Shelving and storage system having adjustable heated shelves

A self-contained, heated shelf for warming food items, comprising:

• a shelf body defining an interior space and comprising a support surface configured to support the food items;
• a heating system disposed substantially within the interior space of the shelf body, the heating system configured to generate heat to increase a temperature of the support surface to a desired temperature above an ambient temperature;
• and
• a power control;
• wherein the shelf body further comprises an upper panel and a lower panel attached to the upper panel and enclosing the interior space of the shelf body, wherein an upper side of the upper panel comprises the support surface;
• wherein the heating system comprises a heating circuit comprising a heating element in a heat transfer relationship with the upper panel of the shelf body and a temperature control device, wherein the heating element is electrically connected to the temperature control device;
• wherein the heating element is supported within the interior space of the shelf body so that heat generated by the heating element is transferred to the upper panel;
• wherein the temperature control device is configured to enable or interrupt electrical power to the heating element and comprises:
• a thermostat electrically connected to heating element, the thermostat comprising:
• a temperature sensor probe disposed in the interior space of the shelf body;
• a thermostat switch;
• and
• a user control configured to establish a temperature setting of the thermostat comprising a desired temperature for the support surface;
• wherein the temperature sensor probe is in thermal communication with the upper panel of the shelf body and configured to detect the temperature of the support surface and provide a signal response to the thermostat switch;
• wherein the thermostat switch is configured to receive the signal response from the temperature sensor probe and to OPEN or CLOSE based upon the temperature setting of the thermostat;
• wherein the heating circuit further comprises a temperature sensitive fuse disposed between the thermostat and the heating element and in thermal communication with the upper panel of the shelf body;
• and
• wherein the temperature sensitive fuse is configured to OPEN if the temperature of the support surface increases beyond a predetermined threshold temperature and interrupt power to the heating element.

A storage system comprising:

• four support posts;
• four mounting collars, one mounting collar attachable to each of the support posts, wherein each mounting collar comprises a conical outer surface;
• a heated shelf connected to and supported by the four support posts, the heated shelf configured to be adjustable along the support posts;
• wherein the heated shelf comprises a heatable support surface configured to support food items thereon,
• wherein the heated shelf is generally rectangular and comprises four corners, wherein each corner comprises a bracket including an aperture extending therethrough and having a conically-shaped inner surface configured to engage the conical outer surface of a respective mounting collar and enable the heated shelf to be attached to a support post;
• wherein the heated shelf comprises:
• a body including a plurality of panels fixed to each other and cooperating to define an interior space including an upper panel comprising the heatable support surface and a lower panel attached to the upper panel;
• a heating assembly disposed within the interior space of the body and configured to transfer heat to an upper panel of the plurality of panels of the body;
• and
• a temperature control device associated with one of the panels of the body and electrically and thermally coupled to the heating assembly, the temperature control device at least partially externally located relative to the heated shelf and operable to control a temperature of the heatable support surface of the heated shelf;
• wherein the heating assembly includes:
• at least one heating element;
• a diffuser plate thermally coupled to the at least one heating element and to the upper panel of the plurality of panels, wherein the diffuser plate is configured to uniformly distribute heat from the at least one heating element to the upper panel primarily by conductive heat transfer;
• and
• an insulation material disposed between the at least one heating element and the lower panel, wherein the insulation material is configured to substantially reduce heat transfer from the at least one heating element to the lower panel.

The storage system of claim 33, wherein the door assembly includes:

• a first door support coupled to the heated shelf and including a first lower track and a second lower track;
• a second door support coupled to the top shelf and including a first upper track and a second upper track;
• a first door having a lower end slidably received in the first lower track and an upper end slidably received in the first upper track, the first door operable between an open position in which the first region of the compartment is accessible and a closed position in which the first region of the compartment is inaccessible;
• and
• a second door having a lower end slidably received in the second lower track and an upper end slidably received in the second upper track, the second door operable between an open position in which the second region of the compartment is accessible and a closed position in which the second region of the compartment is in accessible.

A shelving system comprising:

• a plurality of support posts, each support post extending vertically along a longitudinal axis, the plurality of support posts including at least four posts comprising a front right post, a front left post, a rear right post and a rear left post;
• a plurality of heated shelf assemblies removably connected to and supported by the plurality of support posts, the plurality of heated shelf assemblies comprising an upper surface configured to support food items thereon, each heated shelf assembly independently adjustable vertically along the longitudinal axes of the plurality of support posts;
• a first post housing disposed at a right side of the shelving system and encasing the front right post, the rear right post and a right side of each of the heated shelf assemblies;
• and
• a second post housing disposed at a left side of the shelving system and encasing the front left post, the rear left post and a left side of each of the heated shelf assemblies,
• wherein the plurality of heated shelf assemblies, the first post housing and the second post housing cooperate to define a plurality of compartments, wherein a volume of space in each compartment is allowed to vary by adjusting one or more of the plurality of heated shelf assemblies vertically along the plurality of support posts.

The heated shelf of 3, further comprising a metal diffuser plate disposed between the heating element and an interior surface of the upper panel of the shelf body;

• wherein an upper surface of the diffuser plate is attached to the interior surface of the upper panel of the shelf body and the heating element is attached to a lower surface of the diffuser plate;
• wherein the diffuser plate is thermally coupled to the heating element and thermally coupled to the upper panel of the shelf body;
• and
• wherein the diffuser plate is configured to uniformly distribute the heat generated by the heating element to the upper panel primarily by way of conductive heat transfer.