US20050205081A1 - Drawer for a heated food cabinet - Google Patents

Abstract

The food warmer oven includes a cabinet12having opposing side walls16, 18, a top wall20, a bottom wall22, a back wall24, and a front wall26defining a heating cavity28, the front wall26defining an opening30into the heating cavity28; a heating source32disposed within the heating cavity28; a drawer frame38having a pair of opposing side rails44, 46, each of the side rails having a front end48and a terminal end50, the side rails being functionally connected with the side walls16, 18of the cabinet in a manner such that the drawer frame38can be moved between an open position wherein the drawer frame38extends substantially exterior of the heating cavity28through the opening30and a closed position wherein the drawer frame38is positioned substantially within the heating cavity28, the front end48of the side rails44, 46being positioned proximate the front wall26and the terminal end50being positioned proximate the back wall24when the drawer frame38is in the closed position; a food tray42removably held by the drawer frame38; a door40is moveably connected to the side rails44, 46of the drawer frame, the door40moveable between an open position and a closed position; and a locking mechanism in connection between the door40and the side rails44, 46of the drawer frame38for selectively maintaining the door40in the closed position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates in general to a heated food cabinet and more particularly, but not limited to, a heated food cabinet that includes a moveable food drawer that has a positional drawer door.
BACKGROUND
• Food warming devices, are often used in commercial establishments for maintaining prepared foods at a serving temperature. These cabinets are also used to reheat food products and for storage of food products that require extensive preparation time.
• These food warming cabinets include one or more drawers that are positional within a heated cavity. The drawers include a storage area for the food that may be either a permanent part of the drawer or a removable tray or pan. In either situation the food product must be placed in and removed from the storage area, and the storage area must be regularly sanitized.
• In the prior art devices having a permanent food storage container as part of the drawer increases the effort and time required to clean and sanitize the food storage area. First, it is necessary to shut down the heating element for safety reasons resulting in taking the food cabinet out of service, not only for the cleaning process but also during the period of time for the heating cavity to cool and then for the period of time for the heating cavity to again attain the desired temperature. Further, to achieve adequate cleaning the entire drawer must be removed from the food cabinet wasting time and often resulting in damage to the drawer and/or the food cabinet.
• Some prior art food warming cabinets include drawers that have a removable food storage container. These devices allow a user to exchange food containers within the drawer and permit easier cleaning of the food container. However, these prior art devices require that a user precariously grip the food container when placing the container into the drawer or removing the container from the drawer. The limited access and ability to grip the food container is due to the required minimal foot print of the food cabinet and the utilization of a minimal heated cavity. This limited ability to handle the food container often results in accidents wherein the food container is dropped or mishandled resulting in injury to the user or others in the vicinity, damage to the food cabinet, and loss of food product.
• It is thus a desire of the present invention to provide a positional drawer door for a food cabinet that address shortcomings of the prior art food cabinets. It is a still further desire of the present invention to provide a positional drawer that facilitates access to a drawer food container without sacrificing size limitations or the capacity of the food cabinet. It is a still further desire of the present invention to provide a positional drawer door that facilitates quick access for removing or placing a food container in a food cabinet limiting the loss of heat from the heated cavity, conserving energy, and preventing unnecessary heating of the heat source that may overcook the contained food product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• In view of the foregoing and other considerations, the present invention relates to food warming cabinets and more particularly a positional drawer door for a food cabinet.
• It is a benefit of the present invention to provide positional drawer door that is movable between an open position to a closed and locked position.
• It is a further benefit of the present invention to provide a positional drawer door that facilitates full access to a food tray for inserting the food tray into the drawer or removing the food tray from the drawer.
• Accordingly, a positional drawer door for a food warming oven is provided. The positional drawer door is connected to the side rails of a drawer frame in a manner to be moved from a closed position to an open position. The drawer frame may be adapted to removably carry a food tray. The positional drawer door is selectively maintained in the closed position by a locking mechanism connectable between the positional door and the side rails of the drawer frame.
• A food warmer oven is further provided, the food warmer oven includes a cabinet having opposing side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and a front wall defining a heating cavity, the front wall defining an opening into the heating cavity; a heating source disposed within the heating cavity; a drawer frame having a pair of opposing side rails, each of the side rails having a front end and a terminal end, the side rails being functionally connected with the side walls of the cabinet in a manner such that the drawer frame can be moved between an open position wherein the drawer frame extends substantially exterior of the heating cavity through the opening and a closed position wherein the drawer frame is positioned substantially within the heating cavity, the front end of the side rails being positioned proximate the front wall and the terminal end being positioned proximate the back wall when the drawer frame is in the closed position; a food tray removably held by the drawer frame; a door moveably connected to the side rails of the drawer frame, the door moveable between an open position and a closed position; and a locking mechanism in connection between the door and the side rails of the drawer frame for selectively maintaining the door in the closed position.
• A method of maintaining a temperature of a food product including the steps of providing a food warmer oven comprising: a cabinet having opposing side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and a front wall defining a heating cavity, the front wall defining an opening into the heating cavity, a heating source disposed within the heating cavity, a drawer frame having a pair of opposing side rails, each of the side rails having a front end and a terminal end, the side rails being functionally connected with the side walls of the cabinet in a manner such that the drawer frame can be moved between an open position wherein the drawer frame extends substantially exterior of the heating cavity through the opening and a closed position wherein the drawer frame is positioned substantially within the heating cavity, the front end of the side rails being positioned proximate the front wall and the terminal end being positioned proximate the back wall when the drawer frame is in the closed position, a door moveably connected to the side rails of the drawer frame, the door moveable between an open position and a closed position, and a locking mechanism in connection between the door and the side rails of the drawer frame for selectively maintaining the door in the closed position; providing a desired temperature within the heating cavity; pulling the door and drawer frame substantially through the front wall opening from the heating cavity; manipulating the door to disconnect the door from the drawer frame via the locking mechanism; moving the door to the open position; removing a food tray from the drawer frame; placing a food tray in the drawer frame; moving the door to the closed position; and manipulating the door to secure the door to the door frame via the locking mechanism.
• The foregoing has outlined the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The foregoing and other features and aspects of the present invention will be best understood with reference to the following detailed description of a specific embodiment of the invention, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a positional drawer door for a food cabinet of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a positional drawer door of the present invention shown in the open position; and
• FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of an embodiment of the present invention with the positional drawer door in the closed position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• Refer now to the drawings wherein depicted elements are not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by the same reference numeral through the several views.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a positional drawer door for a food cabinet of the present invention generally designated by thenumeral10. The present invention includes a food cabinet12 and a drawer, generally designated by thenumeral14, that is movable between a closed position in whichdrawer14 is positioned within food cabinet12 and an opened position whereindrawer14 extends from cabinet12.
• Cabinet12 may be a cooking or warming oven or holding oven. Cabinet12 includesopposing side walls16,18, atop wall20, abottom wall22, aback wall24, and afront wall26 forming a heated cavity28. Cabinet12 may be constructed of stainless steel, aluminum or other suitable material for a heating apparatus.
• Access to heated cavity28 is formed by openings30 created through or defined byfront wall26. Cavity28 is heated by a heat source32 that may include any known heat source for cooking and/or warming food products. As shown inFIG. 1, heat source32 is an electrically charged conductive heat source. Heat source32 may be manipulated bycontrols36.
• Cavity28 may be a single, continuous cavity or comprise separate cavities as illustrated inFIG. 1. As shown inFIG. 1, heated cavity28 is divided into two separate heatedcavities28aand28b. Thecavities28aand28bare separated by apartition34 positioned within cavity28 and extending tofront wall26 to form a portion offront wall26. Each heatedcavity section28a,28bmay be heated individually by respective, separate heat sources32a,32bdisposed within each heatedcavity section28a,28b. It may be further desired that each heat each heat source32a,32bbe individually temperature controlled bycontrols36. Thecavity sections28a,28bmay be heated by a single heat source32.
• Drawer14 is slidably inserted into cavity28 through an opening30 formed by front wall26 (which may include a partition34) of cabinet12.Drawer14 includes adrawer frame38 that is described in detail in relation toFIG. 2.Drawer frame38 is moveably connected to cabinet12 so as to allowdrawer frame38 to be moveable from a closed position, whereindrawer frame38 is positioned within heated cavity28, to an open position whereindrawer frame38 extends from cabinet12 and heated cavity28. Opening30 is sized so that whendrawer14 is inserted into cavity28 andpositional drawer door40 is in the closed position, opening30 is substantially sealed.
• Drawer14 includes apositional door40 connected todrawer frame38.Positional drawer door40 may be moved from a closed position (not shown) to an open position. In the closed position,positional drawer door40 is locked in a position substantially perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis37 ofside rails16,18 and abuttingrails16 and18. Whendrawer14 is inserted into cavity28 in the closed position, anddoor40 is in the closed position, opening30 (FIG. 1) is substantially sealed maintaining heat within cavity28. Whenpositional drawer door40 is moved to the open position, one end ofdoor40 is disconnected fromside rails16,18 and the door is positioned substantially parallel tolongitudinal axis37 ofside rails16,18.
• Drawer frame38 is further adapted to carry a food tray orpan42.Food tray42 may be constructed of materials such as aluminum, stainless steel or other suitable sanitary and heat tolerable material acceptable for food preparation and food service.Food tray42 may be a shallow or deep type tray.Food tray42 is adapted to contain a food product (not shown) for heating the food product or maintenance of the heat of the food product.Food tray42 may be removable supported bydrawer frame38.
• As shown inFIG. 1, thepresent invention10 facilitates ease of removal offood tray42 or insertion offood tray42 intodrawer frame38 and cabinet12. In the example shown inFIG. 1,positional drawer door40 is in the open position anddrawer frame38 is in the open position, extending from cavity28 of cabinet12. In this configuration a user may easily slide or lift theheated food tray42 fromdrawer frame38 and cabinet12 in a manner to reduce the possibility of tipping or sloshing heated liquids in food tray orcontainer42, or to insertfood tray42 intodrawer frame38.
• Theapparatus10 of the present invention permits a user to quickly movepositional door40 from the closed and locked position to an open position. Withpositional door40 in the openposition food tray42 can be securely gripped by a user and placed into or removed fromdrawer frame38. The present invention provides a novel apparatus and system that promotes safety for the user, ease of use, and conservation of energy.
• FIG. 2 is perspective view of adrawer14 of the present invention shown in isolation withpositional drawer door40 shown in the open position. With reference toFIGS. 1 through 3,drawer14 includes adrawer frame38, apositional drawer door40 and afood tray42.
• Drawer frame38 includes a pair of opposing side rails44,46 that are slidably connected, respectively, toside walls16 and18 of cabinet12. Side rails44,46 are adapted to move along ahorizontal axis37. Side rails44,46 include afront rail end48 positioned proximatefront wall26 of cabinet12 whendrawer14 is in the closed position, and aterminal end50 positioned proximate theback wall24 of cabinet12 whendrawer14 is in the closed position. Side rails44,46 may be connected in known manners toside walls16,18 in a manner to facilitate movingdrawer frame38 between an open position extending from cavity28, to a closed position whereindrawer frame38 is disposed within cavity28.
• Drawer frame38 may further include afront support52 and/or aback support54.Front support52 being positioned between and substantially perpendicular to side rails44,46 and connected proximate tofront ends48 of side rails44,46.Back support54 may be positioned between and substantially perpendicular to side rails44,46 and connected proximate to terminal ends50 of side rails44,46.
• Positional drawer door40 is hingedly connected to alower end56 of each of theside rail44,46 proximateterminal end50. Hingedconnection60 permitspositional door40 to be moved in relation todrawer frame38. As shown inFIG. 2, hinged ormoveable connection60 includes abracket66 connected betweenpositional drawer door42 andlower end56 of eachside rail16,18.Moveable connection60 is illustrated as a bolt with a nut, but other means of connection may be utilized.Bracket66 further includes aslot68 to allow hingedconnection mechanism60 to be repositioned to facilitate movingdoor40 between the open and closed position.
• Drawer14 includes alocking mechanism70. Lockingmechanism70 facilitates selective positioning ofdrawer door40 in a closed position, substantially perpendicular to thehorizontal axis37 ofdrawer frame38 as referenced withside rails44,46 and connected to side rails44,46, to an open position whereindrawer door40 is substantially parallel to thehorizontal axis37 ofdrawer frame38.
• An illustration of thelocking mechanism70 of the present invention is shown in relation toFIGS. 1 through 3. Lockingmechanism70 includes a holdingmember70areleasably connectable with a probe70b. Lockingmechanism70 is positioned in connection with and between side rails44,46 andpositional drawer door40. Lockingelements70aand70bmay be arranged in various configurations to accomplish the desired purpose.
• As shown inFIGS. 1 through 3, holdingmember70aincludes atab72.Tab72 extends fromside rails44,46 and is positioned proximate the upper end58 offront end48 of eachside rail44,46.Tab72 forms akey hole74, having afirst orifice section76 and a second orifice section78. First andsecond orifices76,78 are in connection to one another.First orifice76 has a larger diameter than second orifice78.
• Lockingmechanism70 further includes probe70badapted for connection with holdingmechanism70a. Probe70bis connected to a positional door opposite the end having hingedconnection60 so as to be alignable with holdingmember70a. Probe70bincludes a shaft80 and attachedhead82.Head82 is sized to be smaller thanfirst orifice76 and larger then second orifice or second pathway78. Shaft80 is formed to have a smaller diameter than second orifice or78.
• The method of use of lockingmechanism70 is described in relation toFIGS. 1 through 3. To closepositional door40,door40 is pivoted and raised so thathead82 is aligned withfirst orifice76.Head82 is inserted throughfirst orifice76 anddoor40 is lowered so that shaft80 is positioned in second orifice78.Head82 is larger than second orifice78 and therefore cannot pass through second orifice78 connectingdoor40 and side rails44,46 in a locking manner. To movepositional door40 to an open position,door40 is raised so thathead82 is again aligned withfirst orifice76.Door40 is then pivoted removing probe70bfrom holdingmechanism70a. Vertical movement ofdoor40 in relation to lockingmechanism70 is facilitated by movement of hingedconnection60 and movement of bolt62 withinslot68. It should be realized that orientation and connection of holdingmember70aand probe70bmay be as illustrated or reversed so that probe70bis connected to side rails44,46 and holdingmember70ais connected todoor40.
• FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of an embodiment of the present invention in isolation withpositional drawer40 shown in the closed position.Head82 is shown extending through holdingmechanism70alockingdoor40 in the closed position.Slot68 can be seen indicating thatdoor40 may be raised to unlockdoor40 for moving to the open position.
• With Reference toFIGS. 1 through 3, theapparatus10 of the present invention facilitates safe handling offood trays42 when being inserted into or removed from a heated cavity28 of a food cabinet12.Apparatus10 includes adrawer frame38 that is adapted to carry afood tray42. The drawer frame and food tray may be moved from an open position wherein the drawer frame and food tray extend from the cabinet and heated cavity to a closed position wherein the drawer frame and food tray are disposed within the cavity. Thedrawer40 includes apositional door40 that can be locked into a closed position in connection with the drawer frame to seal the opening in cabinet12 when the drawer is closed, to an open position facilitating access for gripping the food tray.
• From the foregoing detailed description of specific embodiments of the invention, it should be apparent that a positional drawer door for a food cabinet that is novel has been disclosed. Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein in some detail, this has been done solely for the purposes of describing various features and aspects of the invention, and is not intended to be limiting with respect to the scope of the invention. It is contemplated that various substitutions, alterations, and/or modifications, including but not limited to those implementation variations which may have been suggested herein, may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims which follow.

Claims (20)

1. A drawer having a positional drawer door comprising:

a drawer frame having a pair of opposing side rails, each of the side rails having a terminal end and a front end; and

a door moveably connected to the front end of the side rails in a manner to be positional between an open position and a closed position.

2. The apparatus ofclaim 1 further including a food tray removably disposed within the drawer frame.

3. The apparatus ofclaim 1 further including a locking mechanism in connection between the side rails and the door.

4. The apparatus ofclaim 3 wherein the locking mechanism includes:

a holding mechanism connected to the sides rails proximate the front end thereof, the holding mechanism including a keyhole formed therethrough; and

a probe extending from the door and connectable to the holding mechanism in a manner to maintain the door in a locked and closed position.

5. The apparatus ofclaim 3 wherein the locking mechanism includes:

a holding mechanism connected to the door, the holding mechanism including a keyhole formed therethrough; and

a probe connected to and extending from each of the side walls proximate the front end thereof connectable to the holding mechanism in a manner to maintain the door in a locked and closed position.

6. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the door is hingedly connected to the side rails proximate the front end thereof.

7. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the drawer frame is insertable within a heated cavity formed by a cabinet.

8. The apparatus ofclaim 3 wherein the door is hingedly connected to the side rails proximate the front end thereof.

9. The apparatus ofclaim 4 wherein the door is hingedly connected to the side rails proximate the front end thereof.

10. The apparatus ofclaim 5 wherein the door is hingedly connected to the side rails proximate the front end thereof.

11. The apparatus ofclaim 3 further including a food tray removably disposed within the drawer frame.

12. The apparatus ofclaim 6 further including a food tray removably disposed within the drawer frame.

13. The apparatus ofclaim 7 further including a food tray removably disposed within the drawer frame.

14. A food warmer oven comprising:

a cabinet having opposing side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and a front wall defining a heating cavity, the front wall defining an opening into the heating cavity;

a heating source disposed within the heating cavity;

a drawer frame having a pair of opposing side rails, each of the side rails having a front end and a terminal end, the side rails being functionally connected with the side walls of the cabinet in a manner such that the drawer frame can be moved between an open position wherein the drawer frame extends substantially exterior of the heating cavity through the opening and a closed position wherein the drawer frame is positioned substantially within the heating cavity, the front end of the side rails being positioned proximate the front wall and the terminal end being positioned proximate the back wall when the drawer frame is in the closed position;

a food tray removably held by the drawer frame;

a door moveably connected to the side rails of the drawer frame, the door moveable between an open position and a closed position; and

a locking mechanism in connection between the door and the side rails of the drawer frame for selectively maintaining the door in the closed position.

15. The food warmer oven ofclaim 14 wherein when the door is in the closed position the door substantially seals the opening formed through the front wall of the cabinet.

16. The food warmer oven ofclaim 14 wherein the locking mechanism includes:

a holding mechanism connected to the sides rails proximate the front end thereof, the holding mechanism including a keyhole formed therethrough; and

a probe extending from the door and connectable to the holding mechanism in a manner to maintain the door in a locked and closed position.

17. The food warmer oven ofclaim 14 wherein the locking mechanism includes:

a holding mechanism connected to the door, the holding mechanism including a keyhole formed therethrough; and

a probe connected to and extending from each of the side walls proximate the front end thereof connectable to the holding mechanism in a manner to maintain the door in a locked and closed position.

18. A method of maintaining a temperature of food products comprising the steps of:

providing a food warmer oven comprising:

a cabinet having opposing side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and a front wall defining a heating cavity, the front wall defining an opening into the heating cavity,

a heating source disposed within the heating cavity,

a drawer frame having a pair of opposing side rails, each of the side rails having a front end and a terminal end, the side rails being functionally connected with the side walls of the cabinet in a manner such that the drawer frame can be moved between an open position wherein the drawer frame extends substantially exterior of the heating cavity through the opening and a closed position wherein the drawer frame is positioned substantially within the heating cavity, the front end of the side rails being positioned proximate the front wall and the terminal end being positioned proximate the back wall when the drawer frame is in the closed position,

a door moveably connected to the side rails of the drawer frame, the door moveable between an open position and a closed position, and

a locking mechanism in connection between the door and the side rails of the drawer frame for selectively maintaining the door in the closed position;

providing a desired temperature within the heating cavity;

pulling the door and drawer frame substantially through the front wall opening from the heating cavity;

manipulating the door to disconnect the door from the drawer frame via the locking mechanism;

moving the door to the open position;

removing a food tray from the drawer frame;

placing a food tray in the drawer frame;

moving the door to the closed position; and

manipulating the door to secure the door to the door frame via the locking mechanism.

19. The method ofclaim 19 wherein the locking mechanism includes:

a holding mechanism connected to the sides rails proximate the front end thereof, the holding mechanism including a keyhole formed therethrough; and

a probe extending from the door and connectable to the holding mechanism in a manner to maintain the door in a locked and closed position.

20. The method ofclaim 19 wherein the locking mechanism includes:

a holding mechanism connected to the door, the holding mechanism including a keyhole formed therethrough; and

a probe connected to and extending from each of the side walls proximate the front end thereof connectable to the holding mechanism in a manner to maintain the door in a locked and closed position.

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