Patent ID: 8087351

Claim:
A thermal insert for providing temperature control to a vessel for dispensing food products, the thermal insert configured for use in a temperature-controlled tray having a bottom, an open top, and at least one side wall surface that extends between the open top and bottom, the temperature-controlled tray also having a depth substantially equal to the distance between the bottom and the open top, the thermal insert comprised of: a thermally-conductive tube having a wall with a thickness, a length, an axis substantially parallel to the length of the thermally-conductive tube, and, a cross-section substantially orthogonal to the axis of the thermally-conductive tube, the thermally-conductive tube being configured to receive a vessel inside the thermally conductive tube, the thermally conductive tube having an open top end and a bottom end, the bottom end being beveled at an angle relative to the axis of the thermally-conductive tube such that at least a portion of the wall thickness is exposed along the bevel, the portion of the wall thickness that is exposed along the bevel being adapted to be in thermal communication with at least one of the side wall surface and the bottom of the temperature-controlled tray, the thermally-conductive tube cross-section, bevel, wall thickness and length being sized, shaped and arranged for facilitating conduction of thermal energy between a vessel inside the thermally-conductive tube and at least one of: a side wall surface of the temperature-controlled tray, and a bottom of the temperature-controlled tray.