GB2608368A - Multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf - Google Patents

Abstract

A multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf 10 including a shelf body 18 forming a first tier and which is configured to support a first foodstuff (48, Fig. 4) to be cooked in or on a cooking apparatus (12, Fig. 5); The shelf 10 includes at least one spacer member 20 which depends from the shelf body 18, a plurality of elongate skewer elements 40 forming a second tier extend in a cantilevered manner from the or each spacer member 20 to suspend a second foodstuff (50, Fig. 4) to be cooked in or on the said cooking apparatus (12, fig. 5) consecutively and/or simultaneously with the said first foodstuff (48, Fig. 5) below the first tier; The plane of the second tier skewer elements 40 may be non-parallel to the plane of the first tier shelf body 18, and there may be food-retaining means for preventing movement of the foodstuffs.

Description

Multi-Tiered Cooking-Apparatus Shelf The present invention relates to a multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf for making a more efficient use of space within a cooking-apparatus. The present invention also relates to a food cooking system which includes a multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf to enable a 5 greater amount of food to be cooked simultaneously.

To cook food within the cooking apparatus such as an oven, food is generally placed on a shelf or shelves which are received in or on the cooking apparatus. However, a cooking apparatus has a limited volume and a limited number of slots or supports to engage a shelf. Therefore, there is a fixed number of positions which the shelf may be in.

Furthermore, each shelf has a limited area to receive food thereupon. Thus, depending on the volume and/or area of food items, it may not be possible to cook all the food simultaneously. This results in having to cook food in batches, requiring additional planning and time spent cooking. A cooked batch removed to make space for a further batch may also be cold by the start of the meal.

Furthermore, food items are typically laid on a planar surface to cook. A first issue is that cooking is uneven due to the uneven circulation of hot air around the food item and/or the conductive properties of the planar surface relative to air. Furthermore, oil, lard or butter are usually added to reduce the risk of adhesion to the planar surface. The cooking process may also liquefy any fats. In both cases, the food item is lying in fat, lard, oil or butter whilst cooking, resulting in an unhealthy cooking process. The calorific content of the food item may increase as a result of cooking the food item in fat, lard, oil or butter, which may be undesirable.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf comprising a shelf body forming a first tier and which is configured to support a first foodstuff to be cooked in or on a cooking apparatus, at least one spacer member which depends from the shelf body, and a plurality of elongate skewer elements forming a second tier and which extend in a cantilevered manner from the or each spacer member to suspend a second foodstuff to be cooked in or on the said cooking apparatus consecutively and/or simultaneously with the said first foodstuff below the first tier.

The shelf is receivable in a cooking apparatus and provides a plurality of tiers for receiving food items thereupon. The shelf improves the usage of the vertical space within a cooking apparatus. The skewer elements enable food items to be suspended. Suspension of food negates the need for oil, butter, lard or any other lubricant, thereby making the cooking process healthier. Runoff, such as melted fat, from the food item being cooked, such as meat, can drip and be collected in a tray or container spaced-apart below such that the suspended food does not sit in the runoff. The runoff may even be collected or harvested for another use. Cooking of the suspended food item is also more uniform.

Preferably, at least one said skewer element may be integrally formed with the or a said spacer member. The structural integrity may be improved as there are no moving parts.

Alternatively, at least one said skewer element may have a first connection portion and the or a said spacer member may have a second connection portion engageable with the first connection portion such that the skewer element and the spacer member may be connectable. Optionally, at least one said skewer element may be connectable to the or a said spacer member via a fixed connection such that the skewer element may be non-movable relative to the spacer member once the first connection portion is engaged with the second connection portion.

Furthermore, at least one said spacer member may be integrally formed with the shelf 20 body. The structural integrity may be improved as there are no moving parts.

Additionally, at least one said spacer member may have a first engagement portion and the shelf body may have a second engagement portion engageable with the first engagement portion such that the spacer member and the shelf body may be connectable. Furthermore, at least one said spacer member may be connectable to the shelf body via a fixed connection such that the spacer member may be non-movable relative to the shelf body once the first engagement portion is engaged with the second engagement portion. The spacer member may be detachable from the spacer member. Detachability may increase the ease of cleaning the spacer member and the shelf body. The user can also select how many skewer elements and/or spacer members are required and adjust the shelf accordingly. Furthermore, once the spacer member is connected to the shelf body, it is preferably fixed in position. In other words, the spacer member is non-movable relative to the shelf body.

Optionally, the shelf body may include a grill rack. A grill rack may improve air circulation within the cooking apparatus.

Beneficially, the shelf body may include a planar surface. Furthermore, the shelf body may include a tray. A tray may comprise a planar or substantially flat surface, preferably 5 devoid of holes. The shelf body may support small food items which would otherwise fall through the holes and/or between the bars of a grill.

Preferably, the first tier may extend in a first plane and at least one elongate skewer element may extend at least in part in a second plane, the second plane being nonparallel to the first plane. The skewer elements may be angled downwards or, preferably, 10 upwards, to reduce the risk of food received thereupon sliding off the skewer elements.

Alternatively, the first tier may extend in a first plane and at least one elongate skewer element may extend at least in part in a second plane, the second plane being parallel to the first plane. The skewer elements being parallel to the first plane and/or horizontal in use may increase the ease of removal of a food item from a skewer element as the user does not need to partly lift the food item and/or counter gravity. Additionally, a food item received on parallel and/or in-use horizontal skewer elements has a reduced likelihood of translating along the skewer element without any action from the user. If several food items are received on the same skewer element, the food items have a reduced likelihood of translating towards each other. The spacing between the food item remains the same or substantially the same throughout the cooking process, enabling a more uniform circulation of hot air around each food item. The cooking of each food item may be more uniform.

Additionally, at least one said cantilevered elongate skewer element may have a free end which may extend at least in part towards the first plane and/or the first tier.

Optionally, at least one said cantilevered elongate skewer element may have a curved free end. The free end may extend, linearly or non-linearly, upwards towards the first plane and/or first tier. This may help prevent any food items falling off the end portion. The remainder of the skewer element may or may not extend towards the first plane.

Advantageously, the multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf may further comprise a food-30 retaining means for preventing or inhibiting movement of a foodstuff relative to a skewer element, the food-retaining means having a skewer element-engagement part. Furthermore, the food-retaining means may include a peg element. The food-retaining means may further reduce the risk of food items translating along a skewer element, for example by apply a clamping force, increasing friction, or providing a stop or barrier.

Advantageously, the multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf may comprise a further tray positioned or positionable below the second tier. The further tray or container may collect 5 runoff from food on the first and/or second tiers. The further tray may catch falling food. The further tray may even provide a further tier to cook food in.

Beneficially, the multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf may further comprise a further spacer member depending from the multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf, the or a further tray being connected or connectable to the further spacer member. The further tray and/or further tier may be provided. The further tier may be suspended from any or any combination of: the first tier, the second tier, and the spacer member. The further tier may be permanently connected to the shelf or removably engageable therewith.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a food cooking system comprising a cooking apparatus and a multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf, preferably 15 in accordance with the first aspect of the invention. The shelf is provided together with the cooking apparatus.

Preferably, the cooking apparatus may be an oven. Alternatively, the cooking apparatus may be a barbecue apparatus. The shelf may be used in an indoor setting or an outdoor setting. The setting may be a domestic setting and/or an industrial setting. A barbecue may cook food via heat from burning gas or from a fire. An oven may cook food via heat from burning gas, coal, wood, or from electrical resistance.

Beneficially, the food cooking system may further comprise a further tray positioned or positionable below the second tier. The further tray may catch any runoff from the foodstuff above and/or any falling food. This may prevent or inhibit runoff and/or food falling into the source of heat below and/or onto a lower surface of the cooking apparatus. The cooking apparatus may also be easier to clean as the further tray may be removable from the cooking apparatus.

Optionally, the food cooking system may further comprise a further spacer member depending from the multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf, the or a further tray being connected or connectable to the further spacer member. A further tier may be provided with or added to the shelf, as required. Modularity enables the user to select how many tiers are required.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf comprising a shelf body forming a first tier and which is configured to support a first foodstuff to be cooked in or on a cooking apparatus, at least one spacer member which extends from the shelf body, and food-suspension means forming a second tier above or below the first tier and which extends from the or each spacer member to suspend a second foodstuff to be cooked in or on the said cooking apparatus consecutively and/or simultaneously with the said first foodstuff.

The second tier may be spaced above the first tier. This may enable runoff to fall onto the first tier. Thus, no further tray or collection device is required to catch runoff. Additionally, runoff may add flavour to any food items in or on the first tier, if this is desired. The shelf body may be free-standing. The shelf body may therefore be receivable in or on a greater range of cooking apparatuses as the width of the shelf body does not need to match the width of the cooking apparatus.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of a multi-tiered cooking-apparatus in accordance with the first and third aspects of the invention; Figure 2 illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a food cooking system in 20 accordance with the second aspect of the invention; Figure 3 shows a close-up perspective top view of rectangle A of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a perspective side view of the food cooking system of Figure 2 in-use during cooking, with potato wedges being received on the first tier and two steaks being received on a skewer element of the multi-tiered cooking-apparatus, the cooking 25 apparatus being omitted for clarity; and Figure 5 is a front view of the food cooking system of Figure 4 in-use during cooking, with the cooking apparatus shown.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, there is shown a shelf, indicated generally at 10. The shelf 10 preferably comprises at least one and more preferably at least two levels or tiers. 30 Furthermore, the shelf 10 is preferably configured or configurable to be received in a cooking apparatus. In the shown embodiment, there are preferably two tiers. The shelf 10 can therefore be referred to as a cooking-apparatus shelf, a multi-tier cooking-apparatus shelf or a two-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf The shelf 10 or part thereof is formed of a material which can withstand the heat of a cooking apparatus. Preferably, the shelf 10 comprises metal, but any other material or combination of materials may be envisioned.

The shelf 10 may be provided together with a cooking apparatus 12 as part of a food cooking system 14 as shown in Figure 2. The cooking apparatus 12 has a cooking volume or cavity 16. The cooking apparatus 12 is an oven in the shown embodiment, but any source of heat suitable for cooking foodstuffs may be envisioned. For example, an open fire or a barbecue apparatus may be alternative cooking apparatuses.

The shelf 10 includes a shelf body 18, a spacer member 20, and food-suspension means 22, but any of the above may be omitted and/or a plurality of any of the above may be provided.

The shelf body 18 forms a first tier or level. The shelf body 18 is configurable or configured to support a first foodstuff to be cooked in or on a cooking apparatus in use. The first tier preferably extends at least in part in a first plane, but a non-planar first tier may be an option. The shelf body 18 has a depth 24, a width 26 and a thickness. The depth 24 and the width 26 are shown as dashed double-headed arrows in Figure 1. The shelf body 18 has a supporting portion 28 and a cooking-apparatus engagement portion 30.

The supporting portion 28 in-use provides a support for food and/or a container. The supporting portion 28 may be referred to as a first foodstuff-receiving portion. The supporting portion 28 preferably extends in a plane but this is optional. For example, the support portion may be non-planar, such as curved or part curved. In the shown embodiment, the supporting portion 28 includes a grill rack. However, the support portion may additionally or alternatively include any alternative to a grill rack.

The supporting portion 28 comprises a plurality of bars or grill bars 32. At least one, and preferably a plurality of the grill bars 32 extend along all or at least a major portion of the width of the shelf body 18, although a minor portion of the width may be envisioned. The width-spanning bars 32a are preferably connected to at least one, and more preferably a plurality of depth-spanning grill bars 32b. The depth-spanning grill bars 32b preferably extend along all or at least a major portion of the depth of the shelf body 18, although a minor portion of the depth may be envisioned. Here, there are nine width-spanning bars 32a and three depth-spanning bars 32b but any alternative number of bars may be envisioned.

The cooking-apparatus engagement portion 30 in use engages with the cooking apparatus 12. The cooking-apparatus engagement portion 30 may support and space apart the shelf 10 and/or shelf body 18 above the or a lower surface and/or a heat source of the cooking apparatus 12. It may easily be envisioned, however, that the cooking-apparatus engagement portion may engaged the or a lower surface of the cooking apparatus, for example to provide a free-standing arrangement.

The cooking-apparatus engagement portion 30 comprises at least one, and more preferably four projections 34 in the preferred embodiment. The or each projection 34 preferably includes at least one engagement bar or bar element. The or each engagement bar is preferably linear, but non-linear or part linear may be options. Each projection 34 extends from the supporting portion 28. More preferably, each projection 34 extends from a grill bar 32 of the supporting portion 28, and more preferably from a depth-spanning bar 32b and/or width-spanning bar 32a, but this is optional.

It may easily be envisioned, however, that part of the supporting portion may also function as or be the cooking-apparatus engagement portion. By way of example, a depth-spanning bar of the support portion may engage with the cooking apparatus. The depth-spanning bar may be receivable in a slot and/or on a bracket provided on a side surface of the cooking apparatus, by way of example only.

The at least one spacer member 20 in-use spaces apart the food-suspension means 22 from the shelf body 18. The or each spacer member 20 extends from the shelf body 18.

The spacer member 20 may optionally have a secondary function of stabilising the shelf 10. This function may be fulfilled by the spacer member 20 providing a counter-weight to the food-suspension means. Additionally or alternatively, the spacer member 20 may be dimensioned and/or configured or configurable to abut against a surface of the cooking apparatus 12, such as the back surface of an oven.

The, each or at least one spacer member 20 extends in use from the shelf body 18. The, each or at least one spacer member 20 extends upward, or, preferably downwards in use. In other words, the, each or at least one spacer member 20 preferably depends from the shelf body 18. The spacer member 20 extends from at or adjacent an edge or side of the shelf body 18 but away therefrom may be an option. Each spacer member 20 and the shelf body 18 may form an angle where they connect. The angle is preferably a right angle, but any non-right angle, such as an obtuse or an acute angle may be envisioned. The, each, or at least one said spacer member 20 is integrally formed with the shelf body 18, but non-integrally formed therewith may be an option.

The spacer member 20 comprises a spacer-member body 36. The spacer-member body 36 preferably comprises at least one, and more preferably three spacer-member bars 38. In the shown embodiment, two of the three spacer-member bars 38a connect to the third, width-spanning spacer-member bar 38b to form a U-shape. The third, width-spanning spacer-member bar 38b is preferably spaced-apart from the shelf body 18. Each bar 38 is preferably cylindrical, but non-cylindrical may be an option.

The food-suspension means 22 enables food to be suspended, held or received. The food-suspension means 22 increases the amount and/or the number of types of food items that can be received simultaneously in or on the cooking apparatus. Preferably, the food-suspension means 22 suspends food but any alternative to suspending, such as supporting food, may be an option. The food-suspension means 22 may also be referred to as a food-suspension element, part, mechanism; or a food-receiving portion or element. The food-suspension means 22 may form a second tier above or, preferably, below the first tier. The food-suspension means 22 extends from the, each or at least one spacer member 20. In the preferred embodiment, the food-suspension means 22 includes at least one, and more preferably a plurality of elongate skewer elements 40, but any alternative to an elongate skewer element may be envisioned. In the shown embodiment, there are four elongate skewer elements 40.

Each skewer element 40 may be referred to as a spike, bar, or skewer. The skewer element or elements 40 form a second tier or level. Each skewer element 40 is elongate. Each skewer element 40 has a length, and a thickness or width. Preferably, the length of each skewer element 40 is less than half the width 26 and/or depth 24 of the shelf body 18, as shown in Figure 1. The, each or at least one skewer element 40 is also preferably cylindrical or part cylindrical, but non cylindrical is an option. The, each or at least one said skewer element 40 is integrally formed with the or a said spacer member 20 but non-integrally formed may be an option.

As preferably all of: the shelf body 18, the spacer member 20 and the or each skewer element 40 are integrally formed, the or each skewer element 40 is preferably non-movable relative to the shelf body 18. In other words, the or each skewer element 40 is fixed and/or non-rotatable relative to the shelf body 18. Furthermore, in-use the or each skewer element 40 is non-movable relative to the cooking apparatus 14.

The, each or at least one skewer element 40 extends in a cantilevered manner from the, each or at least one spacer member 20. Each skewer element 40 and the spacer member 20 may form an angle where they connect. All or a subset of the skewer elements 40 preferably extend from a common spacer member 20. More preferably, all or a subset of the skewer elements 40 extend from the said width-spanning spacer-member bar 38b. Each skewer element 40 has a skewer body 42 and a skewer free end or end portion 44.

The skewer body 42 and the skewer free end portion 44 are preferably colinear with each other. The or each skewer free end portion 44 may optionally narrow, as shown in Figure 15 3. The free end portion 44 terminates in a tip 46 which may be pointed and/or rounded.

The skewer body 42 and/or the skewer free end portion 44 of at least one elongate skewer element 40 may extend at least in part in a second plane. The second plane is preferably non-parallel to the first plane, but parallel planes may be an option. In other words, the second tier and the first tier may be non-parallel. More preferably, the free end 44 may extend at least in part towards the first plane and/or towards the first tier. In other words, the angle between the skewer element 40 and the spacer member 20 is preferably acute, but a non-acute angle may be envisioned, such as a right angle or an obtuse angle. In yet again other words, the skewer body 42 and/or the skewer free end portion 44 may be angled upwards in-use. This may help to retain any foodstuffs received on the skewer element 40.

Optionally, the food cooking system 14 may further comprise at least one food-receiving surface or receptacle 52 for receiving food. The food-receiving surface or receptacle 52 may be received in or on a tier. A food-receiving receptacle may even be considered to be part of a tier. The food-receiving receptacle 52 may include a tray, such as a baking tray, and/or any dish, receptacle, or container. In the shown embodiment, a food-receiving receptacle 52 in the form of a tray, is provided on the first tier.

Optionally, the food cooking system 14 may further comprise at least one further tier. The further tier may be positioned or posifionable above or below the shelf body 18. Furthermore, the further tier may be positioned or positionable above or, preferably, below the second tier. The further tier may include any or any combination of: a further shelf body, a further grill rack, a further spacer member, a further food-suspension means, a planar surface, a tray or tray element, or other container or recipient. The further tier may receive a third foodstuff. Additionally or alternatively, the further tier may catch or capture falling food and/or runoff from food from a higher tier.

In-use, the shelf 10 is installed in or on the cooking apparatus 12, which is an oven in 10 the preferred embodiment. This can be done before, during or after the first and/or second foodstuffs have been received on the shelf 10.

The shelf 10 is oriented such that the second tier is positioned above or, preferably, below the shelf body 18. Additionally, the shelf 10 is also preferably oriented such that the skewer free end portion 44 of at least one, and more preferably each skewer element 40 extends towards the user and/or outwardly of the cooking apparatus 12. This provides an easy access to place and/or retrieve a foodstuff received on and/or suspended from the food-suspension means 22.

For safety considerations however, it could be envisioned that the free end portion of each or at least one skewer element may extend in any other direction, such as towards 20 a side wall and/or the back wall of the cooking apparatus. Two or more skewer elements may extend in different directions to each other.

The shelf body 18 and more preferably the cooking-apparatus engagement portion 30 thereof is engaged with the cooking apparatus 12. Thus, the shelf body 18 is engaged with the walls of oven here.

Food may be received directly or indirectly on any of the tiers. For instance, the first foodstuff may be received indirectly on the shelf body 18.

The term "foodstuff' used herein and throughout is intended to mean at least one food category and/or at least one food item. For clarity, a foodstuff received in or on the first tier is referred to as "first foodstuff 48" whilst a foodstuff received in or on the second tier is referred to as "second foodstuff 50". Similar incremental numbering may be used to refer to a foodstuff received in or on any further tiers.

The first foodstuff 48 and the second foodstuff 50 may differ from each other or may be the same as each other. A foodstuff may include any food item and/or food category or categories. A foodstuff may include: one or more vegetables, one or more dairy products, fish, one or more meat products, one or more cereal or cereal-derived products, any other food category, or any combination of the above.

The second foodstuff 50 may be received directly on and/or around the skewer elements 40. The second foodstuff 50 is moved towards the tip 46 of at least one skewer element 40 before being impaled thereupon in the shown embodiment. The illustrated second foodstuff is steak, but any alternative foodstuff may be envisioned. The second foodstuff 50 is thereby suspended from the skewer element 40.

The user repeats the above step with all the second foodstuff items 50 which the user wants to be cooked. Figure 4 shows two second foodstuff items 50, such as steaks, received on the second tier, but any alternative number of items, such as none, one, two or at least three may be options. It may be possible to suspend a plurality of second foodstuffs 50 from a common food-suspension means 22.

The user can further place the first foodstuff 48 on the first tier, before, at the same time or after placing the second foodstuff on the second tier. The order may be dictated by various parameters, such as relative cooking times of the foodstuffs, size of the foodstuff items, and available space. In the shown embodiment, potato wedges are placed on a tray 52 which is received on the shelf body 18, but the tray may be omitted or replaced with any other receptacle.

A further receptacle 52 may optionally be placed below the first and/or second tier. The further receptacle 52, here a tray, may receive or catch falling food and/or runoff, drippings or drops, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The further receptacle 52 may even 25 receive a third foodstuff.

Once the food is cooked, it can be removed from the shelf 10. The invention has a number of advantages, as follows.

Due to the skewer elements 40 being cantilevered and having a free end portion 44 preferably oriented towards the user, the user can slide the second foodstuff towards 30 them and/or off the skewer element 40 without needing to remove the shelf 10 and/or skewer element 40 from the cooking apparatus 12 to access the food. The shelf 10 can remain in the cooking apparatus 12 during the removal of food. The shelf 10 can remain in the cooking apparatus 12 after use, for example, to cool down. Not having to remove the shelf 10 to access cooked food may be beneficial, for example, if the surrounding work surfaces are covered and therefore unable to receive the shelf 10. As the user is not required to handle a hot shelf 10 or part thereof, the risk of burn injuries is also reduced or eliminated.

A plurality of tiers increases the volume of food that may be received in or on the cooking apparatus 12 simultaneously. This results in a greater time efficiency. A greater number of tiers may be provided than there are slots or brackets available in the oven for receiving a conventional shelf. In contrast, in a cooking apparatus having no multi-tier shelf, a user may need to remove food which has been cooked to make more space for more food to be cooked. The user has to spend more time cooking overall. Furthermore, the cooked food removed from the cooking apparatus may go cold in the meantime. The food may need to be re-heated prior to serving.

Suspending a foodstuff also has a number of benefits.

As a foodstuff is not laid on a surface, the airflow around all surfaces of the foodstuff is more uniform, resulting in more uniform cooking of the food. Optionally, the food-suspension means 22 may further improve the uniformity of the cooking by conducting heat into the foodstuff.

The cooking process may be more environmentally friendly as no baking paper and/or no aluminium foil may be required to prevent the second foodstuff adhering to the surface.

The cooking process may be healthier as no oil, lard, or butter is required to avoid the foodstuff sticking to the surface. Furthermore, in the case of a foodstuff which releases runoff upon cooking, such as water and/or melted fat, the runoff drips or runs off the foodstuff. The horizontal or near horizontal orientation of the skewer element or elements means that the foodstuff items are not positioned or positionable one above another, even when received on the same skewer element 40. Thus, the runoff from one foodstuff item does not drip or run onto a second foodstuff item located below. This enables healthier cooking of all second foodstuffs, at least in comparison with a shelf having vertical or partly vertical elongate skewers. In such an embodiment, the runoff from one second foodstuff item may drip or flow onto a further second foodstuff item located below, optionally on the same skewer element. Thus, only the higher-positioned first food item may undergo a healthy cooking process in this alternative.

The foodstuff being cooked may even be tastier and/or have an improved texture. Fibres of a suspended foodstuff may be stretched between skewers and/or under gravity, 5 making the foodstuff more tender. This may be particularly relevant for meat.

Thus, the shelf 10 enables suspension of second foodstuff and thereby the second foodstuff to be cooked in or on the said cooking apparatus 12 consecutively and/or simultaneously with the said first foodstuff. As the second tier is preferably below the first tier, runoff from the second foodstuff does not fall on the first tier, but this alternative may be envisioned. For example, melted fat may add extra flavour to the first foodstuff, such as potatoes.

In the preferred embodiment, the or all spacer members extend downward in-use from the shelf body so that the second tier is below the shelf body. In an alternative embodiment, the, each or at least one spacer member may extend upwards in use from the shelf body, instead of or in addition to extending downwards from the shelf body. The second tier and/or a further tier may thereby be provided above the first tier.

Although preferably all skewer elements and/or food suspension means are integrally formed with the or a said spacer member, at least skewer and/or at least one food suspension means may be non-integrally formed with the spacer member. At least one said skewer element may have a first connection portion and the or a said spacer member may have a second connection portion engageable with the first connection portion such that the skewer element and the spacer member may be connectable. At least one said skewer element may be connectable to the or a said spacer member via a fixed connection such that the skewer element may be non-movable relative to the spacer member once the first connection portion is engaged with the second connection portion Although preferably all spacer members are integrally formed with the shelf body, at least one spacer member may be non-integrally formed with the shelf body. At least one said spacer member may have a first engagement portion and the shelf body may have a second engagement portion engageable with the first engagement portion such that the spacer member and the shelf body may be connectable. Furthermore, at least one said spacer member may be connectable to the shelf body via a fixed connection such that the spacer member may be non-movable relative to the shelf body once the first engagement portion is engaged with the second engagement portion.

The first and second engagement portions may be referred to as third and fourth connection portions. The first and second connection portions and/or the third and fourth connection portions may be any or any combination of: screw threaded engagement portions, bayonet engagement portions, male and female engagement portions, complementary slidable portions, clips, clippable portions, hook portions, interference fit, or any other suitable connection.

The food cooking system may optionally further comprise a food-retaining means for retaining food on the shelf. More preferably, the food-retaining means may prevent or inhibiting movement of a foodstuff relative to a skewer element. The food-retaining means may have a food-suspension means engagement part. If the food-suspension means includes a skewer element, the food-suspension means engagement part may be referred to as a skewer element-engagement part. The food-retaining means, element, or portion may include one or more pegs or peg elements, clamps, or pincers, by way of example. The or each peg comprises a heat-resistant material. The material is preferably metal, although any suitable metal may be envisioned. In-use the peg may pinch, clamp or hold the second foodstuff and be received on or around the food-suspension means. The food-retaining means may prevent or inhibit translation of the second foodstuff along a skewer element. For example, the food-retaining means may increase the friction between the skewer element and the second foodstuff impaled or received thereupon.

The food-retaining means may provide a physical barrier. For example, a peg may be received around a skewer element without clamping a food item. The food-retaining means may be positioned between two adjacent food items to space-them apart. The food-retaining means may be positioned at or adjacent the end portion to prevent or inhibit a food item from sliding off the end portion.

The second foodstuff may not even be received on or impaled on the skewer element and/or food-suspension means. Instead, the food-retaining means may suspend the 30 second foodstuff from the skewer element and/or food-suspension means.

The food cooking system may optionally further comprise a skewer support. The skewer support may support a skewer in-use by providing a force to oppose the weight of the second foodstuff received on a skewer. The skewer support may provide a second connection to the shelf body. The skewer support may comprise a chain, a bar, rod or any other element. The skewer support may be at least temporarily connecting the skewer to the shelf body.

Although the shelf preferably has only two tiers in the shown embodiment, one or more further tiers may be easily added. The further tier may be connected or connectable via a further spacer member depending from the multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf. The further tier may be connected or connectable to the further spacer member.

Alternatives to a grill rack may include: a surface, a planar solid surface, a tray, or any 10 other container element which may receive food therein or thereupon, by way of example. The planar solid surface may or may not comprise holes.

Whilst the shelf body comprises a grill rack, it could easily be envisioned that the shelf body may comprise at least one elongate skewer element, instead of or in addition to the grill rack. The spacer member and/or food suspension means may be omitted entirely in 15 this alternative embodiment.

Although shown as a U-shape, the spacer-member body may take on any alternative shape, such as a C-shape. The spacer member may simply comprise one or more unconnected spacer-member bars or bar elements. The spacer-member bar or bar elements may extend from the shelf body preferably vertically or substantially vertically in-use. The spacer member may include one or more plates, surfaces, or chains, instead or in addition to the at least one spacer-member bar.

In an alternative embodiment, the length of at least one skewer element may be at least half the width and/or depth of the shelf body.

In the shown embodiment, the, each or at least one skewer element extends preferably linearly from the spacer member, but non-linear may be an option. In other words, a skewer element may have a non-linear profile in any of: side view, top view, bottom view, back view, front view, and cross-sectional view. For example, a skewer element may be sinusoidal in side view. Each minimum of the sinusoidal curve may receive a foodstuff whilst the maximum of the sinusoidal curve may be preventing or inhibiting a foodstuff from translating along a skewer element towards another foodstuff received on the same skewer element. In other words, such a skewer element may enforce spacing between food items received on a skewer element.

Whilst preferably a plurality of food-suspension means and/or skewer elements extend from a common spacer member, in an alternative embodiment only one food suspension 5 means and/or only one skewer element may extend from one spacer element.

Although the skewer body and the skewer free end portion are preferably colinear, noncolinear may be an option, such as parallel or forming a non-flat angle with each other. Either or both skewer body and the skewer free end portion may be curved. Curvature may help retain a foodstuff received on the skewer element, by way of example.

The food suspension means comprises skewer elements in the preferred embodiment. However, any alternative to a skewer element may be envisioned, as long as the food suspension means can suspend food. A chain, hook or hook element, such as a butchers hook, may be an example of an alternative food suspension means. The spacer member may be omitted in this alternative embodiment. Instead of or in addition to a food suspension means, the shelf may comprise a second shelf body. The second shelf may be connected or connectable to the or a spacer member.

Although the or each skewer element preferably simply suspends the second foodstuff, in an alternative embodiment, at least one skewer element may have a second function of sensing or monitoring temperature. The skewer element may comprise or act as a temperature probe. The temperature may be that of the cooking apparatus. The temperature may be that of the foodstuff being cooked. For example, if the foodstuff is meat, it may be advantageous to measure that the meat is cooked all the way through.

Whilst a preferred shape may have been specified for any of the above described features, any feature may have an alternative shape in any of: side view, front view, plan view, longitudinal cross-section, transverse cross-section, lateral cross-section, or any combination thereof. The alternative shape may be curved, part curved, non-curved, circular, oval, elliptical, linear, non-linear, part linear, polygonal whether irregular or regular such as triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal, trapezium, trapezoid, hexagonal, octagonal, a chamfered polygon, a rounded polygon, or an abstract shape.

It is therefore possible to provide a multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf which increases space-usage within a cooking apparatus such as an oven. The shelf does this by providing a shelf body forming a first tier and which is configured to support a first foodstuff to be cooked in or on a cooking apparatus, at least one spacer member which depends from the shelf body, and a plurality of elongate skewer elements forming a second tier and which extend in a cantilevered manner from the or each spacer member to suspend a second foodstuff to be cooked in or on the said cooking apparatus consecutively and/or simultaneously with the said first foodstuff below the first tier. The shelf also cooks food more healthily as runoff drips off the suspended food. The suspended foodstuff is cooked more uniformly.

It is also possible to provide a food cooking system comprising a multi-tiered cooking-10 apparatus shelf and a cooking apparatus which cooks more food simultaneously and/or more uniformly. The heat source is additionally provided.

There is also provided a multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf comprising a shelf body forming a first tier and which is configured to support a first foodstuff to be cooked in or on a cooking apparatus, at least one spacer member which extends from the shelf body, and food-suspension means forming a second tier above or below the first tier and which extends from the or each spacer member to suspend a second foodstuff to be cooked in or on the said cooking apparatus consecutively and/or simultaneously with the said first foodstuff. The shelf body may be free standing and/or positioned below the second tier. The shelf body may therefore be receivable in or on a greater range of cooking apparatuses as the width of the shelf body does not need to match the width of the cooking apparatus.

The words 'comprises/comprising' and the words 'having/including' when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of 25 one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the field without departing from the scope of the invention as defined herein.

Claims (24)

1. Claims 1 2. 4 6A multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf comprising: a shelf body forming a first tier and which is configured to support a first foodstuff to be cooked in or on a cooking apparatus, at least one spacer member which depends from the shelf body, and a plurality of elongate skewer elements forming a second tier and which extend in a cantilevered manner from the or each spacer member to suspend a second foodstuff to be cooked in or on the said cooking apparatus consecutively and/or simultaneously with the said first foodstuff below the first tier.
2. A multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one said skewer element is integrally formed with the or a said spacer member.
3. A multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least one said skewer element has a first connection portion and the or a said spacer member has a second connection portion engageable with the first connection portion such that the skewer element and the spacer member are connectable.
4. A multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one said skewer element is connectable to the or a said spacer member via a fixed connection such that the skewer element is non-movable relative to the spacer member once the first connection portion is engaged with the second connection portion.
5. A multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one said spacer member is integrally formed with the shelf body.
6. A multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one said spacer member has a first engagement portion and the shelf body has a second engagement portion engageable with the first engagement portion such that the spacer member and the shelf body are connectable.
7. 7 A multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one said spacer member is connectable to the shelf body via a fixed connection such that the spacer member is non-movable relative to the shelf body once the first engagement connection portion is engaged with the second engagement portion.
8. 8. A multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shelf body includes a grill rack.
9. 9. A multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shelf body includes a planar surface.
10. 10. A multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shelf body includes a tray.
11. 11. A multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first tier extends in a first plane and at least one elongate skewer element extends at least in part in a second plane, the second plane being non-parallel to the first plane.
12. 12. A multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first tier extends in a first plane and at least one elongate skewer element extends at least in part in a second plane, the second plane being parallel to the first plane.
13. 13. A multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one said cantilevered elongate skewer element has a free end which extends at least in part towards the first plane and/or the first tier.
14. 14. A multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one said cantilevered elongate skewer element has a curved free end
15. 15. A multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a food-retaining means for preventing or inhibiting movement of a foodstuff relative to a skewer element, the food-retaining means having a skewer element-engagement part.
16. 16. A multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf as claimed in claim 15, wherein the food-retaining means includes a peg element.
17. 17. A multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a further tray positioned or positionable below the second tier.
18. 18. A multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a further spacer member depending from the multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf, the or a further tray being connected or connectable to the further spacer member.
19. 19. A food cooking system comprising a cooking apparatus and a multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
20. 20. A food cooking system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the cooking apparatus is an oven.
21. 21. A food cooking system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the cooking apparatus is a barbecue apparatus.
22. 22.A food cooking system as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 21, further comprising a further tray positioned or positionable below the second tier.
23. 23.A food cooking system as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 22, further comprising a further spacer member depending from the multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf, the or a further tray being connected or connectable to the further spacer member.
24. 24. A multi-tiered cooking-apparatus shelf comprising a shelf body forming a first tier and which is configured to support a first foodstuff to be cooked in or on a cooking apparatus, at least one spacer member which extends from the shelf body, and food-suspension means forming a second tier above or below the first tier and which extends from the or each spacer member to suspend a second foodstuff to be cooked in or on the said cooking apparatus consecutively and/or simultaneously with the said first foodstuff.