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.

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.

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.

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.