Horizontal Axis Patents (Class 99/421H)
  • Patent number: 6161471
    Abstract: A machine for the automatic production of kebabs from a container whose side faces are slotted and filled with layers of meat and/or vegetables. The machine comprises at least a container insertion station, a station in which the container is skewered with sticks, a cutting station engaging with the container slots, for cutting the skewered layers of meat and/or vegetables, and a station in which the container containing the different skewered and cut layers of meat and/or vegetables is unloaded. The machine of the present invention also includes a supporting member having peripheral arrangements for the loading and centering of at least one container, the supporting member being fixed to rotary drive means in order to present the container or containers in succession to each of the stations arranged in a circular manner about the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Inventor: Michel Emsens
  • Patent number: 6155162
    Abstract: A barbecue rack includes a main frame made by continuous line-wiring having a handle extended from one side of the main frame, an insulating plate sleeved to one end of the handle, and two L-shape supporting brackets inversely mounted respectively to opposing lateral sides of the main frame. Each supporting bracket includes a plurality of position holes located in series along a longer leg side thereof and a plurality of insert holes located in series along a bending shorter leg side thereof each the supporting bracket. Each the position hole is arranged to accounting for one respective insert hole. The barbecue rack of the present invention can have two layers of foods roasted at the same time. That is, much food can be roasted at a time by compared to a conventional barbecue frame. Thereby, energy and time required for barbecuing can be substantially saved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventor: Yu-Tzu Wang
  • Patent number: 6142064
    Abstract: Enclosed rotisserie with added convenience, including a countertop resting box-like enclosure housing a safety rear mounted heating element and a power rotated dual rod spit assembly. The gear driven spit assembly may be easily inserted and removed straight into and out of the enclosure without need for angling or coupling the assembly to a power drive socket. The spit assembly may also be mounted at various distances from the heating element to decrease cooking times. The open front of the enclosure is from time to time covered by an inclined glass panel door which may be opened in various ways to facilitate food insertion into and removal from the enclosure, and which may be easily removed for cleaning or other purposes. The embodiment's design makes efficient use of valuable counter space by recessing back and raising off the countertop its controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Inventors: Alan L. Backus, Ron Popeil
  • Patent number: 6138553
    Abstract: The rotary cooking apparatus of this invention includes a housing with a bottom opening to allow heat and smoke from a heat source into the housing. The bottom opening defines a plane on which the housing can rest upon. The opening is generally sized to fit over a grill or some other heat source. A base such as a boot or plate can also be used between the grill or heat source and the housing. The housing has opposing sidewalls. Bearings or bushings are centrally located and attached to the sidewalls. A pivotal door on the housing allows access into the housing. A rotating center attaching device is rotatably positioned within the housing and within the bearings. A rotatory device, such as a rotisserie motor, rotates the rotating center attaching device. Various types of attachments attach to the rotating center attaching device to cook food in a variety of various rotating cooking methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Inventor: Harvey O. Toebben
  • Patent number: 6131505
    Abstract: A dual-use roaster includes a housing having a receiving space and a peripheral rim, a first heater disposed inside the receiving space, a rotatable spit assembly mounted on the housing for supporting food items inside the receiving space, and a tray assembly including a tray panel for supporting food items, a peripheral downward flange mounted detachably on the peripheral rim of the housing, and a second heater disposed beneath the tray panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventor: Yu-Yuan Lin
  • Patent number: 6123014
    Abstract: Disclosed is a disassemblable oven roaster. The disassemblable oven roaster comprises a geared motor having a main shaft to a free end of which a fan is mounted and a reduction shaft to a free end of which a roasting spit is connected; a motor housing for accommodating the geared motor; an intermediate supporting member detachably and horizontally coupled to the motor housing for supporting a roasting heater and the roasting spit which are disposed therein in a manner such that they are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, the intermediate supporting member having opened upper and lower ends; and upper and lower oven elements covering the opened upper and lower ends, respectively, of the intermediate supporting member, the upper and lower oven elements being configured so that they can be separated from the intermediate supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignees: Jong-Yeon Jo, Sang-Hun Park
    Inventor: Jong-Yeon Jo
  • Patent number: 6079322
    Abstract: A rotary roasting food holder used in a barbecue stove to hold food for roasting, having two end plates, and a plurality of flat pins for joining the end plates and holding food for roasting, the end plates each having a fixed gear at an outer side for coupling to a motor drive inside the barbecue stove, an annular flange around the gear, and a plurality of keyway-like peripheral notches spaced around the annular flange; the fiat pins each having two necks near two opposite ends for engaging into the peripheral notches at the end plates and setting into engaged position through a rotary motion of the respective flat pin, and a hooked portion at one end for hooking on the annular flange at one end plate after the respective flat pin has been set into the engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Inventor: Yung-Sen Su
  • Patent number: 6076453
    Abstract: A multipurpose roaster is mainly composed of a frame, fixtures and a skewer, wherein two side board have a slanting sliding guide from up gradually decent with a recess and a seat at the bottom end of the sliding guide, the fixture has a hole and a bolt for a skewer to insert there through and secured by bolt thereat, or to accommodate a grid cage or a pan thereto, and slide along the sliding guide into the roaster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Lundar Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tony Hsu
  • Patent number: 6058925
    Abstract: An adjustable grill grid construction 10 including at least one generally rectangular open framework member 20 having a pair of opposed side channel elements 21, 22 and a centerline brace element 23 provided with a plurality of spaced transverse recesses 24 which are dimensioned to at least partially receive the intermediate portion 33 of a plurality of rod members 30 which are moveable relative to the framework member 20 and adapted to be captively engaged relative to the centerline brace element 23 by a bar clamp member 40 to vary the spacing of the rod members 30 relative to the framework member 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Inventor: Mack Patterson
  • Patent number: 6041695
    Abstract: An indirect heat barbecue oven and smoker which utilizes an elongate chamber for receiving combustibles so that smoke may be produced therein and wherein there is provided a rotating wheel with support arms, wherein each pair of support arms support an open mesh tray upon which foods or the like may be positioned and wherein the bottom of the oven forms a slanted floor of the oven and acts to receive and direct grease and fluids so that the same may be drained to the outside of the oven without contamination of the burners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Inventor: Wilbert C. Kuopus
  • Patent number: 6038965
    Abstract: A portable barbecue grill apparatus has multiple functions including barbecuing, baking, roasting, and pan broiling, some of which can be accomplished simultaneously on joined cooking elements. The grill apparatus can have an extendable rear lid having a rotisserie attached to a base. Alternatively, a pair of slotted side plates attached to the lid and covered by a heat shield can permit the spacing of the spit from the burner in the lid according to the size of the rotating fool. The lid and base each contain heating elements energized by one or two portable propane tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Inventor: Robert J. Thorndyke
  • Patent number: 6021708
    Abstract: A spit riser mount for mounting a rotating spit to a tabletop grill. The spit riser mount includes an annular spit mount that has a plurality of pieces. Each of the pieces has opposite first and second ends. The first end of a piece removably engages the second end of an adjacent piece. A first of the pieces has a slot downwardly extending from an upper edge of the piece. The slot is adapted for receiving a spit therein. A second of the pieces has a first aperture positioned towards its upper edge. The first aperture is adapted for receiving a spit therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Inventor: Le Roy Hoglund
  • Patent number: 6009797
    Abstract: A rotating structure of an oven in the present invention includes a first fixing tray, a second fixing tray and two axle rods. On the outer surface of the first fixing tray is provided with a protruding against member, and on the inner surface are provided with two connecting portions respectively with a screwing hole in the center. On the outer surface of the second fixing tray is provided with a protruding shaft member, and on the inner surface are provided with two protruding posts respectively with an inserting hole in the center. One end of each axle rod is defined as a thread section, and the other end is provided with an inserting end. When assembling, screw the thread sections of the two axle rods respectively into the screwing holes of the connecting portions of the first fixing tray and then insert the inserting ends of the two axle rods respectively into the inserting holes of the protruding posts on the second fixing tray so as to definitely prevent the axle rods from idling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Inventor: Ching-Mei Lin
  • Patent number: 6000388
    Abstract: A barbecue grill includes a body defining a heating chamber and having an open top. A main food supporting grill is mounted on the body in a generally horizontal manner so as to span at least a portion of the open top. Walls extend generally upwardly from portions of the body. The walls include opposing side walls and a rear wall extending between the side walls. A grate is mounted between the side walls and is in spaced relation to the rear wall so as to define a generally vertically arranged fire chamber for holding a source of heat generating fuel. A secondary food supporting grill is mounted between the side walls, forwardly of the grate and above and generally parallel to the main grill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Alphonso G. Andress
    Inventor: Alphonso G. Andress
  • Patent number: 5996820
    Abstract: A new jerky hanging rack for facilitating the curing of meat strips which have been seasoned with a preferred recipe of ingredients by supporting the meat strips a finite distance apart allowing aeration of the meat strips until cured. The inventive device includes a rack structure formed into an elongated U-shaped structure with a first upper member and a second upper member secured to the cornice of the rack structure in opposition to one another, where the upper members include a plurality of skewer slots which receive a plurality of skewer members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Inventor: Sean Broadnax
  • Patent number: 5974956
    Abstract: A staged rotisserie for cooking poultry includes a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end and a plurality of discrete heating stations spaced within the housing between the inlet end and the outlet end. A plurality of poultry spits are moved through the housing, each spit supporting a poultry thereon. An admission mechanism is provided for controlling admission of spits into the housing. An advancement and driving mechanism advances the spits through the housing in sequential fashion and drives the spits in rotation within the housing, and is operative to ensure that each spit resides within the housing for a pre-determined length of time to ensure that the poultry is properly cooked, thereby avoiding undercooking and overcooking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventor: James W. McConnell
  • Patent number: 5970854
    Abstract: A roasting jack in the present invention includes a first turning tray, a second turning tray and several spears. The first turning tray is provided with a plurality of notches in the circumference. Each notch has a catching section properly provided for the pressing hook with a fixing portion and an inserting portion formed on one end of a spear to be fixed in. The other end of the spear, i.e. spearhead, can penetrate through a hole in the second turning tray in order to be secured to the roasting jack. When the fixing portion of the pressing hook of the spear being slightly turned upward, the pressing hook will be separated from the catching section so as to make the spear be separated from the notch of the first turning tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Inventor: Chiung-Hua Huang Tsai
  • Patent number: 5960706
    Abstract: A meat string rotating device for a barbecue includes a main case having a recess in which are rotatably mounted two chainwheels, the main case having an upper edge formed with a plurality of notches, two side plates fixedly mounted on two ends of the main case, a rear plate fixedly mounted on another ends of the two side plates and formed with a plurality of holes, a motor drivingly connected to one of the chainwheels, a chain arranged on the chainwheels, and a plurality of sticks each provided with a rear end configured to be received in the notches and a front end configured to be fitted in the holes of the rear plate, the rear end being provided with a toothed wheel engageable with the chain, whereby the meat string on the sticks can be automatically rotated over the fire of a barbecue thereby preventing the meat string from being burned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventor: Wen-Ho Cheng
  • Patent number: 5947007
    Abstract: A removable firebox for use in a portable, collapsible barbecue grill including retractable heating grate on top of the firebox and a retractable mid-level cooking grill for providing high-temperature cooking. A lower main grill is disposed in a base cavity of the barbecue grill for providing moderate temperature cooking. The firebox rests in the base cavity of the grill housing and provides heat to a cooking area defined by the base cavity, an upper lid of the housing and a pair of side walls extending upward from the base cavity. The firebox and/or the upper lid includes insulation and/or cooling baffles to protect users from heated surfaces. Venting is provided from the sides and rear of the grill housing. When collapsed, the grate and grills fold onto or are retracted within the firebox, and the entire firebox assembly is stowed in a sealed grill housing. The top and bottom portions of the grill housing mate to form a sealed container-like structure for convenient transportability or storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Alphonso G. Andress
    Inventors: Richard M. O'Grady, Glen Nielsen, William D. Hester, Alphonso G. Andress
  • Patent number: 5934180
    Abstract: A dual-use roaster includes a housing having a receiving space and a peripheral rim, a first heater disposed inside the receiving space, a rotatable spit assembly mounted on the housing for supporting food items inside the receiving space, and a tray assembly including a tray panel for supporting food items, a peripheral downward flange mounted detachably on the peripheral rim of the housing, and a second heater disposed beneath the tray panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Inventor: Yu-Yuan Lin
  • Patent number: 5918534
    Abstract: A cooking spit including a heat transfer arrangement for the cooking or roasting of foods, especially such as fowl or other types of meats, wherein the cooking spit is adapted to be rotated as a component of a rotisserie. More particularly, there is provided a heat transfer fluid medium incorporated into the hollow interior of the cooking spit and which is adapted to provide a source of convective heat for assisting in internally cooking the food, and also a coolant upon cooling of the spit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Inventor: Henry Medina
  • Patent number: 5910332
    Abstract: A rotary broiler assembly includes a rotisserie structure rotatable about a fixed axis. The rotisserie structure has a holding device radially spaced from the axis for holding a food item such as chicken thereon. When the rotisserie structure is rotated, the holding device revolves in an orbital fashion about the axis to define a path of orbital movement. A heat source is positioned within the path of orbital movement so that rotation of the rotisserie structure causes the food item to revolve about the heat source to thereby cook the food item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Inventor: Abdul Rahman Fakieh
  • Patent number: 5887513
    Abstract: A device for holding a plurality of skewered kabobs on a barbecue grill is disclosed. The device comprises a bottom section having side members for retaining the ends of transverse skewers and a cover section which holds the skewers in place during the cooking process. Both bottom and cover sections have supporting leg members so that the device can be turned over during the cooking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Inventors: Douglas R. Fielding, Charles S. Adams
  • Patent number: 5837980
    Abstract: Portable apparatus for use in a microwave oven removably supports and rotates a food treatment attachment simultaneously about first and second orthogonally related axes within the oven. A wheel of the apparatus frictionally engages the oven floor as the apparatus is rotated by the turntable drive mechanism of the oven. Rotation of the friction wheel imparts rotational movement to a food treatment attachment so that the attachment is simultaneously rotated about first and second orthogonally related axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Henning
  • Patent number: 5832811
    Abstract: A new Water Rotissarator for providing a steam powered rotisserie which can be utilized within an oven without an external power source. The inventive device includes a pan member having a reservoir, a steam powered motor coupled to the reservoir, a rod coupled to the motor rotatably projecting to the opposite side of the pan member, and a sprocket secured to the rod opposite of the motor with a catch member to prevent reverse rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Inventor: Hunter King
  • Patent number: 5819639
    Abstract: A base includes a bottom panel and four generally upwardly extended side walls. A first support and a second support are each configured to extend upwardly from the base. A spit is configured to extend between and to be supported by the first and the second supports, above and along the base. A rotation apparatus for rotating the spit includes a spit holding mechanism for fixedly holding an end of the spit, and a manually wound spring mechanism configured to rotate the spit holding mechanism. The first support and the second support are each formed of a bent rod, having a pair of opposed legs which extend downwardly from a spit supporting portion toward opposing ones of the side walls. Distal ends of the legs are outwardly turned and penetrate the side walls, so that the first support and the second support are each pivotal inwardly and downwardly toward the base from an upwardly extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Inventor: Barry L. Spell
  • Patent number: 5802962
    Abstract: A new outdoor adjustable grill for grilling over an open wood fire with numerous options. The inventive device includes a circular grill portion having four circular sleeves secured to an outer periphery thereof. The four circular sleeves are disposed at ninety degree intervals. The circular sleeves have open upper and lower ends. The open lower ends are internally threaded. Four leg portions are provided with each having threaded upper ends. The threaded upper ends couple with the open lower ends of the circular sleeves for elevating the circular grill portion above a recipient surface. A pair of forked posts are provided with each having lower ends. The lower end of the forked posts are received within the open upper ends of diametrically opposed circular sleeves. A crank spit extends between upper forked ends of the pair of forked posts. One end of the crank spit has a handle disposed thereon. The crank spit has a pair of claws disposed thereon in a facing relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Inventor: Robert Goldyn
  • Patent number: 5801362
    Abstract: An electrically heated convection oven with built-in rotisserie for rotisserie roasting, baking, broiling, defrosting, and dehydrating foodstuff is characterized by the use of two motors. One for operating a fan which rotates within the heating chamber to create high velocity air flow throughout the heating chamber; the second one for rotating the rotisserie spit. The second motor is also utilized to drive a cooling fan that draws air over electronic controls to keep them safely cool. The electronic controls comprise a microcomputer which is pre-programmed to recognize input from a user and to process information from an air temperature sensor in the oven. The heating chamber features generously radiused, interior surfaces which from an integral, parabolic, reflective surface with substantial width for enhancing air flow, to increase air velocities and create evenness of heat within the heating chamber, thereby contributing to the performance of the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Hudson Standard Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore Pearlman, Wade Pearlman
  • Patent number: 5799569
    Abstract: A spit assembly for a roasting oven includes an oven housing for receiving food items and retaining heat; a heating element mounted to radiate heat within the housing; a first spit mounting plate; a second spit mounting plate substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the first spit mounting plate; a spit assembly shaft extending through and attached to the first and second mounting plates and rotatably mounted within the housing; a drive mechanism for rotating the spit assembly shaft; in which the first spit mounting plate comprises at least one first spit mounting port spaced radially outward from the spit assembly shaft, the first spit mounting port having a star shape including a substantially circular port middle portion and nine equally spaced apart, elongate port finger portions opening and extending radially from the port middle portion; a spit including a first spit end sized for insertion into the first mounting port and configured in cross-section to include three radial flanges, substantially
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Inventor: R. Edward Moreth
  • Patent number: 5801357
    Abstract: An electric barbecue with rotisserie comprises a frame, a kettle placed on the frame, a resistive electric heater element and a rotary spit. A motor driving the spit is housed in a unit fixed to the frame. A drive arrangement connects the motor to the spit. The unit includes electrical connections to supply power to the element. A single cable is connected to an external power supply to supply power to the connection system and the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventor: Marc Danen
  • Patent number: 5782224
    Abstract: A first rack is connectable to a second rack to form a rack assembly adapted to hold food between the first rack and the second rack. A base is adapted to provide a source of heat to food placed between the first rack and the second rack. The base includes a fulcrum about which the rack assembly is able to pivot from a first position wherein the first rack is above the second rack to a second position wherein the second rack is above the first rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Inventor: Robert L. Rabell
  • Patent number: 5782168
    Abstract: A portable grill is provided in which a heat source is located laterally of food to be cooked. The grill is particularly well suited for rotisserie cooking. The portable grill of the present invention can be disassembled into a compact portable carrying structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Inventor: Peter S. Krhnak
  • Patent number: 5778766
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic breadmaker having toaster oven function. The breadmaker includes a housing having a base member, a top, a rear wall, and two lateral side walls which form an oven cavity with a front opening for receiving a bread pan containing a kneading member and dough, and wherein the front edges of the lateral side walls are slopped downward and forward for facilitating the installation and removal of the bread pan; a front access door hinged to the housing for selectively closing the front opening of the oven cavity; a top heating element mounted on the housing and disposed inside the oven cavity and adjacent to the top thereof; a bottom heating element mounted on the housing and disposed inside the oven cavity and adjacent to the bottom thereof; means for driving the kneading member to mix the dough; and means for control the operation of the driving means and the top and bottom heating members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventor: Donglei Wang
  • Patent number: 5771600
    Abstract: The present invention features a kit or an attachment apparatus for roasting a small quantity of green coffee beans upon a rotisserie unit. The kit or apparatus is rotationally mounted to an oven or a grill. The kit contains a perforated, cylindrical, hollow drum that has at least one internal fin for stirring the tumbling coffee beans within the hollow drum, as it is caused to rotate. The drum is attachable to a spit of the rotisserie, which is, in turn, attachable to a drive motor. The drive motor and the distal end of the spit are each mounted by attachment brackets to respective, end walls of the oven or grill. The cylinder can receive the green coffee beans through the removal of an end lid of the drum, or through a hatch door located in a mid-portion of the cylindrical drum. A layer of insulation is wrapped about one portion of the spit, and acts as a handle for removing the heated drum of roasted beans from the oven or grill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Inventor: James D. Romanow
  • Patent number: 5755153
    Abstract: A meat roasting device having an automatically rotated barbecue grill mainly comprising: a furnace frame, a barbecue grill, and a driving device, wherein said driving device is fixed on the support plate of the furnace frame, and is engageable with a barbecue grill having an elastic clamping force by a driving bushing. When the driving device rotates, the barbecue grill may be driven to rotate by the driving bushing in the furnace frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Ron Rong Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chao-Ta Su
  • Patent number: 5740722
    Abstract: An automatic kebab making machine includes plates with recesses for accepting the ingredients. The plates interact with at least one skewering system for inserting (or placing) a spit into each recess, thereby passing it through the accepted ingredients to form a kebab. Each recess is generally rectangular and defines a space that can be filled completely with ingredients. The length, breadth and depth of the recess substantially matches the dimensions of the kebab to be prepared, and the ends of the recess communicate with clearances for holding a spit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Inventor: Michel Emsens
  • Patent number: 5720217
    Abstract: A rotisserie apparatus and method of cooking food items are provided. The rotisserie apparatus includes a housing containing a heat source for supplying heat to an area above the housing. A plurality of spit supports are positioned on the housing, and extend vertically upwardly from the housing. A plurality of horizontally-disposed spits are carried by the spit supports, and located in vertically-spaced relation above the heat source for holding respective food items to be cooked. Counter-rotating sprockets are operatively connected to the plurality of spits for rotating adjacent spits in opposite directions during cooking, and permitting contacting adjacent food items to counter-rotate away from each other after engaging without being inadvertently forced off the spits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: T & P Hoagie Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Athan P. Pappas
  • Patent number: 5715744
    Abstract: A device for automatically rotating rotisserie skewers includes a holder with a front panel and a rear panel provided with notches on the upper edges thereof for receiving skewers. Each skewer has a handle with a concentric cog wheel. A worm screw driven by a motor rotates the skewers via the respective cog wheels. A cog wheel is automatically disengaged from the worm screw when the skewer rotated by said cog wheel gets stuck, while the other skewers continue to be rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Inventor: Jean Noel Coutant
  • Patent number: 5711209
    Abstract: A barbecue stove has optionally a grill (27), a cooking lid (26) and/or an open top (4) on a heater section (1). A stove door (15) on a door end (2) of the heater section is sized and shaped for receiving heater means such as wood, coal, charcoal, gas burners or electrical heating elements and select vapor-producing items. A chimney end (3) of the heater section has a barbecue oven (9) into which heat, smoke, oxidation vapors and/or water vapor generated in the heater section are directed for cooking meats and other foods selectively on designedly heat-circulation shelves (10) that are positional selectively. An oven door (23, 24, 25) provides entry to the barbecue oven from a design wall and/or walls. At a front of the heater section, a suspension rack (8) is extended vertically upward from the stove top for suspending pins, rotisseries, and other means for positioning meats and/or other foods above the heater section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Inventor: James T. Guines
  • Patent number: 5669290
    Abstract: A revolving grilling apparatus grills foods, such as skewered meats and vegetables or corn, which are held parallel on a plurality of cartridges while revolving over a range. Each of the holding cartridges is placed upon one of the stations of the main body of this apparatus. The revolving members of each cartridge engaged with the food to be grilled simultaneously revolve, by being driven by a power-transmitting mechanism in the main body of the apparatus, when each of the holding cartridges is installed on each of the stations. In grilling the skewered foods to be grilled, the base portion of each spit is inserted into the tip portion of each revolving member extruded from each cartridge. In grilling corn, each ear is grilled while revolving on a pair of revolving rollers installed in the tip of each revolving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Inventors: Yoshio Natsumi, Hideko Natsumi
  • Patent number: 5662028
    Abstract: An appliance for the preparation of fowl which has been dressed, comprising a heat transfer member having an exterior configuration which substantially conforms to the interior cavity of the dressed fowl and which, when inserted into the cavity, makes substantially total contact with the interior wall, the interior region of the heat transfer member defining a cavity, which cavity is heated to cooking temperature so that when said heat transfer member is disposed within a heated environment, the fowl is initially seared, both from within and on the outside, and thereafter quickly cooked for human consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Inventor: Robert L. Fraga
  • Patent number: 5655435
    Abstract: An outdoor patio deck is outfitted with a metal grate having a central fire bowl. The fire bowl can be used as a barbecue pit or a campfire retainer. The metal grate dissipates the heat from the fire and prevents damage to the deck. A cooking chamber is created by the addition of a pair of racks, a spit, and a lid. An ash chute can be installed at the bottom of the fire bowl for high decks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Inventor: Stan Rachesky
  • Patent number: 5655437
    Abstract: A new Flameless Charcoal Side Burner System for providing a charcoal grill allowing a user to prepare food with an adjustable continuous charcoal heating source without flames singing the food or flaring toward the user. The inventive device includes a side burner structure for retaining charcoal, a lower grill structure, and an upper grill structure supporting the side burner structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Inventor: Leonard J. Vitacca
  • Patent number: 5649475
    Abstract: A rotisserie assembly is disclosed that comprises brackets for holding a rotisserie unit. The brackets are universally adaptable so that they can be used to support a rotisserie unit on a variety of grill styles and models. The rotisserie assembly further includes a handle for a rotisserie rod and forks that attach to a rotisserie rod and support food thereupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: W.C. Bradley Company
    Inventors: Armand J. Murphy, James L. Troupe, David O. Mize, Clinton R. Blasingame
  • Patent number: 5650085
    Abstract: An improved cooking tray for microwave oven has a tray body and a plurality of supporting racks, separating racks, and skewers for supporting foods such as meat or bread for toasting and cooking in a microwave oven. By way of the transverse and longitudinal inserting seats disposed on the base of the tray body, the supporting and separating racks can be assembled to the tray body to hold the food to be toasted or cooked on the cooking tray. When meat is to be toasted, the meat slices can be put in the guiding slots formed by the separating plates aligning with and parallel to each other and extending upwardly on the base of the separating rack. And a skewer supporting the meat slices can be suspended upon a pair of the skewer openings at the top of the supporting racks in accordance with the size of the meat slices. Furthermore, the cooking tray can be provided with different top and bottom sides for use with certain foods to be cooked or warmed in the microwave oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Yinn Haur Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jack Chen
  • Patent number: 5643486
    Abstract: The oven comprises a housing (1) enclosing an open cavity (4) which is closed by a door (6) pivotally mounted about a horizontal shaft (8) placed in the housing. The cavity includes a food-carrying tray (5) horizontally translatable via at least one motion transfer mechanism (10) controlled by the door. The motion transfer mechanism (10) includes several transmission stages, each consisting of a notched belt (12;23) meshing with two toothed wheels (13, 19; 26, 28) set respectively on two horizontal shafts, the shaft of one of the two wheels of the stage level being comprised of the pivoting shaft (8) of the door, and the shaft of one of the two wheels of the last stage extending into the cavity (4) and bearing another toothed wheel (35) that meshes with teeth on a lower edge (5a) of the food-carrying tray (5). The invention relates for instance to microwave ovens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Moulinex S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Aurensan, Michel Guy De Matteis, Eric Leparfait
  • Patent number: 5639497
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus for automatically cooking and rotating a food product which comprises: a cooking chamber; a planetary assembly disposed within the cooking chamber which is capable of rotating the food product about the cooking chamber; a heater or burner disposed within the cooking chamber for cooking the food product; a venting damper disposed within the cooking chamber which is capable of releasing excess energy contained within the cooking chamber; a temperature sensor used for detecting the temperature in the cooking chamber; and a microprocessor which is capable of cooking the food product for a predetermined cooking time and maintaining the temperature in the cooking chamber in accordance with a predetermined cooking temperature by means of controlling the heater or burner and the venting damper such that the heater or burner remains in the "on" position during the entire cooking time while the venting damper is opened and closed as necessary to maintain the predetermined cooking temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Cleveland Range, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Bedford, Thomas J. Willis, Mark H. Finck
  • Patent number: 5632098
    Abstract: A bean roasting system (10) is provided for use on a barbecue grill (12). The system includes a housing member (22) generally formed as a cylindrical tubular member, formed from a metallic composition with a mesh or plurality of openings which will allow convective heat to pass within the housing member (22). The system includes a rotational mechanism (36) for rotating the housing member (22) about its longitudinal axis. The rotational mechanism includes a motor mechanism (44) coupled to an axially directed rod (48) which extends through and is coupled to housing member (22) for causing housing member (22) to rotate about its longitudinal axis. First and second bracket members (70 and 72), respectively, releasably coupled to opposing end walls of barbecue grill (12), rotatively support axially directed rod (48) so as to permit housing (22) to rotate over barbecue grill (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Inventor: Timothy S. Finch
  • Patent number: 5619909
    Abstract: A fastener for securing meat to a rotisserie spit. The fastener includes a thin elongate strap made from flexible plastic. The thin elongate strap has first and second end portions and a central portion extending between the end portions. The central portion has a large transverse dimension to provide a surface with a significant area for engaging the meat. The end portions cooperatively interengage for quickly securing the end portions together to retain the meat on the rotisserie spit during cooking. The surface with a significant area inhibits the central portion from embedding in the meat during cooking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Volk Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel J. Volk
  • Patent number: D417124
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Grand-Bonanza Enterprise Inc.
    Inventor: Spike Chen