U.S. patent application number 10/813780 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-06 for collapsible wire chafing stand.
Invention is credited to Skvorecz, Robert.
Application Number | 20050218274 10/813780 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35053241 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050218274 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Skvorecz, Robert |
October 6, 2005 |
COLLAPSIBLE WIRE CHAFING STAND
Abstract
A wire chafing stand including a rim of wire steel in a
substantially rectangular configuration, lateral sides and a
longitudinal axis extending from the lateral sides and a pair of
wire legs pivotally connected to the rim for permitting the wire
legs to fold relative to the frame in order to adjust the chafing
stand into a closed position with the chafing stand forming a
narrow lateral profile for transportation or storage or with the
chafing stand folded into an open position for heating preheated
foods in a chafing dish. Each of the wire legs is pivotally
connected to the rim through a hinge pin assembly permitting each
pair of wire legs to pivot outwardly in opposite directions with
each leg establishing a fixed position at an inclined angle of less
than 90 degrees relative to the rim when the wire chafing stand is
folded into an open position such that the legs will stand firmly
on any level surface and the chafing stand will not unintentionally
collapse.
Inventors: |
Skvorecz, Robert; (Paterson,
NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Eugene Lieberstein
Anderson Kill & Olick
1251 Avenue of the Americas
New York
NY
10020
US
|
Family ID: |
35053241 |
Appl. No.: |
10/813780 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/153 ;
211/181.1; 248/175 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 27/18 20130101;
A47J 2037/0777 20130101; A47J 36/34 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/153 ;
248/175; 211/181.1 |
International
Class: |
A47G 023/02 |
Claims
1. A wire chafing stand comprising a frame formed of steel wire rod
represented by a wire rim configured in any desired geometry having
longitudinal and lateral sides and a longitudinal axis extending
from said lateral sides and a pair of wire legs pivotally connected
to the rim for permitting the wire legs to fold relative to the
frame so that the chafing stand can be folded into a closed
position having a narrow lateral profile or into an open position
for supporting the stand on a level surface and having a hinge pin
assembly for each of the wire legs comprising stop means in an
arrangement such that each pair of wire legs will pivot outwardly
in opposite directions when the wire chafing stand is folded into
an open position with each leg establishing a fixed position at an
inclined angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the rim thereby
permitting the legs to stand firmly on any level surface and
preventing the chafing stand from unintentionally collapsing
wherein each of the two pair of wire legs have a common bottom
section with the wire chafing stand further comprising a fuel
heater connector assembly having two detachable sections with one
end of each detachable section connected to a bottom section and
the opposite ends being detachably connected to one another for
supporting a plurality of chafing fuel heaters in the wire chafing
stand open position.
2. A wire chafing stand as defined in claim 1 wherein each wire leg
lies in the chafing stand open position at a fixed inclined angle
of between about 60.degree. and 85.degree. relative to the rim.
3. (canceled)
4. A wire chafing stand as defined in claim 2 further comprising at
least one hinge pin assembly for each detachable section with each
hinge pin assembly pivotally connecting the detachable section at
one end thereof to a bottom section to permit each detachable
section to be pivoted open when folding the chafing stand to the
open position and having means for detachably interlocking the
opposite ends thereof when folding the chafing stand into the
closed position.
5. A wire chafing stand as defined in claim 4 wherein said means
for detachably interlocking the opposite ends of each detachable
section comprises an end section for each detachable section with
the end section of one detachable section having an overhanging
member adapted to fit over the end section of the other detachable
section upon folding the chafing stand into the open position and
further comprising a wire tongue formed at said one end section and
a groove for receiving the wire tongue formed at said other end
section.
6. A wire chafing stand as defined in claim 4 wherein each
detachable section of said fuel heater connector assembly comprises
at least one wire rod holder including a depressed portion for
supporting a chafing fuel heater.
7. A wire chafing stand as defined in claim 6 wherein the lateral
sides of said rim include an integrated handle for manually holding
the stand.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a collapsible wire chafing stand
which can be readily folded up for purposes of transportation or
compact storage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A wire chafing stand is a device used for maintaining and
heating pre-cooked food at a location remote from the kitchen in
which the food was originally prepared and cooked. The chafing
stand is generally designed as an open structure preferably of wire
rod steel to support aluminum pans into which a chafing dish can be
placed. The chafing stand must also support a plurality of
auxiliary fuel heaters which are used to heat the chafing dish.
[0003] Although the chafing stand has little weight its physical
dimensions occupy substantial volume which makes it prohibitively
expensive to ship on an individual basis. In fact, the cost of
transportation from the point of manufacture to the distributor
and/or to the retailer is a critical economic factor in the pricing
of the wire chafing stand.
[0004] Currently, when long distances are involved, it is
conventional to nest together a multiplicity of chafing stands for
shipment in a stacked arrangement and then to separate the nested
stands at the point of destination. An example of a commercially
available chafing stand designed to permit multiple nesting is
described by applicant in U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,513 the disclosure of
which is herein incorporated by reference. This chafing stand
includes an upper and lower rim interconnected by wire legs which
extend below the lower rim to form the base of the stand and a
plurality of offsets designed for displacing the legs to permit
multiple nesting. The upper and lower rims in combination provide
the structural support for the stand. The lower rim is also
designed to include a plurality of holders for chafing fuel
heaters. An alternative design of applicant which permits multiple
chafing stands to be nested together is described in U.S. Pat. No.
6,520,354 the disclosure of which is herein also incorporated by
reference. In this alternative arrangement one wire rim is used to
form the frame of the stand in combination with two supporting
legs, two handles and a plurality of offsets.
[0005] A wire chafing stand which folds up to minimize volume for
purposes of transportation has been suggested in the prior art as
taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,068. However, in this design when the
wire chafing stand is folded open the wire legs stand upright. This
design is believed to be inherently unstable and is not user
friendly in that it can easily fall over.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The wire chafing stand of the present invention is
preferably constructed using one wire rim to form the frame of the
chafing stand and a pair of support legs to support the frame. The
support legs are adjustably connected to the frame so that the legs
may be manually adjusted into a folded open position or into a
folded up, i.e. closed position relative to the wire rim. When in
the folded open position the legs lie inclined relative to the
frame so that the chafing stand is stable and will stand firmly on
any level surface. Moreover, the wire legs pivot using a hinge pin
assembly which is designed so that the chafing stand cannot
unintentionally collapse when in the open position. When the
chafing stand is folded into the closed position the wire legs are
aligned in a plane substantially parallel to the wire rim to form a
narrow lateral profile for purposes of transportation and/or
storage. In this closed position the chafing stand occupies very
little volume which reduces the cost of transportation.
[0007] In the preferred embodiment of the invention the wire
chafing stand comprises a wire rim configured in any desired
geometry having lateral sides and a longitudinal axis extending
from said lateral sides and a pair of wire legs pivotally connected
to the rim for permitting the wire legs to fold relative to the
frame so that the chafing stand can be folded into a closed
position having a narrow lateral profile or into an open position
for supporting the stand on a level surface and having a hinge pin
assembly for each of the wire legs comprising stop means in an
arrangement such that each pair of wire legs will pivot outwardly
in opposite directions when the wire chafing stand is folded into
an open position with each leg establishing a fixed position at an
inclined angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the rim thereby
permitting the legs to stand firmly on any level surface and
preventing the chafing stand from unintentionally collapsing.
[0008] The wire chafing stand of the present invention has
increased stability when in the folded open position which
minimizes any tendency of the stand to fall over or collapse. In
addition, the wire chafing stand of the present invention further
comprises a fuel heater connector assembly for supporting a
plurality of chafing fuel heaters. The fuel heater connector
assembly bridges the pair of wire legs in the open position and
accommodates a plurality of fuel heaters.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Other advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description of the invention
when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of
which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of
the chafing stand of the present invention with the legs shown in
the manually folded up position;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG.
1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the chafing stand of FIG. 1
illustrating movement of one of the wire legs for folding the stand
into an open or closed position;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a hinge pin assembly
permitting the legs to fold relative to the frame taken along the
lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;
[0014] FIG. 5 is an end view through the hinge pin assembly of FIG.
3 taken along the lines 5-5;
[0015] FIG. 6 is another isometric view of the preferred embodiment
of the chafing stand of the present invention of FIG. 1 with the
legs shown in the manually folded open position;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of one of the detachable
sections of the fuel heater connector assembly of FIG. 1 taken
along the lines 7-7 in FIG. 6;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a sectional view through the raised segment at one
end of a detachable section of the fuel heater connector assembly
taken along the lines 8-8 in FIG. 6; and
[0018] FIG. 9 is sectional view taken along the lines 9-9 in FIG.
8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Referring now in detail to the preferred embodiment of the
chafing stand 10 of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1-9
thereof. The chafing stand 10 includes a wire rim 12 forming a
frame of generally rectangular geometry with rounded edges. The
wire rim 12 has two opposite longitudinal sides 14, 14, two
opposite lateral sides 15, 15, a pair of handles 16,16 which are
either welded or integrally formed on the opposite lateral sides
15,15 of the wire rim 12 and a pair of wire legs 17a,17b, and
18a,18b which are pivotally connected to the rim 12, preferably to
the longitudinal sides 14, 14 thereof, permitting the wire legs
17a,17b,18a,18b to fold relative to the frame. Each pair of wire
legs 17a,17b and 18a,18b may be manually folded to adjust the
chafing stand into a closed position as shown in FIG. 1 forming a
narrow lateral profile in which position the chafing stand 10 may
be readily packaged, transported and/or stored. Alternatively, each
pair of wire legs 17a,17b and 18a,18b may be folded into a normally
folded open position as shown in FIG. 6 for heating preheated foods
in a chafing dish when placed on the chafing stand 10. The rim 12
is preferably formed of a single continuous wire preferably in one
operation with the handles 16,16 extending from its lateral
sides.
[0020] Each of the wire legs 17a,17b,18a,18b are connected to the
rim 12 by means of a hinge pin assembly 19. Each hinge pin assembly
19 includes a bracket 20 welded to one longitudinal side 14 of the
rim 12 with each bracket 20 having an opening into which a hinge
pin 21 is rotatably fitted. The hinge pin 21 extends from a bracket
22 with each bracket 22 welded to each of the wire legs
17a,17b,18a,18b respectively. Each bracket 20 has a flat planar
section 23 which lies at a desired inclined angle relative to the
wire rim 12 and functions as a stop for a complementary flat planar
surface 24 on each bracket 22 so that each pair of wire legs
17a,17b, and 18a,18b will pivot outwardly in opposite directions
and come to rest when the flat surface 24 in bracket 22 comes into
contact with the flat surface 23 in bracket 20 thereby affixing the
wire chafing stand in an open position as shown in FIG. 6 and
preventing the wire legs from pivoting any further. In the open
position each pair of wire legs 17a,17b, and 18a,18b lie at an
inclined angle relative to the rim 12 of less than 90 degrees and
preferably between about 60.degree. and 85.degree., optimally
70.degree. with the hinge pin assemblies 19 locked in the fully
open position to prevent the chafing stand from collapsing. Each
pair of legs 17a,17b, and 18a,18b unfold outwardly in opposite
directions relative to each other so that the legs will stand
firmly on any level surface and the chafing stand will not
unintentionally collapse.
[0021] Each of the two pair of wire legs 17a,17b, and 18a,18b are
formed from single continuous wire such that the wire legs 17a,17b
of one pair form a single bottom section 25 interconnecting the
wire legs 17a,17b and the wire legs 18a,18b of the other pair form
a single bottom section 26 interconnecting the wire legs 18a,18b
respectively. Each bottom section 25 and 26 includes three segments
27, 28 and 29 and 27', 28' and 29' respectively with the
intermediate segments 28,28' being raised relative to the outer
segments 27,29 and 27',29' respectively. The outer segments 27,29
and 27',29' are straight segments in alignment with one another for
forming a straight level bottom 27,29 and a straight level bottom
27'29' respectively. The straight segments 27,29 and 27',29'
support the chafing stand 10 when placed on any level surface. The
intermediate segments 28,28' which are raised above the outer
segments 27,29 and 27',29' form arms 31,32 and 31'32' respectively.
A fuel heater connector assembly 30 is attached to each bottom
sections 25 26 on opposite sides thereof. The fuel heater connector
assembly 30 includes two detachable sections 33 and 34 each of
substantially equal length with each detachable section 33 and 34
being pivotally connected by means of a hinge pin assembly 35 to
each one of the arms 31,32 and 31',32' in each of the raised
segments 28, 28'. Each detachable section 33 and 34 has parallel
wire rods 37a, 37b and 38a,38b and end sections 39 and 39a
respectively. The end section 39 of the detachable section 33 has
an overhanging member 40 adapted to fit over the end section 39b of
the detachable section 34 when the chafing stand 10 is folded into
an open position and in addition the end section 39 includes a wire
lip 42 which forms a groove into which a wire tongue 43 of
detachable section 34 fits for interlocking the two detachable
sections 33 and 34 together. The sections 33 and 34 readily detach
from one another by slipping or pulling out the wire tongue 43 from
the groove of detachable section 33 and lifting the detachable
section 33 relative to the detachable section 34 and pivoting the
detachable sections 33 and 34 so that they fold backwards while
folding up each pair of wire legs into the closed position with
each end section 39 and 39a of each of the detachable sections 33
and 34 positioned adjacent to one of the handles 16 as is shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0022] Each hinge pin assembly 35 includes a flat plate 44 welded
to the raised section 28 having a hole into which is fitted a hinge
pin 45 extending from a bracket 46 which is welded to each of the
wire rods 37a,37b and 38a,38b on each opposite side of each of the
detachable sections 33 and 34. The hinge pin assembly 35 permits
the detachable sections 33 and 34 to pivot upon rotation of the
hinge pin 45 relative to the bottom section 35 of the wire legs
17a,17b,18a,18b when folding the chafing stand into either the open
or closed position.
[0023] The parallel wire rods 37a, 37b and 38a,38b in each of the
detachable sections 33 and 34 of the fuel heater connector assembly
29 supports wire holders 50 and 51 which are in a configuration
forming two depressed sections 52 and 53 into which two separate
chafing fuel heaters (not shown) may be mounted.
* * * * *