Combined food and food-plate warming device

A food and food-plate warming device includes a base plate that has a planar top surface and has an outwardly beveled edge provided with laterally stepped ridges concentrically spaced from the top surface center. A cover plate is positioned on the base plate and has an outer lip that is nested on one of the stepped ridges. Handles are conjoined to the outer lip for receiving at least four contiguous metacarpals therethrough. A mechanism is included for heating the base plate top surface such that the food and food-plate interfitted between the base plate and the cover plate can be heated. The heating mechanism includes a heating element intercalated between the top and bottom surfaces of the first base plate. An automatic shut off switch is coupled to the heating element for interrupting power to the heating element when an interior temperature of the device reaches a maximum threshold temperature.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention relates to warming devices and, more particularly, to a combined food and food-plate warming device.

2. Prior Art

In the interest of saving money and conserving food, many persons will reheat food that was prepared one or two days prior to the event. This is especially true among the elderly, who tend to be on a much more limited budget than those who have a steady working income. In order to properly heat one's food the use of a conventional oven, a toaster oven or a microwave is required. The drawback of using a conventional oven is the fact that the interior volume thereof is so extensive that is becomes counter productive to heat a single plate of food therein. Conventional ovens also consume a lot of energy while in operation, thus resulting in money loss instead of money savings.

Although a toaster oven is ideal for heating bread and other such smaller food items, the interior of such ovens are generally too small to accommodate an entire plate of food at one time. This requires that the user either find an alternate method of heating their food, or that they heat small portions at intervals. Obviously, the later practice is time-consuming and ineffective, since while a second portion of food is being heated, the previously heated portion of food is cooling down again.

Microwave ovens provide convenient means for quickly heating various food items. Users have found, however, that when heating a large plate of food different food items heat up at different rates, depending on their water content. Thus, for example, a person's rice will heat up much faster than the piece of meat that is sitting next to it on the plate. A further drawback of modern ovens and microwave ovens is that they are becoming increasingly complicated to operate. Thus, some elderly persons who feel intimidated by the technologically advanced appliances may forgo even attempting to use one.

Accordingly, a need remains for a combined food and food-plate warming device in order to overcome the above-noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing a food warming device that is convenient and easy to use, attractive in appearance, practical and effective in design, and durable. Such a warming device provides a way for the elderly who are arthritic, and other individuals, to safely prepare their own meals. The device conveniently eliminates the need for an elderly person to remember to shut off an appliance such as an oven or toaster oven after they are done using it. Such a food warming device is also ideal for those individuals who find the prospect of operating a microwave to be intimidating and complicated.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a combined food and food-plate warming device. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are provided by a combined food and food-plate warming device for assisting arthritic users to simultaneously heat refrigerated foodstuff seated on a cold plate.

The combined food and food-plate warming device includes a first base plate that has an annular shape provided with a planar top surface. Such a base plate further has an outwardly beveled edge provided with a plurality of laterally stepped ridges concentrically spaced from a center of the top surface. The base plate includes a plurality of handles that are directly conjoined to the outwardly beveled edge and are diametrically spaced along an outer perimeter of the base plate. Such handles are suitably sized and shaped for receiving at least four contiguous metacarpals of the user therethrough.

A first cover plate is directly positioned on the base plate. Such a cover plate has an annular shape provided with an outer lip that is directly nested on top of an outer one of the stepped ridges such that heat and steam are advantageously and effectively prevented from escaping away from an interior of the warming device. The first base plate bottom surface and the first cover plate top surface have an oscillating pattern.

A mechanism is included for heating the top surface of the base plate in such a manner that the food and food-plate interfitted between the base plate and the cover plate can advantageously and effectively be heated after a predetermined time interval. Such a heating mechanism includes an enclosed housing that is removably abutted directly against the bottom surface of the base plate. The housing has a cavity formed therein and further has a plurality of access holes formed at opposed ends of the housing. A unitary and continuous heating element is disposed within the cavity such that the heating element is invisible to the user.

An automatic shut off switch is electrically coupled to the heating element for advantageously and conveniently interrupting power to the heating element when an interior temperature of the warming device reaches a maximum threshold temperature. A top surface of the housing and the bottom surface of the base plate define a plurality of gaps therebetween for advantageously and effectively allowing heat to circulate along an entire surface area of the base plate and evenly distribute heat therealong.

The device preferably further includes a second base plate and a second cover plate directly and removably conjoined therewith. Such a second base plate has a contoured and beveled bottom surface. The first cover plate has a contoured and beveled top surface that has a symmetrically opposite and mirror shape of the second base plate bottom surface respectively such that the second base plate and the first cover plate effectively become interlocked when vertically stacked on each other.

The device may further include a third base plate and a third cover plate directly and removably conjoined therewith. Such a third base plate has a contoured and beveled bottom surface. The second cover plate has a contoured and beveled top surface that has a symmetrically opposite and mirror shape of the third base plate bottom surface respectively such that the third base plate and the second cover plate become interlocked when directly engaged and adapted to a vertically stacked position.

The first, second and third top plates preferably include a plurality of concentrically positioned annular ridges centrally registered from a respective center of the first, second and third top plates. Each of the first, second and third top plates may also include a knob centrally conjoined thereto and protruding vertically upwards such that a longitudinal length of the knob is oriented perpendicular to a respective one of the first, second and third top plates. Each of the first, second and third base plates may be provided with a chamfered region defining a notch suitably sized and shaped for conveniently and effectively receiving the knobs therein when the first, second and third base and cover plates are vertically stacked respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device of this invention is referred to generally inFIGS. 1-7by the reference numeral10and is intended to provide a combined food and food-plate warming device. It should be understood that the device10may be used to warm many different types of foodstuff and should not be limited in use to only warming left-over food items.

Referring initially toFIGS. 3,4and7, the device10includes a first base20plate that has an annular shape provided with a planar top surface21A. Such a base plate20further has an outwardly beveled edge22provided with a plurality of laterally stepped ridges23concentrically spaced from a center of the top surface21A. The base plate20includes a plurality of handles24that are directly conjoined, without the use of intervening elements, to the outwardly beveled edge22and are diametrically spaced along an outer perimeter of the base plate20. This is a critical and advantageous feature for allowing a user to simultaneously transport the base plate20and the cover plate30(described herein below) between remote locations, conveniently ensuring that the foodstuff stored within the device10is kept warm. Such handles24are suitably sized and shaped for receiving at least four contiguous metacarpals of the user therethrough, which is an essential and advantageous feature for allowing an arthritic person, who may have lost the gripping function provided by their thumb, to effectively lift and transport the device10by themselves. Thus, the device10affords such users with greater independence and may serve to increase their self-confidence.

Referring toFIGS. 1,2,3,4,6and7, a first cover plate30is directly positioned, without the use of intervening elements, on the base plate20, which is vital for ensuring that heat generated by the heating mechanism40(described herein below) remains trapped between the base plate20and the cover plate30. Such a cover plate30has an annular shape provided with an outer lip31that is directly nested, without the use of intervening elements, on top of an outer one of the stepped ridges23, which is crucial such that heat and steam are advantageously and effectively prevented from escaping away from an interior of the warming device10. The first base plate20A bottom surface21B and the first cover plate30A top surface32have an oscillating pattern. Of course, the base plate20and the cover plate30may be produced in a variety of alternate shapes, sizes and colors, as is obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Referring toFIGS. 1,2,4and5, a mechanism40is included for heating the top surface21A of the base plate20in such a manner that the food deposited on top of the base plate20and beneath the cover plate30can advantageously and effectively be heated after a predetermined time interval. Such a heating mechanism40includes an enclosed housing41that is removably abutted directly, without the use of intervening elements, against the bottom surface21B of the base plate20. The housing41has a cavity42formed therein and further has a plurality of access holes43formed at opposed ends44of the housing41. A unitary and continuous heating element45is disposed within the cavity42such that the heating element45is invisible to and isolated from the user, which is advantageous and critical for increasing the safety with which device10is operated.

An automatic shut off switch46is electrically coupled to the heating element45that is vital for advantageously and conveniently interrupting power to the heating element45when an interior temperature of the warming device10reaches a maximum threshold temperature. A combined light source and sound emitting member47is electrically coupled to the heating element45and the automatic shut off switch46, which is crucial for conveniently and effectively notifying a user when the device10has reached the maximum threshold temperature. A top surface48of the housing41and the bottom surface21B of the base plate20define a plurality of gaps25therebetween that are essential and advantageous for effectively allowing heat to circulate along an entire surface area of the base plate20and for evenly distributing the heat therealong.

Referring toFIGS. 6 and 7, the device10further includes a second base plate20B and a second cover plate30B directly and removably conjoined, without the use of intervening elements, therewith. Such a second base plate20B has a contoured and beveled bottom surface21B. The first cover plate30A has a contoured and beveled top surface32that has a symmetrically opposite and mirror shape of the second base plate bottom surface21B respectively such that the second base plate20B and the first cover plate30A effectively become interlocked when vertically stacked on each other, thus advantageously allowing an individual to simultaneously transport more than one base plate20and cover plate30between remote locations.

Again referring toFIGS. 6 and 7, the device10also includes a third base plate20C and a third cover plate30C directly and removably conjoined, without the use of intervening elements, therewith. Such a third base plate20C has a contoured and beveled bottom surface21B. The second cover plate30B has a contoured and beveled top surface32that has a symmetrically opposite and mirror shape of the third base plate bottom surface21B respectively such that the third base plate20C and the second cover plate30B become interlocked when directly engaged, without the use of intervening elements, and adapted to a vertically stacked position.

Referring toFIGS. 1,2,3,4,6and7, the first30A, second30B and third30C cover plates include a plurality of concentrically positioned annular ridges33centrally registered from a respective center of the first30A, second30B and third30C cover plates. Each of the first30A, second30B and third30C cover plates also include a knob34centrally conjoined thereto and protruding vertically upwards such that a longitudinal length of the knob34is oriented perpendicular to a respective one of the first30A, second30B and third30C cover plates. Such knobs34advantageously provide a convenient means for lifting a cover plate30from its respective base plate20. Each of the first20A, second20B and third20C base plates are provided with a chamfered region defining a notch26that is suitably sized and shaped for conveniently and effectively receiving the knobs34therein when the first20A,30A, second20B,30B and third20C,30C base and cover plates are vertically stacked respectively.