SKEWER SYSTEM

Abstract

A skewer system is provided for supporting foods, and includes a hub with a plurality of receivers. Skewers are removably fitted into the receivers in the hub.

Claims

1. A skewer system, comprising: a hub having a top surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of receivers in the hub, each receiver having an opening at the top surface of the hub, each receiver further having a cavity extending into the hub from the opening, and a slot extending from the opening in the top surface of the hub; and, a plurality of skewers for pivotally and removably engaging the plurality of receivers in the hub, respectively, each of the skewers having an elongated body having a first end and a second end, a piercing member at the first end of the elongated body, an engaging member at the second end of the elongated body, the engaging member being shaped to extend through the opening and fit into the cavity of the receiver in the hub, the engaging member further having a shoulder adapted to engage an interior surface of the cavity when the skewer is docked in the receiver, wherein the elongated body of the skewer extends through the slot in the opening when the skewer is docked in the receiver.

2. The skewer system of claim 1, further comprising a central bore extending into the hub from the bottom surface of the hub, and a support member having a first end to mate with the central bore to connect the support member to the hub.

3. The skewer system of claim 2, wherein the central bore has an annular rib extending from an interior surface therein, wherein the support member has an annular groove at the first end, and wherein the annular groove mates with the annular rib to removably secure the support member to the hub.

4. The skewer system of claim 2, further comprising a base member having a receiver to engage a second end of the support member, the base member supporting the support member, the hub and the plurality of skewers.

5. The skewer system of claim 1, further comprising a central bore extending into the hub from the top surface of the hub.

6. The skewer system of claim 5, further comprising an auxiliary member, the auxiliary member having a mating member to mate with the central bore of the hub, the auxiliary member extending axially away from the hub.

7. The skewer system of claim 2, further comprising a second central bore in the hub extending from the top surface of the hub.

8. The skewer system of claim 7, wherein the second central bore at the top surface of the hub is coaxial with the central bore at the bottom surface of the hub.

9. The skewer system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of skewers, when seated in the receivers, respectively, extend from the hub at an angle of approximately 45.

10. The skewer system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of receivers are radially spaced about the hub.

11. The skewer system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of receivers have a sloped inner wall at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the hub, and wherein the each of the plurality of skewers engages a portion of the respective sloped inner wall when inserted into one of the plurality of receivers.

12. A skewer system, comprising: a hub having a top surface and a bottom surface, a central bore extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, a plurality of receivers in the hub, the plurality of receivers radially spaced about the central bore, each receiver having an opening at the top surface of the hub, each receiver further having a cavity extending into the hub from the opening and a sloped inner wall at a radial extent of the cavity; and, a plurality of skewers for removably engaging the plurality receivers in the hub, respectively, each of the skewers having an elongated body having a first end and a second end, a piercing member at the first end of the elongated body, an enlarged member at the second end of the elongated body, the enlarged member being shaped to extend through the opening of the receiver in the hub and to rest adjacent the sloped inner wall of the cavity so that the skewer rests at an angle to the central bore when in the receiver, the enlarged member further having a shoulder adapted to engage an interior surface of the cavity for removably securing the skewer in the receiver in a snap-fit manner.

13. The skewer system of claim 12, further comprising a slot extending from the opening in the top surface of the hub, and wherein the elongated body of the skewer extends through the slot in the opening when the skewer is pivotally snapped into the receiver at an angular orientation.

14. The skewer system of claim 12, further comprising a support member and a base member, a first end of the support member being removably connectable to the central bore of the hub and a second end of the support member being removably connectable to base member to support the skewer system in a vertical orientation.

15. The skewer system of claim 14, wherein the base has a plurality of depressions for retaining food items.

16. The skewer system of claim 14, wherein the central bore has one of a rib and a groove on an inner surface thereof, and wherein the first end of the support has the other of a rib and a groove on an exterior surface thereof to removably connect the support to the hub in a snap fit configuration.

17. A skewer system, comprising: a hub having a top surface and a bottom surface, a central bore extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, a plurality of receivers in the hub, the plurality of receivers radially spaced about the central bore, each receiver having an opening at the top surface of the hub, each receiver further having a cavity extending into the hub from the opening and a sloped inner wall at a radial extent of the cavity, each receiver further having a slot extending from the opening in the top surface of the hub; and, a plurality of skewers for removably engaging the plurality receivers in the hub, respectively, each of the skewers having an elongated body having a first end and a second end, a piercing member at the first end of the elongated body, an enlarged member at the second end of the elongated body, the enlarged member being shaped to extend through the opening in the cavity of the receiver in the hub and to rest adjacent the sloped inner wall of the cavity so that the skewer rests at an angle to the central bore when in the receiver, the enlarged member further having a shoulder adapted to engage an interior surface of the cavity for removably securing the skewer in the receiver in a snap-fit manner, and wherein the elongated body of the skewer extends through the slot in the opening when the skewer is pivotally snapped into the receiver at an angular orientation.

18. The skewer system of claim 17, further comprising a support member and a base member, a first end of the support member being removably connectable to the central bore of the hub and a second end of the support member being removably connectable to base member to support the skewer system in a vertical orientation.

19. The skewer system of claim 18, further comprising a second support member having a second end removably connectable to the central bore adjacent the top surface of the hub, and a first end removably connectable to a second hub, the second hub having a plurality of receivers for supporting a plurality of skewers, respectively.

20. The skewer system of claim 17, further comprising an auxiliary member connected to the central bore of the hub at the top surface thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] To understand the present disclosure, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which embodiments of the disclosures are illustrated and, together with the descriptions below, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a skewer system according to one embodiment.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a skewer system according to another embodiment.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a front cross-sectional view of the skewer system of FIG. 2 about a vertical axis of the skewer system.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged view of a portion of the skewer system of FIG. 3.

[0021] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the skewer system of FIG. 2.

[0022] FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the skewer system illustrating a skewer prior to insertion into the hub.

[0023] FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the skewer system of FIG. 6, illustrating a skewer during insertion into the hub.

[0024] FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the skewer system of FIG. 6, illustrating a skewer during further insertion into the hub.

[0025] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the skewer system about line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

[0026] FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a skewer system according to another embodiment.

[0027] FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a skewer system according to another embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of a skewer system according to another embodiment.

[0029] FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of the skewer system of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] While the skewer system discussed herein is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, preferred embodiments with the understanding that the present description is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the skewer system and are not intended to limit the broad aspects of the disclosure to the embodiments illustrated.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a skewer system 10 is illustrated. In one embodiment, the skewer system 10 may include a skewer head comprising a housing 14 pivotally supporting a plurality of skewers 16. The skewer head preferably is used to support a variety of food items. The skewer system 10 may also include a support member 18, and in alternate embodiments a base 20 may be included as well, which may be integral with or independent from the support member 18. Additionally, in one embodiment an auxiliary member 22 may also extend from the housing 14.

[0032] Alternate embodiments are shown in FIGS. 2-13. In the alternate embodiments, like components have like reference numbers to the reference numbers utilized in the first embodiment above. For example, one embodiment of a skewer system 10 is shown in FIGS. 2-5. In that embodiment, the skewer system 10 comprises a hub 14, a plurality of skewers 16, a support member 18, a base 20 and an auxiliary member 22.

[0033] The hub 14 preferably has a top surface 24 and a bottom surface 26. As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the hub 14 may also have a central bore 28. In one embodiment, the central bore 28 extends from the top surface 24 of the hub 14 to the bottom surface 26 of the hub 14. In such an embodiment, the central bore 28 may be accessed from either the top surface 24 or the bottom surface 26 of the hub 14. Alternately, the hub 14 may have a first central bore 30 extending into the hub 14 from the bottom surface 26 of the hub 14 and/or a separate second central bore 32 extending into the hub 14 from the top surface 24 of the hub 14. In the alternate embodiment the first central bore 30 may not be accessible by the second central bore 32, however, in a preferred embodiment the first central bore 30 and the second central bore 32 are coaxial about a longitudinal axis of the hub 14 and are accessible to each other.

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in a preferred embodiment the central bore 28 has an annular rib 34 extending from an interior surface 36 thereof into the cavity of the central bore 28. As explained herein, the annular rib 34 is provided to assist in engaging and removably retaining components supported in the central bore 28. However, alternate forms of mating members may be utilized, such as other types of protrusions, and may alternately be a groove, depending on the corresponding mating member of the mating component.

[0035] The hub 14 preferably has a plurality of receivers 40 for receiving and removably supporting the plurality of skewers 16. As best shown in FIGS. 6-8, in one embodiment, the plurality of receivers 40 are radially spaced about the hub 14, and preferably radially spaced about the central bore 28. In preferred embodiments there are approximately eight receivers 40 equally spaced about the hub 14 for supporting a corresponding number of skewers 16, however, more or less receivers 40 may be provided on the hub 14 for receiving and supporting the skewers 16. Each of the receivers 40 preferably include an opening 42 at the top surface 24 of the hub 14 leading into a cavity 44 that extends into the hub 14 from the opening 42. As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 13, in preferred embodiments, the receivers 40 have a sloped inner wall 46 at a radial extent of the cavity 44. The sloped inner wall 46, which is actually the inner wall at the perimeter of the receivers 40, is provided at an angle to the longitudinal axis 48 of the hub 14. In one embodiment the angle of the sloped inner wall 46 is approximately 45, however, alternate angles of the sloped inner wall 46 are acceptable without departing from the scope of this embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 13, in alternate embodiments the skewers 16 engage a portion of the sloped inner wall 46 when inserted into and seated in the receiver 40. Because of the sloped inner wall 46, in one embodiment when the skewers 16 are inserted and seated in the receivers 40, the skewers 16 will extend from the hub 14 at approximately the same angle of the sloped inner wall 46. Put another way, in one embodiment the skewers 16 will extend from the hub 14 at an angle of approximately 45.

[0036] Referring to FIGS. 6-8, in alternate embodiments the receivers 40 also have a slot 50 extending from the opening 42 of the receivers 40, and preferably in the top surface 24 of the hub 14. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and as explained further herein, a portion of the skewer 16, such as the elongated body, extends through the slot 50 in the opening 42 when the skewer is preferably pivotally snap-fit in the receiver 40 in a docked orientation.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 2-9, the plurality of skewers 16 removably engage the plurality of receivers 40 in the hub 14. And, in various embodiments, the plurality of skewers 16 also pivotally engage the receivers 40 in the hub 14. The skewers 16 may have an elongated body 52 having a first end 54 and a second end 56. The first end 54 preferably has a pointed or sharpened piercing member 58 to pierce the item to be secured on the skewer 16, however, the piercing member 58 may merely be the end of the skewer 16. The second end 56 of the skewer 16 is supported by the receiver 40 of the hub 14. In various embodiments, the second end 56 of the skewer 16 preferably has an engaging member 60 that is shaped to extend through the opening 42 in the top surface 24 of the hub 14 and fit into the cavity 44 of the receiver 40 in the hub 14. The engaging member 60 may then rest adjacent the sloped inner wall 46 of the cavity 44 so that the skewer 16 rests at an angle to the central bore 28 when in the receiver 40 and in the docked position. In one embodiment, the engaging member 60 is an enlarged member 60 as shown in FIGS. 6, 9 and 13. The engaging member 60 has a shoulder 62 that is adapted to engage an interior surface of the cavity 44 of the receiver 40 when the skewer 16 is moved from the inserted orientation, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, into the docked orientation as shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 13 to removably secure the skewers 16 in the receivers 40. The engaging member 60 may also have a rounded end 64 at the second end 56 of the skewer 16 to assist in pivoting of the skewers 16. Further, in the docked orientation, in alternate embodiments, the elongated body 52 of the skewer 16 extends through the slot 50 in the opening 42 of the receiver 40.

[0038] In various embodiments the skewers 16 are pivotally supported in the receivers 40, where such pivotal support may include a pivotal snap-fit connection between the engaging member 60 and the interior of the receiver 40, however, alternate means may be provided to support the skewers 16 in the receivers 40.

[0039] One method of connecting the skewers 16 to the hubs 14 is shown in FIGS. 6-9. As shown in FIG. 6, the second end 56 of the skewer 16 having the engaging member 60 or enlarged member 60 is inserted through the opening 42 in the top surface 24 of the hub 14 and is fitted into the cavity 44 of the receiver 40 until the end 64 of the skewer 16 hits the bottom of the cavity 44. Next, as shown in FIG. 7, with the end 64 of the skewer 16 contacting the bottom of the cavity 44, the skewer 16 is pivoted outwardly. At some point in the pivoting of the skewer 16, as shown in FIG. 8, the shoulder 62 of the skewer 16 will engage an interior surface of the cavity 44 in a snap-fit configuration to removably lock the skewer 16 in the receiver 40 as shown in FIG. 9. To remove the skewer 16, the user pivots the skewer 16 toward the longitudinal axis of the central bore 28 and by providing sufficient force the user will overcome the snap fit pressure resistance between the shoulder 62 of the skewer 16 and the interior surface of the cavity 44 to move the skewer 16 to the orientation shown in FIG. 7. Then, the skewer 16 can be lifted out of the receiver 40.

[0040] In various embodiments a support member 18 may be provided, however, in alternate embodiments a support member 18 is not required for the skewer system 10. For example, the skewer system 10 may be rested in a glass or mug, such that a support member 18 is not required as the skewers 16 will support the skewer system 10 on the rim of the glass. Alternately, the support member 18 may be provided and may support and connect the hub 14, such as shown in FIG. 2, to a base member 20. Further alternately, the support member 18 may be utilized to connect a hub 14 to another hub 14, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

[0041] In one embodiment, the support member 18 comprises an elongated member having a first end 70, a second end 72 and a middle section 74. The first end 70 may be connected to the hub 14, preferably in the central bore 28, including the first central bore 30, if provided, extending into the hub 14 from the bottom surface 26 of the hub 14. The second end 72 of the support member 18 may be connected to a base 20, such as in an aperture 76 in the base 20, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5. Alternately, the second end 72 of the support member 18 may rest on the bottom of a glass (not shown) to support the skewer system 10 in the glass. In an alternate embodiment, the middle section 74 of the support 18 may have a plurality of scores (not shown), which allow for the support 18 to have an adjustable length. For example, the support 18 may be made of plastic or some other breakable material, and the scores may be provided every inch or so about the length of the support 18. The user can then break off an end of the support 18 at one of the scores to adjust the length of the support 18 as desired. In alternate embodiments, such as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 the support 18 may not have an adjustable length. Further, in alternate embodiments, such as shown in FIG. 1, the support 18 may be integral with the base 20.

[0042] Preferably, the first end 70 and the second end 72 of the support members 18 have means for securing the support members 18 to other components, such as the hub 14 and the base 20. In one embodiment, such as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, where the central bore 28 of the hub 14 has an annular rib 34 extending from an interior surface 36 thereof into the cavity of the central bore 28, the first end 70 of the support members 18 has a corresponding annular groove 78 that mates with the annular rib 34 to removably secure the support member 18 to the hub 14 in a snap fit or pressure fit configuration. It is understood, however, that the annular groove may alternately be provided in the central bore 28 and the annular rib may therefore alternately be provided on the support member 18. Further, in one embodiment the first end 70 and the second end 72 of the support members 18 are symmetrical, such that a mating member, like an annular rib 34 or annular groove, is also provided at the second end 72 of the support 18. This is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, where the first end 70 of a first support member 18 is provided in and removably secured within the central bore 28 at the bottom surface 26 of the lower hub 14, the first end 70 of a second support member 18 is provided in and removably secured within the central bore 28 at the bottom surface 26 of an upper hub 14, and the second end 72 of the second support member 18 is provided in and removably secured within the central bore 28 at the top surface 24 of the lower hub 14. Further, the second end 72 of the first support member 18 is removably secured within the receiver 76 in the base 20 to support the skewer system 16 in the vertical orientation. In the embodiment of FIGS. 2, 3 and 12, the base member 20 supports the support members 18, hubs 14 and the plurality of skewers 16.

[0043] In alternate embodiments the central bore 28 at the top surface 24, or alternately the second central bore 32 at the top surface 24 of the hub 14, may receive and support one of the auxiliary member 22 (see FIGS. 2-5) or a support member 18 (see FIGS. 12-13). In one embodiment, the auxiliary member 22 may comprise a stirrer and/or support for an advertisement, or the support for an advertisement may also be a stirrer. The auxiliary member 22 preferably comprises an elongated member 80 with an end 82 that is received by the central bore 28 at the top surface 24 of the hub 14 to support the auxiliary member 22. A head 84 is provided at the opposing end of the elongated member 80, and an advertisement can be included on the head 84.

[0044] In one embodiment, the skewer system 10 is provided as a system for supporting food items, such as olives, mushrooms, shrimp, cheese, chicken wings, meat, and a variety of other vegetables and food items that would typically be placed either inside a drink glass or on separate independent skewers in a drink glass.

[0045] As explained above, in alternate embodiments the base 20 may alternately have a plurality of compartments 90 or depressions 90 for condiments. Additionally, the base 20 may be shaped square, rectangular or any other shape to provide adequate support for the skewer system 10.

[0046] In one method of use, the skewer system 10 may be prefilled with food items so that a bartender merely needs to place the hub 14 on a support member 18 and base 20. Alternately, the prefilled skewer hubs may be placed on supports 18 for use as an individual appetizer, such as shown in FIGS. 2-5, or for use with an appetizer tray as shown in FIG. 11. In the embodiment of FIG. 11, the appetizer tray has a plurality of supports 18 extending therefrom to accept a plurality of skewer hubs 14 on the tray.

[0047] Several alternative embodiments and examples have been described and illustrated herein. A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the features of the individual embodiments, and the possible combinations and variations of the components. A person of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that any of the embodiments could be provided in any combination with the other embodiments disclosed herein. Additionally, the terms first, second, third, and fourth as used herein are intended for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the embodiments in any way. Further, the term plurality as used herein indicates any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively, as necessary, up to an infinite number. Additionally, the term having as used herein in both the disclosure and claims, is utilized in an open-ended manner.

[0048] It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. Accordingly, while the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying Claims.