Modular heating unit

• US 10,271,690 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2014
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marmon Foodservice Technologies Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Prince Castle LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Veltrop, Loren, Betzold, David Anthony, Beu, Scott W., Larson, Eric W., Paton, David E., Santiago, Ronaldo J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoang, Tu B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rosario-Aponte, Alba T
• Application Number:
  US14/188,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20140263269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,890 Days
• Field of Search: 219394, 219395, 219402, 219392, 219403, 219391, 219385, 219386, 219387
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 39/02 Dish-warmers; Devices to keep food hot

Abstract

A modular heating unit comprising modular heating bins is disclosed. The modular heating bins may be arranged into different configurations to accommodate different kitchen food preparation layouts.

Claims

1. A modular heating unit comprising:

a base unit, the base unit including a substantially enclosed housing formed by a top wall, a bottom wall, and a plurality of side walls, the housing including a mounting tab extending vertically from the top wall;

power and control circuitry disposed within the base unit;

at least a first modular heating bin and a second modular heating bin, each of the first modular heating bin and the second modular heating bin including a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and two side walls, the first modular heating bin and the second modular heating bin being configured to be arranged in different positions to accommodate different cooking space dimensions, the first modular heating bin being releasably and operatively connected to the base unit by the mounting tab, the first modular heating bin and the second modular heating bin each including at least one heating element,

wherein the bottom wall of the first modular heating bin is placed upon the top wall of the base unit,

wherein the base unit includes at least one connector on the top wall that operatively connects the power and control circuitry within the base unit to the first modular heating bin of the at least two modular heating bins, the connector being configured to provide power and communication signals between the base unit and the first modular heating bin, and

wherein the base unit includes the top wall, the bottom wall, and the plurality of side walls, when the base unit and the first modular heating bin are separated from one another.

2. The modular heating unit of claim 1, wherein the first modular heating bin and the second modular heating bin are stacked on top of each other on the base unit.

3. The modular heating unit of claim 1, wherein the first modular heating bin and the second modular heating bin are positioned laterally adjacent to each other.

4. The modular heating unit of claim 1, further including a third modular heating bin, the first modular heating bin, the second modular heating bin, and the third modular heating bin being stackable in different positions, the first modular heating, the second modular heating bin, and the third modular heating bin being operatively connected to the base unit.

5. The modular heating unit of claim 4, wherein the first modular heating bin, the second modular heating bin, and the third modular heating bin are stacked on top of each other on the base unit.

6. The modular heating unit of claim 4, wherein the first modular heating, the second modular heating bin, and the third modular heating bin are positioned adjacent to each other, the first modular heating bin being releasably connected to the base unit.

7. The modular heating unit of claim 1, further including 1+N modular heating bins configured to be arranged in different positions.

8. The modular heating unit of claim 1, wherein:

the base unit is configured to provide communication between first modular heating bin and the second modular heating bin and an external network.

9. The modular heating unit of claim 1, wherein the base unit is configured to provide wireless communication between the base unit and the first modular heating bin and the second modular heating bin.

10. The modular heating unit of claim 1, wherein the first modular heating bin and the second modular heating bin are configured to interlock to the base unit with the mounting tab.

11. A modular heating unit comprising:

a base unit, the base unit including a substantially enclosed housing formed by a top wall, a bottom wall, and a plurality of side walls, the housing including a mounting tab extending vertically from the top wall;

power and control circuitry disposed within the base unit;

a first modular heating bin having a top wall, a bottom wall, and two side walls that form a first chamber, and a first heating apparatus, the first heating apparatus for heating the first chamber;

a second modular heating bin having a top wall, a bottom wall, and two side walls that form a second chamber, and a second heating apparatus, the second heating apparatus for heating the second chamber; and

the first and second modular heating bins are configured to be arranged in different positions to accommodate different cooking space dimensions, the first modular heating bin being releasably and operatively connected to the base unit by the mounting tab,

wherein the bottom wall of the first modular heating bin is placed upon the top wall of the base unit,

wherein the base unit includes at least one connector on the top wall that operatively connects the power and control circuitry within the base unit to the first modular heating bin, the connector being configured to provide power and communication signals between the base unit and the first modular heating bin, and

wherein the base unit includes the top wall, the bottom wall, and the plurality of side walls when the base unit and the first modular heating bin are separated from one another.

12. The modular heating unit of claim 11, further including a third modular heating bin having a third chamber and a third heating apparatus, the first, second and third modular heating bins being stackable in different configurations, the first, second and third modular heating bins being operatively connected to the base unit.

13. The modular heating unit of claim 11, further including 1+N modular heating bins stackable in different configurations, the 1+N modular heating bins being operatively connected to the base unit.

14. The modular heating unit of claim 11, wherein the first and second modular heating bins are operatively connected to the base unit in at least a first configuration, where the first and second modular heating bins are connected to the base unit laterally adjacent to each other, and a second configuration where the first modular heating bin is connected to the base unit and the second modular heating bin is stacked on top of the first modular heating bin.

15. The modular heating unit of claim 11, wherein the first and second modular heating bins have a first connecting structure on the top of the first and second modular heating bins and a second connecting structure on the bottom of the first and second modular heating bins, wherein the first connecting structure of the first modular heating bin is connectable to the second connecting structure of the second modular heating bin.

16. The modular heating unit of claim 11, wherein the first and second modular heating bins have a first connecting structure on the top of the first and second modular heating bins and a second connecting structure on the bottom of the first and second modular heating bins, wherein the first connecting structure of the second modular heating bin is connectable to the second connecting structure of the first modular heating bin.

17. The modular heating unit of claim 11, wherein the first and second modular heating bins have a first connecting structure on the top of the first and second modular heating bins and a second connecting structure on the bottom of the first and second modular heating bins.

18. A modular heating unit comprising:

a top cover;

a base unit, the base unit including substantially enclosed housing formed by a top wall, a bottom wall, and a plurality of side walls, the housing including a mounting tab extending vertically from the top wall;

power and control circuitry disposed within the enclosure;

a first modular heating bin, the first modular heating bin having a first set of dimensions, a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and two side walls;

a second modular heating bin, the second modular heating bin having a second set of dimensions, the second set of dimensions different from the first set of dimensions of the first modular heating bin, the second modular heating bin including a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and two side walls;

the first and second modular heating bins being configured to be arranged in different positions to accommodate different cooking space dimensions, the first modular heating bin being releasably and operatively connected to the base unit by the mounting tab,

wherein the bottom wall of the first modular heating bin is placed upon the top wall of the base unit,

wherein the base unit includes at least one connector on the top wall that operatively connects the power and control circuitry within the base unit to the first modular heating bin, the connector being configured to provide power and communication signals between the base unit and the first modular heating bin, and

wherein the base unit includes the top wall, the bottom wall, and the side walls when the base unit and the first modular heating bin are separated from one another.

19. The modular heating unit of claim 18, further including a first pan and a second pan, the first pan and the second pan having different dimensions, the first pan sized for use in the first modular heating bin, the second pan sized for use in both the first modular heating bin and the second modular heating bin.