a bottom side, the bottom side of the porous membrane covering the fuel.  
   
   
       36 . The fuel vessel assembly of  claim 35  wherein the porous membrane is paper.  
   
   
       37 . The fuel vessel assembly of  claim 32  further comprising a combustion enhancing strip in contact with the combustible sealing film.  
   
   
       38 . The cooking assembly of  claim 27  wherein the fuel vessel assembly comprises a pouch formed from a sheet, the pouch having an inside and an outside; a spring strip attached to the pouch; and an ignition strip attached to the pouch; wherein fuel is located in the inside of the pouch and the pouch is closed and sealed.  
   
   
       39 . The fuel vessel assembly of  claim 38  wherein the pouch has adhesive portions and the pouch is closed and sealed by the adhesive portions.  
   
   
       40 . A cooking assembly kit comprising: 
 a cooking assembly comprising: 
 a main housing having side walls, a bottom wall, an outer rim, and inside and an outside;  
 a fuel vessel assembly located in the inside of the main housing comprising: 
 a fuel vessel having side walls, a lip and a bottom, the side walls defining an opening having a width; the fuel vessel containing a fuel;  
 a combustible sealing film having a top side and a bottom side, wherein the bottom side of the film contacts the lip of the fuel vessel and covers the opening of the fuel vessel;  
 a restrictor plate having a top side, a bottom side, two end edges;  
 two side edges; and an aperture, wherein the bottom side of the restrictor plate is positioned over the top side of the combustible sealing film;  
 
 a cooking grate comprising a metal plate having a top side, a bottom side, a plurality of grate peaks and grate valleys and a plurality of apertures;  
 wherein the bottom of the cooking grate is in contact with the outer rim of the main housing;  
 an insulating handle wrap, wherein the wrap is connected to at least a portion of the outside of the main housing  
   a cooking utensil.    
   
   
       41 . A fuel vessel assembly comprising: 
 a fuel vessel having side walls and a bottom, the side walls defining an opening having a width; the fuel vessel containing gelled alcohol;    a combustible sealing film substantially impervious to vapor loss, the sealing film covering the opening of the fuel vessel.    
   
   
       42 . The fuel vessel assembly of  claim 41  wherein the combustible sealing film is an aluminum metallized polymer film.  
   
   
       43 . The fuel vessel assembly of  claim 42  wherein the aluminum metallized polymer film is an aluminum metallized polyethylene film.  
   
   
       44 . A fuel vessel assembly comprising a fuel vessel having side walls and a bottom, the side walls defining an opening having a width; the fuel vessel containing gelled alcohol; 
 a removable sealing film substantially impervious to vapor loss, the sealing film covering the opening of the fuel vessel.