Abstract:
A collapsible food tray heater is disclosed wherein the food tray heater has solid sidewalls to block wind from blowing out a fire source when the collapsible food tray heater is used outdoors especially during windy conditions. Additionally, the solid walls of the collapsible food tray heater retain the heat within the heater to keep the food in the food tray hotter compared to prior art chafing dishes. The collapsible food tray heater may be collapsed such that the collapsed food tray heaters may be stacked upon each other for convenient storage and transport.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The improved food tray heater is related to a chafing dish. 
         [0004]    Chafing dishes are typically used during a dinner buffet or when a caterer comes to a person&#39;s home to serve a hot meal. The chafing dish may be placed on top of racks or platforms or sit on legs to raise a food tray above a heat source to keep the food in the food tray warm during food service. 
         [0005]    Some of the problems associated with modern day chafing dishes relate to the transportability, storage and ease of use when caterers must quickly set up and disassemble the food service area. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The improved heater disclosed herein addresses the needs discussed above, those discussed below and those that are known in the art. 
         [0007]    The improved food tray heater may have two solid sidewalls and two solid end walls attached to each other so as to form a rectangular configured enclosure. The food tray may be disposed or rest upon upper end portions of the end walls and sidewalls to support the food tray above a heat source disposed within the improved food tray heater and disposed below the food tray. The heat source introduces heat into the food tray and food to keep the food warm during food service. Since the end walls and sidewalls are solid and block wind, the improved food tray heater may be used outdoors during windy conditions. 
         [0008]    Since the heat source used to heat the food tray is typically a can of fuel or other flame, oxygen must be continuously introduced within the cavity of the improved food tray heater to prevent snuffing out the heat source (e.g., chafing fuel, flame, etc.). One or more of the end walls and sidewalls may have cut outs to supply oxygen to the heat source to prevent the flame of the heat source from being put out. 
         [0009]    The improved food tray heater may also be collapsed into a convenient flat configuration. A plurality of collapsed food tray heaters may be stacked upon each other for convenient storage and transport. More particularly, the end walls of the improved food tray heater may be collapsed inwardly between the sidewalls of the improved food tray heater. When the end walls are collapsed inwardly, the sidewalls are traversed closer to each other until the collapsed food tray heater forms the generally flat configuration. To erect the improved food tray heater from the collapsed position, the sidewalls may be spread apart until the end walls are fully extended. Thereafter, a fuel tray may be rotated from a vertical position to a horizontal position and wedged between the end walls. This prevents any inadvertent collapse of the improved food tray heater since the end walls may be collapsed inwardly only when the tray is wedged against the end walls. 
         [0010]    It is also contemplated that a spacer may be disposed on the upper end portions of the end walls and/or sidewalls to accommodate a smaller food tray. As such, the improved food tray heater provides for a versatile unit that can hold or support multiple food tray sizes without requiring an entirely separate unit. 
         [0011]    A collapsible food tray heater may comprise a first solid sidewall, second solid sidewall, first solid end wall and second solid end wall. The first solid sidewall may define opposed upper and lower horizontal portions and opposed first and second vertical portions. Also, the second solid sidewall may define opposed upper and lower horizontal portions and opposed first and second vertical portions. The first solid end wall may define opposed upper and lower horizontal portions and opposed first and second vertical portions which are hinged to the first vertical portions of the first and second sidewalls. The first solid end wall may define first and second halves hinged to each other for collapsing the food tray heater. The second solid sidewall may define opposed upper and lower horizontal portions and opposed first and second vertical portions which are hinged to second vertical portions of the first and second sidewalls. The second end wall defines first and second halves hinged to each other to collapse the food tray heater for convenient storage and transport. 
         [0012]    The upper portions of the first sidewall, second sidewall, first end wall and second end wall may be sized and configured to support outwardly extending flanges of the first food tray when the food tray heater is in a deployed configuration. The first solid sidewall, second solid sidewall, first solid end wall and second solid end wall may collectively block wind from entering within a cavity defined by the first solid sidewall, second solid sidewall, first solid end wall and second solid end wall to retain heat within the cavity when the food tray heater is in the deployed configuration. 
         [0013]    Two or more of the lower portions of the first solid sidewall, second solid sidewall, first solid end wall and second solid end wall may support the collapsible food tray heater when the food tray heater is in the deployed configuration. 
         [0014]    The first and second end walls may fold toward each other for collapsing the food tray heater. 
         [0015]    A fuel tray may be traversable between a horizontal position and a vertical position. The fuel tray may be wedged between two solid end walls when the fuel tray is disposed in the horizontal position. The two solid end walls are foldable at the hinge when the fuel tray is disposed at the vertical position. 
         [0016]    It is also contemplated that the collapsible food tray heater may further comprise a spacer disposable upon upper portions of the first sidewall and second sidewall and/or the upper portions of the first end wall and second end wall for receiving a second food tray size which is smaller compared to the first food tray size. The spacer may comprise two inverted channels generally parallel to each other. The two inverted channels may receive the opposed upper horizontal portions of the first and second sidewalls or the opposed upper horizontal portions of the first and second end walls. Two collapsible arms may extend and be attached between two inverted channels of opposed end portions for collapsing the spacers to a compact configuration when not in use. 
         [0017]    One or more of the first sidewall, second sidewall, first end wall and second end wall may have a cut out at the lower horizontal portion for providing oxygen into the cavity during use. This provides oxygen to the fuel source. Also, opposed first and second sidewalls or opposed first and second end walls may have cut outs at the lower horizontal portions for providing a handle to carry the food tray heater and/or for providing oxygen into the cavity during use. 
         [0018]    An exterior surface of the first solid sidewall, second solid sidewall, first solid end wall and second solid end wall may have a rust resistant coating or powder coating finish to prevent fingerprint marks. Also, the first solid sidewall, second solid sidewall, first solid end wall and second solid end wall may be fabricated from a steel material or other suitable material. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a collapsible chafing disc heater; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a collapsed collapsible chafing dish heater; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a collapsible chafing dish heater with a spacer; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of the spacer shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the collapsible chafing dish heater with a tray for supporting a heat source disposed in a vertical position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a collapsed spacer shown in  FIG. 4  and; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of a tray support shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a collapsible chafing dish heater  10  is shown. The chafing dish heater  10  may support a food tray  12  above one or more heat sources  14  for heating the food in the food tray  12  during food service. The heat sources  14  provide heat to the food within the food tray  12  such that guests at a buffet line may enjoy a warm meal. The end walls  16   a, b  and sidewalls  18   a, b  circumscribe the heat source  14  and have a solid configuration to block wind from blowing out the heat source  14  (e.g., fire flame). Additionally, since the end walls  16  and sidewalls  18  prevent movement of air, the air within the chafing dish heater  10  remains heated to aid in the warming of the food tray  12  and food disposed therein. After use, the chafing dish heater  10  may be conveniently knocked down to a collapsed configuration as shown in  FIG. 2 . Multiple collapsed chafing dish heaters  10  may be stacked upon each other for transport and/or storage. For smaller trays or two half trays  12   a  (see  FIG. 3 ), a spacer  20  may be disposed on top of the chafing dish heater  10  to support the smaller food tray or two half trays  12   a . The spacer  20  may also be collapsed as shown in  FIG. 4 . Accordingly, the chafing dish heater  10  and spacer  20  disclosed herein provides for a versatile chafing dish heater  10  that can accommodate multiple sizes of food trays  12  and  12   a , is capable of being used outside or in windy environments, retains heat thereby keeping food hotter and is collapsible for convenient transport and storage. 
         [0028]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the chafing dish heater  10  may comprise two sidewalls  18   a, b . These sidewalls  18   a, b  may have an inwardly directed lip  22  at opposed ends of the sidewalls  18   a, b . Hinges  24  may be attached to the lip  22  at all four corners of the heater  10  for the purposes of collapsing the chafing dish heater  10  as will be discussed further below. Two hinges  24  may be attached (e.g., riveted, tack welded, etc.) to each of the lips  22 . One hinge  24  may be located at the upper portion of the lip  22  and the second hinge  24  may be located at the lower portion of the lip  22 . 
         [0029]    The end walls  16   a, b  of the chafing dish heater  10  may have first halves  26   a, b  and second halves  26   a, b  and  28   a, b . The first and second halves  26   a ,  28   a  may pivot with respect to each other via hinge  30 . Likewise, although not shown, the first and second halves  26   b ,  28   b  of the end wall  16   b  may pivot with respect to each other via a hinge  30  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). The hinges  30  connecting the first and second halves  26   a ,  28   a  and first and second halves  26   b ,  28   b  may be located on the exterior of the end walls  16   a, b . Additionally, the hinges  24  may be located on the interior of the lip  22  and the respective first and second halves  26   b ,  28   b ,  26   a ,  28   a . This arrangement for the hinges  24 ,  30  allow the first and second halves  26   b ,  28   b  and  26   a ,  28   a  to collapse the end walls  16   a, b  inwardly but not outwardly. The first and second halves  26   a ,  28   a  of end wall  16   a  may lie in the same plane (see  FIG. 1 ) or may be collapsed inwardly (see  FIG. 2 ). Likewise, the first and second halves  26   b ,  28   b  of the end wall  16   b  may line the same plane or be traversed inwardly for collapsing the chafing dish heater  10 . 
         [0030]    The chafing dish heater  10  may have a tray  32  with one or more holes  34  (see  FIG. 5 ) for receiving the heat sources  14 . The tray  32  may be disposed in the horizontal position as shown in  FIG. 1  or traversed to the vertical position, as shown in  FIG. 5 . As shown in FIG.  5 , a thickness  35  of the tray  32  may be equal to or less than a thickness  36  of the lip  22 . The end walls  16   a, b  may be collapsed inward without interference with the tray  32  (see  FIG. 2 ) when the tray  32  is in the upright vertical position. When the end walls  16   a, b  are fully collapsed as shown in  FIG. 2 , the chafing dish heater  10  is fully collapsed and may be conveniently stored, stacked or transported. 
         [0031]    The tray  32  may be hinged to the lip  22  on both ends of sidewall  18   b . (Compare  FIGS. 1 and 5 ). By way of example and not limitation, the tray  32  may have leg supports  38  (see  FIG. 1 ) that is pinned to the lips  22 . When the tray  32  is traversed to the vertical position, the tray  32  bumps up against the sidewall  18   b  which prevents further rotation, as shown in  FIG. 5 . When the tray  32  is traversed to the horizontal position (see  FIG. 1 ), the tray  32  rests upon tray supports  40  (see  FIGS. 5 and 7 ). The tray supports  40  are formed on end walls  16   a, b . The tray supports  40  may have a U-shaped cross sectional configuration which receives a portion of the tray  32 . More particularly, the tray  32  may be fabricated with a top plate  42  and four (4) flanges  44   a - d . The flanges  44   a, c  may be received within the U-shaped tray supports  40  formed at end walls  16   a, b , as shown in  FIG. 7 . A length  46  of the tray  32  may be approximately equal to a distance between the end walls  16   a, b  when the end walls  16   a, b  are in the erected position. When the tray  32  is traversed to the horizontal position (see  FIG. 1 ), the tray  32  is wedged against the end walls  16   a, b  to provide a solid and generally rigid chafing dish heater  10 . The flanges  44   a, c  are received in tray supports  40  formed in the end walls  16   a, b . The end walls  16   a, b  and the flanges  44   a, c  may be wedged against each other. The tray supports  40  are formed to have a smooth lower surface such that a person may grab the underside of the tray supports  40  and lift the chafing dish heater  10 . The end walls  16   a, b  may have cut outs  48   a, b  that permit air to flow into the chafing dish heater  10  to provide oxygen to the heat sources  14 . Additionally, the sidewalls  18   a, b  may have cut outs  48   a, b  for providing air to the heat sources  14 . 
         [0032]    As discussed above, the end walls  16   a, b  may be collapsed inwardly but not outwardly. When the fuel tray  32  is traversed to the horizontal position, the fuel tray  32  is wedged between the end walls  16   a, b . However, it is also contemplated that the end walls  16   a, b  may be collapsed inwardly and/or outwardly with hinges. In this embodiment, when the fuel tray  32  is traversed to the horizontal position, the flanges  44   a, c  are received within the tray supports  40 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . The tray supports  40  interlock with the flanges  44   a, c  to prevent outward collapsing of the end walls  16   a, b.    
         [0033]    In certain circumstances, a smaller food tray or two half trays  12   a  is used. However, it would be inconvenient to carry two different sized chafing dish heaters  10  to accommodate large food trays  12 , smaller food trays and two half trays  12   a . To this end, the spacer  20  (see  FIG. 3 ) may be mounted to the chafing dish heater  10  to accommodate smaller food trays or two half trays  12   a . The spacer  20 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , may have two (2) channels  50   a, b  that are maintained in spaced relationship with each other via collapsible support members  52   a, b . Each of the support members  52   a, b  may be hinged to the channels  50   a, b . Also, each of the support members  52   a, b  may define first and second halves  54   a, b  and  56   a, b . The first and second halves  54   a ,  56   a  of the support member  52   a  may be pivoted with respect to each other via hinge  58 . Also, the first and second halves  54   b ,  56   b  of the support member  52   b  may be pivoted with respect to each other via hinge  57 . The hinges  58 ,  57  permit the support members  52   a, b  to be collapsed inwardly only. However, it is also contemplated that the support members  52   a, b  may be hinged so as to be collapsible such that the support members  52   a, b  may extend inwardly or outwardly. When the spacer  20  is fully extended, the outer edges  60 ,  62  of the channels  50   a, b  may be snug against the sidewalls  18   a, b  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The top opening of the chafing dish heater  10  is reduced to accommodate the smaller food tray or two half trays  12   a.    
         [0034]    From the setup position or erected position, the chafing dish heater  10  may be collapsed in the following manner. First, the tray  32  is traversed from the horizontal position (see  FIG. 1 ) to the vertical position (see  FIG. 5 ). With the tray  32  in the vertical position, the end walls  16   a, b  are collapsed by pushing the hinges  30  inwardly in the direction of arrows  60   a, b  (see  FIG. 5 ). The chafing dish heater  10  is then traversed to the configuration shown in  FIG. 2 . Multiple chafing dish heaters  10  may be collapsed and stacked upon each other for easy transport and storage. If the spacer  20  is used in conjunction with the chafing dish heater  10 , prior to collapsing the chafing dish heater  10 , the spacer  20  is removed and collapsed to the configuration shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0035]    The end walls  16   a, b  and sidewalls  18   a, b  may be coated with a rust resistant coating and/or a powder coating finish to prevent unsightly fingerprint marks. The powder coating finish provides an attractive and durable aesthetic appeal to the chafing dish heater  10 . The chafing dish heater  10  and the spacer  20  may be fabricated from a steel material or other materials suitable for the design disclosed herein. 
         [0036]    The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein, including various ways of hinging the various parts. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.