Steam table heating surface adapter apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for converting an existing array of steam table wells into a single heating and/or cooking surface. The apparatus offers flexibility to dining establishments having any variety of single-well or multiple-well steam tables arranged. The apparatus includes one or more adapter frames adapted to fit within existing steam wells, and an overlying heating surface. The frame includes a peripherally arranged riser wall to allow the frame to rest within a steam well in such a manner that the frame's riser wall projects above a top surface of the steam well on which the overlying heating surface may rest. Preferably, the adapter frame interacts with both the existing steam well and the overlying heating surface such that seals are formed to increase the efficiency of transferring heat from the steam table to be to the overlying heating surface. A gasketing material may be included to facilitate such sealing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of heating and cooking apparatus, and, more particularly, to an apparatus for converting a plurality of individual steam wells into a single surface of heating and/or cooking food.

2. Related Art

Many eating establishments utilize conventional “steam tables” for heating and serving food. Generally, these steam tables include one or more individual openings or “wells” capable of fitting, holding, and heating a single food pan, commonly 12 inches by 20 inches. The steam table heats the food pan by way of heating up a reservoir of water located within the table below the well openings. Often this type of food display can be found in a buffet-style restaurant or is supplied by catering services, wherein a variety of food is accessible by the patrons. Commonly, eating establishments use multiple steam tables, each with a single well or multiple wells, in order to provide a variety of foods. To present a number of food pans, as required when presenting a variety of food options in a buffet-style arrangement, typically a number of steam tables, collectively comprising a number of wells, are arranged side-by-side. The steam wells in a multi-well table often are separated by a flat surface in between. Accordingly, the side-by-side arrangement of the wells creates a number of cold zones, defined as the flat surface space between the individual steam wells. While the food pan placed in the steam well is heated by the steam/heat generated by the steam table, no pan nor food may be placed in the cold zones. These cold zones result in an inefficient waste of space taken up by the steam tables, and thus, limit the total surface area available for the intended purpose of heating and/or cooking food. Further, if the individual steam tables are made by different manufacturers, the cold zone area may be different between steam tables, which may exacerbate the overall wasted space for which no use is provided.

Accordingly, a restaurant is limited to a number of food offerings commensurate with the number of steam tables the restaurant is able to fit. As such, using a side-by-side steam table arrangement, the only way for a restaurant to increase the number of food offerings would be to add a steam table to the array, thus requiring sufficient space to do so, which may not be available. Additionally, the restaurant is limited to presenting the food in individual pans in a side-by-side presentation, which may not be aesthetically appealing.

Alternatively, a steam table may have multiple steam wells, which limits a restaurant to using only the provided number of steam wells in order to use the steam table efficiently. As discussed above, the cold zones between each steam well result in an inefficient area of space. Additionally, versatility in the presentation of the food is limited to the number of steam wells within the steam table, i.e., a side-by-side arrangement. Accordingly, it is advantageous to optimize the entire surface area of the steam table by having more surface area upon which food may be placed for heating and/or cooking, providing additional options for the presentation of food.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for converting an existing single or multi-well steam table arrangement into a single heating and cooking surface that is larger than an individual steam table well. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a conversion apparatus includes one or more adapter frames and an overlying heating surface. According to one aspect of this embodiment of the present invention, an adapter frame is an open skeletal structure adapted to fit within an existing steam table well, typically rectangular. The adapter frame may comprise a plurality of frame members that assemble together to form a frame structure similar to the shape of the steam well. For example, for a rectangular steam well, the adapter frame may be in the shape of a skeletal rectangular cube. Alternatively, an adapter frame may be machined as a single monolithic structure instead of a multiple-member frame structure.

A top portion of the adapter frame includes a riser wall that projects above a top surface of the steam well. According to an aspect of this embodiment, the riser wall may be of a sufficient thickness or shape to allow it to rest on a top surface area surrounding the steam well, allowing a lower portion of the adapter frame below the riser wall to rest within the well in a manner similar to a steam table tray or pan.

According to another aspect of the present invention, when assembled, a bottom surface of the riser wall forms a seal with the contacted top surface area surrounding the steam well. The seal increases the efficiency of heat transfer from the steam table to an overlying heating surface by reducing and/or preventing any steam or vapor from escaping from the steam well. Optionally, a sealing material may be used along the bottom surface of the riser wall. Additionally, the skeletal design of the adapter frame assists in the passage of heat generated by the steam table through the well opening to an overlying heating surface.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the adapter frame includes a riser wall with a horizontal lip or flange around the exterior of the adapter frame at a position below the top of the riser wall. The flange rests on a top surface area surrounding the steam well and allows the adapter frame to rest within the well in a manner similar to a steam table tray or pan. The riser wall projects vertically from the top surface of steam well and above the flange, and creates a horizontal surface plane for an overlying heating surface to rest upon. Optionally, the flange may form a seal with the contacted top surface area surrounding the steam well in order to retain the heat generated by the steam table and to increase the efficiency of transferring heat to the heating surface by reducing the amount of steam or vapor that might escape from the steam well.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an adapter frame is structured as an open channel with one or more side walls. When placed within a steam well, a portion of the side walls rise above the top surface surrounding the steam well to create a riser wall for the heating surface to rest upon. The riser wall portion of the adapter frame may be of a larger shape or thickness greater than a thickness of the remaining portion of the adapter frame. The larger shape thickness of the riser wall is sufficient to allow the adapter frame to rest within the steam well while the riser wall remains above the top surface of the steam well. When in place, a bottom surface of the riser wall forms a seal with the contacted top surface area surrounding the steam well. The seal increases the efficiency of heating of an overlying heating surface by reducing and/or preventing any steam or vapor that might escape from the steam well. Optionally, a sealing material may be used along the bottom surface of the riser wall. The open channel of the adapter frame allows for the passage of heat from the steam well to an overlying heating surface resting upon the riser wall of the adapter frame.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, an adapter frame is structured as an open channel with one or more side walls, an interior ledge and a lip. In this embodiment, the interior ledge projects inward perpendicularly from a bottom perimeter of the adapter frame and the lip projects perpendicularly from the edge of the interior ledge, into the steam well. When the adapter frame is placed into the steam well, the lip rests within the steam well, and the interior ledge and bottom perimeter rest upon a top surface area surrounding the steam well. The one or more side walls combine to form a continuous riser wall, which projects vertically above the top surface area surrounding the steam well. A seal is created between the lip and bottom perimeter of the adapter frame and the contacted top surface area surrounding the steam well in order to increase the efficiency of retaining the heat generated by the steam table. Advantageously, a sealing material such as a silicone gasket or caulk may be placed between the lip and bottom perimeter of the adapter frame and the contacted top surface area of the steam well to facilitate heating an overlying heating surface. Additionally, a sealing material may be placed along the top perimeter of the adapter frame in order to facilitate transferring heat from the steal well to the overlying heating surface.

An overlying heating surface is then placed on the top surface of the riser wall of each adapter frame to provide a single, uniform surface spanning one or more steam table wells, upon which food may be placed for cooking and/or heating. The apparatus uses the heating source of the existing steam table to heat the heating surface. Preferably, a top surface of the riser wall and a bottom surface of the heating surface form a seal to increase the efficiency of heat transfer to the heating surface.

The overlying heating surface may be adapted to cover any number of adapter frames. For example, if a restaurant has three steam tables in a side-by-side configuration, an adapter frame may be placed into each steam well and a heating surface large enough to cover all three adapter frames may be used, providing a single heating and/or cooking surface for food. Each individual steam well heats up an overhead portion of the heating surface. Preferably, the heating surface is machined from a material that is highly conductive, such as, for example, aluminum. Thus, the heat from the steam is transferred through the cold zones of the individual steam wells and a uniform, evenly-heated food surface is provided. Advantageously, the restaurant may either place food directly onto the heating surface, or may place one or more containers of food onto the heating surface in order to heat or maintain the heat of the container(s).

Accordingly, the apparatus of the present invention provides the flexibility of converting one or more steam table wells or tables into a large cooking or heating surface that allows for a variety of food displays beyond the limiting conventional arrangement of side-by-side pans placed in individual steam wells. Additionally, because the apparatus may be designed to fit a plurality of steam wells regardless of the spacing between individual steam wells, the invention is independent of different manufacturers and provides greater flexibility and options to a food establishment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more readily understood from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment(s) presented below considered in conjunction with the attached drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of individual components included in a three-adapter frame and heating surface apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 2A and 2B present an elevational view and a side perspective view, respectively, of the three-adapter frame and heating surface apparatus of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An adapter apparatus includes one or more adapter frames and an overlying heating surface, sized to cover any number of the adapter frames. FIG. 1 presents an exploded perspective view of individual components included in a three-adapter frame and heating surface apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus shown converts a steam table with three steam wells into a single surface for heating and/or cooking food. In FIG. 1, adapter frames 102, 103, 104 are structured as rectangles and each includes four side walls that combine to create a riser wall 114, a top perimeter 112 of riser wall 114, a bottom perimeter 113 of riser wall 114, an interior ledge 107, which projects inward from the bottom perimeter 113, and a lip 108, which projects vertically from the edge of the interior ledge 107. When adapter frames 102, 103, 104 are in place, lip 113 rests within the inside of steam well 109, 110, 111 of steam table 101, and both interior ledge 107 and bottom perimeter 113 rest atop a surface area surrounding steam well 109, 110, 111. A seal is created between the top surface area surrounding steam well 109, 110, 111 and bottom perimeter 113 and interior ledge 107. The seal increases the efficiency of transferring heat to an overlying heating surface 106 by reducing and/or preventing an amount of steam or vapor from escaping from steam well 109, 110, 111.

As shown in FIG. 1, riser wall 114 projects vertically above a top surface of steam well table 101. Heating surface 106 is structured to cover the three adapter frames 102, 103, 104 and may be placed on top perimeter 112 of each adapter frame 102, 103, 104. A sealing material 105 may be used to assist in creating a seal between heating surface 106 and top perimeter 112 of each adapter frame 102, 103, 104, in order to facilitate heating overlying heating surface 106.

In FIG. 1, heating surface 106 is a flat pan or griddle with a flanged perimeter 115. The size of heating surface may be such that flanged perimeter 115 extends beyond the total outer perimeter of the combined number of adapter frames 102, 103, 104. Flanged perimeter 115 assists in placing and removing heating surface 106 without necessarily coming into contact with adapter frames 102, 103, 104 and also helps to prevent food and food juices from falling off the edge of heating surface 106. Heating surface 106 provides a heated surface for food to be arranged in a number of ways while being maintained at a constant temperature. Heating surface 106 also provides a heated surface for cooking food.

Heating surface 106 may be attached to adapter frame 102, 103, 104 according to any well known joining or fastening mechanism or composition in the art, or heating surface 106 may rest on top perimeter 112 of adapter frame 102, 103, 104, held in place by the weight of heating surface 106. Optionally, it is appreciated that adapter frame 102, 103, 104 and heating surface 106 may be machined as a single monolithic piece.

Preferably, heating surface 106 is machined from a material that conducts heat well, such as aluminum and other materials known to one skilled in the art, including, non-metallic materials that can withstand the temperatures generated by steam tables. According to another embodiment of the present invention, heating surface 106 may be divided into separated areas of any desirable shape or size with channels defining boundaries for each area. The channels can serve to separate different foods, and/or capture grease, juice, and other food liquids that may drain while food is being heated and/or cooked. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, heating surface 106 may be a grill surface capable of grilling food placed thereon.

FIGS. 2A and 2B present an elevational view and a side perspective view, respectively, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2A, adapter frames 102, 103 and 104 rest within individual steam wells 109, 110 and 111 of steam table 101, as shown by the dotted lines. Covering adapter frames 102, 103 and 104 is heating surface 106, which creates a single food surface. In FIG. 2B, riser wall 114 projects vertically above the top surface area of steam table 101. Sealing material 105 is placed on top perimeter 112 of each adapter frame 102, 103 and 104, and creates a seal with heating surface 106 in order to increase the efficiency of transferring heat to the heating surface 106 by reducing and/or preventing an amount of steam or vapor generated in steam table 101 from escaping.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, flanged perimeter 115 of heating surface 106 may extend beyond the combined outer perimeters of the underlying adapter frames 102, 103 and 104, which facilitates creating a seal between the heating surface 106 and adapter frames 102, 103, and 104 in order to increase the efficiency of transferring heat to heating surface 106. Additionally, the flanged perimeter 115 of heating surface 106 provides for ease of placing and removing heating surface 106 to and from the upper surface of adapter frames 102, 103, 104, and may prevent food liquids from running off of the edge of heating surface 106.

As will be appreciated, there are countless configurations for an apparatus that converts one or more steam wells into a single food heating and/or cooking surface. The figures illustrate only a few possible configurations, and in no way should be construed as limiting the application of the inventive apparatus to those configurations. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

Claims

1. An apparatus for adapting one or more individual steam table wells into a single heated surface for placing food, the apparatus comprising:

at least one adapter frame, wherein a first portion of the at least one adapter frame rests within an individual steam table well and a second portion comprises a riser wall, wherein the riser wall projects above a top surface surrounding each steam table well, and

a heating surface, wherein the heating surface overlies the at least one adapter frame.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the riser wall is adapted so that a portion of the riser wall rests on the top surface surrounding the individual steam table well to support the at least one adapter frame when placed within the steam table well.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a sealing material wherein the sealing material is disposed between the riser wall and the top surface surrounding the individual steam table well.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the sealing material is silicone.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the sealing material is a gasket.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the riser wall further is adapted so that a portion of the riser wall comprises a ledge that extends inward perpendicularly from the riser wall, wherein the ledge rests on the top surface surrounding the individual steam table well to support the at least one adapter frame when placed within the steam table well.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the riser wall further comprises a lip that extends perpendicularly from the ledge such that the lip extends into the steam table well.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a sealing material wherein the sealing material is disposed between the ledge and the top surface surrounding the individual steam table well.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sealing material is silicone.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sealing material is a gasket.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sealing material wherein the sealing material is disposed about a top perimeter of the riser wall to form a seal between the riser wall and heating surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sealing material is silicone.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sealing material is a gasket.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one adapter frame is adapted so that a portion of the at least one adapter frame further comprises a horizontal flange running peripherally around an exterior of the at least one adapter frame and positioned below a top perimeter of the riser wall, wherein the horizontal flange rests on the top surface surrounding the individual steam table well to support the at least one adapter frame when placed within the steam table well.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a sealing material wherein sealing material is disposed between the horizontal flange and the top surface surrounding the individual steam well.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the sealing material is silicone.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the sealing material is a gasket.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heating surface is made of a material that conducts heat.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heating surface is comprised substantially of aluminum.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heating surface further comprises areas separated by channels.

21. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the channels divert the flow of grease, juice, and other food liquids that may drain while food is placed on the heating surface.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heating surface further comprises a flanged perimeter.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the flanged perimeter extends beyond a perimeter of the riser wall.