Barbecue rack with movable and swivelable spit holders

• US 7,007,593 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2005
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ko-Chen Huang, Kuo-Chang Chen
• Original Assignee: Ko-Chen Huang, Kuo-Chang Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Kuo-Chang, Huang, Ko-Chen
• Primary Examiner(s): Simone, Timothy F.
• Application Number:
  US11/030,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20050188858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 99419-421 V, 993/39, 993/40, 993/86, 99444-450, 994/26, 994/27, 126/9.R, 126/25.R, 126/41.R
• US Class Current: 99/421.00H
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/042 with food supports arranged on wheels or spiders rotating about a horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/049 Details of the food supports not specially adapted to one of the preceding types of food supports

Abstract

A barbecue rack with movable and swivelable spit holders comprising a hollow rack body in which a barbecue area is formed and under which a supporting base of whole set is disposed; at least one power chain in cooperation with two chain sprockets mounted at one side of the rack body to drive the chain; at least one horizontal rod disposed outside the power chain; and at least one spit holder that is mounted the horizontal rod and can move axially and rotate about the horizontal rod. The above mentioned spit holder consists of a main body, an adjusting rod, a bearing holder, a chain wheel and a positioning element. To turn the adjusting rod can move the spit holder in axial direction. The spit holder is swivelable in vertical position or in horizontal position to enable the engagement of the chain wheel with the power chain, thereby rotating the positioning element to achieve an optimal barbecuing effect.

Claims

1. A barbecue rack with movable and swivelable spit holders, comprising:

a) a rack body having a barbecue area at the top thereof and a support base under the barbecue area;

b) at least one power chain, the power chain in cooperation with two chain sprockets being mounted at one side of the rack body, one of the chain sprockets being coupled with a driving unit for bringing the power chain in rotation;

c) at least one horizontal rod installed on the rack body and positioned near the external side of the power chain,

d) at least one spit holder disposed in such a way that the horizontal rod perpendicularly penetrates through the spit holder, the spit holder being movable in axial direction and rotatable about the horizontal rod, the spit holder including;

i) a main body having a middle portion with a lateral through hole to allow the insertion of the horizontal rod, a threaded hole being positioned under the lateral through hole, the main body further having a longitudinal positioning hole at the top thereof;

ii) at least an adjusting rod screwing into the threaded hole of the main body, the adjusting rod having a top to press against the horizontal rod;

iii) a bearing holder having a bottom mounting on a positioning bolt, a bearing and a C-ring, the positioning bolt being received in the longitudinal positioning hole of the main body to allow the rotation of the bearing holder on the top of the main body, the bearing holder further having a top hole at the top thereof;

iv) a pinion disposed at the top of the bearing holder, the pinion having a mounting hole; and

v) a clamping unit having a mounting head passing through the chainwheel and fitting in the top hole of the bearing holder, the clamping unit, the chainwheel, and the bearing holder being integrated in a body that is rotatable on the main body, the clamping unit having a vertical hole at the top thereof for insertion of a spit that is fixed in place by a positioning element fitting in horizontal direction into a fixing hole,

wherein the main body is movable in the axial direction and swivelable up and down in the vertical or the horizontal position by turning the adjusting rod; and

wherein the clamping unit can be driven in rotation by meshing the chainwheel with the power chain.

2. The barbecue rack with movable and swivelable spit holders as recited in claim 1 wherein the support base is selected from a group consisting of a container and a support rack.

3. The barbecue rack with movable and swivelable spit holders as recited in claim 1 wherein the driving unit includes a crank handle.

4. The barbecue rack with movable and swivelable spit holders as recited in claim 1 wherein the driving unit includes a motor and a pinion.

5. The barbecue rack with movable and swivelable spit holders as recited in claim 1 wherein a threaded hole is radially formed in communication with the longitudinal positioning hole of the main body while a screw is screwed in the threaded hole.

6. The barbecue rack with movable and swivelable spit holders as recited in claim 1 wherein a threaded hole is radially formed in communication with the top hole of the bearing holder while a screw is screwed in the threaded hole.

7. The barbecue rack with movable and swivelable spit holders as recited in claim 1 wherein the positioning element for the spit includes a steel ball, a spring and a screw.

8. The barbecue rack with movable and swivelable spit holders as recited in claim 7 wherein the clamping unit includes two vertical holes while two positioning elements are provided.