Collapsible Smoking Box

The invention relates to a collapsible smoking box for smoking meat and fish in particular. The box comprises a plurality of separate modules to be piled up one upon another so that the lowest module forms a lower part which contains the smoke evolving material, and the modules positioned thereupon form a smoking space. A separate lid is provided on the box for the closing thereof in such a manner that the smoke cannot get out freely.

Known smoking boxes usually comprise a smoking space in which there are several grill racks positioned at different heigts and attached to supporting means provided on the side walls of the box, on which grill racks the products to be smoked are positioned. The physical size of the smoking boxes is fixed and, accordingly, does not depend on the quantity of the products contained in the box to be smoked therein. Quite a large empty space of no use may thus be formed inside the smoking space. In addition, this kind of smoking boxes are difficult to handle on account of their complicated structure.

Swiss Patent Specification No. 567 366 discloses a smoking device which comprises two cylindrical parts positioned one upon the other, and a lid. The upper part is at the lower end thereof provided with a flange extending around the outer surface thereof and resting on the upper surface of the lower part. The volume of this smoking device can be reduced approximately by half by removing the upper part and by placing the lid on the lower part. In spite of this limited possibility to modify the device, the physical size thereof is still large as compared with the quantity of the products contained therein. Moreover, the device is difficult to transport and handle because it is formed of large parts.

The object of the invention is to eliminate the above disadvantages and to provide a smoking box the smoking space of which is adjustable to several different volumes and which is simple in construction and easy to handle. These advantages are achieved according to the invention in such a manner that the modules, with the exception of the bottom of the lowest module, are equal in structure, each module comprising an upper collar forming an opening of the module as an extension of side walls, and each module of the smoking space comprising a lower collar as an extension of the side walls, said lower collar resting on the upper collar of a lower module.

The basic idea of the invention is thus to provide a smoking box the size of which can be adjusted simply by placing a desired number of modules one upon another. Further, the smoking box is steady and easy to handle and transport.

The invention will be described more closely below with reference to the attached drawing, wherein

FIG. 1 illustrates a smoking box according to the invention when assembled,

FIG. 2 is a cross-section in the direction of the line A--A in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 illustrates one module of the smoking box seen from below, and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the lowest module, a through positioned in the module having an alternative position.

The smoking box 1 shown in FIG. 1 is formed by three superposed modules 2 being substantially rectangular. A lid 4 provided with a carrying handle 3 is positioned on the uppermost module 2 so as to close the box in such a manner that the smoke cannot get out. The smoking box according to the invention can be advantageously manufactured of a stainless steel sheet.

FIG. 2, which is a cross-section along the line A--A of FIG. 1, illustrates more closely how the modules 2 are positioned one upon another. A trough 5 is provided at the bottom of the lowest module 2, the smoke evolving material being positioned in a hollow 7 which is formed between trough legs 6. The trough 5 is intended to gather the fat dropping from the smoking space above and to prevent the transfer of the radiation heat up to the smoking space. The trough is smaller than the bottom of the module 2 both in the direction of the length and the width thereof so that the smoke which is formed can, as shown by the arrows of FIG. 1, rise upwards between the trough and the module walls into the proper smoking space, wherein the products to be smoked are positioned. The walls 8 of each module 2 are bent inwardly at the upper portion thereof in the form of a loop, thus forming an upper collar 9 having a substantially horizontal upper surface and extending inwards from the plane of the side walls of the box, whereby the rounded edges of the upper collar define an opening of the module. The dimensions of the opening of the module are thus smaller than the outer dimensions of the module in an amount which corresponds to the dimensions of the upper collar 9. A subsequent upper module or the lid 4 is fitted in the opening. Each module, with the exception of the lowest one, is at the bottom part thereof provided with a lower collar 10 which is fitted in the opening of a lower module, being thus positioned against the upper collar 9 of said lower module. The lower collar 10 comprises a substantially horizontal portion 10a which extends inwardly from the plane of the side walls of the box and which is positioned on the horizontal portion of the upper collar 9 of a lower module, and a vertical portion 10b extending substantially in parallel with the side walls of the box, which vertical portion is fitted in the opening of the lower module. The lower collar 10 is rounded in accordance with the edges of the upper collar 9 in such a manner that the modules are positioned tightly against each other. It appears from FIG. 3 that the lower collar 10 extends around the entire module 2. The collar structure according to the invention maintains the modules steadily in place so that they are not able to move in the opening of a lower module, which at the same time provides a smoke-tight connection between the modules. The lid 4 is also provided with a corresponding lower collar 10. The bottom of each module, except the lowest one, is formed by a net 11 which is fastened in level with the horizontal portion 10a of the lower collar 10 and on which the items to be smoked are placed. The net 11 appears clearly from FIG. 3. The net can also be detachable, whereby the space between two subsequent smoking racks can be made larger by detaching the net. In order to provide more space for the smoke evolving material on the bottom of the lowest module, the upper collar of the lowest module can be utilized as shown in FIG. 4, i.e. by suspending the trough 5 from the upper collar by means of flanges 5a. In this case the trough need not to be provided with the legs 6.

Even if the invention has been described above with reference to the embodiment of the attached drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted thereto, but it can be modified within the inventive idea defined in the attached claims. Accordingly, the different modules can vary in height.