Abstract:
The present invention provides a cooking device that is convertible between a rotisserie cooking device and a kebab cooking device, folds up for compact storage, uses the heat element and enclosure of a conventional oven, and is inexpensive to manufacture.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to a cooking device and, more particularly, to a cooking device that is convertible for use as both a rotisserie and a kebab cooking device in a conventional oven. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Rotisserie ovens are popular for roasting chickens and the like because the slow, even turning of the chicken results in a tender and juicy bird with a crispy skin on every side. However, rotisserie ovens typically are self-contained such that the oven includes its own heat source and enclosure. Accordingly, these ovens are generally bulky to store and expensive to purchase. For these reasons, rotisserie ovens typically are used only in commercial establishments or as a luxury item in residential households having the needed storage space and income to purchase such one-time use items. 
   Accordingly, there is a need for a rotisserie cooking device that is easy to store and inexpensive to manufacture. Moreover, there is a need for a rotisserie device that may be used for other cooking functions so that the initial purchase of the device may be justified as a non-luxury cooking item. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a rotisserie cooking device that is easy to store. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a rotisserie cooking device that is inexpensive to manufacture. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a rotisserie cooking device that may be used for other cooking functions. 
   The present invention provides a cooking device that is convertible between a rotisserie cooking device and a kebab cooking device, folds up for compact storage, uses the heat element and enclosure of a conventional oven, and is inexpensive to manufacture. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the cooking device of the present invention in the rotisserie cooking configuration; 
       FIG. 2  is a second isometric view of the cooking device of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a detailed view of the rotisserie locking device; 
       FIG. 4  is a detailed view of the rotisserie turning device; 
       FIG. 5  an isometric view of the cooking device of the present invention in the kebab cooking configuration; 
       FIG. 6  is top view of the cooking device of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a detailed view of the kebab turning device; and 
       FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the cooking device folded for storage. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the cooking device of the present invention in the rotisserie cooking configuration. In particular, cooking device  10  comprises a first base portion  12 , a second base portion  14 , a rotisserie spit or skewer  16  and a power device  18 . First base portion  12  comprises first  20  and second  22  legs and a crossbar  24  extending there between. First leg  20  and second leg  22  each including a notch  26  and  28  (in this view notch  28  is hidden by skewer  16  but the notch is a mirror image of notch  26  on first leg  20 ), respectively, described in more detail below, for locking the cooking device in the rotisserie configuration, as shown. Crossbar  24  includes a plurality of recesses  30  adapted for each receiving a shish kabab skewer (not shown) therein. 
   Second base portion  14  comprises first  32  and second  34  legs and a cross bar  36  extending there between. First leg  32  and second leg  34  each include a projection  38  and  40  (in this view projection  40  is hidden by skewer  16  but the projection is a mirror image of projection  38  on first leg  32 ), respectively, described in more detail below, for mating with notches  26  and  28 , respectively, for locking the cooking device in the rotisserie configuration. First and second legs  32  and  34  further include recesses  42  and  44  (in this view recess  44  is hidden by skewer  16  but the recess is a mirror image of recess  42  on first leg  32 ), respectively, for supporting rotisserie skewer  16  therein. In this embodiment, recesses  42  and  44  are the same size. However, in other embodiments, recess  42  may be smaller in size than recess  44  such that skewer  16  may be supported by the recesses in only one orientation such that power device  18  will contact a sprocket end of skewer  16 , as will be described in more detail below. 
   Second base portion  14  further includes a rotisserie bracket  46  on second leg  34  and a kebab bracket  48  on first leg  32 , each for supporting a worm gear  50 . In the configuration shown, worm gear  50  is positioned within rotisserie bracket  46  and kebab bracket  48  remains empty. Cross bar  36  of second base portion  14  includes a plurality of recesses  52 , a sprocket  54  and a movable kebab plate gear  56 , as will be described in more detail below. Kebab plate gear  56  is secured to crossbar  36  by fasteners  58  received within slots  60  of the gear plate such that the kebab gear plate  56  is movable along axis  62  with respect to crossbar  36 . Sprocket  54  is secured to crossbar  36  so that the sprocket may rotate on crossbar  36  in directions  64 . In the embodiment shown, recesses  30  of first base portion  12  are smaller in size than recesses  52  of second base portion  14  such that kebab skewers (shown in  FIG. 5 ) may be supported by the recesses in only one orientation, as will be described in more detail below. 
   Power device  18  typically includes a motor  66  connected to a shaft  68 , such as a cable, which is in turn connected to worm gear  50 . Shaft  68  typically comprises a flexible, heat resistant cable such that the cable may be threaded through the slightly open door of a conventional oven or barbecue during cooking. Activation of motor  66  will rotate worm gear  50  about its axis  70  in a direction  72 , which may be accomplished by any means known to those skilled in the art. Power device  18  may be battery operated, as shown, or may include a power cable (not shown) for connecting motor  66  to a standard plug-in power receptacle, such as a 110 volt duplex outlet (not shown). Cable  68  may be of any length as is desired, but typically will have a length sufficient such that base portions  12  and  14 , and skewer  16 , can be placed within the heated enclosure of a conventional oven with the cable extending out of the oven enclosure, or a barbecue enclosure, through the slightly ajar oven door (not shown). Those skilled in art will understand that during use of the rotisserie cooking device, the conventional oven heating element will typically will be set to “broil” and the door to the conventional oven enclosure may be purposefully left ajar for circulation reasons such that passage of the motor cable of the present invention through the slightly ajar door does not interfere with such rotisserie cooking. In this manner, motor  66  can be placed on top of the oven, outside of the heated enclosure of the oven, while allowing food placed on the skewers to be heated by the oven. Accordingly, cooking device  20  allows one to use the heating element and the large enclosure of a convention oven such that cooking device  20  may be manufactured in a compact size, and at a relatively inexpensive cost. 
   In this rotisserie cooking configuration, rotisserie spit  16  is supported above crossbars  24  and  36  at a height  74  such that there is sufficient room for turning of a chicken on spit  16  without the chicken contacting the crossbars  24  or  36 , or the flat surface on which the crossbars are supported. 
     FIG. 2  is a second isometric view of the cooking device of FIG.  1 . Spit  16  includes an elongate central skewer  80  and four shorter outer skewers  82 . A first end  84  of central skewer  80  is received within recess  42  of leg  32  of second base portion  14  and a second end  86  of central skewer  80  is received within recess  44  of leg  34  of second base portion  14 . In this configuration, a sprocket  88  of skewer  16  mates with worm gear  50  retained within bracket  46  such that rotation of worm gear  50  in direction  72  will result in rotation of sprocket  88  about its central axis  90  in a direction  92  (more clearly shown in FIG.  1 ). Skewers  80  and  82  are secured to sprocket  88  such that rotation of sprocket  88  in direction  92  will result in rotation of skewers  80  and  82  in direction  92 . Accordingly, a chicken or other roasting food secured to central skewer  80  and outer skewers  82  will rotate in direction  92  about central axis  90  of spit  16 . In this manner, the food secured to spit  16  will be evenly roasted within the heated enclosure of a conventional oven. 
     FIG. 3  is a detailed view of the rotisserie locking device of FIG.  1 . Locking device  94  comprises notch  26  of first leg  20  of first base portion  12  and projection  38  of first leg  32  of second base portion  14 . First leg  20  is secured to first leg  32  by a fastener  96  such that legs  20  and  32  may pivot about fastener  96 . When the cooking device is placed on a flat surface (not shown), the weight of gravity will tend to force first leg  20  to rotate in direction  98  and will tend to force first leg  32  to rotate in direction  100 . In this manner, projection  38  is secured with notch  26 , thereby stabilizing the cooking device. Second leg  22  and second leg  34  are connected to one another in a mirror image manner to that shown in the detail view of FIG.  3 . Accordingly, the cooking device is stable in the rotisserie configuration, as shown, by projections  38  and  40  which are received within notches  26  and  28 , respectively. To collapse or fold the cooking device, the cooking device is lifted from the flat surface on which it rests, such that leg  20  may be moved in direction  100  about fastener  96  and leg  32  may be moved in direction  98  about fastener  96 , as will be described in more detail below. 
     FIG. 4  is a detailed view of the rotisserie turning device. In particular, sprocket  88  is shown having teeth  102  that mate with raised helical projections  104  of worm gear  50 . Bracket  46  includes a first aperture  106  and a second aperture  108 , wherein second aperture  108  typically is smaller than first aperture  106 . Worm gear  50  typically includes a first end  110  region having a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of helical projections  104 . Accordingly, worm gear  50  is secured within bracket  46  wherein first end  110  is received within second aperture  108  and a second end region  112 , having a diameter similar to that of raised helical projections  104 , is received within first aperture  106  of bracket  46 . The worm gear is rotationally secured within bracket  46  such that worm gear  50  may be rotated in direction  72  about its axis  70  by motor  66  (shown in FIG.  1 ). 
     FIG. 5  an isometric view of the cooking device of the present invention in the kebab cooking configuration. In this configuration, first base portion  12  and second base portion  14  have been rotated about fasteners  96  such that the base portions extend away from one another and lie in the same plane. Accordingly, cooking device  20  may be placed on a flat surface wherein the flat surface supports the cooking device in this flat, kebab cooking configuration. In this kebab cooking configuration, rotisserie spit  16  has been removed and kebab skewers  114  have been placed in corresponding sets of recesses  30  on crossbar portion  24 , and recesses  52  on crossbar portion  36 . Each of kebab skewers  114  include a first end region  116  having a diameter sized to be received within an aperture  30  of first base portion  12  and a second end region  118  having a diameter slightly larger than first end region  116 , and sized to be received within an aperture  52  of second base portion  14 . In this manner, a sprocket portion  120  of each kebab skewer  114  will be positioned in contact with the teeth  122  of kebab plate gear  56 . 
   In the kebab cooking configuration, worm gear  50  is removed from rotisserie bracket  46  and is placed in kebab bracket  48 . Bracket  48  includes first and second apertures  106  and  108 , similar in diameter to the apertures of bracket  46  such that worm gear  50  is secured within bracket  48  in the same manner that the worm gear is secured within bracket  46 . When positioned within bracket  46 , worm gear  50  mates with sprocket  54  which in turn is operatively connected to kebab plate gear  56  by a pin  124  that is received within a slot  126  of plate gear  56 . 
   In this kebab cooking configuration, kebab skewers  114  are supported on crossbars  24  and  36  at a height  76  above the surface that supports the crossbars  24  and  36 . Height  76  of kebab skewers  114  above the support surface is much less than height  74  of rotisserie spit  16  in the rotisserie configuration of the cooking device (shown in FIG.  1 ). However, small pieces of meat and/or vegetables typically are cooked on shish kebab skewers  114  such that height  76  is sufficient for turning of the small pieces of meat and/or vegetables without the meat for vegetables contacting the support surface. In the embodiment shown, height  74  typically is approximately 6.0 inches whereas height  76  is approximately 1.5 inches. Accordingly, height  74  typically is approximately five times greater than height  76 . 
     FIG. 6  is top view of the cooking device of  FIG. 5 , showing worm gear  50  in contact with sprocket  54  and five kebab skewers  114  positioned on base portions  12  and  14 . Each of the five kebab skewers  114  includes a sprocket portion  120  in contact with the teeth  122  of plate gear  56 . 
     FIG. 7  is a detailed view of the kebab turning device. In particular, raised helical projections  104  of worm gear  50  are positioned within bracket  48  such that the projections  104  contact the teeth  128  of sprocket  54 . Motor  66  causes worm gear  50  to rotate in direction  72  about its axis  70  such that raised projections  104  cause sprocket  54  to turn about fastener  130  in direction  64 , wherein fastener  130  secures the sprocket  54  to second base portion  14 . Rotation of sprocket  54  in direction  64  will cause pin  124 , secured to sprocket  54 , to also rotate in direction  64 . Rotation of pin  124  in direction  64 , by the positioning of pin  124  within slot  126 , will cause kebab plate gear to move in direction  62 . Accordingly, activation of motor  66  will cause the plate gear to move in direction  62  which, due to the mating connection of teeth  122  of plate gear  56  and sprocket  120  of skewers  114 , will cause skewers  114  to rotate in a direction  132 . Those skilled in the art will understand that sprocket  54  may rotate counter-clockwise, or clockwise, and still result in movement of plate gear  56  in direction  62 . 
   Due to the similar configuration of rotisserie bracket  46  and kebab bracket  48 , a single worm gear  50  and a single motor  66  may be used interchangeably within the two brackets to rotate either rotisserie spit  16  or the set of kebab skewers  114 . This versatility of cooking device  20  allows multiple functions of the device while retaining the cost of the device in a price range that is reasonable for many consumers. Accordingly, the device is multi-functional, i.e., the device may be used as a rotisserie cooker or a kebab cooker, wherein the motor, placed outside the heated enclosure of a conventional oven, rotates the skewers for even cooking. 
     FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the cooking device folded for storage. In this folded configuration first base portion  12  fits adjacent to and interior of second base portion  14 . Accordingly, the device folds into a compact space occupying approximately half the space required for the kebab configuration shown in FIG.  6 . In this folded configuration, the cooking device  20  may easily be placed within a kitchen drawer for storage when not in use. The cooking device of the present invention, therefore, requires much less space to store than a rotisserie device that includes its own heating element and its own enclosure for surrounding the food being cooked. Due to the small size of the device and the lack of any electronic parts (when motor  66  is removed from connection to the base portions  12  and  14 ) the base portions of the cooking device may be washed in a conventional dishwasher. Moreover, due to the relatively small amount of material used to fabricate the cooking device, typically a heat resistant metal such as iron or steel which may be nickel or chrome coated for a shiny appearance, the cooking device can be fabricated at a relatively inexpensive cost. 
   In the above description numerous details have been set forth in order to provide a more through understanding of the present invention. It will be obvious, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced using other equivalent designs.