Abstract:
A humidified food warming apparatus is disclosed having a cabinet, a humidity sensor configured to measure a humidity level in the cabinet and a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature level in the cabinet. A humidity and a temperature controller is also included. A warming element warms the cabinet as well as a warming element cover configured to rest adjacent to the warming element. A water dispensing device controllably releases a quantity of water onto the warming element cover when the humidity sensor senses that the humidity level within the cabinet has decreased and when the warming element cover is sufficiently warm to evaporate the quantity of water released onto the warming element cover.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a humidification cabinet. More particularly, the present invention pertains to an apparatus to humidify a food storage and warming cabinet. 
     Food storage and warming cabinets are common in the restaurant and catering businesses. Typically, food warming cabinets are used after food has been prepared to maintain the food at a desired temperature in a ready-to-serve condition. The plates or trays of food are held on shelves within an enclosed warming cabinet to await distribution. The cabinet may also be used to transport the prepared food from a preparation area to a distribution area. Typically, the food warming cabinet is maintained at a desired temperature with a warming element while a fan distributes the heat throughout the cabinet. Frequent opening and closing of the cabinet door to remove food plates and trays, however, can result in the heat from the cabinet escaping; as such, temperature regulators are also often included in food warming cabinets. 
     The food in food warming cabinets, however, can become dry due to prolonged exposure to the dry heat in the cabinets. To compensate, water is known to be sprayed through a fan into the cabinet to humidify the air. Unfortunately, with this approach, the food can become unduly damp or soggy. In another method, water is placed in a tray or basin in the bottom of the cabinet and the water is boiled with a second heating element to add moisture to the air. Unfortunately, not only is a second heating element required for this method, but the excess warm water in the open basin in the bottom of the cabinet can create a breeding ground for fungi, bacteria, and viruses, and may lead to the food becoming contaminated. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a humidified food warming cabinet that prevents food from drying out and also prevents the accumulation of open water within the cabinet to inhibit contaminant growth within the cabinet. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A humidified food warming apparatus is disclosed having a cabinet, a humidity sensor configured to measure a humidity level in the cabinet and a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature level in the cabinet. A humidity and a temperature controller is also included. A warming element warms the cabinet as well as a warming element cover configured to rest adjacent to the warming element. A water dispensing device controllably releases a quantity of water onto the warming element cover when the humidity sensor senses that the humidity level within the cabinet has decreased and when the warming element cover is sufficiently warm to evaporate the quantity of water released onto the warming element cover. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a food warming cabinet in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the food warming cabinet; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the interior of the food warming cabinet, illustrating the spray nozzle and warming element cover; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the warming element cover removed to show the warming elements below. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
     It should be further understood that the title of this section of this specification, namely, “Detailed Description Of The Invention”, relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein. 
     Referring now to the figures and in particular  FIGS. 1-4 , the present humidified food warming cabinet  10  is formed from a cabinet  12  having wall(s)  36 , a bottom  37 , and a warming element  16  located inside the body of the cabinet  12 , preferably near the bottom  37  of the cabinet  12 . The warming element  16  is covered by a warming element cover  18  having vents  34 . A tube  20 , connected to a water line  24  located outside of the cabinet  12 , enters through the wall  36  of the cabinet  12 . The tube  20  has a spray nozzle  22  at one end of the tube  20  and in a first embodiment is positioned above the warming element cover  18 . Proximate to the cabinet  12  is a source of water, in a first embodiment, a closable water reservoir  28 . The closable water reservoir  28  can be positioned within the cabinet  12  on a platform  30  as shown in  FIG. 2 , or can be located outside of and adjacent to the cabinet  12 . 
     A pump  32  connects the water reservoir  28  to the water line  24  running into the cabinet  12 . While the present disclosure utilizes a water reservoir as the source of water, it is understood that source of water may be a direct source as well. A humidity and temperature controller  14  is present, along with humidity and temperature sensor(s)  26 . The humidity and temperature sensor  26  of the present embodiment is a dual sensor; however, it is also anticipated that individual temperature and humidity sensors may be used. Similarly, the humidity and temperature controller  14  is a dual controller, however, it is anticipated that individual humidity and temperature controllers may be utilized with the present disclosure. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the warming cabinet  12  is, preferably, made of stainless steel and may be insulated. The warming cabinet  12  keeps food warm by operation of the warming element  16 , located (in a present embodiment) at or near the bottom of the cabinet  12 . Heat from the warming element  16  rises within the cabinet  12  to warm the cabinet  12  to a desired temperature as determined by the humidity and temperature controller  14 . The warming element  16  is covered by a removable warming element cover  18  having vents  34 . The warming element cover  18  vents  34  allow heat from the warming element  16  to escape from beneath the warming element cover  18  and warm the cabinet  12 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the warming cabinet  12  with the warming element cover  18  partially removed, exposing the warming elements  16  located beneath the warming element cover  18 . While warming element  16  is shown using electric coils, the warming element  16  may also include gas burners or other heating methods compatible with the present disclosure. In addition to heating the cabinet  12 , the warming element  16  also acts to heat the warming element cover  18 . The same warming element  16  is used to both warm the cabinet  12  and to heat the warming element cover  18 , removing the need for a separate heating source to heat the water to form water vapor to humidify the cabinet  12 . The warming element cover  18  may be made from any thermally-conductive material, including metals, ceramics, polymerics, and the like. 
     The humidified food warming cabinet  10  operates by sensing the temperature and humidity in the cabinet  12 . A humidity and temperature sensor  26  senses the temperature in the cabinet  12  and signals the temperature controller. The temperature controller  14  determines whether the temperature in the cabinet  12  is at the desired temperature and regulates the status of the warming element  16  in response, turning the element on or off A control panel  15  located on the cabinet  12  allows a user to set, modify, and manage the temperature and humidity levels of the cabinet  12 . 
     Similarly, the humidity and temperature sensor  26  senses the humidity in the cabinet  12 . When the humidity in the cabinet  12  falls below a pre-determined level, the temperature/humidity controller  14  signals the pump  32  to release an atomized water spray into the cabinet  12 . The water is stored in a water reservoir  28  in a present embodiment. Water is pumped from the water reservoir  28  through the water line  24  and is sprayed through the nozzle  22  and onto the warming element cover  18 . The warming element cover  18  is maintained at an elevated temperature from the warming element  16  below. Thus, when the sprayed, atomized water comes in contact with the warming element cover  18 , the water vaporizes/evaporates quickly. While there may be a slight depression in the warming element cover  18  to prevent water droplets from rolling off the element cover  18  prior to evaporation, it is not intended that the water accumulate in the depression. The water vapor circulates throughout the cabinet  12 , humidifying the cabinet  12 . The amount or quantity of water sprayed may be regulated and controlled by the controller  14  based on the humidity level within the cabinet  12 . 
     The warming element  16  and the water pump  32  work in conjunction with one another. If the humidifier/temperature controller  14  senses that the warming element  16  is not on or that the warming element cover is not at a temperature sufficient to evaporate the atomized water properly, no water is sprayed onto the warming element cover  18 . In other words, the pump  32  will not release water onto the warming element cover  18  unless the warming element  16  is on. By only releasing water when the warming element  16  is on, the present cabinet  12  prevents water from accumulating on the warming element cover and forming a stagnant, open pool of water that might otherwise propagate the growth of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Instead, in the present disclosure, the water comes in contact with the warming element cover  18  and quickly evaporates to humidify the air in the cabinet  12 . 
     In an alternate embodiment, the cabinet  12  is configured to receive water from a city or local water supply. In such an embodiment, the pump  32  is replaced by a water pressure regulator. The humidity and temperature controller  14  signals the water pressure regulator to release a spray of water on to the warming element cover  18  in response to a signal from the humidity and temperature sensor  26  indicating that the humidity level in the cabinet is below a desired level. If the humidity and temperature controller  14  senses that the warming element  16  is not on or that the warming element cover  18  is not at a temperature sufficient to evaporate the water properly, no water is sprayed onto the warming element cover  18 . In other words, the water pressure regulator will not release water onto the warming element cover  18  unless the warming element  16  is on. Because the water from the spray nozzle  22 , which falls onto the warming element cover  18 , evaporates almost immediately on contact with the warming element cover  18 , there is no accumulation of water on the warming element cover  18 , decreasing the opportunity for the growth of mold, bacteria, viruses or other water-born pathogens and helps prevent contamination of the food placed in the cabinet  12  for warming. 
     All patents referred to herein, are incorporated herein by reference, whether or not specifically done so within the text of this disclosure. 
     In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular. 
     From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.