Abstract: A food preparation and delivery system can include a plurality of cooking units such as ovens, each containing one or more prepared, but partially or completely uncooked, food items. The food items in the cooking units are for delivery to each of a corresponding plurality of consumer delivery destinations. The cooking units are loaded into a cargo compartment of a delivery vehicle for delivery to the plurality of consumer delivery destinations. The cooking conditions within the cooking unit are controlled such the each food item is cooked prior to arrival at the consumer destination location. In at least some embodiments, the estimated delivery time for each consumer destination location can be dynamically updated and the cooking conditions within the cooking unit adjusted.

Abstract: A tailgate barbeque grill for use in the bed of a pickup truck. The grill slides along rails and is stored in the front portion thereof for transport and is positioned in the rear portion and lowered for use.

Abstract: A compact hydronic space and water heating apparatus and system is disclosed for use in a recreational vehicle. A liquid heating medium, stored within a low pressure tank, is recirculated through a gas fired heater thereby maintaining a desired set point temperature. The liquid heating medium is further circulated through the vehicles hydronic space heaters to heat the interior of the vehicle. Further fresh domestic water is passed through a heat transfer coil within the tank whereby hot domestic water may be provided. An auxiliary heating device is attached to the tank whereby hot combustion engine coolant may assist in maintaining the temperature of the liquid heating medium within the tank and/or reversed to pre heat the combustion engine if and when needed.

Abstract: A complete Outdoor Kitchen. A modular and connected array of kitchen cabinets; BBQ; kitchen sink with running water; powered standard household appliances; refrigerator, coffee maker, juicer, toaster, microwave. This system allows the Outdoor Kitchen the ability to greatly improve the organization of food preparation, allows for improved food storage, improved health and safety of food and cleaning. The Outdoor Kitchen collapses and hinges closed into a compact rain tight box approximately the size of a pick-up tool box. This kitchen unit can be used as a commercial vending unit for tailgate parties, camping or on your patio at home. This kitchen unit can be fitted for use in a pick-up truck bed, rear bumper of a car, rear bumper of a van, or rear bumper of an RV. It can also be built into the side of an RV.

Abstract: A support system for attaching a cooking apparatus to a vehicle is disclosed. The support system includes a support defining an axis between first and second ends. The first end of the support is configured for attachment to the vehicle. The support system further includes a member connected toward the second end of and extending upwardly from the support. Moreover, the support system includes an apparatus for connecting the cooking apparatus toward a free upper end of the member extending upwardly from the support. Such apparatus includes a mechanism for permitting the cooking apparatus to be pivoted to effect leveling of a cooking surface on the cooking apparatus.

Abstract: Storage apparatus comprising an opening leading to a compartment bound by a housing, a framework mounted to the housing for movement between a first position contained by the compartment and a second position extending from the opening, a platform carried by the framework for accommodating storage items in the first position of the framework and for holding the storage items in the compartment in the second position of the framework, and an obstruction carried by one of the framework and the platform for inhibiting storage items supported by the platform from passing through the opening in the first position of the framework.

Abstract: A heater, especially a motor vehicle heater which can be operated independently of the engine, with a burner which is supplied with fuel and air via a binary nozzle (2), a combustion chamber (1), and a multistage compressor (3, 4) for compressing the air. The entire mass flow of air necessary for combustion in the combustion chamber (1) is sent to at least one first compressor stage (3) for compression to a first pressure level, and the air mass flow compressed in this way is divided into a first component flow supplied directly to the combustion chamber (1), and a second component flow which is compressed in at least one second compressor stage (4) to a second pressure level and sent to the binary nozzle (2) as the fuel atomization air mass flow.

Abstract: A vehicle heater with a pot-shaped, double-jacketed heat exchanger and a burner for the fuel to be burned extending into the heat exchanger coaxially to an axis of the heat exchanger. The burner has a combustion chamber with a flame sensor disposed within it. A side channel fan is provided for feeding combustion air into the combustion chamber. The burner has a glow plug positioned to be swept by a small partial flow of the combustion air for igniting the fuel. The axis of the heat exchanger and an axis of the fan intersect each other approximately at right angles. The heat exchanger has a central opening closed by a one-part angle flange with a angle flange first leg and with a angle flange second leg extending approximately at right angles to the angle flange first leg. The angle flange first leg is located in a plane extending approximately in parallel to the axis of the heat exchanger and the angle flange second leg is located in a plane directed at right angles thereto.

Abstract: A fold-away gas appliance for a recreational vehicle having a sidewall and an opening therein for storing the appliance. The appliance comprises a cooking unit carried on a platform which is disposed for movement between exposed and storage positions. When in the storage position, the platform is substantially flush with the sidewall of the recreational vehicle and, when in the exposed position, the platform extends substantially perpendicular to the sidewall. The cooking unit includes a gas burner in fluid communication with a gas supply through a gas supply line. A cut-off valve disposed in the gas supply line is adapted for movement between open and closed positions to establish and cut off the flow of gas to the burner. An actuator for moving the cut-off valve between open and closed positions is slidably attached to the cooking unit and generally extends between the cooking unit and the opening in the sidewall of the recreational vehicle.

Abstract: A food warmer unit for use in the field comprises a vessel having walls to form a chamber and a recloseable cover. An inlet port is in communication with the chamber as is an outlet port. The vessel also has a restricting means to hold food canisters in a submerged state within the chamber during use. The food warmer unit is readily connected to a portable heating unit to provide hot water in the chamber and a means to warm food canisters.

Abstract: A heater, particularly for emergency use in a car or other vehicles is designed to use solid paraffin wax fuel. The heater has a housing containing a combustion chamber and burner. A vent duct is angled outwardly from the housing and both provides combustion air and permits exhaust of combustion products. The vent duct can be inserted through a window opening in a vehicle so that interior air is not consumed or contaminated when the heater is in operation.

Abstract: A panel that fits on the top of a stove in a mobile vehicle. The panel has holes registering with the burners in the stove, for receiving the cooking utensils placed on the burners. Confining upstanding flanges surround the holes to retain the cooking utensils against sliding movements in the movements of the vehicle. The panel is held in place by peripheral downturned flanges engaging the side surfaces of the stove, or by engagement of the panel with wall elements at the sides of the stove.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus has a pivotal mounting unit attached to the bed of a pickup truck for supporting a cooking unit thereon. The pivotal mounting unit comprises a vertically extending pivotal support member which supports a pair of horizontally extending parallel rods or tubes which extend into and support a cooking unit slidably mounted thereon. The rods or tubes extend nearly the entire length of the cooking unit and support the cooking unit in a variety of positions.

Abstract: Heating apparatus is described that is particularly adapted for thawing frozen particulate material in railroad hopper cars. The apparatus is a low profile, fuel-fired heater adapted for installation between rails traversed by the hopper cars within a thawing shed. The construction employs heat-radiating metal plates forming an elongated gas-conducting chamber through which high velocity combustion gases are conducted. The arrangement of plates is such as to enhance the emission of radiant heat to the hopper car bottoms with appropriately positioned heat insulated regions to protect hopper car brake hoses, or the like, from damage caused by overheating.

Abstract: Inlet air for a water heater used in a trailer home or camper is provided through an air tube passing through the floor of the camper to the heater within the camper. The lower end of the air tube terminates short of the ground beneath the camper and includes a cup assembly arranged to rotate about the axis of the air tube. The cup assembly has a front opening and a rear rudder. Wind blowing under the trailer home or camper will orient the cup assembly so that the front opening faces the wind so that the inlet air is passed up through the air tube. Excess air can pass out a rear opening in the cup assembly.

Abstract: A fireplace assembly for mobile homes comprising primarily a firebox housing with a means for cooling the firebox and chimney during the combustion of solid fuels by an intake housing of outside air. Means is provided whereby outside air is permitted to enter the immediate area of burning fuel after first passing through a combustion air conduit located below the bottom of the firebox housing.

Abstract: A fireplace assembly for mobile homes comprising primarily a firebox housing with a means for cooling the firebox and chimney during the combustion of solid fuels by an intake housing of outside air. Means is provided whereby outside air is permitted to enter the immediate area of burning fuel after first passing through a combustion air conduit located below the bottom of the firebox housing.