Food staging device
First Claim
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1. A device for holding a plurality of food portions at an elevated temperature comprising:
- a cabinet defining a volume and enclosing a first compartment above a second compartment, each of said compartments for holding food portions and comprising at least one slot for removing food portions therefrom, having a compartment height and being bounded by an upper heated compartment surface;
a heating device located in the cabinet for maintaining each compartment at an elevated temperature; and
a first at least generally vertically disposed continuous flexible member covering and extending across at least an upper and substantial portion of the compartment slot of the first compartment, said first flexible member being readily deflectable to permit access to the interior of the first compartment for removing food items therefrom, the first flexible member permitting a limited amount of airflow into and out of the first compartment through a lower portion of the compartment slot of the first compartment said first flexible member forming a first gap between said first flexible member and the bottom of said compartment slot of the first compartment to permit insertion of a tray into the cabinet, wherein the gap is between about 0.5 inches and about 4 inches high, and wherein the compartment height is between about 5 inches and about 7 inches, said first gap allowing airflow into and out of said cabinet, a second at least generally vertically disposed continuous flexible member covering and extending across at least an upper and substantial portion of the compartment slot of the second compartment, said second flexible member being readily deflectable to permit access to the interior of the second compartment for removing food items therefrom, the second flexible member permitting a limited amount of airflow into and out of the second compartment through a lower portion of the compartment slot of the second compartment, said second flexible member forming a second gap between said second flexible member and the bottom of said compartment slot of the second compartment to permit insertion of a tray into the cabinet, wherein the second gap is between about 0.5 inches and about 4 inches high, and wherein the second compartment height is between about 5 inches and about 7 inches, said second gap allowing airflow into and out of said cabinet.
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Abstract
A cooked food staging device and method are provided. The device and method are particularly suited for storing breaded, battered or bread food items for extended periods of time without becoming soggy. A heated compartment having a slot has a flexible member covering at least a portion of the slot to restrict airflow and to permit access to the food items contained therein, which may be contained on trays, without the necessity of removing the tray to view and remove selected food items therefrom.
63 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A device for holding a plurality of food portions at an elevated temperature comprising:
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a cabinet defining a volume and enclosing a first compartment above a second compartment, each of said compartments for holding food portions and comprising at least one slot for removing food portions therefrom, having a compartment height and being bounded by an upper heated compartment surface; a heating device located in the cabinet for maintaining each compartment at an elevated temperature; and a first at least generally vertically disposed continuous flexible member covering and extending across at least an upper and substantial portion of the compartment slot of the first compartment, said first flexible member being readily deflectable to permit access to the interior of the first compartment for removing food items therefrom, the first flexible member permitting a limited amount of airflow into and out of the first compartment through a lower portion of the compartment slot of the first compartment said first flexible member forming a first gap between said first flexible member and the bottom of said compartment slot of the first compartment to permit insertion of a tray into the cabinet, wherein the gap is between about 0.5 inches and about 4 inches high, and wherein the compartment height is between about 5 inches and about 7 inches, said first gap allowing airflow into and out of said cabinet, a second at least generally vertically disposed continuous flexible member covering and extending across at least an upper and substantial portion of the compartment slot of the second compartment, said second flexible member being readily deflectable to permit access to the interior of the second compartment for removing food items therefrom, the second flexible member permitting a limited amount of airflow into and out of the second compartment through a lower portion of the compartment slot of the second compartment, said second flexible member forming a second gap between said second flexible member and the bottom of said compartment slot of the second compartment to permit insertion of a tray into the cabinet, wherein the second gap is between about 0.5 inches and about 4 inches high, and wherein the second compartment height is between about 5 inches and about 7 inches, said second gap allowing airflow into and out of said cabinet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification