Patent Publication Number: US-2020288910-A1

Title: Rotisserie assemblies and methods of making and using the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/817,417 filed on Mar. 12, 2019 and entitled “ROTISSERIE ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME”, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to rotisserie assemblies. The present invention is further directed to methods of making and using rotisserie assemblies. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Efforts continue to further develop rotisserie assemblies for use with grills such as KUDU® grills as disclosed in (1) U.S. Design Pat. Nos. D796655 and D801495, and (2) U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0303741, now, U.S. Pat. No. 10,588,455, the subject matter of all of which is herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention contributes to the efforts to further develop rotisserie assemblies by the discovery of new rotisserie assemblies. 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to rotisserie assemblies. In one exemplary embodiment, the rotisserie assembly of the present invention comprises: a bracket that is attachable to a single rod member extending upward proximate a heat source; and a rotating rod positionable within and extending from the bracket, wherein a portion of the rotating rod is positionable over the heat source (i) while being connected to the single rod member extending upward proximate the heat source via the bracket and (ii) without being supported by any other component positioned proximate the heat source. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the rotisserie assembly of the present invention comprise: a bracket that is attachable to a single rod member extending upward proximate a heat source; a rotating rod positionable within and extending from the bracket, wherein a portion of the rotating rod is positionable over the heat source (i) while being connected to the single rod member extending upward proximate the heat source via the bracket and (ii) without being supported by any other component positioned proximate the heat source; one or more prongs positionable along the rotating rod; a motor sized to rotate the rotating rod, any prongs along the rotating rod, and any food items positioned along the rotating rod; and a motor swivel bracket, the motor swivel bracket being sized and designed to be positionable between the bracket and the motor. 
     The present invention further relates to kits comprising the rotisserie assembly of the present invention. In one exemplary embodiment, the kit comprises the herein-described rotisserie assembly in combination with one or more additional kit component selected from: (I) a base pan member comprising: a base pan member lower wall having a pan outer periphery, and one or more side walls extending upward from said base pan member lower wall and along said pan outer periphery; (II) at least two rod members extending upward along opposite sides of said pan outer periphery; (III) a griddle that is attachable to and detachable from at least one of said at least two rod members; (IV) a grill that is attachable to and detachable from at least one of said at least two rod members; and (V) one or more ring members, each ring member comprising: a ring base having a ring outer periphery, at least two ring connectors along opposite sides of said ring outer periphery, and at least two ring tubular members extending substantially perpendicular to said ring base, said at least two ring tubular members being attached to said ring base via said at least two ring connectors; wherein each ring tubular member has a tubular diameter dun that enables said two or more ring members to be positioned and stacked along said at least two rod members. 
     The present invention further relates to methods of making rotisserie assemblies. In one exemplary embodiment, the method of making a rotisserie assembly comprises: forming a bracket that is attachable to a single rod member extending upward proximate a heat source; and forming a rotating rod positionable within and extending from the bracket, wherein a portion of the rotating rod is positionable over the heat source (i) while being connected to the single rod member extending upward proximate the heat source via the bracket and (ii) without being supported by any other component positioned proximate the heat source. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the method of making a rotisserie assembly comprises: forming a bracket that is attachable to a single rod member extending upward proximate a heat source; forming a rotating rod positionable within and extending from the bracket, wherein a portion of the rotating rod is positionable over the heat source (i) while being connected to the single rod member extending upward proximate the heat source via the bracket and (ii) without being supported by any other component positioned proximate the heat source; forming one or more prongs positionable along the rotating rod; forming a motor sized to rotate the rotating rod, any prongs along the rotating rod, and any food items positioned along the rotating rod; and forming a motor swivel bracket, the motor swivel bracket being sized and designed to be positionable between the bracket and the motor. 
     The present invention even further relates to methods of using rotisserie assemblies. In one exemplary embodiment, the method of using a rotisserie assembly comprises: positioning any one of the herein-described rotisserie assemblies so that at least a portion of the rotisserie assembly is positionable over a heat source. Methods of using the rotisserie assemblies of the present invention may include, but are not limited to, any one of the following steps: incorporating one or more food items to be heated onto the rotating rod of the rotisserie assembly and/or one or more optional prongs positioned along the rotating rod; incorporating one or more food items to be heated onto the rotating rod of the rotisserie assembly and/or one or more optional prongs positioned along the rotating rod; positioning the rotating rod of the rotisserie assembly within the bracket so as to extend from a motor of the rotisserie assembly, thru the bracket, to a position opposite the motor; positioning the rotating rod so as to (i) contact an upper surface of a first rod support member of the bracket, (ii) extend within a rod-engaging member of the motor, and (iii) contact a lower surface of a second rod support member of the bracket, the second rod support member being positioned between the first rod support member and the rod-engaging member of the motor; turning “on” a motor of the rotisserie assembly, the motor being sized to rotate (i) the rotating rod of the rotisserie assembly, (ii) the one or more optional prongs along the rotating rod, and (iii) the one or more optional food items to be heated positioned along the rotating rod; and heating one or more food items over the heat source. 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a review of the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an exemplary rotisserie assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is another side view of the exemplary rotisserie assembly shown in  FIG. 1  as view from an opposite side; 
         FIG. 3  is a view of the exemplary rotisserie assembly shown in  FIG. 2  with some of the exemplary components of the exemplary rotisserie assembly separated from one another; 
         FIG. 4  is a close-up side view of the exemplary bracket and the exemplary rotating rod of the exemplary rotisserie assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a close-up side view of a portion of the exemplary bracket, the exemplary rotating rod, and an exemplary prong along the exemplary rotating rod of the exemplary rotisserie assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a close-up perspective view of the exemplary bracket, the exemplary rotating rod, an exemplary motor, and an exemplary motor swivel bracket of the exemplary rotisserie assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the exemplary bracket of the exemplary rotisserie assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIGS. 7A-7E  depict various views of the exemplary bracket shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the exemplary motor swivel bracket of the exemplary rotisserie assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIGS. 8A-8B  depict various views of the exemplary motor swivel bracket shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the exemplary rotating rod of the exemplary rotisserie assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 9A  depicts a view of the exemplary rotating rod shown in  FIG. 9  as viewed along a length of the exemplary rotating rod from a motor-connecting end of the exemplary rotating rod; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an exemplary prong of the exemplary rotisserie assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIGS. 10A-10B  depict various views of the exemplary prong shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 11  depicts a view of the exemplary rotisserie assembly shown in  FIG. 2  attached to a KUDU® grill; and 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of two exemplary ring members that are suitable for use with the exemplary rotisserie assembly shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     To promote an understanding of the principles of the present invention, descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention follow and specific language is used to describe the specific embodiments. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is intended by the use of specific language. Alterations, further modifications, and such further applications of the principles of the present invention discussed are contemplated as would normally occur to one ordinarily skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. 
     The present invention is directed to rotisserie assemblies. The present invention is further directed to methods of making rotisserie assemblies. The present invention is even further directed to methods of using rotisserie assemblies. 
     The rotisserie assemblies of the present invention, as well as methods of making and using the rotisserie assemblies of the present invention are further described in the following embodiments. 
     Other Embodiments: 
     Rotisserie Assemblies 
     1. A rotisserie assembly  100  comprising: a bracket  10  that is attachable to a single rod member  201  extending upward proximate a heat source  202 ; and a rotating rod  20  positionable within and extending from the bracket  10 , wherein a portion  21  of the rotating rod  20  is positionable over the heat source  202  (i) while being connected to the single rod member  201  extending upward proximate the heat source  202  via the bracket  10  and (ii) without being supported by any other component positioned proximate the heat source  202 . See, for example, exemplary rotisserie assembly  100  shown in  FIGS. 1-11 . See also, for example, exemplary single rod member  201  extending upward proximate heat source  202  within KUDU® grill  200  shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     2. The rotisserie assembly  100  of embodiment 1, further comprising: one or more prongs  30  positionable along the rotating rod  20 . See, for example, exemplary prongs  30  shown in  FIGS. 1-3 and 10-11 . 
     3. The rotisserie assembly  100  of embodiment 2, wherein each prong  30  comprises (i) a prong base  31 , and (ii) two or more prong stakes  32  extending from the prong base  31 . 
     4. The rotisserie assembly  100  of embodiment 3, wherein each prong  30  comprises four prong stakes  32  extending from the prong base  31 . 
     5. The rotisserie assembly  100  of embodiment 3 or 4, wherein each prong base  31  comprises a hole  33  extending therethough, said hole  33  being sized so that a given prong  30  is extendable over and along an outer surface  22  of the rotating rod  20 . See, for example, exemplary prongs  30  shown in  FIGS. 10-10B . 
     6. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 2 to 5, wherein each prong  30  further comprises a prong locking device  34 . See again, for example, exemplary prongs  30  shown in  FIGS. 1-3 and 10-11 . 
     7. The rotisserie assembly  100  of embodiment 6, wherein said prong locking device  34  comprises a first locking screw  34 . 
     8. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 2 to 7, wherein the one or more prongs  30  are positioned along and movable along the rotating rod  20 . 
     9. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 2 to 8, wherein the one or more prongs  30  are positioned along and movable along the portion  21  of the rotating rod  20  that is positionable over the heat source  202 . 
     10. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 2 to 9, wherein the one or more prongs  30  comprise two separate prongs  30 . 
     11. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 1 to 10, further comprising: a motor  40  sized to rotate the rotating rod  20 , any prongs  30  along the rotating rod  20 , and any food items (not shown) positioned along the rotating rod  20 . 
     12. The rotisserie assembly  100  of embodiment 11, wherein (i) the motor  40  is positioned along a first side  12  of said bracket  10 , and (ii) the portion  21  of the rotating rod  20  that is positionable over the heat source  202  is positioned along a second side  13  of said bracket  10 , said second side  13  being opposite said first side  12 . 
     13. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 1 to 10, wherein said rotating rod  20  comprises (i) a motor-engaging end  23  and (ii) a tip end  24  opposite the motor-engaging end  23 , said tip end  24  being unsupported by anything other than said bracket  10 . See, for example, exemplary rotating rod  20  shown in  FIGS. 1-3 and 9-9A . 
     14. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 1 to 13, wherein said bracket  10  comprises (i) a first rotating rod support member  15  proximate a first side  12  of said bracket  10 , and (ii) a second rotating rod support member  16  proximate an opposite second side  13  of said bracket  10 . See, for example, exemplary first rotating rod support member  15  and exemplary second rotating rod support member  16  shown in  FIGS. 2-6 . 
     15. The rotisserie assembly  100  of embodiment 14, wherein each of (i) the first rotating rod support member  15 , and (ii) the second rotating rod support member  16  comprises a set of bearings  17 . See again, for example, each of exemplary first rotating rod support member  15  and exemplary second rotating rod support member  16  in the form of a pair of bearings  17  shown in  FIGS. 2-6 . 
     16. The rotisserie assembly  100  of embodiment 14 or 15, wherein said rotating rod  20  is positionable within the bracket  10  so as to (i) extend within a rod-engaging member  41  of the motor  40 , (ii) contact a lower surface  18  of the first rotating rod support member  15 , (iii) contact an upper surface  19  of the second rotating rod support member  16 , and (iv) exit said bracket  10  so that the portion  21  of the rotating rod  20  that is positionable over the heat source  202  is opposite the motor  40 . See again,  FIGS. 2-6 . 
     17. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 1 to 16, wherein said bracket  10  comprises at least one rod-engaging hole  101  within an outer surface  102  of the bracket  10 , each of the at least one rod-engaging hole  101  being sized to accept the single rod member  201  extending upward proximate the heat source  202 . See again, for example, each exemplary rod-engaging hole  101  shown in  FIGS. 1-7A, 7E and 11 . 
     18. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 1 to 17, wherein said bracket  10  comprises two rod-engaging holes  101  within an outer surface  102  of the bracket  10 , each of the two rod-engaging hole  101  being sized to accept the single rod member  201  extending upward proximate the heat source  202 . 
     19. The rotisserie assembly  100  of embodiment 18, wherein the two rod-engaging holes  201  of the bracket  10  comprise a first rod-engaging hole  101   a  within an upper outer surface  102   a  of the bracket  10 , and a second rod-engaging hole  101   b  within a lower outer surface  102   b  of the bracket  10 . 
     20. The rotisserie assembly  100  of embodiment 19, wherein the two rod-engaging holes  101  of the bracket  10  are positioned proximate the second side  13  of said bracket  10 , away from the motor  40 . 
     21. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said bracket  10  further comprises a bracket locking device  105 , said bracket locking device  105  enabling the bracket  10  and the rotisserie assembly  100  to be attached at a location  203  along the single rod member  201 . See, for example, exemplary bracket locking device  105  shown in  FIGS. 1-2 and 4 . 
     22. The rotisserie assembly  100  of embodiment 21, wherein said bracket locking device  105  comprises a second locking screw  105 . 
     23. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 11 to 22, further comprising: a motor swivel bracket  50 , said motor swivel bracket  50  being sized and designed to be positionable between the bracket  10  and the motor  40 . See, for example, exemplary motor swivel bracket  50  shown in  FIGS. 1-4, 6 and 8-8B . 
     24. The rotisserie assembly  100  of embodiment 23, wherein said motor swivel bracket  50  comprises (i) a motor swivel bracket base member  51 , and (ii) a male connector  52  extending from the motor swivel bracket base member  51 , said male connector  52  being sized and designed so as to engage with a corresponding female connector  106  on said bracket  10 . 
     25. The rotisserie assembly  100  of embodiment 24, wherein said motor swivel bracket  50  further comprises a cutout  53  along an upper edge  54  of the motor swivel bracket base member  51 , said cutout  53  being sized so that the motor-engaging end  23  of the rotating rod  20  can extend therethrough. 
     26. The rotisserie assembly  100  of embodiment 24 or 25, wherein said motor swivel bracket  50  further comprises one or more connecting features  55  that enable said motor swivel bracket  50  to be connected to said motor  40 . The one or more connecting features  55  may comprise any material/feature that enables connection of motor swivel bracket  50  to motor  40 . Suitable materials/features include, but are not limited to, a weld, a mechanical fastener (e.g., screw, screw hole, an engaging edge, etc.), an adhesive, etc. 
     27. The rotisserie assembly  100  of embodiment 26, wherein said one or more connecting features  55  comprise two connecting features  55  extending along opposite side edges  56  of said motor swivel bracket  50 . 
     28. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 23 to 27, wherein said motor  40  further comprises one or more motor connecting features  45  that enable the motor  40  to be connected to the motor swivel bracket  50 . See,  FIG. 3 . 
     29. The rotisserie assembly  100  of embodiment 27 or 28, wherein said motor  40  further comprises one or more motor connecting features  45  that enable the motor  40  to be connected to the motor swivel bracket  50  via the two connecting features  55  extending along opposite side edges  56  of said motor swivel bracket  50 . 
     30. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 24 to 29, wherein said bracket  10  further comprises a corresponding female connector  106  that engages with the male connector  52  extending from the motor swivel bracket base member  51 . 
     31. The rotisserie assembly  100  of embodiment 30, wherein said corresponding female connector  106  comprises a channel  106 ′ extending into said bracket  10  from the first side  15  of the bracket  10 . 
     32. The rotisserie assembly  100  of embodiment 31, wherein said channel  106 ′ comprises a side opening  107  sized so that a motor swivel bracket locking device  108  can extend through the side opening  107  into the channel  106 ′. See, for example,  FIGS. 7A and 7E . 
     33. The rotisserie assembly  100  of embodiment 32, wherein said bracket  10  further comprises a motor swivel bracket locking device  108 , said motor swivel bracket locking device  108  enabling the motor swivel bracket  50  and the bracket  10  to be attached to one another. See, for example,  FIGS. 1 and 4 . 
     34. The rotisserie assembly  100  of embodiment 33, wherein said motor swivel bracket locking device  108  comprises a third locking screw  108 . 
     35. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 1 to 34, wherein said rotating rod  20  comprises (i) a rotating rod length L RR  and (ii) a rotating rod cross-sectional area A RR  that changes long the rotating rod length L RR . See, for example,  FIGS. 9 and 9A . It should be understood that each of the components within the rotisserie assembly  100  of the present invention may have any dimensions. Typically, the rotating rod  20  has a rotating rod length L RR  ranging from about 6.0 inches (in.) to about 42.0 in. Typically, the rotisserie assembly  100  has an overall length ranging from about 8.0 in. to about 50.0 in. 
     36. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 13 to 35, wherein the motor-engaging end  23  of said rotating rod  20  comprises a rotating rod cross-sectional area A RR  having a cross-sectional shape other than a circular shape. As shown in  FIG. 9A , exemplary motor-engaging end  23  of rotating rod  20  has a cross-sectional area A RR  shape in the form of a square shape. 
     37. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 13 to 36, wherein the motor-engaging end  23  of said rotating rod  20  comprises a rotating rod cross-sectional area A RR  having a cross-sectional shape selected from a triangular shape, a square shape, a rectangular shape, a star shape, or any other multi-sided shape. 
     38. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 13 to 37, wherein the motor-engaging end  23  of said rotating rod  20  comprises a rotating rod cross-sectional area A RR  having a square cross-sectional shape. 
     39. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 13 to 37, wherein the tip end  24  of said rotating rod  20  comprises an end point  25  that is capable of penetrating a food item (not shown). 
     40. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 14 to 37, wherein contact portions  26  of said rotating rod  20  that come into contact with (i) the first rotating rod support member  15 , and (ii) the second rotating rod support member  16  comprise a rotating rod cross-sectional area A RR  having a circular cross-sectional shape. See again,  FIG. 9 . 
     41. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 35 to 40, wherein a majority of the rotating rod length L RR  (i.e., greater than 50%) comprises a rotating rod cross-sectional area A RR  that has a cross-sectional shape other than a circular shape. See again,  FIG. 9 . 
     42. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 35 to 41, wherein a majority of the rotating rod length L RR  comprises a rotating rod cross-sectional area A RR  that has a square cross-sectional shape or a hexagonal cross-sectional shape. 
     43. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 35 to 42, wherein a majority of the rotating rod length L RR  comprises a rotating rod cross-sectional area A RR  that has a hexagonal cross-sectional shape. 
     44. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 1 to 43, in combination with the single rod member  201  extending upward proximate a heat source  202 . 
     45. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 1 to 44, wherein the heat source  202  comprises charcoal or other combustible material (not shown) positioned within a grill  200  or fire pit  200 . 
     46. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 1 to 45, in combination with a KUDU® grill  200  (or any grill/fire pit  200  shown and/or described in (1) U.S. Design Pat. Nos. D796655 and D801495, and/or (2) U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0303741). 
     47. The rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 1 to 46, in combination with and attached to the single rod member  201  extending upward proximate a heat source  202 , the single rod member  201  extending upward proximate a heat source  202  comprises a rod component  201  of a KUDU® grill  200  (or any grill/fire pit  200  shown and/or described in (1) U.S. Design Pat. Nos. D796655 and D801495, and/or (2) U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0303741). 
     48. The rotisserie assembly  100  of embodiment 46 or 47, wherein the rotisserie assembly  100  is rotatable along the single rod member  201  so that the portion  21  of the rotating rod  20  that is positionable over the heat source  202  can be rotated from (i) a position over the heat source  202  to (ii) a position not over the heat source  202 , and vice versa. 
     Kits Comprising A Rotisserie Assembly 
     49. A kit  300  comprising the rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 1 to 48; and at least one additional kit component selected from: (I) a base pan member  204  comprising: a base pan member lower wall  205  having a pan outer periphery  206 , and one or more side walls  207  (typically, from 1 to 16, more typically, from 4 to 8 side walls  207 ) extending upward from said base pan member lower wall  205  and along said pan outer periphery  206 ; (II) at least one (typically two) rod members  201  extending upward along opposite sides  208  of said pan outer periphery  206 ; (III) a griddle  209  that is attachable to and detachable from at least one of said at least two rod members  201 ; (IV) a grill  210  that is attachable to and detachable from at least one of said at least two rod members  201 ; and (V) one or more ring members  211  ( FIG. 12 ) each ring member  211  comprising: a ring base  212  having a ring outer periphery  213 , at least two ring connectors  214  along opposite sides  215 / 216  of said ring outer periphery  213 , and at least two ring tubular members  217  extending substantially perpendicular to said ring base  212 , said at least two ring tubular members  217  being attached to said ring base  212  via said at least two ring connectors  214 ; wherein each ring tubular member  217  has a tubular diameter dun that enables said one or more ring members  211  to be positioned and stacked along said at least two rod members  201 . See, for example,  FIGS. 11-12 . 
     Methods of Using Rotisserie Assemblies 
     50. A method of using the rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 1 to 48, said method comprising: positioning the rotisserie assembly  100  so that at least a portion  21  of the rotisserie assembly  100  is positionable over a heat source  202 . 
     51. The method of embodiment 50, wherein the portion  21  of the rotisserie assembly  100  that is positionable over the heat source  202  comprises a rotating rod  20  of the rotisserie assembly  100  and one or more optional prongs  30  positioned along the rotating rod  20 . 
     52. The method of embodiment 50 or 51, further comprising: incorporating one or more food items to be heated (not shown) onto the rotating rod  20  and/or one or more optional prongs  30  positioned along the rotating rod  20 . 
     53. The method of any one of embodiments 50 to 52, further comprising: incorporating one or more prongs  30  onto the rotating rod  20  of the rotisserie assembly  100 . 
     54. The method of any one of embodiments 50 to 53, further comprising: moving one or more prongs  30  along the rotating rod  20  of the rotisserie assembly  100 . 
     55. The method of any one of embodiments 50 to 54, further comprising: locking one or more prongs  30  in set positions along the rotating rod  20  of the rotisserie assembly  100 . 
     56. The method of any one of embodiments 50 to 55, further comprising: unlocking one or more prongs  30  so as to be movable along the rotating rod  20  of the rotisserie assembly  100 . 
     57. The method of any one of embodiments 50 to 56, further comprising: removing one or more prongs  30  from the rotating rod  20  of the rotisserie assembly  100 . 
     58. The method of any one of embodiments 50 to 57, wherein the one or more prongs  30  (or optional prongs  30 ) comprise two separate prongs  30 . 
     59. The method of any one of embodiments 50 to 58, further comprising: positioning the rotating rod  20  of the rotisserie assembly  100  within the bracket  10  so as to extend from a motor  40  of the rotisserie assembly  100 , thru the bracket  10 , to a position  21  opposite the motor  40 . 
     60. The method of embodiment 59, wherein said positioning the rotating rod  20  comprises: positioning the rotating rod  20  so as to (i) contact a lower surface  18  of a first rod support member  15  of the bracket  10 , (ii) extend within a rod-engaging member  41  of the motor  40 , and (iii) contact an upper surface  19  of a second rod support member  16  of the bracket  10 , the first rod support member  15  being positioned between the second rod support member  16  and the rod-engaging member  41  of the motor  40 . 
     61. The method of embodiment 60, wherein the rotating rod  20  has one or more prongs  30  positioned along the rotating rod  20 . 
     62. The method of embodiment 60 or 61, wherein the rotating rod  20  has one or more food items to be heated (not shown) positioned along the rotating rod  20 . 
     63. The method of any one of embodiments 50 to 62, further comprising: turning “on” a motor  40  of the rotisserie assembly  100 , the motor  40  being sized to rotate (i) the rotating rod  20  of the rotisserie assembly  100 , (ii) the one or more optional prongs  30  along the rotating rod  20 , and (iii) the one or more optional food items to be heated (not shown) positioned along the rotating rod  20 . 
     64. The method of any one of embodiments 50 to 63, further comprising: heating one or more food items (not shown) over the heat source  202 . 
     65. The method of any one of embodiments 50 to 64, wherein said positioning step comprises: attaching the bracket  10  of the rotisserie assembly  100  to a single rod member  201  extending upward along an outer edge  220  of the heat source  202 . 
     66. The method of any one of embodiments 50 to 65, wherein said positioning step comprises: attaching the bracket  10  of the rotisserie assembly  100  to a single rod member  201  of a KUDU® grill  200  (or any grill/fire pit  200  shown and/or described in (1) U.S. Design Pat. Nos. D796655 and D801495, and/or (2) U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0303741). 
     67. The method of embodiment 65 or 66, wherein said attaching step enables the rotisserie assembly  100  to rotate along the single rod member  201  so that the portion  21  of the rotisserie assembly  100  that is positionable over the heat source  202  can be rotated from (i) a position over the heat source  202  to (ii) a position not over the heat source  202 , and vice versa. 
     68. The method of any one of embodiments 65 to 67, wherein said attaching step enables the portion  21  of the rotisserie assembly  100  that is positionable over the heat source  202  to be suspended over the heat source  202  without having to support a free end (i.e., tip end  24 ) of the rotating rod  20  (i.e., as shown in the figures, the rotisserie assembly  100  of the present invention is not supported on each end, but instead is supported solely by the bracket  10  of the rotisserie assembly  100 , namely, a single support along one edge  220  of the heat source  202 , not two as customarily used in known rotisserie systems). 
     69. The method of any one of embodiments 65 to 68, wherein said attaching step comprises extending the single rod member  201  thru at least one rod-engaging hole  101  within the bracket  10  of the rotisserie assembly  100 . 
     70. The method of any one of embodiments 65 to 69, wherein said attaching step comprises extending the single rod member  201  thru two rod-engaging holes  101  within the bracket  10  of the rotisserie assembly  100 . 
     71. The method of embodiment 70, wherein the two rod-engaging holes  101  of the bracket  10  comprise a first rod-engaging hole  101   a  within an upper outer surface  102   a  of the bracket  10 , and a second rod-engaging hole  101   b  within a lower outer surface  102   b  of the bracket  10 . 
     72. The method of any one of embodiments 65 to 71, further comprising: removing the rotisserie assembly  100  from the single rod member  201 . 
     Methods of Making Rotisserie Assemblies 
     73. A method of making the rotisserie assembly  100  of any one of embodiments 1 to 48 or the kit  200  of embodiment  49 , said method comprising: forming the bracket  10 ; and forming the rotating rod  20 . 
     74. The method of embodiment 73, wherein said method comprises forming the one or more prongs  30  positionable along the rotating rod  20 . 
     75. The method of embodiment 73 or 74, wherein said method comprises forming the motor  40  sized to rotate the rotating rod  20 , any prongs  30  along the rotating rod  20 , and any food items (not shown) positioned along the rotating rod  20 . 
     76. The method of any one of embodiments 73 to 75, wherein said method comprises forming the motor swivel bracket  50 , the motor swivel bracket  50  being sized and designed to be positionable between the bracket  10  and the motor  40 . 
     77. The method of any one of embodiments 73 to 76, wherein each forming step independently comprises at least one of: a machining step, a stamping step, a welding step, a cutting step, a thermoforming step (e.g., molding, injection molding, extruding, etc.), a heat-setting step, an assembling step, a testing step, or any combination thereof. 
     It should be understood that although the above-described rotisserie assemblies, kits and methods are described as “comprising” one or more components or steps, the above-described rotisserie assemblies, kits and methods may “comprise,” “consists of,” or “consist essentially of” any of the above-described components or steps of the rotisserie assemblies, kits and/or methods. Consequently, where the present invention, or a portion thereof, has been described with an open-ended term such as “comprising,” it should be readily understood that (unless otherwise stated) the description of the present invention, or the portion thereof, should also be interpreted to describe the present invention, or a portion thereof, using the terms “consisting essentially of” or “consisting of” or variations thereof as discussed below. 
     As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having,” “contains”, “containing,” “characterized by” or any other variation thereof, are intended to encompass a non-exclusive inclusion, subject to any limitation explicitly indicated otherwise, of the recited components. For example, a rotisserie assembly, kit and/or method that “comprises” a list of elements (e.g., components or steps) is not necessarily limited to only those elements (or components or steps), but may include other elements (or components or steps) not expressly listed or inherent to the rotisserie assembly, kit and/or method. 
     As used herein, the transitional phrases “consists of” and “consisting of” exclude any element, step, or component not specified. For example, “consists of” or “consisting of” used in a claim would limit the claim to the components, materials or steps specifically recited in the claim except for impurities ordinarily associated therewith (i.e., impurities within a given component). When the phrase “consists of” or “consisting of” appears in a clause of the body of a claim, rather than immediately following the preamble, the phrase “consists of” or “consisting of” limits only the elements (or components or steps) set forth in that clause; other elements (or components) are not excluded from the claim as a whole. 
     As used herein, the transitional phrases “consists essentially of” and “consisting essentially of” are used to define a protective rotisserie assembly, kit and/or method that includes materials, steps, features, components, or elements, in addition to those literally disclosed, provided that these additional materials, steps, features, components, or elements do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. The term “consisting essentially of” occupies a middle ground between “comprising” and “consisting of”. 
     Further, it should be understood that the herein-described rotisserie assemblies, kits and/or methods may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of any of the herein-described components and features, as shown in the figures with or without any feature(s) not shown in the figures. In other words, in some embodiments, the rotisserie assemblies, kits and/or methods of the present invention do not have any additional features other than those shown in the figures, and such additional features, not shown in the figures, are specifically excluded from the rotisserie assemblies, kits and/or methods. In other embodiments, the rotisserie assemblies, kits and/or methods of the present invention do have one or more additional features that are not shown in the figures. 
     The present invention is further illustrated by the following examples, which are not to be construed in any way as imposing limitations upon the scope thereof. On the contrary, it is to be clearly understood that resort may be had to various other embodiments, modifications, and equivalents thereof which, after reading the description herein, may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention and/or the scope of the appended claims. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     Rotisserie assemblies and kits, similar to exemplary rotisserie assemblies  100  and exemplary kit  300  shown in  FIGS. 1-12 , were prepared. 
     While the specification has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to these embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be assessed as that of the appended claims and any equivalents thereto.