Wienie roaster

Abstract

Disclosed is a wienie roaster with prongs that may be folded back. The prongs are pivotly received by a head, and the head is attached at the end of a roaster stalk. The prong has a continuous curve as it enters the head which produces friction to hold the prongs at an adjustable angle away from or towards the roaster stalk. The bore in the head may have beveled, oval-shaped openings, so that the curved base of the prong notches into place in extended and folded back positions. The roaster may also have a tension shoe for applying and distributing pressure on the prongs and a notch in the prongs for receiving the tension shoe. A hole in the top of the head allows lubricant, such as oil or fat from cooking food, to enter the head and lubricate the base of the prong and the tension shoe. The lubrication hole may also be threaded to receive a set screw, which can provide additional pressure to hold the prong in place. In an another alternative embodiment, the base of the prong has notches to receive the tip of the roaster stalk. In this embodiment, the prong is held in its extended and folded back positions when the tip of the stalk enters the notches in the base of the prong. The end of the stalk may be threaded to receive the head, so that the head can be screwed out a little to allow the base of the prong to clear the tip of the stalk, thereby permitting the prong to be swivelled to its extended or folded position. Alternatively, a spring and ball at the end of the stalk can exert enough pressure to hold the ball in the notches of the prong base to hold the prong in position, yet still allow the prong to be swivelled.

1 . A wienie roaster comprising: 
 a stalk with an end,    a head attached to the end of the stalk,    a bore through the head, and    a prong, for securing a food item, pivotly received in the bore in the head.    
   
   
       2 . The wienie roaster of  claim 1  wherein the bore has at least one oval-shaped opening, and wherein the prong has a base with at least one curved portion which can be captured by the oval-shaped opening.  
   
   
       3 . The wienie roaster of  claim 2  wherein the oval-shaped opening has a vertex.  
   
   
       4 . The wienie roaster of  claim 3  wherein the vertex is directed away from the stalk.  
   
   
       5 . The wienie roaster of  claim 2  comprising two vertices, one directed away from the stalk and the other directed toward the stalk.  
   
   
       6 . The wienie roaster of  claim 2 , wherein the prong is made of a resilient material.  
   
   
       7 . The wienie roaster of  claim 6 , wherein the resilient material is steel.  
   
   
       8 . The wienie roaster of  claim 1 , wherein the prong is U-shaped.  
   
   
       9 . The wienie roaster of  claim 1 , wherein the head has a top, located at the distal end of the head from the stalk, and further comprising a hole in the head, opening at the top, and communicating with the bore.  
   
   
       10 - 22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . A wienie roaster comprising: 
 a stalk with an end,    a head attached to the end of the stalk,    a bore through the head,    a prong, for securing a food item, pivotly received in the bore in the head, and    a means for securing the prong in extended and folded-back positions.    
   
   
       24 . A wienie roaster comprising: 
 a stalk having a length and an axis along the length of the stalk, the stalk further comprising a distal end,    a head at the distal end of the stalk,    a bore through the head, said bore being transverse to said stalk axis, and    a prong, for securing a food item, said prong pivotly received in said bore.    
   
   
       25 . The wienie roaster of claim  11 , wherein the prong is U-shaped.  
   
   
       26 . The wienie roaster of claim  12  wherein said transverse bore has an oval-shaped opening for releaseably receiving the curved portion of the prong.  
   
   
       27 . The wienie roaster of claim  13 , wherein the stalk has a proximal end opposite the distal end, and wherein the