Abstract: A food warming apparatus includes one or more heating compartments that can hold one or more trays, each covered by a cover, each tray containing previously cooked food portions. One or more supports are disposed inside a heating compartment. A support includes one or more guide members and one or more stop members. A cover includes one or more engagement sections. Without a tray, the cover rests on the one or more stop members. When a tray is inserted into the receiving space defined by the cover and the support, the cover is lifted. The one or more engagement sections engage the one or more guide members to guide the upward motion of the cover. The cover then rests on the tray to at least partially block an open top of the tray, thereby restricting evaporation of liquids from the previously cooked food portions contained therein.

Abstract: A food warming apparatus includes a heating compartment that can hold one or more trays containing previously cooked food portions. A cover for a tray has a horizontal section and a vertical section extending downwardly from one side of the horizontal section. A rack in the heating compartment includes a channel and a stop that blocks the front end of the channel. The vertical section of the cover fits securely in the channel behind the stop such that the rack supports the cover substantially only through the vertical section. When a tray is inserted into the receiving space cooperatively defined by the cover and rack, the cover is lifted up so that the horizontal section rests on the tray and at least partially blocks the open top of the tray, thereby restricting evaporation of liquids from the previously cooked food portions contained in the tray.

Abstract: A food warming apparatus has a heating compartment for maintaining previously cooked food portions in a ready-to-use condition. The food portions are contained in a tray that is placed in a tray handler. The tray handler may include a frame for receiving the tray, a handle, and rollers. A tray handler guide in the heating compartment has a guide surface on which the rollers are able to roll and stops for engaging the rollers at a maintenance position and an access position. In the maintenance position, the tray is positioned inside the heating compartment so that the food portions are maintained in a ready-to-use condition. In the access position, a user is able to access food portions in the tray. At the maintenance and access positions, the user may sense the engagement of the rollers by sensing that the tray handler's motion is impeded but not prevented.

Abstract: A food warming apparatus includes a cabinet with one or more heating compartments for holding one or more trays. Each tray has a rim extending outwardly from a tray opening and may contain previously cooked food portions. One or more dividers are removably mounted inside a heating compartment, dividing the heating compartment into a first sub-compartment and second sub-compartment. The one or more dividers include a first support flange that extends into the first sub-compartment and a second support flange that extends into the second sub-compartment. The first support flange supports a rim of a first tray in the first sub-compartment such that the first tray is suspended above a lower compartment surface of the heating compartment. The second support flange supports a rim of a second tray in the second sub-compartment such that the second tray is suspended above the lower compartment surface of the heating compartment.

Abstract: A food warming apparatus includes a heating compartment that can hold one or more trays containing previously cooked food portions. A rack in the heating compartment includes a support member, a channel, and a stop that blocks the front end of the channel. A cover that includes a horizontal section and a vertical section is mounted on the support such that the horizontal section is supported on one side by the support member and on the other side by the vertical section, which is positioned in the channel behind the stop. When a tray is inserted into the receiving space defined by the cover and support member, the cover is lifted up so that the horizontal section rests on the tray and at least partially blocks the open top of the tray, thereby restricting evaporation of liquids from the previously cooked food portions contained in the tray.

Abstract: A dual function heating and toasting apparatus is provided for radiantly heating or surface toasting bread-type food products. The apparatus includes a housing defining a heating/toasting chamber. A generally vertically oriented, center fixed heating platen is disposed in the chamber. A pair of generally vertically oriented, movable heating platens are disposed on opposite sides of the center fixed platen. A gate is movably mounted on the housing near the bottoms of the platens for movement between a closed position to hold a product between the platens and an open position allowing a finished product to exit the chamber. A product such as a bagel can be placed into the chamber onto the gate between one of the movable platens and the fixed platen and spaced therefrom to heat the bagel by radiant heat. Alternatively, a product such as a bun can be placed in the chamber onto the gate and the movable platen moved to bias the bun against the fixed platen to surface toast the bun.

Abstract: A steamer apparatus for steaming bread-type food products includes a housing defining a steam chamber having a heated platen therein. A water conduit delivers water onto the heated platen to convert the water into steam in the steam chamber. The water in the conduit is preheated by the heated platen, itself, prior to delivering the water to the heated platen.

Abstract: A freestanding cover for a food tray has a flange section and a support section extending downwardly from the flange section. The support section supports the cover independently of the tray, with the flange section positioned above the tray opening. The freestanding is inserted into a heated compartment in a food warming cabinet and is supported on a shelf mounted in the food warming cabinet. A retainer provided on the cover engages the shelf to prevent the cover from moving forward or backward. With the retainer so engaged, a tray containing previously cooked food portions may be inserted into and removed from a receiving space in the cover, leaving the cover inside of the compartment.

Abstract: A freestanding cover for a food tray has a flange section and a support section extending downwardly from the flange section. The support section supports the cover independently of the tray, with the flange section positioned above the tray opening. The freestanding cover is inserted into a heated compartment in a food warming cabinet and is supported on a retaining mechanism positioned on the shelf of the food warming cabinet. The retaining mechanism, in the form of a wire rack, prevents the cover from moving forward or backward. With the cover retained by the wire rack, a tray containing previously cooked food portions may be inserted into and removed from a receiving space in the cover, leaving the cover inside of the compartment.

Abstract: A grill scraper is provided for scraping the surface of a cooking grill or the like. The scraper includes an elongated frame defining a longitudinal axis which extends between a front head end of the frame and a rear handle end of the frame. A blade head is mounted at the head end of the frame for mounting a scraping blade thereon. A first handle is mounted at the handle end of the frame and extends downwardly therefrom. A second handle is mounted on the frame rearwardly of the head end but remote from the first handle.

Abstract: A grill scraper is provided for scraping the surface of a cooking grill or the like. The scraper includes an elongated frame defining a longitudinal axis which extends between a front head end of the frame and a rear handle end of the frame. A blade head is mounted at the head end of the frame for mounting a scraping blade thereon. A first handle is mounted at the handle end of the frame and extends downwardly therefrom. A second handle is mounted on the frame rearwardly of the head end but remote from the first handle.

Abstract: A steamer apparatus for steaming bread-type food products includes a housing defining a steam chamber having a heated platen therein. A water conduit delivers water onto the heated platen to convert the water into steam in the steam chamber. The water in the conduit is preheated by the heated platen, itself, prior to delivering the water to the heated platen.

Abstract: A freestanding cover for a food tray has a flange section and a support section extending downwardly from the flange section. The support section supports the cover independently of the tray, with the flange section positioned above the tray opening. The freestanding cover is inserted into a heated compartment in a food warming cabinet and is supported on a retaining mechanism positioned on the shelf of the food warming cabinet. The retaining mechanism, in the form of a wire rack, prevents the cover from moving forward or backward. With the cover retained by the wire rack, a tray containing previously cooked food portions may be inserted into and removed from a receiving space in the cover, leaving the cover inside of the compartment.

Abstract: A freestanding cover for a food tray has a flange section and a support section extending downwardly from the flange section. The support section supports the cover independently of the tray, with the flange section positioned above the tray opening. The freestanding cover is inserted into a heated compartment in a food warming cabinet and is supported on a retaining mechanism positioned on the shelf of the food warming cabinet. The retaining mechanism, in the form of a wire rack, prevents the cover from moving forward or backward. With the cover retained by the wire rack, a tray containing previously cooked food portions may be inserted into and removed from a receiving space in the cover, leaving the cover inside of the compartment.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser is provided for dispensing either one or both of two liquid products and includes a housing defining two liquid reservoirs. Two pump assemblies are respectively mounted in the liquid reservoirs for incrementally feeding two different liquid products out of two respective discharge outlets. Two operating levers are articulatably mounted on the housing and are respectively operatively associated with the two pump assemblies. One lever is effective to dispense one liquid product. The second lever is effective to dispense the second liquid product. The second lever is selectively operatively associated with the first lever to dispense both liquid products.