PORTABLE FOOD SERVICE EQUIPMENT

• US 3,797,563 A
• Filed: 11/18/1971
• Issued: 03/19/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carter Clifford Hoffmann, Richard R. Berger
• Original Assignee: Carter Clifford Hoffmann, Richard R. Berger
• Inventors: Hoffmann, Carter Clifford, Berger, Richard R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Antonakas, Manuel A.
• Application Number:
  US05/200,133
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 165/27,48,76,137 126/268,276 219/433,386,387,437,523 62/457,DIG.15 312/236
• US Class Current: 165/48.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 39/02 Dish-warmers; Devices to keep food hot
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 19/00 Arrangement or mounting of refrigeration units with respect to devices or objects to be refrigerated, e.g. infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 165/919 Wheeled

Abstract

Portable food service equipment adapted to be used in cafeterias or the like and which may be alternately used for food heating or cooling purposes. The exemplary embodiment includes a wheeled cart mounting an open topped container adapted to receive food. The container includes mounting means for alternately mounting electrical heating elements or the cooling coils of a refrigerating unit. The refrigerating unit is designed so that a portable compressor portion thereof may be supported by the cart wholly within the confines of the cart.

Claims

1. Interchangeable heating and cooling food service equipment comprising:

a container having liquid impervious side and bottom walls and an open top adapted to receive food containers;

a body of insulating material exterior of said container and in insulating engagement therewith;

mounting means formed in one of said side walls;

an electrical heating unit adapted to be received by said mounting means, said electrical heating unit including electrical heating elements for receipt within said container and electrical connection portIons adapted to be exteriorly located of said container when said electrical heating unit is received in said mounting means; and

a refrigerating unit adapted to be received in said mounting means, said refrigerating unit including a cooling portion adapted to be disposed within said container and a compressor unit adapted to be disposed exteriorly of said container when said refrigerating unit is received in said mounting means;

each of said electrical heating unit and said refrigerating unit including means for selective cooperative attachment to said mounting means;

support means for said container, said support means comprising a wheeled cart whereby said container may be moved to a desired location of use in a cafeterial or the like, said cart being provided with compressor support means for supporting said compressor unit within the confines of said cart;

said mounting means comprising a notch formed in said side wall, each of said heating unit and said refrigerating unit including elongated housing structure adapted to be received within said container and elongated housing structure adapted to be exterior of said container, said housing structures being interconnected by a neck structure having a length approximately equal to the thickness of said container and said insulating means adjacent said notch and a width approximately equal to the width of said notch.

2. Food service equipment comprising:

an upwardly open, liquid impervious container;

a body of insulating material exterior of said container and in insulating engagement therewith;

a protective sheath for said body of insulating material and sandwiching the insulating material between the protective sheath and the container;

means defining a base;

means connecting said base to said protective sheath;

a plurality of wheels on said base whereby the entire assemblage may be easily transported;

a notch extending through said protective sheath, said body of insulating material and said container at the upper end of the latter; and

heat transfer means including a heat transfer portion secured in said container and a mounting portion having a narrowed neck received in said notch.

3. Food service equipment comprising:

an upwardly open, liquid impervious container;

a body of insulating material exterior of said container and in insulating engagement therewith;

a protective sheath for said body of insulating material and sandwiching the insulating material between the protective sheath and the container;

means defining a base;

means connecting said base to said protective sheath;

a plurality of wheels on said base whereby the entire assemblage may be easily transported;

a notch extending through said protective sheath, said body of insulating material and said container at the upper end of the latter; and

heating means, said heating means being removably received in said notch and including a first housing located within said container and a second housing located exterior of said protective sheath, neck means interconnecting said housings and received in said notch, at least one heating element depending from said first housing and located within said container, electrical conductor means extending from said second housing and adapted to be connected to a source of electric power, electric control means on said second housing, said neck being adapted to contain electrical conductors from said heating element to said electrical control means.

4. Food service equipment comprising:

an upwardly open, liquid impervious container;

a body of insulating material exterior of said container and in insulating engagement therewith;

a protective sheath for said body of insulating material and sandwiching the insulating material between the protective sheath and the container;

means defining a base;

means connecting said base to said protective sheath;

a plurality of wheels on said base whereby the entire assEmblage may be easily transported;

a notch extending through said protective sheath, said body of insulating material and said container at the upper end of the latter;

said base further including a support;

said equipment further including cooling means, said cooling means including a first housing within said container and a second housing exterior of said container, a neck in said notch and interconnecting said first and second housings, a cooling coil within said container and depending from said first housing a compressor unit located on said support, and refrigerant conduit means extending from said compressor unit to said second housing, said neck being adapted to receive refrigerant conduits to interconnect said cooling coil and said first-mentioned refrigerant conduits.

5. Food service equipment comprising:

an upwardly open, liquid impervious container;

a body of insulating material exterior of said container and in insulating engagement therewith;

a protective sheath for said body of insulating material and sandwiching the insulating material between the protective sheath and the container;

means defining a base;

means connecting said base to said protective sheath;

a plurality of wheels on said base whereby the entire assemblage may be easily transported;

a notch extending through said protective sheath, said body of insulating material and said container at the upper end of the latter; and

heat transfer means adapted to be received in said container, said heat transfer means including a first elongated housing received within said container near said upper end thereof and mounting a depending heat transfer element for disposition within said container, a second, elongated housing located exterior of said protective cover, and a neck of a size and shape approximating that of said notch interconnecting said housings within said notch to removably mount said heat transfer means in said container.