Patent ID: 6011243
Filing Date: 2000-01-04
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
A cabinet for maintaining containers of food within a predetermined temperature range for a period of time not exceeding a predetermined maximum time, comprising:a housing having a front panel and a passageway opening at said front panel, said passageway capable of receiving at least two containers of food;a temperature element positioned in said passageway for maintaining said passageway within said predetermined temperature range;a processing circuit for tracking the amount of time each container of food remains within said passageway and for providing a signal output indicating which container of food has been within said passageway the longest, and for providing an alarm signal when either container of food remains within said passageway beyond said predetermined maximum time; anda display positioned on said housing proximate to said passageway for receiving said signal output and indicating which container of food has been within said passageway the longest, and for receiving said alarm signal and indicating which container of food has been within said passageway for a period of time exceeding said predetermined maximum time.