Heat storage food container

• US 4,567,877 A
• Filed: 07/30/1984
• Issued: 02/04/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bahman Sepahpur
• Original Assignee: Bahman Sepahpur
• Inventors: Sepahpur, Bahman
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Randall L.
• Application Number:
  US06/635,603
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 126/400, 126/246, 126/375, 206/557, 206/515, 220/429, 220/427, 220/426, 219/439, 219/430, 165/10, 165/DIG. 4
• US Class Current: 126/246
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/027 Cooking- or baking-vessels specially adapted for use in microwave ovens; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 41/0044 comprising heat or cold storing elements or material, i.e. energy transfer within the vessel

Abstract

A heat storage food container provided with a thermal storage medium, such as wet sand, which retains the heat of the environment to which it has been subjected. The storage medium is provided between a gas impermeable upper shell and a lower gas impermeable thermal insulative shell. The container is adapted to be placed within microwave ovens and heated to a predetermined temperature. Subsequently, food which is prepared in the same or a different environment from which the food container is subjected is placed on the container and will remain at a suitable serving temperature for a relatively long period of time.

Claims

1. A heat retentive food server utilized in a microwave environment adapted to have food placed thereupon comprising:

an upper non-metallic shell member;

a lower styrofoam shell member;

said upper and lower shell members forming a sealed cavity therebetween; and

a heat retention means consisting of wet sand provided within and completely filling said cavity, whereby when said food container is placed in a microwave environment, said wet sand retains heat for a relatively long amount of time.

2. The heat retentive food server in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outer periphery of said upper non-metallic shell member is provided with a flange surrounding the outer periphery of said lower styrofoam shell member.

3. The heat retentive food server in accordance with claim 2 further including a removable lid adapted to frictionally engage said flange of said upper non-metallic shell.

4. A method for providing a heat retentive food server for retaining heat for maintaining food at an elevated serving temperature for a period of time comprising:

encapsulating a heat retentive thermal storage medium consisting of wet sand between a non-metallic shell member and a styrofoam shell member, said two shell members forming a sealed cavity and said wet sand completely filling said cavity and

subjecting said food server to microwave energy, whereby the moisture contained in said thermal storage medium evaporates to form steam.