Folding rack for chafing dish

Abstract

A folding chafing dish rack having a locking mechanism between the legs which prevents the inadvertent collapse of the rack when in use. The device is easily assembled and stable when in use and folds into a compact package which can be efficiently stored.

Description

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a folding chafing dish rack having a locking mechanism between the legs which prevents the inadvertent collapse of the rack when in use. The device is easily assembled and stable when in use and folds into a compact package which can be efficiently stored.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Traditional chafing dishes are typically comprised of a stand, water pan, dish, and heat source. The stand holds the water pan over the heat source which heats the water. A dish or dishes containing food are then suspended in the water pan to keep the food warm.

Caterers use chafing dishes often, transporting the equipment to different locations, assembling the chafing dishes for use, and then, dismantling and storing the equipment for later use. And, while not considered standard household kitchen equipment, chafing dishes can find substantial use in the home for the occasional large party. Consequently, it is desirable to have a chafing dish which is easy to assemble and transport, and which can be stored in a minimum of space.

Space saving chafing dishes are known in the art. These prior art devices, however, present certain problems, generally in terms of safety, but often in terms of convenience as well.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,903 to Kaufman discloses a portable chafing dish rack having a collapsible stand comprised of four rigid plates which are rotatably coupled together by flatly folding piano hinges. Upon removal of one hinge pin, the stand will collapse into a compact flat package which is easy to store. The pin, however, is separate from the collapsed stand and is therefore subject to being misplaced or discarded. Moreover, the four-sided structure is not stable in and of itself but must be stabilized by the insertion of yet another piece of equipment consisting of a rigid rectangular tray. The numerous separate components of this device thus increase the difficulties of assembly and storage and detract from its usefulness.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,697 to Hunziker discloses a foldable chafing rack having a top frame supported by legs which can pivot up into the top frame. Rings are cantilevered to the frame to hold the heat source such that they can be swung under or away from the frame. This device, however, has no stabilizing element for the legs and should one leg be pushed, the device will collapse or topple, possibly causing the spill of burning fuel, steaming water, or hot food.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,800 to Orednick discloses a food display system comprised of a plurality of bent wires and plastic legs which can be assembled on site. This device suffers from the same disadvantages as the U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,903 to Kaufman, addressed above, in that attention needs to be paid to keeping track of the multiplicity of pieces.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,068 to Sherman, like U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,697, discloses a collapsible chafing dish stand having unsecured legs, implicating the same dangers due to an unintentional collapse of one or both sides of the device.

These disadvantages are overcome by the present invention.

3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a one-piece chafing dish rack which is easy to assemble and particularly stable due to a locking mechanism which prevents the movement of the legs which can cause a collapse of the device. The top portion is a frame suitably configured to hold one or more chafing dish pans. Legs near or at the comers of the frame are movably connected to the frame. A cross bar is movably connected to the legs. The cross bar can be locked into place by the insertion of the free end of the cross bar into a receiving bracket located either on one leg or on a second cross bar piece. At least one cup holder to hold a fuel canister is located on the cross bar.

The rack is assembled by unfolding the legs and the cross bar and locking the end of the cross bar into the receiving bracket. By making this connection, the legs are forced into a tensioned, splayed position, which is particularly stable. The stability is enhanced by the downward projection of a portion of the locking mechanism which adds a “third leg” of support. Fuel canisters are inserted into the cup holders and at least one chafing pan is fit into the frame, whereupon the apparatus is ready for use.

After use, the rack is easily disassembled by removing the chafing pan and fuel canisters. After disconnecting the end of the cross bar from the receiving bracket, the cross bar and the legs can be folded so that the entire device assumes a compact, more flattened configuration which is easily stored and transported.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an assembled rack of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the partially dismantled rack;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the rack in the folded position, ready for storage;

FIG. 3a is a front elevational view of the rack in the folded position;

FIG. 3b is a top plan view of the rack in the folded position;

FIG. 4 is a partial front elevational view of the unconnected two-piece cross bar;

FIG. 5 is a partial front elevational view of the two-piece cross piece during assembly;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the assembled rack;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the assembled rack of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the chafing dish rack 10 of the present invention. The rack includes a pan holder 11 which is configured to receive two chafing dish pans (not shown) within its perimeter. Attached to the pan holder 11 at joints 12 are two sets of legs, 21 and 22. Joints 12 may be two-part hinges where the first part is welded to the pan holder and the second part is welded to the upright portion of the leg. Alternatively, other movable connections may be used. Each set of legs is formed of two upright pieces, 23 and 24, joined by transverse pieces, 25, 26, 27 and 28. Cross bar 31 is joined to the legs at joints 29. Joints may be two-part hinges or other movable connections. Cross bar 31 is comprised of two pieces, 33 and 34. As can be seen in FIG. 4, piece 33 contains a prong 35 at its free end and a catch 36 spaced away from the free end. The free end of piece 34 has a hook 37 and a groove portion 38.

Cup holders 39 are positioned on pieces 33 and 34 of cross bar 31, suitably configured to hold fuel canisters, such as Sterno® cans, below the chafing dish pan.

To assemble the rack from the folded position shown in FIGS. 3, 3a, and 3b, prong 35 is fit into groove portion 38 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Pieces 33 and 34 are then moved into a substantially aligned position with each other and hook 37 is then snapped over catch 36 as shown in FIG. 6 and extends toward and contacts the supporting surface on which the rack is assembled. The assembled rack is shown in FIGS. 1 and 6.

To dismantle the rack, pieces 33 and 34 are tilted upward from the axis at joints 29, thereby releasing hook portion 37 from catch 36, as shown in FIG. 2. The free ends of pieces 33 and 34 are then guided up through pan holder 11 and folded back so that they rest on the top of pan holder 11. Legs 21 and 22 are thus pulled upward and rest beneath pan holder 11. The folded rack is shown in FIGS. 3, 3a, and 3b.

A second embodiment of the rack 40 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 7. The rack includes a pan holder 41 which is configured to receive one chafing dish pan (not shown) within its perimeter. Attached to the pan holder 41 at joints 42 are two legs formed of two upright pieces, 43 and 44, joined by transverse pieces, 45, 46, 47 and 48. Cross bar 51 and short bar 52 are joined to the legs at joints 59. The joints may be hinges or other movable connections. As seen clearly in FIG. 8, short bar 52 contains a prong 55 at its free end and a catch 56 spaced away from the free end. The free end of cross bar 51 has a hook 57 and a groove portion 38.

Cup holder 59 is positioned on cross bar 51, suitably configured to hold a fuel canister below the chafing dish pan.

To assemble the rack of this embodiment, prong 55 is fit into groove portion 58. Cross bar 51 and short bar 52 are then moved into a substantially aligned position with each other and hook 57 is then snapped over catch 56. The assembled rack is shown in FIG. 7.

To dismantle the rack, cross bar 51 and short bar 52 are tilted upward from the axis at joints 59, thereby releasing hook portion 57 from catch 56. The free ends of cross bar 51 and short bar 52 are then guided up toward pan holder 51. Cross bar 51 is folded back so that it rests on the top of pan holder 41. Short bar 52 lies within leg pieces 43.

The rack may be formed from wire, preferably 6 gauge, but sheet metal, heat resistant plastic, wood, or other suitable materials or combinations of materials may be used.

Claims

1. A rack comprising:

a. a frame configured to hold at least one chafing dish pan;

b. a first leg and a second leg movably connected to the frame; and

c. a cross bar comprised of a first and second piece wherein each said piece has a fixed end and a free end, and wherein the fixed end of the first piece is movably connected to the first leg, and the fixed end of the second piece is movably connected to the second leg, and wherein the free end of the first piece is attachable to the free end of the second piece.

2. A rack according to claim 1 further comprising a prong on the free end of the first piece and a bracket on the free end of the second piece, wherein the prong interlocks with the bracket.

3. A rack according to claim 2 further comprising a fuel canister holder located on at least one of the first or second pieces of the cross bar.

4. A rack according to claim 3 wherein the frame is configured to hold two chafing dish pans.

5. A rack according to claim 3 wherein the frame is configured to hold one chafing dish pan.

6. A rack according to claim 2 further comprising a first fuel canister located on the first piece of the cross bar and a second fuel canister located on the second piece of the cross bar.

7. A rack according to claim 1 wherein the first and second legs are attached to the frame by a hinge.

8. A rack according to claim 7 wherein the first and second pieces of the cross bar are attached to the first and second legs by a hinge.

9. A rack according to claim 2 wherein the bracket is comprised of a hook portion.

10. A rack according to claim 9 wherein the hook portion extends below the cross bar.