Abstract:
A portable and collapsible chafing system includes a frame forming a well configured to hold a chafing container. Underlying the frame is a heating device holder in the form of a platform pivotally connected to the frame. The chafing system includes legs pivotally connected to the frame for movement between a first collapsed position and a second position in which legs extend from and elevate the frame. Wheels are associated with each leg to render the system mobile.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60/225,153, filed Aug. 14, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to chafing pans, tables and burners used in the restaurant and catering businesses. More particularly, the present invention relates to a chafing system which can accommodate multiple chafing pans during use as well as being portable and collapsible so as to be used by as few as one worker. 
     Traditionally, the way food is cooked, warmed or served at most catered events (i.e., weddings, banquets, film and television location shoots, etc.) is by setting chafing dishes on tabletops of typically six foot or four foot banquet tables. The chafing pan is suspended in a wire frame above a heat source, such as gas hotplates or Sterno liquid fuel wick burners. 
     This set up often requires two or more people to bring in and set up the tables, the chafing pans and the fuel. In addition to being labor intensive and time consuming, this method seldom utilizes good economy of space. It can also be hazardous to safety, as the heat source is often in close proximity to wooden table tops, and wind can spill the liquid fuel onto flammable surfaces. This becomes especially evident at large events where there is a high volume of food being served and quick recovery is a premium. 
     One existing alternative is a rigid steam table or cooking system that does not break down for transport. Such fixed steam tables are suitable perhaps to temporarily expand the capacity in a permanent facility such as a hotel, restaurant, banquet facility, etc., but the size and weight of such devices preclude portability, even when including castors. 
     Accordingly, what is needed is a system which allows as few as one worker to set up the necessary chafing pans and fuel. What is also needed is such a chafing system which is portable. What is further needed is a chafing system which is collapsible so as to occupy little storage space and facilitate transportation. The present invention fulfils these needs and provides other related advantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention resides in a portable and collapsible chafing system. This system generally comprises a cart for cooking, warming and serving food. The chafing system includes a frame forming wells configured to hold a chafing container and having a working surface adjacent to the wells. Underlying the frame is a heating device holder, which is typically comprised of a platform. The platform is pivotally connected to the frame and has an aperture that can be used as a handle. 
     The chafing system also includes legs pivotally connected to the frame for movement between a first collapsed position and a second position in which the legs extend from and elevate the frame. The legs of the chafing system include two pairs of legs, each pair having first and second supports pivotally attached to one another intermediate ends thereof, and each pivotally attached to the frame at an upper end thereof. Each pair of legs also includes a spring interconnected between the first and second supports, which facilitates the raising and collapsing of the system. 
     Wheels are associated with each pair of legs to provide mobility to the chafing system. In a particularly preferred embodiment, wheel-bearing axles extend between each pair of legs. 
     The chafing system also includes side and front panels which are pivotally attached to an edge of the frame so as to be movable between an open and closed position. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a chafing system embodying the present invention and accessories therewith; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the chafing system of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the chafing system of FIG. 2 showing its panels in the closed and partially closed position; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the chafing system of FIG. 2 in its collapsed position; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmented perspective view of area “ 5 ” of FIG. 2, illustrating the connection between a frame and a second support of the chafing system; and 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmented perspective view of area “ 6 ” of FIG. 2, illustrating a spring interconnecting first and second supports of a pair of legs of the chafing system. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention is concerned with a portable and collapsible chafing system generally illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 and referred to by the reference number  10 . 
     With reference to FIG. 1, the chafing system  10  of the present invention is a cart for cooking, warming and serving catered foods. The chafing system is comprised of a frame  12  that has a plurality of wells  14  configured to receive a pan  16  with accompanying lid  18  or a quarter pan or cutting board/work surface area  20 , and can be used with propane hot plate burners or Sterno wick burners  22 . The frame  12  preferably has four wells  14  and is rectangular, such as 22″ wide by 49″ long, and made of metal, such as 18-gauge (0.049) 1″×1″ OD stainless steel or flatstock. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the entire chafing system  10  collapses to a compact and portable unit. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the chafing system  10  has first and second pairs of legs  24  and  24 ′, each having, respectively, a first support  26 ,  26 ′ and a second support  28 ,  28 ′. The supports  26  and  28  of the first pair of legs  24  are substantially equal to the supports  26 ′ and  28 ′ of the second pair of legs  24 ′. The first supports  26 ,  26 ′ are pivotally attached to the frame  12  through an axle (not shown), which is connected to the frame  12  through brackets  30  and  30 ′ configured to pivotally hold the axle. The second supports  28 ,  28 ′ are pivotally attached to the frame  12  and are also attached to the first supports  26 ,  26 ′ intermediate ends thereof via an axle bolt  32 . In a particularly preferred embodiment, the supports  26 ,  26 ′ and  28 ,  28 ′ are 1″×1″ OD 18-gauge stainless steel and the first supports  26 ,  26 ′ are approximately 58″ long while the second supports  28 ,  28 ′ are approximately 59″ long. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, the top  34  of the second supports  28 ,  28 ′ are notched and beveled, and have holes  36  for the insertion of a pin  38 , such as a cotterless hitchpin. The second supports  28 ,  28 ′ are attached to the frame  12  by inserting the cotterless hitchpins  38  into the holes  36  of the second supports  28 ,  28 ′ and then through frame holes  40  thereby assembling the chafing system  10 . The supports  28 ,  28 ′ can also be designed to flex around the frame and automatically lock in place followed by the insertion of a pin  38  for safety purposes. The frame  12  may have multiple holes  40  whereby the second supports  28 ,  28 ′ can be attached nearer or further from the end of the frame  12 , allowing the chafing system  10  to be assembled to different heights. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 6, each pair of legs  24  and  24 ′ has a spring  42  which connects the first and second supports  26 ,  26 ′ and  28 ,  28 ′ at points below the axle bolt  32 . The length and placement of the spring is such that the spring applies a contracting force between the supports  26 ,  26 ′ and  28 ,  28 ′. The force applied by the springs  42  assists in the assembly of the chafing system  10  by pulling the lower half of the first and second supports  26 ,  26 ′ and  28 ,  28 ′ together. The spring  42  is preferably 12″ long and made from heavy-duty galvanized steel. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1-4, each of the supports  26 ,  26 ′ and  28 ,  28 ′ has a wheel  44  associated therewith. Axles  46  and  46 ′ are interconnected between lower ends of supports  26 ,  26 ′ and  28 ,  28 ′. The axles  46  and  46 ′ are preferably covered with a 3/4″ OD plastic sleeve and are 29″ long. Additionally, the pairs of legs  24  and  24 ′ could be reinforced by interconnecting the pairs of legs  24  and  24 ′ with an X-brace or the like. 
     Referring back to FIGS. 1-2, a heating device holder  48  is comprised of four platform supports  50  and a platform  52 , which is preferably made of a 22-gauge galvanized flashing sheet. The platform supports  50  pivotally connect to the platform  52  through axles  54  attached to the ends thereof. The upper end of platform supports  50  are pivotally connected to an end of the frame  12  through the axle attached to the brackets  30  and  30 ′. Another end of the platform  52  is pivotally connected to the frame  12  through a similar axle configuration. Such a configuration allows the heating device holder  48  to fold flat when the chafing system  10  is collapsed. The platform  52  preferably includes a cutout  56  which acts as a handle when the chafing system  10  is in the folded position. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2-3, a front panel  58  and two side panels  60  cover the front and sides of the chafing system  10  to provide aesthetic appeal and which can also serve to cover wells  14 . The panels  58  and  60  connect to the frame  12  through hinges  62 . The panels  58  and  60  are preferably made of 22-gauge quilted stainless steel and welded to the piano hinges  62  which are preferably riveted to the frame  12 . To allow the front panel  58  enough distance from the structural hardware to hang vertically when assembled, the front panel  58  is connected at its top to a strip  64 , which is riveted or otherwise connected to the frame  12 . While specific dimensions and material specifications have been given to describe the preferred embodiment, the present invention contemplates using different dimensions and materials. 
     FIG. 1 shows the chafing system  10  in its fully erected state in use. To disassemble the chafing system  10 , the pans  16 , lids  18 , and heating devices  22  are removed. The panels  58  and  60  are then closed by folding them over on top of the frame  12  as shown in FIG.  3 . The chafing system  10  is unlocked from its erect position by removing the cotterless hitchpins  38  from the second supports  28 ,  28 ′. While the cotterless hitchpins  38  are removed, the chafing system  10  can be held up with an assembly handle  66 . The assembly handle  66  is attached to the second supports  28 ,  28 ′ via cables  68  and can be used to raise or lower the chafing system  10 . Other configurations, such as hinged flatstak, can also be employed to create the handle  66 . Once the chafing device  10  is lowered to its completely collapsed position, the cotterless hitchpins  38  are again placed through the supports  28 ,  28 ′ to lock the chafing system  10  in its collapsed position, as shown in FIG.  4 . In the particularly preferred embodiment, the fully collapsed chafing system  10  is approximately 2½″ high by 22″ wide by 58″ long, and 65 lbs. It is contemplated that the frame  12  include opposing apertures so that a dolly nose plate and wheel (not shown) can be removably attached to the collapsed system  10  to act as a two-hand dolly for facile transport of pans, etc. 
     The chafing system  10  is erected by unlocking the second supports  28 ,  28 ′ and pulling on the assembly handle  66  until the chafing system  10  is in an upright position whereupon the second supports  28 ,  28 ′ are locked in place. 
     The chafing system  10  of the present invention is a safe, efficient, and portable device for heating and warming foods at catering events. Use of the chafing system  10  is advantageous because it only requires one person to transport, assemble, and position it in its required place. The same worker, or more if necessary, can then place the necessary heating devices  22 , pans  16  of food, and lids  18  to provide the desired service. The compactness of the chafing system  10  in its collapsed state also provides the benefit of saving storage space and making transport easier. 
     Although an embodiment has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.