Spit rod assembly for rotisserie oven

• US 6,408,742 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2001
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronco Holdings Inc. (Ronco Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alan L. Backus, Ron Popeil
• Inventors: Backus, Alan L., Popeil, Ron
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US09/893,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20020023546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 994/21.H, 994/21.HH, 994/21.HV, 994/21.P, 994/19, 994/21.R, 126/25.AA
• US Class Current: 99/421.00H
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/041 with food supports rotating about a horizontal axis A47J37/042 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/042 with food supports arranged on wheels or spiders rotating about a horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/043 with food supports rotating about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/047 with rotating drums or baskets
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0623 Small-size cooking ovens, i.e. defining an at least partially closed cooking cavity A47J37/0605 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0635 with reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0641 with forced air circulation, e.g. air fryers
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0664 Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0745 with motor-driven food supports
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 220/912 Cookware, i.e. pots and pans

Abstract

Enclosed rotisserie including a countertop resting box 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 spit rod assembly has a first plate shaped member and a second plate shaped member. First and second spit rods are rigidly connected to the first plate shaped member and are coupled to the second plate shaped member.

Claims

1. A spit rod assembly, comprising:

a first plate-shaped member;

a second plate-shaped member;

a first spit rod rigidly connected to the first plate-shaped member and coupled to the second plate-shaped member;

a second spit rod rigidly connected to the first plate-shaped member and coupled to the second plate-shaped member;

a first support axle extending from the center of the first plate-shaped member; and

,

a second support axle extending from the center of the second plate-shaped member.

2. The spit rod assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second spit rods do not rotate in relation to the first plate-shaped member.

3. The spit rod assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a drive mechanism for rotating the spit rod assembly.

4. The spit rod assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first plate-shaped member has a plurality of gear teeth.

5. The spit rod assembly as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

an oven enclosure; and

,

a drive mechanism having a set of drive gear teeth adapted to engage the gear teeth to rotate the spit rod assembly inside the oven enclosure.

6. The spit rod assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second plate-shaped member has a plurality of gear teeth.

7. The spit rod assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein both the first plate-shaped member and the second plate-shaped member have a plurality of gear teeth.

8. The spit rod assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second plate-shaped member includes a first and a second receptacle, each receptacle receiving the first and second spit rods, respectively, in an overlapping friction fit.

9. The spit rod assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first plate-shaped member includes at least one first kabob rod mount, the first kabob rod mount being capable of supporting a first end of a kabob rod, and wherein the second plate-shaped member includes at least one second kabob rod mount, the second kabob rod mount being capable of supporting a second end of a kabob rod.

10. The spit rod assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second spit rods are at right angles to the first and second plate-shaped members.

11. The spit rod assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first and second spit rods are parallel to an axis of rotation of the spit rod assembly.

12. The spit rod assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first spit rod and the second spit rod, in combination, are capable of supporting a piece of food.

13. A spit rod assembly, comprising:

a first substantially flat support member;

a second substantially flat support member;

a first spit rod rigidly connected to the first substantially flat support member and coupled to the second substantially flat support member;

a second spit rod rigidly connected to the first substantially flat support member and coupled to the second substantially flat support member;

a first support axle extending from the center of the first substantially flat support member; and

,

a second support axle extending from the center of the second substantially flat support member.

14. The spit rod assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first and second spit rods do not rotate in relation to the first substantially flat support member.

15. The spit rod assembly as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a drive mechanism for rotating the spit rod assembly.

18. The spit rod assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the second substantially flat support member has a plurality of gear teeth.

19. The spit rod assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein both the first substantially flat support member and the second substantially flat support member have a plurality of gear teeth.

20. The spit rod assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the second substantially flat support member includes a first and a second receptacle, each receptacle receiving the first and second spit rods, respectively, in an overlapping friction fit.

21. The spit rod assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first substantially flat support member includes at least one first kabob rod mount, the first kabob rod mount being capable of supporting a first end of a kabob rod, and wherein the second substantially flat support member includes at least one second kabob rod mount, the second kabob rod mount being capable of supporting a second end of a kabob rod.

22. The spit rod assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first and second spit rods are at right angles to the first and second substantially flat support members.

24. The spit rod assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first spit rod and the second spit rod, in combination, are capable of supporting a piece of food.

16. The spit rod assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first substantially flat support member has a plurality of gear teeth.

17. The spit rod assembly as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

an oven enclosure; and

,

a drive mechanism having a set of drive gear teeth adapted to engage the gear teeth to rotate the spit rod assembly inside the oven enclosure.

23. The spit rod assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first and second spit rods are parallel to an axis of rotation of the spit rod assembly.