Abstract: A vehicular drive-thru food ordering and delivering system and method are provided. The system includes a lot, a drive-thru lane and a building for receiving and filling drive-thru orders. The building has a primary food delivery window for passing ready orders to drive-thru customers, and a downstream in-line parking area for drive-thru vehicles having a delayed order. Proximate to and downstream from the primary food delivery window is a doorway for attendant access from the primary food delivery window to the downstream in-line parking area. An attendant runway is proximate and downstream of the doorway and proximate to the in-line vehicle waiting area. A customer with a delayed order can be directed to wait in the downstream in-line waiting area. When the delayed order is ready for delivery, an attendant can deliver the ready order via the proximate doorway and proximate attendant runway to a vehicle waiting in the in-line vehicle waiting area.

Abstract: An automated food processing system is provided that allows food to be dispensed, fried and packaged in a container, for example, an individual portion-sized container. The system includes separate automated modules for dispensing, frying and packaging food. An automated dispensing device dispenses a predetermined portion of food from a bulk storage container or food dispensing magazine. Food is dispensed from the automated dispensing device to an automated fry device that can include at least one circular fry wheel having a plurality of food containing compartments. After the food is fried, it is dispensed from the fry device to an automated packaging device. The automated packaging device dispenses food to a container, for example, an individual portion-sized container that is retrieved, erected and held in position for filling by an automated container handling system. After a food container is filled, a conveyor system transports the container to a pick-up location.

Abstract: A commercial device and method for cooking food product in cooking oil includes a fry vat containing an amount of cooking oil used to cook discrete batches of uncooked food in discrete batches of a weight relative to the amount of cooking oil in the range of from about 0.0375 to about 0.1, with the total amount of food being cooked at any one time relative to the amount of oil in the fry vat being about 0.1 or less. Cooking the food results in an uptake of oil by the food in an amount of from about 5.5% to about 13% by weight of the uncooked food, and an oil turnover ratio of from about 0.0026 to about 0.007 per discrete batch. Replacement oil is periodically added, and a sufficient number of batches are cooked over 60 hours of operation to achieve at least one vat oil turnover.

Abstract: A dual-sided cooking device is provided that determines whether the upper and lower cooking platens are substantially parallel to each other when in a cooking position. In addition, the method and device in accordance with the invention are capable of identifying a type of food item placed on a lower cooking platen of a two-sided cooking grill.

Abstract: A food item is cooked in a cooking device and transferred to a heated holding table by two exit conveyors. The food item then falls onto one of two transfer conveyors that move perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the exit conveyors. The food items travel on the transfer conveyors and then fall onto a main conveyor. The main conveyor moves in a direction that is parallel to the direction of movement of the exit conveyors. If the food item has not been manually removed from the main conveyor after a predetermined amount of time, the food item falls off the main conveyor and into a drawer waste chute for disposal.

Abstract: An automated method of packaging cooked French fries in an individual portion-sized French fry container is provided, wherein the cooked French fries are mechanically delivered to a holding bin, an empty French fry container is mechanically scooped into the cooked French fries to fill the container, and the filled French fry container is mechanically deposited at a drop-off location. The cooked French fries may be received on an inlet chute, the inlet chute optionally vibrated to assist gravity in causing the French fries to travel into the holding bin. Seasoning may be applied to the French fries while the French fries are on the inlet chute, optionally restrained by one or more gates. After filling, the filled container may be mechanically shaken. Additionally, the empty French fry containers may be mechanically selected from a plurality of different-sized collapsed containers, mechanically obtained, and mechanically erected prior to scooping.

Abstract: A dispenser is provided for delivering a controlled quantity of a granular material. The dispenser includes a reservoir that retains granular material. The reservoir is supported in the dispenser with a passageway defined between opposing ends. A nozzle is provided for the outflow of material from the reservoir to a metering cup. A baffle is provided within the metering cup to stabilize the controlled volume directed into the cup from the reservoir. Once the metering cup is filled, the dispenser is inverted and the volume of material is directed from the cup, through the passageway and out of an opening adjacent a diffuser.

Abstract: An open top fry basket device suited for use in a semi-automated food processing station, system and method is provided that allows cooked food items to be dispensed through a pivotable bottom of the fry basket actuated by the operator. The efficient and ergonomic design permits emptying of the fry basket without necessitating the turning over of the basket to dump the contents into a food storage bin.

Abstract: A vertical grilling component includes two grilling structures separated by a gap. Each grilling structure includes a heating component and a conveyor belt positioned around the heating components. The upper portion of one of the grilling structures is beveled approximately 0.8°. The grilling structures are slidable relative to the frame of the grilling component for cleaning, and the heating components are also removable from the grilling structures. The gap between the grilling structures is adjustable between two distances. The conveyor belts include a v-belt received in a groove of the pulleys to prevent lateral movement of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belts also include an edge seal around the outer edge of the conveyor belt. After grilling, seasoning is dispensed onto the grilled food item when detected by a sensor.

Abstract: An improved seating apparatus is provided, including a seat supported by a fixed seat post, the seat post mating with a support mount fixed to the bottom of the seat. The aligned surfaces of the seat post and support mount are of a non-circular cylindrical shape to prevent rotation of the support mount with respect to the seat post.

Abstract: An illuminated display device having a menu board and a light source is provided. The menu board has translucent display members and a frame with substantially parallel frame members and at least one cross member connected to the frame members. The cross members are located between the display members and the lighting sources. The cross members may be offset from the display members so that the cross members do not cast a shadow upon the display members. The cross members may be disposed at various angles to the frame members and to other cross members.

Abstract: A carrier for food, beverages and other items and methods for carrying food, beverages and other items. The carrier is especially suitable for use at food and beverage concessions at sporting and entertainment venues and in fast-casual restaurants. The carrier is preferably made of paper and includes a carry tab which permits a customer to carry multiple carriers in one hand. The carry tab may include an aperture sized to accommodate the customer's thumb and fingers, providing for a sure and comfortable grip of the carrier. The carrier fits into a standard cup holder in the seating area at sporting and entertainment venues, or may hang from a hook provided in the seating area.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for jewelry, purses and other accessories is provided. The locking mechanism comprises first and second magnetically attracted surfaces and a collar. The second magnetically attracted surface is adapted for magnetic coupling to the first magnetically attracted surface. The collar is hingeably coupled to either the first or second magnetically attracted surfaces and is operable between an open position and a closed position. When the first and second magnetically attracted surface are magnetically coupled one to the other, and the collar is in the closed position, at least a portion of the collar surrounds a perimeter of the first and second magnetically attracted surfaces.

Abstract: This invention disclosure describes methods for the fabrication of metal oxide films on surfaces by topotactic anion exchange, and laminate structures enabled by the method. A precursor metal-nonmetal film is deposited on the surface, and is subsequently oxidized via topotactic anion exchange to yield a topotactic metal-oxide product film. The structures include a metal-oxide layer(s) and/or a metal-nonmetal layer(s).

Abstract: A wood type club is provided. A toe-side part and a heel-side part located between the crown part and the sole part of the head are provided with at least one concave groove opened outward in a horizontal direction and extending from the face part to the back part in a longitudinal direction to guide an air stream to the head in a swing action; and a whole or part of the concave groove has a curved part bulging outwardly so that an angle in which a concave groove bottom formed from an inlet of the concave groove to an inside thereof is inclined inward with respect to a line perpendicular to the face part is smaller than an angle in which a line connecting an inlet of the concave groove bottom and an outlet thereof is inclined inward with respect to the line perpendicular to the face part.

Abstract: This invention disclosure describes methods for the fabrication of metal oxide films on surfaces by topotactic anion exchange, and laminate structures enabled by the method. A precursor metal-nonmetal film is deposited on the surface, and is subsequently oxidized via topotactic anion exchange to yield a topotactic metal-oxide product film. The structures include a metal-oxide layer(s) and/or a metal-nonmetal layer(s).

Abstract: A food transport system and method are provided for transporting a packaged food item from one floor of a restaurant, such as a cooking or preparation floor, to another floor of the restaurant, such as a serving or dining floor. The food transport system includes a conveyor that transports a food-item supporting carrier along a closed-loop pathway. The carrier includes a rack with a plurality of spaced-apart food-item support members. On an upward portion of the pathway, the carrier passes a pick-up station having a pick-up rack with a plurality of spaced-apart food-item support members, the carrier support members passing between the pick-up support members to pick up the food item. On a downward portion of the pathway, the carrier rack passes through a drop-off rack in a similar manner, thus depositing the food item on the drop-off rack.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for dispensing a quantity of food to be cooked. The device includes a freezer, a storage container located in the freezer, means located in the freezer for dispensing a predetermined quantity of food from the storage container into a secondary container, and means for dispensing the quantity of food from the secondary container to a location outside the freezer. The means for dispensing a predetermined quantity of food may be, for example, a magazine with dual spiral flights for dispensing food items one at a time, or a vibratory conveyor cooperating with a device for determining a quantity of food in the secondary conveyor and means for terminating the dispensing when a predetermined quantity of food is sensed. The secondary container may have an opening in its bottom and be movable laterally to align its opening with an opening in the freezer.