Air screen for food warming table

• US 4,038,968 A
• Filed: 06/03/1975
• Issued: 08/02/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alfred Rovell
• Original Assignee: Alfred Rovell
• Inventors: Rovell, Alfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schwartz, Larry I.
• Application Number:
  US05/583,436
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 126/261, 126/262, 126/21 A, 432/64, 62/256, 99/474, 99/475, 99/476, 99/447, 99/407, 98/36, 426/520
• US Class Current: 126/261
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/06 Desks with inlet and evacuation of air
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2483 with electrical heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/26 Devices for warming vessels containing drinks or food, especially by means of burners Warming devices with a burner, e.g. using gasoline; Travelling cookers, e.g. using petroleum or gasoline with one burner
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/2042 Devices for removing cooking fumes structurally associated with a cooking range e.g. downdraft F24C15/2007 takes precedence

Abstract

An air curtain is provided across the top of a food warming table, such as is employed in cafeterias for keeping food hot for serving. An air stream flows across the top of the pans holding the cooked food, where it picks up heat, moisture and flavor components, and is continuously recirculated to form an air curtain. Which retards the outflow of moisture and heat from the surface of the food. Keeping a cushion of hot moist air on the food maintains it in a hot and moist condition. Additionally, the air curtain acts to keep dust and insects away from the food surface.

Claims

1. A food warming table for maintaining food at a hot serving temperature and to prevent loss of moisture which comprises:

at least one trough-like receptacle having heating means located at its lower portion;

at least one stationary food receiving pan location within the said receptacle having hot food therein and spaced above said heating means, whereby said pan is heated by the heating means;

the trough-like receptacle and the pan having upper perimeters that are substantially flush and horizontal;

a moving air current confined essentially to the lateral boundaries of the pan, and moving in a direction parallel to the plans of the upper perimeter whereby an air curtain over the food in the pan is maintained;

said air current being adapted to absorb moisture, heat and flavor components from the food in its passage over the said food, so that said air current is heated, moist and contains flavor components;

means for accepting the air current at a location adjacent one end of the pan and redirecting it to an opposite end of said pan; and

means for imparting motion to said air current.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the air current is conveyed from a location adjacent one end of the pan to a location adjacent another end of the pan via duct means, said duct means passing beneath the trough-like receptacle.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the ducts have upper ends adjacent the said ends of the pan, the upper duct ends extending transversely across the pan ends, and the said duct ends being open, whereby the air current can leave one duct end, blanket the pan and its contents and enter the other duct end.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 having a blower or fan means for impelling the air stream.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the duct has a drain at a low point for removing any condensate.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 having additionally a filter located in the duct means for screening out particulate matter from the air current.