Food receptacle and heating apparatus

This invention relates to a food receptacle and heating apparatus to receive food products therein for receiving, displaying, and maintaining at a proper serving temperature which includes (1) a main container housing; (2) a food support assembly mounted within the main container housing to receive and transfer the food product therein; and (3) an air flow and temperature control assembly to provide for the flow of heated air therethrough. The main container housing includes a generally rectangular box shape basic housing assembly having a top lid member pivotally connected thereto. The food support assembly includes (1) a clean out tray member for receiving debris and food particles thereon; (2) a first inclined screen member to receive the food product thereon about to be removed therefrom; and (3) a second inclined screen member to hold the food product for initial heating before moving downwardly onto the first inclined screen member. The air flow and temperature control assembly includes a main blower assembly to receive inlet and transfer air; a heater assembly to receive air from the main blower assembly and heat same; and a circuit control assembly to control overall operation. The circuit control assembly includes a thermostat member operable to control operation of the main blower assembly and the heater assembly to provide for movement of the heated air from a lower portion of the main container assembly upwardly through the first and second inclined screen members to be discharged through holes in the top lid member.

PRIOR ART 
A patentability search concerning this invention herein revealed the 
following United States Patents. 
______________________________________ 
Reg. No. 
Patent Inventor 
______________________________________ 
2,715,898 
FOOD WARMING AND Michaelis 
CONDITIONING DEVICE et al 
3,327,092 
DISPLAY WARMER Wilson 
3,545,832 
HEATED DISPLAY CASE Levenback 
4,491,065 
FOOD HEATING APATUS Poulson 
4,499,818 
METHOD AND APATUS FOR 
Strong 
HOLDING FRESHLY PREED 
FRIED FOOD PRODUCTS 
______________________________________ 
The Michaelis et al patent discloses a roaster type structure used for food 
warming being provided with a front hinged door to gain access and the 
structure maintains a humidifying effect on the food therein. 
The Strong patent discloses an apparatus for holding the prepared fried 
food products, having a conventional heater element and blower combination 
but does not have the numerous features of our invention. 
The Levenback patent discloses a heated display case normally found in 
delicatessens and grocery stores to hold food products in excess of 140 
degrees Fahrenheit. This structure is concerned with the product being 
maintained with a proper moisture content without further cooking and 
drying out of the food product. 
The Wilson patent discloses another display warmer having a plurality of 
shelves with a conventional heater and blower structure to maintain the 
circulation of air therein. 
The most pertinent patent appears to be Poulson for a food heating 
apparatus utilizing a heating chamber having a perforated food container 
rotatable therein. The hot air is forced through the openings in the 
rotatable food container in order to heat the food product therein. This 
structure would appear to operate to warm food products but is very 
complex in structure and not as easy to load and unload as our invention. 
Therefore, it is noted that the entire combination of elements of the 
applicant's invention as set forth hereinafter is not revealed in the 
prior art search. 
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
In one preferred embodiment of this invention, a food holding and heating 
apparatus is provided which includes a main container housing; a food 
support assembly mounted within the main container housing; and an air 
flow and food temperature control assembly operable to supply inlet air 
and heat for warming food product contained within the main container 
housing. The main container housing includes a basic housing assembly of 
generally rectangular box shape having a top lid member pivotally 
connected thereto. The basic housing assembly is provided with a front 
wall with an outlet door member pivotally connected thereto to selectively 
remove food product therefrom and a side wall having a clean out opening 
to remove a clean out tray member for periodic maintenance thereof. The 
top lid member is provided with a main lid body having a plurality of air 
discharge openings therein and being selectively opened to readily add 
food product therein to be heating. The food support assembly includes a 
clean out tray member supported on a bottom wall of the main container 
housing operable to collect food product particles for ready removal and 
maintenance thereof and first and second inclined screen members with 
parallel longitudinal axis mounted transversly in the basic housing 
assembly. The first screen member extends the entire length and width of 
the basic housing assembly and is inclined downwardly towards an outlet 
door member for selective removal of the heated food product when properly 
prepared. The second inclined screen member is mounted in an opposite 
inclination to the first inclined screen member and does not completely 
cover the area so that the food product can move downwardly as being 
heated and transversly of the basic housing assembly for subsequent 
removal therefrom thru the outlet door member. The air flow and food 
temperature control assembly includes a main blower assembly to receive 
inlet air and force the subject air towards a heater assembly, both of 
which are controlled by a circuit control assembly. The heater assembly is 
provided with a heater element to heat the air to the desired temperature. 
The heated air is directed into a lower portion of the basic housing 
assembly and moves upwardly through the first and second inclined screen 
members to heat the food product supported thereon. The circuit control 
assembly includes a thermostat member operable to maintain the proper 
temperature of the air within the main container housing to achieve the 
desired end result and function of this invention. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
One object of this invention is to provide a food receptacle and heating 
apparatus including a main container housing adapted to receive food 
product in an upper end therein for moving downwardly and transversly in a 
contolled pattern and having an air flow and temperature control assembly 
to receive and heat inlet air to be moved transversly and upwardly through 
the food product to achieve a desired warming thereof. 
One other object of this invention is to provide a food receptacle and 
heating apparatus including a main container housing with a basic housing 
assembly with a pivotal top lid member thereon having various openings 
therein to (1) add food product through the top lid member; (2) to 
selectively remove heated food product through a lower outlet door member; 
(3) a lower air distributor or inlet opening to distribute heated air 
throughout the basic housing assembly; and (4) a clean out tray door 
operable to be opened to remove a clean out tray member for periodic 
maintenance. 
One other object of this invention is to provide a food receptacle and 
heating apparatus including a main container housing with a food support 
assembly mounted therein having first and second inclined screen members 
operable to receive a food product thereon for its subsequent travel 
laterally and downwardly for a sufficient time period for heating to the 
proper temperature. 
Still, one other object of this invention is to provide a food receptacle 
and heating apparatus which is economical to operate; easy to add and 
remove food product; automatic in controlled heating operation; generally 
maintenance free; easy to maintain in a sanitary condition; economical to 
manufacture; and reliable in operation. 
Various other objects, advantages, and features of this invention will 
become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion, 
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific 
embodiments of the food receptacle and heating apparatus of this 
invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, whereupon the 
same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts 
and/or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and 
description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, a food 
receptacle and heating apparatus of this invention, indicated generally at 
12, is operable and utilized to hold food product therein such as food 
chips 14 noted in FIG. 3. The food receptacle and heating apparatus 12 
includes (1) a main container housing 16; (2) a food support assembly 18 
mounted within the main container housing 16 to receive and convey the 
food chips 14 thereon; and (3) an air flow and food temperature control 
assembly 20 operable to receive the ambient air to heat and blow same 
through the food support assembly 18 and the food chips 14 for 
progressively and properly heating to the desired temperature. 
The main container housing 16 is of generally rectangular box shape having 
a basic housing assembly 22 with a top lid member 24 pivotally connected 
thereto. The basic housing assembly 22 includes (1) a bottomwall 26; (2) 
spaced parallel end walls 28, 30 extended upwardly and integral with the 
bottom wall 26; (3) a back wall 34 secured along the bottom and side edges 
to the respective bottom wall 26 and end walls 28, 30; and (4) a front 
wall 36 connected to the other edges of the bottom wall 26 and end walls 
28, 30 and extended upwardly therefrom. 
The end wall 28 is provided with a clean out opening 37 near a lower 
portion thereof having a clean out door member 38 secured by a clean out 
hinge member 39 about the clean out opening 37. The clean out door member 
38 is provided with a knob member 40 so as to pivotally and periodically 
open same for maintenance purposes in a manner to be explained. 
The back wall 34 is provided with an air diffuser or inlet opening 35 to 
receive and distribute heated inlet air to the interior of the basic 
housing assembly 22 in a manner to be explained and having a thermostat 
opening 41 therein. 
As noted in FIG. 1, the front wall 36 is provided with an outlet door 
member 42 which is pivotally connected about a rectangular opening 44. The 
outlet door member 42 is provided with a main door body 43 pivotally 
connected along a lower edge by a hinge member 48 and a knob member 50 for 
ease of grasping and pivotally moving from the open to the closed 
conditions as noted in solid and dotted lines, respectively, in FIG. 3. 
As best shown in FIG. 1, the top lid member 24 is provided with a main lid 
body 54 pivotally connected by a piano type lid hinge member 56 along the 
upper surface of the back wall 34 and having a lid knob member 58 
connected to an upper surface of the main lid body 54 for ease of grasping 
and opening. 
The main lid body 54 is of generally rectangular shape having a plurality 
of openings or holes 60 therein and providing about an outer peripheral 
edge of the main lid body 54 with a downwardly depending flange section 62 
which contacts the upper top surfaces of end walls 28, 30 and front wall 
36. The holes 60 are constructed of a desired size and configuration in 
conjunction with that of the air flow and food temperature control 
assembly 20 so as to provide for exit of heated air flow therethrough. The 
holes 60 are of a size to permit the air flow to maintain a sufficient 
temperature and time of flow through the food support assembly 18 to heat 
the food product or chips 14. 
As noted in FIGS. 1 and 3, the food support assembly 18 includes (1) a 
clean out tray member 64; (2) a first inclined screen or shield member 66; 
and (3) a second inclined screen or shield member 68. The clean out tray 
member 64 is provided with a bottom wall section 70 having about its outer 
peripherally an upwardly extended flange sections 72. It is noted that the 
clean out tray member 64 is adapted to receive debris such as food 
particles thereon to be removed and dispensed with during periodic 
maintenance. 
The first screen member 66 is positioned above the air inlet opening 35 in 
the back wall 34 and is inclined therefrom downwardly and forwardly to a 
position even with or below the rectangular opening 44 in the front wall 
36. The first screen member 66 is of a sufficient length and width so as 
to completely cover the cross-sectional area of the basic housing assembly 
22 and having a plurality of openings 67. The angle and inclination of the 
first inclined screen member 66 is such that it uses force of gravity to 
move the food chips 14 downwardly towards the outlet door member 42. 
The second inclined screen member 68 resembles the first screen member 66 
as far as the openings or holes 67 but is inclined in a reversed 
direction. The second screen memberf 68 is equal in length to that of the 
first screen member 66, but of a lesser width so as to leave an open area 
indicated at 69 to permit the food product or chips 14 supported thereon 
to move downwardly onto the upper portion of the first screen member 66 
for continued heating thereof. 
The air flow and food temperature control assembly 20 includes (1) a main 
blower assembly 74 secured to the back wall 34 of the basic housing 
assembly 22; (2) a heater assembly 76 connected to an outlet portion of 
the main blower assembly 74; (3) a heater and blower housing 77; and (4) a 
circuit control assembly 78 operably connected to the main blower assembly 
74 and the heater assembly 76. 
As noted in FIG. 2, the main blower assembly 74 includes a blower housing 
80 having a blower motor 82 to drive a conventional fan section to force 
inlet air through an air outlet housing 84. The main blower assembly 74 is 
operable similar to a vacuum motor member to receive air flow through 
louver members 81 to provide the inlet air to the blower motor 82 to 
discharge same under pressure through the air outlet housing 84. 
The heater assembly 76 includes an outer heating housing 86 having a heater 
element 88 therein. The heater element 88 is operable on receiving the air 
from the air outlet housing 84 to heat same to the desired temperature. 
The heated air moves through a discharge housing 89 which, in turn, is 
connected to an air distributor housing 91. As noted in FIG. 3, the heated 
air moves through the air inlet opening 35 in the back wall 34 as will be 
explained. 
The circuit control assembly 78 includes (1) an inlet power cord 90; (2) an 
electrical circuit 92 connected to the inlet power cord 90; and (3) a 
thermostat member 94 which automatically controls operation of the blower 
motor 82 and the heater element 88 as will be noted. 
The inlet power cord 90 is of a conventional nature having a plug member 96 
adapted to be placed in a conventional electrical outlet such as 110 volt 
A.C. 
As noted in FIG. 4, the electrical circuit 92 includes (1) lines 98 and 100 
connected to the plug member 96; (2) an on/off switch 102 mounted in the 
line 100 to control power supply to the main blower assembly 74 and the 
heater assembly 76; (3) a line 104 connected from line 100 to one side of 
the heater element 88 and additionally to one side of the blower motor 82; 
(4) a line 108 connected to the line 98 and one side of the thermostat 
member 94; and (5) a line 110 which is connected from the therostat member 
94 to supply the other power line to the heater element 88 and the blower 
motor 82. 
The thermostat member 94 may be of a bi-metallic type heat sensitive switch 
structure which is operable, on reaching a predetermined temperature, to 
open or close a switch member 111 which, in turn, would concurrently 
energize or de-energize the heating element 88 and the blower motor 82 for 
proper operation as will be explained. 
USE AND OPERATION OF THE INVENTION 
In the use and operation of the food receptacle and heating apparatus 12 of 
this invention, the main container housing 16 is utilized to hold food 
product 14 therein such as popcorn, potato chips, tortilla chips, or nacho 
chips as desired. The main function of the invention is the proper holding 
and separation of the food product while allowing a sufficient amount of 
heated air to pass therethrough to maintain the proper temperature of the 
subject food product. This invention has been particularly noteworthy for 
use in a final food product known as "Nachos and Cheese" whereupon a 
plurality of nacho chips are placed on a serving dish and covered with 
spicy cheese. It is important that the nacho chips be used in a 
sufficiently heated condition for the maximum enjoyment of the "Nachos and 
Cheese" combination. 
In the use of the food receptacle and heating apparatus 12, the bottom wall 
26 is supported on a serving counter, table or the like and the power 
supply is provided by placing the plug member 96 of the inlet power cord 
90 in a 110 volt AC electrical outlet receptacle. 
The top lid member 24 has the main lid body 54 moved upwardly about the lid 
hinge member 56 to an open or semi-open condition as noted in FIG. 1. 
Then, the interior of the basic housing assembly 22 is filled with the 
food chips 14 as so desired. A major portion of the food chips 14 would be 
supported on the top surface of the second inclined screen member 68 but 
some of the food product would move downwardly through the open space 69 
on to the first inclined screen member 66 as noted in FIG. 3. 
After being initially loaded, the top lid member 24 and the outlet door 
member 42 are moved to the closed condition as shown in solid lines in 
FIG. 3. 
Next, the on/off switch 102 would be activated to the closed or energized 
position to allow electrical current from the plug member 96 to move 
through the line 98 to the thermostat member 94. The thermostat 94 
utilizes a sensing element extended through the back wall 34 of the basic 
housing assembly 22. The themostat member 94 will be of an adjustable type 
so that a predetermined temperature can be maintained within the main 
container housing 16. The switch member 111 is operable on reaching a both 
a high and/or a low temperature setting to insure that (1) the heating 
elment 88 will be energized with the blower member 82 if the temperature 
is not sufficient within the basic housing assembly 22; and (2) when an 
excessively high temperature limit is reached in the main container 
housing 16, it would cause an opening of the switch member 111 to 
de-energize the heating element 88 and the blower member 82. 
On closing of the switch member 111, it is seen that the blower member 82 
and the heater element 88 are energized whereupon the inlet air is first 
moved through the louver members 81 into the blower housing 80. The blower 
motor 82 is operable to force the inlet air through the air outlet housing 
84 into the heater assembly 76. At this point, the moving air is heated by 
the heater element 88 and moves through the discharge housing 89 into the 
air distributor housing 91. Next, the heated air is discharged through the 
air inlet opening 35 in the back wall 34. At this time, the heated air, 
indicated by arrow 112, is distributed and moves upwardly through the 
first inclined screen member 66 and holes 67 to contact the food chips 14 
resting thereon. The heated air continues its flow upwardly through the 
food chips 14 and the holes 67 in the bottom surface in the second 
inclined screen member 68 as shown by arrows 114. This heated air moves 
upwardly, as noted in FIG. 3, until discharged through the holes 60 in the 
closed top lid member 24 into the atmosphere. 
It is noted that the movement of the heated air into the main container 
housing 16 operates to have the initially heated air contact the food 
chips 14 resting on the first inclined screen member 66 so as to transfer 
heat to the food chips 14 in a greater amount as these are adjacent the 
outlet door member 42 and next to be removed. 
The operator of the food receptacle and heating apparatus 12 may move the 
outlet door member 42 to the open condition as shown in dotted lines of 
FIG. 3 in order to remove the heated food chips 14 therefrom. On closing 
the outlet door member 42 and, due to the movement of the air flow 
therethrough, it is obvious that the remaining food chips 14 would move 
downwardly on the inclined surfaces of the first and second screen members 
66, 68 under force of gravity. Of course, the basic housing assembly 22 
can be restocked with food chips 14 as desired and the novel operation 
allows the gradual heating of the food chips 14 as they move downwardly on 
the reversely inclined first and second screen members 66, 68. 
It is seen that the food receptacle and heating apparatus of this invention 
is an attractive, compact structure having means to provide for automatic 
operation thereof. The front wall, the end walls, and the top wall can be 
constructed of a transparent material so that the customers can observe 
the operation and the heated nature of the food chips so as to increase 
product appeal and resultant food sales. 
It is seen that the food receptacle and heating apparatus of this invention 
is easy to operate; efficient in the operation of the heat transfer 
function; substantially maintenance free; and relatively inexpensive to 
manufacture. It is obvious that the various holes in the top lid member 
and the first and second inclined screen members can be adjusted to 
achieve the desired rate of air flow in conjunction with the output from 
the main blower assembly and the heater assembly so as to achieve the 
proper heating of the food product. Also, the thermostat member can be 
adjusted and regulated so as to maintain the proper temperature therein 
and prevent the overheating or burning of the heated food product. 
While the invention has been described in conjunction with preferred 
specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description 
is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, 
which is defined by the following claims.