Chilled service bowl

• US 5,423,194 A
• Filed: 10/15/1993
• Issued: 06/13/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valany Marketing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Valany Marketing Incorporated
• Inventors: Senecal, Lise
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennet, Henry A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOERRLER, WILLIAM CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US08/137,906
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 62/457.1, 62/457.6, 62/457.9, 62/458, 62/371, 62/331
• US Class Current: 62/457.6
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0443 with forced air circulation
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/26 Butter or cheese dishes or covers, with or without cooling or heating devices; Protective covers for food containers
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/04 Containers with means for keeping food cool or hot A47G19/027, A47G19/127, A47G19/2288, A47G19/285, A47G23/0313 take precedence; for butter or cheese A47G19/26 ; thermally insulated vessels A47J41/00
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/04 reversible
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/00 Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/06 by forced circulation
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/0651 through the bottom
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/0664 from the side
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/803 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/809 Holders
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/812 Trays

Abstract

The instant invention is directed to a counter-top service bowl for chilling various foods and beverages. A miniaturized refrigeration system is secured to the outer surface of the bowl having an evaporator coil disposed within a coil chamber. Air is directed through the chamber and into the middle of the bowl cavity. At the bottom of the bowl is a series of holes lining the bottom of the bowl for induction back into the circulation chamber. In operation the bowl acts as a chiller wherein solid foods such as fruit is chilled by air circulation and associated contact along the surface of the bowl. A bowl liner insertable into the base bowl permits placement of non-solid foods such as fruit salads. The bowl liner seals the circulation chamber forcing air past an evaporator coil and outward through an exhaust port. The bowl liner can be removed for use as a conventional bowl and returned to maintain the chilled condition. A transparent cover allows for increased efficiency of the cooling system while various bowl inserts allow placement and chilling of peculiar beverage containers such as wine bottles.

Claims

1. A chilled service bowl comprising:

a concave generally hemispherical shaped base bowl having a peripheral edge defining an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface having a plurality of openings fluidly communicating said inner surface to a lower portion of said outer surface;

a support structure for said bowl, said support structure spaced apart from said outer surface of said base bowl providing a chamber therebetween, said support structure having an enlarged chamber and operatively associated with said base bowl;

refrigeration means disposed in said enlarged chamber;

a liner bowl slidably insertable into said base bowl, said liner bowl including a means for obstructing said base bowl openings and said directional aperture and means for circulating air across said outer surface of said base bowl.

2. The chilled service bowl according to claim 1 wherein said liner bowl includes a means for securing at least one beverage bottle in a stationary position.

3. The chilled service bowl according to claim 1 including a cover operatively associated with said support structure terminating in an outer periphery adapted to slidably fit within said support structure and sealably attached at an angle thereto.

4. The chilled service bowl according to claim 1 wherein said refrigeration means comprises:

compressor means for compressing refrigerant gag;

condenser means fluidly coupled to said compressor means for condensing said refrigerant gas into a liquid refrigerant;

accumulating means fluidly coupled to said compressor means for accumulating said liquid refrigerant;

metering means fluidly coupled to said accumulating means allowing the liquid refrigerant in said accumulating means to escape through said metering means;

evaporating coil fluidly coupled to said metering means for receipt of said escaping liquid refrigerant for evaporation to produce a cooling effect, said evaporating coil fluidly coupled to said compressing means such that evaporated refrigerant can pass from said evaporating coil to said compressor means.

6. The chilled service bowl according to claim 1 including a cover operatively associated with said support structure terminating in an outer periphery adapted to slidably fit within said support structure and sealably attached at an angle thereto, said cover having at least one opening operatively associated therewith.

7. The chilled service bowl cover according to claim 6 wherein said opening is further defined as a slidable door.

5. A chilled service bowl comprising:

compressor means for compressing refrigerant gas;

condenser means fluidly coupled to said compressor means for condensing said refrigerant gas into a liquid refrigerant;

accumulating means fluidly coupled to said compressor means for accumulating said liquid refrigerant;

metering means fluidly coupled to said accumulating means allowing the liquid refrigerant in said accumulating means to escape through said metering means;

evaporating means fluidly coupled to said metering means for receipt of said escaping liquid refrigerant for evaporation to produce a cooling effect, said evaporating coil fluidly coupled to said compressing means such that evaporated refrigerant can pass from said evaporating coil to said compressor means;

a concave generally hemispherical shaped base bowl having a peripheral edge defining an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface having a plurality of openings fluidly communicating said inner surface to a lower portion of said outer surface, said evaporating means juxtapositioned to said outer surface of said base bowl;

a support structure for said bowl, said support structure spaced apart from said outer surface of said base bowl providing a chamber therebetween, said support structure having an enlarged chamber for housing of refrigeration components, said enlarged chamber sealingly coupled to said openings of said base bowl, said support structure having a directional aperture formed by an inwardly curved upper edge disposed along the circumference of said support structure and at least one exhaust aperture diametrically opposed to said directional aperture;

a liner bowl constructed of food grade material and formed to be slidably insertable into said base bowl, said liner bowl including a means for obstructing said base bowl openings and said directional aperture; and

means for restricting air flow through said auxiliary intake aperture and said exhaust aperture.