U.S. patent application number 11/158783 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-28 for portable steam table.
Invention is credited to Edwin Griffin.
Application Number | 20060288997 11/158783 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37565819 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060288997 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Griffin; Edwin |
December 28, 2006 |
Portable steam table
Abstract
A mobile portable steam table with a chafing dish system heated
by liquid propane gas (LPG), to keep previously cooked meats and
vegetables warm and moist through a water medium reservoir
intimately involved directly beneath and holding the chafing
dishes.
Inventors: |
Griffin; Edwin;
(Philadelphia, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CAESAR, RIVISE, BERNSTEIN,;COHEN & POKOTILOW, LTD.
11TH FLOOR, SEVEN PENN CENTER
1635 MARKET STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103-2212
US
|
Family ID: |
37565819 |
Appl. No.: |
11/158783 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/33 ;
126/268 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 37/0786 20130101;
A47J 36/26 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/033 ;
126/268 |
International
Class: |
F24B 9/00 20060101
F24B009/00 |
Claims
1. A mobile steam table, comprising: a tubular main frame; a gas
burner attached to said tubular main frame; a holding pan supported
by said tubular main frame above said gas burner, said holding pan
adapted to hold a liquid therein and transfer heat from said gas
burner to the water upon operation of said burner; a plurality of
walls attached about said tubular main frame to form an enclosed
stored space accessible via at least one of said plurality of
walls, the least one of said plurality of walls pivotally attached
to said tubular main frame; and a plurality of wheels pivotally
attached to said tubular main frame to render the cart mobile.
2. The mobile steam table of claim 1, wherein said holding pan is
adapted to receive serving dishes and to heat food supported by the
serving dishes with steam.
3. The mobile steam table of claim 1, wherein said tubular main
frame is constructed with low carbon steel rigidly welded square
tubing to provide strength and durability to said mobile steam
table.
4. The mobile steam table of claim 1, said tubular main frame
including a metal platform to support a gas tank.
5. The mobile steam table of claim 1, said tubular main frame
including a plurality of axels extending from said tubular main
frame, each axel adapted to accommodate a wheel for mobility.
6. The mobile steam table of claim 1, said tubular main frame
including square tubing fixed members welded integrally to support
said holding pan and fuel burner for operation, said fuel burner
including a thermal control and igniter for lighting fuel escaping
from said fuel burner.
7. The mobile steam table of claim 1, further comprising a bottom
horizontal wall attached to said tubular main frame below said
holding pan and supported by said tubular main frame, said
plurality of walls including three vertical walls, each attached to
said tubular main frame along a different vertical plane of said
tubular main frame, and a fourth vertical wall having at least one
inch door pivotally attached to said tubular main frame for access
to the compartment therein, wherein the placement of said holding
pan at said tubular main frame completes the enclosure of the
storage space.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to food maintenance, and in
particular to keeping prepared food warm.
[0002] Typically, when having a Barbecue or cookout, the cook
grills meats, such as chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, etc. After the
food is prepared, there is no place to set the food down except an
available table. This placement of food takes up valuable table
space that could otherwise be used for something else. After a
while the prepared food dries out and gets cold and hard. When
placed in this situation, guests and friends take their food out of
the container on the table, place it on their plates and head for
the kitchen to warm their food, for example, on a stove or in the
microwave oven. This creates the problem of people going in and out
of the house, causing unwanted traffic, unintentionally tracking
dirt in and out of the house, and possibly accidentally dropping or
spilling food on the floor. This is where the portable steam table
of the invention comes into play.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] While not being limited to a particular theory, the portable
steam table in accordance with the invention was created preferably
for the weekend griller, and eliminates all of the problems stated
above. According to the preferred embodiments, after the food is
cooked (e.g., grilled, baked, fried, steamed, broiled, roasted,
prepared, poached, seared), the cooked food is placed in chafing
pans on the portable steam table. Now anyone wanting the cooked
food can take his or her plate to the portable steam table and
proceed to fill their plates with the food, which has been kept
warm, moist and as desired for eating. The portable steam table
keeps food moist and delicious for hours at a temperature warm for
human consumption, yet not hot enough to recook or burn the
food.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The invention will be described in conjunction with the
following drawings in which like reference numerals designate like
elements and wherein:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a partially sectional perspective view showing the
preferred structural material used in the manufacture of this
embodiment;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary main frame for
the portable steam table according to the preferred
embodiments;
[0007] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view if a fuel burner adapted to the
main frame of FIG. 2;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main frame, the fuel
burner and a fuel supply (e.g., liquid propane gas tank) in
accordance with the preferred embodiments;
[0009] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the main frame and wall
supports for forming an enclosed storage space for the preferred
example of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a water reservoir/holding
pan of the preferred embodiment; and
[0011] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the water reservoir/holding
pan, main frame and wheels in accordance with the preferred
embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0012] According to the preferred embodiments of the invention, a
mobile steam table includes a tubular main frame, a gas (e.g.,
liquid propane) burner, a water reservoir holding pan, enclosed
storage space, and wheels associated to render the cart mobile. An
exemplary tubular main frame 1 is shown in a partial cross
sectional view. Currently a half-inch square hollow low carbon
steel tubing is being utilized, although the invention is not
limited thereto.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary frame for the
portable steam table, formed from the tubing shown in FIG. 1. As
can be seen in FIG. 2, the tubing is rigidly welded to form the
main frame 1 of the chafing system/mobile steam table. The main
frame 1 includes a chafing dish holding pan support and burner
mounting 4 that supports at least one holding pan and burner as
shown in greater detail below. While not being limited to a
particular theory, the steam table includes an expanded metal
platform 2 incorporated for supporting a fuel (e.g., liquid propane
gas) tank. In this example, four mild steel axels 3 are press
fitted into the center of the two lower side cross rails of the
main frame and accept wheels 25 to enable mobility to the table as
can best be see in FIG. 7.
[0014] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a fuel burner, in particular a
liquid propane gas (LPG) burner 7 and how it is mounted between the
rails of the chafing dish holding pan/burner support 4. In this
preferred example, propane gas is fed to a burner control valve 11,
which is adapted to control both halves of the singularly
constructed, but independently controlled burner 7. Of course, the
burner 7, is shown as one burner, but could have more than one
burner as desired to provide heat to the holding pan, as would be
readily understood by a skilled artisan.
[0015] FIG. 4 shows the LPG burner 7 with a right side control
valve 9 and a left side control valve 8 connected to the LPG gas
cylinder 5 by an LPG pressure regulator 12, and an LPG pressure
hose 6. Also, shown as an integral part of the burner control valve
11 mounting is an impulse burner igniter 10. Horizontal members of
the main frame 1 are rigidly welded in place as previously shown,
and include bottom wall supports 13 as desired for structural
integrity and protection of the enclosed storage space.
[0016] FIG. 5 embodies the aforementioned enclosed storage space
for keeping previously cooked food warm and moist. The steam table
shown in FIG. 5 includes a right vertical wall 15, a left vertical
wall 17 and a rear vertical wall 16 attached to the main frame 1,
preferably by sheet metal screws. A bottom wall 14 is supported in
place by the bottom wall supports 13, and is not permanently
attached so it can be easily removed for cleaning.
[0017] FIG. 6 shows a chafing dish holding pan and water reservoir
21, preferably made of stainless steel, which completes the
enclosure and is easily removable since its weight is borne only by
the holding pan support and burner mounting 4. Access to the
enclosure is through a pivotable right door 20 and left door 18.
Each door is pivotably attached to the main frame 1 via two hinges
19 secured preferably by sheet metal screws.
[0018] FIG. 7 shows the chafing dish holding pan 21 cradled in the
main frame 1, according to the preferred embodiments. While not
being limited to as particular theory, the holding pan 21 includes
an orifice and drain valve 23 that attaches to a hose 24 when
necessary to drain liquids from the pan. Shown also are a plurality
of wheels 25 for mobility. For compatibility with known products,
the holding pan accepts disposable aluminum chafing dishes 22 that
are readily available for purchase at existing markets.
[0019] While not being limited to a particular theory, the
preferred dimensions of the steam table are about
25''.times.38''.times.45'' with a frame that is about 1/2 inch and
hollow formed of low carbon steel, and with all the tubing welded
in place. The chafing pan is made of stainless steel.
[0020] The chafing dish holding pan 21 preferably holds about 4 to
5 gallons of water and includes a drain with a shut off valve 23
(e.g., about 3/4 inch) along its bottom side to make it easier to
drain the water from the chafing pan. During operating of the steam
table, the water is heated with a fuel (e.g., liquid propane) in a
container (e.g., about 20-25 lbs.), which sits on a stand. The
stand includes supports (e.g., three L-shaped stays of about one
inch) to hold the container or tank in place. The steam table also
includes an automatic lighting igniter, many of which are well
known in the art. In the preferred embodiments, the steam table
includes four wheels, each wheel being about six inches and a
handle (e.g. about three inches) to make the steam table mobile.
That is, with the wheels 25, the steam table can be moved from
place to place very easily. Of course, the steam table can be
stored outside just like known grills, and it is made of materials
known to be easy to clean. It goes without saying that, like all
other gas operated appliances, the steam table should be used with
the utmost care for safety.
[0021] It is understood that the portable steam table described and
shown are exemplary indications of preferred embodiments of the
invention, and are given by way of illustration only. In other
words, the concept of the present invention may be readily applied
to a variety of preferred embodiments, including those disclosed
herein. While the invention has been described in detail and with
reference to specific examples thereof, it will be apparent to one
skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be
made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.
Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully illustrate
the invention that others may, by applying current or future
knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions
of service.
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