Rotisserie Oven Having Horizontally and Vertically Oriented Cooking Elements

Abstract

Indoor use rotisserie ovens which have construction features and scale which make the cleaning process easier. Shown are indoor use rotisserie ovens which also may rotate cooking foods about either a horizontal or vertical axis, which makes their applications more versatile. Construction features include: a scale appropriate for cleaning in a typical kitchen sink, use of removable electrical components, and single oven wall construction, all to allow easy cabinet cleaning. Also shown is a locking tab manufacturing detail which creates an inexpensive, light weight, oven cavity, which is easy to clean and also permits oven cavity washing and/or immersion in water. This manufacturing detail also is easy to handle by the end-user without projecting sharp edges. Self lubricated spit assembly axles are shown as well to help deaden sound.

1 . A method for cooking a food article comprising the steps of:
 providing a device comprising:
 a cooking enclosure including a heat source disposed therein; 
 a drive mechanism projecting inwardly into the enclosure from a side wall surface; 
 a first food support having a horizontal rotational axis and gear teeth to engage the drive mechanism; 
 a second food support having a vertical rotational axis and gear teeth to engage the drive mechanism; 
   placing the food article on one of the first or second food supports; and   operating the device to activate the heat source and drive mechanism cook the food article.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first food support comprises a spit including a pair of rods extending between opposed spit plates, wherein at least one of the spit plates includes the gear teeth. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first food support comprises a mesh basket that extends between spit ends, and wherein the basket includes an inner chamber for accommodating a food article therein. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the second food support comprises a circular plate that accommodates a food article thereon and that rotates within the enclosure when the drive mechanism is activated. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 4  wherein the gear teeth are positioned along a bottom portion of the circular plate. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising activating a timer that causes one or both of the heat source and drive mechanism to operate for a set amount of time. 
     
     
         7 . A method for cooking a food article within a cooking device comprising the steps of:
 providing a cooking device comprising:
 an enclosure including a heat source disposed therein; 
 a drive mechanism projecting inwardly into the enclosure; 
 means for receiving and accommodating placement of a first food support within the enclosure, the first food support having a horizontal rotational axis within the enclosure and including means for engaging the drive mechanism; 
 means for receiving and accommodating placement of a second food support within the enclosure, the second food support having a vertical rotational axis within the enclosure and including means for engaging the drive mechanism; 
   placing one of the first or second food supports within the enclosure;   placing the food article on one of the first or second food supports, which step may occur before or after the first or second food support is placed within the enclosure; and   operating the device to activate the heat source and drive mechanism cook the food article.   
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 7  wherein the device further comprises a timer for activating one or both of the heat source and the drive mechanism for a set amount of time, further comprising setting the timer. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 7  wherein the first food support comprises a spit including two or more rods extending between opposed ends, and wherein the food article is attached to the spit. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 9  wherein the means for engaging is gear teeth that extend from one of the ends. 
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 7  wherein the first food support comprises a basket that extends between opposed ends, wherein the food article is disposed within the basket. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recite in  claim 11  wherein the basket comprises a number of separate cooking chambers for accommodating the food article therein. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recite in  claim 7  wherein the second food support comprises a plate and the food article is placed upon a top surface of the plate. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 13  wherein the means for engaging comprises gear teeth extending from a surface of the plate. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 7  wherein the drive mechanism comprises a gear projecting inwardly into the enclosure, wherein the gear is positioned to engage both of the first or second food support means for engaging.