Countertop rotisserie oven with warming unit

• US 7,225,729 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronco Holdings Inc. (Ronco Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ronco Marketing Corporation (Ronco Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Backus, Alan L., Popeil, Ronald M.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US11/370,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20060144250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 994/19, 994/21.H, 994/21.HH, 994/21.R, 994/21.P, 994/21.HV, 993/39, 993/57, 126/19.R, 126/400, 126/273.5, 126/275.R, 126/275.E, 126/273.R, 220/4.26, 220/4.27, 220/23.6, 312/198, 312/236
• US Class Current: 99/339
• 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 37/0641 with forced air circulation, e.g. air fryers
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0664 Accessories

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. A contained light as well as room light emitted through the inclined glass door illuminate the enclosure'"'"'s interior to make the rotisserie cooking into a taste tempting show. Foods may be cooked on top of the embodiment as well using an included warming tray and an inserted steaming tray with cover.

Claims

1. A food warming device comprising:

a) a rotisserie oven having a roof with a plurality of depressions defined therein, wherein the depressions define an upper depression portion and a lower depression portion, and

b) a warming unit disposed on top of the rotisserie oven, wherein food to be warmed is placed inside of the warming unit, wherein the warming unit includes a floor and a plurality of protrusions that extend downwardly from the floor and are adapted to extend into the depressions,

wherein the protrusions and depressions are configured such that when the protrusions extend into the lower depression portion, the floor of the warming unit makes direct contact with the roof, and, when the protrusions only extend into the upper depression portion, the floor is positioned above the roof with an intermediate air filled gap.

2. The food warming device of claim 1 wherein the warming unit includes a lower heating pan and a lid that covers the lower heating pan.

3. The food warming device of claim 2 wherein the warming unit further includes an intermediate steaming tray disposed between the lower heating pan and the lid.

4. The food warming device of claim 3 wherein the intermediate steaming tray has a plurality of holes defined therein.

5. The food warming device of claim 1 wherein the warming unit includes a lower heating pan and a lid that covers the lower heating pan.

6. The food warming device of claim 5 wherein the warming unit further includes an intermediate steaming tray disposed between the lower heating pan and the lid.

7. The food warming device of claim 6 wherein the intermediate steaming tray has a plurality of holes defined therein.