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Title: Food serving system
Claims: We claim: 1. A warming unit and serving tray combination comprising: a warming unit having a generally planar bottom surface accommodating resting of said unit on a counter top, a flat and electrically insulative but heat conductive top surface parallel to and spaced above said bottom surface, means affixed to the underside of said top surface for warming said top surface, and means, including means for securing said top surface in position with respect to said bottom surface, for defining a peripheral margin of uniform predetermined vertical cross-sectional contour and extending around the entire periphery of said top surface; a non-metallic serving tray having a generally planar upper surface corresponding in extent to said top surface of said warming unit and having a peripheral and downwardly depending skirt means the bottom margin of which has a contour matable with the outer edge portion of said predetermined contour on all sides of said periphery and means matable with respect to said peripheral margin for nesting said serving tray directly on said top surface of said warming unit; means defining a plurality of openings in said upper surface of said serving tray; and a plurality of food containers individually seatable in respective different ones of said openings. 2. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which each of said containers includes a sidewall receivable within a corresponding one of said openings, and in which a plurality of circumferentially-spaced nubs project outwardly from said sidewall for camming engagement with the respective margins of said openings to seat snappingly said containers within said openings. 3. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said top surface includes a resistance heating element meandering across its lower face, and in which the upper face of said top surface is provided with indicia representing placement of said containers directly on said top surface in an array corresponding with the distribution of said openings. 4. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which a vacuum cup projects downwardly from said serving tray for engagement with either said top surface or a surface external to said combination. 5. A combination as defined in claim 1 which further includes means for regulating the temperature of said top surface and limiting the maximum temperature. 6. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said skirt includes opposing recesses to serve as handholds for removal of said tray from said unit. 7. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said top surface includes a resistance heating element therefor and a thermostat located therebeneath, and in which the upper face of said top surface is provided with indicia indicating placement of said containers directly on said top surface in a position away from the location of said thermostat. 8. A combination as defined in claim 1 which includes means for periodically energizing said warming means at a rate maintaining proper serving temperature of foodstuff in said containers. 9. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said warming unit includes upper and lower portions secured together for captivating said top surface. 10. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said serving tray includes means for securing said containers in said tray against dislodging effort by a person being fed from said tray. Other info: Inventors: Mackay, Frederick G. (Tarzana, CA, US) Keryluk, Horace T. (Ft. Collins, CO, US) Cannon, Thomas G. (Ft. Collins, CO, US) Application Number: 795175 Filing Date: 1977-05-09 Publication_date: 1979-03-20 Assignee: Teledyne Industries, Inc. (Ft. Collins, CO) Primary Class(es): 219/387 219/432, 219/433, 219/448.11, 219/466.1, 219/473, D7/364 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Truhe, J. V. Assistant Examiner: Roskoski, Bernard Attorney: Drake; Hugh H. |
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