MODULAR FOOD HOLDING SYSTEM

• US 20170071410A1
• Filed: 09/10/2015
• Published: 03/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marmon Foodservice Technologies Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Prince Castle LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Thompson, Greg Alan, Veltrop, Loren J., Laub, Christine S., Larson, Eric William
• Granted Patent: US 10,154,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 39/006 for either storing and preparing or for preparing food on serving trays, e.g. heating, thawing, preserving

Abstract

A modular food holding system includes a plurality of individual modularized food holding chambers, each of the plurality of food holding chambers being physically and communicatively removably connected to one another. Each of the food holding chambers includes a food holding cavity and at least one of a heating element and/or a cooling element for heating or cooling the food holding cavity. A chamber base is physically and communicatively removably connected to one of the food holding chambers and operation of at least one food holding chamber is controlled by the chamber base.

Claims

1. A modular food holding system comprising:

a plurality of individual modularized food holding chambers, each of the plurality of food holding chambers being physically and communicatively removably connected to one another, each of the food holding chambers comprising a food holding cavity and at least one of a heating element or a cooling element for heating or cooling the food holding cavity;

wherein a first food holding chamber in the plurality of food holding chambers includes connection structure formed in a chamber housing, the connection structure providing a physical removable attachment with a second food holding chamber in the plurality of food holding chambers, the connection structure limiting relative movement between the first food holding chamber and the second food holding chamber to one dimension at a time.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a chamber base physically and communicatively removably connected to at least one of the food holding chambers in the plurality of food holding chambers,

wherein operation of at least one food holding chamber is controlled by the chamber base.

3. The system of claim 1, the food holding cavity comprises one of a blind cavity and a through cavity.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a food holding tray disposed within the food holding cavity.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the chamber base is a master base and further comprising at least one expansion base that is physically and communicatively removably connected to the master base and to at least one food holding chamber, wherein the food holding chamber connected to the expansion base is different from the food holding chamber connected to the master base, the at least one expansion base receiving power and communication from the master base and providing power and communications to the at least one food holding chamber.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a first food holding chamber includes a power and communication recess formed in a chamber housing, the power and communication recess including a power port and a communications port.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first food holding chamber includes a power and communications block formed in the chamber housing, the power and communications block having a shape that is complementary to the power and communications port.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection structure comprises a tongue and groove connection.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the tongue and groove connection is formed by a top groove located near a top edge of the chamber housing and a bottom groove located near a bottom edge of the chamber housing.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the top groove includes an opening in a top rail disposed adjacent the top groove.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the tongue and groove connection further includes a first downturned tab and second downturned tab that extend into the top groove.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the top rail is formed by the first and second downturned tabs.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the bottom groove includes an opening in a bottom rail disposed adjacent the bottom groove.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the tongue and groove connection further includes a first upturned tab and second upturned tab that extend into the bottom groove.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the bottom rail is formed by the first and second upturned tabs.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism that prevents relative movement between the first and second food holding chambers in one dimension.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the locking mechanism is a locking tab.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection structure includes a raised plateau on an upper surface of the first food holding chamber and a recess on a bottom surface of the second food holding chamber, the raised plateau fitting at least partially within the recess when the second food holding chamber is stacked upon the first food holding chamber.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the plateau includes an angled side surface and the second food holding chamber includes a side wall extension, the side wall extension grabbing the angled side surface when the second food holding chamber is stacked upon the first food holding chamber.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection structure includes a securing latch disposed at a bottom surface of the chamber housing of the second food holding chamber and a locking recess disposed near a top surface of the first food holding chamber.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection structure includes a securing hook disposed near a bottom surface of the second food holding chamber and a pin disposed near a top surface of the first food holding chamber, the securing hook capturing the pin to secure the second food holding chamber to the first food holding chamber when the second food holding chamber is stacked upon the first food holding chamber.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection structure includes a bayonet pin disposed near a bottom surface of the chamber housing of the second food holding chamber and a keyway disposed near at top surface of the first food holding chamber, the bayonet pin fitting within the keyway when the second food holding chamber is stacked upon the first food holding chamber.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection structure includes a flexible latch disposed near a bottom of the second food holding chamber and a locking channel disposed near a top of the first food holding chamber, the flexible latch being captured at least partially by the locking channel when the second food holding chamber is stacked upon the first food holding chamber.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection structure includes a securing leg extending from a bottom of the second food holding chamber and fastener opening disposed near a top of the first food holding chamber and a fastener extends through the fastener opening and into the securing leg when the second food holding chamber is stacked upon the first food holding chamber.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection structure includes a locking bracket formed in a bottom surface of the second food holding chamber and an opening formed in a front of the first food holding chamber, and a fastening strap extends through the opening and through the locking bracket when the second food holding chamber is stacked upon the first food holding chamber.