Patent ID: 6125740
Filing Date: 2000-10-03
Classification: A47J

Abstract:
A pizza cooking apparatus comprising:a generally circular, rotatable metallic food support member for supporting a pizza thereon, the food support member adapted to be disposed in a substantially horizontal orientation during operation of the cooking apparatus, the food support member defining a central axis of rotation, the food support member having an outer diameter, wherein the food support member includes:(a) a solid horizontal base portion having a top surface for holding the pizza thereon;(b) a downwardly extending outer annular rim;a drive mechanism connected to and below the food support member for rotating the food support member, the drive mechanism including a removable connection with a portion of the food support member wherein the food support member can be lifted off the drive mechanism;a base housing extending generally vertically;upper and lower housings extending from the base housing and disposed above and beneath the food support member, the upper and lower housings including an upper and lower heating member respectively, each of the upper and lower housings defining a pie-shaped portion having a front end and two diverging sides so as to cover a pie-shaped sector of the food support member;wherein the front ends of the upper and lower housings are positioned adjacent to the central axis of the food support member, wherein the upper, base and lower housings define a chamber for covering only a portion of the food support member at any given time during rotation of the food support member, wherein the chamber has a maximum dimension parallel to the top surface of the base portion of the food support member which is less than the outer diameter of the food support member;wherein the drive mechanism rotates the food support member with the upper and lower heating members applying heat to a pie-shaped sector of the food support member to cook the pizza.