Barbeque grill spit assembly

• US 6,658,991 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2001
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• 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:
  US09/759,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20030019368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 994/19, 994/21.R, 994/21.H, 994/21.HH, 994/21.HV, 994/21.M, 994/21.P, 994/21.TP, 994/21.V, 994/26, 994/27, 993/93, 993/95
• US Class Current: 99/395
• 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 37/0745 with motor-driven food supports

Abstract

A rotisserie spit kit adapted to use on a barbeque grill. The rotisserie spit assembly includes a spit rod, a circular set of geared teeth, and two stud axles. It is preferred that the assembly include two spit rods. The kit also includes two brackets that can be mounted onto the barbeque grill. The kit also includes a motor that can be mounted onto one of the brackets. The motor includes a drive shaft and a drive gear. Each of the brackets have a plurality of detents or recessed positions that can receive one of the stud axles such that the spit rods are in a generally horizontal position.

Claims

1. A barbeque grill for cooking food, comprising:

a structure that at least partially surrounds the food being cooked;

a heat source;

a rotisserie spit assembly including a spit rod, a circular set of geared teeth, a first stub axle and a second stub axle;

a first and second bracket, each of the brackets being mounted to the structure and each of the brackets including positioning means for receiving one of the stub axles in a position;

a motor having a drive shaft and a drive gear;

wherein when the first and second stub axles are placed in the position in the first and second brackets, the circular set of geared teeth engages the drive gear and wherein the motor is mounted to one of the brackets.

2. The barbeque grill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor is positioned on one side of the bracket to which it is mounted and the drive gear is positioned on the other side of the bracket.

3. The barbeque grill as claimed in claim 2, wherein the motor is positioned outside the structure and the drive gear is positioned inside the structure.

4. A barbeque grill for cooking food, comprising:

a structure that at least partially surrounds the food being cooked;

a heat source;

a rotisserie spit assembly including a spit rod, a circular set of geared teeth, a first stub axle and a second stub axle;

a first and second bracket, each of the brackets being mounted to the structure and each of the brackets including positioning means for receiving one of the stub axles in a position;

a motor having a drive shaft and a drive gear;

wherein when the first and second stub axles are placed in the position in the first and second brackets, the circular set of geared teeth engages the drive gear; and

a lid that fits over the structure wherein the lid is attached to the structure via a hinge so that the lid can be opened and closed.

5. A barbeque grill for cooking food, comprising:

a structure that at least partially surrounds the food being cooked;

a heat source;

a rotisserie spit assembly including a spit rod, a circular set of geared teeth, a first stub axle and a second stub axle;

a first and second bracket, each of the brackets being mounted to the structure and each of the brackets including positioning means for receiving one of the stub axles in a position;

a motor having a drive shaft and a drive gear;

wherein when the first and second stub axles are placed in the position in the first and second brackets, the circular set of geared teeth engages the drive gear and wherein the rotisserie spit assembly includes two plates, the spit rod extending between the two plates and the circular set of geared teeth extending around the periphery of one of the plates.

6. The barbeque grill as claimed in claim 5, wherein the spit rod assembly further comprises a second spit rod that extends between the two plates.

7. The barbeque grill as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a second circular set of geared teeth that extend around the periphery of the other of the plates.

8. The barbeque grill as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a second circular set of geared teeth that extend around the periphery of the other of the plates.

9. A barbeque grill for cooking food, comprising:

a structure that at least partially surrounds the food being cooked;

a heat source;

a rotisserie pit assembly including a spit rod, a circular set of geared teeth, a first stub axle and a second stub axle;

a first and second bracket, each of the brackets being mounted to the structure and each of the brackets including positioning means for receiving one of the stub axles in a position;

a motor having a drive shaft and a drive gear;

wherein when the first and second stub axles are placed in the position in the firs and second brackets, the circular set of geared teeth engages the drive gear and wherein the first and second bracket further comprise means for placing one of the stub axles in a plurality of position wherein in one of the positions, the circular set of geared teeth does not engage the drive gear, but in the remaining positions, the circular set of geared teeth does engage the drive gear.

10. A barbeque grill for cooking food, comprising:

a structure that at least partially surrounds the food being cooked;

a heat source;

a rotisserie pit assembly including a spit rod, a circular set of geared teeth, a first stub axle and a second stub axle;

a first and second bracket, each of the brackets being mounted to the structure, each of the brackets including positioning means for receiving one of the stub axles in a position, and each of the brackets further comprising two legs joined at one of their ends by a top span, the two legs straddling the sides of the structure; and

a motor having a drive shaft and a drive gear;

wherein when the first and second stub axles are placed in the position in the first and second brackets, the circular set of geared teeth engages the drive gear.

11. The barbeque grill as claimed in claim 10, each of the brackets further comprising a first set screw on one of the two legs and a second set screw on the second of the two legs.

12. The barbeque grill as claimed in claim 11, whereby on each of the brackets the set screws adjust the distance of the legs from the sides of the structure so that the bracket is oriented in a vertical position.

13. The barbeque grill as claimed in claim 10, the top span having a V-shaped section that contacts the barbeque grill.

14. A barbeque grill for cooking food, comprising:

a structure that at least partially surrounds the food being cooked;

a heat source;

a rotisserie spit assembly including a spit rod, a circular set of geared teeth, a first stub axle and a second stub axle;

a first and second bracket, each of the brackets being mounted to the structure and each of the bracket including a detent along its top in which one of the stub axles fits; and

a motor having a drive shaft and a drive gear;

wherein when the first and second stub axles are placed in the detents in the first and second brackets, the circular set of geared teeth engages the drive gear and wherein the motor is mounted to one of the brackets.

15. The barbeque grill as claimed in claim 14, wherein the motor is positioned on one side of the bracket to which it is mounted and the drive gear is positioned on the other side of the bracket.

16. A rotisserie kit for a barbeque grill, comprising:

a rotisserie spit assembly including a spit rod, a circular set of geared teeth, a first stub axle and a second stub axle;

a first and second bracket, each of the brackets including mounting means for securing the bracket to the barbeque grill and each of the brackets including positioning means for placing one of the stub axles in a position; and

,

a motor having a drive shaft and a drive gear;

wherein when the first and second stub axles are placed in the position in the first and second brackets, the circular set of geared teeth engages the drive gear.

17. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the rotisserie spit assembly includes two plates, the spit rod extending between the two plates and the circular set of geared teeth extending around the periphery of one of the plates.

18. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 17, wherein the spit rod assembly further comprises a second spit rod that extends between the two plates.

19. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a second circular set of geared teeth that extend around the periphery of-the other of the plates.

20. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a second circular set of geared teeth that extend around the periphery of the other of the plates.

21. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the spit rod assembly further comprises a second spit rod.

22. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first and second bracket further comprise means for placing one of the stub axles in a plurality of positions wherein in each of the plurality of positions, the circular set of geared teeth engages the drive gear.

23. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first and second bracket further comprise means for placing one of the stub axles in a plurality of positions wherein in one of the positions, the circular set of geared teeth does not engage the drive gear, but in the remaining positions, the circular set of geared teeth does engage the drive gear.

24. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the motor is adapted to be mounted to one of the brackets.

25. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 24, wherein the motor is adapted to be positioned on one side of the bracket to which it is to be mounted and the drive gear is adapted to be positioned on the other side of the bracket.

26. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a basket that attaches to the rotisserie spit assembly.

27. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a mounting plate adapted to receive either of the plates to position the spit rod in a vertical position.

28. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 27, further comprising a basket that attaches to the rotisserie spit assembly.

29. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a plurality of kabob rods that removably attach to the rotisserie spit assembly.

30. A rotisserie kit for a barbeque grill, comprising:

a rotisserie spit assembly including a spit rod, a circular set of geared teeth, a first stub axle and a second stub axle;

a first and second bracket, each of the brackets including mounting means for securing the bracket to the barbeque grill and each of the brackets including a detent along the top of the bracket that places one of the stub axles in a position; and

,

a motor having a drive shaft and a drive gear;

wherein when the first and second stub axles are placed in the detents in the first and second brackets, the circular set of geared teeth engages the drive gear.

31. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 30, wherein the rotisserie spit assembly includes two plates, the spit rod extending between the two plates and the circular set of geared teeth extending around the periphery of one of the plates.

32. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 31, wherein the spit rod assembly further comprises a second spit rod that extends between the two plates.

33. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 31, further comprising a second circular set of geared teeth that extend around the periphery of the other of the plates.

34. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 32, further comprising a second circular set of geared teeth that extend around the periphery of the other of the plates.

35. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 30, wherein the spit rod assembly further comprises a second spit rod.

36. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 30, wherein the first and second bracket each include a plurality of detents along the top of the bracket, each of the plurality of detents positioning the stud axles in a different position.

37. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 30, wherein the first and second bracket each include a plurality of detents along the top of the bracket that can position the stub axles in a plurality of positions such that in one of the positions, the circular set of geared teeth does not engage the drive gear, but in the remaining positions, the circular set of geared teeth does engage the drive gear.

38. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 30, wherein the motor is mounted to one of the brackets.

39. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 38, wherein the motor is positioned on one side of the bracket to which it is mounted and the drive gear is positioned on the other side of the bracket to which it is mounted.

40. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 30, further comprising a basket that attaches to the rotisserie spit assembly.

41. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 30, further comprising a mounting plate adapted to receive either of the plates to position the spit rod in a vertical position.

42. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 41, further comprising a basket that attaches to the rotisserie spit assembly.

43. The rotisserie kit as claimed in claim 30, further comprising a plurality of kabob rods that removably attach to the rotisserie spit assembly.

44. A bracket for a barbeque grill, the barbeque grill having side walls and a rotisserie spit assembly having spit axles, comprising:

a first structure having two legs joined at one of their ends by a top span, such that the two legs can straddle one of the side walls of the barbeque grill, each of the legs having aligned holes;

a spit axle support wall having a detent that can receive one of the spit axles; and

a tapered V-s aped span along the top span.

45. The bracket as claimed in claim 44, whereby the V-shaped span contacts the barbeque grill when attached to the barbeque grill and self-centers the first structure on the barbeque grill so that the bracket is oriented in a vertical position.