Patent Publication Number: US-2023148244-A1

Title: Portable thermal convection rotisserie and barbeque apparatus for use in a variety of settings

Description:
FIELD 
     The embodiments presented provide a portable temperature regulated rotisserie and barbeque apparatus, and in particular, a portable thermal convection rotisserie and barbequeapparatus which regulates temperature and air flow using an integrated free-spinning fan to provide an optimal and consistent temperature within the housing. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Rotisserie cooking devices, smokers, roasters, barbeques and various types thereof are all known in the art. A rotisserie is a device that causes food to pass over a heating element slowly and repeatedly by utilizing rotation. Rotisserie cooking typically requires a main cooker body, a heat source, a rotisserie spit comprised of a rod that extends the length of the cooker and is designed to skewer and hold the food to be cooked, and a means for rotating the spit so that the food, when placed on the spit and inside the cooker body, passes over the heat source at a rate that allows for uniform cooking. 
     There is a growing trend in the art for creating portable cooking devices that utilize a natural heat source such as coal, wood, or similar fuels and which does not require several devices, attachments, or additional power sources to cook various foods in outdoor living spacesand mobile outdoor gatherings such as “tailgates.” Standard barbeques and other portable cooking devices do not require an additional power source and are often made to be at least minimally portable by using collapsible bases, wheels, and locking mechanisms for transport. 
     Some of these standard barbeques and other portable cooking devices further incorporate means for cooking or preparing the meat with a smoker. Additionally, some of these standard barbequesand other portable cooking devices further incorporate or allow for the addition of a rotisserie device to rotate a spit holding meat over the existing heating source. 
     Smokers have been introduced as both standalone systems or add-on devices in order to cook and prepare meat with a smoking process. The process of smoking meat requires cooking at a substantially lower temperature over a longer period of time than many other cooking methods utilize. Moreover, because most smokers do not incorporate the rotation involved in a rotisserie, they typically require a certain distance be maintained from the heat source and smoking to prevent overexposure to either element and ensure even cooking and smoking. 
     Rotisserie devices have been introduced as both standalone systems and add-on devices, either of which operates by requiring motors that typically use an electric power source or relying on manual human input. Because most rotisserie devices that independently rotate the spit require electrically powered motors, they are often permanently affixed to the cooking spacewhere it is used, or they are limited to use only where there is a readily accessible electrical power source. Further, the additional components and accessories required for rotisseries with electrically powered motors reduce portability and increase the risk of malfunction. Rotisseries that utilize manual human input to maintain the rotation of the spit and food require the human input to remain measured and consistent during the long period of time necessary for rotisserie cooking. 
     Though there are rotisserie or barbeque system known in the art such as U.S. Pat. No 5,497,697 to Promny; U.S. Pat. No 5,355,778 to Mayfield; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,215,338 to Schirmer; there is no single reference which discloses the features of the embodiments provided. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiments provided describe a portable thermal convection rotisserie and barbequing apparatus which includes a housing containing a free-standing spit shaft with a releasably attached centrifugal fan blade which rotates the food mounted on the spit shaft and spit shaft forks by regulating the air flow within the hollow housing. The removable spit shaft includes a tungsten steel tip which is seated within an anchor of a planar drip pan. The apparatus further includes a planar drip pan at the bottom end which may be attached and detached using a latching mechanism and a fuel basket seated within a recessed portion of the housing and may be removed by shifting the securing latches between the open and closed position and pulling on the attached grip of the heat shield portion. The charcoal plate located at the back side of the housing further includes a rectangular shaped heat shield anchored to a charcoal plate to prevent burns to the user when placing or removing hot charcoals. 
     The apparatus includes a wood pellet basket located inside the housing at the front end which allows the user to insert soaked or dry wood chips to create a smoky flavor. When using the apparatus for barbequing, the user may simply add a fuel source within the fuel basket and regulate the air flow using the set of vent panels located on the front end of the apparatus. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG.  1   . is a perspective view of a portable thermal convection rotisserie and barbeque apparatus; 
         FIG.  2    is view of the apparatus with the fuel basket panel removed from the back side; 
         FIG.  3    is an exploded view of the apparatus; and 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus including the plurality of integrated components. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of embodiments described herein are set forth in this application. Any specific details of the embodiments are used for demonstration purposes only, and no unnecessary limitation or inferences are to be understood therefrom. Furthermore, as used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” “and” “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship, or order between such entities or elements. 
     There is shown in the embodiments a portable thermal convection rotisserie and barbeque apparatus which enables selected foods to be mounted on the elongated spit shaft using a plurality of spit forks at various heights. The encapsulated food within the hollow housing is then rotated at the same rate as the centrifugal fan at the top end. The apparatus may be controlled using a variety of fuel sources such as charcoal, wood, other flammable sources which may be stored within a rectangular grate (i.e., fuel basket) attached to a removable portion of the back end. The centrifugal fan and internal temperature are regulated by the flow of air which enters the housing through a set of sliding doors at the front side and which exit between each of the evenly spaced concave blades of the centrifugal fan. 
     Traditional rotisserie or barbeque systems use an integrated motor which acts to rotate the spit shaft at a predetermined rate until the encapsulated food is cooked to a desired temperature. These traditional designs are limited in their portability and use due to their dependence on an electrical source. The current apparatus utilizes convection cooking to rotate the centrifugal fan and cook the food faster with a more uniform internal temperature wherein the air flow through the centrifugal fan controls the rotational rate of the spit shaft. 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the views, there is shown in  FIG.  1    a portable thermal convection rotisserie and barbeque apparatus  10  which may be used in a variety of commercial and residential settings. The apparatus  10  includes a housing  12  having a hollow internal region  14  which enables selectively encapsulated food to be cooked using natural convection airflow which allows the food to be cooked approximately 25% faster than traditional rotisserie and barbeque systems. The air flow through the internal region  14  allows the outside of the meat to be cooked using convection while the interior is cooked using conduction and/or radiation. The apparatus includes a removable bottom drip pan  16 , elongated spit  18 , and centrifugal fan  19  at the top side  20 . 
     The housing  12  is cylindrically-shaped including having a hollow top side  20  and bottom side  22 . The housing  12  further includes a set of carrying handles  24  which are mounted opposite one another along a mid-portion of the housing  26 . The housing further includes a set of securing fasteners  28  affixed along a bottom portion of housing  30  which allows the removable bottom drip pan  16  to be secured during use and removed for washing. 
     Along the front side of the housing  32  is a set of front doors  34  recessed within the housing  12  and further including a set of handles  36  located on each of the front doors which allow the user to slide the doors between an open and closed position and provide access to the internal region of the housing  14 . The set of front doors  34  control the primary air flow to the heat source and centrifugal fan  19 . If too much air is received, there will be a loss of heat and excessive fuel burn resulting is a loss of efficiency. Further located on the front side of the housing  32  just below the set of front doors  34  is the substantially elongated slidable vent panels  38  which control air flow to the internal region of the housing  14 . Similar to a traditional stove design, air flow to the apparatus  10  is the key ingredient to efficiency. As illustrated in  FIG.  1    the elongated vent panels  38  are located below the fuel source of the apparatus  10 . 
     Similar to any convection cooking, the heat received from fuel sources enables thousands of vibrating air molecules which transfer the heat energy to the meat mounted on the elongated spit  18 . These highly excited and heated air molecules attached along the surface of the meat slowly transfer their thermal energy towards the center of the encapsulated food. It is contemplated the housing  12  and bottom drip pan  16  are comprised of a stainless steel material with thermal conductivity between 7 and 26 Btu/(hr °F ft); however, any suitable heat resistant metal which facilitates thermal convection may be used. 
     Shown in  FIG.  2    is a view of the back side of the apparatus  40  with the rear charcoal panel  42  removed to enable access to the fuel basket (i.e., crate)  43  along the inside surface of the housing  44 . In preparation for a barbeque, the user may first slide the securing latches  45  located on the back side of the apparatus to an unlocked position  46 . The user may then pull on the rear grip  47  attached to the heat shield  48  to remove the rear fuel basket panel  42  recessed within the housing  12 . The user may then add charcoal or wood within the rectangular shaped fuel basket  43  which may be pre-soaked with water or lighter fluid. When complete the user may then return the rear charcoal panel  43  within a recessed portion of the housing  49  and slide the securing latch  45  to the secured position. 
     Shown in  FIG.  3    is an exploded view of the apparatus  10  including the spit shaft  18  which includes a top end  50  and bottom end  51 . The top end of the spit shaft  18  includes a shaft seat  52 , fan base beam  53 , and securing nut  54 . When fully assembled the centrifugal fan  19  is placed on and over the shaft seat  52  and fan base beam  53  which restrict any vertical movement of the spit shaft  18  while rotating. To further secure the centrifugal fan  19  about the spit shaft  18  is the securing nut  54 . As seen in  FIGS.  1 ,  2  and  4   , the fan  19  is contained within an interior top end of the housing and configured to rotate the spit shaft at a variety of speeds using a controlled air source. 
     Further illustrated on the centrifugal fan  19  is the plurality of concave blades  55  which control the air flow using the concave pitch design of each blade which enables a high volume air flow to rotate the spit shaft  18 . The rotational speed of the centrifugal fan is proportional to the air regulated into the internal region  14  using the vent panels  38  and set of front doors  34 . As with any grilling, air flow to the heat source and fuel is critical. When warming up the apparatus  10  for cooking, the front doors  34  are placed in a completely open position to allow as much intake oxygen to the fuel source until a desired temperature is achieved. Once heated to a desired temperature and the apparatus  10  is ready for cooking, the set of front doors  34  is transitioned to a partially closed position to suppress the intake air flow. The vent panels  38  are located below the bottom portion of the removable rectangular shaped fuel basket  62  and provide air flow to the bottom of the fuel source. Further located at the bottom end of spit shaft  51  is circular-shaped collecting (i.e., containment) pan  61  having a uniform sidewall  56  to capture any external juices dripping from the encapsulated food. 
     The spit shaft  18  is further designed to allow a plurality of spit forks  57  to be positioned and rotated about the spit shaft to a desired height. The spit forks  57  include a locking clamp  58  that can move up/down along the spit shaft  18  and be locked into place by twisting the locking clamp when a desired height is achieved. Further shown in  FIG.  3    is a wood chip basket designed to be seated within the hollow internal region  14  at the front side of housing  32  to provide a smoky wood flavor the encapsulated food. 
     Shown in  FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus  10  including the spiked bottom end of the spit shaft  51  placed with the spit shaft anchor  60  attached to the bottom drip pan  16 . 
     After use, the apparatus  10  may be disassembled by first removing the securing nut  54  at the topend of the spit shaft  50  and to access the centrifugal fan  19  and fan base beam  53 . The user may then unseat the spit shaft  18  from the spit shaft anchor  60 . If the coals contained within the fuel basket  43  are still hot, the user may elect to remove the drip pan  16  by un-securing each of the set of securing fasteners  28  and discarding any residue collected. Once the coals have reached a safe temperature, the user may place the securing latches  45  in an unlocked position  46  to accessthe fuel basket  43 . 
     It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present embodiment is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the following claims.