Wireless rotisserie

• US 7,823,502 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thermotisserie, LLC
• Original Assignee: Thermotisserie, LLC
• Inventors: Hecker, Steven L., Bears, James
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US11/554,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20080098903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 99419 V-421 V, 993/39, 993/40, 993/48, 99352-355, 99444-450, 99326-333, 994/81, 994/82, 994/21.M, 994/21.H, 994/21.HH, 994/21.HV, 994/21.P, 994/21.TP, 994/15, 994/18, 993/47, 993/45, 126/25.R, 126/9.R, 126/21.R, 219/449.1, 219/400, 219/401, 361/701, 361/688, 361/689, 361/695, 361/699, 165/104.33
• US Class Current: 99/421.00M
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/04 Roasting apparatus with movably-mounted food supports or with movable heating implements; Spits
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/042 with food supports arranged on wheels or spiders rotating about a horizontal axis

Abstract

A rotisserie cooking device for use in an oven includes a food holding member. At least one motor is operatively linked with the food holding member. At least one thermopile is associated with the motor. The at least one thermopile provides energy for driving the at least one motor for rotating the food holding member.

Claims

1. A rotisserie cooking device for use within a heated space of a cooking appliance comprising:

a food holding member;

at least one motor operatively linked with the food holding member;

at least one thermopile electrically connected with the motor, the at least one thermopile providing energy for driving the at least one motor for rotating the food holding member;

a housing including a liquid reservoir, the thermopile including a first side in thermal contact with the liquid reservoir at an area of the housing having a high thermal conductivity, a remainder of the housing formed of a low thermal conductivity material insulating the liquid reservoir and the thermopile including a second side attached to a heat sink exchanging heat with air in the heated space.

2. The rotisserie cooking device of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a base and opposing end portions.

3. The rotisserie cooking device of claim 2 wherein the food holding member is rotatively disposed between the opposing end portions.

4. The rotisserie cooking device of claim 2 wherein at least one of the end portions includes the liquid reservoir attached thereto.

5. The rotisserie cooking device of claim 4 including a cover disposed about the liquid reservoir.

6. The rotisserie cooking device of claim 5 wherein the cover is thermally insulating.

7. The rotisserie cooking device of claim 6 wherein the cover includes an opening formed therein for receiving the at least one thermopile.

8. The rotisserie cooking device of claim 1 wherein the motor is in thermal contact with the liquid reservoir regulating a temperature of the motor.

9. The rotisserie cooking device of claim 4 wherein the reservoir includes at least one opening formed therein for allowing ingress and egress from an interior of the reservoir.

10. the rotisserie cooking device of claim 9 including vent members disposed about the at least one opening formed in the reservoir.

11. The rotisserie cooking device of claim 1 including a plurality of thermopiles.

12. The rotisserie cooking device of claim 2 wherein the opposing sides are pivotally coupled to the base for collapsing the sides relative to the base.

13. The rotisserie cooking device of claim 1 wherein the food holding member includes opposing ends and at least one skewer removably connected to the ends.

14. The rotisserie cooking device of claim 1 wherein the food holding member includes thermally nonconductive handles attached thereto.

15. The rotisserie cooking device of claim 1 including a stand for supporting the food holding member when it is removed from the housing.

16. The rotisserie cooking device of claim 15 wherein the stand includes opposing side members adapted to retain the opposing ends and a base having a cutting portion for cutting a food item.

17. A rotisserie cooking device for use within a heated space of a cooking appliance comprising:

a food holding member;

a liquid reservoir;

a motor disposed in a cavity formed in the liquid reservoir, the motor operatively linked with the food holding member;

at least one thermopile electrically connected with the motor, the at least one thermopile providing energy for driving the at least one motor for rotating the food holding member.

18. A rotisserie cooking device for use within a heated space of a cooking appliance comprising:

a food holding member;

a housing for supporting the food holding member;

a liquid reservoir attached to the housing,

a thermally insulating cover disposed about the liquid reservoir, the cover including an opening formed therein;

a motor disposed in a cavity formed in the liquid reservoir, the motor operatively linked with the food holding member;

at least one thermopile electrically connected with the motor, the at least one thermopile in thermal contact with the liquid reservoir on one side of the thermopile and positioned within the opening in the cover on a second side for creating a thermal gradient generating energy for driving the motor for rotating the food holding member.