Chafing dish-like device

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention pertains to dish-like devices commonly referred to as chafing dishes, which are used to contain and dispense food primarily in a heated manner. Prior art chafing dishes have suffered in that they have not utilized heating elements that are readily compatible considering the nature of the function to be achieved. That is, chafing dishes have traditionally been heated via cans of combustible gel or the like which are placed underneath the chafing dish to provide a heat source or, alternately, a heating means attached to an external source of fuel has been placed under the bottom of the chafing dish or on a shelf provided therefor. These prior art uses have been cumbersome particularly considering the ambulatory nature of chafing dishes when they are used by caterers and the like.

#The chafing dish of the instant invention solves many of these problems by providing a chafing dish with a shelf having continuous surface and of adequate size to receive a conventional heating unit wherein the heating unit may contain a source of fuel supply within itself.

#FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing the chafing dish of the invention with the conventional food container being shown in the exploded position and with the conventional cover for the chafing dish being shown in phantom line;

#FIG. 2 illustrates the chafing dish of the invention shown in FIG. 1 but with the heating unit extracted from its position beneath the bottom wall of the chafing dish;

#FIG. 3 illustrates the chafing dish as shown in FIG. 1 but in more detail;

#The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently-preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.

#Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference refer to like elements throughout, it will be seen that the chafing dish 2 of the invention comprises a first container 4 having long side walls 6 and 8 with short side walls 10 and 12 with bottom wall 14 and having depending spaced legs 16 and forming a recess or interior volume 18 to receive dish 20 of congruent shape to chafing dish 2.

#In this particular instance, chafing dish 2 is of metal construction and has depending lateral supports 22 and 24 which in this particular instance are welded or otherwise secured, as by means or bolts, to the side walls 10 and 12 of chafing dish 2. It will be noted that the lateral supports 22 and 24 terminate in suspended shelf 26 having side walls 28 and 30 with continuous surface 32 and with the rearward edge of shelf 26, as best seen in FIG. 2, having an upraised lip or flange 34 extending the length thereof. Obviously the lip or flange 34 may not necessarily extend the entire length of the rearward edge but instead may be spaced tabs or even a single, centered upraised abutment.