Abstract: Improved cookware is disclosed having non-ferrous metal sidewalls and a natural stone bottom central portion. The non-ferrous metal sidewalls preferably are formed of an aluminum alloy having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the natural stone bottom. The natural stone bottom preferably comprises an ironrich amphibole rock, and in the particularly preferred embodiment comprises hornblende.

Abstract: A hairsetter for electrically heating a plurality of flexible hair curlers includes a thermally insulated hollow container receiving therein a plurality of vertically disposed elongated flexible hair curlers arranged in a pair of rows. The curlers are heated by a heat sink core portion disposed between the curler rows and in heat conductive contact with the curlers. The heat sink core portion includes a flat electrical resistance heater plate sandwiched between two electrically insulating boards covered by two oppositely facing metallic heat sink members. The heat sink members each have a plurality of vertical channels receiving and contacting a respective one of curlers of a curler row for conducting heat to the curler from the heater plate. The rows of curlers are disposed in a tiered arrangement to facilitate removal of the heated curlers from the container through a top opening on the container closed by a hinged cover.

Abstract: A food service system for serving a standard meal to a group of people. The various food items that go together to make up the standard meal are prepared, and meals are assembled by placing the food items on trays so that each tray is one meal for one person. The tray has wells for receiving dishes containing the food items, and some of the wells have electrical contacts connected to contacts on the handle of the tray. A heated food item is placed in a dish having an electric heater that can be energized from the contacts in the well of the tray. A group of the trays is placed into a carrier, and supported on rails by the handles of the trays. The rails are connected to a power supply so that the foods in the electrically heated dishes in the wells having electrical contacts will be heated, and others will not be heated. The carrier is ventilated to remove excess heat to prevent heating the cold foods.

Abstract: A portable controlled temperature food carrier is presented wherein independent heating and cooling temperature control units are freely interchangeable depending upon desired use. The individual temperature control units are easily removable from the carrier housing to facilitate replacement, cleaning and/or changeover from a heating to a cooling mode.

Abstract: A portable electrically heated warming container arrangement for transporting infusions or the like in rescue vehicles includes a thermally insulated case having a flat bottom and an electric heater for heating a plurality of infusion containers carried in the case. A electrical connector plug for detachably connecting the electric heater to the rescue vehicle power supply is provided in the flat bottom of the case and is recessed so as to the flush with the flat bottom. During transport, the case is positioned within a transport casing secured to a wall of the rescue vehicle. The casing has a flat bottom and low side walls defining an upwardly open receiving space snugly surrounding the lower portion of the case for securing the case against sliding and tipping.

Abstract: A compact self-contained travel kit for brewing a beverage, such as tea, coffee, or the like, includes an open top container which is adapted to receive a small quantity of water to be heated by means of an electric heater element contained in the bottom of the container. A removable insert assembly is received within the container through the open top and provides upwardly open storage compartments for containing the ingredients for making tea or coffee, such as sugar, powdered cream material, coffee, tea or the like, which compartments are closable by lids so that either individual packets or bulk material may be stored. The insert includes a downwardly depending semi-conical portion which is proportioned and adapted to be telescopically received in the uppermost one of a pair of nested drinking cups storable within the container. The nested drinking cups are thus retained in place in a compact manner and are accessible by removal of the insert from the container.

Abstract: A lunch bucket or box includes an elongated three-sided container having an L-shaped top cover and a side wall door pivotally attached to the container walls to form a closed container. The container is compartmented with a series of food compartments exposed through the sidewall door, and at least one of which has a vertical divider to define beverage can compartments. The upper end of the container is constructed to releasably receive an integrated hot plate and bowl unit for heating of food products. The container is exposed by opening the top cover.

Abstract: An arrangement for allowing comestible products to be conveniently heated in a disposable pouch. A kitchen utensil is constructed with a top rim shaped to support the disposable pouch containing a packaged comestible. The disposable pouch has an outer periphery at least as large as that defined by the top rim of the utensil such that the pouch is supported by the top rim of the utensil while it is being heated therein. In a first embodiment, an electrical heating element is provided as an integral part of the base of the utensil, while in a second embodiment a cover for the utensil also has an electrical heating element constructed as an integral part thereof. In several embodiments, the pouch has one or more electrical contacts to complete circuits to the heating elements such that the latter cannot be activated until a pouch is properly placed on the utensil.

Abstract: Food is prepared by placing selected food items in pre-determined locations on food trays, placing the trays on shelves of a rack in a food and beverage cabinet with the food and beverage cabinet being inserted in a first environmental control unit which circulates chilled air over the trays and then removing the food and beverage cabinet and placing it at a second environmental control unit which additionally heats selected food items.

Abstract: A food service device including a food-carrying cart which can be stored inside a refrigerator is provided with elements for heating the food before meals are served. The electrical system is comprised of switching devices which actuate the heating elements depending upon the presence and orientation of food trays on the shelf of the cart; a self-aligning coupling which can supply electrical power to the cart's heaters when the cart is placed in the refrigerator; and a timer which controls the duration of time the electrical heaters are energized to warm the food prior to service, and provide a keep-warm timing sequence for holding the heated food within a refrigerated environment.

Abstract: A series of like-shelved, convertible refrigerating and heating cabinets, accessible from either one of two sides thereof through self-closing glass doors for self-service and replenishment of prepared food and drinks, and following a door opening of any duration over periods of intermittent replenishing, dispensing and storage conditions, providing fast automatic rapid air condition recovery for uniformity of refrigeration, or heating, and/or humidification of miscellaneous food products accessibly displayed.

Abstract: A receptacle device for carrying food and beverage products is disclosed having a housing with a cavity therein and a cover detachably mounted on the housing. An outer chamber is provided with mounting means for removably retaining the outer chamber within the cavity. An inner chamber is also provided, and the inner chamber is adapted to be received within the outer chamber in telescopic relation thereto for defining a fluid chamber therebetween. Alignment means for maintaining the inner chamber and the outer chamber in fixed spatial relationship to each other for defining the fluid chamber therebetween is provided as well as a plurality of open-top food storage containers adapted to be received within the inner chamber and having a removable lid associated with each one of the containers. Closure means is operatively connected to the cover for yielding urging the containers in confined relationship within the inner chamber, and the inner chamber in removably fixed relationship to the housing.

Abstract: An appliance is provided which is capable of transmitting heat retained therein to cooked food placed in the appliance, so that the food can be kept hot when an electrical cord used for initially causing the appliance to be electrically heated is disconnected therefrom. The appliance includes an outer casing and a removable cover, both of which are made of materials that retard heat loss from the appliance, preferably non-metallic materials. It further includes a housing enclosed by the casing and cover and made of a non-metallic material, such as plastic, in which a non-metallic heat retaining material, such as wax, is confined. Disposed throughout the heat retaining material is a resistance heater, which is removably connected to the electrical cord for melting the material, so that the heat of fusion of the melted material may be transmitted into the food to reduce its cooling rate after the heater is disconnected from the cord.

Abstract: A circulating air oven having a power portion which provides heat which is sent through its open front. The power portion is permanently mounted onto a pedestal which can detachably receive an oven portion. The oven portion includes a removable rear wall so that the entire rear of the oven portion can be opened up and matingly engaged with the power portion to receive the heated air. The oven portion can be detached and the rear covered whereby a heat insulating container is provided. The oven portion includes handles and other means to permit transportation of the oven portion away from the pedestal to transport and distribute food prepared in the oven portion.

Abstract: A warming unit and serving tray combination includes a unit that has a generally planar bottom surface which accommodates resting on a counter top with a top surface being parallel to and spaced above that counter top. The top surface is warmed, and it includes a peripheral margin of a contour that extends therearound. A serving tray has an upper surface corresponding in extent to the top surface of the warming unit and its skirt has a bottom margin matable with the warming unit so as to nest therewith. There are a plurality of openings in the serving tray that receive corresponding food containers seatable therein.

Abstract: A paperboard carton for packaging a pizza is provided with a substantially rigid, pizza-supporting electrical-resistance heater insert comprising a corrugated paperboard panel having laminated thereto a sheet of vacuum-metallized glassine. Arc-sprayed zinc bus bars extend over opposed edges of the metallized sheet and serve as electrodes for conducting electricity through the sheet as the resistor element. Electrical energy is supplied to the electrodes by a removable terminal clip that extends through an opening provided in a side wall of the carton and both electrically and mechanically engages suitably presented electrode terminals. An insulating sheet of coated paper extends over the metallized surface, the electrodes, and the bus bars, and serves as the immediate support surface for the pizza.

Abstract: A lunch bucket containing an electric heating coil that can be plugged into a household electric outlet, so to heat up a compartment in the bucket for holding hot foods, while another compartment is insulated therefrom so to contain cold foods.

Abstract: A yoghurt-making machine comprises an enclosure inside which a receptacle containing milk pots is disposed above a basin. The space between the receptacle and basis is partly filled with a fusible material, such as commercial paraffin wax which has a cooling curve exhibiting a solidification plateau at a temperature near to the optimum temperature of yoghurt formation. A heating resistor attached to the basin is immersed in the fusible material which is thereby heated. The basin has a bottom defining with the enclosure a closed chamber completely separated from the fusible material. A temperature-limiting element is connected to the resistor and disposed so as to be responsive only to the air temperature within the chamber and is operable to terminate the heating of the fusible material when the temperature in the chamber is higher than the solidification plateau of the fusible material.

Abstract: A complete prefrozen meal is placed in a combination heating-serving container. The meal is composed of a plurality of different food items which require different quantities of heat in order to bring each of them to their intended serving temperature. The combination heating-serving container includes self-contained means associated with each food item to be heated to apply the desired quantity of heat to the food items within the same time interval. The container also includes means for isolating each of the food items from each other during the heating process. The container is thermally insulated and also includes means operable by the user to begin the heating cycle when he so desires.

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.