Method of mitigating stratification of temperature within the interior of a mobile heated cabinet, and mobile heated cabinet using same

• US 9,992,822 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2012
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterMetro Industries Corporation (Ali Holding Srl)
• Original Assignee: InterMetro Industries Corporation (Ali Holding Srl)
• Inventors: Sickles, Willard, Olson, Jeffrey C., Kilgallon, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Ross, Dana
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAMUELS, LAWRENCE H
• Application Number:
  US13/367,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20120199568A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,310 Days
• Field of Search: 219201, 219406, 219400, 219385, 219386, 219394, 219395, 219399, 219428, 312236, 99314-483
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 39/003 with forced air circulation
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0252 Domestic applications

Abstract

A mobile heated cabinet and method of mitigating stratification of temperature within the interior of the mobile heated cabinet are disclosed, wherein the mobile heated cabinet can be used to both (a) store food at a stationary location and (b) store and transport food when moved from the stationary location. The disclosed mobile heated cabinet and method mitigate stratification of temperature by providing a heating device, an air circulating device, an external power source, and a self-contained power source.

Claims

1. A method of mitigating stratification of temperature within the interior of a mobile heated cabinet used to both (a) store food at a stationary location and (b) store and transport food when moved from the stationary location, said method including steps of:

providing an electric-powered heating device that heats the interior of the cabinet;

providing, an electric-powered an circulating device that circulates air in the interior of the cabinet;

providing a connection for receiving, from an external source, electrical power for the heating device and the air circulating device, for use when the cabinet is performing the storing function at a stationary location;

providing a self-contained source of electrical power associated with the cabinet for powering the air circulating device when the cabinet is performing the storing and transporting function;

providing a switching mechanism for automatically switching between a first mode, in which the air circulating device draws electrical power from the connection for receiving electrical power from the external source, to a second mode, in which the air circulating device draws power from the self-contained source of electrical power;

(a) when the cabinet is connected to the external power source in the first mode, powering both the heating device and air circulating device with the external power source, to thereby mitigate stratification of temperatures within the cabinet by mitigating accumulation of heated air at the top of the interior of the cabinet; and

(b) when the cabinet is disconnected from the external power source, automatically switching, using the switching mechanism, from the first mode to the second mode, without powering the heating device, to thereby mitigate stratification of temperatures within the cabinet by mitigating accumulation of heated air at the top of the interior of the cabinet when performing the storing and transporting function.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of temperature sensors in the interior of the cabinet, at different positions, for measuring a temperature differential between the sensors;

powering the temperature sensors with the external power source when in the first mode; and

automatically powering the temperature sensor with the self-contained source of electrical power in the second mode.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

providing a display to the exterior of the cabinet for displaying a temperature differential measured by the polarity of temperature sensors;

powering the display with the external power source when in the first mode; and

automatically powering the display with the self-contained source of electrical power when the cabinet is disconnected from the external power source in the second mode.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a logging unit to the exterior of the cabinet for logging status information of the cabinet;

powering the logging unit with the external power source when in the first mode;

automatically powering the logging unit display with the self-contained source of electrical power when the cabinet is disconnected from the external power source in the second mode.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cabinet further comprise a timer that cycles operation of the air circulating device between operation and non-operation for predetermined periods when in the second mode.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the air circulating device is automatically powered intermittently when in the second mode.

7. A method of mitigating stratification of temperature within the interior of a mobile heated cabinet used to both (a) store food at a stationary location and (b) store and transport food when moved from the stationary location, said method including the steps of:

providing an electric-powered heating device that heats the interior of the cabinet;

providing an electric-powered air circulating device that circulates air in the interior of the cabinet;

providing a polarity of temperature sensors in the interior of the cabinet;

providing a connection for, from an external source, receiving electrical power for the heating device, the air circulating device, and the temperature sensors, for use when the cabinet is preforming the storing function at a stationary location;

providing a self-contained source of electrical power associated with the cabinet for powering the air circulating device and the temperature sensors for use when the cabinet is performing the storing and transporting function;

providing a switching mechanism for automatically switching between a first mode, in which the air circulating device and temperature sensors draw electrical power from the connection for receiving electrical power from the external source, to a second mode, in which the air circulating device and temperature sensors draw power from the self-contained source of electrical power;

when the cabinet is connected to the external power source, in the first mode, powering both the heating device and air circulating device with the external power source, to thereby mitigate stratification of temperatures within the cabinet by mitigating accumulation of heated air at the top of the interior of the cabinet;

measuring a temperature differential with the temperature sensors within the interior of the cabinet; and

when the cabinet is disconnected from the external power source, automatically switching, using the switching mechanism, from the first mode to the second mode to power the air circulating device and temperature sensors, without powering the heating device, and when a specified temperature differential is measured in said step of measuring the temperature differential, automatically operating the air circulating device with the self-contained power source, to thereby mitigate stratification of temperatures within the cabinet by mitigating accumulation of heated air at the top of the interior of the cabinet.