Patent ID: 8695489

Claim:
A device for holding a plurality of food portions at an elevated temperature comprising: a cabinet defining a volume and enclosing a first compartment above a second compartment, each of said compartments for holding food portions and comprising at least one slot for removing food portions therefrom, having a compartment height and being bounded by an upper heated compartment surface; a heating device located in the cabinet for maintaining each compartment at an elevated temperature; and a first at least generally vertically disposed continuous flexible member covering and extending across at least an upper and substantial portion of the compartment slot of the first compartment, said first flexible member being readily deflectable to permit access to the interior of the first compartment for removing food items therefrom, the first flexible member permitting a limited amount of airflow into and out of the first compartment through a lower portion of the compartment slot of the first compartment said first flexible member forming a first gap between said first flexible member and the bottom of said compartment slot of the first compartment to permit insertion of a tray into the cabinet, wherein the gap is between about 0.5 inches and about 4 inches high, and wherein the compartment height is between about 5 inches and about 7 inches, said first gap allowing airflow into and out of said cabinet, a second at least generally vertically disposed continuous flexible member covering and extending across at least an upper and substantial portion of the compartment slot of the second compartment, said second flexible member being readily deflectable to permit access to the interior of the second compartment for removing food items therefrom, the second flexible member permitting a limited amount of airflow into and out of the second compartment through a lower portion of the compartment slot of the second compartment, said second flexible member forming a second gap between said second flexible member and the bottom of said compartment slot of the second compartment to permit insertion of a tray into the cabinet, wherein the second gap is between about 0.5 inches and about 4 inches high, and wherein the second compartment height is between about 5 inches and about 7 inches, said second gap allowing airflow into and out of said cabinet.