Abstract:
A food display and preservation case comprising at least one support member provided with wheels and brakes. The support member houses heating and refrigeration equipment and control elements. The support member supports a center body or table which includes compartments which may be heated or cooled, as well as a slab which may be cooled and a plate which may be heated. At least one column is disposed on the center body or table and supports a shield screen and light. The case may be used for self-service or buffet-style presentation.

Description:
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     Just as is expressed in the title of this specification, the present invention refers to a food display and preservation case, whose purpose consists of providing an element with excellent aesthetic and funcional features, that can be housed anywhere where one wishes to serve breakfasts, lunches or dinners to the public in general, in dining rooms, convention halls, gardens or other areas. 
     Other aims of the invention consist of the cited case keeping the cold or hot food at the desired temperatures, with some optimal conditions of hygiene and lighting with regard to the food and of hygiene and soundproofing with regard to the refrigeration and heating equipment that the case includes. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to achieve the aims indicated in the above section, the invention consists of a food display and preservation case that includes a central body or table preferably rectangular or hexagonal and with variable dimensions depending on the needs. This table has on its top surface different groups of trays, compartments, plates or the like, where the foods at the desired temperatures are displayed since said groups are connected to electrical resistors or refrigeration systems, depending on whether the foods are to be heated or kept cold. 
     This table or center body is on some preferably cylindrical supports in which the refrigeration units, resistor control panels, light switches and other control elements are housed, therefore the operation of the case is very silent. Besides, said supports include some rotatable wheels with brakes that make it easy to move and secure the display case. 
     Over the table or center body there are some columns that support some shelves and lighting elements. Said shelves are preferably made out of glass or methacrylate with the side edges curved downwards. 
     Under the shelves are some lighting elements of the halogen variety when additional heat is to be given to the food and of the flourescent variety when the food is only to be lighted. 
     Decorations, plants and other ornamental elements may be placed on the shelves. 
     With this constitution the food display and preservation case serves to serve food to the public rapidly and with a minimum number of employees, since the customers may serve themselves and form two lines around the case. 
     The conditions of hygiene that are achieved with this display case are excellent mainly due to three factors: the first one refers to the support wheels of the case, that define some small feet, whereby the support surface of the case on the floor is very small. The second one refers to the compartments and trays where the food is located. They are manufactured with rounded edges that prevent corners where dirt can accumulate and thus they are easy to clean. The third one refers to the top trays, since the edges thereof curved downward prevent people who approach the case from breathing on the food. 
     Hereinafter to provide a better understanding of this specification and forming an integrated part of the same, some figures in which the object of the invention has been represented in an illustrative and non-restrictive manner, are attached hereto. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of a food display and preservation case, according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 represents a side schematic view of the food display and preservation case of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 represents a perspective view of a cold compartment and its connection to a refrigeration unit, of those that the food display and preservation case of the invention uses. 
     FIG. 4 represents a perspective view of a hot compartments with its resistors, of those that the food display and preservation case of the invention uses. 
     FIG. 5 represents a perspective exploded view of a granite plate of those used in the food display and preservation case of the present invention. This configuration is valid for cold as well as hot plates, depending on the tube-shaped element and the insulation used. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter a description of an embodiment of the invention making reference to the numbering used in the figures is made. 
     Hence, the food display and preservation case of this embodiment has some cylindrical supports (1) that have middle bases (2) under which four rotatable wheels (3) are welded. 
     The number of supports (1) will depend on the total length of the display case, there being two in the example of FIG. 1. 
     The bottom end of the supports (1) has four braking screws (4) corresponding with the wheels (3), so that the lowering or raising of these screws (4) determines a greater or lesser securing of the supports (1) in the corresponding floor (5.) 
     The middle base (2) supports the refrigeration equipment (6) and the control panels (7) of the thermostats, resistors, switches and other control elements that the case has. 
     These control panels (7) and refrigeration equipment are accessible by means of a door (8) existing in each support (1.) 
     Welded on the supports (1) there is a center body or table (9) whose top surface includes a series of food display and preservation trays, plates and compartments. 
     This table (9) is comprised of some cross I-beams (10) camfered at 45° on the ends thereof. Two longitudinal beams (11) also with an I-section are welded on these cross beams. 
     From said beams (10) and (11) a reversed pyramidic-truncated structure is formed by means of a laminated tube (12) that serves as a support of the front decoration (13) and of the top board (14.) Over this board (14) and glued with silicone a counter top (15) that is normally made of granite is placed. 
     Over the counter top (15) and glued with silicone the above mentioned plates and compartments are housed. In the present embodiment said plates and compartments are grouped in five types which are: hot compartment for plates (16), cold compartment for salads and appetizers (17), paella cooker or hot granite plate (18), hot compartment (19) and a cold dessert plate (20.) 
     Besides, over the counter top and partially covering said compartments and plates, there are some shelves-screen that are comprised of: 
     a stainless steel support or strip (21) that will be screwed to the counter top (15.) 
     some vertical stainless steel columns (22) screwed to the strips (21) and inside of which the feed cables of some lighting elements pass. 
     a semi-circular stainless steel screen support (23), whose length is variable depending on the area that is to be lighted. 
     a lighting screen (24) which depending on whether or not heat is to be transmitted, will include halogen or flourescent lights respectively. 
     and a top 6 mm glass or methacrylate shelf with its side edges curved downwards, supported by the columns (22) and fastened by stainless steel clips. 
     FIG. 3 of this example shows us the configuration of a cold compartment (17) through which the coil of a refrigeration unit (26) that will be housed in one of the cylindrical supports (1), passes. On the other hand, FIG. 4 shows a hot compartment (16) with the electric resistors (27) in the bottom thereof. 
     The cold compartment (17) as well as the hot compartment (16) include thermostats to adjust the temperature, all of the controls being accessible from the door (8) of the cylindrical support (1.) 
     In FIG. 5 one can see the arrangement of the elements of a granite plate (28.) The layout can correspond to a hot plate (18) or a cold plate (20) in function of the represented elements. Hence, it corresponds to a hot plate (18) when the tube-shaped element (29) is asbestos. However, when it corresponds to a cold plate (20), the tube-shaped element (29) is copper tubing connected to the compressor of the refrigeration equipment and the insulation (30) is expanded polystyrene. In both cases, the plate (31) is a stainless steel plate in which the system is housed.