Food service apparatus and process

A food preparation apparatus comprising:

• a chamber;
• an electrical terminal mounted on said chamber;
• a plurality of removable heat transfer elements disposed in said chamber;
• a plurality of drawers, arranged vertically, with each drawer supporting a plurality of said heat transfer elements, each of said drawers removably received in said chamber including:
• means for releasably electrically connecting said drawer to said terminal;
• and
• means for distributing power from said electrical connection means of said drawer to at least one of said heat transfer elements;
• and
• at least one of said plurality of heat transfer elements includes means for releasably electrically connecting to said power distribution means of one of said drawers;
• wherein at least one of said heat transfer elements is individually removable from at least one of said drawers such that when a first of said heat transfer elements is removed from said at least one drawer, a second of said heat transfer elements remains releasably electrically connected to said power distribution means in said at least one drawer.

An apparatus for transferring heat to a container of food comprising:

• means for emitting heat;
• means for housing at least a portion of said heat emitting means including a side wall;
• means for electrically connecting said heat emitting means to a power source, said connecting means including an electrical plug projecting from said side wall of said housing means;
• an electrical receptacle projecting from said side wall of said housing means, said electrical receptacle receiving an electrical plug of an adjacent heat transferring apparatus;
• said housing means including a top having an opening;
• said means for emitting heat fixedly mounted in said opening on said top of said housing means;
• and
• means, extending from said top of said housing means, for supporting a device which positions a container of food directly above said heat emitting means.

An apparatus for heating a container of food comprising:

• a chamber;
• a frame disposed about said chamber;
• a heat transfer element inside said chamber;
• and
• connecting means for supplying power to said heat transfer element including means, disposed on said frame and external to said chamber, for connecting the apparatus to a receptacle of an external power source, said connecting means having:
• a fastener for connecting said connecting means to said frame;
• a plug;
• and
• means for adjusting the plug position as it mates with the external power source receptacle including a rubber-like grommet disposed about said fastener.

A food preparation apparatus comprising:

• a chamber including:
• an inner side for receiving a plurality of removable heat transfer elements;
• a first electrical terminal having a portion accessible from the inner side of said chamber for providing power to the inner side of said chamber;
• and
• a second electrical terminal in substantially the same horizontal plane as said first electrical terminal and having a portion accessible from the inner side of said chamber for providing power to the inner side of said chamber;
• means for transferring power from an external power source to said terminals;
• waterproofing means, disposed adjacent said chamber terminals, for preventing fluid which is adjacent the accessible inner side portion of said terminals from leaking outside of said chamber;
• and
• means, removable from said inner side of said chamber, for distributing power from said terminals to said removable heat transfer elements;
• said removable power distribution means releasably engaging said first and second terminals of said chamber;
• and
• wherein said first and second terminals are disposed a distance of greater than twenty inches from each other.

A food preparation apparatus comprising:

• a food preparation chamber including an inner side and means for supplying power to said inner side of said chamber;
• a heat transfer element removably received in said inner side of said chamber including first and second substantially parallel walls;
• a male connector, disposed in said heat transfer element including:
• an electrical prong projecting from said first wall;
• and
• means for enabling an electrical coupling with said prong even in the presence of fluid on said prong;
• and
• a female connector disposed substantially within said heat transfer element and adjacent said second wall including:
• means for receiving an electrical prong of an adjacent heat transfer element;
• and
• means for enabling an electrical coupling with said receiving means even in the presence of fluid in the prong receiving means;
• and
• power distribution means, disposed in said inner side of said chamber, for supporting said heat transfer element and including means, electrically connected to said chamber power supply means, for distributing power from the chamber power supply means to said removable heat transfer element, said power distribution means including:
• a wall adjacent the first wall of said heat transfer element;
• and
• a female connector disposed substantially within and adjacent said wall of said power distribution means, said female connector including:
• means for receiving said electrical prong of said heat transfer element;
• means for enabling an electrical coupling in the presence of fluid in the receiving means of the power distribution means female connector;
• and
• means disposed on said heat transfer element for supporting food within said chamber.

An apparatus for transferring heat comprising:

• means for emitting heat;
• means for housing at least a portion of said heat emitting means including first and second substantially parallel walls;
• a male connector including:
• an electrical prong projecting from said first wall of said housing means;
• and
• means for enabling an electrical coupling with said electrical prong even in the presence of fluid on the electrical prong;
• and
• a female connector disposed within said housing means and adjacent said second wall of said housing means, including:
• means for receiving an electrical prong of an adjacent heat transferring apparatus;
• and
• means for enabling electrical coupling with said receiving means even in the presence of fluid in said female connector receiving means;
• wherein said housing further comprises a top surface having an aperture for receiving said heat emitting means with at least a portion said heat emitting means being exposed.