Abstract:
A portable barbeque and rotisserie rack is composed of components that can be easily assembled and disassembled into a small package for transporting from one location to another and adaptable for positioning over various types of sources of heat. The components include a frame having a base for placement over a source of heat and two end portions slidably and releasably connectible to the base. A pair of end walls are slidably connectible to the end portions. The frame is configured to hold a rotisserie cradle at an elevated position over the source of heat.

Description:
[0001]    This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/283,234, filed Apr. 11, 2001. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a portable barbeque and rotisserie which can be easily disassembled for transporting thereof.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    In the prior art, food, such as meat, that is to be grilled is generally placed on a spit which is rotatable to expose the food to the heat in order to ensure uniform cooking of the same. In many applications, it is desirable to use the barbeque and rotisserie in association with an outdoor barbeque pit in which charcoal or wood is utilized as the means for heating the food. Since these applications can generally occur at different campground or picnic sites, it is desirable to provide a portable barbeque and rotisserie that can easily be transported from site to site. Many current rotisseries are cumbersome and difficult to transport. In addition, the current rotisseries occupy a large portion of cargo space needed for other camping equipment. Therefore it would be desirable to provide a rotisserie that can be easily assembled at each required site without the use of tools, and then can be easily disassembled into a small package for transporting.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention addresses the aforementioned concerns. The present invention provides a portable rotisserie having a frame with a center open portion for receiving a source of heat therein. The portable rotisserie includes a pair of end plates releasably and slidably connectible to the frame. The portable rotisserie further includes a cradle configured to be disposed between the pair of end plates, wherein the cradle has spindles extending from opposite ends of the cradle for placement on the frame.  
           [0005]    In another aspect of the invention, the frame has a rectangular base with upwardly extending columns at each corner. The columns have exposed open ends. The frame has a pair of U-shape brackets, each including a pair of leg portions and a center crossover portion. The leg portions are insertable into the columns of the base.  
           [0006]    In yet another aspect of the invention, the portable rotisserie further comprises an end plate releasably and slidably connectible to one of the U-shaped brackets.  
           [0007]    In a further aspect of the invention, the end plate has integral curved side portions for slidable movement along the leg portions of the bracket. The end plate further has an integral, curved shoulder portion for hanging on said center crossover portion of the bracket.  
           [0008]    Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention in the form of a portable barbeque and rotisserie, shown as assembled.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective of the portable barbeque and rotisserie, illustrated in FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0011]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated an example of the present invention providing a portable barbeque and rotisserie rack  10 . The portable rotisserie  10  comprises a frame  12  having a center open portion  14  for receiving a source of heat. In the illustrated embodiment, the frame  12  includes a rectangular base  16 . Base  16  has upwardly extending columns  18  at each corner of the base  16 . The columns  18  have open ends  20  for receiving another portion of the frame  12  as disclosed hereinafter. The frame  12  further includes a pair of U-shaped brackets  22 , wherein each bracket includes a pair of leg portions  24  and a center crossover portion  26 . The center crossover portion  26  has a center groove  25  formed therein for purposed discussed hereinafter. The leg portions  24  of the bracket  22  are configured for sliding within the open end  20  of columns  18  on the base  16 . Each bracket  22  may include a locking means, which locks the bracket  22  into the base  16 . As shown in FIG. 2., the locking means includes a spring loaded ball  27  extending from an aperture  29  located adjacent to the exposed ends of the leg portions  24 . The spring loaded ball  27  is recessed into aperture  29  as the leg portion  24  is inserted into column  18 . Column  18  may also include an aperture  31  sized and orientated to receive the spring loaded ball  27 . Once the spring loaded ball  27  encounters aperture  31  in the column  18 , the spring  27   a  biases the ball  27  through aperture  31  to lock the bracket  22  to the base  16 . As shown in FIG. 2, the spring loaded ball  27  is located on only one leg portion  24  of each bracket  22 . Further, in FIG. 2, apertures  31  are located in only two columns  18 . It is evident that the spring loaded balls  27  and apertures  31  may be located in all of the leg portions  24  and columns  18  respectively. To remove the bracket  22  from the base  16 , the spring loaded ball  27  is manually depressed into aperture  31  while the bracket  22  is lifted away from the base  16 .  
         [0012]    Although the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 shows cylindrically shaped frame members which form the base  12 , bracket  22 , and cradle  30 , other configurations of the frame members are possible. The base  16  of the frame  12  provides a stable support on the ground or other horizontal surface, such as a stationary grille typically located at an outdoor campground. The U-shaped bracket  22  provides an elevated support for the rotisserie cradle  30 .  
         [0013]    The portable rotisserie further includes end plates  32  that are slidably connectible to the U-shaped brackets  22 . A pair of end plates  32  are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is possible to use the portable barbeque without the end plates  32  or with only one end plate  32  connected to one U-shaped bracket  22 . However, it is preferred to install an end plate  32  on each U-shaped bracket  22  to provide added strength and stability to the brackets  22 . The end plates  32  are configured to slidably mount onto one of the U-shaped brackets  22 . The end plate  32  has integral side portions  34  that curve toward the inner surface  44  of the end plate  32 . The integral curved side portions  34  are spaced from each other to accommodate the distance between the pair of leg portions  24  of the U-shaped bracket  22 . The end plate  32  also has an integral shoulder portion  36  curved toward the inner surface  44  of the end plate  32  for hanging on the center crossover portion of the bracket  22 . Each end plate  32  is cut and shaped from a single piece of sheet metal. The curved shoulder portion  36  acts as a stop for the end plate  32  to prevent the end plate  32  from sliding to the base  16  of the rotisserie. There are a pair of shoulder portions on each end plate with a center groove portion  35  disposed therebetween. Beneath the integral curved side portions  34 , notches  37  are cut from the sides of the end plates  32  to accommodate space for the columns  18  when the end plates  32  are assembled onto the frame  12 .  
         [0014]    The end plate  32  further includes latching means for installing rotisserie accessories such as a motor  40  to the portable barbeque and rotisserie  10 . The latching means  38  as shown in the figures includes a pair of parallel punched out tracks  38  on the end plates  32  which corresponds with rails  39  located on the rotisserie accessory  40 . The rails  39  slidably mate into the tracks  38 . The tracks  38  are exposed to the exterior surface  42  of the end plate  32 . The embodiment shown in the figures of the latching means  38  or the rotisserie accessory  40  is only one configuration to be considered. Other considerations could include an extending horizontal ledge on the exterior surface  42  of the end plate  32  for receiving an extension from the rotisserie accessory  40 . Other known hanging means or latching means are also contemplated.  
         [0015]    For the rotisserie cradle, any grille basket, or cradle may be used with this portable barbeque that is sized for positioning between the U-shaped brackets  22 . It is preferred that the cradle  30  will have a pair of longitudinally extending and circumferentially spaced rods  50  fixedly secured to side plates  52 . A pair of adjacent rods  50  are circumferentially spaced from each other at sufficient distance to define a longitudinal opening  54  for the passage of food into the interior of the cradle  30 . Extending from the exterior face of the side plates  52  are spindles  56 . The spindles  56  may be secured to the appropriate plate  52  by means of a washer and a nut  58 , or by similar means. It is preferred that one of the spindles  56  has a handle  60  attached at its exposed end, and the other spindle  56  will have an exposed end  62  configured for connecting to a corresponding portion of the rotisserie accessory  40 . The spindle  56  may be configured to have a recessed portion  66  at a location such that each recessed portion  66  on each spindle  56  can be positioned within the center groove  25  of the crossover portion of the bracket  22  and also within the grooved portion  35  of end plates  32 . This configuration helps to prevent the rotisserie cradle  30  from falling off the frame  12 .  
         [0016]    As shown in FIG. 2, the portable barbeque and rotisserie, according to the present invention, can be easily disassembled into a smaller package for transporting to a picnic or camping location. Upon assembly, the leg portions  24  of the U-shaped bracket  22  are snapped within the apertures  20  of the base  16 . The end plates  32  are slidably connected over the U-shaped bracket  22 . If a rotisserie accessory  40  is required, the latching means  39  on the accessory  40  can be positioned within the corresponding latching means  38  on the exterior face  42  of the end of plates  32 . There are no screws or bolts required to connect the portable barbeque and rotisserie. Therefore, no tools are required for assembly. After assembly, the rotisserie cradle  30  can be filled with the food product for cooking and then placed upon the U-shaped brackets  22 . The frame  12  can be placed over any campfire, grille, or other generally horizontal surface having a heat source to cook the food.  
         [0017]    While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.