Abstract:
A roller grill separating device having a pair of support brackets, a pair of crossover bars, and one or more separator bar. The separating device sits over a roller grill and can be spaced therefrom. A plurality of the separator bars can be used to create separate sections on the grill to separate uncooked products from cooked products or to separate one flavor from another. The device can include a sign clip that is used for identifying and marketing different types of food products. The pair of support brackets can be replaced by a plurality of clips that fasten onto rollers or by support angled members that rest on the housing of the roller grill. The device is inexpensive to make and is sanitary.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a roller grill separating device used in conjunction with a roller grill, which assists grill operators to separate uncooked products from cooked products and provide separate cooking areas for different products. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0004]    In this era of fast food, individuals are increasingly dependent on quick service restaurants and convenience stores for a quick meal. Beginning in the 1960s and increasing in popularity ever since, the roller grill became an efficient way to cook and store hot dogs and other products to be made readily available to consumers without being labor intensive. With the advent of roller grills, these products could be prepared without the necessity of the store clerk flipping or rolling the grilled food by hand throughout the day. The development of the gas station/convenience store made this type of food even more widely available and popular. 
         [0005]    With more opportunities to sell more products in these numerous establishments, the industry began offering additional hot dog types of products such as sausage, a quarter pound hot dog, spicy, mild, kielbasa, alternative meat hot dogs such as turkey, beef or soy, and others. All of these foods were still best prepared using the roller grill. Indeed, presently roller grills are still the leading hot dog cooker of choice for national convenience store chains, vending operations and cafeterias. These roller grills can be used on the front serving counter where customers serve themselves or on a back counter where a store employee takes an order from a customer and assembles and serves the food product such as a hot dog. 
         [0006]    In a roller grill that can cook many food products at one time, it is not always the case that one type of product is placed on the grill and removed from the grill all at once. 
         [0007]    Rather, the number of the products on the grill gradually decreases based on sales, and a grill operator accordingly keeps adding uncooked food on the grill. Therefore, cooked products and uncooked products are on the grill at the same time, and it is possible that uncooked products might contaminate cooked products. Without an effective grill separating device, it is hard for a grill operator to organize and manage the grill. It is also hard to identify which part is cooked and which part is uncooked, and which part is one type of product and which part is another. Also, hot dog items can move or “walk” from side to side and away from their respective sign identifier thus confusing customers and operators and making the grill look unorganized. 
         [0008]    Various devices have been proposed for overcoming these challenges. For example, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/257,424, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, sections are provided on a roller grill. This application illustrates a roller grill separating device having clips, separating bars, and crossover bars, which together create rectangular separated areas on a roller grill. The size of each area can be easily adjusted by moving the clips, separator bars, and crossover bars relative to each other. 
         [0009]    A roller grill having a section divider ensemble is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,367,261 and 7,334,517. U.S. Pat. No. 7,367,261 provides a roller grill with a built-in fixed divider ensemble shaped to be positioned above the rollers for sectioning the rollers into two cooking areas. U.S. Pat. No. 7,334,517 further provides a roller grill with a section divider ensemble comprising front and back divider mounting braces, each having a series of slots or openings to accommodate divider bars. This arrangement makes it possible to vary the number and sizes of the cooking areas. In this divider ensemble device, use and vibrations can cause the spacing between the front and rear braces to become larger and then the dividers can fall onto the roller grill cooking surfaces. 
         [0010]    If an operator has a roller grill and wants to have divided cooking areas on their roller grill, typically, they must purchase a new roller grill with the divider feature installed. This new roller grill then replaces the existing roller grill and this can cause a significant expenditure. 
         [0011]    There is currently no device that effectively separates cooking areas on a grill without taking up much cooking space and at the same time displays marketing information and the types of food products for consumers and operators. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention provides a roller grill separating device that can be used on an existing roller grill of any size, thus eliminating the need to purchase a brand new roller grill with a divider ensemble. 
         [0013]    The present invention provides a roller grill separating device that keeps grilled products in place and keeps uncooked products separated from cooked products on a grill so as to reduce food borne contamination and to maintain grill neatness at the same time. The separating device is designed to sit over a roller grill of any size. Since this separating device rests on the side and above the roller grill, it takes up very little cooking space on the grill, and is sturdy enough to avoid being knocked over. Moreover, the device is easy to manufacture and assemble. 
         [0014]    The roller grill separating device includes a pair of support brackets and a pair of crossover bars to form a frame that is disposed over the roller grill. The device also includes a plurality of separator bars to easily divide a roller grill into separate sections and can be positioned in an infinite number of positions. The device can have a varied number of separator bars depending on how many separate sections a grill operator would like to have. The device can also have a sign clip to secure information panels that display point-of-sale items such as the price, specials, promotions, ingredients, new flavors, etc. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment, at least four clips clip onto the grill rollers and are spaced apart along the rollers. The clips are joined by a plurality of separator bars and crossover bars that are disposed at right angles to each other. 
         [0016]    In another embodiment, at least four support angled members, which can be disposed at the four corners of the separating device are joined by a plurality of separator bars and crossover bars that are disposed at right angles to each other. 
         [0017]    The above and other objects and advantages are achieved with a roller grill separating device comprising a pair of support brackets being disposed on opposite sides of a housing of a roller grill, a pair of crossover bars being disposed between the support brackets, and at least one separator bar being disposed parallel to the support brackets. 
         [0018]    The above and other objects and advantages are also achieved with the roller grill separating device described above and a sign clip that can display point-of-sale items such as flavor and price. 
         [0019]    Moreover, the above and other objects and advantages are achieved with another roller grill separating device, wherein a plurality of clips are spaced apart and joined by separator bars and crossover bars. 
         [0020]    The device is designed to work on any roller grill. The separating device is designed to safely segment a roller grill so that uncooked food does not contaminate cooked food and flavors of each food do not blend. It is easy to assemble the separating device with one or more separator bars to create two or more separate sections on the grill. The separating device also neatly organizes a grill and makes the appearance of the roller grill look neat and orderly. 
         [0021]    Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the invention have been selected for exemplification and from the individual features and relationships of the respective appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    The above and other objects and features of the present invention will be clearly understood from the following description with respect to the preferred embodiments thereof when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals have been used to denote the same or similar parts or elements, and in which: 
           [0023]      FIGS. 1A-1D  are perspective views of a roller grill separating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and  FIG. 1E  is a perspective view of a roller grill separating device according to the first embodiment with a different angled support member; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the roller grill separating device disposed on a roller grill according to the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a support bracket; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of another type of support bracket; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of the roller grill separating device having clips and signs according to the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of the roller grill separating device having clips and signs including a flavor banner disposed in clips according to the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 4C  is a perspective view of the roller grill separating device having additional clips and different sign holders with slides according to the first embodiment; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a roller grill separating device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a roller grill separating device according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a roller grill separating device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a roller grill separating device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0034]      FIGS. 9A-9C  are perspective views of three different support angled members according to the fifth embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , where different portions of the support angled members have been removed to be allow the support angled members to fit on different types of roller grills. 
           [0035]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a roller grill separating device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a roller grill separating device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a roller grill separating device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the roller grill separating device attached to a cover disposed on a roller grill according to the eighth embodiment shown  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a roller grill separating device having a support base member according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 15A  is a perspective view of a roller grill separating device according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0041]      FIG. 15B  is a perspective view of similar to  FIG. 15A  including two different types of clips having sign members disposed in the clips; 
           [0042]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a roller grill separating device including a hanging device according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention that is disposed on a roller grill; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0043]      FIG. 1  illustrates a roller grill separating device  100  comprising two support brackets  110 , two crossover bars  120 , and a plurality of separator bars  124 . The support bracket  110  is at each of the right and left ends of the device  100 . There is the crossover bar  120  at each of the front and rear sides of the device  100 . 
         [0044]    The separator bars  124  are disposed parallel to the support brackets  110  and are perpendicular to the crossover bars  120 . The support bracket  110  further comprises a top section  112 , a side section  114 , and a lower section  116  at a proximate side and another lower section  117  at a distant side. The lower sections  116  and  117  bend upward and create a space between the side section  114  and the lower sections  116  and  117  where a separator bar  124  can rest. Each of the lower sections  116  and  117  also has a notch  118 ,  119 , respectively, where an end of the crossover bar  120  is positioned. 
         [0045]    The number of the separator bars  124  can vary according to the preference of the user on how many sections they would like to make. The separator bar  124  adjacent to the support bracket  110  can be omitted, thus it is possible to use one separator bar  124 . The crossover bar  120  goes through a hole of the separator bar  124 . A set of two o-rings  122  around the hole at each side of the separator bar  124  keeps the separator bar  124  from sliding across the crossover bar  120 . Instead of using two o-rings at each side of the separator bar  124 , one large o-ring  122  can be used to loop around the hole at each side of the separator bar  124  as shown in  FIG. 1B . 
         [0046]    The separator bar  124  can have U-shaped openings  1930  and  1931  at each end instead of the circular opening as shown in  FIG. 10  by separator bar  1924 . In this figure, the same elements shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  have been renumbered so that the elements are labeled by reference numerals that start with 19 instead of starting with 1. 
         [0047]    Moreover, o-rings  2030  and  2031  can be replaced with a rubber grommet as shown in  FIG. 1D  or any type of clip that would prevent the dividers from moving from the desired setting. In this figure, the same elements shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  have been renumbered so that the elements are labeled by reference numerals that start with 20 instead of starting with 1. 
         [0048]    As shown in  FIG. 1E , the support bracket  2210  comprises a top section  2212 , a side section  2214  which is connected to a lower section  2217  at a distant side. The bottom portion of the support bracket  2210  can be a curved or straight section between side section  2214  and lower section  2217  that can support the separator bar  2224 . In this figure, the same elements shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  have been renumbered so that the elements are labeled by reference numerals that start with 22 instead of starting with 1. 
         [0049]      FIG. 2  illustrates the roller grill separating device  100  disposed on a roller grill  500 . The roller grill  500  comprises a housing  502 , a plurality of rollers  504 , and a lower section  506 . A front part of the lower section  506  includes knobs  508 A and  508 B. 
         [0050]    The top section  112  of each of the support brackets  110  rests on a respective side of the housing  502  of the roller grill  500 . As shown, the roller grill separating device  100  is disposed over the roller grill  500  and thus does not scratch the rollers  504 . 
         [0051]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  show two versions of the support bracket  110 . A lower side of the side section  114  can be angled as shown in  FIG. 3A  or can be straight as shown in  FIG. 3B . The support bracket of  FIG. 3A  is used for a slanted roller grill, and the support bracket of  FIG. 3B  is used for a flat or slanted roller grill. The length of the support bracket  110  can also vary according to the size of a grill. Under the top section  112 , an optional magnetic strip or bar  115  can be disposed which will assist in holding the support bracket  110  on the side of the roller grill. This magnetic strip section can be adapted to also be located on the side section  114  and/or even be shorted to be adaptable to any length of support bracket disclosed. 
         [0052]      FIG. 4A  discloses a roller grill separating device  100  accompanying a plurality of clips  150  and signs  156 . The clip  150  comprises an upper section  152  and a lower section  154 . Details of the clip  150  are shown in U.S. Design Pat. Nos. D586,404 and D586,405, the contents of which are incorporated hereinto by reference. The signs  156  can be inserted in the upper section  152  of the clip  150 . Each of the signs  156  can show many different things, such as flavor, price, and readiness of the food (e.g., “ready” or “not ready”). 
         [0053]      FIG. 4B  discloses a variation on the roller grill separating device  100  shown in  FIG. 4A .  FIG. 4B  discloses a roller grill separating device  2100  accompanying a plurality of clips  2150  and signs  2156 . The signs  2156  can be inserted in the upper section of the clip  2150 . Also, a flavor banner  2160  can be inserted in the upper section of at least one clip  2150 . The flavor banner  1260  can further divide the roller grill into additional sections. The flavor banners  2160  can also include advertisements or even messages to customers, such as whether the food is ready or still cooking as well as flavors and prices. In this figure, the same elements shown in  FIG. 4A  have been renumbered so that the elements are labeled by reference numerals that start with 21 instead of starting with 1. 
         [0054]      FIG. 4C  discloses a roller grill separating device  2400  where the flavor flags  156  in  FIG. 4A  have been replaced by a molded plastic sign holder with slides  2435  that can be inserted into a clip  2450 . In this figure, the same elements shown in  FIG. 4A  have been renumbered so that the elements are labeled by reference numerals that start with 24 instead of starting with 1. 
         [0055]      FIG. 5  exhibits another embodiment according to the invention of another roller grill separating device  200 . A main difference from the first embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  is the use of clips in place of the support brackets  110 . Details of the clip  250  are shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/257,424, discussed above. The roller grill separating device  200  can comprise four clips  250 , two crossover bars  220 , and a plurality of separator bars  224  with o-rings  222 . 
         [0056]    The clip  250  comprises an upper section  258 , a center section  254 , and a lower section  252 . The center section  254  has a built-in separator bar accommodation slot  256 . The upper section  258  comprises a plurality of clips to hold a sign. The lower section  252  of the clip  250  clips onto a roller. The clip  250  is preferably made of heat resistant plastic and can also be made of metal, glass, ceramics and other similar materials. 
         [0057]      FIG. 6  exemplifies yet another embodiment of another roller grill separating device  300 . The use of support angled members in place of the support bracket  110  is a main difference from the first embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 . The roller grill separating device  300  comprises two proximate support angled members  310 , two distant support angled members  311 , two crossover bars  320 , and a plurality of separator bars  324  with o-rings  322 . 
         [0058]    Each of the proximate support angled members  310  and  311  comprise a top section  312 , a side section  314 , and a lower section  316 . The lower section  316  bends upwardly and creates a space between the side section  314  and the lower section  316  where the separator bar  324  can rest. The lower section  316  also has a circular opening  318  through which an end of the crossover bar  320  can extend. 
         [0059]    Each of the distant support angled members  311  comprises a top section  313 , a side section  315 , and a lower section  317 . The lower section  317  bends upward and creates a space between the side section  315  and the lower section  317  where the separator bar  324  can rest. The lower section  317  also has a circular opening  319  through which an end of the crossover bar  320  can extend. 
         [0060]    In this illustration, the side section  314  of the proximate support angled members  310  is longer than the side section  315  of the distant support angled members  311  in order to fit on a selected slanted roller grills. For a flat roller grill, the height of the side sections  314  and  315  can be the same. 
         [0061]      FIG. 7  shows yet another embodiment of another roller grill separating device  400 . The use of multi-tabbed support angled members and separator bars with a plurality of cut lines and holes is a difference from the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 6 . The roller grill separating device  400  comprises two proximate support angled members  410 , two distant support angled members  411 , two crossover bars  420 , and a plurality of separator bars  424  with o-rings  422 . 
         [0062]    Each of the proximate support angled members  410  comprises a top section  412 , a side section  414 , and a lower section  416 . The lower section  416  also has a circular opening  418  through which an end of the crossover bar  420  can extend. The side section  414  includes a first tab  430  and a second tab  432  that extend from the side section  414  in parallel to the top section  412 . The support angled members can be made of plastic or metal. The first tab  430  and the second tab  432  are molded into the side section  414 . A customer can snap off any two of the top section  412 , the first tab  430  and the second tab  432  and rest the remaining tab (or the top section  412 ) over a housing according to the size of a roller grill. In that way, one type of the support angled member can fit grills of many different sizes. 
         [0063]    Each of the distant support angled members  411  comprises a top section  413 , a side section  415 , and a lower section  417 . The lower section  417  also has a circular opening  419  through which an end of the crossover bar  420  can extend. The side section  415  includes a first tab  431  and a second tab  433  that extend from the side section  415  in parallel to the top section  413 . The first tab  431  and the second tab  433  are molded into the side section  415 . A customer can snap off any two of the top section  413 , the first tab  431  and the second tab  433  and rest the remaining tab (or the top section  413 ) over a housing according to the size of the roller grill. 
         [0064]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the separator bar  424  may have a total of five holes, including a proximate hole  440 , a distant hole  442 , and three holes  444 ,  446 , and  448  in the middle. There are also cut lines  445 ,  447 , and  449  in close proximity of the three holes  444 ,  446 , and  448 . The separator bars can be made of plastic or metal. A customer can snap off portions at any one of the cut lines  445 ,  447 , and  449  and insert the crossover bar  420  into the hole next to the chosen cut line according to the dimensions of the roller grill. In that way, one type of the separator bar that can fit many different sizes of roller grills. 
         [0065]      FIG. 8  demonstrates yet another embodiment of another roller grill separating device  600 . The use of support angled members with a serpentine strap is one difference from the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 7 . The roller grill separating device  600  comprises two proximate support angled members  610 , two distant support angled members  611 , two crossover bars  620 , and a plurality of separator bars  624  with o-rings  622 . 
         [0066]    Each of the proximate support angled members  610  comprises a top section  612 , a side section  614  with a first tab  630  and a second tab  632 , a lower section  616 , an arched section  650  and a strap section  652 . The strap section  652  also has a hole  654 . Thus, the crossover bar  620  can extend through the hole  654  of the strap section  652  and a hole  618  of the lower section  616 . In this way, the support angled member  610  does not fall during placement of the device  600 , and the device  600  gets additional stability. 
         [0067]    Each of the distant support angled members  611  comprises a top section  613 , a side section  615  with a first tab  631  and a second tab  633 , a lower section  617 , an arched section  651  and a strap section  653 . The strap section  653  also has a hole  655 . These elements operate in a similar manner as the proximate support angled members described above. In  FIG. 8 , the same elements shown in  FIG. 7  have been renumbered so that the elements are labeled by reference numerals that start with 6 instead of starting with 4. 
         [0068]      FIGS. 9A-9B  show three versions of the support angled members  710 . These support angled members  710  are preferably made of metal. A user can choose either one of the three versions based on the depth of the roller grill. 
         [0069]    Each of the support angled members  710  comprises a top section  712 , a side section  714 , a lower section  716 , an arched section  750 , and a strap section  752 . The lower section  716  includes a hole  718 , and the strap section  752  also has a hole  754 . Preferably the hole  718  and the hole  754  are slightly offset so as to give a slight gripping effect on a crossover bar when the bar is inserted through the two holes. 
         [0070]      FIG. 10  demonstrates yet another embodiment of another roller grill separating device  800 . The roller grill separating device  800  comprises two proximate support leg members  810 , two distant support leg members  811 , two crossover bars  820 , and a plurality of separator bars  824 . The proximate support leg member  810  comprises a leg portion  853  and a frame portion  857 . An end of the separator bar  824  is inserted into the frame portion  857 . The distant support leg member  811  comprises a leg portion  852  and a frame portion  856 . A set of two o-rings  822  around the hole at each side of the separator bar  824  keeps the separator bar  824  from sliding across the crossover bar  820 . 
         [0071]      FIG. 11  demonstrates yet another embodiment of another roller grill separating device  900 . The roller grill separating device  900  comprises two proximate support leg members  954 , two crossover bars  920 , and a plurality of separator bars  924 . Support leg members  954  have the upper structure  950  that acts like a divider, a stem  952 , and lower foot  956 . A set of two o-rings  922  around the hole at each side of the separator bar  924  and the upper structure  950  keeps the separator bar  924  from sliding across the crossover bar  920 . The support leg members  954  could also be located such that they were disposed on the extreme left and right sides of the device or even located in the middle. 
         [0072]      FIG. 12  demonstrates yet another embodiment of another roller grill separating device  1000 . The roller grill separating device  1000  comprises two proximate support hanger members  1010 , two distant support hanger members  1011 , two crossover bars  1020 , a plurality of separator bars  1024  and o-rings  1022 . The proximate support hanger member  1010  comprises a suction portion  1054 , a leg portion  1053 , and a frame portion  1057 . An end of the separator bar  1024  is inserted into the frame portion  1057 . The distant support hanger member  1011  comprises a suction portion  1058 , a leg portion  1052 , and a frame portion  1056 . An end of the separator bar  1024  is inserted into the frame portion  1056 . The distant hanger member  1011  can also include an adhesive or some other fastening method instead of a suction portion. 
         [0073]      FIG. 13  illustrates the roller grill separating device  1100  disposed on a roller grill  1150 . In this figure, the same elements shown in  FIG. 12  have been renumbered to start with 11 instead of starting with 10. The roller grill separating device  1100  hangs from a cover  1130  with the suction portions  1154  and  1158  attached to the an interior of the cover  1130 . 
         [0074]      FIG. 14  illustrates yet another embodiment of another roller grill separating device  1200 . The roller grill separating device  1200  comprises a support base member  1250 , two crossover bars  1220 , and a plurality of separator bars  1224 , and o-rings  1222 . The support base member  1250  comprises a frame portion  1221 , a leg portion  1211 , and a base portion  1210 , to support the roller grill separating device. 
         [0075]      FIGS. 15A and 15B  illustrate further embodiments of another roller grill separating device  1300  and  2300 , respectively. The roller grill separating device  1300  comprises a clip  1321 , two crossover bars  1320 , and a plurality of separator bars  1324 , and o-rings  1322 . The clip  1321  is the same as the clip depicted in  FIG. 5 . The roller grill separating device  1300  can be mounted on a roller grill by clipping the clip  1321  on any roller of the grill. 
         [0076]    In  FIG. 15B , the same elements shown in  FIG. 15A  have been renumbered so that the elements are labeled by reference numerals that start with 23 instead of starting with 13.  FIG. 15B  shows a clip  2321  and another type of clip  2350 . These clips  2321  and  2350  have a molded plastic sign holder  2335  disposed therein. The sign holder  2335  includes slides for allowing descriptions and marketing information to be included. 
         [0077]      FIG. 16  illustrates yet another embodiment of another roller grill separating device  1400  disposed on a roller grill  1450 . The roller grill separating device  1400  comprises an upper portion  1430 , two crossover bars  1420 , and a plurality of separator bars  1424 , and o-rings  1422 . The upper portion  1430  comprises two elongated member  1432 , an upper attachment wire or thread  1438 , and four lower attachment wires or threads  1433 . The two elongated members  1432  meet in the middle  1440  and the upper attachment wire or thread  1438  is tied to the middle  1440 . An upper end of each of the lower attachment wire or threads  1433  is tied to an end of the elongated portion  1432 . A lower end of each of the lower attachment wire or threads  1433  is tied to ends of the separator bars  1424  as shown by a loop  1457  at a proximate side and a loop  1456  at a distant side. The roller grill separating device  1400  can be hung from the top of a grill cover or from the ceiling by attaching the top end of the upper attachment wire or thread  1438 . 
         [0078]    As discussed above, any suitable materials such as plastic and metal can be used to make the present invention, and methods of manufacturing are not particularly limited. 
         [0079]    Although the embodiments described herein are directed to use of the present separating device in conjunction with a roller grill, the invention is in no way limited thereto. In fact, the present invention can be used in any application where it is useful to separate a certain type of products from another. Some of these other applications will be described below but the description is for exemplary purposes only, and numerous other applications can be envisioned. 
         [0080]    In supermarkets, the present invention could be used to separate different types of produce and to indicate the name of the vegetable, the price per pound and the expiration dates next to the particular items. 
         [0081]    According to the present invention, a user can seclude cooked products in one area so that they can add uncooked products in the other areas. 
         [0082]    It is to be understood that although the present invention has been described with regard to preferred embodiments thereof, various other embodiments and variants may occur to those skilled in the art, which are within the scope and spirit of the invention, and such other embodiments and variants are intended to be covered by the following claims.