초록 ▼

A pan for use with a well for receiving the pan is disclosed herein. The pan includes a bottom panel, a plurality of walls, and a ramp. The plurality of walls extend upwardly from the bottom panel and define a cavity. The plurality of walls also have an upper end which defines a top opening. The upp

A pan for use with a well for receiving the pan is disclosed herein. The pan includes a bottom panel, a plurality of walls, and a ramp. The plurality of walls extend upwardly from the bottom panel and define a cavity. The plurality of walls also have an upper end which defines a top opening. The upper end has an extension away from the cavity which defines a rim. The ramp is proximate the rim and exterior to the cavity, whereby the pan rides up on the ramp when the pan is drawn up against the well. In one exemplary embodiment, the plurality of walls includes at least one internal shoulder formed in the plurality of walls and extending along a cavity of the pan at least partially in each corner of the pan between the bottom panel and the rim and at least one external shoulder formed in the plurality of walls and extending along an exterior of the pan at least partially in each corner between the bottom panel and the at least one internal shoulder such that the at least one external shoulder rests upon the at least one internal shoulder of an identical underlying food pan when the food pan is nested within the underlying food pan. A lid is also provided for the pan. The lid includes at least one boss configured to engage a bottom of an overlying pan and corner depressed portions which rigidify and strengthen the corners of the lid.

대표청구항 ▼

A pan for use with a well for receiving the pan is disclosed herein. The pan includes a bottom panel, a plurality of walls, and a ramp. The plurality of walls extend upwardly from the bottom panel and define a cavity. The plurality of walls also have an upper end which defines a top opening. The upp

A pan for use with a well for receiving the pan is disclosed herein. The pan includes a bottom panel, a plurality of walls, and a ramp. The plurality of walls extend upwardly from the bottom panel and define a cavity. The plurality of walls also have an upper end which defines a top opening. The upper end has an extension away from the cavity which defines a rim. The ramp is proximate the rim and exterior to the cavity, whereby the pan rides up on the ramp when the pan is drawn up against the well. In one exemplary embodiment, the plurality of walls includes at least one internal shoulder formed in the plurality of walls and extending along a cavity of the pan at least partially in each corner of the pan between the bottom panel and the rim and at least one external shoulder formed in the plurality of walls and extending along an exterior of the pan at least partially in each corner between the bottom panel and the at least one internal shoulder such that the at least one external shoulder rests upon the at least one internal shoulder of an identical underlying food pan when the food pan is nested within the underlying food pan. A lid is also provided for the pan. The lid includes at least one boss configured to engage a bottom of an overlying pan and corner depressed portions which rigidify and strengthen the corners of the lid. a lifting mechanism; and a substantially horizontal body panel having a hinge side and a latch side, the body panel being coupled to the lifting mechanism; the lifting mechanism being operable to first raise both the hinge side and the latch side of the body panel a substantially identical vertical distance and then subsequently pivot the body panel to an upwardly angled open position, if it is desired to open the body panel; and the body panel being located substantially adjacent or below the belt-line of the vehicle when the body panel is in its closed position. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the lifting mechanism includes an automatic actuator. 3. The system of claim 2 wherein the automatic actuator is an electric motor. 4. The system of claim 3 wherein the lifting mechanism further includes a mechanical coupling and an elongated driving arm, the coupling directly connecting the electric motor to the driving arm and, the driving arm being pivotally coupled to the body panel. 5. The system of claim 1 wherein the lifting mechanism includes: an elongated driving arm having a first end coupled to the body panel, the driving arm further having an opposite second end; a stationary member having an end rotatably coupled to the second end of the driving arm at a first pivot point; and a link coupled to the driving arm at a second pivot point adjacent the second end of the driving arm, the first and second pivot points being offset from each other, movement of the link operably causing the driving arm to rotate about the first pivot point while raising and lowering the body panel. 6. The system of claim 5 wherein the lifting mechanism further includes a fluid powered strut coupled to the driving arm. 7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a hinging mechanism attached adjacent an edge of the body panel, the hinging mechanism including at least one elongated member having a pivot for the body panel, the at least one elongated member being movable during initial opening movement of the body panel in order to raise the pivot of the body panel in at least a substantially vertical direction prior to full rotational opening of the body panel. 8. The system of claim 7 wherein the hinging mechanism is coupled to an automatic actuator, and energization of the automatic actuator operably moves the hinging mechanism. 9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a hinging mechanism coupling the body panel to a lateral side of the vehicle such that the body panel is pivoted about a fore-and-aft pivot axis. 10. The system of claim 1 wherein the body panel is an engine compartment hood. 11. The system of claim 1 wherein the body panel is a substantially rigid tonneau cover. 12. The system of claim 1 wherein the body panel is a trunk lid. 13. An automotive vehicle apparatus comprising: an engine compartment hood movable in a crosscar direction from a substantially horizontal closed position to a raised and rotated open position, the open position being rotated at least about 45 degrees from the substantially horizontal closed position; a lifting mechanism coupled to the hood; and an electric motor coupled to the lifting mechanism free of fluid-powered actuation, wherein energization of the electric motor drives the lifting mechanism which, in turn, opens the hood. 14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising: a hinge coupled to a first lateral section of the hood and having a substantially fore-and-aft hood pivot axis; and a latch attachable to second and opposite lateral section-of the hood when the hood is in its closed position; the latch being automatically disengagable from the hood if it is desired to open the hood. 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein at least a portion of the hinge is movable in order to raise the pivot axis of the hood in a substantially vertical direction prior to rotational opening of the hood. 16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising at least one automatic actuator coupled to the hinge and the latch. 17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the lifting mechanism includes: an elongated driving arm having a first end coupled to the body panel, the driving arm further having an opposite second end; a stationary member having an end rotatably coupled to the second end of the driving arm at a first pivot point; and a link coupled to the driving arm at a second pivot point adjacent the second end of the driving arm, the first and second pivot points being offset from each other, movement of the link operably causing the driving arm to rotate about the first pivot point while raising and lowering the body panel. 18. An automotive vehicle apparatus comprising: an engine compartment hood movable in a crosscar direction from a substantially horizontal closed position to a raised and rotated open position; a lifting mechanism coupled to the hood, the lifting mechanism having a mechanical coupling and an elongated driving arm, the coupling directly connecting an electric motor to the driving arm and, the driving arm being pivotally coupled to the engine compartment hood; and an electric motor coupled to the lifting mechanism free of fluid-powered actuation, wherein energization of the electric motor drives the lifting mechanism which, in turn, opens the hood. 19. An automotive vehicle apparatus comprising: an engine compartment hood movable in a crosscar direction from a substantially horizontal closed position to a raised and rotated open position; a lifting mechanism coupled to the hood; an electric motor coupled to the lifting mechanism free of fluid-powered actuation, wherein energization of the electric motor drives the lifting mechanism which, in turn, opens the hood; and a hinge attached adjacent an edge of the hood, the hinge including an least one elongated member having a pivot for the hood, the elongated member being movable during initial opening movement of the hood in order to raise the pivot of the hood in at least a substantially vertical direction prior to full rotational opening of the hood. 20. An automotive vehicle comprising: vehicle body having a body compartment and a roof; a substantially rigid body panel movable from a substantially horizontal and closed position covering the body compartment to an open position, a substantially horizontal plane of the body panel being located substantially below a majority of the roof when the body panel is in its closed position and the roof is in its raised position; a hinge assembly coupling the body panel to the body, the hinge assembly having a pivot axis about which the body panel pivots, the hinge assembly being coupled to the body panel at the pivot axis; and an automatic actuator coupled to the hinge assembly, energization of the actuator automatically causing at least a portion of the hinge assembly to move which causes the pivot axis to move to a displaced position, continued energization thereafter causing the body panel to pivot about the pivot axis in the displaced position; wherein the pivot axis is raised in a substantially vertical manner while maintaining the body panel in a substantially horizontal orientation prior to rotational movement of the body panel. 21. The vehicle of claim 20 wherein the actuator is an electric motor. 22. The vehicle of claim 21 further comprising a bellcrank and an elongated member couple the electric motor to the hinge assembly. 23. The vehicle of claim 20 wherein the hinge assembly includes: at least two elongated arms, the pivot axis being located adjacent an end of the arms; a shaft coupled to an end of the arms opposite from the pivot axis; and a lever mounted to the shaft; wherein the actuator operably rotates the lever which, in turn, rotates the shaft and arms, thereby moving the pivot axis. 24. The vehicle of claim 20 further comprising a latch engagable with the body panel when the body panel is in its closed position, the latch being operably driven by the act