초록 ▼

A container configured to establish an air flow curtain at an open end thereof is provided. The container includes a housing defining an internal volume with opposed five mutually perpendicular walls and an open end allowing access to the internal volume. A heater and a fan are disposed within the h

A container configured to establish an air flow curtain at an open end thereof is provided. The container includes a housing defining an internal volume with opposed five mutually perpendicular walls and an open end allowing access to the internal volume. A heater and a fan are disposed within the housing. An assembly is removably positioned within the internal volume of the housing and configured to be removed from the internal volume in a single motion without any external tools, the assembly comprises five mutually perpendicular walls and an open end allowing access to an internal volume within the assembly. When the assembly is positioned within the housing, a first plenum is defined within a space between the rear wall of the assembly and the rear wall of the housing, and a second plenum in fluid communication with the first plenum is defined within a space between the lower wall of the assembly and the rear wall of the housing. An outlet of the second plenum urges air flowing therethrough across the combined open ends of the housing and the assembly.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A heated food storage container, comprising: a housing forming an open internal volume with upper and lower walls, right and left walls, and a rear wall in combination defining the internal volume accessible through an open front portion;a heater and a fan disposed within the housing and configur

1. A heated food storage container, comprising: a housing forming an open internal volume with upper and lower walls, right and left walls, and a rear wall in combination defining the internal volume accessible through an open front portion;a heater and a fan disposed within the housing and configured to deliver a flow of heated air within the internal volume;a combined rack and ventilation assembly comprising upper and lower walls, right and left walls, and a rear wall in combination defining a second internal volume accessible through an open front portion, wherein the assembly may be disposed within the internal volume of the housing and the assembly is configured to be removed from the internal volume of the housing without any external tools,wherein a ventilation path within the container is formed when the assembly is positioned within the housing, the ventilation path disposed within a first plenum defined between the respective rear walls of the assembly and housing and continuing to a second plenum defined between the respective lower walls of the assembly and housing. 2. The container of claim 1, wherein the assembly further comprises a third plenum in fluid communication with the second plenum, wherein the third plenum extends from the lower wall of the assembly and directs air entering the third plenum from the second plenum across the open front portion of the assembly. 3. The container of claim 1, wherein rear edges of each of the right and left walls of the assembly extend rearwardly beyond the rear wall of the assembly such that contact between the rear edges of one or both of the right and left walls of the assembly with the rear wall of the housing defines a distance between the rear wall of the assembly and the rear wall of the housing to establish the first plenum. 4. The container of claim 2, wherein the assembly further comprises two or more downwardly extending feet disposed proximate a rear end of the lower wall of the assembly, wherein the feet are configured to define a distance between the lower walls of the assembly and housing to establish the second plenum. 5. The container of claim 4, wherein the assembly further comprises a third plenum in fluid communication with the second plenum, wherein the third plenum extends from the lower wall of the assembly and directs air entering the third plenum from the second plenum across the open front portion of the assembly, wherein at least a portion of the third plenum extends below the lower wall of the assembly substantially the same distance as the distance between lower walls of the assembly and the housing. 6. The container of claim 2, wherein the assembly further comprises a fourth plenum disposed upon the upper wall, wherein the fourth plenum is configured to receive air flowing across the open front portion of assembly and direct the received air into the housing. 7. The container of claim 6, wherein the heater and the fan are disposed within a partially enclosed volume within the housing, with the partially enclosed volume comprising a first opening configured to receipt of air from the fourth plenum on a suction side of the fan, and a second opening configured to allow fluid communication from a discharge side of the fan into the first plenum. 8. The container of claim 1, wherein the assembly includes a plurality of horizontal rods that extend between the right and left walls through the second internal volume. 9. The container of claim 8, wherein a first portion of the plurality of rods are disposed at substantially the same height within the second internal volume while a rod of the plurality of rods closest to the front opening is disposed at a height slightly above the height of the remainder of the plurality of rods. 10. The container of claim 1, wherein the rear and lower walls of the assembly each include a plurality of holes disposed therein that allow fluid communication therethrough into the second internal volume from the first and second plenums, respectively. 11. The container of claim 1, further comprising an interlock that includes an input configured to determine whether the assembly is properly positioned within the housing, wherein the interlock selectively allows electrical power to at least one of the heater and the fan when the input determines that the assembly is properly positioned within the housing and selectively prevents electrical power to at least one of the heater and the fan when the input does not determine that the assembly is properly positioned within the housing. 12. The container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the heater and the fan are operatively engaged with a controller configured to control operation of at least one of the fan and heater to maintain temperature within the internal volume. 13. The container of claim 1, further comprising two or more separately operable timers disposed upon the housing. 14. The container of claim 1, wherein the assembly is a single component that can be removed from the housing in a single operation. 15. The container of claim 1, wherein the internal volume of the housing is accessible through the front opening of the housing when the assembly is removed from the housing.