Movably Or Adjustably Supported Patents (Class 99/421R)
  • 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: 6104017
    Abstract: A device for spitting foodstuffs to be cooked in a cooking chamber of a microwave oven comprising a supporting member and many spit members supported by a fixing member. Each of the spit members has a fixing part engaged with the supporting member, a connection part extended outward in a radial direction from the fixing part, and many spit parts in parallel extended upward from the connection part. Thus, many a small foodstuff can be supported conveniently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Hun Kim, Dae Rae Kim, Jae Man Cho
  • Patent number: 6016744
    Abstract: A poultry retainer for retaining poultry has a strap for closing the rear opening of the poultry and a piercing member for piercing the skin and holding the skin over the front opening to close the front opening. The poultry retainer also includes a base having first and second pieces which are slidably connected together to provide an adjustable distance between the strap and piercing member for accommodating varying size poultry. Wing holders and a leg clip draw the wings and legs toward the body of the poultry to reduce drying of the wings and legs during cooking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Inventor: Robert Pritsker
  • Patent number: 5981926
    Abstract: Disclosed a roasting spit which is used for cooking meat such as chicken or turkey in a microwave oven. The roasting spit for a microwave oven comprises a ring-shaped support member disposed on a tray and including a horizontal coupling portion formed at one end thereof to be bent toward the center of the support member, and a vertical coupling portion formed at an other end of the support member to be multi-bent upward, and a pin member for stabbing a roasting material, the pin member being provided with an coupling hole formed at lower end thereof, thereby the pin member being selectively coupled with the horizontal coupling portion and the vertical coupling portion. When the roasting spit is not used, the pin member can be coupled with the horizontal coupling portion, so as to guarantee a safe packing with less expense and as well greatly reduce the package size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dae-rae Kim
  • 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: 5845563
    Abstract: A rotisserie cooking appliance includes a base and attached wall in the form of a vertically bisected cylinder. The base contains a centrally-located spindle for the attachment thereon of a drip pan and a spit and basket assembly. The spit and basket assembly includes a circular wire basket for containing the food item to be cooked, with a spit attached to the center thereof, the spit having an integral handle at the top to facilitate the insertion and removal of the spit and basket assembly from the rotisserie. A electric heating element is provided which is located to the rear of the rotisserie, which emits more thermal radiation near the bottom of the cooking chamber than at the top thereof. A removable aluminum reflective element is configured behind the heating element to further direct thermal radiation towards the spit and basket assembly. A single door configured as a vertically bisected cylinder made of a transparent heat resistant plastic material is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Haring, George Schmidt, Glenn Doherty, Dov Z. Glucksman
  • Patent number: 5814795
    Abstract: A microwave oven has an auxiliary cooking device disposed within a cooking chamber for fixing foodstuffs to be cooked. The auxiliary cooking device includes a supporting base placed on the cooking chamber, a coupling member coupled on the supporting base, a main fixing bar on which relatively large foodstuffs are fixed, and a plurality of auxiliary fixing bars on which relatively small foodstuffs are fixed. The main fixing bar is supported on the supporting base or the coupling member. The auxiliary fixing bars are removably mounted on the coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-Rae Kim, Jeong-Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 5761991
    Abstract: An adjustable rotisserie basket assembly for use in a rotisserie oven that includes a basket having a mount for mounting the basket in the rotisserie oven, a bottom surface for supporting a food item, and a clamp having a surface for adjustably contacting, compressing and stabilizing the food item within the basket, wherein the clamp does not extend past the contacting surface in the direction of the food item, thus allowing the clamping means to adjust to the food item's unique dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Cleveland Range, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward J. Kambies
  • 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: 5660101
    Abstract: A rotatable cooking apparatus of five main parts: a fire box, a charcoal grill, a rotary transmission system, a cam mechanism, and a food basket. The food basket comprises two grills foldable on top of one another so that food can be secured between them. The charcoal grill is comprised of a wire framework and is attached above the cam mechanism by a support bracket so that the charcoal grill can be raised and lowered. The cam mechanism is attached to the fire box by a cam shaft coupled to the rotary transmission system of four gears connected by two linked chains attached to the food basket by a basket shaft that is connected to a crank shaft. The rotary transmission system is geared so that the charcoal grill can be raised when cooking food on one side of the food basket, lowered so the food basket can be rotated 180.degree., then raised again in order to cook both sides of the food in the basket at a distance closely adjacent to the heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Inventor: Larry Cirigliano
  • 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: 5586490
    Abstract: A cooking device comprising: an insulated housing defining a cooking cavity therein having a front opening; a radiant heat source disposed within the cooking cavity and positioned adjacent a rear wall of the housing; a rotating vertical support having a first end, centered in the housing; a plurality of rigid elongated skewers aligned along the length of the vertical support and disposed horizontally therethrough for holding various items of food to be cooked, the food items travelling in a circular path about the longitudinal axis of the rotating vertical support; and a motorized mechanism detachably connected to the first end of the vertical support for rotating the vertical support about its longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Inventor: Shukri T. Saman
  • Patent number: 5575196
    Abstract: A grilling appliance, includes a vertical impaling member of thermally-conductive material mounted vertically within a grilling compartment for impaling a food article to be grilled; a rotary drive for rotating the vertical impaling member about a vertical axis; a heater located within the vertical impaling member for heating the interior of the food article to be grilled; and a heater located laterally of the vertical impaling member for heating the exterior of the food article to be grilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Applicon Ltd.
    Inventors: Reuben Masel, George Valdshtein
  • Patent number: 5429042
    Abstract: A spit for a rotisserie oven includes first and second support rods extending within the cooking chamber and a plurality of food carrying devices affixed to the support rods. The food carrying devices include a base having a locking portion depending from one end thereof and a skewer portion depending from the other end thereof. The locking portions and skewers cooperate to individually lock the food product on the spit. Accordingly, food can be removed from the spit without removing the spit from the oven. Moreover, more even cooking is obtained since the outer surface of the food is evenly exposed to the heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Henny Penny Corporation
    Inventor: Peter J. Koopman
  • Patent number: 5419249
    Abstract: A barbecue grill unit having a plurality of elongated food support units extending transversely across the open top portion of the grill body. The food support units are each simultaneously rotatable about their respective longitudinal axes. The grill unit further includes a selectively positionable rotisserie assembly, and a plurality of longitudinally elongated heat controlling louvers extending in side by side relation longitudinally across the grill body. The louvers are positioned between the rotatable food support units and the heat generation means and are manually, simultaneously rotatable about their respective longitudinal axes thereby permitting selective control of the amount of convective heat passing from the heat generation means to the food support units. An alternate embodiment of the present invention provides a modular barbecue grill assembly wherein a plurality of non-power equipped grill units can be operably coupled to one, power equipped grill unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Giuseppe A. Papandrea
    Inventor: Frank Papandrea
  • Patent number: 5325767
    Abstract: An improvement for a spit basket of the type having opposing sets of fingers for holding food items to be roasted. The spit basket is adjustable and provides for movement of the opposing fingers to close around an item to be cooked. The improvement comprises sets of double-skewer prongs engaged to said fingers in a transverse relation relative to a long axis of the spit basket whereby to be capable of piercing the carcass of the item to be cooked to enable the spit basket to retain the meat during roasting without slippage, shredding or bruising of the meat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Belson Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Frank W. Beller
  • Patent number: 5224676
    Abstract: A universal rotisserie mounting bracket assembly is disclosed, the assembly mounting the motor on a side shelf of a barbecue grill cart for distancing the motor from the intense heat of the grill and prolonging its life. The bracket assembly is designed for vertical adjustability of the motor, ensuring compatibility with a plurality of differently configured grill castings and facilitating vertical adjustment of the rod for adjusting cooking times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: W. C. Bradley Company
    Inventor: Robert L. Johnston
  • Patent number: 5168798
    Abstract: A portable rotisserie is disclosed which can be readily assembled and disassembled. The rotisserie includes front and back walls and two side walls each of which includes at its extremities complementary connecting means so that the walls can be assembled in the form of a rectangular frame. The front wall includes two plates between which are mounted a plurality of engaging idler gears and a drive gear for rotating the idler gears. Notches are provided in the upper surface of the plates of the front wall for receiving a sprocket gear attached to a skewer, the other end of which is supported in the back wall. A drive gear engages the idler gear so that when it is rotated, either manually or by motor, rotation of the idler gears causes the skewers mounted in the notches to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Kristline Corporation
    Inventors: John F. Kristofich, Robert J. Kristofich
  • Patent number: 5146842
    Abstract: A rotisserie for use in cooking meat on a spit. The spit is releasably coupled to a spit retainer which is rotatably mounted on a central post. A drive mechanism is mounted on the spit retainer and imparts rotational motion thereto. The central post is pivotally mounted whereby the spit can be rotated between a first position in which the meat can be removed from the spit and a second position in which the spit is in a cooking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Brinker International, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip J. Romano
  • Patent number: 5117558
    Abstract: The hand-held Rotary Barbecue Rotisserie" includes an elongated shaft having multiple prongs on which wieners, marshmallows, or other food is impaled for cooking. The shaft end opposite the cooking prongs is formed in to an eccentric crank handle, this crank is used for turning the cooking food. a heat insulting sleeve is placed on the shaft. This sleeve would typically be held in one hand while the other hand would rotate the crank handle. The shaft can be one single piece or can be separated into smaller components for easier storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Inventor: Robert D. Hull
  • Patent number: 5109757
    Abstract: Apparatus for the temporary retention of a plurality of skewers having a block-shaped body. The body comprises a plurality of bores and a slide, mounted slideably within the body. The slide has a plurality of holes which can be oriented either coaxially with the bores of the body to allow free passage of the skewers or offset relative to the bores of the body. The slide passes through the body at an intermediate level of the bores in such a way that a substantial portion of the bores is located respectively on either side of the slide and can receive a corresponding portion of a skewer passing through a hole of the slide between these two portions. The immobilization of each skewer in a respective bore of the body is achieved as a result of a bearing of the slide in the respective hole, particularly by way of a material elastically compressible and/or having a high coefficient of friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Inventor: Jacques Dolle
  • Patent number: 5107096
    Abstract: The invention concerns a utensil for cooking food. There is a container provided with an opening for insertion and removal of the foodstuffs to be cooked. The container is mounted on a stand and may be used at an angle of about 90 degrees or about 45 degrees. A speed control to permit stirring of the ingredients is provided. Any suitable heating source may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Knees Industries Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Hans Knees
  • Patent number: 5101715
    Abstract: An improved structure of a rotisserie, the improvement comprising, a rearrangement of the infra-red heaters to a position not in direct view of the operator, so as to not expose him to its infra-red rays, and the provision of a plurality of circular food holders adjustably positionable on a vertically oriented rotisserie spit on which small items of food can be supported with the aid of food stakes. Small drip dispensors can also be disposed on the circular food holders to supply cooking fluids to food articles hung below them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Inventor: Chi-Yu Liu
  • Patent number: 5044262
    Abstract: A cooking device and method for selectively automatically cooking and rotating a plurality of food products is disclosed. Cooking information for several cook cycles can be stored and later used to cook selected food products automatically based on the stored cooking information. According to one embodiment, at least sear, cook and hold modes may be programmed to automatically sear, cook and a hold a food product in a rotisserie cooking device. According to another aspect of the invention, automatic fan control during a hold mode is used to selectively operate a fan in a continuous or pulsed mode to minimize product dry out and increase the amount of time a product can be held without lowering the quality of the cooked food product. Another aspect of the invention is related to determining the feasibility of reinitiating an interrupted cooking cycle based on a temperature comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Henny Penny Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas A. Burkett, Gary L. Mercer, Robert W. Stirling, David B. Winter
  • Patent number: 5008508
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus for suspending a food product while cooking for use in high heat and microwave environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: Robinson Knife Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Skerker, William Prindle
  • Patent number: 5001971
    Abstract: A shish kabob rotisserie for placement over the firebox of an outdoor grill provides a motor-driven center drive chain assembly for rotationally driving a plurality of transversely arranged skewers having double skewer members releasably attached. The double skewer members resiliently and tightly holding two loadings of food items to be cooked on a support skewer rod. The rotisserie being a portable frame-like device that is detachably mountable to a grill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Belson Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Frank W. Beller
  • Patent number: 4979439
    Abstract: A rotisserie for the controlled cooking of chicken carcasses or other meats in which a planar meat holding rack is rotatively mounted within a circular chamber. The planar rack is held in a generally vertical plane with carcasses mounted on either side of the rack. The rack rotates about a horizontal axis passing through its center of gravity, thus exposing the carcasses to two broilers mounted in the opposite walls of the chamber equidistantly from the rack. In the base of the rotisserie, a boiler generates a steady stream of steam which is injected into the cooking chamber to prevent charring of the meat and provide for a more even and thorough cooking. A injecting tool allows the operator of the rotisserie to spray or inject sauces or seasonings into the carcasses before or after cooking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Inventor: Ernesto O. Ferron-Zepeda
  • Patent number: 4968515
    Abstract: A cooking device and method for selectively automatically cooking and rotating a plurality of food products is disclosed. Cooking information for several cook cycles can be stored and later used to cook selected food products automatically based on the stored cooking information. According to one embodiment, at least sear, cook and hold modes may be programmed to automatically sear, cook and a hold a food product in a rotisserie cooking device. According to another aspect of the invention, automatic fan control during a hold mode is used to selectively operate a fan in a continuous or pulsed mode to minimize product dry out and increase the amount of time a product can be held without lowering the quality of the cooked food product. Another aspect of the invention is related to determining the feasibility of reinitiating an interrupted cooking cycle based on a temperature comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Henny Penny Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas A. Burkett, Gary L. Mercer, Robert W. Stirling, David B. Winter
  • Patent number: 4893553
    Abstract: Machine for the automatic production of meat and/or vegetable kebabs threaded onto skewers.The object of the invention relates to the sector involving the shaping or treatment of food products.According to this addition, the arrangements taking the skewers (20) are made up of a plurality of tubes (38) corresponding to the perforations of the container lid, the said tubes (38) being fixed at one end into holes made out in the thickness of a coupling plate (38b) making up a guiding and positioning assembly for the said skewers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: Emsens Antoine S.A.R.L.
    Inventor: Michel Emsens
  • Patent number: 4852476
    Abstract: A barbecue grill with a housing member that defines a rectangular compartment where a food supporting assembly and a heat source assembly are housed in a variable spaced apart relationship. The food supporting assembly includes typically a shaft through which food items are inserted and grills where they are broiled. The shaft is driven through an electric motor. The heat source assembly is suspended from a pair of steel wire elements that are wound on a bar and directed through pulleys in order to uniformly lift or power the heat source assembly through a reversible electric motor. Normally closed switches are connected in series with the power connections for each direction of rotation of the reversible motor and physically located where they are actuated by the heat source assembly to interrupt it, travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Inventor: Raymond Sanchez
  • Patent number: 4817514
    Abstract: A Modular Rotisserie Rod Assembly is disclosed having a pair of rod members with threaded end portions that can be joined with a collar and also separated for facilitating storage, transport, and/or cleaning. The rod members and the connectors are multi-faceted for engaging and turning food or accessory items such as food-holding baskets mounted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: W. C. Bradley Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Hitch, Mason P. Holland
  • Patent number: 4750414
    Abstract: A poultry roasting assembly and a method of making same for suspending a bird horizontally over a pan of water by a spit rod inserted under the back bone. The assembly includes a first U-shaped member (14) having a pair of parallel arms (16) extending out from a base section (18). The parallel arms (16) extend in the same direction perpendicularly from opposite ends of the base section (18). A second U-shaped member (20) is included and has the same configuration as the first U-shaped member (14) but with shorter arms (16). A pivot pin (38) pivotally attaches the first U-shaped member (14) to the second U-shaped member (20) at a point (22) spaced from the distal ends (24) of each of the parallel arms (16) so that the distal ends (24) of the arms (16) form a V-shaped configuration (26) above the pivotal attachment (22) when the base sections (16) are pivoted apart, thereby forming a support structure for the spit rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Inventor: Mary E. Dohrs
  • Patent number: 4421017
    Abstract: A device for aiding in the preparation of fowl (10) on a rotisserie having a spit (11), the spit (11) extending longitudinally through the fowl (10) between the wings (12) and between the legs (13) thereof. A leg clip (15) fixedly positions the legs (13) of the fowl (10) relative to the spit (11). The wings (12) are held in place by a truss member (24) which is held by a pin (22) extending through the body of the fowl (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Assignee: The Collectors Box
    Inventor: John Ross
  • Patent number: 4407189
    Abstract: A wire cooking rack has a horizontal rectangular supporting frame, with main panels hinged to opposing ends thereof. A locking support bracket is welded to each of the opposite ends of the rectangular frame. These brackets lock and hold the hinged panels, preferably in a slightly over center position, so that the weight of anything mounted on or supported by the rack tends to push the hinged panels toward a more firmly secured position, against the support brackets. A number of skewer positions are formed, at different heights, on the main panels, and on secondary panels secured thereto, in order to provide many different optional skewer support positions and to contribute to a firm support of many different kinds, sizes, and shapes of foods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1983
    Assignee: AMCO Corporation
    Inventor: Wade Bentson
  • Patent number: 4403540
    Abstract: The disclosure is of an electric grill assembly for broiling bacon. The grill comprises a housing, defining an inner chamber; lid means giving access to the chamber; heating elements positioned within the chamber; and a removable grill member which is positioned within the assembly for association with the heating elements. The grill member operates for broiling in an inclined position to facilitate the broiling process and in a horizontal position to facilitate removal from the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: Top-Qua & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Johannes F. Erkelenz