Abstract: An electric chafer heater for a chafer is disclosed herein. The chafer heater is removably supported by a shelf disposed below a chafing dish. The chafer heater includes a base having a cylindrical bottom portion held within an aperture in the shelf sized for receiving a standard can heater. The chafer heater further includes a resilient member extending upward from the base, and an electric heating assembly coupled to the resilient member opposite the base. The heating assembly has a heating surface positionable above the base by the compression of the resilient member. The heating surface is biased against the chafing dish when the base is supported by the shelf to provide a thermal interface to transfer heat between the heating surface and the chafing dish. The heating assembly has variable (e.g., low and high) power settings selected by an input device (e.g., a switch).

Abstract: A hand grip formed or molded on the handle for a cooking utensil for preventing peeling of the inner end of the hand grip from the handle and thereby limiting the migration of food particles into the space between the hand grip and the handle, the hand grip being molded onto the handle and interconnected through one or more openings in the inner end of the handle.

Abstract: An adapter for mounting an oversize or sheet pan over at least two wells of a food serving station includes a frame structure surrounding a central aperture. The adapter includes a lower support surface designed to rest on the upper surface of a serving station, an upper support surface for supporting the peripheral flange of a sheet pan and side panels between the upper and lower surfaces for raising the pan above the upper surface of the station. Downwardly extending locating flanges protrude into the wells to maintain the adapter in place. Inclined centering flanges extend into the aperture for urging the pan into the aperture. The adapter can be positioned over the wells when a sheet pan is to be used and is easily removed from the station when standard food trays are to be placed in the wells.

Abstract: A covered food serving pan is provided having a food pan from which a flange with tab retainers extends, and a cover with tabs extending from an edge. These tabs engage tab retainers on a flange of the food pan and allow the cover to rotate with respect to the food pan. A method is provided for attaching a cover to a food serving pan by sliding the tabs toward the tabs retainers and engaging them with the tab retainers, rotating the cover about the tab retainers along a first axis of rotation, translating the cover in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation, and again rotating the cover about the axis of rotation until the open end of the pan is covered.

Abstract: A sunken receptacle unit for insertion in an opening of a counter having a top surface and a bottom surface includes a receptacle having a bottom and a plurality of walls defining an interior cavity, a receptacle support surface extending outwardly from the walls for supporting the receptacle within the opening and a receptacle retaining surface coupled to one of the walls. The receptacle retaining surface moves between a first position beyond the opening for engaging the bottom surface of the counter and a second position within the opening for insertion of the unit through the opening. The receptacle retaining surface is resiliently biased in the first position.

Abstract: A portable basin is disclosed which is adapted to receive and support a selected part of a person's body for isolatable cleansing, treatment and the like with minimal discomfort to the person. The disclosed basin is of unitary, continuous sidewall construction having certain body supporting contour features on its bottom and top edge and certain self-stabilizing features. More particularly, a basin of this invention provides an integral elevated platform portion feature in its bottom for receiving and supporting a selected body part during cleansing or treatment within the interior of the basin and at least one seat defined in the top edge of its sidewall contoured for concurrently receiving and supporting an associated member of the selected body part. One disclosed preferred basin embodiment is particularly adapted for cleansing and treating the head of a person.

Abstract: A receptacle configured for nested stacking with a lower receptacle of the same construction includes walls intersecting at corners and with a bottom to form a well having an open top bounded by a rim. The rim lies generally in a first plane and has an inner limit adjacent the well which defines a first area larger than the bottom to facilitate nested stacking. Each wall extends in a first direction generally perpendicular with the first plane toward the bottom to a juncture. The juncture defines a second area slightly larger than the first area so that the juncture extends outward from the well an overlap distance beyond the inner limit of the rim of the lower receptacle to establish a generally line-to-line interference with the rim of the lower receptacle. The receptacle also includes a respective juncture-bump, or deviation, at each corner deviating outward from the well at each corner.

Abstract: A product serving apparatus includes an apportioning scoop, a product separation assembly for separating the product from the scoop, a hand operated actuator assembly for driving the product separation assembly, and an integral handle and support assembly affixed to the scoop. The handle assembly provides a substantially smooth exterior which is impermeable to soil or food product. The handle assembly provides a crevice-free exterior extending over the entire distance between its ends.

Abstract: Disclosed is a chambered irrigation container construction adapted for holding irrigation liquid for delivery to a wound site by irrigation syringe or by pouring, an irrigation unit comprising the container and sterilizable irrigation kit therefor. The open-top container comprises a bottom portion and a substantially upright sidewall extending upward therefrom so that a first portion defines a first chamber, a second portion defines a second chamber and a neck portion defines a flow channel placing each chamber in fluid flow communication with one another. The irrigation container is stabilized against sideways tipping by certain stabilizing features and is nestable with similar containers by certain nesting features. In a preferred embodiment the first portion defines an integral spout and the exterior surface of the second portion defines an integral gripping means which cooperates with the second chamber to prevent an irrigation syringe received therein from entry into the flow channel and first chamber.

Abstract: A handling system configured for use with a receptacle having a bottom, sides and a flange. The system has a bail for supporting the receptacle, a guide for guiding the bail, and a stop structure for retaining the bail within the guide. The bail is freely movable within the guide and is movable between two positions. In the first position, the bail extends above the flange in a carrying position. In the second position, the bail extends below the flange in a stowed position. The bail is preferably comprised of two substantially parallel legs connected by a base. The two legs each include a bias structure preferably in the form of a deviation by which the base of the bail is held against an adjacent wall of the receptacle when the bail is in the stowed position. The legs of the bail pass through guide openings in the flange of the receptacle and attach to the stop structure. In the stowed position, the stop structure substantially covers the guide openings in the flange.

Abstract: A hot water pan for warming food in the food pan of a chafing dish. The hot water pan includes a central well for holding a volume of heated water and maintaining a warm food pan temperature. The hot water pan further includes a lip formation creating a water barrier with the edge of the food pan so that condensing water droplets do not flow from the hot water pan but are directed to return to the well.

Abstract: A breath guard apparatus for protecting food displayed in a food service area comprises means including a side guard for shielding the displayed food, means for supporting the shielding means above the food service area and hinge means connecting the side guard to the supporting means so that the side guard can be rotated from a closed position which shields the displayed food to an open position which provides access to the food.

Abstract: A cover for an open-topped receptacle, which receptacle is generally rectangular and has a peripheral prominence. In its preferred embodiment, the cover comprises a substantially planar central web bounded by an integral channel which is generally registrable with the peripheral prominence of the receptacle. The channel is configured to effect nested reception of the peripheral prominence within the channel. The channel has a width and comprises four channel segments and four corners. Each of the corners is established substantially at an intersection of a respective two of the channel segments and each of the corners is truncated at least the width of the channel athwart each of the respective two channel segments intersecting at the corner.