Apparatus and Method for Maintaining Cooked Food in a Ready-to-use Condition
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A food warming apparatus includes a heating compartment that can hold one or more trays containing previously cooked food portions. A cover for a tray has a horizontal section and a vertical section extending downwardly from one side of the horizontal section. A rack in the heating compartment includes a channel and a stop that blocks the front end of the channel. The vertical section of the cover fits securely in the channel behind the stop such that the rack supports the cover substantially only through the vertical section. When a tray is inserted into the receiving space cooperatively defined by the cover and rack, the cover is lifted up so that the horizontal section rests on the tray and at least partially blocks the open top of the tray, thereby restricting evaporation of liquids from the previously cooked food portions contained in the tray.
35 Citations
20 Claims
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1-13. -13. (canceled)
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14. 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 rack that fits into said heating compartment; providing a cover for said tray, said cover having a horizontal section and a vertical section extending downwardly from one side of said horizontal section; mounting said cover on said rack such that said rack supports said cover substantially only through said vertical section; inserting said rack with said cover mounted thereon into said heating compartment; and inserting said tray into a receiving space cooperatively defined by said cover and said rack until said horizontal section of said cover rests on said lip of said tray and at least partially blocks said tray opening. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification