Frosted condiment holder

A condiment holder is provided with a top plate which includes a plurality of openings extending along the plate for supporting individual condiment containers within the holder, the plate having formed thereon a layer of frost thereby giving the appearance of the condiments resting in ice. The condiment holder comprises a conventional refrigeration unit which passes refrigerant through refrigerant lines placed underneath and in contact with the top plate adjacent each and every one of the plate openings thereby producing the frost or ice layer along the top surface of the plate and providing a refrigerated storage area below the top plate within the condiment holder to maintain the individual condiments refrigerated. The condiment holder is further provided with a water flush system which comprises a self-draining base placed along the bottom of the holder and a pair of water jets located on one end of the base which flush the base with water or other cleaning fluid which is then drained from the base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to a condiment holder and, more 
particularly, to condiment holders which are commonly known as frost top 
units which give the appearance that the individual condiments are resting 
in ice. 
Specifically, the present invention relates to improvements over prior art 
frost top condiment holders used extensively for displaying condiments or 
other foods for self-service of such foods in many restaurants. 
For the past few years, the addition of self-service salad bars in 
restaurants of all types have shown a tremendous increase. One of the 
attractive features of many salad bars is produced by what is commonly 
known as a frost top unit which is basically a refrigerated plate which 
frosts so as to give the appearance of the salad as well as the additional 
condiments, vegetables and dressing and the like resting in ice. However, 
while such frost top units have been successful in providing salad bar 
displays with a pleasing appearance, among the disadvantages or problems 
of these presently used food holding and displaying devices includes the 
manufacture of the frost top plate as a flat solid tray which cannot 
effectively hold the individual foods in one place thereby allowing the 
individual food items to be moved around to a position other than one 
which allows convenient self-service or a visually pleasing display. 
Similarly, condiments which are supported in small containers resting on 
such frost top trays are not refrigerated throughout as only the bottom of 
such containers are in contact with the refrigerated plate. Still another 
disadvantage feature resides in the difficulty involved in cleaning such 
prior art frost top units. 
2. Disclosure Statement 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,248,467, issued July 8, 1941 to Scilken, discloses a 
refrigerated display fixture for perishable foods comprising a top section 
formed from a plurality of plates each having a refrigerant passage 
therethrough, the top section also containing therein tray openings formed 
by the arrangement of the spaced plates for allowing the placement of 
food-holding trays. The tray openings can further include tubular 
connecting elements connecting the refrigerant passages of the various 
spaced plates and may further be arranged below the top to come in contact 
with trays disposed within the tray openings. U.S. Pat. No. 2,962,874, 
issued Dec. 6, 1960 to Fitzgerald, discloses a cooling tray for food 
products and beverages for self-service in which the cooling tray includes 
a stepped base member for supporting containers holding said food or 
beverage and further including raised sidewalls to form a cooling box and 
a top plate member arranged to receive the containers through a plurality 
of apertures therein and to support these containers at points spaced 
above the base member, the base member being arranged to be seated in the 
proximity of laterally spaced portions of a continuous cooling coil in 
which the cooling coil is supplied with a refrigerant from a 
compressor-pump combination. A similar device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. 
No. 3,555,848, issued Jan. 19, 1971 to Johnson, which discloses a 
self-contained portable cooler for food receptacles in which the cooler 
houses a complete small mechanical refrigeration unit, the evaporator of 
which is arranged to support a food receptacle which is placed on a cooled 
plate contacting the evaporator unit. U.S. Pat. No. 2,560,309, patented 
July 10, 1951 to Stebbins, also discloses a refrigerator system for 
produce stands which are of the open top variety and in which the 
refrigerating units and supports therefor form the partitions by which the 
rack is divided into a plurality of independent generally rectangular open 
top bins or food display compartments. U.S. Pat. No. 2,759,339, issued 
Aug. 21, 1956 to Kundert, discloses an improvement for refrigerating or 
frost top plates described above in which the frosted top is placed in 
heat conducting contact with refrigerant conduits while the frame for the 
frost top plate is placed in heat conducting contact with warmed fluid to 
prevent frost from forming on the frame. U.S. Pat. No. 3,320,964, issued 
May 23, 1967 to Tripp, discloses a chemical flush system for use in 
cleaning and maintaining refrigeration equipment such as refrigerated 
cases used commercially in retail food stores. None of the above patents, 
however, recognizes the advantages of providing a condiment holder or 
refrigerated food display device, in general, with both a frosted top to 
provide cooling and a pleasing appearance as well as storage area below 
the frosted top which is also refrigerated to maintain the displayed foods 
fresh. Likewise, there is no teaching or suggestion in the prior art of 
combining such frost top condiment holders with a self-draining cleaning 
fluid flush system. While the Tripp patent adds a chemical flush system to 
a refrigerated display case, the display case of Tripp is unlike the frost 
top condiment holder of the present invention. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Briefly, the present invention is an improvement over prior art frosted top 
plates used for displaying salads and associated condiments and the like. 
In accordance with the present invention, a refrigerated condiment holder 
is provided, the condiment holder including a top plate which is covered 
with a layer of frost due to the placement of refrigerant conduits in heat 
exchange contact with the bottom surface of the plate, the top plate being 
provided with a plurality of container openings through which containers 
carrying foods may be placed. The condiment holder of the present 
invention includes a cooled storage area below the frosted top plate which 
maintains the foods in a fresh condition. The storage area is provided 
with a self-draining cleaning system which flushes the storage area of any 
food contaminants. The cleaning system comprises a pair of nozzles which 
direct cleaning fluid along the bottom and sides of the storage area 
within the condiment holder, the bottom of the storage area including a 
drain through which the cleaning fluid and separated contaminants are 
discharged. Accordingly, a condiment holder is provided which will 
maintain the individual foods in the position at which they are placed, is 
capable of holding different types of condiments or foods depending upon 
the sizes of openings within the frost top plate, will produce a frost or 
ice appearance to exist around the tray openings and on the cover of the 
individual condiment containers presenting a unique appearance of mounded 
ice around the individual containers placed in the tray openings and which 
cools those containers placed within the tray openings not only from the 
top of the container but from the cooled storage area existing below the 
frost top plate unit by the placement of the refrigerant conduits 
underneath the frost top and adjacent each of the tray openings. 
A primary object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an 
improved refrigerated condiment holder which contains none of the 
disadvantageous features of prior art devices of similar type. 
In accordance with the foregoing object, another object of the invention is 
to provide a refrigerated condiment holder which includes a frosted top to 
provide the appearance of the condiments resting in ice and in which the 
top comprises a plurality of tray openings for the holding of individual 
food or condiment containers, the holder further including a refrigerated 
storage area positioned below the frosted top and which provides cooling 
of the bulk of the individual containers passing through the frosted top. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a conduit 
holder of the above type which further contains a self-draining fluid 
cleaning system for maintaining the storage area free from contaminants. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a 
refrigerated condiment holder provided with a decorative frost top unit 
which is capable of holding and maintaining in position a plurality of 
foods and condiments and maintain the foods and condiments cool and fresh 
and is further provided with a self-draining cleaning system which allows 
the simple and efficient cleaning of the device thus maintaining the 
necessary sanitary conditions. 
These together with other objects and advantages which will become 
subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation 
as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to 
the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals 
refer to like parts throughout.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, it can be seen that the refrigerated 
condiment holder of the present invention generally indicated by reference 
numeral 10 comprises a generally rectangular shaped base 12 formed by 
sidewalls 14 and 16 and end walls 18 and 20. Base 12, if desired, can be 
supported by four support legs 22. Obviously, base 12 may take many forms 
and shapes in order to accommodate the numerous variety of sites and 
situations in which condiment holder 10 may be utilized. Positioned over 
base 12 is frost top unit 24 which is a plate containing a plurality of 
container openings 26 which may be of varying size, although for the 
purposes of illustration only, all of openings 26 are shown of the same 
diameter. Openings 26 support a plurality of condiment containers 28 which 
usually include an outer rim or lip which extends over the surface of 
frost top unit 24. As best seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, frost top unit 24 
includes a perimeter gutter 30 which collects condensate formed from the 
melting of the frost layer which is formed over the surface of frost top 
unit 24. Frost top unit 24 further includes an outer perimeter lip 32 
which secures frost top unit 24 onto base 12. 
Positioned underneath frost top unit 24 and attached to the bottom surface 
thereof is refrigerant conduit 34 which can be seen in FIG. 2 as following 
a path which travels adjacent each of container openings 26 such that each 
opening 26 is virtually surrounded by refrigerant conduit 34. As can be 
seen, refrigerant conduit 34 travels between each row of openings 26 as 
well as between each column thereof and between the outermost openings 26 
and the outer perimeter of frost top unit 24 adjacent gutter 30. In this 
manner, a layer of frost or ice forms on the top of frost top unit 24 and 
maintains the individual condiment containers 28 and their contents 
refrigerated. Refrigerant conduit 34 is essentially the evaporator of a 
conventional refrigeration system which includes a refrigerant vapor 
compressor and compressed vapor refrigerant condenser (not shown). 
Refrigerant conduit 34 is linked to the conventional refrigeration system 
by means of holder 36 which holds conduit inlet 38 and refrigerant return 
40 which returns the evaporated refrigerant that travelled the total path 
along the bottom surface of frost top unit 24 by means of refrigerant 
conduit 34. 
Positioned underneath and spaced from frost top unit 24 is water or 
cleaning fluid flush system 42 which comprises pan 44 which is shaped so 
as to direct all water or cleaning fluid dispensed from nozzles 46 and 48 
to drain 50. Nozzles 46 and 48 direct water or chemical cleaning fluid 
onto the top surface of pan 44 thus cleaning or flushing any contaminants 
thereon into drain 50. As can be seen, nozzles 46 and 48 are spaced so as 
to disperse cleaning fluid substantially over the entire surface of pan 
44. The self-draining feature of pan 44 is provided by the inwardly 
slanting sidewalls 52 and 54 which direct the fluid onto downwardly 
slanted surface 53 which provides for movement of the cleaning fluid by 
gravity into drain 50. Pan 44 also collects condensate passing into gutter 
30 by means of drains 56, four in number, which are placed in gutter 30 
adjacent each end and sidewall of condiment holder 10. Condensate 
discharge through drains 56 contact pan 44 and flows by gravity to drain 
50 where all condensate is removed from condiment holder 10. 
A detailed arrangement of the components which form condiment holder 10 can 
be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. As can be seen, base 12 further includes a 
bottom wall 58 which has welded or otherwise attached thereto cabinet 60 
which holds the typical refrigeration equipment including compressor and 
condenser units. Placed adjacent each end and sidewall of base 12 is a 
layer of thermal insulation 62 which maintains what can be characterized 
as storage area 64 cold so as to provide refrigeration of the contents 
placed in container 28, the major portion of which extends into storage 
area 64. Storage area 64 is formed by the space existing between frost top 
unit 24 and pan 44 and is further bounded by end walls 66 and 68 and 
sidewalls 70 and 72 of water flush system 42. 
Refrigerant conduit 34 is preferably welded to bottom surface 74 of frost 
top unit 24. Refrigerant conduit 34 is positioned to pass the refrigerant 
along each side of container openings 26 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4. 
Refrigerant conduit 34 receives the expanding refrigerant via connector 76 
connecting a conventional expansion valve (not shown) to holder 36 while 
conduit 78 returns evaporated and warmed refrigerant from holder 36 to the 
compressor unit held within refrigeration cabinet 60. 
The spray nozzles 46 and 48 can be supplied from a supply conduit 80 which 
is linked to a source (not shown) of water or cleaning fluid. A common 
T-connector can be used to supply both spray nozzles 46 and 48 from supply 
conduit 80. Likewise, a separate supply conduit may be utilized to supply 
each of the respective spray nozzles. The downward slanting floor of 
center section 53 of pan 44 allows all wash water or fluid to enter drain 
50 which is fastened to drain pipe 82 for removal of spent fluid from 
condiment holder 10. 
In operation, a conventional refrigeration system supplies refrigerant to 
refrigerant conduit 34 which is placed in heat conducting contact with 
frost-top unit 24 so as to form a layer of frost or ice thereon due to 
condensate from the atmosphere. Refrigerant is passed throughout the total 
area of frost top unit 24 so as to cool the tops of each of containers 28 
placed in openings 26. Further, storage area 64 being insulated from the 
atmosphere by means of insulation layer 62 is also cooled by means of the 
expanding refrigerant through refrigerant conduit 34 and thus refrigerates 
the contents contained within containers 28. By forming storage area 64 
within condiment holder 10, relatively larger containers 28 can be 
utilized and thus hold a relatively larger quantity of salad dressings and 
other condiments and yet remain refrigerated and thus fresh. Further, the 
tops of containers 28 remain substantially flush with frost top unit 24 
enhancing the appearance of the food display by giving the appearance of 
the containers resting in ice due to the formation of the frost layer on 
the surface of frost top unit 24. Once refrigerant has passed throughout 
the full circuit laid down by refrigerant conduit 34, warmed refrigerant 
is returned to the refrigeration unit via conduit 78. Periodic cleaning of 
condiment holder 10 is accomplished by simply opening nozzles 46 and 48 
which dispense the stream of cleaning fluid along the sides and bottom 
surface of pan 44 thus removing any contaminants which may be adhered. The 
cleaning fluid and contaminants are removed by gravity flow through drain 
50 and out of condiment holder 10 via conduit 82. In this manner, 
condiment holder 10 does not have to to be disassembled for each cleaning 
and this is much simpler and more economical to operate than prior art 
frost top units. 
Materials for the construction of condiment holder 10 can vary, although 
metal seems to be the most preferred material, especially for frost top 
unit 24. Metal has the proper heat conducting properties which would allow 
the formation of the layer of frost or ice on the top surface of frost top 
unit 24. The materials chosen should be rust and corrosion resistant and 
should greatly resist the growth of mold, fungus and bacteria so as to 
maintain condiment holder 10 as sanitary as possible. 
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the 
invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily 
occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the 
invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and 
accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted 
to, falling within the scope of the invention.