Abstract:
A holder for shish kabob skewers having a body and a plurality of bores in one side thereof sized and shaped to simultaneously receive at least two spaced skewers. Each holder also having a knob for grasping and rotating the holder. Preferably, a heat shield at least partially surrounds the grasping knob. The bores being have separate regions adapted to receive skewers of different sizes. The holders being constructed of a low heat retention material, especially silicone to facilitate direct pick up from a grill by a user.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/904,932 filed Mar. 5, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is directed to a holder for skewers of the type used in preparing shish kabob and related food&#39;s on a grill. 
         [0003]    The term shish kabob generally refers to both a method and a food type wherein meats and/or vegetables are skewered in side by side fashion on a relatively thin skewer and then placed on a barbeque grill or the like for cooking. There are some other related food preparation techniques that use skewers in a similar manner. 
         [0004]    An inherent problem with preparing shish kabob is that the food is seldom skewered through the center of gravity of each piece, such that on one side of the skewer each piece of food is usually heavier than the other side. The food is also often slippery or becomes that way during cooking. Consequently, when the skewer is rotated to cook the food on an opposite side, the food often partially or totally rotates on the skewer, so that additional tools or utensils such as tongs or spatulas must be used to try to rotate the food and this often works poorly. 
         [0005]    Furthermore, the skewers are frequently constructed of strips of bamboo with sharpened ends. When used on a grill, bamboo skewers of this type tend to burn at the ends and can become very hot. A user can therefore become burned by the skewer in trying to rotate or reposition the food or remove the food from the grill if the user touches the ends with their skin. While metal skewers are available and do not burn, such have relatively high heat capacity and store substantial heat so that they can also burn a user who tries to pick up the skewer by the ends with the user&#39;s fingers and are more expensive than the bamboo. 
         [0006]    While prior art has attempted to resolve some of the problems for example by placing the skewers in a rack or by having expensive holders with sliding removal apparatus, such devices are comparatively expensive and do not function with simple bamboo skewers and the like. Because grocery stores are now preparing shish kabob and do not want to include expensive skewers with the food that would substantially increase the cost of the product, it is desirable to find a system that functions well with conventional bamboo skewers, but can use other types of skewers also. 
         [0007]    Therefore, a device was found to be needed that would function with simple conventional skewers, would prevent the food from rotating relative to the skewers and which would allow a user to pick up the skewers by hand while on the grill for rotation or removal without the user becoming burnt. Finally, it is preferred that such a device also control multiple skewers so that skewers could be used in pairs and that multiple skewers can be handled by the same device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    A handle for preferably holding a plurality of skewers, especially in multiple skewer pairs. The handle is also preferably used in pairs so as to be positioned at opposite ends of the skewers. 
         [0009]    Each handle includes a body with a series of parallel and spaced bores on one side thereof. The bores have a progressively narrowing or step down diameter, so as to allow the bores to snugly receive skewers of different diameter. The bores are positioned to hold pairs of skewers wherein each skewer of a pair passes through the same food items in parallel but spaced relationship to each other to prevent rotation of the food about a single skewer. 
         [0010]    The handle also has a central axis parallel to the bores and a turning knob that extends coaxially with the axis and opposite the skewer openings for the bores. The knob is comparatively thin and includes axial aligned outer ridges to help a user grip the knob. 
         [0011]    The entire handle is preferably constructed of a low heat capacity material and especially a US Federal Drug Administration approved silicone having a durometer shore A value of from 70-80 and a degradation temperature of about 506° Fahrenheit. Each handle transfers little heat to a user upon touching and thereby allows a user to both rotate the food and remove it form the grill by grasping the handle. The knob facilitates rotation of the food while at the grill. Ribs are provided on grasping knobs for the handles to reduce the surface area of the handle device that directly touches the user, thereby reducing heat transfer. Each handle preferably holds two skewers, such that food is loaded onto both skewers at the same time, so as to more easily maintain a parallel orientation of the skewers and skewered region of the food. 
         [0012]    In certain embodiments a shield is provided to divert heat from the grasping knob. The shield can be hemispherical in shape or partially hemispherical to allow for easier grasping. 
         [0013]    The handles allow a user to turn, rotate, flip or remove the food from the grill or other heating surface by allowing contact of limited duration without burning or overheating the skin of the user. 
       OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Therefore, the objects of the present invention are: to provide a holder for use in conjunction with skewers on a grill or other cooking surface that have low heat capacity and allow a user to pick up the holder from the grill by hand without the holder burning the user; to provide such handles that are constructed of silicone; to provide such a holder used in pairs to receive opposite ends of skewers; to provide such a holder having a plurality of bores with each bore being parallel to other and adapted to receive a single skewer such that pairs of skewers can be inserted though a single group of food pieces and then joined at apposite ends to such handles; to provide such handles having bores that are tapered so as to be adapted to receive skewers of different diameters; to provide such a handle having a turning knob extending coaxially relative to the handle and from an opposite side of the handle that receives the skewers; to provide a handle that incorporates a shield to deflect heat from the grasping knob so as to make it cooler to the touch when removing the kabob from the grill; to provide such a handle that can be adapted to receive multiple pairs of skewers; and to provide such handles that are comparatively easy and inexpensive to make and that are especially will suited for the intended use thereof. 
         [0015]    Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. 
         [0016]    The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is perspective view of a double skewered shish kabob with handles at each end thereof according to the present invention and illustrating the positioning of the shish kabob on a grill and a user&#39;s hands rotating the shish kabob using knobs on the holders. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged and fragmentary side elevational view showing the shish kabob on a grill with one handle. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the handle. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the handle. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the handle, taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of the handle. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the handle similar to  FIG. 5  demonstrating the ability of the handle to receive skewers of different diameters. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a modified handle according to the present inventions. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a front elevational view of the modified handle. 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the modified handles. 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the modified handle. 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the modified handle, taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 , showing two pairs of skewers about to be inserted into the handle. 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  is a bottom plan view of a second modified handle in accordance with the invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 14  is a side elevational view of the second modified handle. 
           [0031]      FIG. 15  is a bottom plan view of a third modified handle in accordance with the invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 16  is a side elevational view of the third modified handle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
         [0034]    A pair of holders or handles  1  are provided for receiving multiple skewers  2  for cooking shish kabob  4  on a grill  5 . The handles  1  are manipulated by fingers  7  of a user&#39;s hands  8 . 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a pair of skewers  2  of the type constructed of bamboo, metal or other suitable material are inserted through various food items such as meat pieces  10  and/or vegetable pieces  11  of the shish kabob  4 . The skewers  2  are parallel to one another and may have pointed or flat ends  13 . The skewers  2  have a specific diameter and skewers in general having standard size diameters may be used in accordance with the invention. For example,  FIG. 7  shows skewers  15 ,  16  and  17  of different diameter. 
         [0036]    Each handle  1  has a body  20  that is generally rectangular, as seen in  FIG. 3 , with the sides  26  and  27  pinched inwardly slightly. Each handle  1  is wider than thick and is sized and shaped to be spaced from the grill  5  during use by the food pieces  10  and  11 , as is seen in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0037]    Located at a front side  29  of each handle  1  are a pair of spaced openings  22  from which parallel and spaced bores  23  extend into the body  20 . Each bore  23  has first, second and third regions  25 ,  26  and  27  of decreasing diameter and each region  25 ,  26  and  27  is sized and shaped to snugly a respective skewer  15 ,  16  and  17 . 
         [0038]    Located on the rear side  30  of the body  20  opposite the openings  22  is a knob  28 . The knob  28  is generally cylindrical and has an axis of rotation A that is coaxial with the axis of rotation of the body  20 . The knob  28  is sized and shaped to be grasped by a user&#39;s fingers  7 , as seen in  FIG. 1  and rotated. The knob  28  has a series of ribs  31  to facilitate grasping. The ribs  31  provide discontinuous engagement of the knob  28  with the skin of the user, as compared to the entire radial outer surface of the knob  28 , so that there is reduced heat transfer to the fingers of the user than if the user grasped the knob  28  without the ribs  31 . 
         [0039]    Each holder  1  is constructed of a low heat capacity and retention material, preferably a silicone. The material of construction is especially a silicone that does not experience heat degradation below about 506° Fahrenheit and has a durometer of Shore A about between 70 and 80. 
         [0040]    In use pairs of skewers  2  are inserted through food pieces or chunks  10  and  11  in spaced but parallel relationship to each other. Skewer ends  13  are inserted in respective bores  23  in opposite handles  1  and pushed until snugly seated by friction or restriction with the bores  23  forming a shish kabob assembly  35 . Most skewers  2  are of the type having a sharp end and a dull or unsharpened end. Normally, the skewers are first both loaded into one handle  1  by the unsharpened end. This way food can be loaded onto the sharpened ends simultaneously and with proper spacing. The shish kabob  4  assembly  35  is then placed on the grill  5 . When one side of the shish kabob  4  is cooked, the user or cooker grasps the knobs  28  using the user&#39;s fingers  7  and rotates the shish kabob  4  to a second side thereof. When fully cooked, the user again grasps the knobs  28  of opposite handles  1  and takes the shish kabob  4  from the grill  5 . The bores  23  preferably pass entirely through each holder  1  to allow for easier cleaning and sanitation. 
         [0041]    A modified handle  100  is shown in  FIGS. 8 through 12 . The handle  100  is similar in many ways to handle  1  and only portions that are different are discussed here. 
         [0042]    The handle  100  has a body  102  that is generally semicircular when viewed from the top, as seen in  FIG. 10 , with a height that is substantially less than the width thereof. 
         [0043]    Extending inwardly from a body front side  103  are six parallel and spaced bores  104 . The bores  104  each have step down regions  105 ,  106  and  107  similar to handle  1 . Extending from a body rear side  110  opposited side  103  is a turning knob  111 . The knob  111  is generally cylindrical with axial extending and grip improving ribs  112 . The knob  111  is coaxial along Axis B with the body. Two fragmentary pairs of skewers  115  are shown in  FIG. 12  just prior to insertion into the far left and right pairs of bores  104 . In this manner two different arrangements of shish kabob can be cooked on the pairs of skewers  115  in side by side relationship. 
         [0044]    Illustrated in  FIGS. 12 and 13  is a skewer handle generally identified by the reference numeral  300 . The handle  300  has certain elements and structure in common with the handle  1  and reference is made to the description of the handle  1  for additional detail. 
         [0045]    The handle  300  includes a generally rectangular body  302  with a rearward projecting grasping knob  303  and a pair of front to rear pass through skewer receiving bores  305  and  306 . 
         [0046]    Projecting rearward from the body  302  and about the knob  303  is a shield  310 . The shield  310  has a truncated hemispherical shape wherein side portions of a hemisphere are removed. The shield  310  is relatively thin and surrounds the knob  303 , but is spaced sufficiently far to allow finger access to the knob  303 . Shield top and bottom portions  311  and  312  are aligned to be located between the fire and the knob  303  during use, whether the handle  300  is bottom side down or top side down when the skewers are turned over. The open spaces on the sides between the top and bottom portions  311  and  312  allow finger access to the knob  303 . It is foreseen that this shield could be parabolic or U-shaped in cross section or a thin semi cylindrical shell. 
         [0047]    Illustrated in  FIGS. 14 and 15  is a skewer handle generally identified by the reference numeral  400 . The handle  400  has certain structure detail in common with the handle  1  and reference is made to the description of the handle  1  for additional detail. 
         [0048]    The handle  400  includes a body  402  with a rearward projecting grasping knob  403  and a pair of skewer receiving bores  405  and  406 . 
         [0049]    The handle  400  includes a shield  410  that extends rearward from the body  402  so as to generally surround the knob  403  except to the rear. The shield  410  is in the form of a thin hemispherical shell that is centrally secured to the body  402  at the frontward end of the grasping knob  403 . The shield  410  is sufficiently spaced from the rearward end of the knob  403  to allow a user to insert fingers between the knob  403  and shield  410  to grasp the knob  403 . The shield  410  deflects at least some heat that would otherwise transfer by radiation to the knob  403  during cooking, thereby making the knob  403  more comfortable to pick up by the user. 
         [0050]    While the devices of the present application are especially useful in conjunction with shish kabob as described, it is foreseen that such may be used for cooking other similar or similarly cooked foods on a grill or other heated surface. 
         [0051]    As used herein the terms handle and holder are understood to especially mean structure that allows a user a place to grasp to manipulate cooking food, such as shish kabob and to flip, turn or rotate the food on the cooking surface or to quickly place the food, after cooking, on a plate, tray or other carrier. While a user may hold the device for a longer time, normally the contact between the handle or holder and the skin of the user would be short. 
         [0052]    It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.