Spit assembly support base

• US 7,225,730 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2005
• 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, Ron
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US11/215,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20050284306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 994/21.V, 994/19, 994/21.H, 994/21.A, 248/519, 248/511, 248/523, 248/911
• US Class Current: 99/419
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/042 with food supports arranged on wheels or spiders rotating about a horizontal axis
• 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 37/0629 with electric heating elements

Abstract

A support base for supporting the spit assembly of a rotisserie oven. The support base includes a substantially circular-shaped member having a periphery and an indented portion defined therein. The indented portion has a frustum-conical shape and extends downwardly into the substantially circular-shaped member, and the substantially circular-shaped member has an opening for receiving the stub axle of a spit assembly defined therein.

Claims

1. A spit assembly support base in combination with a spit assembly, the spit assembly support base comprising

a substantially circular-shaped member having a periphery and an indented portion defined therein, wherein the indented portion has a frustum-conical shape and extends downwardly into the substantially circular-shaped member, and wherein the substantially circular-shaped member has an opening for receiving the stub axle of a spit assembly defined therein,

the spit assembly comprising

a first plate-shaped member having an inner side, a peripheral boundary, and an interior area wherein the interior area and the peripheral boundary are positioned in two different planes;

a second plate-shaped member having an inner side, a peripheral boundary, and an interior area wherein the interior area and the peripheral boundary are positioned in two different planes;

a first spit rod having a first end coupled to the inner side of the first plate-shaped member and having a second end coupled to the inner side of the second plate-shaped member; and

a second spit rod having a first end coupled to the inner side of the first plate-shaped member and having a second end coupled to the inner side of the second plate-shaped member.

2. A vertically supported spit assembly comprising:

a spit assembly support base including a substantially circular-shaped member; and

a spit assembly, wherein the spit assembly comprises,

a first plate-shaped member having an inner and an outer side, a peripheral boundary, and an interior area wherein the interior area and the peripheral boundary are positioned in two different planes;

a second plate-shaped member having an inner and an outer side, a peripheral boundary, and an interior area wherein the interior area and the peripheral boundary are positioned in two different planes;

a first spit rod having a first end coupled to the inner side of the first plate-shaped member and having a second end coupled to the inner side of the second plate-shaped member; and

a second spit rod having a first end coupled to the inner side of the first plate-shaped member and having a second end coupled to the inner side of the second plate-shaped member; and

wherein the outer side of the first plate-shaped is supported by the substantially circular-shaped member.

3. The vertically supported spit assembly of claim 2 wherein the substantially circular-shaped member has an opening defined therein, wherein the first plate-shaped member has a projection extending from the outer side thereof, and wherein the projection is received in the opening.

4. The vertically supported spit assembly of claim 3 wherein the substantially circular-shaped member has a periphery and an indented portion defined therein, wherein the indented portion has a frustum-conical shape and extends downwardly into the substantially circular-shaped member.

5. The vertically supported spit assembly of claim 4 wherein the periphery, the indented portion and the opening are concentric with one another.

6. A method of supporting a spit assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a spit assembly support base;

providing a rotisserie oven that includes a removable spit assembly;

wherein the spit assembly comprises

a first plate-shaped member having an inner and an outer side;

a second plate-shaped member having an inner and an outer side;

a first spit rod having a first end coupled to the inner side of the first plate-shaped member and having a second end coupled to the inner side of the second plate-shaped member; and

a second spit rod having a first end coupled to the inner side of the first plate-shaped member and having a second end coupled to the inner side of the second plate-shaped member;

placing the spit assembly support base on a surface outside of the rotisserie oven;

removing the spit assembly from the rotisserie oven and

resting the outer side of either the first plate-shaped member or the second plate-shaped member on the spit assembly support base such that the first and second spit rods extend in a substantially vertical direction.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the spit assembly support base has an opening defined therein, wherein the first plate-shaped member has a projection extending from the outer side thereof, and wherein the method further comprises the step of placing the projection into the opening.