Sous vide reheating device

• US 5,097,759 A
• Filed: 03/18/1991
• Issued: 03/24/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vie De France Corporation
• Original Assignee: Vie De France Corporation
• Inventors: Bailey, John D., Smith, William S., Vilgrain, Stanislas
• Primary Examiner(s): Simone, Timothy F.
• Application Number:
  US07/670,891
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 99/330, 99/331-333, 99/325, 99/403, 99/407-409, 99/410, 99/468, 99/486, 312/236, D 7/339, 366/145, 366/146, 219/441, 219/442, 219/438, 219/492, 219/494, 219/497, 364/400, 126/21 R, 126/299 R
• US Class Current: 99/483
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 17/18 with scraping discs or rotors

Abstract

A sous vide reheating device preferably includes at least two water heating chambers with each chamber having a heating device and a thermostat for controlling the temperature of the water in the chamber. An agitation mechanism is provided to circulate the water in each chamber. Each chamber is preferably divided into a plurality of sub-chambers with each sub-chamber having an associated timer to measure the amount of time elapsed for that sub-chamber. The device may include a plate storage and warming mechanism and has a work space for preparing the sous vide foods for service to a consumer.

Claims

1. A sous vide food reheating device comprising:

first chamber means for receiving a volume of water;

first heating means for heating the water in the first chamber means;

first thermostat means for controlling the first heating means to selectively maintain the water in the first chamber means at a first predetermined temperature;

first agitation means to circulate the water about the first chamber means;

second chamber means for receiving a volume of water;

second heating means for heating the water in the second chamber means;

second thermostat means for controlling the second heating means to selectively maintain the water in the second chamber means at a second predetermined temperature;

second agitation means to circulate the water about the second chamber means;

timer means for selectively indicating the amount of time that has elapsed from a predetermined moment; and

means for storing and warming a supply of plates.

2. The sous vide reheating device of claim 1, further comprising a housing, said first and second chamber means being arranged adjacent to one another on one side of the housing, said means for storing and warming a supply of plates being arranged on the other side of the housing with a generally flat work space being provided in front of the means for storing and warming a supply of plates.

3. The sous vide reheating device of claim 2, wherein the timer means is arranged above the first and second chamber means and wherein the timer means includes a plurality of individually controllable timers.

4. The sous vide reheating device of claim 3, further comprising means for supporting a plurality of receptacles, said means for supporting being provided above the means for storing and warming a supply of plates.

5. The sous vide reheating device of claim 3, further comprising a waste disposal receptacle provided in front of the first and second chamber means, waste disposal receptacle being removable from the housing.

6. The sous vide reheating device of claim 5 further comprising means for selectively subdividing said first and second chamber means into a plurality of sub chambers.

7. The sous vide reheating device of claim 1 wherein the first chamber means selectively maintained at a temperature of about 135°

F. to about 140°

F. to preheat sous vide pouches.

8. The sous vide reheating device of claim 7 wherein the second chamber means is selectively maintained at a temperature of about 165°

F. to about 212°

F. to heat sous vide pouches immediately prior to serving to a customer.

9. The sous vide reheating device of claim 1 wherein the means for storing and warming a supply of plates warms the plates to a temperature of about 150°

F.

10. A sous vide reheating device comprising

a generally rectangular housing, said housing defining a front wall, a rear wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, and a generally flat counter top;

first chamber means for receiving a volume of water, said first chamber means being provided in said counter top on one side of the housing;

first heating means for heating the water in the first chamber means;

first thermostat means for controlling the first heating means to selectively maintain the water in the first chamber means at a first predetermined temperature;

first agitation means to circulate the water about the first chamber means;

second chamber means for receiving a volume of water, said second chamber means being provided in said counter top adjacent to the first chamber means;

second heating means for heating the water in the second chamber means;

second thermostat means for controlling the second heating means to selectively maintain the water in the second chamber means at a second predetermined temperature;

second agitation means to circulate the water about the second chamber means;

timer means for selectively indicating the amount of time that has elapsed from a predetermined moment, said timer means including a plurality of individually controllable timers provided in a panel mounted above said first and second chamber means;

means for storing and warming a supply of plates, said means for storing and warming a supply of plates being arranged on the other side of the housing and adjacent to the rear wall;

said counter top comprising a generally flat work space in front of said means for storing and warming a supply of plates.

11. The sous vide reheating device of claim 10 further comprising means for supporting a plurality of garnish receptacles above said means for storing and warming a supply of plates.

12. The sous vide reheating device of claim 11 further comprising a removable waste container provided in front of the first and second chambers means.

13. The sous vide reheating device of claim 12 further comprising a perforate drain surface provided in front of the first and second chamber means.

14. The sous vide reheating device of claim 11 wherein the first chamber means is selectively maintained at a temperature of about 135°

F. to about 140°

F. to preheat sous vide pouches, the second chamber means is selectively maintained at a temperature of about 165°

F. to about 212°

F. to heat the sous vide pouches immediately prior to serving to a customer, and wherein the means for storing and warming a supply of plates warms the plates to a temperature of about 150°

F.

15. A sous vide reheating device comprising

a generally rectangular housing;

first chamber means for receiving a volume of water, said first chamber means being provided in said housing on one side of the housing;

first heating means for heating the water in the first chamber means;

first thermostat means for controlling the first heating means to selectively maintain the water in the first chamber means at a first predetermined temperature;

first agitation means to circulate the water about the first chamber means;

second chamber means for receiving a volume of water, said second chamber means being provided in said housing adjacent to the first chamber means;

second heating means for heating the water in the second chamber means;

second thermostat means for controlling the second heating means to selectively maintain the water in the second chamber means at a second predetermined temperature;

second agitation means to circulate the water about the second chamber means; and

timer means for selectively indicating the amount of time that has elapsed from a predetermined moment, said timer means including a plurality of individually controllable timers provided in a panel mounted above said first and second chamber means.