Foods and beverages: apparatus – Cooking – Confining – conforming or molding support
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-02
2001-12-18
Simone, Timothy F. (Department: 1761)
Foods and beverages: apparatus
Cooking
Confining, conforming or molding support
C099S419000, C099S4210HH, C099S426000, C099S449000, C099S450000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330854
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to rotisseries and in particular to a reversible clamping device adapted to secure food on a rotisserie for rotation over a source of heat.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the prior art, food such as meat or vegetables to be grilled are generally placed on a spit which is rotatable to expose the food to the heat in order to ensure uniform cooking of the same. In cooking large meats, such as a pig, a roast or a large side of beef, the spit may not be capable of rotatably supporting the meat to be grilled because of its shape. In many situations the spit is provided with forks that are carried by the spit and which pierce the opposite ends of the meat. However, after a considerable amount of rotation on the spit, the forks sometimes break loose of the meat and the meat fails to rotate, causing uneven heating and cooking of the same.
In many applications the rotisseries include cradles, sometimes referred to as cages, in an attempt to facilitate the necessary support required for long periods of rotation of the meat. In many situations it is difficult to adequately secure, or anchor, the meat within the cradle, resulting in undesirable jostling of the meat during rotation of the rotisserie.
It would be desirable to provide a means for securing the meat within the cradle of the rotisserie so as to prevent movement of the meat which can result in portions of the meat breaking loose as it moves within the cradle. It would also be desirable to provide a means for securing the meat which is adaptable and allows for varying sizes of meat or vegetables, or adaptable for securing a large portion of the meat with one portion of the clamping member, and another smaller portion of the meat with another portion of the clamping member, wherein a single type clamping member is adaptable for both sizes of food products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the intent of the present invention to address the aforementioned concerns. The present invention provides for a reversible clamping member for a rotisserie grill and especially for a rotisserie grill having a cradle formation made of a plurality of adjacent rods connected at each end by end plates. One pair of adjacent rods of the grill are spaced to define an opening for the passage of food. The reversible clamping member includes a first main rod and a second main rod wherein each main rod has a center portion and a pair of end portions. The first and second main portions intersect and are connected to each other at their respective center portions. A pair of U-shaped members for contacting and gripping the food in the grill are secured to the end portions of the first main rod. The clamping member further includes a means for connecting either one of the end portions of the second main rod to one of the adjacent rods of the grill.
In another aspect of the invention, at least one of the main rods is slightly bent at its center portion for positioning the U-shaped members closer to the food in the grill relative to the size and shape of the food.
In yet another aspect of the invention, the U-shaped member includes a center portion disposed between a pair of parallel leg portions, and the other U-shaped member has a center portion disposed between two angularly extending leg portions to provide further versatility in the size of food capable of being secured in the grill.
Further, in another aspect of the invention, the means for connecting one of the end portions to the grill includes a sleeve having one end configured for mounting over either end portion of the second main rod and another for securing to one of the adjacent rods.
Other objects, advantages and applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Simone Timothy F.
Young & Basile P.C.
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