초록 ▼

A hot food counter is disclosed having a lower heated section for storage of food and an upper heated section for display of food. The upper section is enclosed with food being placed into the upper section by service personnel through sliding doors at the rear wall thereof, while food is withdrawn

A hot food counter is disclosed having a lower heated section for storage of food and an upper heated section for display of food. The upper section is enclosed with food being placed into the upper section by service personnel through sliding doors at the rear wall thereof, while food is withdrawn by customers through a pair of contoured openings in the front wall. The enclosure for the upper section is preferably transparent except for the sliding doors in the rear walls which preferably have mirror finishes, and the tray within the enclosure and upon which food is displayed is preferably inclined downwardly and forwardly, as is the top wall of the enclosure. Heat is circulated through the upper section of the counter by means of small openings at the front of the enclosure through which hot air is injected into the enclosure and circulated therethrough to be expelled at small exhaust openings at the rear of the enclosure, the intake openings being positioned below the openings through which food is withdrawn and being much smaller in size. The openings through which food is withdrawn and the intake and exhaust openings are selected such that the temperature within the enclosure is consistently maintained at a temperature preferably not less than 150°F. and preferably never below 140°F. The lower section of the counter preferably has a separate heater and blower system, and the counter is made portable by mounting the counter on wheels, although portability is not necessary.

대표청구항 ▼

A hot food counter, comprising: a tray for holding hot food for display; wall means for forming an enclosure with said tray so that displayed hot food on said tray is within said enclosure, said wall means including a front wall having exterior edges and interior edges defining at least one opening

A hot food counter, comprising: a tray for holding hot food for display; wall means for forming an enclosure with said tray so that displayed hot food on said tray is within said enclosure, said wall means including a front wall having exterior edges and interior edges defining at least one opening in said wall through which displayed food may be withdrawn from said enclosure without moving said front wall; and air heating and circulating means for heating air and circulating said heated air through said enclosure to elevate and maintain the temperature within said enclosure at at least a predetermined minimum elevated value sufficient to maintain displayed food within said enclosure in a hot and appetizing condition over an extended period of time with withdrawal of said displayed food from said enclosure through said opening in said front wall not significantly adversely affecting the elevated temperature within said enclosure.