Food container
AssigneeHatco Corporation
InventorMichael Majchrzak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a heated food container including an interior chamber with an upper portion, a lower portion, and a wall defining an opening into the interior chamber. The opening is configured to permit the movement of food into and/or out of the interior chamber. The heated food container further includes a fan configured to supply air to a duct system and a heater configured to heat the air in the duct system. The duct system includes a first air duct configured to direct the heated air across the opening such that the heated air forms a barrier between the interior chamber and an exterior environment and a first bypass duct configured to deliver heated air directly to the lower portion of the interior chamber without being directed across the opening.
Claims25
A heated food container, comprising:
- an interior chamber having an upper portion and a lower portion;
- a wall defining an opening into the interior chamber, wherein the opening is configured to permit the movement of food into and out of the interior chamber;
- a fan configured to supply air to a duct system;
- and
- a heater configured to heat the air in the duct system;
- the duct system comprising:
- a first air duct configured to direct the heated air from the upper portion across the opening such that the heated air forms a barrier between the interior chamber and an exterior environment;
- and
- a first bypass duct configured to deliver heated air from the upper portion to the lower portion of the interior chamber without being directed across the opening;
- wherein the first bypass duct is configured to deliver heated air to the interior chamber from a location substantially adjacent the opening.
A heated food container, comprising:
- a chamber having a sidewall defining an interior cavity of the chamber, the interior cavity having a first portion and a second portion opposite to the first portion;
- an opening in the sidewall of the chamber;
- a first air duct configured to deliver heated air across the opening from the first portion;
- and
- a first bypass duct configured to deliver heated air from the first portion to the second portion of the interior cavity;
- wherein the first bypass duct is configured to deliver heated air to the interior cavity from a location substantially adjacent the opening.
A heated food container, comprising:
- an interior chamber having an upper portion and a lower portion;
- a first wall defining a first opening into the interior chamber, wherein the first opening is configured to permit the movement of food into and out of the interior chamber;
- a second wall defining a second opening into the interior chamber, wherein the second opening is configured to permit the movement of food into and/or out of the interior chamber;
- a fan configured to supply air to a duct system;
- and
- a heater configured to heat the air in the duct system;
- the duct system comprising:
- a first air duct configured to direct the heated air from the upper portion across the first opening to form a first barrier between the interior chamber and an exterior environment;
- a second air duct configured to direct the heated air from the upper portion across the second opening to form a second barrier between the interior chamber and the exterior environment;
- and
- a first bypass duct configured to deliver heated air from the upper portion to the lower portion of the interior chamber;
- wherein the first bypass duct includes only a single outlet located in the lower portion of the interior chamber substantially adjacent the first opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.