Food pan having corner structure

A food pan for use with a serving station having wells within which to support the food pan, the food pan comprising:

• a bottom having a substantially rectangular periphery;
• a side wall connected to the bottom, wherein the side wall projects from the rectangular periphery of the bottom in an upward direction, and wherein the bottom and side wall together form a volume configured to support contents of the food pan;
• a rim connected to the side wall on an end thereof opposite to the bottom, wherein the rim that extends from the side wall in an outward direction, away from the volume formed by the side wall and the bottom, and wherein the cross-section of the rim further comprises:
• an ascending portion connected to the side wall,
• a top portion connected to the ascending portion, and
• a descending portion connected to the top portion, wherein the ascending and descending portions are rounded;
• and
• four corner structures located between the side wall and the rim, each corner structure associated with one of the corners of the rectangular periphery of the bottom, wherein each corner structure further comprises:
• a base side connected to the side wall, and
• two ascending sides connected to the base side, and extending along both the side wall and the ascending portion of the cross-section of the rim,
• wherein the ascending sides extend from opposite ends of the base side;
• and
• wherein at least one of the ascending portion and the descending portion of the cross-section of the rim has a radius of curvature that is greater than the cross-sectional length of the top portion of the rim.

A food pan, comprising:

• a bottom having a substantially rectangular periphery;
• a side wall connected to the bottom, wherein the side wall projects from the rectangular periphery of the bottom in an upward direction, and wherein the bottom and side wall together form a volume configured to support contents of the food pan;
• a rim connected to the side wall on an end thereof opposite to the bottom, wherein the rim extends from the side wall in an outward direction, away from the volume formed by the side wall and the bottom, and wherein the cross-section of the rim further comprises:
• an ascending portion connected to the side wall,
• a top portion connected to the ascending portion, and
• a descending portion connected to the top portion, wherein the ascending and descending portions are rounded;
• and
• four corner structures located between the side wall and the rim, each corner structure associated with one of the corners of the rectangular periphery of the bottom, wherein each corner structure further comprises:
• a base side connected to the side wall, and
• two ascending sides connected to the base side, and extending along both the side wall and the ascending portion of the rim,
• wherein the ascending sides extend from opposite ends of the base side;
• wherein ends of the two ascending sides opposite to the base side for each corner structure are spaced apart from each other along the rim, forming a gap therebetween for pouring the contents of the food pan therethrough;
• and
• wherein the length of the gap is less than one-tenth the length of the base side of each corner structure.