SHELF WITH A PLURALITY OF ROTATABLE SKEWERS

The present invention relates to a shelf with a plurality of ro tatable skewers. Further, the present invention relates to a cooking appliance, in particular a grill device or a cooking oven, including a shelf with a plurality of rotatable skewers.

Usually, rotatable skewers are arranged parallel above or be sides a heating device of a cooking appliance, in particular a grill device. For example, the skewers are arranged on or within a shelf. However, the driving mechanism for rotating said skew ers is often very complex resulting in high costs and cleaning effort.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shelf for a plurality of rotatable skewers, wherein said shelf includes a simplified driving mechanism.

The object is achieved by the shelf according to claim 1.

According to the present invention a shelf with a plurality of rotatable skewers is provided, wherein: the shelf with the plurality of rotatable skewers is ar ranged or arrangeable on, at or inside a cooking appliance, the shelf comprises a frame and a plurality of support ele ments, the support elements are arranged on one side or on two op posite sides of the frame, the support elements are provided for supporting the rotata ble skewers, the rotatable skewer includes or corresponds with a driven wheel in each case, the driven wheels are arranged or arrangeable side-by-side and in line, and one of the driven wheels is engaged or engageable with and driven or drivable by a drive wheel, while the other driven wheels are engaged or engageable with and driven or drivable by the adjacent driven wheel in each case.

The core of the present invention is the arrangement of the driven wheels side-by-side and in line, wherein one of the driven wheels is engaged with and driven by a drive wheel, while the other driven wheels are driven by the adjacent driven wheel in each case. Only one connection between the drive wheel and one driven wheel is required. By this way, the driving mechanism is simplified.

Preferably, the frame is formed of one or more wires.

Further, the support elements may be formed of at least one shaped wire integrated within or connected to the frame.

In particular, the rotatable skewer includes at least one guide roller engageable with the support element.

According to one embodiment the support elements are arranged on two opposite sides of the frame, wherein the rotatable skewer is supportable by two corresponding support elements arranged on opposite sides of the frame.

For example, the driven wheel is attached at an end of the ro tatable skewer in each case.

In this case, the driven wheel and the corresponding rotatable skewer may form a single-piece part. In particular, the driven wheel includes a plurality of prongs extending radially, wherein preferably each prong is made of a wire loop.

According to one embodiment the shelf comprises at least one gearing mechanism including a plurality of gear wheels and ar ranged on one side of the frame, while the support elements are arranged on the opposite side of the frame.

Preferably, the gear wheels are arranged side-by-side, wherein adjacent gear wheels engage with each other.

Further, at least a part of the gear wheels may include in each case a wheel hub for receiving an open end of the skewer, while the opposite end portion of said skewer is supported or support able by the corresponding support element.

Moreover, the gearing mechanism may include a casing enclosing at least partially the gear wheels. This allows a protection of the gear wheels.

Preferably, the gearing mechanism is releasably attachable at the frame. This facilitates cleaning of the frame and the gear ing mechanism.

For example, at least one of the gear wheels includes a drive shaft connected or connectable to the motor.

In particular, the support elements and/or the wheel hubs are arranged in such a way that the skewers can be ordered parallel on, at and/or within the frame. Moreover, the support elements and/or the wheel hubs are ar ranged in such a way that the skewers can be ordered within one plane on, at and/or within the frame.

Preferably, the shelf is provided for a cooking appliance, in particular a grill device or a cooking oven.

Further, the present invention relates to a cooking appliance, in particular a grill device or a cooking oven, wherein the cooking appliance comprises at least one shelf mentioned above.

At last, the cooking appliance may comprise at least one drive wheel.

Novel and inventive features of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims.

The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the drawings, in which

FIG 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a shelf for a plurality of rotatable skewers according to a first em bodiment of the present invention,

FIG 2 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an example for a gearing mechanism of the shelf according to a sec ond embodiment of the present invention,

FIG 3 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a skewer for the shelf according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention, FIG 4 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the shelf with the rotatable skewers according to a third embodi ment of the present invention,

FIG 5 illustrates a schematic partial perspective view of the shelf with the rotatable skewers according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and

FIG 6 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a drive wheel connectable to the rotatable skewers according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and

FIG 7 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a skewer for the shelf according to the third embodiment of the pre sent invention.

FIG 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a shelf 10 for a plurality of rotatable skewers 24 according to a first embodi ment of the present invention. For example, the shelf 10 is ar- rangeable on a grill device or in a cooking appliance.

The shelf 10 comprises a frame 12. In this example, the frame 12 is made of wire. A gearing mechanism 14 is arranged on one side of the frame 12. A plurality of support elements 16 is arranged on another side of said frame 12. The gearing mechanism 14 and the support elements 16 are arranged on opposite sides of the frame 12. In this example, the support elements 16 are formed by one shaped wire.

The gearing mechanism 14 comprises a drive shaft 18 connectable to a motor. Further, the gearing mechanism 14 comprises a plu rality of gear wheels 22. One of said gear wheels 22 is a drive wheel 30 and connected to the drive shaft 18. The other gear wheels 22 are driven wheels 32. The gear wheels 22 are arranged side-by-side within the gearing mechanism 14. Each gear wheel 22 includes a wheel hub 20 in its centre. The wheel hubs 20 are ar ranged in series along the side of the frame 12.

Each wheel hub 20 is provided for receiving an open end of the skewer 24. An end portion on the opposite side of the skewer 24 is supportable by the corresponding support element 16 vis-a-vis the wheel hub 20.

When the gear wheel 22 connected to the drive shaft 18 is driven by the motor, then said gear wheel 22 drives the adjacent gear wheel 22. In turn, said adjacent gear wheel 22 drives the next adjacent gear wheel 22 and so on. By this way, the plurality of skewers 24 are rotated by a simple driving mechanism. In this example, eight skewers 24 are arrangeable and rotatable.

FIG 2 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an example for a gearing mechanism 14 of the shelf 10 according to a second em bodiment of the present invention.

The gearing mechanism 14 includes a casing enclosing the gear wheels 22. In this example, the gearing mechanism 14 comprises five gear wheels 22. The gear wheels 22 are arranged side-by- side. In this example, the gear wheels 22 are arranged in line and at the same level. One of said gear wheels 22 is directly drivable by the motor, while the other gear wheels 22 are indi rectly drivable via the adjacent gear wheel 22 in each case.

Each gear wheel 22 includes the wheel hub 20 for receiving the open end of the skewer 24.

FIG 3 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an example for a skewer 24 for the shelf 10 according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention. The skewer 24 is provided for spiking food to be grilled. The skewer 24 is elongated and comprises a guide roller 26 and two brackets 28. The guide roller 26 is arranged at an end por tion opposite to the open end of the skewer 24. The brackets 28 are arranged between the guide roller 26 and the open end of the skewer 24. The brackets 28 are moveable along the skewer 24. The distance between the brackets 28 is variable. The food to be grilled is spiked by the skewer 24 and fastened between the brackets 28.

The open end of the skewer 24 is receivable by the wheel hub 20 of the shelf 10, while the guide roller 26 is supportable by the corresponding support element 16 vis-a-vis the wheel hub 20.

FIG 4 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the shelf 10 with the rotatable skewers 24 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the shelf 10 is arranged within an oven cavity 34 of a cooking oven.

The shelf 10 comprises the frame 12. In this example, the frame 12 is made of wire. The support elements 16 is arranged on oppo site sides of said frame 12. In this example, the support ele ments 16 of one side are formed by one shaped wire in each case.

The plurality of skewers 24 are arranged on the frame 12. In this example, four skewers 24 are arranged on the frame 12. Each skewer 24 is carried by two support elements 16 arranged oppo site to each other. Each skewer 24 includes a star wheel 32 at one end. In this example, the star wheels 32 are arranged out of the frame 12. Adjacent star wheels 32 are engaged to each other. One of said star wheels 32 is additionally engaged to a drive wheel 30. In this example, the star wheel 32 on the left hand side is engaged to the drive wheel 30, wherein said drive wheel

30 is arranged at the rear side of the oven cavity 34. The drive wheel 30 drives the engaged star wheel 32. In turn, said star wheel 32 drives the adjacent star wheel 32 and so on. By this way, the plurality of skewers 24 are rotated by the drive wheel 30 and the star wheels 32.

FIG 5 illustrates a schematic partial perspective view of the shelf 10 with the rotatable skewers 24 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

The skewers 24 are arranged parallel to each other on the frame 12. The adjacent star wheels 32 are engaged with each other. One of the star wheels 32 is engaged with the drive wheel 30. In this example, the star wheel 32 on the left hand side is engaged to the drive wheel 30. In general, the drive wheel 30 may be en gaged to an arbitrary star wheel 32. In this example, the drive wheel 30 is arranged at the rear side of the oven cavity 34. In general, the drive wheel 30 may be arranged in an arbitrary po sition of the cooking appliance.

FIG 6 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a drive wheel 30 connectable to the rotatable skewers 24 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

The drive wheel 30 is directly or indirectly connected to the motor. In this example, the drive wheel 30 is connected to a shaft penetrating the rear wall of the oven cavity 34, wherein said shaft is, in turn, directly or indirectly connected to the motor. The drive wheel 30 includes a plurality of tines. In this example, the drive wheel 30 includes six tines extending paral lel to the rotation axes of said drive wheel 30.

FIG 7 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a skewer 24 for the shelf 10 according to the third embodiment of the pre sent invention. The star wheel 32 is arranged at the end of the skewer 24. In this example, the star wheel 32 includes eight prongs, wherein each prong is made of a wire loop.

The shelf 10 according to the present invention includes a sim plified driving mechanism. The motor has to drive only one gear wheel 22 or one drive wheel 30. In turn, said one gear wheel 22 or drive wheel 30, respectively, drives the adjacent gear wheel 22 or star wheel, respectively, and so on. Further, each gear wheel 22 or star wheel drives one skewer 24.

In particular, the shelf 10 according to the present invention is provided for the grill device or the oven cavity of the cook- ing oven. For example, the shelf 10 may be arranged horizontally above a heating device or vertically besides the heating device of the grill device. Preferably, said heating device may include electric heating elements and/or gas burners. Further, the shelf 10 may be arranged inside the oven cavity of the cooking oven.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been described herein with reference to the accompanying draw ings, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the in vention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the ap pended claims. List of reference numerals

10 shelf

12 frame

14 gearing mechanism

16 support elements

18 drive shaft

20 wheel hub

22 gear wheel

24 skewer

26 guide roller 28 bracket

30 drive wheel

32 star wheel

34 oven cavity