Abstract:
A barbeque rotisserie enclosure includes a hollow vessel for substantially releasably encapsulating food to be barbequed. The hollow vessel includes a hollow cylinder having a first closed end and a second open end the second open end for placing food into the hollow cylinder and the first closed end being permanently sealed with a first end cap. The second open end is releasably sealed with a second end cap; wherein the hollow vessel is capable of being rotated over a heat source. The barbeque rotisserie enclosure further includes a baffle housed concentrically within and adjacent to an inner surface of the hollow cylinder, thereby preventing direct contact of flames with the food and also substantially preventing direct contact of liquids emanating from the food with the heat source.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/113,815, filed Dec. 23, 1998. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to improvements and devices for use as a barbeque rotisserie enclosure. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Barbeque rotisserie enclosures and tumble baskets for use with barbeque rotisseries are well known in the art. The most common type is a chrome plated wire basket having a generally hexagonal cross-section. Such baskets have identical halves and when assembled on the spit of a rotisserie. The basket is secured on the spit and the spit must be removed to open the basket. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,697 dated Mar. 12, 1996 by Lech Promny describes an improved tumbler basket for use with a rotisserie. The tumbler basket described uses a tumbler basket material which is perforated and/or screened. 
     Similarly in U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,778 titled Hand Held Rotatable Food Roasting Apparatus by Alfred B. Mayfield dated Oct. 18, 1994 describes a Hand Held Rotatable Food Roasting Apparatus which is used for supporting food over campfires or the like. The roasting apparatus described in this patent again uses either a screened or perforated material in which the food is placed on. 
     The disadvantages of using a perforated and/or screen material for a barbeque rotisserie tumbler basket is that the food first of all is exposed to a great deal of air which increases the likelihood of the food being burned. The second disadvantage with these perforated and/or screened tumbler baskets is that the juices of the food are lost and/or dripped into the barbeque, therefore some of the flavour of the food is lost through the loss of these juices. Accordingly there is need for a tumbler basket which substantially encapsulates or encloses food within the tumbler basket for preventing direct contact with the heat source and also minimizing the amount of air which the food is exposed to. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention a barbeque rotisserie enclosure comprises a means for substantially releasably encapsulating food to be barbequed wherein said encapsulating means being adapted to rotate over a heat source. 
     Preferably said encapsulating means comprising a hollow vessel having an opening for placement of food therein; a means for releasably closing said opening thereby encapsulating the food within the hollow vessel; a means for venting excess pressure from vessel; and a means for attaching said barbeque rotisserie enclosure to commercially available rotisserie rotating drives. 
     Preferably said hollow vessel comprises a hollow longitudinal tubular vessel having a first closed end and a second open end said open end for placing food into said longitudinal tubular vessel; and said closing means comprising a closure for releasably closing off said second open end thereby substantially encapsulating said food within said barbeque rotisserie enclosure. 
     Preferably said attaching means comprising a shaft aligned along a longitudinal axis of said hollow longitudinal tubular vessel which is adapted to connect to commercially available rotisserie drives. 
     Preferably said hollow longitudinal tubular vessel comprising a hollow cylinder having a first closed end and second open end; and said closure comprises an end cap for sealing off said open end of said hollow cylinder. 
     Preferably said hollow longitudinal tubular vessel comprising a hollow cylinder wherein said first closed end sealed with an first end cap, and said second open end releasably sealed with a closure being a second end cap; said venting means including a first vent hole in first end cap and a second vent hole in second end cap and said attaching means includes a first shaft connected a said first end cap and a second shaft connected to said second end cap; wherein said shafts are adapted to be connected to commercially available barbeque rotisserie drives; and said hollow vessel further including a baffle housed concentrically within and adjacent to a inner surface said hollow cylinder, said baffle including perforations allowing liquids to pass there through. 
     A second embodiment of the present invention a disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure comprises a means for substantially encapsulating food to be barbequed made of disposable material; and said encapsulating means adapted to be mounted on a standard barbeque rotisserie spit. 
     Preferably the disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure comprises a first and second hollow body adapted to be joined together, wherein food is placed into one or both of said hollow bodies prior to joining said bodies together, thereby substantially encapsulating said food within said joined together hollow bodies and a means for joining said hollow bodies together including a first flange on said first hollow body and a second flange on said second hollow body, wherein the first and second hollow bodies are joined together manually by crimping the first flange over the second flange. 
     Preferably said encapsulating means comprises a first and second hollow body adapted to be joined together, wherein food is placed into one of said hollow bodies prior to joining said bodies together, thereby substantially encapsulating said food within said joined together hollow bodies and a means for joining said hollow bodies together wherein the second hollow body fits slidably over said first hollow body thereby substantially encapsulating the contents housed with the hollow bodies. 
     Preferably said hollow bodies are made from thin foil. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be described by way of example only, with references to the following drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a exploded perspective view of barbeque rotisserie enclosure. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of barbeque rotisserie baffle. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded partially assembled perspective view of barbeque rotisserie enclosure. 
     FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view of the barbeque rotisserie enclosure. 
     FIG. 5 is a elevational view of first end cap  18 . 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional assembled view of the barbeque rotisserie enclosure. 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional longitudinal view of the baffle. 
     FIG. 8 is a elevational end plan view of second end cap  20 . 
     FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment of barbeque rotisserie enclosure. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the baffle for the barbeque rotisserie enclosure. 
     FIG. 11 is an exploded partially assembled perspective view of the barbeque rotisserie enclosure shown in FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 12 is a assembled perspective view of the barbeque enclosure shown in FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 13 is a plan elevational view of first end cap of the barbeque rotisserie enclosure. 
     FIG. 14 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the assembled barbeque rotisserie enclosure shown in FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional longitudinal view of the baffle shown in FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 16 is a plan elevational end view of second end cap  45  shown in FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 17 is a perspective exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure. 
     FIG. 18 is a assembled perspective view of the disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure shown in FIG.  17 . 
     FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure being mounted on a spit. 
     FIG. 20 is an unassembled cross-sectional view taken along the longitudinal length of the disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure shown in FIG. 16 along with elevational plan end views of each body. 
     FIG. 21 is a an assembled cross-sectional view of the disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure shown with crimped flanges as well as plan elevational view of each end. 
     FIG. 22 is a schematic assembled cross-sectional view showing the mounting of a disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure onto a spit. 
     FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective unassembled view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure. 
     FIG. 24 is an assembled perspective view of the disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure shown in FIG.  23 . 
     FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure shown being mounted on a spit. 
     FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional longitudinal view including plan elevational end view of the disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure shown in FIG.  24 . 
     FIG. 27 is an assembled cross-sectional longitudinal view including a plan elevational end view of the barbeque rotisserie enclosure shown in FIG.  24 . 
     FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure being mounted onto a spit. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The first preferred embodiment of the present invention a Barbeque Rotisserie Enclosure showing generally as  10  in FIGS. 1 through 8. Barbeque Rotisserie Enclosure  10  is comprised of a cylinder  12  having a first end  14  and second end  16 , a first end cap  18  having a first shaft  22  a second end cap  20  having a second shaft  24 . First shaft  22  and second shaft  24  are connected to first and second collars  31  and  25  with first and second thumb screws  33  and  35 . Optionally baffle  32  having perforations  34  can be used with barbeque rotisserie enclosure  10 . 
     First end cap  18  and second end cap  20  are slidably received on first end  14  and second end  16  respectively of cylinder  12 . As shown in FIGS. 1 through 8 end caps  18  and  20  are shown as a slidable fit over first and second ends  14  and  16  of cylinder  12 . Any other means known in the art for attaching end caps  18  and  20  to cylinder  12  such as threadably screwing onto cylinder  12 , friction fitting, male and female socketing, tongue and grooving, dove tailing and/or any other means known to a person skilled in the art for attaching end cap  18  and  20  to cylinder  12  can be applied to barbeque rotisserie enclosure  10 . 
     FIG. 3 shows baffle  32  placed in side of cylinder  12  with end caps  18  and  20  in exploded fashion. FIG. 4 shows barbeque rotisserie enclosure  10  in its assembled condition. Preferably end caps  18  and  20  have defined therein first vent  26  and second vent  28  which are holes allowing the escape of gases from the interior of cylinder  12 . 
     First end cap  18  and second end cap  20  and first and second collars  31  and  25  are adapted to slidably receive first and second shafts along longitudinal axis  11 . 
     FIGS. 5 through 8 shows the various components in cross-section. In particular FIG. 5 shows first end cap  18  in plan elevational view, and FIG. 8 shows second end cap  20  in plan elevational view. FIG. 7 shows baffle  32  in cross-sectional view and FIG. 6 shows the assembled barbeque rotisserie enclosure  10  in cross-sectional view having mounted thereon end caps  18  and  20  as well as first and second shafts  22  and  24  and first and second collars  31  and  25  as well as first and second thumb screws  33  and  35 . First and second shafts  22  and  24  are adapted to be used with commercial available rotisserie drive mechanisms. In particular shafts  22  and  24  as shown in the diagrams are square in cross section, however it is possible to have round shafts and/or any other configuration. Commercially available drives generally are connectable to square shafts as shown in FIGS. 1 through 8, however, shafts  22  and  24  can be adapted for use with any other rotating rotisserie drives available. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 9 through 16 the second preferred embodiment shown generally as  40  a barbeque rotisserie enclosure has substantially the same parts as barbeque rotisserie enclosure  10  except for the addition of a continuous longitudinal spit  42  which is attached to one end to first collar  44  and at the other end to second collar  46  having first thumb screw  48  and second thumb screw  50  respectively. First end cap  43  and second end cap  45  are suitably modified to accept there through spit  42  which is mounted along longitudinal axis  41  as shown in the assembled condition in FIG.  12 . Optionally baffle  32  can also be used with cylinder  12  as with barbeque rotisserie enclosure  10 . 
     As shown in FIG. 14 baffle  32  preferably extends the entire length of cylinder  32  and is supported by the inner surface  55  of cylinder  12  near the cylinder ends. FIGS. 13 through 16 show in cross-sectional view the various components of barbeque rotisserie enclosure  40  and in particular shows the details of the connection of the end caps with cylinder  12 . Looking at FIG. 14 it is apparent that first end cap  43  is connected to cylinder  12  with screw threads  52 . Second end cap  45  on the other hand is connected to cylinder  12  with the use of a snap-on tab and recess connection  54 . Any other means of connecting end caps  43  and  45  to cylinder  12  known in the art can be applied to barbeque rotisserie enclosure  40 . In any event end caps  45  and  43  are held in position when barbeque rotisserie enclosure  40  is in the assembled condition with first and second collars  44  and  46  by screwing down first and second thumb screw  48  and  50  onto spit  42 . 
     The major difference between barbeque rotisserie enclosure  10  and barbeque rotisserie enclosure  40  is the use of a one piece longitudinal spit  42  which is mounted along longitudinal axis  42  and extends the entire length of the interior of cylinder  12  thereby decreasing the usable volume of cylinder  12 . This is less preferable than barbeque rotisserie enclosure  10  wherein first and second shafts  22  and  24  do not extend into the interior of cylinder  12  thereby increasing the usable volume of the interior of cylinder  12 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 17 through 22 a third preferred embodiment shown generally as  60 , a disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure comprises a first body  62 , second body  64 , first flange  66  and second flange  68 . First flange  66  and second flange  68  are adapted to align and mate together as shown in FIGS. 18 and 22. FIG. 18 shows body  62  and  64  in the assembled condition whereby first flange  66  is manually crimped over second flange  68  to connect first body  62  to second body  64 . FIG. 19 shows disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure  60  mounted onto a commercially available spit  70  having first and second grip  72  and  78  which are mounted on to spit  70  with first and second collars  74  and  80  and first and second thumb screws  76  and  82 . FIGS. 20 to  22  show in cross-section the disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure  60 . FIG. 20 shows the components in the disassembled state FIG. 21 shows how flanges  66  and  68  are crimped together to connect first body  62  with second body  64  and FIG. 22 shows how disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure  60  is mounted onto spit  70  having first and second grips  72  and  78 . 
     First and second body  62  and  64  are preferably made of a thin foil material which allows manually crimping first flanges  66  over first flange  68  to form the connection shown in FIG.  21 . Additionally, using a thin foil first and second body  62  and  64  allows for piercing and penetration of grip  72  and  78  into first and second bodies respectively in order to mount barbeque rotisserie enclosure  60  onto a commercially available spit  70  having first and second grip  72  and  78 . As shown in the Figures first and second body  62  and  64  have first and second apertures  96  and  94  respectively which are dimensioned to receive spit  70  there through. It is also possible to have first and second body  62  and  64  with totally closed ends wherein spit  70  just penetrates through the ends of first body  62  and  68  similar to grip  72  and  78  piercing through the ends of first and second body  62  and  64 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 23 through 28 which is another preferred embodiment of a disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure shown generally as  100  and having similar components as the disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure shown generally as  60 . Disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure  100  comprises a first body  102 , a second body  104  and the balance of the components are essentially identical to disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure  60 . The major differences between disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure  100  and  60  is that the first body  102  extends substantially along the entire longitudinal length of the enclosure, and second body  104  is essentially an end cap which closes off first body  102 . The connection between first body  102  and  104  can be a slidable connection or a friction fit a screw fit, lock and tab, crimp fit, or any other means known in the art which can be utilized to connect first body  102  with second body  104 . 
     Bodies  102  and  104  as in the previous embodiment are preferably made of a thin foil material to allow piercing of grips  72  and  78  and optionally piercing of spit  70  also through first and second bodies  102  and  104 . FIGS. 26 through 28 show the disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure  100  in the unassembled form in FIG.  26  and assembled together in FIG.  27  and assembled and mounted on a spit in FIG.  28 . 
     In use barbeque rotisserie enclosure  10  is used in conjunction with a heat source such as a gas barbeque and/or open barbeque and/or open fire in order to barbeque various food items. Disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure  10  is assembled by firstly placing first end cap  18  on to cylinder  12 . Once first end cap  18  is in place it preferably can no longer be removed from cylinder  12 . Optionally first end cap  18  may in fact be removable from cylinder  12 . Once first end cap  18  is mounted on to first end  14  of cylinder  12  food items (not shown) to be barbequed are placed within the internal space defined by the interior  17  of cylinder  12 . Food such as meat, vegetables, potatoes and any other kind of barbequeable food which can physically be housed within interior  17  of cylinder  12  can be placed within barbeque rotisserie enclosure  10 . 
     Optionally baffle  32  can be used by inserting into cylinder  12 , prior to the placement of food into cylinder  12 . Baffle  32  which preferably has perforations  34  helps drain away any juices which are generated during the barbequing process. Once the food is in place second end cap  20  is installed onto cylinder  12 . Shafts  22  and  24  can be removably installed onto first and second end caps  18  and  20  and are locked in place with thumb screws  31  and  35 . 
     First and second shaft  22  and  24  are adapted to be connected to commercially available barbeque rotisserie drives which re not shown in the attached drawings. Commercially available barbeque rotisserie drives generally have a square socket into which the shaft end fits. This square socket is rotated in order to rotate the barbeque rotisserie enclosure  10  above the source of heat. 
     In addition, preferably there is a first vent  26  and second vent  28  for the escape of gases from cylinder  12  located in first and second end caps  18  and  20  for preventing the build-up of excess pressure within cylinder  12  while the contents of the cylinder are being heated. 
     The advantages of the present barbeque rotisserie enclosure  10  is that there is very little direct contact of the flames with the food that is to be barbequed. In addition, the amount of air that comes into contact with the food is minimized and therefore this minimizes or eliminates the possibility of burning the contents that are being barbequed and as well the natural juices from the food are retained within the barbeque vessel thereby ensuring that the food contents being barbequed remain as moist and flavourful as possible. 
     The embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 through 16 shown generally as barbeque rotisserie enclosure  40  is generally operated the same way as described for barbeque rotisserie enclosure  10  other than the shafts  24  and  22  are essentially replaced by spit  42  which extends along the entire longitudinal axis  41  shown in FIG.  12 . This particular embodiment is less preferable than the previous since spit  42  takes up a certain amount of space within cylinder  12 , thereby limiting the amount and size of food which can be placed within cylinder  12 . 
     Also barbeque rotisserie enclosure  40  preferably has separate collars  46  and  44  from end caps  43  and  45  due to the construction of this particular embodiment. Again first end cap  43  is preferably permanently installed over cylinder  12 . Collars  46  and  44  may in fact be integrally part of first and second end caps  43  and  45 . 
     In either embodiment once the barbequing process is completed, second end cap  20  or second end cap  45  which ever the case may be is removed and the food contents of cylinder  12  can than be emptied for serving. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 17 through 22 which teaches a disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure shown generally as  60 , this embodiment has a first body  62  and a second body  64  which can be mated together and manually interlocked by folding over first flange  64  over second flange  68 . First body  62  is preferably made of a thin aluminum foil and the contents of the food to be barbequed is placed into the interior of first body  62  and can also be placed into the interior of second body  64 . After closing first and second body  62  and  64  together (which are adapted to mate together in the centre as shown in FIGS. 18 and 21) the flange  66  is manually folded over onto flange  68  for holding together first and second body  62  and  64 . Thereafter, spit  70  is placed through apertures  94  and  96  in first and second bodies  62  and  64  and thereafter grip  78  and  72  are placed through the ends of first and second body  62  and  64  and pierce through the thin foil of these bodies. Again the spit  70  can be connected to a drive mechanism for rotating the disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure  60  over a source of heat. In FIG. 19 for example a drive attachment  84  is shown, however, any other method known in the art for rotating a barbeque rotisserie can be used. 
     After barbequing the first and second bodies  62  and  64  can be destroyed and discarded and the food therein recovered for serving. 
     Finally the last embodiment show in FIGS. 23 through 28 is similar to the previous, however first body  102  is longer and essentially takes up the entire longitudinal length of the disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure. Food is placed in the first body  102  thereafter it is sealed by placing second body  104  over the end of first body  102 . Second body  104  normally is shown as a sliding fit over  102 , however a screw fit, friction fit, crimp fit, or any other means or methods known in the art for joining such bodies can be used. Similar to the previous embodiment, once the food and the second body  104  is placed over the end of first body  102 , the food is substantially encapsulated by the disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure and spit  70  is placed through the body and again grip  72  and  78  are positioned to pierce through the ends of the body in order to stabilize and be able to rotate effectively the disposable barbeque rotisserie enclosure. After barbequing the bodies  102  and  104  can be discarded, and the food recovered for serving. 
     It should be apparent to persons skilled in the arts that various modifications and adaptation of this structure described above are possible without departure from the spirit of the invention the scope of which defined in the appended claim.