Food staging device

• US 20070251667A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Restaurant Technologies Incorporated (Goldman Sachs Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Restaurant Technologies Incorporated (Goldman Sachs Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schackmuth, Glenn, Simmons, Paul, Ewald, Henry, Fortmann, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,695,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/48.100
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 39/006 for either storing and preparing or for preparing food on serving trays, e.g. heating, thawing, preserving

Abstract

A cooked food staging device and method are provided. The device and method are particularly suited for storing breaded, battered or bread food items for extended periods of time without becoming soggy. A heated compartment having a slot has a flexible member covering at least a portion of the slot to restrict airflow and to permit access to the food items contained therein, which may be contained on trays, without the necessity of removing the tray to view and remove selected food items therefrom.

Claims

1. A device for holding a plurality of food portions at an elevated temperature comprising:

at least one compartment for holding the food portions, said compartment comprising at least one slot, having a compartment height and being bounded by an upper heated compartment surface;

a heating device for maintaining the compartment at an elevated temperature;

a cabinet defining a volume that encloses said compartment therein, said cabinet including at least one slot for removing the food portions contained in said compartment; and

a flexible member covering at least an upper portion of the slot, said flexible member being readily deflectable to permit access to the interior of the compartment for removing food items therefrom, the flexible member permitting a limited amount of airflow into and out of the compartment through a lower portion of the compartment slot.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the compartment is further bounded by a lower heated surface.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising at least one raised curb attached to said lower surface.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one tray for containing the food portions.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a gap between said flexible member and the bottom of said cabinet.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said gap is approximately two inches.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said flexible member comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, and the lower portion has a high air permeability.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said flexible member has a high air permeability.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said flexible member is at least substantially air impermeable.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising a main control panel for programming parameters.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said device is a main device and further comprising at least one satellite device connected to said main device wherein said satellite device comprises:

at least one compartment for holding the food portions, said compartment comprising at least one slot, having a compartment height and being bounded by an upper heated compartment surface;

a heating device for maintaining the compartment at an elevated temperature;

a cabinet defining a volume that encloses said compartment therein, said cabinet including at least one slot for removing the food portions contained in said compartment; and

a flexible member covering at least an upper portion of the slot, said flexible member being readily deflectable to permit access to the interior of the compartment for removing food items therefrom, the flexible member permitting a limited amount of airflow into and out of the compartment through a lower portion of the compartment slot;

wherein said satellite device is controlled by said main control panel.

12. A device for holding a plurality of food portions at a controlled temperature comprising:

at least one compartment for holding the food portions, said compartment comprising at least one slot, having a compartment height and being bounded by an upper compartment surface;

a refrigeration device for maintaining the compartment at a controlled temperature;

a cabinet defining a volume that encloses said compartment therein, said cabinet including at least one slot for inserting the food portions into said compartment and for removing the food portions contained in said compartment; and

a flexible member covering at least an upper portion of the slot, said flexible member being readily deflectable to permit access to the interior of the compartment for removing food items therefrom, the flexible member permitting a limited amount of airflow into and out of the compartment through a lower portion of the compartment slot.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said compartment is kept below ambient temperature.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein said compartment is further bounded by a lower compartment surface and further comprises at least one raised curb attached to said lower compartment surface.

15. The device of claim 12 further comprising at least one tray for containing the previously cooked food portions.

16. The device of claim 12 further comprising a gap between said flexible member and the bottom of said cabinet.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein said gap is approximately two inches.

18. The device of claim 12 wherein said flexible member comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, and the lower portion has a high air permeability.

19. The device of claim 12 wherein said flexible member has a high air permeability.

20. The device of claim 12 wherein said flexible member is at least substantially air impermeable.