Abstract:
A ticket holding system mounted over a cooking station in view of a user of the cooking station and for holding one or more order tickets for meals being prepared and viewable by the user. The ticket holding system includes an elongated ticket holder; an elongated ticket retainer that is secured to a face surface of the elongated ticket holder and capable of releasably retaining one or more order tickets; and a pair of brackets that support the ticket holder at a position disposed over the cooking station. The pair of brackets are mounted from respective support surfaces that are spaced apart so that the brackets are spaced from each other and mount the ticket holder therebetween. The pair of brackets and ticket holder are cooperatively constructed and arranged so that the ticket holder can be both pivotal relative to the brackets and adjusted in height.

Description:
RELATED CASES 
     Priority for this application is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to commonly owned and co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/168,697 which was filed on Apr. 13, 2009 and which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to a ticket holder. More particularly, the present invention relates to a ticket holder device that is particularly adapted for use in association with a cooking station, although, the principles of the present invention could also be applied for use with other types of work stations. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is typical that, at a cooking station, the orders that are being filled are not readily observable at the cooking station. It is typical for the order tickets to be disposed closer to a location where the orders are submitted. This is quite inconvenient in that the chef has to continuously move to observe the order while cooking. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ticket holder, particularly, for use in association with a cooking station, and in which the holder is disposed more conveniently with regard to the cooking station area. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved ticket holder system that is relatively simple in construction, can be manufactured inexpensively, and is easy to install. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To accomplish the foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a ticket holder that may be provided in one or more sections and that is disposed in a convenient manner for ready viewing by the cooking attendant. The preferred positioning is over or in front of the cooking station. In accordance with the present invention the ticket holder has multiple adjustments and is comprised of a substantially horizontally disposed holder, spaced apart vertical brackets for supporting the holder and a ticket retainer that is secured to the holder. The holder may be adjusted between different vertical positions and may also be pivoted so as to place the order tickets in a more convenient location for viewing. 
     In accordance with the present invention there is provided a ticket holding system mounted over a cooking station in view of a user of the cooking station and for holding one or more order tickets for meals being prepared and viewable by the user. The system includes an elongated ticket holder; an elongated ticket retainer that is secured to a face surface of the elongated ticket holder and capable of releasably retaining one or more order tickets; and a pair of brackets that support the ticket holder at a position disposed over the cooking station. The pair of brackets are mounted from respective support surfaces that are spaced apart so that the brackets are spaced from each other and mount the ticket holder therebetween. The pair of brackets and ticket holder are cooperatively constructed and arranged so that the ticket holder can be both pivotal relative to the brackets and adjusted in height. 
     In accordance with other aspects of the present invention are the following: including means for retaining the holder between the brackets and supporting the holder for adjustment in position relative to the brackets, and wherein each of the brackets are supported from a separate member defining the support surface; wherein each bracket includes a longitudinal slot disposed along a length thereof, and a pivot hole; including a first fastener for fixedly securing the holder to a lower area of the bracket and a second fastener for securing an upper area of the bracket to the separate member; wherein each bracket includes a top section having the slot, a bottom section having the hole and a middle section that tapers between the top and bottom sections; wherein the means for retaining includes fastener means that enable the bracket to slide linearly, as well as to pivot relative to the ticket holder; including a rail for support of one of the brackets, the bracket disposed substantially orthogonal to the rail; including a pair of holders with one end of each holder supported from a sidewall and a common end of the holders supported from the rail; and wherein each bracket includes a longitudinal slot disposed along a length thereof, and a pivot hole, and further including a first fastener for fixedly securing the holder to a lower area of the bracket and a second fastener for securing an upper area of the bracket to the separate member. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Numerous other advantages will be realized in connection with the following detailed description, as taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the order ticket holder of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the holder of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial and enlarged front view; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view showing the connection between the holder and bracket; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial rear perspective of the ticket retainer; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial front view showing the ticket retainer attached to the holder; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded assembly view of the holder of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a partial perspective view showing the mounting of a center rail; 
         FIG. 10  is a partial perspective view also illustrating the two separate holders and associated brackets for attachment to the center rail; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates the holder in a substantially vertical position; 
         FIG. 12  schematically illustrates the bracket being tilted, as well as the holder being tilted as indicated by the arrows; and 
         FIG. 13  is a front view showing the different placements of the holders associated with different height attendants. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference is now made to the perspective view of  FIG. 1  wherein there is shown a cooking station  10  which typically also includes an overhead vent  12 . For the particular embodiment that is described herein, there is provided a pair of horizontally disposed holders  20 . These are illustrated in  FIG. 1  as separate holders  20 A and  20 B. In this particular arrangement, the holder  20 B is longer than the holder  20 A. The principles of the present invention also apply to the use of a single holder or more than two holders. The cooking station  10  is illustrated as having three separate cooking areas. These cooking areas may be of virtually any type including, but not limited to, electric, gas fired, propane fires or others. In  FIG. 1  there is illustrated one holder over a single cooking unit and a longer holder over a pair of cooking units. The number of cooking units may also vary, as well as the length of each holder. 
     For the two holders illustrated in  FIG. 1 , there is provided a center rail  14  that extends from front to back and that may be supported by a bracket  16  as is illustrated in  FIG. 9 . For this purpose there may be provided a bolt and nut arrangement. This is illustrated in  FIG. 9  by the bolt threads  17  that are adapted to engage through holes in the bracket  16  and secured by means of the respective nuts  18 . The nuts  18  may be self-locking nuts. In  FIG. 9  a pair of bolts  17  is illustrated. However, any number of bolts or other fasteners may be used to hold the rail in place. Many of the components shown herein may be constructed of a number of different materials, although the preferred construction is of metal, and preferably a lightweight metal such as a thin steel of aluminum. 
     Regarding the rail  14 , also refer to  FIGS. 2 and 3  for an illustration of the bracket  16  and center rail  14 . The front of the rail  14  may be attached in a similar manner at the inner surface of the front wall of the vent or hood  12 . The rail  14 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , is disposed, from front side to back side of the vent, but off-center of the vent  12  so that the holder  20 A is supported substantially over a left-hand one of the cooking stations while the holder  20 B is disposed over a pair of right side cooking stations. In the arrangement of  FIG. 1  there may also be used a pair of rails  14  evenly spaced so that one rail is aligned with the juncture between the middle cooking station and the left hand cooking station, while the other rail is aligned with the juncture between the middle cooking station and the right hand cooking station. 
     Reference may now be made to  FIGS. 4-8  for further details of each of the holders  20 A and  20 B. As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , each of the holders  20  may have an inverted L-shaped configuration with a top wall  22  and a vertical wall  24 . A ticket retainer  30 , which will be described in further details hereinafter, is attached to the front wall  24 . The holder  20  also includes opposite end walls  26 , particularly shown in the exploded view of  FIG. 4 . In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, rather than the inverted L-shaped configuration of the holder  20 , the holder  20  may be comprised of four walls disposed in a square or rectangular manner. The two walls illustrated in  FIG. 8  are preferred as that makes the holder lighter in weight. In still another version the holder  2   o  may include a bottom wall instead of the top wall and vertical wall. 
     As illustrated, for example, in certain of  FIGS. 1 through 7 , each of the holders  20  is supported at its ends by means of respective brackets  40 .  FIGS. 4 and 7 , in particular, illustrate the construction of the bracket  40 . Each of the brackets  40  includes an upper elongated section  42 , a lower substantially flat section  44 , and an intermediate tapered or diagonal section  46 . As illustrated in, for example,  FIG. 7 , the tapered sections of the respective brackets are arranged so that the upper sections of each bracket are spaced outwardly from the holder  20 . In this regard refer also to  FIG. 3  that shows the upper sections spaced outwardly of the holder. This tapering allows adjacent holders to be disposed quite close together as illustrated in the perspective view of  FIG. 1 . 
     Each of the upper sections  42  of the bracket  40  has an elongated slot  41  for supporting each of the brackets  40  from either an end wall  49  as shown in  FIG. 7  or from the central rail  14 , as also shown in  FIG. 7 . For this purpose, a bolt may be used, such as the bolt  52  illustrated in the drawings. In this regard refer in  FIG. 7  to the threaded ends of the bolts  52  of bolts that are adapted to extend into the slot  41 . The bolt  52  toward the right in  FIG. 7  is shown passing through the slot  41  in the bracket section  42 . The bracket  40  is preferably provided with an elongated slot rather than a single round hole so that the holder can, not only pivot, but also can be adjusted in an up and down direction. 
     In order to secure the brackets in place, a knob  54  is used along with an associated lock washer  56  that is used for engagement with the threaded member  52 . The threaded portion illustrated in, for example,  FIG. 7  can be part of the bolt  52 , or alternatively a threaded section can be provided by welding a threaded section to the rail  14  or to the wall  49 . Also, other types of fasteners can be used for holding the bracket to the wall and/or the rail, while still allowing bracket adjustment longitudinally as well as pivotally. The knob  54  is a well known component with an internal threaded passage that mates with the threaded member  52 . By tightening the knob  54  this action secures the position of the top of the bracket relative to the rail or sidewall. 
     The lower section of each of the brackets  40  is also provided with a hole  45  (see  FIG. 4 ).  FIG. 4  also illustrates a threaded piece  60  that may be part of a bolt that may be engaged through the hole  45  and secured by means of the knob  62  and associated lock washer  64 . In  FIG. 4  the threaded member  60  may be part of a bolt or alternatively may be a threaded section that is welded to the end wall  26  of the holder  20 . Refer also to  FIG. 3  which shows the use of a possible bolt by the head illustrated at  63 . In that instance a bolt may be used that passes through a hole in the end wall  26 . Other locking devices may be used for holding such a bolt in place. 
     In the exploded perspective view of  FIG. 7  it is noted that the brackets  40  are shown in a substantially vertical position and the holder  20  is shown in a substantially horizontal position and not rotated relative to the brackets. The knobs  54  are used for securing the top of the bracket  40  in this position. The lower knobs  62  used for securing the holder  20  to the bottom section  44  of the bracket  40 . In this position it is noted that the holder  20  is rotationally in alignment with the lower section  44 , as also illustrated in the schematic position of  FIG. 11 . In other words, when the brackets  40  are upright then the holder face  24  is also upright. 
     Reference is also now made to  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  8  for an illustration of further details of the ticket retainer  30 . The ticket retainer  30  may be provided in lengths that can be cut to match the length of each of the holders  20 . The ticket retainer may be secured to its associated holder in a number of different ways. In  FIG. 5  this is illustrated as using a double-sided adhesive member  70 . The member  70  may be covered by a strip  72  that can be readily peeled off from the layer  70  when it is desired to attach the ticket retainer  30  to the holder  20 . As illustrated in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 8 , the ticket retainer  30  may be constructed to form an internal pocket  75  in which there are disposed a series of spacedly arranged balls  76 .  FIG. 8  also illustrates the order ticket at  80  inserted within the retainer  30  and essentially captured by one or more of the balls  76 . Although the ticket can be easily retained when inserted in the manner shown in  FIG. 8  upwardly, the ticket can also be easily removed by simply pulling downwardly on the ticket. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 10  which is a partial perspective view taken in the area where the holders attach with the rail  14 . A bracket  40  is disposed on either side of the rail  14  and may be tightened with the rail by means of respective the locking knobs  54 . In this view the brackets are substantially vertical and the face  24  of each of the holders  20  is also substantially vertical. The lower end of each bracket secures to the holder by means of the locking knobs  62 . Note is also taken of the displacement between the holders  20  that is possible by having the tapered middle sections  46 . In that way the lower knobs  62  are not in interference with each other, and yet the respective holders are in relatively close proximity to each other. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 11 and 12  for schematic illustrations of the manner in which the order ticket holder may be positioned relative to the cooking station. In  FIG. 11 , as mentioned previously, the bracket  40  is maintained substantially vertical and the holder  20  is essentially in line with the bracket and not rotated relative thereto. Thus, the front face or wall  24  of the holder  20  is also substantially vertical as viewed in  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 12 , on the other hand, illustrates the manner in which the position of the bracket may be altered by rotation such as in the direction of arrow  90  illustrated in  FIG. 12  at the top end of the bracket. Moreover, the position of the holder  20  relative to the bracket  40  can also be altered such as by rotation in the direction of arrows  92  in  FIG. 12  at the bottom end of the bracket. The respective knobs  54  and  62  are tightened once the desired position is reached. It is noted that in the position of  FIG. 12 , the holder  20  is maintained with its front wall facing forwardly in a similar manner to the position of the retainer in  FIG. 11 . In addition, the knobs  62  can be loosened and the front wall  24  may also be tilted either upwardly or downwardly so as to provide a convenient location for the ticket retainer  30 . In  FIG. 12 , in addition to the position illustrated, the bracket  40  may also be tilted rearwardly if that is a more convenient position for viewing the tickets. 
       FIG. 13  also illustrates the manner in which the brackets  40  may be modified. In addition to the rotation mentioned with regard to the knobs  54  and  62 , and as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the knob  54  may be loosened so that the bracket  40  can be slid up and down in a vertical direction as indicated by the arrow  94  in  FIG. 10 . In this regard and with reference to  FIG. 13 , it is noted that the attendant on the right is shorter in stature than the one on the left and thus the brackets  40  on the right have been adjusted so that the holder  20 B is at a lower position than the holder  20 A. These holders are preferably at a position close to the eye height of the particular attendant. However, the brackets may also be adjusted so that the holders are above or below eye height. In  FIG. 13  it is also noted that the holders are of substantially the same length. 
     Having now described a limited number of embodiments of the present invention, it should now be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous other embodiments and modifications thereof are contemplated as falling within the scope of the present invention defined by the appended claims. For example, various types of rotational fasteners have been shown including knob arrangements. However, other types of rotational members may also be used. Also, the knobs are shown as engaging with bolts. However, these knobs may also be situated so that the knob becomes a male member for engagement with a nut that is secured to the walls of the vent or the center rail. Moreover, as indicated previously, the order ticket holders may be provided in different lengths and in different numbers of sets depending upon the particular cooking station configuration. As indicated in  FIG. 1 , the brackets  40  are disposed so that each of the ticket holders and associated retainers are disposed preferably at eye level and in a convenient location for viewing as the attendant cooks the food. In  FIG. 1  this is a position slightly rearward of the front of the equipment at the cooking station. The brackets  40  themselves may be of various lengths again depending upon the particular layout of the cooking area. In still another embodiment of the present invention the center rail may be optional particularly where the sidewalls are close together and thus only a single holder is used supported between the sidewalls. In still another modification the slot may be in a lower part of the bracket  40  and the single hole in an upper part thereof.