Abstract: A heat-retaining food service container includes an outer shell assembly, and an expandable inner container arrangement within which is disposed a mass of heat-fusible material. Attendant to heating of the heat-fusible material to an elevated temperature, the material undergoes a phase change and expansion. The expandable inner container arrangement accommodates such expansion of the fusible material, while avoiding any appreciable deformation of the outer shell assembly. The construction promotes efficient heat-transfer to food within the container.

Abstract: A dispenser of light-weight articles such as plates, trays, dishes, or the like which includes a storage tube for a stack of the articles to be dispensed, a resilient member disposed beneath the stack for urging the stack upwardly, a stop for holding the stack in place and fanning the topmost articles to permit individual dispensing. The stop is fully deflectable downwardly to permit loading and deflectable only a limited amount upwardly to facilitate individual article dispensing.