Patent Publication Number: US-2021186259-A1

Title: Hot Food Holding Station with Multi-Functional Ramp

Description:
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/949,684 filed on Dec. 18, 2019. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to food holding systems that helps with retaining heat and dispensing food products. More specifically, the present invention contains an airflow heated unit that will evenly distribute heat across all the food that is being held by a food holding compartment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are many different apparatuses and mechanisms that carry ready-to-eat edibles in a storage area. While edibles are held in these storage areas, there are also mechanisms which keep the food warm by distributing heat within the storage area that will help with maintaining freshness. These edibles are then ready to be served to the consumers instantly as the edibles can be pulled out of the storage area and straight into the consumers hands. This method of holding ready-to-eat heated food are seen almost everywhere, especially in fast food restaurants. One example of this within fast food restaurants is after deep frying edibles, they are placed into a storage area where there is a heating mechanism that keeps the edibles heated and ready to serve to the consumers. However, there are times when the heating of these mechanisms is uneven, or the apparatus does not filter out excess grease off the deep-fried edibles. Thus, a heating device that can distribute heat evenly as well as maintain a cleaner surface is a rare find in the current market. 
     An objective of the present invention is to provide users with a device that can keep food warm and mess free, especially food that has been deep fried or cooked. In other words, the present invention intents to provide consumers convenience of serving heated ready-to-eat food. The present invention further ensures that edibles that are being held within the food storage unit are evenly heated. In order to accomplish this, the present invention uses a heated airflow system that comprises multiple air flow passages and a multi-functional grease tray ramp. Further, the present invention utilizes fresh air from the atmosphere for heating the food, thereby preventing recirculation of air within the system. Thus, the present invention is an efficient and improved design for a hot food holding station that can maintain the quality and freshness of hot food, without creating a greasy mess. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top-front-right perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is top-rear-right perspective view of the present invention, wherein a divider of the food holding station is positioned centrally. 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom-rear-right perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the present invention, taken along A-A′ of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a detailed view of section  6  on  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded top-rear-left perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded bottom-rear-right perspective view of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION 
     All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     In reference to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 8 , the present invention is a hot food holding station. An objective of the present invention is to provide users with a device that can keep food warm and mess free, especially food that has been deep fried or cooked. In other words, the present invention intents to provide consumers convenience of serving heated ready-to-eat food with improved quality. The present invention further ensures that edibles that are being held within the food storage unit are evenly heated. In order to accomplish this, the present invention uses a heated airflow system that comprises multiple air flow passages and a multi-functional grease tray ramp. Further, the present invention utilizes fresh air from the atmosphere for heating the food, thereby preventing recirculation of air within the system. Thus, the present invention is an efficient and improved design for a hot food holding station, that can maintain the quality and freshness of hot food, without creating a greasy surface. 
     The following description is in reference to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 8 . According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hot food holding station comprises an air blower unit  1 , an airflow unit  2 , a heated air chamber  3  and a food holding compartment  4 . The air blower unit  1 , the airflow unit  2  and the heated air chamber  3  are used together to operate a heated airflow system of the present invention. As seen in  FIG. 5 , the airflow unit  3  comprises a first air flow chamber  5 , a heater cartridge  6  and a second air flow chamber  7 . Preferably, the heater cartridge  6  is connected between the first air flow chamber  5  and the second airflow chamber  7 , such that fresh air from the first air flow chamber  5  gets hot as it traverses through the heater cartridge  6  and reaches the second air flow chamber  7 . In reference to  FIG. 5 , the start of the heated airflow system can be seen as the air entering the air blower unit  1  on the left. The job of the first airflow chamber  5  is to hold incoming air that is delivered by the air blower unit  1 . The first airflow chamber  5  is an air compression chamber as it compresses air into the heat cartridge  6 . After the air has been pushed through the air blower unit  1  and the first airflow chamber  5 , the air will now enter the heat cartridge  6 . 
     It is an aim of the present invention to utilize air from the atmosphere, heat the air as it traverses through the device, and use that heated air to keep the food within the food holding compartment  4  hot. In order to accomplish that, the airflow unit  2  is connected between the air blower unit  1  and the heated air chamber  3 . As the air blower unit  1  pushes the air through the outlet of the air blower unit  1 , the air initially arrives in the first airflow chamber  4  of the airflow unit  2 . Further, the heated air chamber  3  is connected between the airflow unit  2  and the food holding compartment  4 , such that heated air reaches the food in the food holding compartment  4  through the heated air chamber  3 . Preferably, the food holding compartment  4  comprises a rectangular frame with a curved bottom surface. However, the food holding compartment  4  may comprise any other shape, as long as the intents of the present invention are not altered. 
     According to the preferred embodiment, the heated air chamber  3  comprises a receptacle  8 , a chamber tray  9 , an airflow nozzle  10 , and an airflow distribution cap  11 . Preferably, the receptacle  8  has a rectangular shape with a depth ranging a few inches. However, the receptacle  8  may comprise any other shape, as long as the objectives of the present invention are fulfilled. The chamber tray  9 , the airflow nozzle  10 , and the airflow distribution cap  11  enable uniform distribution and withholding of the hot air necessary for the smooth functioning of the present invention. Further, the food holding compartment  4  comprises a plurality of apertures  12 . As seen in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the plurality of apertures  12  is circular in shape. However, the plurality of apertures  12  may comprise any other size and shape, as long as the objectives of the present invention are fulfilled. As seen in  FIG. 5 , the chamber tray  9 , the airflow nozzle  10 , and the airflow distribution cap  11  are positioned within the receptacle  8 . Further, the airflow distribution cap  11  is mounted onto a lower surface  4   a  of the food holding compartment  4 , such that the air distribution cap  11  distributes air within the heated air chamber  3 . Furthermore, the plurality of apertures  12  traverses through the food holding compartment  4  and the plurality of apertures  12  is distributed across the food holding compartment  4 . This arrangement enables hot air in the heated air chamber  3  to get to the foot holding compartment  4  in a uniform manner, thereby enabling even heating of the food in the food holding compartment  4 . 
     In order to accomplish the objectives of the present invention, there must be an efficient air transfer system functioning within the present invention. To that end, the food holding compartment  4  is in fluid communication with the heated air chamber  3  through the plurality of apertures  12 , and the heated air chamber  3  is in fluid communication with the air flow unit  2  and the air blower unit  1 . In other words, the air blower unit  1  intakes atmospheric air into the device and transfers it through the air flow unit  2 . The air flow unit  2  compresses the air, makes it hot and sends it to the heated air chamber  3 . In the preferred embodiment, the airflow nozzle  10  is operably coupled to the air distribution cap  11 , such that the air distribution cap  11  distributes hot air coming through the airflow nozzle  10  within a space between the chamber tray  9  and the lower surface  4   a  of the food holding compartment  4 . In other words, the components within the heated air chamber  3  distributes the hot air evenly within the heated air chamber  3  and passes the hot air into the food holding compartment  4  through the plurality of apertures  12 . 
     Following description comprises a more specific and detailed description of the components of the preferred embodiment. As previously mentioned, the heat cartridge  6  is the component of the present invention that rises the temperature of the air flowing through the apparatus in order to maintain heat for the edibles being held by the present invention. To that end, the heater cartridge  6  comprises a casing  13 , an inlet section  14 , an outlet section  15 , and a heater  16 . In the preferred embodiment, the inlet section  14  is positioned opposite to the outlet section  15  across the casing  13 , and the heater  16  is positioned within the casing  13 . This is so that the inlet section  14  directs air coming from the first airflow chamber  5  into the heater  16  to create heated air and then directs the heated air to the outlet section  15 . As seen in  FIG. 6 , the inlet section  14  acts as a barrier that guide the incoming air into the casing  13 . In other words, the inlet section  14  acts as a funnel for incoming air that is led straight into the heater  16 . Continuing with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inlet section  14  comprises a first flange  17  and a second flange  18 , and the outlet section  15  comprises a first nozzle  19  and a second nozzle  20 . Preferably, the first flange  17  is laterally offset from the second flange  18  in such a way that the first flange  17  and second flange  18  are wing-like attachments to one end of the heat cartridge  6  as shown in  FIG. 6 . In other words, the first flange  17  is located at a top end of the casing  13  and the second flange  18  is located at a bottom end of the casing  13 . Note that the first flange  17  and second flange  18  are the entrances for air coming into the heat cartridge  6 . The first flange  17  and second flange  18  are shaped as ramps on the ceiling and the base of the first airflow chamber  4  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Preferably, the first flange  17  and second flange  18  are tightly secured against the ceiling and base of the first airflow chamber  4  so that all the incoming air by means of the air blower unit will enter the heater  16 . Accordingly, the first flange  17  and the second flange  18  are angularly offset from the casing  13 , such that the first flange  17  and the second flange  18  are facing away from the heater  16 . As the incoming air enters the heat cartridge  6 , the air is heated and distributed through the opposite end of the heat cartridge  6 . To that end, the first nozzle  19  is laterally offset from the second nozzle  20 . As seen in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the first nozzle  19  and second nozzle  20  are located opposite to the first flange  17  and second flange  18  across the casing  13 . Preferably, the first nozzle  19  is located at the top end of the casing  13  and the second nozzle  20  is located at the bottom end of the casing  13 . Further, the first nozzle  19  and the second nozzle  20  are angularly offset from the casing  13 , such that the first nozzle  19  and the second nozzle  20  are facing towards the heater  16  inside the casing  13 . In other words, the shape of the first nozzle  19  and second nozzle  20  is a variation of the first flange  17  and second flange  18  except that instead of the wings pointing outwards, the wings are concaving inwards. This is so that, the first nozzle  19  and second nozzle  20  are used to help direct the heated air coming from the heater  16  into the second airflow chamber  7 , thereby compressing the airflow against the trailing edge of the heating element and to restrict the airflow through the heater cartridge  6 . 
     Continuing with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second air flow chamber  7  comprises a grease tray  21 , wherein the grease tray  21  is connected between the outlet section  15  and the airflow nozzle  10 . This is so that, after passing through the first nozzle  19  and second nozzle  20 , when the heated air reaches the second airflow chamber  7 , the heated air first is forced up through the airflow nozzle  10  by means the grease tray  21 . Preferably, the grease tray  21  serves two main purposes. The first purpose of holding excessive grease that is leaked off from the edibles being held warm at the food holding compartment  4 , and the second purpose of helping to guide the heated air towards the exit point of the apparatus in order to keep the edibles heated and warm. In order to accomplish that, the grease tray  21  comprises a ramp  22 , a base  23 , and a plurality of barriers  24 . Further, the ramp  22  comprises a first end  22   a , a second end  22   b , and a bent section  22   c , wherein the first end  22   a  is positioned opposite to the second end  22   b  across the ramp  22 . As seen in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , the bent section  22   c  is positioned adjacent the second end  22   b , the first end  22   a  is mounted centrally across a width of the base  23 , and the second end  22   b  is mounted adjacent the airflow nozzle  10 . In other words, the ramp  22  begins in the base-center of a rectangular tray. Further, the ramp  22  is angularly offset from the base  23 , such that the ramp  22  guides air coming from the outlet section  15  onto the airflow nozzle  10 . Preferably, the ramp  22  angles upwards at an acute angle close to sixty to fifty degrees and straighten out ninety degrees up after reaching the airflow nozzle  10 . After straightening out as shown in  FIG. 6 , the ramp  22  reaches the airflow nozzle  10 , and the bent section  22   c  is created that curl slightly inwards to help guide the air through the airflow nozzle  10 . In other words, the bent section  22   c  further guides the heated air in the desired direction. As seen in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 10 , the plurality of barriers  24  is perimetrically connected around the base  23 , and the plurality of barriers  24  is normally positioned across the base  23 . More specifically, the base  23  is a rectangular-shaped tray that has barriers perpendicular to the base  23  along the perimeter. This is so that the base  23  and plurality of barriers  24  at the perimeter of this component act as a tray for excessive grease that has leaked from the edibles being held. Preferably, the shape of the airflow nozzle  10  is such that, the airflow nozzle  10  is secured tightly with the grease tray  21  to ensure proper airflow through the apparatus. 
     In reference to  FIG. 5 , as the heated air passes the grease tray  21 , it will need to go through the first component of the heated air chamber, which is the airflow nozzle  10 . In order to position the airflow nozzle  10  efficiently and to enable transfer of hot air into the heated air chamber  3 , the chamber tray  9  comprises a first aperture  25 , and the receptacle  8  comprises a second aperture  26 . As seen in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , the first aperture  25  traverses through the chamber tray  9 , and the first aperture  25  is positioned centrally across a length of the chamber tray  9 . This positioning and dimension of the first aperture  25  enables a perfect fit and smooth transition of the airflow nozzle  10 , and thus the heated air within the system. Further, the second aperture  26  traverses through a bottom surface  8   a  of the receptacle  8 . As seen in  FIG. 7 , the first aperture  25  and the second aperture  26  are rectangular in shape. However, the first aperture  25  and the second aperture  26  may comprise any other shape and/or dimension, as long as the intents of the present invention are not altered. In the preferred embodiment, the receptacle  8  acts as the housing compartment for all the different components of the heated air chamber  3 , and thus the second aperture  26  is key for the transmission and transfer of air between the second air flow chamber  7  and the heated air chamber  3 . To that end, the chamber tray  9  is positioned between the airflow nozzle  10  and the air distribution cap  11 , such the airflow nozzle  10  is secured tightly along the first aperture  25 . Further, the chamber tray  9  delineates a bottom surface  3   a  of the heated air chamber  3 , so that the chamber tray  9  bounds the heated air inside the apparatus underneath the food holding compartment  4 . 
     According to the preferred embodiment, the airflow nozzle  10  regulates the heated air that is going to the airflow distribution cap  11 . In order to accomplish that, the airflow nozzle  10  comprises a body  27  and an air slit  28 . As seen in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , the body  27  comprises a roof  27   a  and a plurality of walls  27   b , wherein the plurality of walls  27   b  is positioned perimetrically around the roof  27   a . In other words, the airflow nozzle  10  has a long rectangular house-like shape, with an empty base that allows the heated air to go through the airflow nozzle  10 . Further, the air slit  28  traverses centrally along a length of the roof  27   a . More specifically, the airflow nozzle  10  has two angled walls that look like a roof attached to the long sides of the walls, wherein a small opening (the air slit) at the top allows heated air to go through the airflow nozzle  10 . Furthermore, the airflow nozzle  10  is pressed against the chamber tray  9 , and the air slit  28  is operably coupled to the air distribution cap  11  through the first aperture  25 . As previously mentioned, the airflow distribution cap  11  is attached under the food holding compartment  4 . Additionally, the shape and size of the air distribution cap  11  is equivalent to the airflow nozzle  10  as the airflow distribution cap  11  and airflow nozzle  10  are secured tightly against each other. In other words, as the heated air passes through the airflow nozzle  10 , the heated air is compressed against the airflow distribution cap  11  and distributed to the heated air chamber  3 , which is the space beneath the food holding compartment  4 . Thus, the air distribution cap ensures even distribution of heated air across the heated air chamber  3 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the heated air chamber  3  is the compartment of the apparatus which contains the heated air that is distributed to the edibles on the food holding compartment  4 . In order to maintain temperature control within the device, the heated air chamber  3  further comprises a temperature probe  29 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , the temperature probe  29  is positioned along a wall of the receptacle  8 . However, the temperature probe  29  may be positioned on any other location across the device, as long as the objectives of the present invention are fulfilled. Further, the temperature probe  29  enables an accurate temperature control method as it reflects the temperature of the heated air chamber  3 . In other words, the temperature probe  29  will give knowledge of whether the temperature is acceptable or not within the apparatus. 
     It is an aim of the present invention to establish a system that can utilize atmospheric air for heating the edibles in the food holding compartment and enable continuous generation of hot air with the present invention. This would prevent repeated usage or recirculation of the same heated air, thereby improving the quality of the food, as well as preventing overheating. Accordingly, the initial functioning of the heated airflow system begins when air enters the air blower unit  1 . In order to accomplish the above-mentioned functioning, the air blower unit  1  comprises a base receptacle  30 , a suction motor  31 , a microcontroller  32 , and a power source  33 , wherein the suction motor  31 , the microcontroller  32  and the power source  33  being mounted within the base receptacle  30 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , the base receptacle  30  constitutes the primary casing that holds the important electric and electronic components of the present invention in a closed and safe location. Further, suction motor  31  is intended to draw air through openings on the base receptacle  30 , and the microcontroller  32  is a processing device that manages the operation of the electrical components within the present invention. Furthermore, the power source  33  is also positioned within the base receptacle  30  isolated from hazards in the external environment. Preferably, the power source  33  is a rechargeable battery, that is used to deliver electrical power to the microcontroller  32  and the suction motor  31 . However, any other source of power, or a combination power sources may be employed for the smooth functioning of the hot food holding station. Furthermore, the present invention may comprise at least one electrical connector  34 , which may be mounted onto a surface of the base receptacle  30 , for providing electrical connectivity between the power source  33  and an external power supply. Additionally, the temperature probe  29  and the power source  33  are electronically connected to the microcontroller  32 , so as to enable the smooth functioning of the electric and electronic components of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, the suction motor  31  induces a pressure differential that draws atmospheric air into the first air flow chamber  5 . Accordingly, the suction motor  31  may comprise any brand, size, or power, as long as the suction motor  31  fits within the dimensions of the base receptacle  30  and fulfills the intends of the present invention. 
     As seen in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 7  through  FIG. 8 , the present invention comprises a divider  35 . Preferably, the divider  35  is positioned within the food holding compartment  4 , wherein the divider  35  is laterally displaceable across a length of the food holding compartment  4 . This is so that, the divider  35  can section the food holding compartment  4  into multiple compartments, thereby enabling to store more than one kind of food and thus user friendliness. In other words, the divider  35  divides the food holding compartment  4  into a plurality of compartments. It should be noted that the present invention may comprise any other components that may be needed for the smooth functioning or improved functionalities of the hot food holding station. Thus, the present invention is an efficient and improved design for a hot food holding station, that can maintain the quality and freshness of hot food, without creating a greasy surface. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.