Post-supported covers for food trays
First Claim
1. A food warming apparatus for maintaining previously cooked food portions contained in at least one tray in a ready-to-use condition, said at least one tray having a lip defining a tray opening, said food warming apparatus comprising:
- a cabinet having at least one heating compartment therein;
a support disposed in said at least one heating compartment, said support including at least one stop member and at least one guide member;
at least one cover in a first position resting on said at least one stop member, said at least one cover and said support cooperatively defining at least one receiving space within said at least one heating compartment for receiving said at least one tray; and
at least one engagement section in said at least one cover engaging said at least one guide member such that said at least one guide member is able to guide upward movement of said at least one cover from said first position to a second position when said at least one tray is inserted into said at least one receiving space.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A food warming apparatus includes one or more heating compartments that can hold one or more trays, each covered by a cover, each tray containing previously cooked food portions. One or more supports are disposed inside a heating compartment. A support includes one or more guide members and one or more stop members. A cover includes one or more engagement sections. Without a tray, the cover rests on the one or more stop members. When a tray is inserted into the receiving space defined by the cover and the support, the cover is lifted. The one or more engagement sections engage the one or more guide members to guide the upward motion of the cover. The cover then rests on the tray to at least partially block an open top of the tray, thereby restricting evaporation of liquids from the previously cooked food portions contained therein.
62 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A food warming apparatus for maintaining previously cooked food portions contained in at least one tray in a ready-to-use condition, said at least one tray having a lip defining a tray opening, said food warming apparatus comprising:
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a cabinet having at least one heating compartment therein; a support disposed in said at least one heating compartment, said support including at least one stop member and at least one guide member; at least one cover in a first position resting on said at least one stop member, said at least one cover and said support cooperatively defining at least one receiving space within said at least one heating compartment for receiving said at least one tray; and at least one engagement section in said at least one cover engaging said at least one guide member such that said at least one guide member is able to guide upward movement of said at least one cover from said first position to a second position when said at least one tray is inserted into said at least one receiving space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for covering a tray in a food warming apparatus, said food warming apparatus including a heating compartment, said tray having a lip defining a tray opening, said method comprising:
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providing a support that fits into said heating compartment, said support including at least one stop member and at least one guide member; providing a cover for said tray, said cover including at least one engagement section for engaging said at least one guide member; mounting said cover on said support in a first position such that said cover rests on said at least one stop member and said at least one engagement section engages said at least one guide member; inserting said support with said cover mounted thereon into said heating compartment such that said cover and said support cooperatively define a receiving space within said heating compartment for receiving said tray; and inserting said tray into said receiving space until said cover is in a second position in which said cover rests on said lip of said tray and at least partially blocks said tray opening. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification