U.S. patent number 3,648,010 [Application Number 05/121,488] was granted by the patent office on 1972-03-07 for combination oven and illuminated display assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Martin-Brower Corporation. Invention is credited to Jacques Schier.
United States Patent |
3,648,010 |
Schier |
March 7, 1972 |
COMBINATION OVEN AND ILLUMINATED DISPLAY ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A combination oven and illuminated graphic display apparatus
using a single radiant energy source for both heating and lighting
purposes in which items are placed on trays carried by a removable,
motor driven rotary assembly. The graphic display contains
decorative or advertising material promoting the sale of items held
by the rotary assembly.
Inventors: |
Schier; Jacques (Deerfield,
IL) |
Assignee: |
Martin-Brower Corporation
(Chicago, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
26819524 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/121,488 |
Filed: |
March 5, 1971 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
881659 |
Dec 3, 1969 |
3586823 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
219/214; 219/388;
219/411; 219/553; 99/427; 219/405; 392/426 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C
7/082 (20130101); A47F 5/025 (20130101); A47J
37/042 (20130101); A47F 3/08 (20130101); H05B
3/0076 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47F
5/025 (20060101); A47F 5/02 (20060101); A47F
3/00 (20060101); A47F 3/08 (20060101); A47J
37/04 (20060101); F24C 7/08 (20060101); H05B
3/00 (20060101); H05b 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;219/214,388,347,349,405,411,487,553 ;99/427,386 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Mayewsky; Volodymyr Y.
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation-in-part of earlier copending
application Ser. No. 881,659 filed on Dec. 3, 1969, now U.S. No.
3,586,823.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Apparatus for maintaining items at an elevated temperature prior
to sale and for concurrently displaying illuminated graphic
advertising and sales promoting material, said apparatus comprising
in combination:
a. a cabinet including a top wall joined to opposed sidewalls and
defining a frame,
b. a light-permeable panel extending downwardly from said top wall
at a marginal edge thereof for displaying said graphic advertising
and sales promoting material,
c. a rotary assembly housed within said cabinet, said assembly
comprising: a generally horizontally disposed rotatable axle; axle
support means supporting said axle on said frame; tray support
means secured to and carried by and extending generally radially
from said axle for rotation therewith; and a generally horizontally
disposed tray pivotally suspended from said tray support means,
d. motor means for rotating said axle and said assembly carried
thereby,
e. radiant energy supply means providing heat for maintaining said
items at an elevated temperature prior to sale, and providing light
for concurrently illuminating graphic display and sales promoting
material, and
f. reflector means for directing thermal energy onto said tray to
provide substantially equal heating over an entire expanse thereof
throughout rotation of said tray, and for directing light energy to
illuminate said light-permeable panel.
2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said radiant energy
supply means is a tubular quartz infrared electric lamp.
3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said axle support
means is secured to and carried by opposed said sidewalls of the
cabinet frame, and further comprising detachment means for ready
disengagement of said axle from said axle support means to
facilitate removal of said axle and said tray support means from
said frame.
4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein said detachment means
is a spring-secured release mechanism comprising in
combination:
a. a block carried by one said sidewalls and shiftable
longitudinally with respect to said axle, said block being provided
with an inwardly directed bore accommodating an end portion of said
axle,
b. spring means resiliently urging said block toward engagement
with said axle, and
c. retraction means for withdrawal of said block from said axle
against the pressure of said spring means.
5. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said tray support
means comprises a plurality of tray support elements radially
spaced from said axle,
said tray support elements comprising in combination generally
horizontal pin means and cooperating pin-receiving orifices, to
establish a mechanical coupling between said tray and said tray
support means,
said coupling allowing pivotal rotation of said tray with respect
to said tray support means, thereby maintaining said tray in a
generally horizontal disposition throughout rotation of the entire
rotary assembly,
said tray support elements being spaced on said tray support means
to allow selective positional adjustment of said tray radially
inwardly and outwardly with respect to said axle, thereby
permitting positioning of said tray closer to and farther from said
radiant energy supply means at the point of nearest approach of
said tray to said radiant energy supply means, to control heating
of items carried on said tray.
6. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said tray is formed
with a plurality of spaced tray support elements,
said tray support elements comprising in combination generally
horizontal pin means and cooperating pin-receiving orifices, to
establish a mechanical coupling between said tray and said tray
support means,
said coupling allowing pivotal rotation of said tray with respect
to said tray support means, thereby maintaining said tray in a
generally horizontal disposition throughout rotation of the entire
rotary assembly,
said tray support elements being spaced on said tray support means
to allow selective positional adjustment of said tray radially
inwardly and outwardly with respect to said axle, thereby
permitting positioning of said tray closer to and farther from said
radiant energy supply means to control heating of items carried on
said tray.
7. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said reflector means
is a generally concave reflector oriented to direct thermal energy
toward said trays,
said reflector being formed with a slit in a zone facing said
transparent panel, whereby light emanating from said radiant energy
supply means passes through said slit and impinges on said
transparent panel, thus illuminating the advertising and sales
promoting material displayed on said panel.
8. The apparatus set forth in claim 7, wherein said motor means
comprises in combination:
a. an electric drive motor,
b. a reduction gear means assembly for transmitting rotary motion
from said electric drive motor to a drive shaft thereof, and
c. a drive shaft attached to and extending from said gear means
assembly, coupling means interengaging said drive shaft with the
axle of the rotary assembly to import rotary motion to said axle,
and
d. attachment means mounting said motor means within said
cabinet.
9. The apparatus set forth in claim 4, and further comprising an
end extension of said axle constituting a stub shaft threadedly
received axially in an end portion of said axle, said extension
being adjustable longitudinally of said axle to establish close
coupling of said axle with cooperating said block.
Description
This invention relates generally to devices for maintaining items
at an elevated temperature in an attractive rotary display
apparatus, and for concurrently advertising the items U.S. Pat.
means of illuminated graphic materials. More specifically, the
invention is directed to a device for display and sales promotion
of items such as foods which are kept at an elevated temperature
prior to the time they are served or sold in restaurants, lunch
rooms, drive-ins or similar establishments.
Heating devices and ovens for keeping items warm prior to service
or sale are well known in the prior art. However, these devices
have suffered from disadvantages which prevent their maximum
utilization as combination warming and display devices.
It is an object of this invention to provide a display mechanism
which rotates at least one tray of the items to be displayed,
thereby drawing attention to these items, making them more
accessible to purchasers, and providing a more even distribution of
heat.
It is a related object of this invention to provide for ready
removal of this display mechanism from the cabinet which houses it.
In this way the cabinet and display mechanism are more easily
maintained in a clean, sanitary condition.
Another object of this invention is to provide for adjustment of
the positions of trays carried by the display mechanism, and to
provide for removal of the trays themselves from the mechanism. The
adjustability of the trays makes it possible to vary their distance
from the radiant energy source, thereby controlling the
temperatures of items held in the trays. Goods of varying physical
size are also carried in the trays more conveniently because of
this feature.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a single
reflector for the radiant energy source which directs thermal
energy toward the trays, and which also includes a slit for passage
of light energy in the direction of the graphic transparency, so
that the same energy source can be used for both heating and
lighting purposes.
A further object of this invention is to provide a warmer for
efficiently maintaining items at elevated temperatures, while
concurrently displaying pictures of these items, sales-promoting
materials, or other decorative graphics on an illuminated panel
carried by the cabinet housing the apparatus.
A feature of this invention is that the motor and gear box which
drive the rotary assembly carrying trays of the items displayed are
shielded from the interior of the cabinet. In this way
contamination of the items displayed by the motor mechanism is
prevented, and the motor is protected from the heat of the radiant
energy source.
A related feature of the invention is that dirt and grease
attracting chain drives have been avoided.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in
conjunction with the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the front of a preferred embodiment of the
apparatus incorporating the features of the instant invention,
including a cabinet, detachable rotary assembly, and visual
display;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus with the side
panel removed to show the mode of support of the rotary
assembly;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the apparatus,
including a heat and light source and rotary assembly, with parts
cut away to show the motor and detachment mechanism for the rotary
assembly;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the apparatus taken
along line 4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a top view of the rotary assembly;
FIG. 6 is an end cross-sectional view of a tray, also showing a
portion of the tray support disc to which it is attached;
FIG. 7 is a view of an end segment of the rotary assembly and of a
spring-secured release mechanism in engagement with the end
segment, taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 3; and
FIG. 8 is a view of an opposite end segment of the rotary assembly
and of a portion of the motor drive shaft in engagement with said
end segment, taken along the line 8--8 of FIG. 3.
Referring more specifically to FIGS. 1 through 3, there is shown a
food-warming apparatus 10 having a tray-holding rotary assembly 20
which is mounted in a cabinet 30. This cabinet 30 includes a top
wall 31 and opposed sidewalls 32 and 33, which define a frame. The
cabinet 30 is mounted on a base 34 which also supports a partition
35 interior to one of the sidewalls 33.
A shelf 38 mounted within the cabinet and attached to opposed
sidewalls 32 and 33 supports a light fixture 40. This fixture 40
holds an electric lamp 44 which is preferably a tubular quartz
infrared lamp having a 115 to 125 volt class C filament and an
overall length of 8 13/16 inches. A General Electric lamp No. 500T
3/7 is suitable for use in this apparatus. Electric current is
supplied to the lamp 44 through a power cord (not shown) which
enters and exits through an opening in the sidewall 32 which
contains an on-off switch 48.
A generally concave reflector 50 of metal, glass or other suitable
material is mounted on the shelf 38 to overlie the lamp 44 so as to
direct thermal energy downwardly in an even pattern. The reflector
50 is mounted on the shelf 38 by rivets, screws or any other
preferred technique. The reflector 50 is formed with a slit 55 in a
zone which faces the graphic transparency 60 so that light rays
from the lamp 44 impinge upon the transparency 60 and provide
effective illumination for it.
The transparency 60 is shown in FIG. 1 mounted on the cabinet 30,
and may be plastic, film, paper or any transparent or translucent
material not unduly sensitive to heat. Graphic material of an
advertising nature which promotes purchases of the items being
displayed is utilized in the preferred embodiment shown.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 through 6, the rotary assembly 20 is
detachably mounted within the cabinet 30, and it includes the
following elements in combination: a rotatable axle 62; disclike
tray supports 63 and 64; and a horizontal tray or trays 65
pivotally suspended on the tray supports 63 and 64. The tray or
trays may be constructed of metal, heat-resistant plastic, or other
corrosion and heat-resistant materials.
The axle 62 is supported by an axle support bushing or block 67 and
by an axle support keyway 68 which are secured to and extend from a
sidewall 32 and a partition 35 respectively. The tray 65 is secured
to a tray support disc 64 by a removable pin 69 extending through
an opening 71 in a side arm or bracket 72 of the tray 65, and
through a cooperating opening 73 in a tray support disc 64. This
pin 69 may be a removable screw or other preferred means of
attachment. A series of selectable openings 71 in the tray 65
allows adjustable positioning of the tray 65 with respect to the
electric lamp 44 and base 36, thereby allowing one to control the
temperature at which items are maintained in this apparatus. The
series of openings 73 in the tray support discs 63 and 64 allows
adjustable positioning of the trays 65 with respect to the
rotatable axle 62 and the base 36. This adjustment feature also
allows control over the distance of the trays 65 from the electric
lamp 44 at their point of closest approach, thus affording
additional control of the temperatures at which items in the trays
65 are maintained, and of the appearance of the rotary assembly
20.
Referring now more specifically to FIG. 7, there is shown a
spring-secured release mechanism 75 which includes a shiftable
block 67, a spring 78, and a spring retractor 79. A stop mechanism
80 limits the extent of retraction of the block 67 which is formed
with an inwardly directed bore 81 to accommodate an end-extending
stub shaft 82 of the rotatable axle 62. The distance which this
shaft 82 extends is adjustable longitudinally. The end extension 82
is a screw which fits into an inwardly directed threaded bore of
the axle 62. Other preferred end extension means may be used.
Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 3 and 8, there is shown a
drive motor 90 mounted against a partition 35, and which includes
an electric motor 91, a gear box 92, a drive shaft 94, and a
cooling fan 98. The drive shaft 94 is formed with an axle support
keyway 68 into which an adjustable end extension 99 of the
rotatable axle 62 is inserted. The drive shaft 94 is geared to
impart rotary motion to the axle 62 at a speed which is slow enough
to permit easy removal of items from the tray 65 while the assembly
20 is moving. A setscrew 100 secures the axle 62 to the drive shaft
94. The drive motor 90 is walled off from the rotary assembly 20 by
the partition 35, thus preventing contamination of the interior. An
additional advantage of separating the motor 91 from the interior
is that the motor 91 is shielded from the heat of the electric lamp
44. The electric motor 91 is also cooled by an attached fan 98.
It is believed that the invention and its numerous attendant
advantages will be fully understood from the foregoing description,
and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form,
construction, and arrangement of the several parts without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing
any of its attendant advantages, the form herein disclosed being a
preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating the
invention.
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