Article of furniture

• US 4,034,200 A
• Filed: 12/11/1975
• Issued: 07/05/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gerhardus Johannes Cornelius Visagie
• Original Assignee: Gerhardus Johannes Cornelius Visagie
• Inventors: Visagie, Gerhardus Johannes Cornelius
• Primary Examiner(s): Albritton, C. L.
• Application Number:
  US05/639,976
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 219/201, 219/218, 219/214, 219/443, 219/445, 219/446, 219/455, 219/457, 219/458, 219/464, 219/465, 219/518, 108/95, 99/339, 99/340
• US Class Current: 219/218
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/24 Warming devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 39/025 for warming dishes without food before use
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/028 Heaters specially adapted for trays or plates to keep food or liquids hot
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/68 Heating arrangements specially adapted for cooking plates or analogous hot-plates

Abstract

A rotatable heating unit for supporting food receptacles is convertible to a rotatable unheated unit, and comprises a base, and a circular support rotatably mounted on said base, having a depressed central surface. Means are provided for heating said depressed central surface and thereby heating food receptacles supported thereon. A removable cover substantially fills the depressed central portion of said support to form with the surrounding portion of said support a substantially level unheated surface for supporting food receptacles. Means are provided for spacing said cover from said depressed central surface.

Claims

1. A rotatable heating unit for supporting food receptacles, which is convertible to a rotatable unheated unit, comprising a base, a circular support rotatably mounted on said base, having a depressed central surface, means for heating said depressed central surface and thereby heating food receptacles supported thereon, a removable cover which substantially fills the depressed central portion of said support and comprises a substantially level unheated surface for supporting food receptacles, and means for spacing said cover from said depressed central surface.

2. A table having a substantially centrally located recess, and a rotatable heating unit according to claim 1 located in said recess.

3. The table of claim 2 including means for adjusting the position of the unit in the recess.

4. A table according to claim 2 wherein the depth of the recess is at least as great as the vertical height of the rotatable heating unit.

5. A table according to claim 4 wherein the cover is substantially flush with the top of the table.

6. A table according to claim 2 wherein the rotatable heating unit is removable.

7. A table according to claim 6 provided with auxiliary means for rotatably supporting the cover when the rotatable heating unit has been removed.

8. A table according to claim 7 wherein the auxiliary means comprises an auxiliary circular support having a depressed central portion which is substantially filled by the cover, and means for rotatably supporting said auxiliary support substantially flush with the top of the table.

9. A rotatable heating unit according to claim 1 wherein the cover comprises two semi-circular halves defining together a centrally located finger engageable hole.

10. A rotatable heating unit according to claim 1 wherein the heating means is electrical, and the unit comprises a switch which is normally biased to its closed position, for supplying current to the heating means and which is arranged to be held open by the weight of the cover when the cover is in place.

11. A rotatable heating unit according to claim 1 wherein the depressed central portion of the support has a surrounding radially-extending finger engageable groove.