Abstract:
The food retainer for a rotary grill allows a wide variety of differing food articles to be grilled with a rotary grill, a rotisserie or the like. The food retainer may take the form of a flat rectangular wire mesh cage having an open side edge for inserting a slice or patty of food therein; a perforate plate or a wire rack having one or more straps for securing food thereto; a wire mesh cylindrical shell having an open end for inserting food therein; or circular end members having radially spaced spits or skewers extending between them. All embodiments of the food retainer have shaft ends extending therefrom for rotatably mounting the food retainers on a rotary grill or rotisserie.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to cooking appliances, and particularly to a food retainer for a rotary grill that provides a retainer for mounting food articles within the rotary grill. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Rotary grills are known in the art.  FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate an exemplary prior art rotary grill  500 . The rotary grill  500  includes a kettle-type housing, which may be adapted for electric, wood or charcoal grilling. The housing has a kettle front  512 F having at least one kettle front holder  512 FA mounted therein. In the orientation of  FIG. 7 , the kettle housing also includes a kettle back  512 B, a kettle left side  512 L, and a kettle right side  512 R. 
     The rotary grill  500  further includes at least one drive  518  positioned in the kettle. The at least one drive  518  includes a drive shaft  518 B having a drive sprocket  518 A securely attached at a distal end thereof. The rotary grill  500  further includes a motor  522 , which is connected to the drive shaft  518 B to selectively rotate the drive  518 . 
     The rotary grill further includes at least one skewer  524 , which is rotatably disposed within the at least one kettle front holder  512 FA. The skewer  524  may be conventional, including a skewer handle  524 A connected to a skewer tine  524 C and having a skewer bushing  524 B positioned thereon adjacent to the skewer handle  524 A. A skewer gear  524 D is securely positioned on the skewer tine  524 C over the at least one drive gear  518 C (shown in  FIG. 8 ), engaging therewith. 
     The rotary grill  500  further has a rotisserie  516 , which includes a rotisserie shaft  516 B having a rotisserie sprocket  516 A securely mounted at a distal end. The rotisserie shaft  516 B further has a rotisserie tine  516 C mounted thereon. The rotisserie sprocket  516 A is in communication with the drive sprocket  518 A by a chain  520 . The rotisserie  516  further has a rotisserie bearing  516 D positioned at a distal end of the rotisserie shaft  516 B opposite the rotisserie sprocket  516 A. 
     In  FIG. 8 , the rotary grill  500  is further shown having an exemplary gas burner  534  positioned within the kettle. The gas burner  534  is controlled by suitable control knobs or the like, as is conventionally known. As noted above, the drive  518  includes drive shaft  518 B, which is securely attached to at least one drive gear  518 C positioned thereon. As further shown in  FIG. 7 , the skewer  524  is rotatably positioned within the at least one kettle front holder  512 FA. The skewer gear  524 D is securely positioned on the skewer tine  524 C over the at least one drive gear  518 C, engaging therewith. Additionally, at least one skewer support  524 E is positioned under the at least one kettle front holder  512 FA.  FIG. 8  further illustrates a brick tray  536  having a plurality of ceramic bricks thereon. 
     Such rotary grills are known in the art. Examples of such grills are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,439,109 and 6,658,991, each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Such grills, rotisseries and the like are very limited in the types of food that can be cooked. The simple skewers used in such systems limit the food articles to be grilled to relatively thick cuts of meat or vegetables, and are not adapted to thin or more delicate food items that cannot be easily skewered. 
     Thus, a food retainer for a rotary grill solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The food retainer for a rotary grill allows a wide variety of differing food articles to be grilled with a rotary grill, a rotisserie or the like. A first embodiment of the food retainer includes an elongated, substantially rectangular mesh cage having opposed, substantially rectangular mesh faces joined by mesh edge walls on three sides (including the two short end edges and one of the two elongated side edges) that define the thickness or height of the holder, the fourth side being open to permit insertion of food into the cage. A pair of shafts extend outward from the end edges, the shafts being adapted for supporting and selectively rotating the mesh cage in the rotary grill. This embodiment is particular well suited for grilling relatively flat pieces of food, such as steaks, chops, chicken and fish filets, meat patties, etc., which may be wedged between or form a friction fit between the opposing rectangular faces so that the food does not slide out of the open side when the cage is rotated during cooking. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the food retainer includes a base formed from a thermally conductive metal and at least one strap extending across an upper surface thereof. The strap is adapted for releasably securing an article of food against the upper surface of the base. Further, a pair of shafts extend from opposite sides of the base, the shafts being adapted for supporting and selectively rotating the base in the rotary grill. 
     In a further alternative embodiment, the food retainer includes a mesh cage having an inner cylindrical mesh wall, an outer cylindrical mesh wall positioned coaxially with respect to the inner cylindrical wall, a side or end mesh wall and an axially opposed open end, the cage defining a cylindrical shell or elongated torus. The inner and outer cylindrical mesh walls are spaced apart from one another so that an article of food may be received and securely held therebetween. A central shaft extends axially through the cylindrical cage, the inner cylindrical mesh wall being secured thereto. Axially opposed ends of the central shaft are adapted for supporting and selectively rotating the mesh cage in the rotary grill. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the food retainer includes a pair of circular end members, which could be disks or wire circles, and a plurality of skewers or spits extending between the circular end members. The skewers are selectively mounted in loops or eyelets welded or otherwise attached to the circular members and extending outward from the circumference of the circular members. The plurality of skewers are each adapted for receiving and securely holding at least one article of food. A central shaft extends through the circular members and is adapted for supporting and selectively rotating the assembly in a grill or rotisserie. 
     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental top view of a first embodiment of a food retainer for a rotary grill according to the present invention, shown supported above the bed of a grill. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the food retainer of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a food retainer for a rotary grill according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a food retainer for a rotary grill according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a food retainer for a rotary grill according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a food retainer for a rotary grill according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic top view of a rotary grill according to the prior art. 
         FIG. 8  is a section view taken along lines  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a first embodiment of the food retainer  26 . In  FIG. 1 , the food retainer  26  is shown in use with an exemplary rotary grill  10 , similar in design to the prior art grill described above with respect to  FIGS. 7 and 8 . It should be understood that food retainer  26  may be used in combination with any suitable type of rotary grill, rotisserie or the like. The exemplary grill  10  includes a kettle-type housing, which may be adapted for electric, wood or charcoal grilling. The rotary grill  10  further includes a drive having a drive shaft  18  and a drive sprocket  20  securely attached at a distal end thereof. The rotary grill  10  further includes a motor  12 , which is connected to the drive shaft  18  to selectively rotate the drive. The motor  12  is in communication with a controller  14 , including at least one control knob  16  or the like, as is conventionally known, allowing the user to program cooking time based upon cooking preferences, such as well done, medium or rare. The controller  14  preferably includes an automatic shut-off feature and an alarm. The controller  14  controls both cooking time as well as the speed of rotation of the food retainer  26 . 
     The food retainer  26  will be described in detail below, particularly with regard to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 1  illustrates the food retainer  26  and a pair of conventional skewers  24  rotatably positioned within and extending across the housing  11 . The food retainer  26  and each skewer include a gear  40  (best shown in  FIG. 2 ), as will be described in greater detail below, for engaging a drive gear  22  (similar to gear  518 C of prior art system  500 ). 
     As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the food retainer  26  includes an elongated, substantially rectangular mesh cage having opposed, substantially rectangular mesh faces  30 ,  32  joined by mesh edge walls  34 ,  36  on three sides (including the two short end edges and one of the two elongated side edges) that define the thickness or height of the holder, the fourth side  38  being open to permit insertion of food into the cage. A pair of shafts  42  extend outward from the end edges  34 , the shafts  42  being adapted for supporting and selectively rotating the mesh cage in the rotary grill. This embodiment is particular well suited for grilling relatively flat pieces of food, such as steaks, chops, chicken and fish filets, meat patties, etc., which may be wedged between or form a friction fit between the opposing rectangular faces so that the food does not slide out of the open side when the cage is rotated during cooking. The mesh cage is preferably formed from a thermally conductive metal, the entire cage being formed from a washable metal wire mesh. The term “mesh cage” or “wire mesh”, as used herein, may refer to a thin gauge wire woven or formed into a mash, or to stiff or rigid wire rods of the type used to form cooking racks for grills and ovens that are joined together to form a larger gauge grid, or in some embodiments, to expanded metal. 
     At least one gear  40  is mounted on at least one of shafts  42 , as described above, for engaging with the drive gear  22  of the rotary grill. 
     It should be understood that any suitable type of drive system may be used for selective rotation of food retainer  26  within grill  10 . For example, a manual spit-type rotary handle may be coupled with food retainer  26 , as opposed to the automatic grilling system described above. A chain and sprocket drive mechanism may be used in lieu of gears. 
     In the alternative embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the food retainer  126  includes a base  120  formed from a thermally conductive metal and at least one strap  136  extending across an upper surface thereof. Although the base  120  is shown as being substantially rectangular, it should be understood that the base  120  may have any desired shape or relative dimensions. Additionally, at least one perforation or aperture  130  is preferably formed through the base  120 . The strap(s)  136  is (are) preferably formed from a flame and heat-resistant material, such as metal wire or the like, and the strap(s)  136  is (are) adapted for releasably securing an article of food (such as exemplary meat M) against the upper surface of the base  120 . 
     As shown, the at least one strap  136  preferably includes a plurality of straps, the straps  136  extending both longitudinally and laterally across the upper surface of base  120  to securely hold meat M to the upper surface thereof. 
     Further, a pair of longitudinally extending shafts  142  extend from longitudinally opposed side edges of the base  120 . The shafts  142  are adapted for supporting and selectively rotating the base  120  in the rotary grill. Preferably, at least one gear  140  is mounted on at least one of shafts  142  for engaging with the drive gear  22  of the rotary grill. 
     The embodiment of  FIG. 5  is similar to the food retainer  126  of  FIG. 3 , but the food retainer  326  of  FIG. 5  includes a base  320  that is formed as a wire rack, similar to a conventional metal wire rack used in grills, ovens and the like, rather than the perforated plate  120  of  FIG. 3 . At least one strap  336  extends across an upper surface of the base  320 . Although the base  320  is shown as being substantially rectangular, it should be understood that base  320  may have any desired shape or relative dimensions. As in the previous embodiment, the strap(s)  336  is (are) preferably formed from a flame and heat-resistant material, such as metal wire or the like, and the strap(s)  336  is (are) adapted for releasably securing an article of food (such as exemplary meat M) against the upper surface of the base  320 . 
     The at least one strap  336  preferably includes a plurality of straps, the straps  336  extending both longitudinally and laterally across the upper surface of the base  320  to securely hold meat M to the upper surface thereof. 
     Further, a pair of shafts  342  extend from opposed side edges of the base  320 . The shafts  342  are adapted for supporting and selectively rotating the base  320  in the rotary grill  10 . Preferably, at least one gear  340  is mounted on at least one of shafts  342  for engaging with the drive gear  22  of the rotary grill  10 . 
     In the further alternative embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the food retainer  226  includes a mesh cage having an inner cylindrical mesh wall  210 , an outer cylindrical mesh wall  212  positioned coaxially with respect to the inner cylindrical wall  210 , a side mesh wall  214  and an axially opposed open end  216 , the cage defining a cylindrical shell or elongated torus. The inner and outer cylindrical mesh walls  210 ,  212  are spaced apart from one another so that an article of food (such as exemplary piece of meat M) may be received and securely held therebetween. 
     The mesh cage is preferably formed from a thermally conductive metal, the entire cage being formed from metal wire mesh. Preferably, the inner and outer cylindrical mesh walls  210 ,  212  are relatively thinly spaced apart (i.e., the radial distance therebetween is relatively small) so that a single piece of meat M, for example, will contact both walls  210 ,  212  and be securely held therebetween during cooking. 
     Additionally, a central shaft  242  is attached to the inner cylindrical mesh wall  210  by a plurality of spokes  230 . The axially opposed ends of the central shaft  242  are adapted for supporting and selectively rotating the mesh cage in the rotary grill  10 . Preferably, at least one gear  240  is mounted on at least one end of the shaft  242  for engaging with the drive gear  22  of the rotary grill  10 . 
     In the alternative embodiment of  FIG. 6 , the food retainer  426  has a pair of axially opposed circular frame members  422  and a plurality of axially extending spits or skewers  420  removably mounted thereon and extending therebetween. The skewers  420  are preferably conventional cooking skewers. The circular frame members  422  may be plate disks, or a wire circle supported by radially extending spokes. The circular frame members  422  have a plurality of radially spaced loops or eyelets  430  extending outward from their circumference, the spits or skewers  420  being selectively mounted in the eyelets  430  to maintain adequate spacing between the articles of food disposed on the skewers  420 . Mounting the skewers outside the circumference of the circular frame members  422  maintains proper exposure to heat, maintains proper air circulation, and minimizes fouling of the retainer  426  by drippings from fats or sauces. 
     The skewers  420  are each adapted for receiving and securely holding at least one article of food, as is conventionally known. A central shaft  442  extends through the circular frame members  422 , being secured thereto by a plurality of radially extending spokes  412  in the case of a wire circle, or by collars, sleeves, or bushings when the circular frame members are plate disks. The central shaft  442  is adapted for supporting and selectively rotating the mesh cage in the rotary grill  10 . Preferably, at least one gear  440  is mounted on at least one end of the shaft  442  for engaging the drive gear  22  of the rotary grill  10 . 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.