Abstract: This invention pertains to an electrical heating device for heating ceramic food preparation and serving vessels and comprises a ceramic base compatible aesthetically with a set of such serving vessels and having a central opening in the top surface associated with an annular seat which receives and supports an electrical resistance heating unit, the unit being complementary in size and shape to the opening and seat and supported therein solely by gravity for ready removal to permit the base to be cleansed while the heating unit is removed therefrom.

Abstract: A tray cabinet wherein each comprises a heating chamber formed between a shell and a detachable cover. A heating element is placed between the base of the shell and a shield. The shell has an edge embedded in the thickness of an upper plate of the tray. A dense foam fills the interior space of the tray enclosed between the upper plate and a lower plate. The tray and the cover are single rigid and heavy components, not susceptible to deformation due to thermal expansion.

Abstract: An electrically operated dehydrator in the form of perforated trays stacked one on top of the other where the bottom tray is equipped with a blower-heater package and the top tray forms a solid cover. Air is drawn in by the blower from underneath the bottom tray, it is heated and then forced to rise through the perforated trays. A portion of the air is being recirculated into the blower through a central duct whereas the remainder of the air is allowed to bleed-out through a series of openings in the top.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cabinet in which food packages, such as prepared school lunch packages, can be heated prior to serving, and maintained at a desired temperature before and during serving. The cabinet comprises an upwardly opening well closed by removable lids, a housing connected to and surrounding the well on the sides and bottom thereof and being spaced from the well so as to form a substantially enclosed air circulation chamber adjacent the sides and bottom, and a plurality of louvers in the side walls defining air inlets and outlets between the well and air chamber. Electrical heating elements are mounted within the air chamber directly below the bottom of the well so that heat generated thereby will radiate upwardly thereby heating the well bottom and, to a lesser extent, the well side walls. A thermally conductive baffle plate is disposed within the air chamber beneath the bottom of the well and functions as a heat sink to disperse and even out the radiant heat.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cupboard for storing and bringing prepared meals to a suitable temperature, said cupboard being divided into a storage compartment or space and a compartment or chamber for bringing to suitable temperature. The meals are carried on trays superposed in the storage space. Individual metallic flaps comprising at least one mobile portion are provided at the level of each tray in order to separate or place the storage space and chamber in communication and transporting mechanisms are provided for transferring the dishes contained in inner compartments of the trays towards the chamber for bringing to suitable temperature and for returning them into the compartments where they were located after a sequence of bringing to suitable temperature in the chamber intended for this purpose. The invention finds particular application in the distribution of meals in collective catering.

Abstract: An electrically heatable broiler, browner and waffle maker comprises a base part including a hot plate and a top part also including a hot plate, the two parts being interconnected by an articulated hinge joint including an extendable linking member and a plurality of stop surfaces permitting different angular positions of the top part relative to the base part.

Abstract: A portable cart with access doors has serving trays supported on heater shelves which trays support the food items to be served to the patient. Chilled air for the cart is provided by an air chilling device to a plenum chamber which chamber when coupled continuously circulates chilled air from the chilled air device into and through the cart and then back through the plenum chamber to the chilled air device in a continuous closed loop pattern. The circulating air passes through mating vents and inlets of the plenum chamber and the cart which automatically open when the cart is coupled with the plenum chamber. The heating for each food item to be served hot is initiated, time controlled and terminated by a programmed computer which separately controls the operation of the individual heater plates mounted on the heater shelves supporting the trays.

Abstract: A food serving tray and heater shelf arrangement includes a rack having sets of cantilevered supports with a heater element mounted to each pair of supports and with a food serving tray on each heater element straddling its supports.

Abstract: An oven with a fixed-elevation single-shelf for uniformly cooking three or more meat roasts to substantially equal, even, and uniform levels of doneness, centering them within an average 10.degree. F. parameter temperature zone under 212.degree.. Apparatus and procedures subject all of the roasts to substantially equal, even, uniform, and low density heat from naturally ambient (non-mechanically-induced movement) air.

Abstract: A cabinet type enclosure, preferably in the form of a cart, which is adapted to be connected to a source of refrigeration for refrigerating a plurality of food items on a plurality of meal trays positioned in the enclosure has a plurality of thin, generally horizontal fixedly mounted heater shelf members extending into the enclosed space from one side wall thereof. The heater shelf members are adapted to be moved relative to and under hot food containers positioned on the trays to heat same. The enclosure also has pairs of tray guides on its opposing side walls. The meal trays have integral transverse abutment means which extend over a portion of the tray surface at a location above the surface.

Abstract: The electrically heatable household appliance is assembled of a stationary lower part and a swingable upper part connected to the former by an adjustable hinge joint, each part supporting an electrically heated plate and at least one part comprising a protective plate of ceramic material transparent to infrared radiation. The protective plate is preferably removably connected to a supporting frame which is disconnectably mounted to the assigned part to facilitate cleaning.

Abstract: A cooking assembly includes a heating plate and two identical outer plates each fabricated of heat conductive material and each including a handle. The outer plates and the heating plate each include a hinge to allow the outer plates to be coupled to opposite sides of the heating plate. Each of the first and second outer plates when coupled to the heating plate define a cooking chamber within which food may be cooked. The assembly further includes an insulating drip tray for insulating the cooking assembly from means upon which it is supported and for catching drippings from the food being cooked by the heating plate. The tray includes means for supporting the cooking plate and the first and second outer plates in either a horizontal or a vertical position relative to the bottom of the tray to permit different selective cooking operations depending upon the nature of the material cooked.

Abstract: An electrically powered service vehicle having a plurality of programmable electrical stations is exemplified by a food service vehicle for use with food serving trays including internal heating elements for providing localized areas of heat on the trays for maintaining food placed thereon at a desired temperature. The vehicle has a plurality of storage compartments, each of which holds a plurality of the food serving trays in vertically spaced relation to each other. An on-board d-c. power source is connected to the heating elements within the trays via a plurality of electrical contacts within each storage compartment. A d-c. drive motor for propelling the vehicle is selectively connected to the power source through a drive control. The electrical contacts within the storage compartment are positioned to engage corresponding contacts on the trays when the trays are inserted into the storage compartments.

Abstract: A heating system for dressings comprising a housing having a pair of opposed heating elements. The housing may be opened to place the dressings intermediate the heating elements, and may be closed in order to heat the dressings intermediate the elements.

Abstract: A portable holder and height adjuster for beverage warmers is provided to improve the storage of a heated beverage for long periods of time and to reduce evaporation and spoilage that holds the partially filled decanter above the warming element on decanter holders suspended on adjustable compressible springs which are clamped to the base of the warmer.

Abstract: A heating unit which may be used as a soft contact lens disinfecting unit and which embodies a case construction entirely of thermoplastic, or other low heat-conductive material. A heat conductive liquid such as molten wax, or oil, or both, is contained in the case and is used as a uniform heat transfer medium between electrical heating elements in the case and the surface of an incubator supported in the case which, likewise, is formed of low heat-conductive material. The heating unit in the embodiment to be described, is specifically constructed to produce or aid in disinfecting so-called soft contact lenses intended for wearing in contact with the eye. The unit is more generally applicable, and may be used to advantage, when a low cost heating unit is desired which will raise the temperature of an object or a material to a given temperature, maintain it at or above the given temperature for a given time period, and then allow it to cool down and return to an ambient temperature condition.

Abstract: A device for maintaining heated golf balls at an elevated temperature under playing conditions is desired. A heated container is provided with dividing means, such as a moveable wall, which may be operated during removal of a selected heated ball so as to seal off the remaining heated balls from the ambient air, thereby maintaining them at the elevated temperature.

Abstract: An electrical frying pan comprises a metallic cooking pan having a flat base against the undersurface of which there is held in close thermal contact a wire or foil type heating element by a body of thermally insulating material disposed above a metal plate. A fastening bolt secured centrally to the base of the pan extends downwardly through the metal plate and the insulation thereabove, then receives a first nut to hold the various parts in their assembled positions, then extends downwardly through a base housing and then receives a second nut to secure the cooking pan to the base housing. A handle is usefully integrally formed with the base housing to extend outwardly therefrom and a mating cover can also be provided.

Abstract: A ball warming apparatus adapted to completely and effectively heat a cold ball, particularly a bowling ball, to a desirable room temperature. The apparatus may be adapted for selective stationary positioning within a bowling alley for coin-operation, or for selective portable use as a bowling ball bag. The inner wall of the appratus is adapted to closely encompass a bowling ball and to substantially heat the entire peripheral surface of the ball.

Abstract: A food service system for institutional or other use is provided by a stack of insulated trays and a cart. In one embodiment the cart includes a heating and/or cooling source with an outlet and a return. The trays are provided with openings to permit the passage of heated or cooled air from the outlet through the stack to the return. In another embodiment the trays and cart are combined with a refrigeration unit and a heating unit to permit simultaneous heating and cooling of food portions held in the trays.

Abstract: Meals for institutional feeding are arranged on trays in a central commissary with hot and cold food portions in separate containers. The containers for the hot items have bases formed with metallic plates and thermally insulated covers with internal metallic heat radiators. The trays are arranged in stacks in a refrigerated transport cart having spaced shelves which extend between the trays and include induction heating coils which produce heat generating currents in the metallic elements of the bases and covers of the hot food containers, heating these food portions while the other items are refrigerated. The hot food containers are provided in a variety of configurations each of which is heated at a different rate by the coils so the serving temperature of the food is determined by the type of its container.

Abstract: A plurality of receptacles are provided each having pockets for receiving a bottle containing a shampoo or hair conditioner to be warmed. Each receptacle includes a U-shaped water conduit having a pair of legs extending beyond one side wall thereof. The bight portion of each conduit is closed by a spring loaded flap valve extending parallel to the bight. An opening is provided behind each flap valve which is in line with the legs of the U-shaped conduit. A first receptacle is connected to a pair of openings in a master heating unit containing a thermostat, a heating coil, and a pump for pumping water from a source past the heating coil through one of the openings in the U-shaped conduit of the first receptacle and back to the other side of the pump through the other leg of the U-shaped conduit in the first receptacle, warming the contents of the bottles supported within the first receptacle.

Abstract: A food serving system for delivering prepared meals to locations remote from the point of preparation which includes a mobile cart having its own low voltage rechargeable power pack that may be utilized to make the cart self powered. The cart has a tier of shelves for carrying removable, generally flat, individual, food serving trays. Each shelf is provided with one or more thermally isolated heat transfer devices which may be energized when a tray is placed on the shelf in the cart. The heat transfer devices are intended to maintain the food in selected dishes and bowls at the desired serving temperature for extended periods without affecting the temperature of the foods and beverages in other dishes, bowls and cups on the trays, so that the food remains at the proper serving temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus for the heating, moistening and holding cosmetic towels or the like is disclosed herein having a box-like support into which a water tray is placed. Legs are carried underneath the tray for holding the tray in spaced relationship with respect to the bottom of the support. A heater coil is downwardly suspended from the tray in the space and the heater coil terminates in a pronged electrical connection for detachably receiving an electrical plug attached to a conventional source of AC line voltage. The water tray holds a small quantity of water and, in turn, supports a removable perforated table which supports the towels. The sidewall of the water tray upwardly project beyond the towel surface of the perforated table and the sidewall of box-like support. A removable lid completes the device so that steam produced by the heated water is captured in the device for heating and moistening the towels.

Abstract: A vehicular coffee heating device adapted to be safely carried in a motor vehicle a collapsible wire rack having hooks engaging the top of a vehicle seat backrest and a basket portion at the rear of the backrest which snugly receives a case having an openable top. An electrically heated coffee vessel is pivotally mounted on a pivoted arm within the case whereby the vessel can be moved through the openable top from a storage position within the case to a pouring position outside of the case.

Abstract: A portable heating device for such applications as popping corn or heating liquids or infants' bottles of milk which employs a cup shaped member containing an electric heating element electrically insulated from the member which is disposed between an open relatively large round top end having an internal thread and a closed relatively small round bottom end having an external thread. An electrical connector is secured to the outside of the cup and is electrically connected to said element. A vertical cylindrically shaped sleeve open at its top end has a bottom end engaging the top end of the member. A vertically flexible hollow cylinder is disposed along side of the member and sleeve, the bottom end of the cylinder being closed, the top end being open. A hollow deflector chute extends between the sleeve and the cylinder, the chute having two spaced open ends, one chute end being connected to the top end of the cylinder, the other chute end being connected to the top end of the sleeve.

Abstract: A food serving system for delivering prepared meals to locations remote from the point of preparation, such as to patients in hospitals and nursing homes, which includes a mobile cart having its own low voltage rechargeable power pack that may be utilized to make the cart self powered. The cart has a tier of racks for carrying removable, generally flat, individual, food serving trays. The trays may be disposable or reusable. Each tray is provided with one or more thermally isolated heat transfer devices which may be energized when the tray is placed on a rack in the cart. The trays are constructed to carry conventionally styled, removable dishes, bowls, cups, etc., that may be either disposable or reusable, and the dishes and bowls containing foods to be maintained at a reduced or elevated temperature are placed on the heat transfer devices.

Abstract: An electric oven toaster construction wherein a unique manually operable lever, latch lever, and catch lever are provided for controlling operation of an oven toaster main switch and an oven toaster timer. The manually operable lever is provided with a lug for actuating the latch lever to release the catch lever to stop the operation of the toast timer and open the main switch without opening the oven toaster door. The manually operable lever is also provided with a pin which is uniquely positioned with respect to the catch lever for both operating the catch lever to start operation of the toast timer and being actuated by the catch lever at the end of a toasting cycle for moving the manually operable lever to open the main switch.

Abstract: An electrical appliance for heating feeding-bottles, baby-food pots and containers of a similar type comprises a support and a heating element which is intended to come into contact with the container. The appliance further comprises a relatively flexible heating quilt which is fixed along a support handle, the quilt being intended to be wound and detachably fastened around the feeding-bottle or container to be heated.

Abstract: A portable food serving receptacle capable of heating chilled or frozen food to cooking or serving temperatures and automatically maintaining food at serving temperature. The receptacle consists of thin metallic walls and utilizes a flexible heating element of electrical and thermal insulating material. The heating element is adhered to the metallic walls of an inner dish of the receptacle. The insulating material of the heating element forms a laminated structure in which the electrical resistor is embedded. The walls of the receptacle have a substantially higher thermal conductivity than the laminate. The rate of heat flow from the heating element to the interface of the food and metallic walls of the receptacle is controlled by the thermal insulating characteristics of the laminate so that gradients of heat entering any given point of the food are substantially equal and are maintained at temperature levels below the scorching temperature of the food.

Abstract: A device for heating a thermoplastic eyeglass frame having a rim and bridge portion and a temple portion, includes a housing having a pair of spaced infrared heat radiating surfaces mounted therein. The surfaces form an open-ended channel therebetween for receiving one of the eyeglass frame portions while permitting the other of said frame portions to remain out of range of the heat radiating surfaces. The heat radiating surfaces comprise spaced external surfaces on a heating block having a heating element embedded therein. The front radiating surface is larger than the rim and bridge portion of the frames while the rear radiating surface is smaller than the rim and bridge portion, for allowing the temple portions of the frames to extend beyond the rear radiating surface without exposure to that radiation.

Abstract: A food service system for institutional or other use is provided by a stack of insulated trays and a cart. In one embodiment the cart includes a heating and/or cooling source with an outlet and a return. The trays are provided with openings to permit the passage of heated or cooled air from the outlet through the stack to the return. In another embodiment the trays and cart are combined with a refrigeration unit and a heating unit to permit simultaneous heating and cooling of food portions held in the trays.

Abstract: A golf ball warmer adapted to warm and store at the desired temperature the golf balls and a heat retaining carrying case for the warmed balls.

Abstract: A portable tray warming unit comprising a casing having at least one tray supporting rack, trays to be supported and received upon said rack, and electrical terminal means for interconnecting the tray warming unit with an external electrical source of energy. The casing of this tray warming unit has dimensions and weight small enough so that the unit may be easily carried about or lifted. The upper and lower surfaces of the casing lie in planes parallel to each other so that one unit may be stacked on top of another. To further facilitate such stacking the bottom surface of a unit has protrusions extending downwardly from the bottom and these protrusions correspond to indentations in the top surface of the casing. This correspondence allows the protrusions of one unit to fit into the indentations of the unit on which it is stacked thereby assuring a non-slidable connection between the two units.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for holding food and the like at desired temperature and moisture levels for an extended period of time wherein there is provided a relatively still volume of air about the food which is heated by maintaining a regulated, temperature controlled, recirculating flow of heated air in a closed passage with the air heated by a controlled heating element and recirculated by controlled air blowers about said volume of air along at least two pairs of perpendicular axes and about a major portion of the external surface area of the volume of air without a direct contact of heated air flow with the food to provide substantially uniform heating by conduction and convection. A controllable source of moisture in the form of a water pan in open communication with the heated volume of air introduces controlled quantities of moisture into the heated volume of air.

Abstract: A dining table which automatically maintains food at an optimum temperature all the while the food is on the table. Disposed beneath the table top, which permits flux linkage therethrough, is apparatus which generates one or more electromagnetic fields with each of the fields of influence thereof extending upwardly through the table top. Placing a peculiar food vessel within each field of influence causes an electromotive force (EMF) to be generated within conductor windings disposed therein. The food vessel also includes a heating element which is connected to the conductor windings; this heating element is powered by the EMF being generated by the conductor windings. Thus, a nominal amount of heat is developed which keeps the food contained within the food vessel at an optimum temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed is a portable grill assembly adapted for use on, for example, a kitchen countertop area. The assembly includes a somewhat L-shaped housing, the horizontally extending portion of which encloses a heating element and is topped by a grill element for supporting meat or other edibles for exposed surface broiling. The adjoining upwardly extending portion houses a power driven fan which draws air, smoke and cooking vapors from across the grill element and into the upwardly extending portion. The fan outlet discharges to the exterior of the housing.

Abstract: Meals for institutional feeding are arranged on trays in a central commissary with hot and cold food portions in separate containers. The containers for the hot items have bases formed with metallic plates and thermally insulated covers with internal metallic heat radiators. The trays are arranged in stacks in a refrigerated transport cart having spaced shelves which extend between the trays and include induction heating coils which produce heat generating currents in the metallic elements of the bases and covers of the hot food containers, heating these food portions while the other items are refrigerated. The hot food containers are provided in a variety of configurations each of which is heated at a different rate by the coils so the serving temperature of the food is determined by the type of its container.An alternative stationary heating mechanism has spaced shelves containing induction heating coils adapted to receive a plurality of stacked trays supported on a mobile cart.

Abstract: A storage system for a plurality of food trays includes one or more storage modules each having multiple pairs of horizontal rails for supporting a plurality of trays with the hot food positioned along one side wall of the module and the cool food along the other side wall. Forced air inlet means in the rear wall and adjacent the side wall on the hot food side of the tray produces a forced air stream flowing forwardly through the module over the hot food on the trays. A door covers the front of each module and forms air outlet means adjacent the module side wall on the hot food side of the trays so that the forwardly flowing air stream exits through the door. This system is particularly suitable for use with trays which have electrical heating elements embedded in one side of the tray for heating the hot foods thereon.

Abstract: The present invention is a device for warming and hydrating tortillas that have been cooked at an earlier time and have subsequently become cold and hard. A base for the device has a heating element with a thermostat control. A cylindrical container is located above the heating element. Inside of the cylindrical container is a rack held a predetermined distance above the bottom of the cylindrical container by downwardly extending legs. A lid closes the top of the cylindrical container.

Abstract: Electric cooker has cover containing electric heating element and base pan interposed by an invertible grill. Grill is formed with mating zones, preferably grooves, about either side to cooperate with a depending rib from the cover. Opposite faces of the grill present respectively a circular dam for hamburgers or the like, and a rectangular dam for sandwiches. Irrespective of which face is up and serving as a cooking surface, cooperation of rib and associated mating zone provide good heat transfer to grill from cover.

Abstract: A device for heating a thermoplastic eyeglass frame having a rim and bridge portion and a temple portion, includes a housing having a pair of spaced infrared heat radiating surfaces mounted therein. The surfaces form an open-ended channel therebetween for receiving one of the eyeglass frame portions while permitting the other of said frame portions to remain out of range of the heat radiating surfaces. The heat radiating surfaces comprise spaced external surfaces on a heating block having a heating element embedded therein. The front radiating surface is larger than the rim and bridge portion of the frames while the rear radiating surface is smaller than the rim and bridge portion, for allowing the temple portions of the frames to extend beyond the rear radiating surface without exposure to that radiation.

Abstract: A food warmer comprising a heat transfer plate with a flat portion and a flange of thermally and electrically conductive material to which at least one pill of positive temperature coefficient of resistance material is conductively secured and an electrically insulative base with a trough for receiving the rolled edge of the heat transfer plate. The pill is provided with an electrically conductive coating on its two opposite faces. An electrically conductive spring is mounted in the base adapted to make contact with one surface of the electrically conductive coating of the pill. Electrical connection is made to the heat transfer plate and to the spring to provide a current path through the pill upon positioning and sealing the rolled edge with a silicon rubber sealing compound thereby providing proper contact force and alignment between the spring and the conductive coating of the pill along with a water tight seal.

Abstract: An electrically heated hooded cape garment includes arm hole slits. The garment is wrapped around the body and has a power cord which is plugged into a receptacle mounted through a wall of a carrying case for the garment. Batteries within the carrying case are connected to the receptacle for supplying power to the garment.

Abstract: This disclosure pertains to an apparatus for use in heating containers of food, as in cans, bottles, plastic pouches and the like by emersion into water adapted to insure uniform heating thereof by substantially insulating the containers from thermal contact with all the parts of the heating apparatus except the water in contact with the container. The apparatus can also be used to heat water alone, brew coffee, tea or other beverages.

Abstract: A warming and storage unit for quickly thawing frozen artificial insemination materials and in which such materials and insemination guns used in such operations may be stored at desirable temperatures while awaiting use. The unit includes a metal block provided with a thermostatically controlled electric heater means. The block has an elongated vertically extending central well for receiving semen capsules for thawing and a horizontally extending compartment spaced from the well and being of such size as to accommodate and store at least one artificial insemination gun. The metal block is enclosed in a heat insulating housing provided with openings for access to the well and compartment.

Abstract: A convertible food service cart including a cold tray compartment and a conversion compartment, both of which are insulated and cooled by respective refrigeration systems. The conversion compartment is provided with a plurality of electrical plugs which connect in parallel and which are vertically spaced within the conversion compartment to receive electrical plug receptacles affixed to the hot food conversion trays. The conversion trays include a conductive, flat, heating element which is sandwiched between two sheets of thin, insulating material and provides uniform temperature throughout. The warm food is originally placed in the conversion compartment in refrigerated condition. An automatic programmer is provided to terminate the refrigeration action in the conversion compartment and to activate the tray heating plugs in predetermined time to properly heat the warm food immediately prior to serving.

Abstract: An electric cooking appliance has a base which removably supports a lower cooking element in its open top. The appliance has a cover which is removably hinged to the base. This cover contains an upper cooking element provided with a depending rib which contains a heating element and interfits with a provided channel in the lower cooking element when the cover is closed against the base. The lower cooking element has a handle and is provided with apertures through which fluids from the cooking food can drain into the base. The base and cover also have recessed handles which engage about the handle of the lower cooking element and a bail is provided which releaseably locks the handles together to assure an effective transfer of heat through the conductive metal of the rib to the two cooking elements such that a hamburger or other food positioned between the two cooking elements can be simultaneously heated from both sides by the one heating element with the cover closed against the base.

Abstract: An electric barbecue grill comprises a cooking vessel and a housing connected centrally thereof. Electric heating means are provided and include a heating elements mechanically mounted on a hollow member of the housing in relative positions for different cooking modes and an electrical cord disposed in the hollow member for protection. A grillwork is provided for supporting a refractory bed adjacent the heating element unit, and electric controls for selectively energizing the heating elements for different cooking modes are disposed in the hollow member to be thermally protected from heat emanating from the heating element unit and the refractory bed.

Abstract: An improved warming container which may comprise either a cup, pot, bowl or the like, and which includes an electric heating element built into its bottom and side walls, the heating element being connected to a rechargeable battery, thermostat and switch located on its underside and which are completely enclosed so to allow the vessel being fully submerged during washing without damage to the electric system.