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US 6,640,798 B2Granted
Food chafer with releasably lockable rolltop
AssigneeCarlisle FoodService Products, Incorporated
InventorInhwan Anh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A food chafer with a releasably lockable rolltop is provided. The chafer structure includes a framework for supporting a water pan which in turn supports a food pan therein. The rolltop is rotatably mounted to the framework with a lock mechanism. The rolltop is releasably lockable in a partially open position which allows access to food in the food pan. The rolltop is movable from the partially open position in a direction toward a closed position or in a direction toward a fully open position simply by application of force in the desired direction of movement. The working parts of the lock mechanism are completely self-contained so that no manipulation of external parts to lock or unlock the rolltop is required.
Claims33
A food chafer comprising:
- a framework for supporting a food pan;
- and
- a rolltop rotatably connected to said framework for covering said food pan, said rolltop being rotatable between a closed position wherein said top covers said food pan and a fully open position wherein said food pan is accessible for removal from said food chafer, and being releasably lockable in a partially open locked position between said fully open and closed positions, wherein said top is releasable for movement from said partially open locked position in a direction toward either of said closed or fully open positions, and wherein the only manipulation required to release the rolltop from the locked position for movement in either direction is the application to the rolltop of a moving force in the desired direction of movement.
A food chafer comprising:
- a framework for supporting a food pan;
- a pair of lock mechanisms, said lock mechanisms being connected to said framework and having a common longitudinal central axis;
- and
- a rolltop rotatably connected to said framework for covering said food pan and fixed to said lock mechanism, wherein said lock mechanism provides for rotation of said rolltop relative to said frame between a closed position wherein said top covers said food pan and a fully open position wherein said food pan is accessible for removal from said food chafer, wherein said rolltop is releasably lockable in a partially open locked position between said fully open and closed positions, wherein said top is releasable for movement from said partially open locked position in a direction toward either of said closed or fully open positions, and wherein the only manipulation required to release the rolltop from the locked position for movement in either direction is the application to the rolltop of a moving force in the desired direction of movement.
1 more element
A food chafer comprising:
- a framework for supporting a food pan, said framework comprising an outer rim, a plurality of legs connected to said outer rim and extending downward therefrom to a support surface, and an inner rim spaced inwardly from said outer rim for supporting said food pan;
- a lock mechanism mounted to said framework;
- and
- a rolltop rotatably connected to said framework for covering said food pan and fixed to said lock mechanism, wherein said lock mechanism provides for rotation of said rolltop relative to said frame, said rolltop being rotatable between a closed position wherein said top covers said food pan and a fully open position wherein said food pan is accessible for removal from said food chafer, and being releasably lockable in a partially open locked position between said fully open and closed positions, wherein said top is releasable for movement from said partially open locked position in a direction toward either of said closed or fully open positions, and wherein the only manipulation required to release the rolltop from the locked position for movement in either direction is the application to the rolltop of a moving force in the desired direction of movement.
1 more element
A food chafer comprising:
- a framework for supporting a food pan, said framework comprising an outer rim having legs attached thereto, an inner rim spaced inwardly from said outer rim, wherein said food chafer further comprises a water pan supported by said inner rim, said water pan having a water return spout, and
- a rolltop rotatably connected to said framework for covering said food pan, said rolltop defining a condensate opening for allowing condensate that forms on said rolltop to drip therethrough, wherein said condensate that passes through said opening is collected by said water return spout and communicated into said water pan, said rolltop being rotatable between a closed position wherein said top covers said food pan and a fully open position wherein said food pan is accessible for removal from said food chafer, and being releasably lockable in a partially open locked position between said fully open and closed positions, wherein said top is releasable for movement from said partially open locked position in a direction toward either of said closed or fully open positions, wherein the only manipulation required to release the rolltop from the locked position for movement in either direction is the application to the rolltop of a moving force in the desired direction of movement.
A food chafer for holding a food pan comprising:
- a framework for supporting said food pan;
- first and second axles mounted to said framework;
- a mounting hub rotatably disposed about each axle;
- and
- a rolltop for covering said food pan, said rolltop being fixedly connected to said mounting hubs so that said rolltop is adapted to rotate from a closed position wherein said food pan is covered by said rolltop to a desired open position wherein said food pan is accessible for removing food therefrom, and wherein said mounting hubs are releasably lockable in said desired open position, said hubs being releasable for rotation from said desired open position toward and away from said closed position solely by application of a moving force in the desired direction.
2 more elements
A food chafer for holding a food pan comprising:
- a framework for supporting said food pan;
- first and second axles mounted to said framework;
- a mounting hub rotatably disposed about each axle;
- and
- a rolltop for covering said food pan, said rolltop being fixedly connected to said mounting hubs so that said rolltop is adapted to rotate from a closed position wherein said food pan is covered by said rolltop to a desired open position wherein said food pan is accessible for removing food therefrom, and wherein said mounting hubs are releasably lockable in said desired open position, said hubs being releasable for rotation from said desired open position toward and away from said closed position solely by application of a moving force in the desired direction.
2 more elements
A food chafer for holding a food pan comprising:
- a framework for supporting said food pan;
- first and second axles mounted to said framework;
- a mounting hub rotatably disposed about each axle;
- a rolltop for covering said food pan, said rolltop being fixedly connected to said mounting hubs so that said rolltop is adapted to rotate from a closed position wherein said food pan is covered by said rolltop to a desired open position wherein said food pan is accessible for removing food therefrom, and wherein said mounting hubs are releasably lockable in said desired open position, said mounting hubs being releasable for rotation from said desired open position toward and away from said closed position solely by application of a moving force in the desired direction;
- a water pan supported by said frame;
- and
- a burner for heating water in said water pan, said rolltop having an opening for allowing condensate forming on said rolltop to drip therethrough, wherein said water pan has a water return for collecting said condensate passing through said opening and delivering said condensate into said water pan.
4 more elements
A food chafer comprising:
- a framework;
- a water pan for holding water supported by said framework;
- a food pan supported by said water pan and positioned so that a bottom thereof is located above a bottom of said water pan;
- a rolltop for removably covering said food pan, said rolltop including a drain for draining condensate that collects on said rolltop;
- and
- a condensate collector for collecting said condensate from said drain and delivering said condensate to said water pan.
3 more elements
A food chafer comprising:
- a framework for supporting a food pan;
- a self-locking, self-contained locking mechanism connected to said framework;
- and
- a rolltop connected to said self-locking, self-contained locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism provides for rotation of said rolltop between a closed position and a fully open position, and will releasably lock said rolltop in a desired open position between said closed and fully open position.
1 more element
A food chafer comprising:
- a framework for supporting a food pan;
- two self-locking, self-contained locking mechanisms connected to said framework;
- and
- a rolltop connected to said self-locking, self-contained locking mechanisms, wherein the locking mechanism provides for rotation of said rolltop between a closed position and a fully open position and will releasably lock said rolltop in a desired open position between said closed and fully open position.
1 more element
A food chafer comprising:
- a framework for supporting a food pan;
- a self-locking, self-contained locking mechanism connected to said framework, said locking mechanism comprising an axle mounted to said framework, and a mounting hub rotatably disposed about said axle;
- and
- a rolltop connected to said mounting hub, wherein said locking mechanism provides for rotation of said rolltop between a closed position and a fully open position and will releasably lock said rolltop in a desired open position between said closed and fully open position.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.