Abstract:
A support for holding a fowl above a roasting pan during the cooking procedure. The support rests on the bottom of the pan, and is also releasably attached to an end wall of the pan to prevent lateral displacement of the fowl during cooking. The support and the fowl mounted thereon may be easily removed from the pan so as to permit accumulated juices or the like to be scraped out of the pan.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not applicable.  
       FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       SEQUENCE LISTING, ETC. ON CD  
       [0003]     Not applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0005]     This invention generally relates to apparatus and systems for cooking fowl, such as turkeys and chickens; and is more particularly directed to the combination of a roasting pan and fowl support structure in which the fowl is supported above the pan in optimum position for the roasting or other cooking operation.  
         [0006]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0007]     Roasting pans and poultry holders associated with such pans are known in the cooking art. By way of example, roasting pans have been provided with spit holders on opposite end walls and a spit, adapted to impale a fowl and support the same in a generally horizontal position above the pan. Other devices utilize a roasting pan and a hollow vertical tube extending upwardly from a medial portion of the pan on which the fowl is mounted. Such tubes may be provided with apertures along their length so that steam may pass through the tube and flow through the apertures to provide cooking moisture and flavor to the interior of the fowl.  
         [0008]     The systems of the prior art have a number of shortcomings which serve as a deterrent to their widespread use. One problem with certain prior art devices is in connection with the shipping or handling of the pan and holder combination. Even when disassembled, the holder, if receivable in the pan, may still increase the depth of the combined parts greater than the depth of the pan itself. Other shortcomings involve connecting the holder to the pan when they are not permanently connected to begin with. Many fowl, such as turkeys, have considerable weight. When the fowl holder is attached to the side walls of the pan, substantial bending stresses are imposed on such walls. Similarly, when attached to the bottom wall of the pan, a bending force is imposed on the pan bottom. Further, many bottom connections present an uneven bottom surface, and prevent gravy or juices accumulating in the pan from being readily scraped out of the pan.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is provided a generally conventional roasting pan and a fowl holder for supporting a turkey, chicken, or the like, in a generally vertically inclined position over the pan. The invention is further characterized by the fact that the weight of the turkey is substantially supported by the bottom well of the roasting pan, yet the holder is releasably attached to a wall (preferably an end wall) of the roasting pan.  
         [0010]     A further feature of the invention is the nature of the attachment of the holder to a wall of the pan. Slots in a flange on the holder can be engaged with inwardly extending studs on the pan wall, and releasably received against lateral displacement when a web, at right angles to said flange, engages the bottom wall of the pan.  
         [0011]     Another feature of the invention is that the pan bottom may be perfectly smooth, and the forward end of the holder on which it is mounted can be repeatedly removed from the pan and reinstalled on the pan during the cooking operation, and/or after the cooking is completed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the fowl support or holder of the invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the fowl support as it is about to be mounted on a roasting pan.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the manner of engagement of the fowl support and the roasting pan.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the fowl support operatively connected to the roasting pan.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plan indicated by line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     The apparatus of the present invention generally includes two discrete members, namely, a roasting pan  12  and a holder  13  for the fowl or other product (not shown) which is to be cooked.  
         [0018]     Pan  12  is preferably, but not necessarily, of generally rectangular configuration, and includes a flat horizontal bottom wall  15  and an integrally formed continuous side wall  16 . The side wall can be further described as having end walls  16   a  and side walls  16   b  which, together with bottom wall  15 , define the generally shallow roasting pan  12 . The pan  12  may be provided with handles  19  connected to end walls  16   a  for ease in moving the pan into and out of the oven.  
         [0019]     Holder  13  is of generally tubular configuration and includes a proximal end  21  and a distal end  22 . The holder is of a generally arcuate configuration along its length, with end  21  cut at an angle relative to the generally longitudinal axis of the holder. Thus, as best shown in  FIG. 4 , if the proximal end  21  is placed flush with bottom wall  15  adjacent one of the end walls  16   a , the distal end  22  of the holder will be positioned generally medially of the pan and spaced above bottom wall  15  of the pan. Accordingly, if a fowl or other object to be cooked is impaled on the holder, such product will be supported above the pan, so that juices produced during the cooking, or basting liquid poured over the product, can gravitally fall into the pan.  
         [0020]     The holder may be provided with apertures  26  along its length. Thus, during or prior to the cooking operation, water, beer, wine, broth, or other liquid can be poured into the open end  22  of the holder  13  and the vapors from such liquid resulting from the heat of cooking, will pass through the apertures and moisten or permeate the food product impaled on the holder.  
         [0021]     As will be noted, the proximal end of the tubular support is covered by a flat plate, defining a web  28  whose peripheral extent is preferably larger than the diameter of the tubular support. Thus, with the fowl mounted on the support, the weight of the fowl on the bottom wall will not be concentrated over an area defined by the cross-sectional area of the tubular support, but rather an area defined by the size of web  28 . Web  28  may be welded or otherwise secured to the proximal end of the tubular support member.  
         [0022]     Extending upwardly and at substantially a right angle to web  28  is a vertical flange  30  which is adapted to be releasably attached to end wall  16   a  in order to retain the holder in the position shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . While various forms of releasable connections may be employed, it is preferable to use the system shown and described herein. As illustrated, the end wall  16   a  of an otherwise conventional roasting pan is modified by providing one or more projections  32  extending inwardly from said wall. Three of such projections are shown, in order to add to the stability of the structure. Each projection includes a cylindrical stud  33  with an enlarged head  34  at its distal end.  
         [0023]     Flange  30  is provided with three openings spaced at the same distance as the spacing between projections  32 . Each opening has a lower circular portion  38  with a width larger than the diameter of a corresponding projection head  34 . This permits the flange to engage the end wall  16   a  with the head  34  extending through the same. The opening has an upper slot-like portion  39  of a width greater than the diameter of stud  33 , but smaller than the diameter of head  34 . Accordingly, the flange may be inserted against the end wall of the pan by having the projection heads  34  entering portion  38  of the flange openings, and then, by lowering the flange until the web  28  engages the bottom wall of the pan, the heads will be engaged in the smaller upper portions  39  of the respective openings and effectively prevent lateral displacement of the fowl supported  13  during cooking.  
         [0024]     It is apparent, however, that upon completion of cooking, or if for any reason it is desired to remove the support and the product being cooked, it is only necessary to lift the fowl and the support member  13  upwardly until the projection heads are aligned with the lower portions  38  of the flange openings. The unit may then be released from the projections by moving the same to the right (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) and present a smooth bottom wall on the pan for scraping gravy or other liquids which may be present in the pan.  
         [0025]     Although the present invention has been described in connection with the cooking of fowl, it should be understood that the same apparatus can be used for roasting of meat or other food products.