COLD WELL WITH SLANTED ENTRANCE

Abstract

A food holding and display device. The food holding and display device includes a housing that defines a volume and that has an upper opening providing access to the volume. The upper opening is at least partially defined by a beveled surface. The food holding and display device also includes a pan that is removably positioned within the volume and that is adapted to support a food product, and a cooling mechanism that is coupled to the housing and that is positioned to cool the food product in the pan.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to the field of food holding, displaying, and serving. Particularly, the present invention relates to a refrigerated cold well that keeps food cold in preparation for serving.

In food serving operations, such as buffets, cafeterias and restaurants, it is often desired to keep food cold prior to serving. For example, salads, certain vegetables, and desserts are commonly kept cold so that they are at the desired temperate and freshness when served to the consumer.

In buffet or cafeteria applications, it is often desired to have the food visible to the customer immediately prior to serving. For this, containers with open tops are typically used. These devices are commonly called “heated wells” when warm food is being served, and refrigerated or “cold wells” when cold food is being served. These wells frequently have a large, open-top housing that is either heated or cooled as desired. These housings typically have double walls with a temperature-controlling device (a heater or cooler) positioned between the walls. The housing is designed to receive and support pans that hold the food in the temperature-controlled housing. The pans can be inserted and removed as additional or different food is needed.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a food holding and display device that includes a housing defining a volume and that has an upper opening providing access to the volume. The upper opening is at least partially defined by a beveled surface. The food holding and display device also includes a pan that is removably positioned within the volume and that is adapted to support a food product, and a cooling mechanism that is coupled to the housing and that is positioned to cool the food product in the pan.

In another construction, the present invention provides a food holding and display device that includes a housing defining a volume and that has an upper opening providing access to the volume. The upper opening is at least partially defined by a beveled surface. The housing also includes an inner support that is adapted to support a pan in the volume. The food holding and display device also includes a cooling mechanism that is coupled to the housing and positioned to cool the volume.

Generally, the beveled surface extends downward into the volume a vertical distance such that the beveled surface is disposed at an angle α from vertical. In some constructions, the angle cc can be between about 10 degrees and 80 degrees from vertical. In other constructions, the angle a can be between about 20 degrees and 60 degrees from vertical. In still other constructions, the angle α can be between about 25 degrees and 50 degrees from vertical.

The horizontal distance D3 that the beveled surface extends into the housing and the horizontal distance D1 that an interior shell of the housing is spaced from an exterior shell of the housing define a first or horizontal ratio of the horizontal distance D3 divided by the horizontal distance D1. In some constructions, the first ratio can be between about 0.20 and 0.80. In other constructions, the first ratio can be between about 0.40 and 0.60.

In addition, the vertical distance D4 that the beveled surface extends downward and the vertical distance D2 that an inner support of the housing is recessed define a second or vertical ratio of the vertical distance D4 divided by the vertical distance D2. In some constructions, the second ratio can be between about 0.20 and 1.00. In other constructions, the second ratio can be between about 0.40 and 0.80.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food storage device embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the food storage device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

FIG. 1 shows a food holding and display device in the form of a cold well 10 for storing and/or displaying food product in a buffet or other setting that is visible and available to consumers. The cold well 10 includes a housing 15 that defines a volume 20 (FIG. 3) and that has an upper opening 25 that provides access to the volume 20.

The illustrated housing 15 includes an exterior shell 30, an interior shell 35 (FIG. 3), and a lip 40. The exterior shell 30 has a substantially rectangular shape with two longer side walls 45 and two shorter end walls 50. In other constructions, the housing 15 may be formed in other shapes. FIG. 3 shows that the lip 40 extends outward from the exterior shell 30 on all four sides of the housing 15. The lip 40 is coupled to each of the side walls 45 and the end walls 50 and defines an upper edge 55 of the housing 15.

The exterior shell 30 is substantially defined by the side walls 45 and the end walls 50. The interior shell 35 is disposed substantially completely within the exterior shell 30, and is spaced inward a horizontal distance D1 from the exterior shell 30 to define an interior space 60. A drain 65 is coupled to a bottom 70 of the interior shell 35 and extends through a bottom 75 of the housing 15 to drain moisture (e.g., condensation, etc.) and debris from the volume 20.

The housing 15 further includes a ledge or inner support 80, a beveled surface 85 that extend between the exterior shell 30 and the interior shell 35, and pans 90. The inner support 80 defines an upper edge of the interior shell 35 and is recessed a vertical distance D2 below the upper edge 55 of the housing 15 adjacent the interior shell 35 to support the pans 90. The interior shell 35 descends from an inward portion of the inner support 80. The illustrated support 80 is defined by a substantially flat or planar surface, and extends along the length of the cold well 10. In other constructions, the inner support 80 also may extend across the width of the volume 20 in the cold well 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the beveled surface 85 at least partially defines the sides of the upper opening 25 of the housing 15, and extends from the upper edge 55 of the housing 15 generally downward toward the inner support 80. In other constructions, the beveled surface 85 also at least partially defines the ends of the upper opening 25. The beveled surface 85 is coupled between the upper edge 55 of the exterior shell 30 and the inner support 80 of the interior shell 35, and extends inward from the exterior shell 30 a horizontal distance D3. The beveled surface 85 further extends downward into the volume 20 a vertical distance D4 such that the beveled surface 85 is disposed at an angle α that is approximately 25 degrees from vertical (e.g., 25 degrees relative to a vertical axis 95).

The horizontal distance D3 and the horizontal distance D1 define a first or horizontal ratio of the horizontal distance D3 divided by the horizontal distance D1 In the illustrated construction, the first ratio is approximately 0.45. In addition, the vertical distance D4 and the vertical distance D2 define a second or vertical ratio of the vertical distance D4 divided by the vertical distance D2. In the illustrated construction, the second ratio is approximately 0.75.

The illustrated cold well 10 includes six pans 90 that have a generally rectangular cross-section and that are positioned in the housing 15 adjacent each other. In other constructions, the cold well 10 may include fewer or more than six pans 90. In still other constructions, the pans 90 may have other cross-sectional shapes.

FIG. 3 shows that each pan 90 includes a lip portion 100 and a base portion 105. The lip portion 100 is supported by the inner support 80 such that the base portion 105 extends downward or is suspended in the volume 20. The inner shell 35 is positioned in close proximity with the base portion 105. Generally, the pans 90 do not extend completely to the bottom 70 of the interior shell 35. Rather, the pans 90 are spaced apart from the bottom 70 of the interior shell 35 to accommodate heating or cooling the food product in the pans 90.

FIGS. 1 and 3 show that the cold well 10 also includes a cooling mechanism 1 10 that is coupled to the housing 15 and that is positioned to cool the food product in each of the pans 90. As shown in FIG. 1, the cooling mechanism 110 includes a control panel 115 and at least a portion of a refrigeration system 120 that are coupled to the exterior bottom 75 of the housing 15 offset to one side of the housing 15. FIG. 3 shows that the refrigeration system 120 has cooling coils 125 that are positioned in the housing 15 within the interior space 60 between the exterior shell 30 and the interior shell 35. More specifically, the cooling coils 125 are coupled to the interior shell 35 to cool the volume 20 so that the food product can be maintained at a desired temperature. Generally, the cooling mechanism 110 can be coupled to a power source (not shown) to provide any power that is necessary to operate the associated mechanism.

The housing 15 allows food product that is placed in the pans 90 to be easily viewable by users. In particular, the beveled surface 85 provides enhanced visibility of the food product that is supported by the pans 90, and allows users relatively easy access to the food product. The beveled surface 85 also increases the surface area of the housing 15 above the pans 90, which assists with cooling the air that is used to cool the food product. In addition, the interior shell 35 is spaced farther from the exterior shell 30 than in conventional food holding and display devices. In other words, the horizontal distance D1 between the exterior shell 30 and the interior shell 35 is relatively large in comparison to a corresponding distance between an exterior shell and an interior shell in conventional display devices, which moves the interior shell 35 closer to the sides of the pans 90. The relatively close proximity of the interior shell 35 and the pans 90 decreases the amount of air between the interior shell 35 and the pans 90, which reduces the amount of air that the cooling mechanism 110 must cool to keep the food product at the desired temperature.

The beveled surface 85 farther assists cooling of the food product that is in the pans 90 by allowing relatively cool ambient air to smoothly flow toward a center of the pans 90 so that the food product that is adjacent the center of the pans 90 remains cool and at the desired temperature. The beveled surface 85 is longer than a corresponding vertical surface in conventional food display devices. The relatively longer beveled surface 85 generally slows down the velocity of the airflow flowing toward the center of the pans 90. In turn, the airflow is in heat exchange relationship with the cooling coils 125 that are positioned along the beveled surface 85 for a longer time period, decreasing the temperature of the airflow more than what is capable with conventional food display devices. Unlike conventional display devices that obstruct visibility of food product, the beveled surface 85 allows substantially complete visibility of the food product in the pans 90 and provides more effective cooling of the food product.

The beveled surface 85 allows relatively easy placement of the pans 90 within the volume 20, and further assists removal of the pans 90 from the volume 20. More particularly, the beveled surface 85 provides adequate space for a user's hands between the housing 15 and the pans 90 when the pans 90 are inserted or removed from the volume 20 so that the user's hands are not pinched between the pan 90 and the housing 15. The space provided by the beveled surface 85 also allows the user to place the pans 90 within the volume 20 without dropping the pans 90 a significant distance into the volume 20, thereby avoiding spillage of the contents in the pans 90.

Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A food holding and display device comprising:

a housing defining a volume and having an upper opening providing access to the volume, wherein the upper opening is at least partially defined by a beveled surface;

a pan removably positioned within the volume and adapted to support a food product, and

a cooling mechanism coupled to the housing and positioned to cool the food product in the pan.

2. The food holding and display device of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes an exterior shell and an interior shell disposed substantially completely within the exterior shell and further spaced inward a horizontal distance from the exterior shell to define an interior space, and wherein the cooling mechanism is at least partially positioned in the interior space.

3. The food holding and display device of claim 2, wherein the beveled surface is coupled between an upper edge of the exterior shell and an upper edge of the interior shell.

4. The food holding and display device of claim 2, wherein the beveled surface extends a horizontal distance, and wherein a horizontal ratio of the horizontal distance of the beveled surface and the horizontal distance between the exterior shell and the interior shell is between about 0.20 and 0.80.

5. The food holding and display device of claim 4, wherein the horizontal ratio is between about 0.40 and 0.60.

6. The food holding and display device of claim 4, wherein the horizontal ratio is approximately 0.45.

7. The food holding and display device of claim 2, wherein the housing further includes an inner support that is recessed a distance below an upper edge of the housing, wherein the beveled surface extends a vertical distance, and wherein a vertical ratio of the vertical distance of the beveled surface and the vertical distance between the upper edge of the housing and the inner support is between about 0.20 and 1.00.

8. The food holding and display device of claim 7, wherein the vertical ratio is between about 0.40 and 0.80.

9. The food holding and display device of claim 7, wherein the vertical ratio is approximately 0.75.

10. The food holding and display device of claim 1, wherein the beveled surface is disposed at an angle between about 10 degrees and 80 degrees from vertical.

11. The food holding and display device of claim 10, wherein the beveled surface is disposed at an angle between about 25 degrees and 50 degrees from vertical.

12. A food holding and display device comprising:

a housing defining a volume and having an upper opening providing access to the volume, the housing further including an inner support adapted to support a pan in the volume, wherein the upper opening is at least partially defined by a beveled surface; and

a cooling mechanism coupled to the housing and positioned to cool the volume.

13. The food holding and display device of claim 12, further comprising a pan that is removably positioned within the volume and adapted to support a food product.

14. The food holding and display device of claim 12, wherein the housing further includes an exterior shell and an interior shell disposed substantially completely within the exterior shell and further spaced inward a horizontal distance from the exterior shell to define an interior space, and wherein the cooling mechanism is at least partially positioned in the interior space.

15. The food holding and display device of claim 14, wherein the beveled surface is coupled between an upper edge of the exterior shell and an upper edge of the interior shell.

16. The food holding and display device of claim 14, wherein the beveled surface is partially defined by a horizontal distance, and wherein a horizontal ratio of the horizontal distance of the beveled surface and the horizontal distance between the exterior shell and the interior shell is between about 0.20 and 0.80.

17. The food holding and display device of claim 16, wherein the horizontal ratio is between about 0.40 and 0.60.

18. The food holding and display device of claim 16, wherein the horizontal ratio is approximately 0.45.

19. The food holding and display device of claim 12, wherein the inner support is recessed a vertical distance below an upper edge of the housing, wherein the beveled surface is partially defined by a vertical distance, and wherein a vertical ratio of the vertical distance of the beveled surface and the vertical distance between the upper edge of the housing and the inner support is between about 0.20 and 1.00.

20. The food holding and display device of claim 19, wherein the vertical ratio is between about 0.40 and 0.80.

21. The food holding and display device of claim 19, wherein the vertical ratio is approximately 0.75.

22. The food holding and display device of claim 12, wherein the beveled surface is disposed at an angle between about 10 degrees and 80 degrees from vertical.

23. The food holding and display device of claim 12, wherein the beveled surface is disposed at an angle between about 25 degrees and 50 degrees from vertical.