Heat insulated food retainer

Abstract

A heat insulated food retainer is described which includes an outer protective box, of wood, plywood or the like, with a reflective metallic lining to reduce heat transfer, the box having in the interior thereof and beneath a metallic reflective top sheet, a stack of horizontal sheets of newsprint paper with one or more vertical openings, preferably die cut each to receive a complementally shaped pot, preferably a cook pot, the bottom of the pot preferably resting on a reflective metallic sheet which is spaced above the bottom of the box by a stack of horizontally disposed sheets of newsprint paper. The contents of the pot, if hot, are retained in hot condition or, if cold, are retained in cool condition, for an extended period of time.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to heat insulated food retainers.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It has heretofore been proposed to utilize receptacles of plastic foam, with or without protective coverings for retaining food in heated condition.

IT HAS ALSO BEEN PROPOSED TO PROVIDE HEAT INSULATED BOXES EMPLOYING GLASS WOOL FOR INSULATION, AS IN Saborsky, U.S. Pat. No. 2,160,001; impregnated synthetic fibers for insulation as in Edelman, U.S. Pat. No. 2,579,036; loose fibrous materials such as kapok, cotton, jute, wood shavings, and shredded paper with portions in adherent relation to the boundary wall of the confining space as in Finch, U.S. Pat. No. 1,923,195; or asbestos or mineral wool or other heat non-conducting material, as in Rounseville, U.S. Pat. No. 756,999.

In the U.S. Pat. to Kunz, No. 749,205, it is proposed to employ thick sheets of unwoven fibrous material such as carded cotton it being stated that flax and ramie may also be used and arranged alternately or between the sheets of cotton, thin sheets of paper, preferably calendered or pressed manila paper, wound around the chamber or part to be insulated or in the form of a pad.

The receptacles to be insulated, such as in Kunz and Rounseville, and the materials proposed for insulation have numerous shortcomings including relatively high cost of materials for the completed structure, difficulty and hazards of handling some of the insulating materials, and complexity of construction.

The heat insulated food retainer of the present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the structures heretofore available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention a heat insulated food retainer is provided which includes an outer protective box of wood, plywood or the like, with a reflective metallic lining to reduce heat transfer, the box having in the interior and beneath a metallic reflective top sheet a stack of horizontal sheets of newsprint paper with one or more vertical openings preferably die cut each to receive a complementally shaped pot, preferably a cooking pot. The bottom of the pot preferably rests on a reflective metallic sheet which is spaced above the bottom of the box by a stack of horizontally disposed sheets of newsprint paper. The contents of the pot if hot are retained in hot condition, or if cold are retained in cool condition, for an extended period of time.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a heat insulated food retainer which is simple and inexpensive in construction, which permits of retention of food in heated or in cool condition, and which is light in weight so as to be readily portable for automobile or boat transportation or for use in the home.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a heat insulated food retainer which can be made of readily available materials which are not in short supply.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the food retainer in accordance with the invention with the lid open and showing one pot in place;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the inserted heat retaining structure removed from the box;

FIG. 3 is a vertical central section view taken approximately on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the food retainer in accordance with the invention preferably includes a box 10, preferably of wood, plywood or other suitable light weight inexpensive material of adequate strength and preferably of material acting as a heat insulator.

The box 10 has vertical front and rear walls 11 and 12, vertical end walls 13 and a horizontal bottom wall 14 with a hollow lid 15 having vertical front and rear walls 16 and 17, vertical end walls 18 and a horizontal top wall 19, the rear wall 17 of the lid 15 being hinged to the rear wall 12 of the box 10 by hinges 20 and a hasp 21 with its keeper 22 being provided to releasably retain the lid 15 in closed position.

A gasket 23, of rubber or plastic foam, can be provided to seal the meeting edges of the box 10 and lid 15.

Hinged handles 24 can be provided on the end walls 13 to facilitate carrying.

The interior of the box 10 is preferably lined with a thin sheet 25 of bright reflective metal, such as aluminum, which can be secured to the interior of the box 10 by a suitable adhesive (not shown). The lining 24 can be foil or of thin sheet material.

The interior of the lid 15 is preferably lined with a thin sheet 26 of bright reflective metal secured thereto, similar to the lining 25.

Within the interior of the box 10 an inserted heat insulating structure 30 is provided which includes a top plate 31, preferably of light gauge sheet aluminum with downturned edges 32. The top plate 31 is preferably of sufficient strength to withstand repeated usage. The top plate 31 is provided with one or more openings 33 of suitable diameter to snugly receive a pot 40 to be described. In a specific embodiment the openings 33 can have diameters of seven inches and an area therearound with a minimum dimension of one and one half inches.

The openings 33 are spaced apart and are spaced inwardly from the walls 11, 12 and 13. While two openings 33 are shown the number of openings can be varied as desired and in accordance with the capacity preferred.

The top plate 31 has disposed therebelow a stack 34 of horizontal sheets of paper a preferred paper being paper known as MF newsprint and weighing about 51.25 grams per square meter.

The stack 34 has spaced openings 35 preferably of the same diameter as and aligned with the openings 33. In a specific embodiment, the depth of the openings 35 is preferably of the order of 7 inches. At the bottom of the openings 35 a thin sheet of bright reflective metal 37 similar to the linings 25 and 26, is provided and therebelow an additional stack 38 of sheets of paper, similar to that of the stack 34 is provided but without vertical openings therein. In the specific embodiment heretofore referred to the height of the stack 38 is of the order of one inch.

The heat insulating structure 30 is preferably held in assembled relation for insertion into the box 10 by a plurality of bands 39. It is preferred that after the structure 30 is in place that the margins of the plate 31 at the walls 11, 12 and 13 be held in place to the walls by application of a suitable adhesive 45 which also caulks the structure at these locations.

It is preferred that pots 40 suitable for cooking be employed and if desired these can be of aluminum but stainless steel with copper bottoms is preferred. The pots 40 have tight fitting relatively flat lids 41 and bails 42 with their ends pivotally carried in sockets 43.

In use the food to be retained can be cooked or heated in the pot 40, the pot 40 preferably being filled close to the top.

With the lid 15 open, the pot 40 with food to be retained is then inserted through the openings 33 and into the opening 35 until the bottom of the pot 40 rests on the sheet 37. The sockets 43 will be on or close to the top plate 31. The bail 42 can be swung to a tilted position and the lid 15 closed and held by the hasp 21 in engagement with its keeper 22.

The storage of hot food in the retainer of the invention conserves energy, gas or electricity, and permits of preparation of cooked food in advance of the time of use. The food can be kept hot for extended periods of time of the order of four hours or more. Cold foods may also be stored and retained in cool condition.

It will be seen that a food retainer has been provided with which the objects of the invention are attained.

Claims

We claim:

1. A heat insulated food retainer comprising

a box having a plurality of vertical walls and a lid hinged thereto for closing the top thereof,

each of said box and said lid having a lining of reflective material, and

an insulating structure within said box comprising

a horizontal top plate spaced downwardly from the top of said box and having a vertical opening spaced from said walls,

a stack of horizontal sheets of paper extending downwardly from said top plate and having a vertical opening aligned with the opening in the top plate,

an additional stack of horizontal sheets of paper disposed below said first mentioned stack with a separator interposed between said stacks, and

a metallic pot removably inserted in said opening in closely spaced relation therein.

2. A heat insulated food retainer as defined in claim 1 in which

said top plate is secured at its marginal edges to the interiors of the vertical walls of the box.

3. A heat insulated food retainer as defined in claim 1 in which

said first mentioned stack comprises sheets of newsprint paper.

4. A heat insulated food retainer as defined in claim 1 in which

said additional stack comprises sheets of newsprint paper.

5. A heat insulated food retainer as defined in claim 1 in which

said horizontal top plate is a reflective metallic sheet.

6. A heat insulated food retainer as defined in claim 1 in which

said separator is a reflective metallic sheet.

7. A heat insulated food retainer as defined in claim 1 in which

said metallic pot is a cook pot.

8. A heat insulated food retainer as defined in claim 1 in which

said top plate and said first mentioned stack each has a plurality of spaced vertical openings.

9. A heat insulated food retainer as defined in claim 1 in which

said top plate is secured at its marginal edges to the interiors of the vertical walls of the box,

both said stacks comprise sheets of newsprint paper,

said horizontal top plate is a reflective metallic sheet,

said separator is a reflective metallic sheet, and

said metallic pot is a cook pot.