Utility tool for rotisserie spits

The utility tool facilitates the handling of rotisserie spits particularly heated spits during cooking. The tool can be used to carry a spit crosswise or lengthwise. A stepped slot is formed in a projected plate mounted at one end of the tool for engaging the spit crosswise for lifting the latter from a cooking appliance. Another slot is formed in a second projected plate mounted at the second end of the tool to facilitate adjustment of meat forks used on rotisserie spits. An arcuate notch is formed in one of the projected plate to facilitate cleaning of the cooking grill as well as placement of the meat forks into the meat being cooked.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to hand tools and particularly to a utility hand 
tool operative for handling rotisserie spits. 
In using a rotisserie for cooking, frequently it is necessary to remove the 
rotisserie spit from the cooking appliance for various reasons such as to 
marinate the meat, or to re-adjust the mounting position of the meat, or 
to remove the cooked meat for consumption at the end of cooking. Since the 
rotisserie is located in a very confined space of the appliance such as an 
oven cavity or a barbeque unit, it is usually very difficult to remove it 
without subjecting the hands of the user to the potential danger of being 
burned. Such potential danger is aggravated by the somewhat heavy weight 
of both the spit together with the meat mounted thereon so that it is 
difficult to remove the spit with only one hand. Commonly, oven mitts are 
employed for removing the rotisserie spit during cooking; however, due to 
the high temperature involved in cooking, the oven mitts often become 
burned and offer little protection to the hands. Also, oven mitts are 
bulky amd would obstruct the view of the spit located in the confined area 
of the appliance. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a utility tool 
which can be used to provide easy and safe handling of a rotisserie spit. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a utility tool 
which enhances various useful operations of the rotisserie spit. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a utility tool 
operative to obviate the potential of being burned in the handling of a 
heated rotisserie spit. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a utility 
tool operative for adjusting the meat forks on a rotisserie spit. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a utility tool 
having a provision for cleaning the cooking grill of a cooking appliance.

DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate 
corresponding parts in the several views, the utility tool 10 according to 
the present invention has a handle-like body 11 having a length of 
approximately 41/2 inches long which can fit comfortably in the grip of a 
hand. The body 11 may be made of a material having a low heat conductivity 
such as wood or plastics. It has a generally cylindrical shape; however, 
it can be appreciated that it may have a square or polygonal cross 
sectional shape. Two slightly larger diameter enlarged end portions 12 and 
13 are formed on the body. The advantages of such larger end portions will 
become apparent in the following description. A through bore 14 which may 
be circular in cross section, extends from one end of the body 11 to the 
other end. The circular bore 14 is parallel to the longitudinal axis of 
the body 11; however, its longitudinal axis is offset from the 
longitudinal axis of the body 11 and preferably its side is tangential to 
the latter. The bore 14 has a diameter of approximately half of an inch so 
that a common rotisserie spit 15 may be inserted through the bore 14. A 
slot 16 extends from one end of the body 11 to approximately two inches 
from the other end thus forming a cantilever portion 17 over the base 
portion of the body 11. The inner surface of the cantilever portion 17 is 
tangential to the bore 14. When the rotisserie spit 15 is inserted into 
bore 14 of the body 11, gripping the body 11 simply by hand will exert a 
pressure on the cantilever portion 17 to press the inner surface of the 
cantilever portion onto the spit 15 so as to grasp the spit 15 tightly. 
The lateral side edges of the cantilever portion 17 are slightly recessed 
from the circumference of the body 11 so as to avoid the slot 16 from 
pinching the hand gripping the body 11 when the cantilever portion 17 is 
being pressed down. 
As shown in FIG. 1 the tool according to the present invention may be used 
to grip a rotisserie spit positioned transverse to the hand or 
alternatively along the same line as the hand. This can be achieved by 
just grasping the underside of the body 11 with the hand and exerting 
pressure with the thumb on the enlarged end portion of the cantilever 
portion 17. In this manner, the tool 10 may be used almost like an 
additional handle to the handle normally provided at one end of the spit. 
An L-shaped metal plate member 18 is provided at one end of the body 11. 
The metal plate member 18 may be secured to the end of the body 11 by 
screws 19. The edge of the steel plate member is preferably rounded in 
shape so that there are no sharp corners or edges to cause accidental 
cutting of the user's hand or fingers as well as to present a more 
pleasing asthetic appearance. 
An oblique slot 20 approximately 5/16 inch wide is formed in the metal 
plate member 18 in a location adjacent to the end of the body 11. 
Preferably the slot 20 is formed at approximately 30 degrees relative to 
the end surface of the body 11. The slot 20 has an offset stepped portion 
21 having non-parallel sides and with one side therein substantially 
parallel to the end surface of the body 11. The slot 20 is operative to 
engage a rotisserie spit transversely as best shown in FIG. 7 by first 
tilting the tool to receive the spit at the entrance of the slot 20 and 
then tilting the tool again to position the spit into the stepped portion 
21. Thus, the offset stepped portion 21 prevents the spit from sliding out 
of the slot 20 accidentally. With the provision of the slot 20, the 
utility tool may be used to enhance the removal of a heated rotisserie 
spit from the confined cooking area of an appliance. In such operation, 
the user would grip the tool transverse to the hand and then extend the 
tool 10 into the cooking area of the appliance with the steel plate member 
18 facing the rotisserie spit. The tool 10 is then tilted to engage the 
slot 20 transverse in the stepped portion 21. The spit can then be safely 
lifted out of the appliance with the tool. When extending the hand into 
the appliance, the ends of the tool serve as a spacers to keep the hand 
away from the hot surfaces in the appliance as well as the meat being 
cooked thus preventing the hand from being burned accidentally. 
A second L-shaped metal plate member 22 is provided at the other end of the 
body 11 and is secured in place such as by screws 23. The second L-shaped 
metal plate member 22 may also have a rounded shape similar to the first 
L-shaped metal plate member 18. An oblique wrench slot 24 approximately 
1/8 inch wide is formed in the plate member 22 as shown in FIG. 3. The 
wrench slot 24 is operative for loosening or securing the wing-type set 
screws used for securing the sleeves carrying the meat forks on the spit. 
These set screws are particularly difficult to undo or tighten when they 
are hot and with cooking fluid and grease accumulated theron during 
cooking. The wrench slot 24 is preferably formed in a position extending 
at about 15 degrees from he end surface of the body 11. With such an 
angled position the tool can be operated to loosen the set screws from the 
meat forks without the potential danger of the hand coming into contact 
with the heated meat being cooked as well as spaced from the heated spit. 
A small arcuate notch 25 is also formed at the outer edge of the metal 
plate member 22. The arcuate notch 25 is operative for cleaning the metal 
grill in the cooking appliance, or for pushing the meat forks into the 
heated meat during cooking. Typically the arcuate notch 25 may be 1/4 inch 
in width which is the dimension suitable for cleaning commonly available 
grills. 
An opening 26 may also be formed in either one of the L-shaped metal plate 
member 22 or 18 to facilitate hanging of the tool in storage. 
Due to the offset position of the bore 14 from the longitudinal axis of the 
body 11, the weight of the tool 10 in unevenly distributed on two sides 
with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body 11. Thus, the tool 10 
would inherently rest with the heavy side at the bottom on a table surface 
without rolling. Such anti-rolling feature is particularly advantageous in 
working with the tool when it is necessary to place it on a small working 
surface. 
Also, the stepped portion 21 of the oblique slot 20 forms a hook which can 
be utilized to pull a heated meat fork out of the meat being cooked. 
Usually, the meat fork is firmly imbedded in the hot meat in cooking. 
Furthermore, it can be appreciated that the tool can be operated equally 
efficiently by either a left-handed or right-handed user. 
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with 
reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by 
those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be 
made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.