A tray assembly includes a tray having a top side, an underside opposite the top side, and a plurality of protrusions extending from the underside. Each protrusion defines a recess in the top side and has a bottom wall and a contoured surface connecting the bottom wall to the top side. The tray assembly also includes a diffuser in the form of a plate with a plurality of apertures therethrough. The diffuser is couplable to the tray and positionable a spaced distance above the top side of the tray.

The present invention relates to a ham stand (1) that comprises a support structure (2) for a ham (3) and a base structure (4) for the assembly, and a connection element (5) of the support structure (2) with the base structure (4). The connection element (5) comprises a spherical joint (6) and a housing piece (7) of said joint (6) attached to the other structure such that it presents multiple degrees of freedom due to the combination of pivoting and rotational movements of the support structure (2) with respect to the base structure (4). Thanks to the pivoting movement, the user can rotate the ham to position it as desired in order to cut it conveniently and safely.

The present invention relates to a ham stand (1) that comprises a support structure (2) for a ham (3) and a base structure (4) for the assembly, and a connection element (5) of the support structure (2) with the base structure (4). The connection element (5) comprises a spherical joint (6) and a housing piece (7) of said joint (6) attached to the other structure such that it presents multiple degrees of freedom due to the combination of pivoting and rotational movements of the support structure (2) with respect to the base structure (4). Thanks to the pivoting movement, the user can rotate the ham to position it as desired in order to cut it conveniently and safely.

A fruit cutting apparatus includes an appliance housing having a bottom wall a body portion extending upwardly therefrom. A cutting chamber is coupled to the appliance housing and includes a continuous side wall defining an open top and bottom. A rotating platform assembly is coupled to the appliance housing and has a second portion extending upwardly into the cutting chamber, the rotating platform assembly including a support surface having a plurality of prongs configured to impale and secure the fruit piece. A cutting blade is positioned in the body portion and is slidably movable between deployed and retracted configurations. An input assembly enables selection of a cutting style, each selection being associated with programming instructions that cause a processor to selectively actuate the blade to deploy, orient its blade tip, and actuate the rotating platform to rotate the fruit piece as it is cut as selected.

An extended life roller grills for re-thermalizing and merchandising food product with easily replaceable bearing assemblies, drive assembly and roller tubes. The grill is comprised of rotation of a plurality of heated internally tubes, a drive assembly that transfers rotational motion to the roller tubes from a cam or chain or gear system or cog belt attached to a motor providing rotational motion and force to the roller tubes. Roller grill chain drive or gear drives, or cog belt or cam drives that utilize replaceable bearing assemblies for extending the service life the roller grill. A cam drive assembly substantially increases the reliability, ease of assembly and disassembly, serviceability, and maintenance of the roller grill. Cam drive provides for easy removal, servicing and replacement of roller tubes not available on other drive systems for roller grills. Replaceable bearing journals to extend the life span of chain, gear, cam or belt drive grills.

A self-locking slider for a skewer. The self-locking slider has an engaged end and an opposing push end. The self-locking slider has spaced apart first and second plates to engage an engaged end of the skewer biasedly in a locked engagement, yet the first and second plates are movable to an unlocked engagement. The first plate defines a locking aperture at the engaged end for slidably receiving the skewer in a longitudinal direction and, separately, in a latitudinal direction between a locking end and an unlocking end of the locking aperture. The second plate at the engaged end and the push end provide aligned skewer passageways, respectively, for slidably receiving the skewer in the longitudinal direction. The first and second plates are movable toward each other to the unlocked engagement enabling the self-locking slider to slide along a length of a skewer by way of the skewer passageways.

A self-locking slider for a skewer. The self-locking slider has an engaged end and an opposing push end. The self-locking slider has spaced apart first and second plates to engage an engaged end of the skewer biasedly in a locked engagement, yet the first and second plates are movable to an unlocked engagement. The first plate defines a locking aperture at the engaged end for slidably receiving the skewer in a longitudinal direction and, separately, in a latitudinal direction between a locking end and an unlocking end of the locking aperture. The second plate at the engaged end and the push end provide aligned skewer passageways, respectively, for slidably receiving the skewer in the longitudinal direction. The first and second plates are movable toward each other to the unlocked engagement enabling the self-locking slider to slide along a length of a skewer by way of the skewer passageways.

A food product gripping mechanism is provided. The food product gripping mechanism includes a shaft connected to a hub. A release mechanism has a first passage in fluid communication with a second passage. The second passage is configured to allow the shaft to pass therethrough. A tension member is positioned partly within the first passage of the release mechanism. A guide spool is configured to receive a portion of the tension member and further configured to allow the shaft to pass therethrough and a plurality of tongs is connected to the hub. The plurality of tongs are configured for a contracted orientation and further configured for rotation to an expanded orientation. The plurality of tongs are further configured to grip a food product without piercing a skin of the food product.

A food product gripping mechanism is provided. The food product gripping mechanism includes a shaft connected to a hub. A release mechanism has a first passage in fluid communication with a second passage. The second passage is configured to allow the shaft to pass therethrough. A tension member is positioned partly within the first passage of the release mechanism. A guide spool is configured to receive a portion of the tension member and further configured to allow the shaft to pass therethrough and a plurality of tongs is connected to the hub. The plurality of tongs are configured for a contracted orientation and further configured for rotation to an expanded orientation. The plurality of tongs are further configured to grip a food product without piercing a skin of the food product.

An animal carcass cooking and roasting assembly and method of use in an oven, the assembly including a base tray, a liquid container mounted on and connected to the tray in a rack in a spaced apart upright position, the container arranged to receive a substantial amount of heat by conduction from the tray by the use of a tray and container connecting thermal via, the container arranged to fit within an open end of the carcass and wherein the opposite end of the carcass is tightly plugged or closed to form an isostatic chamber to contain liquid evaporated from the container within the carcass during the cooking process.