Abstract:
A portable rotisserie cooking unit assembly having a first support base providing an electric drive motor and a second support base for supporting a rotating cooking spit driven by the electric drive motor. The cooking unit also includes physical features which allow the first and second pyramid support bases to interlock and engage one another when transportation of the first and second pyramid support bases is desired or required.

Description:
REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/631,355, filed Nov. 29, 2004. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to portable cooking units. More particularly, it relates to a portable rotisserie cooking unit assembly that has a pair of independently positionable elements that are designed for ease in setting up the cooking unit for use. It also relates to such a cooking unit whereby the elements of the assembly need not be placed in precise linear arrangement in order to achieve proper operation of the cooking unit. It also relates to a cooking unit configuration whereby the elements of the assembly can be interlockingly engageable for ease in transport of the unit between cooking sites.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Rotisserie cooking units are well known in the art. The applicant has, in fact, been previously granted U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,950 (the &#39;950 patent) for a vertical heat source rotisserie. While the rotisserie that is the subject of the &#39;950 patent is still very much in use, applicant has found that there is also a need for a more versatile and more portable alternative rotisserie cooking unit in comparison to that which is disclosed and claimed in his &#39;950 patent. For example, it would be desireable to have a rotisserie cooking unit assembly that assumes a relatively small physical profile when the unit is not in use and when the unit is being transported by the user from one cooking location to another. It would also be desireable to have a rotisserie cooking unit assembly that is linearly adjustable such that the support ends of the cooking unit assembly are able to be movable relative to one another so as to accommodate a variety of spit sizes. In this fashion, the same cooking unit assembly could be used for cooking a whole pig or just a few chickens. It would also be desireable to have such a rotisserie cooking unit where the support ends of the cooking unit need not be situated in precisely the same horizontal plane, or even be completely horizontal or level, in order to achieve proper operation of the unit. In the experience of this inventor, the reality of setting up for an outdoor cook-out often requires that the cooking unit be situation on the ground where surface topography is less than ideal. Other desireable attributes of the cooking unit assembly envisioned by this inventor are that the unit be easily assembled and disassembled in the field, that the unit be comprised of a minimal number of elements, that the unit be easily usable, that the unit deflect heat generated under the spit and between the support ends away from the electrical rotisserie drive components of the unit, and that the unit be easily cleanable for repeated use.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide a new, useful and uncomplicated rotisserie cooking unit assembly that is completely portable and that requires only a minimal number of elements and only a minimal number of steps to assemble and disassemble in the field. It is another object of this invention to provide such a cooking unit assembly which, once assembled, is easily utilized in the field to uniformly cook meat and which, because of its configuration, ensures the uniform cooking of the meat and the like. It is still another object of this invention to provide such a device which is collapsible and occupies a much smaller volume when disassembled than when assembled. It is yet another object of the invention to provide a cooking unit assembly having a rather compact configuration when the unit is completely disassembled and when it is transported. It is still another object of this invention to provide such a device which is able to be set up on uneven horizontal surfaces, which surfaces are typically encountered in the outdoors.  
         [0005]     The present invention has obtained these objects. It provides for a portable rotisserie cooking unit assembly having a first pyramid shaped support base. The first pyramid shaped support base includes an electrical drive motor and a first spit support. The cooking unit assembly also includes a second pyramid support base having a second spit support. The shape of the first and second spit supports enhances the stability of each when in use. The first and second spit supports are opposed longitudinally from one another during normal use of the cooking unit. The first pyramid support base includes a drive mechanism that is thermally insulated from the heat source used with the cooking unit. The first and second pyramid support bases are also independently configured so as to allow the unit to rest on uneven surfaces. In this fashion, the cooking unit assembly can be used in a number of outdoor settings. The cooking unit also includes physical features which allow the first and second pyramid support bases to interlock and engage one another when transportation of the first and second pyramid support bases is desired or required. These and other features of the cooking unit assembly of the present invention will be further apparent from the detailed description that follows. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is a front, top and right side perspective view of a portable cooking unit assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a front, top and left side perspective view of the portable cooking unit assembly illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged front, top and left side perspective view of a first pyramid support base used in the assembly shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged front, top and right side perspective view of a second pyramid support base used in the assembly shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a further enlarged rear, top and left side perspective view of the first pyramid support base illustrated in  FIG. 3  and showing a partial cut-away view of the motor housing.  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a further enlarged and cross-sectioned left elevational view of the first pyramid support base shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of the assembly illustrated in  FIG. 1 , without the spit, and showing the support bases connected together for transport and relocation by the user. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]     Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numbers represent like elements throughout,  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate perspective views of the portable cooking unit assembly of the present invention when used as intended. As shown, the portable cooking unit assembly, generally identified  100 , is generally comprised of a first pyramid support base  10  and a second pyramid support base  30 . Disposed longitudinally and extending between the first and second pyramid support bases  10 ,  30  is a spit assembly  50 . Though not shown, it is to be understood that a heat source, such as ignited charcoal briquettes, wood chips, or other suitable combustibles, is situated beneath the spit assembly  50  and between the support bases  10 ,  30 . It is also to be understood that the assembly  100  is intended to rest upon the ground or any other generally horizontal surface. For example, the assembly  100  could be set up within a trough-like container (not shown) that is elevated off of the ground without deviating from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0014]     Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it will be seen that the first pyramid support base  10  includes a front face portion  12 , a rear face portion  14  and a pair side face portions  16 . See, also,  FIG. 3 . The taper of the front and rear face portions  12 ,  14  relative to the vertical is about 15 degrees in the preferred embodiment. This precise angle is not, however, a limitation of the cooking unit assembly of the present invention. The primary reason for tapering the face portions  12 ,  14 ,  16  of the first pyramid support base  10  inwardly is to improve the stability of the first support base  10  and to improve overall stability of the unit  100 . This aspect of the present invention will be more apparent later in this detailed description.  
         [0015]     The first pyramid support base  10  also includes an upper first base portion  13  and a lower first base portion  11 . The lower portion  11  of the first pyramid support base  10  is functionally adapted to rest upon the ground. A handle  19  extends upwardly from the upper first base portion  13 . Extending upwardly from the lower base portion  11  and outwardly of the rear face portion  14  of the first pyramid support base  10  is a motor housing  22 . Mounted within the housing  22  is a motor drive assembly, generally identified  20 . See  FIG. 5 . The motor drive assembly  20  includes an AC electric motor  23 , a gear box  25  and a generally horizontally disposed drive shaft  24  extending from the gear box  25 . A motor fan  27  is also provided as is a male electrical receptacle  26 . See  FIG. 6 . The drive shaft  24  extends through the upper portion  13  of the first pyramid support base  10  and outwardly from the front face portion  12 . The shaft  24  is supported at the face  12  by means of a self-aligning bearing  21 . Attached adjacent the front face portion  12  and at the end of the shaft  24  is a ball joint  28 . The ball joint  28  is attached to the shaft  24  by means of a pin  29 . At shown, the distal end of the pin  29  is allowed to extend outwardly from the ball joint  28 , generally perpendicularly to the axis of the shaft  24 . The purpose of this configuration will be further apparent later in this detailed description.  
         [0016]     Internally of the first pyramid support base  10  is a heat shield  15  and an adjacent insulation blanket  17  which prevents radiant heat from entering into that portion of the first pyramid base  10  that includes the motor assembly  20 . In this way, the motor assembly  20  is heat insulated and will not stop due to the tripping of the thermal overload device (not shown) contained within the motor  23 . This also insures longer motor  23  life. In the preferred embodiment, the insulation blanket  17  is made of a ceramic wool fiber. One such fiber is SUPERWOOL® brand fiber (SUPERWOOL is a registered trademark of The Morgan Crucible Company plc).  
         [0017]     The second pyramid support base  30  similarly includes a front face portion  32 , a rear face portion  34  and a pair of side face portions  36 . Here again, the taper of each of the front face portion  32  and the rear face portion  34  relative to the vertical is approximately 15 degrees but is not a limitation of the present invention. In this regard, the second pyramid support base  30  is a virtual mirror image of the first pyramid support base  10 , which creates an aesthetically pleasing appearance for the cooking unit  100  in addition to one that is inherently stable.  
         [0018]     The second pyramid support base  30  also includes a lower second base portion  31  and an upper second base portion  33 . Extending outwardly from the front face  32  of the second pyramid base  30  is a spit support  38 . See  FIG. 4 . In the preferred embodiment, the spit support member  38 , as shown, comprises nothing more than a pair of intersecting flat flanges extending outwardly from the front face portion  32  of the second pyramid support base  30  in a generally V-shape at 90° relative to one another. In this fashion, one end of the spit assembly  50  can rest upon and freely rotate within the spit support member  38 . The second pyramid support base  30  may also include one or more apertures  39  to aid in heat dissipation. See  FIG. 1 . The number and placement of such apertures  39  is not a limitation of the present invention.  
         [0019]     Extending between the first pyramid base  10  and the second pyramid base  30  is a spit assembly  50 . See  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The spit assembly  50  may be configured in a number of sizes and lengths. That is, one spit assembly  50  may be long enough that a whole pig may be secured to the spit assembly  50 . Another spit assembly  50  may be relatively shorter, the length of the spit assembly not being a limitation of the present invention. What is a limitation of the invention is the fact that an almost limitless number of spit assembly  50  lengths may be used with the cooking unit  100  of the present invention.  
         [0020]     The first end  52  of the spit assembly  50  includes a sleeve  54  having at least one slot  56  defined within it. The opposing end  58  of the spit does not include such a sleeve nor is such required in the preferred embodiment. The first end  52  of the spit assembly  50  is functionally adapted to enclose the ball joint  28  of the motor assembly  20  with one end of the pin  29  extending through the slot  56  as previously defined. In this fashion, rotation of the ball joint  28  and the pin  29  effects a rotation of the sleeve  54  and the first end  52  of the spit assembly  50 . As alluded to earlier, the second end  58  of the spit assembly  50  rests upon the spit support  38  that extends from the front face  32  of the second pyramid base  30 . In this fashion, rotation of the spit assembly  50  by virtue of rotation of the ball joint  28  and pin  29  results in rotation of the second end  58  of the spit assembly  50  within the spit support  38 .  
         [0021]     In application, the first and second pyramid support bases  10 ,  30 , respectively, may be engaged with one another by virtue of an aperture  35  defined within the rear face  34  of the second pyramid support base  30 . See  FIG. 1 . In this fashion, the first and second pyramid support bases  10 ,  30  may be transported using the handle  19  as a single unit  100 . See  FIG. 7 . As shown, the aperture  35  of the second pyramid support base  30  includes a slot  37  that extends upwardly from the aperture  35  for engaging the shaft  24  and ball joint  28  of the first pyramid support base  10 . Upon arrival to the selected cooking site, the first and second pyramid support bases  10 ,  30  are disengaged from one another. The first pyramid support base  10  is placed in a first location. The second pyramid support base  30  is placed in a second location and positioned such that the front face  32  of the second support base  30  faces the front face  12  of the first support base  10 . In this fashion, the ball joint  28  of the first support base  10  is directly opposite the spit support  38  of the second support base  30  such that the spit assembly  50  can be placed to extend between them. With the desired heat source generated and located between the first and second support bases  10 ,  30 , and with the desired grilling subject mounted to the spit assembly  50 , the spit assembly  50  is placed on the unit  100 . This is accomplished by placing the sleeve  54  over the ball joint  28 , the slot  56  of the sleeve  54  receiving the pin end  29 , and then lowering the second end  58  of the spit assembly  50  onto the spit support  38 . The electrical motor assembly  20  is then actuated to cause the spit assembly  50  to rotate as such is desired or required until the grilling subject is cooked to the liking of the user. When cooking is completed, the spit assembly  50  is removed from the unit  100 , the first and second support bases  10 ,  30  are removed from the vicinity of the heat source and are interlockingly engaged and carried off to the next cooking location.  
         [0022]     Based on the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided a new, useful and uncomplicated rotisserie cooking unit assembly that is completely portable and that requires only a minimal number of elements and only a minimal number of steps to assemble and disassemble in the field; that, once assembled, is easily utilized in the field to uniformly cook meat and that, because of its configuration, ensures the uniform cooking of the grilling subject and the like; that is collapsible and occupies a much smaller volume when disassembled than when assembled; that has a rather compact configuration when the unit is completely disassembled and when it is transported; that is able to be set up and be used on uneven horizontal surfaces, which surfaces are typically encountered in the outdoors.