Heat retentive server for induction heating

• US 5,786,643 A
• Filed: 11/22/1996
• Issued: 07/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aladdin Temp-Rite LLC (International Corporate Activities SA)
• Original Assignee: Aladdin Synergetics, Inc.
• Inventors: Fox, Ray Russell, Wyatt, W. Burk
• Primary Examiner(s): Leung, Philip H.
• Application Number:
  US08/755,218
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 219/621, 219/620, 219/622, 219/623, 219/624, 219/647, 219/649, 219/732, 219/759, 126/245, 126/375, 126/400, 99/DIG. 14, 99/455, 426/237, 426/241, 426/243
• US Class Current: 219/621
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 39/006 for either storing and preparing or for preparing food on serving trays, e.g. heating, thawing, preserving
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/12 Cooking devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 99/14 Induction heating

Abstract

A heat retentive server adapted to the inductively heated comprises a central portion comprising a heat storage member comprising a material which is susceptible to being heated by induction; and an outer peripheral member connected to the central portion so that said outer peripheral member and the central portion are substantially thermally insulated from each other. Preferably, the server is provided with heat insulation constructed and arranged with respect to the heat storage member so that heat is caused to primarily flow upwardly from the heat storage member. Also preferably, the outer peripheral member and the central portion are substantially insulated from each other by means of a thermal break.

Claims

1. A transportable heat retentive server for satellite food service adapted to be rapidly inductively heated comprising:

a central portion, for receiving an article of dishware for serving hot food to a consumer, comprising a heat storage member comprising a material which is susceptible to being heated by induction, and an upper non-metallic surface above said heat storage member; and

an outer peripheral member connected to said central portion by an expansion joint;

said central portion and said peripheral portion at least partially defining a volume within which an article of dishware containing food may be placed;

whereby said heat storage member can be rapidly charged with heat and said upper non-metallic surface slows the dissipation of the heat in the heat storage member to said volume.

2. The heat retentive server of claim 1, wherein said central portion further comprises an upper member and a lower member, and said peripheral member comprises an outer generally ring-shaped member connected to said central portion by at least one of said upper and lower members.

3. The heat retentive server of claim 2, wherein said generally ring-shaped member is substantially insulated from at least one of said upper member and said lower member by a thermal break.

4. The heat retentive server of claim 2, further comprising a bottom cover member secured to said generally ring-shaped member.

5. The heat retentive server of claim 4, wherein said generally ring-shaped member further comprises an outer rim portion and an inner rim portion and said bottom cover member is secured to said generally ring-shaped member at said outer rim portion.

6. The heat retentive server of claim 5, wherein said lower member and said bottom cover member define a volume of space therebetween, and said volume is substantially filled with expanded foam insulation material, and said expanded foam insulation material is positioned to force together said interlocking snap-fit connection.

7. The heat retentive server of claim 4, wherein said bottom cover member is secured to said generally ring-shaped member by an interlocking snap fit connection.

8. The heat retentive server of claim 4, further comprising an insulation material disposed between said lower generally disk-shaped member and said bottom cover member.

9. The heat retentive server of claim 4, wherein said lower generally disk-shaped member and said bottom cover member define a volume of space therebetween and said volume is substantially filled with said insulation material.

10. The heat retentive server of claim 9, wherein said insulation material comprises foam.

11. The heat retentive server of claim 4, further comprising a generally planar, substantially horizontal expanse extending radially outward from said bottom cover.

12. The heat retentive server of claim 11, wherein said bottom cover further comprises an outer rim portion and said generally planar expanse extends from said outer rim portion.

13. The heat retentive server of claim 12, wherein said generally planar expanse comprises a serving tray.

14. The heat retentive server of claim 13, further comprising a top cover.

15. The heat retentive server of claim 2, further comprising an insulation material disposed between said heat storage member and said lower member.

16. The heat retentive server of claim 2, wherein said outer generally ring-shaped member further comprises a generally planar substantially horizontal expanse extending from said generally ring shaped member.

17. The heat retentive server of claim 16, wherein said generally planar horizontal expanse comprises a serving tray.

18. The heat retentive server of claim 17, further comprising a top cover.

19. The heat retentive server of claim 2, wherein said generally disk-shaped heat storage member comprises a ferrometallic material.

20. The heat retentive server of claim 19, wherein said ferrometallic material is an iron alloy.

21. The heat retentive server of claim 20, wherein said iron alloy comprises steel.

22. The heat retentive server of claim 21, wherein said heat storage member has a mass of from about 450 grams to about 475 grams, an outer diameter of about 6.4 inches to about 6.6 inches, a thickness of about 0.117 inch to about 0.125 inch, and comprises from about 10 to about 12 holes having a diameter of from about 0.218 inch to about 0.225 inch, and a central hole having a diameter of about 1.625 inches to about 1.640 inches.

23. The heat storage member of claim 2, wherein said upper member, said lower member and said heat storage member are generally disk-shaped and circular in plan view, and said outer generally ring-shaped member is circular in plan view.

24. The heat storage member of claim 23, wherein said upper generally disk-shaped member, said lower generally disk-shaped member, said outer generally ring-shaped member and said generally disk-shaped heat storage member are circular in plan view and said ring-shaped member further comprises a generally rectangular tray integral with said ring-shaped member.

25. The heat retentive server of claim 2, wherein said upper member and said lower member are integrally molded so as to substantially envelop said heat storage member.

26. The heat retentive server of claim 1, wherein said outer peripheral member and said central heat storage member are connected to each other such that a substantial proportion of said outer peripheral member is not in contact with said central portion.

27. The transportable heat retentive server of claim 1, wherein said upper non-metallic surface comprises a plastic material.

28. The heat retentive server of claim 1, further comprising a top cover, which further defines the volume within which the article of dishware containing food may be placed.

29. The heat retentive server of claim 28, wherein said top cover and said central portion define a substantially insulated volume.

30. The heat retentive server of claim 29, wherein said top cover comprises two walls and said walls are spaced from each other to define an insulating space therebetween and within said top cover.

31. A transportable heat retentive server for satellite food service comprising:

a central portion comprising an upper generally disk-shaped non-metallic portion, a lower generally disk-shaped non-metallic portion and a generally disk-shaped heat storage member disposed between said upper generally disk-shaped portion and said lower generally disk-shaped portion;

said upper generally disk-shaped central portion having an upper generally planar surface for supporting a food service dish, and a lower generally planar surface;

said lower generally disk-shaped member being secured to the lower generally planar surface of said upper generally disk-shaped member;

said generally disk-shaped heat storage member comprising a material which is susceptible to being heated by electrical induction heating; and

an outer generally ring-shaped member comprising an inner rim portion which is retained between said upper generally disk-shaped member and said lower generally disk-shaped member and which is connected to said upper and lower generally disk shaped members by an expansion joint;

the heat retentive server being constructed and arranged so that the heat storage member can be rapidly charged with heat by an induction heating unit and food contained on the pellet base can be maintained hot for delivery to a consumer located remotely from the induction heating unit.

32. The heat retentive server of claim 31, wherein said inner rim portion of said generally ring-shaped member is retained in a generally annular volume defined by said upper generally disk-shaped member and said lower generally disk-shaped member, such that a substantial proportion of said inner rim portion of said generally ring-shaped member is not in contact with said upper generally disk-shaped member or said lower generally disk shaped member.

33. The heat retentive server of claim 32, wherein said annular volume is at least partially filled with a sealing compound.

34. The heat retentive server of claim 31, wherein said generally disk-shaped heat storage member comprises steel and has a mass of from about 450 grams to about 475 grams, an outer diameter of about 6.4 inches to about 6.6 inches, a thickness of about 0.117 inch to about 0.125 inch, and comprises from about 10 to about 12 holes having a diameter of from about 0.218 inch to about 0.225 inch, and a central hole having a diameter of about 1.625 inches to about 1.640 inches.

35. The transportable heat retentive server of claim 31, wherein said upper generally disk-shaped non-metallic portion and said lower generally disk-shaped non-metallic portion comprise a plastic material.

36. A transportable heat retentive serving module adapted to be rapidly inductively heated comprising:

a central portion, for receiving an article of dishware for serving hot food to a consumer, comprising a heat storage member comprising a material which is susceptible to being heated by induction when said server is placed on an induction heating unit, and an upper non-metallic surface above said heat storage member; and

an outer peripheral member connected to said central portion by an expansion joint so that said outer peripheral member and said central portion are substantially thermally insulated from each other;

said serving module being constructed and arranged such that a plurality of such serving modules can be heated sequentially by being sequentially placed on said induction heating unit, and such that hot food thereafter placed in said server on said article of dishware is maintained hot for a period of time sufficient to allow said hot food to be served to a consumer remotely located from said induction heating unit while said food is hot.

37. The heat retentive server of claim 36, wherein said outer peripheral member and said central heat storage member are connected to each other such that a substantial proportion of said outer peripheral member is not in contact with said central portion.

38. The heat retentive server of claim 36, further comprising insulation material constructed and arranged with respect to said heat storage member so that heat is primarily caused to flow upwardly from said heat storage member.

39. The transportable heat retentive server of claim 36, wherein said upper non-metallic surface comprises a plastic material.

40. A transportable heat retentive server adapted to be inductively heated comprising:

a central portion comprising a heat storage member comprising a material which is susceptible to being heated by induction and which is capable of releasing heat generated by induction to heated food placed above said central portion, and an upper non-metallic surface above said heat storage member;

an outer peripheral member formed of a plastics material and connected with said central portion; and

an expansion joint disposed between said outer peripheral member and said heat storage member;

said heat retentive server being constructed and arranged such that said heat storage member can be rapidly heated by induction heating to a temperature of at least about 300°

F. and said peripheral member may be safely manually handled and touched when said heat storage member has been heated to said temperature by induction heating.

41. The heat retentive server of claim 40, wherein said outer peripheral member is formed of a blend comprising polyester and polycarbonate.

42. The heat retentive server of claim 40, wherein said outer peripheral member is formed of a polyolefin-based plastic material.

43. The heat retentive server of claim 40, wherein said temperature is at least about 310°

F.

44. The heat retentive server of claim 43, wherein said temperature is at least about 325°

F.

45. The heat retentive server of claim 40, wherein said heat storage member can be heated to said temperature in a period of from about 5 to about 15 seconds.

46. The heat retentive server of claim 45, wherein said heat storage member can be heated to said temperature in a period of from about 8 to about 12 seconds.

47. The heat retentive server of claim 40, wherein said heat storage member is formed of metal, and has a mass of from about 450 grams to about 475 grams.

48. The heat retentive server of claim 40, wherein said heat storage member is generally disk-shaped and comprises a material which is susceptible to being heated by induction and said generally disk-shaped heat storage member has a mass of from about 450 grams to about 475 grams, an outer diameter of about 6.4 inches to about 6.6 inches, a thickness of about 0.117 inch to about 0.125 inch, and comprises from about 10 to about 12 holes having a diameter of from about 0.218 inch to about 0.225 inch, and a central hole having a diameter of about 1.625 inches to about 1.640 inches.

49. The transportable heat retentive server of claim 48, wherein said upper non-metallic surface comprises a plastic material.

50. A transportable heat retentive server adapted to be inductively heated comprising:

a central portion comprising a generally disk-shaped heat storage member comprising a material which is susceptible to being heated by induction and said generally disk-shaped heat storage member having a mass of from about 450 grams to about 475 grams, an outer diameter of about 6.4 inches to about 6.6 inches, a thickness of about 0.117 inch to about 0.125 inch, and comprising from about 10 to about 12 holes having a diameter of from about 0.218 inch to about 0.225 inch, and a central hole having a diameter of about 1.625 inches to about 1.640 inches;

an upper non-metallic surface above said heat storage member; and

an outer peripheral member connected to said central portion.

51. In combination, a heat retentive server adapted for induction heating, and an induction unit;

said heat retentive server comprising a central portion, for receiving an article of dishware for serving hot food to a consumer, comprising a heat storage member comprising a material which is susceptible to being heated by induction, and an upper non-metallic surface above said heat storage mass; and

an outer peripheral member connected to said central portion by an expansion joint;

said central portion and said peripheral portion at least partially defining a volume within which an article of dishware containing food may be placed;

whereby said heat storage member can be rapidly charged with heat and said upper non-metallic surface slows the dissipation of the heat in the heat storage member to said volume; and

said induction unit comprising an induction coil, said induction coil comprising a top surface, wherein said heat storage member comprises a bottom surface and said heat retentive server and said induction heating unit are constructed and arranged such that said bottom surface of said heat storage member is spaced a distance of from about 0.650 inch to about 0.750 inch above said top surface of said induction heating coil.

52. The combination of claim 51, wherein said induction heating unit has a top surface, and said heat retentive server is constructed and arranged such that said bottom surface of said heat storage member is spaced from about 0.485 inch to about 0.525 inch above said top surface of said induction heating unit.

53. The combination of claim 52, wherein said heat retentive server comprises heat insulation, and said heat insulation is disposed between said bottom surface of said heat storage member and said top surface of said induction heating unit.

54. A method of mass serving food to a given number of consumers to be served a meal, the method comprising:

A. subjecting a single heat retentive server comprising a heat storage member susceptible to electrical induction heating, and an outer peripheral member, to an electromagnetic field sufficient to inductively heat said heat storage member to a temperature sufficient to maintain hot food, placed in the heated heat retentive server, hot;

B. placing a quantity of heated food on the heated heat retentive server of A;

C. repeating A and B a number of times to provide a plurality of heated servers, said number of times substantially relating to said number of consumers to be served a meal;

D. serving said heated heat retentive servers to said consumers from said plurality of heated servers;

wherein said heat retentive server comprises

a central portion, for receiving an article of dishware for serving hot food to a consumer, comprising a heat storage member comprising a material which is susceptible to being heated by induction; and

an outer peripheral member connected to said central portion.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein said outer peripheral member is connected to said central portion by an expansion joint.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein said expansion joint comprises a thermal break.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein said central portion comprises an upper generally disk-shaped non-metallic portion, a lower generally disk-shaped non-metallic portion and said heat storage member is disk-shaped and disposed between said upper generally disk-shaped portion and said lower generally disk-shaped portion.

58. The method of claim 54, wherein said heat storage member comprises a ferrometallic material.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein said heat storage member comprises an iron alloy.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein said heat storage member comprises steel.

61. The method of claim 58, wherein said upper generally disk-shaped portion and said lower generally disk-shaped portion comprise plastic material.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein said temperature of A is at least about 310°

F. and A is conducted for a period of about 5 to about 15 seconds.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein said temperature of A is at least about 325°

F. and said period is from about 8 to about 12 seconds.

64. The method of claim 62, wherein said method further comprises a holding period prior to D and said holding period is from about 5 to about 75 minutes.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein said holding period is from about 10 to about 45 minutes.