초록 ▼

A merchandiser that is capable of holding and displaying both cold foods and warm foods includes a cold pan which has walls that are recessed into the top of a counter to provide a cold compartment that opens out of the counter top. The cold foods occupy the cold compartment. In addition, the merch

A merchandiser that is capable of holding and displaying both cold foods and warm foods includes a cold pan which has walls that are recessed into the top of a counter to provide a cold compartment that opens out of the counter top. The cold foods occupy the cold compartment. In addition, the merchandiser has a closure assembly which rises upwardly form the cold pan and includes side walls that support a shelf above the cold pan and also housing above the shelf. Front and rear doors are attached to the side walls to close the space between the shelf and housing at the front and rear, respectively, of the closure assembly, so that the doors, the side walls, and shelf and the housing enclose a warm compartment that holds and displays warm foods. Both doors pivot about horizontal axes to provide access to the warm compartment. The housing contains a fan and heating element for circulating heated air through the warm compartment. A refrigerator unit within the counter includes an evaporator coil that lies along the walls of the cold pan.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A merchandiser for holding food, said merchandiser having a front and back and sides and comprising: first walls located around a first compartment such that the first compartment is closed along its front, back, sides, and bottom, but opens upwardly; second walls completely

What is claimed is: 1. A merchandiser for holding food, said merchandiser having a front and back and sides and comprising: first walls located around a first compartment such that the first compartment is closed along its front, back, sides, and bottom, but opens upwardly; second walls completely enclosing a second compartment that is located above and spaced from the open top of the first compartment, such that the first compartment is accessible beneath the second compartment at both the front and the back of the merchandiser, at least one of the second walls being movable with respect to others of the second walls to provide access to the second compartment, at least one of the second walls being transparent to permit observation of food in the second compartment; a refrigeration unit for cooling the first compartment; and a heating unit for heating the air that is in the second compartment. 2. A merchandiser for displaying foods, said merchandiser comprising a cold pan having vertical walls that surround a cold compartment and a bottom wall connected to the vertical walls and extending across the bottom of the cold compartment; a closure assembly located above the cold pan and including spaced apart side walls rising upwardly from the cold pan, a shelf supported on the side walls above the cold compartment and spaced from the cold pan, a housing supported on the side walls above the shelf and enclosing a plenum, the housing containing an inlet and an outlet opening, a front wall and a back wall extending between the side walls and between the shelf and housing, so that the front and back walls together with the shelf, the housing and the side walls enclose a warm compartment into which the openings in the housing open, at least one of the front and back walls being movable to provide access to the warm compartment; a heating unit including a fan located in the plenum of the housing for withdrawing air from the warm compartment through the inlet opening and discharging it back into the warm compartment through the outlet opening, and a heating element located in the plenum for heating the air as it passes through the plenum; and a refrigeration unit having, conduits located along at least some of the walls of the cold pan. 3. In combination with a counter having a countertop provided with an opening, a merchandiser supported on the counter for displaying foods, said merchandiser comprising a cold pan located generally within the counter and opening upwardly out of the countertop at the opening in the countertop; side walls rising upwardly above the countertop; a shelf supported by the side walls above and spaced from the cold pan, a housing supported by the side walls above the shelf and enclosing a plenum, the housing having inlet and outlet openings, front and back walls extending between the shelf and housing and between the side walls so that the front and back walls together with the housing, shelf and side walls enclose a warm compartment; a heating element in the plenum of the housing for elevating the temperature of air that passes into the plenum at the inlet opening, thence through the plenum, and then out the plenum at the outlet opening; and a conduit located along at least one wall of the cold pan for containing a fluid at a temperature below that of the cold pan. 4. A merchandiser for displaying foods, said merchandiser comprising a cold pan having vertical walls that surround a cold compartment and a bottom wall connected to the vertical walls and extending across the bottom of the cold compartment; a closure assembly located above the cold pan and including spaced apart side walls rising upwardly from the cold pan; the side walls including posts which extend upwardly from the cold pan and transparent panels through which one can observe the cold compartment; a shelf supported on the side walls above the cold compartment and spaced from the cold pan, a housing attached to the posts of the side walls and supported on the side walls above the shelf to enclose a plenum, the housing containing an inlet and an outlet opening; a transparent front wall and a back wall extending between the side walls and between the shelf and housing, so that the front and back walls together with the shelf, the housing and the side walls enclose a warm compartment into which the openings in the housing open, the front wall being movable to provide access to the warm compartment and being hinged near its top, so that when moved, it pivots upwardly; and a heating unit including a fan located in the plenum of the housing for withdrawing air from the warm compartment through the inlet opening and discharging it back into the warm compartment through the outlet opening and a heating element located in the plenum for heating the air as it passes through the plenum. 5. In combination with a counter having a countertop provided with an opening, a merchandiser supported on the counter for displaying foods, said merchandiser comprising a cold pan located generally within the counter and opening out of the countertop at the opening in the countertop; side walls attached to the cold pan and rising upwardly above the countertop, the side walls including transparent panels and posts; a shelf supported by the side walls above the cold pan; a housing attached to the posts of the side walls and supported by the side walls above the shelf to enclose a plenum, the housing having inlet and outlet openings; front and back walls extending between the shelf and housing and between the side walls, so that the front and back walls together with the housing, shelf and side walls enclose a warm compartment, the front wall being pivotal about an axis that is fixed with respect to the side walls; and a heating element in the plenum of the housing for elevating the temperature of air that passes into the plenum at the inlet opening thence through the plenum, and then out the plenum at the outlet opening. 6. A merchandiser according to claim 1 wherein one of the second wall extends horizontally below the second compartment where it serves as a shelf that isolates the second compartment from the first compartment. 7. A merchandiser according to claim 1 wherein one of the second walls extends across the top of the second compartment where it forms a housing that encloses a plenum, the housing containing an intake opening and at least one discharge opening spaced from the intake opening; and wherein the heating unit includes a fan located in the plenum to draw air from the second compartment into the plenum through the intake opening and to direct it to the discharge opening through which it is discharged into the second compartment, and a heating element located in the plenum for heating the air in the plenum. 8. A merchandiser according to claim 6 wherein among the second walls are side walls which rise upwardly from walls of the first compartment and close the sides of the second compartment. 9. A merchandiser according to claim 8 wherein the side walls that are among the second walls included posts. 10. A merchandiser according to claim 8 wherein the side walls are transparent, and further comprising lamps located along the surfaces of the side walls that are presented away from the compartments, whereby the lamps illuminate the compartments through the side walls. 11. A merchandiser according to claim 9 wherein the side walls also include transparent panels that rise from the first walls to the second compartment and afford observation of the first and second compartments through the panels. 12. A merchandiser according to claim 9 wherein the second walls include a housing supported on the posts; and wherein the hearing unit includes a fan located in the housing for withdrawing air from the second compartment and discharging it back into the compartment and a heating element located in the housing beyond the fan and in the path of the air discharged from the fan. 13. A merchandiser according to claim 12 wherein the refrigeration unit includes evaporator coils located at least along some of the first walls. 14. A merchandiser according to claim 2 wherein the inlet opening of the housing is located generally midway between the end of the housing and opens downwardly into the warm compartment; wherein the outlet openings are on both sides of the inlet opening and open downwardly into the warm compartment; wherein two heating elements are located in the housing on each side of the inlet opening; and wherein the fan is located at the inlet opening. 15. A merchandiser according to claim 2 wherein the front wall of the closure assembly is transparent. 16. A merchandiser according to claim 2 wherein the vertical walls of the cold pan include side walls and front and back walls extended between the side walls; and wherein the side walls of the closure assembly are spaced apart a distance generally corresponding to the spacing between the side walls of the cold pan. 17. A merchandiser according to claim 2 having a front and a back; and wherein the cold compartment is accessible from both the front and the back of the merchandiser. 18. The combination according to claim 2 wherein the merchandiser has front and a back; and wherein the cold compartment is accessible from both the front and the back of the merchandiser. 19. A merchandiser according to claim 15 wherein the side walls of the closure assembly includes posts which extend upwardly from the cold pan and are attached to the housing; and wherein the side walls of the closure assembly further including transparent panels through which one can observe the cold compartment. 20. A merchandiser according to claim 19 and further comprising lamps located along the surfaces of the side walls that are presented away from the compartments, whereby the lamps illuminate the compartments through the side walls. 21. The combination according to claim 3 wherein the side walls are attached to the cold pan and include transparent panels. 22. The combination according to claim 3 wherein the cold pan has vertical walls and a bottom wall at the lower ends of the vertical walls; and further comprising a refrigeration unit located within the counter and including an evaporator coil located along at least one of the walls of the cold pan, the evaporate coil forming the conduit. 23. The combination according to claim 21 wherein the side walls also include posts to which the housing is attached. 24. A merchandiser according to claim 4 wherein the back wall of the closure assembly moves and is hinged with respect to the side walls. 25. The combination according to claim 5 wherein the back wall pivots about an axis that is fixed with respect to the side walls. id="INS-S-00001" date="20080318" 26. A merchandiser for displaying foods, said merchandiser comprising a cold pan having vertical walls that surround a cold compartment and a bottom wall connected to the vertical walls and extending across the bottom of the cold compartment; a closure assembly located above the cold pan and including spaced apart side walls rising upwardly from the cold pan, a shelf supported on the side walls above the cold compartment and spaced from the bottom wall of the cold pan, a housing supported on the side walls above the shelf and enclosing a plenum, the housing containing an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a front wall and a back wall extending between the side walls and between the shelf and housing, so that the front and back walls together with the shelf, the housing and the side walls enclose a warm compartment into which the openings in the housing open, at least one of the front and back walls being movable to provide access to the warm compartment; a heating unit including a fan located in the plenum of the housing for withdrawing air from the warm compartment through the inlet opening and discharging it back into the warm compartment through the outlet opening, and a heating element located in the plenum for heating the air as it passes through the plenum; and a refrigeration unit comprising a conduit along at least the bottom wall of the cold pan.id="INS-S-00001" id="INS-S-00002" date="20080318" 27. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 26 wherein said merchandiser rests on a counter with the warm compartment elevated above the counter.id="INS-S-00002" id="INS-S-00003" date="20080318" 28. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 26 wherein the bottom wall of said cold pan is refrigerated and spaced below said shelf.id="INS-S-00003" id="INS-S-00004" date="20080318" 29. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 28 wherein said refrigeration unit comprises a compressor and condenser mounted outside said cold compartment, and a refrigeration conduit for cooling said bottom wall of the cold pan.id="INS-S-00004" id="INS-S-00005" date="20080318" 30. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 26 wherein the warm compartment has a top closed by said housing.id="INS-S-00005" id="INS-S-00006" date="20080318" 31. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 26 wherein said front wall is inclined.id="INS-S-00006" id="INS-S-00007" date="20080318" 32. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 26 wherein said side walls comprise upright posts adjacent the rear of the merchandiser.id="INS-S-00007" id="INS-S-00008" date="20080318" 33. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 32 wherein said shelf comprises a top panel, a bottom panel, and thermal insulation between the top and bottom panels.id="INS-S-00008" id="INS-S-00009" date="20080318" 34. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 26 wherein said shelf comprises a top panel, a bottom panel, and thermal insulation between the top and bottom panels.id="INS-S-00009" id="INS-S-00010" date="20080318" 35. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 26 wherein the front, back and side walls defining said warm compartment are transparent.id="INS-S-00010" id="INS-S-00011" date="20080318" 36. A merchandiser as set forth in cain 35 further comprising at least one lamp located adjacent a side wall for illuminating said warm compartment.id="INS-S-00011" id="INS-S-00012" date="20080318" 37. A merchandiser as set forth in claim 26 wherein said back wall comprises a door providing access to the warm compartment.id="INS-S-00012" id="INS-S-00013" date="20080318" 38. A method of merchandising food, said method comprising the steps of: displaying warm and cold food in a merchandiser, said merchandiser having front, back and sides, a cold compartment in the merchandiser, a refrigeration unit for cooling food in the cold compartment, a shelf above the cold compartment for displaying food and defining, in part, a warm compartment above the cold compartment, a heating unit for heating food in the warm compartment, said merchandiser having front, back and side walls defining said cold and warm compartments, at least some of said walls being transparent for allowing food within the compartments to be observed, and said back wall comprising a door movable to provide access to said warm compartment, operating the refrigeration unit to cool food in said cold compartment, operating said heating unit to heat food in said warm compartment, and wherein the food in said cold and warm compartments is displayed through the transparent walls of the merchandiser as the food is being cooled and heated.id="INS-S-00013" id="INS-S-00014" date="20080318" 39. A method as set forth in claim 38 wherein the front wall of the merchandiser is transparent, and wherein said displaying step comprises placing food in respective warm and cold compartments such that the food is displayed through the transparent front wall.id="INS-S-00014" id="INS-S-00015" date="20080318" 40. A method as set forth in claim 38 wherein said displaying step comprises resting said merchandiser on a counter.id="INS-S-00015" id="INS-S-00016" date="20080318" 41. A method as set forth in claim 40 wherein said displaying step further comprises fitting said merchandiser in a cutout in the counter.id="INS-S-00016" id="INS-S-00017" date="20080318" 42. A method as set forth in claim 38 further comprising removing food from the cold compartment through a doorless opening in the back of the merchandiser.id="INS-S-00017"