PRODUCT SERVER WITH BREATH GUARD

• US 20110204755A1
• Filed: 05/03/2011
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Duke Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Duke Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Yingst, Thomas E., Deluca, Frederick A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,671,618 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/140.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 10/06 for restaurant service systems table equipment A47G ; dirty crockery transport in association with crockery washing machines A47L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 2010/065 Food shields; sneeze guards
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/007 Cases or cabinets of the counter type
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0469 Details, e.g. night covers

Abstract

A product server for holding and displaying food products is disclosed. The product server has a front customer side, a rear employee side and a breath guard. The breath guard comprises a cover on a cabinet of the product server that is moveable between a lowered position covering the food products and a raised position in which the cover serves as a breath guard and allows access to the food products. Upright side panels are provided adjacent opposite ends of the product server. The breath guard extends between the upright side panels as it moves between its raised and lowered positions.

Claims

1. A product server for holding and displaying food products, the product server comprising

a front customer side,

a rear employee side,

a cabinet having a food preparation surface adjacent the employee side of the product server for the preparation of food orders,

a rectangular breath guard on the cabinet, said breath guard being pivoted adjacent the customer side of the product server for movement between a lowered generally horizontal position covering said food products held by the product server and a raised position,

said breath guard having a breath guard configuration such that when it is in its raised position it provides a barrier to contamination of the food products by customers on the customer side of the product server while allowing access to said food products by employees on the employee side of the product server,

upright side panels adjacent opposite ends of the product server, and

wherein the breath guard extends between the upright side panels as it moves between its raised and lowered positions.

2. The product server of claim 1, further comprising a top shelf extending between the side panels above the cabinet and the breath guard.

3. The product server of claim 2, wherein the front of the breath guard is positioned adjacent and below the top shelf when the breath guard is in its raised position.

4. The product server of claim 3, wherein the breath guard comprises a transparent rectangular panel and a rectangular breath guard frame surrounding the panel.

5. The product server of claim 4, further comprising a first device operable to apply a lifting force to assist in raising the breath guard and a second device operable to apply a damping force to the cover as it is lowered.

6. The product server of claim 5, further comprising upright frame members supporting respective upright side panels, said upright frame members having angled upper sections that slope up toward the rear employee side of the product server.

7. The product server of claim 6, wherein said breath guard in its raised position angles upward toward the rear employee side of the product server alongside said upper angled sections of the upright frame members.

8. The product server of claim 1, further comprising a first device operable to apply a lifting force to assist in raising the breath guard and a second device operable to apply a damping force to the cover as it is lowered.

9. The product server of claim 1, further comprising a frame extending between the side panels above the cabinet and the breath guard.

10. The product server of claim 9, wherein the front of the breath guard is positioned adjacent and below the frame when the breath guard is in its raised position.

11. The product server of claim 10, wherein the breath guard comprises a transparent rectangular panel and a rectangular breath guard frame surrounding the panel.

12. The product server of claim 11, further comprising a first device operable to apply a lifting force to assist in raising the breath guard and a second device operable to apply a damping force to the cover as it is lowered.

13. The product server of claim 9, wherein said frame comprises upright frame members supporting respective upright side panels.

14. The product server of claim 13 wherein said breath guard in its raised position angles upward toward the rear employee side of the product server generally parallel to said upright frame members.

15. The product server of claim 13, wherein said upright frame members have angled sections that slope up toward the rear employee side of the product server.

16. The product server of claim 15, wherein said breath guard in its raised position angles upward toward the rear employee side of the product server generally parallel to said angled sections of the upright frame members.