GB2442871A

GB2442871A - Device for making kebabs

Info

Publication number: GB2442871A
Application number: GB0719836A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Metcalfe
Original assignee: KEBABACUE Ltd
Current assignee: KEBABACUE Ltd
Priority date: 2006-10-11
Filing date: 2007-10-11
Publication date: 2008-04-16
Also published as: GB0719836D0

Abstract

A device for making kebabs, said device being in the form of a multipart elongate mould, said mould having a first part into which foodstuff may be loaded, and a second part for applying to said first part once the foodstuff has been loaded, forming an elongate kebab housing chamber in which the foodstuff is aligned into an elongate arrangement. When the first and second parts are operably engaged, the housing may squeeze or compress the contents of the chamber Said device also comprises means whereby a skewer may be inserted through the mould and engage the foodstuff located therein. There are also described a skewer for supporting foodstuffs thereon and having a cross section in the form of at least three lobes extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis of the skewer and a kebab support in the form of a substantially rectangular frame having a plurality of skewer positioning means.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO BARBECUES

Field of the invention

This invention relates to barbecues and, in particular, to various aspects of the preparation of food for and on barbecue devices.

Background to the invention

Barbecues are well known. They comprise some form of heat generator, traditionally charcoal but very frequently nowadays a gas powered hearing arrangement. Foodstuft such as meat, fish and vegetables may be arranged above the heat generating means so as to be become cooked thereby.

It is also known to arrange the foodstuffs in chunks on skewers which may then be placed over the heat generating means and may be manually turned during the cooking process so that all parts of the foodstuffs are cooked. A skewer with foodstuffs, such as chunks of meat, is often called a kebab. * **

Statement of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided a device for making kebabs, said *....: device being in the form of a multi-part mould, said mould having a first part into which * S chunks of foodstuffs may be loaded in side-by-side relationship, and a second part for applying to said first part once the foodstuffs have been loaded, in order to compress *5S* and/or arrange them into an ordered elongate assembly, said device also comprising means whereby a skewer may be inserted through the mould and the foodstuffs located therein to form a kebab.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kebab support for locating over the heat generating means of a barbecue, said support being in the form of a substantially rectangular frame having along two opposed sides a plurality of aligned skewer positioning means, said device being further provided with means for spacing said frame from the heat generating means of the barbecue.

Preferably said spacing means are in the form of retractable legs secured to the body of the frame.

Preferably the device includes means for rotating the skewers about their longitudinal axes while supported on the frame.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a skewer for supporting foodstuffs thereon to form a kebab, said skewer being an elongate element having a cross section in the form of at least three lobes extending radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the skewer.

Preferably the skewer has four lobes and is of a substantially cruciform cross section.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit for making kebabs, the kit comprising a multi-part mould of the invention, a plurality of skewers, * ,. meat handling means such as tweezers, shaping means for shaping foodstuffs such as peppers into the appropriate shape and, optionally, means for protecting the user's thumb when pushing skewer into the mould.

*... . 20 * S Preferably, the kit should also include instructions, guidelines and/or recipes. S...

The meat handling means may be a pair of tweezers and the means for shaping other * : * : pieces of foodstuff might be a cutter.

Brief description of the drawings

The accompanying drawings are as follows:-Figure 1 is a side elevation of an assembled kebab maker of a first aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the assembled kebab maker of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the kebab maker of Figure 1; Figure 4a is a perspective view of an assembled kebab maker in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention; Figure 4b is a perspective view of the assembled kebab maker of Figure 4a laid on its side; Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the assembled kebab maker of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a side view of the upper portion of the kebab make of Figure 1; Figure 7 is an end view of the upper portion of the kebab make of Figure 1; Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of the upper portion of the kebab maker of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a cross sectional view of the upper portion of the kebab maker of Figure 7; Figure lOa is a plan view of the upper portion of the kebab maker of Figure 6; Figure lOb is a perspective view of the upper portion of the kebab maker of Figure 6; Figure 1 Ia is an underside view of the upper portion of the kebab maker of Figure 6; * *. Figure 1 lb is a perspective view of the upper portion of the kebab maker of :::::: Figure 12 is a side view of the lower portion of the kebab make of Figure 1; Figure 13 is an end view the lower portion of the kebab make of Figure 1; Figure 14 is a cross sectional view of the lower portion of the kebab maker of Figure 12; *** Figure 1 5a is a cross sectional view of the lower portion of the kebab maker of :: Figure 13; Figure 15b is a cross sectional view taken through of the lower portion of the kebab maker of Figure 13; Figure 16a is a plan view of the lower portion of the kebab maker of Figure 6; Figure 16b is a perspective view of the lower portion of the kebab maker of Figure 6; Figure 17 is a perspective view of the underside of the lower portion of the kebab maker of Figure 6; Figure 18 is a perspective view of the portion of the kebab maker of Figure 1; Figure 19 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the kebab maker of Figure 1; Figures 20a to 20d comprise views of a set of tongs according to the invention; Figures 21 a to 21 f comprise views of a food shaping device according to the invention; Figure 22 is a perspective view of a kofta kebab maker according to the present invention, the two halves being slightly separated; Figure 23 is an end elevation of the kofta kebab maker of Figure 22, again with the two halves slightly separated; Figure 24 is a perspective view of a skewer support device in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention; Figure 25 is a perspective view of a skewer support device of Figure 24 in disassembled form; and Figure 26 is a perspective view of a skewer in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention. * *S

Detailed description of the invention

Referring to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, a mould 101 for making a kebab is of a two-part form, the parts comprising (in use) an upper portion 103 and a lower portion 105. Each part 103, 105 being of elongate form so that together the parts accommodate a single kebab. The parts 103 and 105 are shaped to fit together with the *.... longitudinally extending flanges 107 of upper part 103 nesting within corresponding longitudinal flanges 109 of lower part 105. Pegs 111 of lower part 105 locate within holes 113 of upper part 103. The internal shape of each body portion of parts 103 and is that of a channel with the base of smaller width than the open top of the channel and with sloping sides extending therebetween. In this way foodstuffs located within the lower part 105 will be compressed when upper part 103 is fitted to the lower part to give the desired structure to the piece of food and to the overall kebab. Any surplus food is squeezed out and/or severed between the engaging surfaces of the parts of the mould.

With the pieces of food in position and the two parts of the mould fitted together a skewer (not shown) may be inserted down the full length of the mould 101 through longitudinally aligned end holes 115 and 117. Accordingly it will be appreciated that, when the mould parts are separated, the skewer may then be lifted out with the foodstuffs located in side-by-side relationship therealong. Internally, each of the upper 103 and lower 105 parts is provided with bulkheads 118 and 119. Each of the bulkheads 118 and 119 is provided with an opening 120 and 121 respectively, which in use coincide to form one or more substantially central apertures, through which the skewer may be passed.

When the upper and lower portions 103 and 105 are brought together, the corresponding bulkheads 118 and 119 overlap with one another.

Referring to Figures 6 to 11 and 18 of the accompanying drawings, an upper portion 103 comprises a longitudinal shaped open mould with end openings 122 and 123, a central channel 124 and bulkheads 118 located within the channel 124. An opening 120 in each of the bulkheads 118 is aligned with the end openings 122 and 123. The mould is provided on either longitudinal side 125 and 126 with a flange 127 and 128. One flange * *. 127 is provided with an aperture 129 ** . * .. **.

Referring to Figures 12 to 17 and 19 of the accompanying drawings, a lower portion 105 comprises a longitudinal shaped open mould with end openings 130 and 131, central channel 132 and bulkheads 119 located within the channel 132. An opening 121 in each of the bulkheads 119 is aligned with the end openings 130 and 131. The mould is *.** *s provided on either longitudinal side 133 and 134 with a flange 135 and 136. One flange :: 135 is provided with a peg 137. When the upper and lower portions 103 and 105 are brought together the peg 137 is aligned with and located within the aperture 129.

A kebab maker such as that described above enables a kebab to be made either in a commercial or domestic situation without mess and without a time consuming process being involved. It may be used for all types of kebab including kofta, shish kebabs or using whole chunks of meat or other foodstuffs. The mean may be fresh or it may have been marinated. All that is required is for the foodstuff to be pushed into place within the lower part of the mould, the upper part fitted and the skewer pushed through the mould.

Once prepared the upper part of the mould may be taken off and the kebab removed and taken outside to the barbecue.

The compression of the foodstuffs by the assembly of the mould ensures that the chunks of food are located centrally so that properly constructed, and visually pleasing, kebab can be made. The edges of the mould are somewhat rounded to direct meat into the body of the mould rather than being severed or squeezed out by the edges of the mould.

However, surplus meat may be so severed or squeezed out.

Referring to Figures 20a to 20d, a set of tongs 140 comprises jaws 141 and 142 and handle portions 143 and 144. Each of the jaws 141 and 142 is provided with one or more spikes 145 and bumps 146 between the spikes 145 to assist in gripping food (not shown).

The dimensions of the spikes 145, measured from the tip 147 of the spike 145 to the base 148 on the tongs, is from 2 to 4mm. * **

Referring to Figures 21a to 21f, a food shaping device 150 consists of a hollow open ended cup 151. The cup 151 is provided with a first opening 152 and a second, smaller, *:PO opening 153. The outer walls 154 of the cup 151 are shaped to fcilitate gripping by hand. The larger, first, open end 152 of the cup 151 is preferably provided with a circumferential chamfered edge 155 to facilitate cutting of food. S... * S *5S*

:" Referring to Figures 22 and 23 of the accompanying drawings, a second embodiment of a kebab maker in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention includes a base 21 providing five mould parts, each mould part being in two longitudinally separated sections.

Base 21 is also provided with upstanding pegs 23 at one end which are for location with the upper part of the mould 25. The upper part of the mould 25 is relatively narrow width since it is for location on only one of the five mould parts of the base 21. Once in position, as indicated in Figures 22 and 23, and with the foodstuffs located therebetween, a skewer may be inserted through the aligned holes 27 defined by the two mould parts 21, 25.

Once a first kebab has been formed by assembly of the mould as shown in Figures 22 and 23, the mould part 25 may be removed and then applied to the adjacent mould section of the base, with again foodstuffs located therein. This process may be repeated until all the mould sections in the base have kebabs located therein. The mould part 25 may be removed and tray 29 fitted to base 21. Tray 29 has appropriately formed kebab receiving sections corresponding to the mould parts in base 21. Tray 29 is also provided with legs 31 at each corner. Once fitted the assembly may be inverted so that the kebabs transfer from base part 21 into the tray 29 and the tray may then be carried outside to the vicinity of the barbecue.

The trays may be stacked in the fridge ready for use at a later time.

* ** Referring to Figures 24 and 25 of the accompanying drawings, a skewer support device is in the form of a frame 41 having four frame members each in the form of an elongate sheet of metal having one or more flanges to enable them to be fitted together. Two opposed frame members 45, 47 are provided with aligned notches 49 along the upper edges thereof for accommodating the ends of skewers loaded with foodstuffs. ****

* .... The other two opposed frame members 51, 53 are each provided with legs 55 which are *: pivotally mounted on the frame member so as to be moveable between a retracted position, as shown in Figure 6 and 7 and an extended position as shown in Figure 5.

When the legs are extended, the kebab support frame may be spaced vertically upwardly from the heat generating source which may be a tray of burning charcoal.

Frame member 47 is a more complex structure than the other frame members and provides a housing for an arrangement (not shown) for turning the kebabs while the foodstuffs are cooking.

Referring to Figure 26 of the accompanying drawings, a skewer 71 includes a handle (not shown) and a foodstuff support part 77. Part 77 is an elongate element which is of cruciform cross section provided with a pointed end 79. In particular, the lobes of the part 77 are substantially identical and equally spaced apart around the longitudinal axis of the part. The greatest width of the part may typically be about 8 mm and the part may be made of stainless steel of approximately 1.5 mm in thickness. The handle (not shown) may be made of wood. The length of the handle may be, for instance, 72 mm. The skewer may include a gear to enable the skewer to be turned while located on a kebab support.

In order to make a kebab using a kebab maker of the first aspect of the present invention, diced meat may optionally be mixed with a marinade and left in the fridge for at least one hour.

To make the kebab the meat is added to the bottom half, i.e. lower portion of the kebab * ,* maker mould using tweezers or tongs. * * * * .. ***

Once the meat has been loaded into the lower portion of the mould the upper portion is r42 placed over the lower portion and a skewer is inserted into the hole via the end-hole. The skewer is pushed through the mould until it emerges from the hole at the other end. The mould, containing the pieces of meat, may then be covered and stored in the fridge or, **** **** alternatively, it may be used immediately. *

* ***** *

Claims

Claims 1. A device for making kebabs, said device being in the form of

a multi-part elongate mould, said mould having a first part into which foodstuff may be loaded, and a second part for applying to said first part once the foodstuff has been loaded, forming an elongate kebab housing chamber in which the foodstuff is aligned into an elongate arrangement, said device also comprising means whereby a skewer may be inserted through the mould and engage the foodstuff located therein.
2. A device according to claim I wherein the multi-part elongate mould comprises a two part assembly.
3. A device according to claim I wherein means is provided for the first and second parts to engage with each other. *... * S S...
4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the engaging means is in the form of a *: snap fit.

*,,20
5. A device according to claim 4 wherein one of the first and second parts is provided with a peg and the other is provided with an aperture, such that in use the peg S.....

* forms a snug fit with the aperture.
6. A device according to claim 3 wherein a plurality of engaging means are provided.
7. A device according to claim I wherein an engaging means is provided at each end of the first and second parts.
8. A device according to claim I wherein the first part is a compartment comprising of a base and a pair of sidewalls inclined outwardly.
9. A device according to claim 1 wherein the second part is a compartment comprising of a base and a pair of sidewalls inclined outwardly.
10. A device according to claims 8 and 9 wherein each of the first and second parts comprises a base and a pair of sidewalls inclined outwardly, such that when the first and second parts are operably engaged the kebab housing chamber squeezes and/or compresses the contents in the chamber..
II. A device according to claim 3 wherein the first part is provided with guide means to assist the engagement with second part.
12. A device according to claim 11 wherein the guide means is provided on a mating * *, surface of the first part which, in use, abuts a corresponding surface of the second part. * * * * **
13. A device according to claim 12 wherein the guide means comprises a :i20 longitudinal flange along the longitudinal edge of the mating surface of the first part.
14. A device according to claim 13 the flange is outwardly inclined. * * ***.

* :
15. A device according to claim 11 wherein the second part comprises a longitudinal edge provided with a corresponding flange.
16. A device according to claim I wherein, in use, the flange of the second part forms a snug fit inside the flange of the first part.
17. A device according to claim I wherein means whereby a skewer may be inserted through the mould comprises an opening at one end of the elongate first part, said opening being distal from the base.
18. A device according to claim 1 wherein the opening is an elongate opening acting as a skewer guide.
19. A device according to claim I wherein at one end the elongate second part is provided with an opening distal from the base.
20. A device according to claim 17 and 19 wherein when the first and second parts are engaged the openings of the first and second parts correspond to form an aperture.
21. A device according to claim 20 wherein an aperture is provided at both ends of the elongate chamber.

* *.
22. A device according to claim 17 wherein the first part is provided with one or * . S * more internal skewer rests. S... * S S...

*:ii*20
23. A device according to claim 22 wherein each internal skewer rest is located on a bulkhead. S...
24. A device according to claim 23 wherein each internal skewer rest comprises an opening in the bulkhead distal from the base of the bulkhead.
25. A device according to claim 24 wherein when the second part is provided with bulkheads and openings which correspond with those of the first part to form apertures.
26. A device according to claim 24 wherein when the second part is provided with bulkheads of the second part overlap with those of the first part.
27. A device according to claim 25 wherein the apertures in the bulkheads are aligned with the apertures at the end of the kebab housing chamber.
28. A skewer for supporting foodstuffs thereon to form a kebab, said skewer being an elongate element having a cross section in the form of at least three lobes extending radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the skewer.
29. A skewer according to claim 28 having a cross section in the form of four lobes and is of a substantially cruciform cross section.
30. A kit for making kebabs, the kit comprising a multi-part mould according to claim 1, and one or more of a skewer, meat handling means, foodstuff shaping means.
31. A kit according to claim 30 wherein a plurality of skewers is provided.
32. A kit according to claims 30 and 31 wherein the skewer(s) has a cross section in * *. the form of four lobes and is of a substantially cruciform cross section. * * . * SS * *1. * S

33. A kit according to claim 30 wherein the kit includes instructions, guidelines * 20 and/or recipes.
33. A kit according to claim 30 wherein the meat handling means is a pair of tongs. S... * . *
34. A kit according to claim 33 wherein the tongs are provided at the mouth end with one or more spikes to assist in gripping food.
35. A kit according to claim 33 wherein the length of the one or more spikes measured from the tip of the spike to the base on the tongs is from 2 to 4mm.
36. A kit according to claim 30 wherein the foodstuff shaping means is a cutter.
37. A kebab support for locating over the heat generating means of a barbecue, said support being in the form of a substantially rectangular frame having along two opposed sides a plurality of aligned skewer positioning means.
38. A kebab support according to claim 37 wherein the support is provided with means for spacing the frame from the heat generating means of the barbecue.
39. A kebab support according to claim 38 wherein the spacing means are in the form of retractable legs secured to the body of the frame.
40. A kebab support according to claim 37 wherein the device includes means for rotating the skewers about their longitudinal axes while supported on the frame.
41. A device according to claim 1 which is a kofta kebab maker. * *S
42. The device, skewer, kit or support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. * * * *** * * *