Drawer for a heated food cabinet

Abstract

The food warmer oven includes a cabinet 12 having opposing side walls 16, 18, a top wall 20, a bottom wall 22, a back wall 24, and a front wall 26 defining a heating cavity 28, the front wall 26 defining an opening 30 into the heating cavity 28; a heating source 32 disposed within the heating cavity 28; a drawer frame 38 having a pair of opposing side rails 44, 46, each of the side rails having a front end 48 and a terminal end 50, the side rails being functionally connected with the side walls 16, 18 of the cabinet in a manner such that the drawer frame 38 can be moved between an open position wherein the drawer frame 38 extends substantially exterior of the heating cavity 28 through the opening 30 and a closed position wherein the drawer frame 38 is positioned substantially within the heating cavity 28, the front end 48 of the side rails 44, 46 being positioned proximate the front wall 26 and the terminal end 50 being positioned proximate the back wall 24 when the drawer frame 38 is in the closed position; a food tray 42 removably held by the drawer frame 38; a door 40 is moveably connected to the side rails 44, 46 of the drawer frame, the door 40 moveable between an open position and a closed position; and a locking mechanism in connection between the door 40 and the side rails 44, 46 of the drawer frame 38 for selectively maintaining the door 40 in the closed position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates in general to a heated food cabinet and more particularly, but not limited to, a heated food cabinet that includes a moveable food drawer that has a positional drawer door. BACKGROUND [0002] Food warming devices, are often used in commercial establishments for maintaining prepared foods at a serving temperature. These cabinets are also used to reheat food products and for storage of food products that require extensive preparation time. [0003] These food warming cabinets include one or more drawers that are positional within a heated cavity. The drawers include a storage area for the food that may be either a permanent part of the drawer or a removable tray or pan. In either situation the food product must be placed in and removed from the storage area, and the storage area must be regularly sanitized. [0004] In the prior art devices having a permanent food storage container as part of the drawer increases the effort and ti...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] It is a further benefit of the present invention to provide a positional drawer door that facilitates full access to a food tray for inserting the food tray into the drawer or removing the food tray from the drawer.

[0011] A food warmer oven is further provided, the food warmer oven includes a cabinet having opposing side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and a front wall defining a heating cavity, the front wall defining an opening into the heating cavity; a heating source disposed within the heating cavity; a drawer frame having a pair of opposing side rails, each of the side rails having a front end and a terminal end, the side rails being functionally connected with the side walls of the cabinet in a manner such that the drawer frame can be moved between an open position wherein the drawer frame extends substantially exterior of the heating cavity through the opening and a closed position wherein the drawer frame is positioned substantially within the heating cavity, the front end of the side rails being positioned proximate the front wall and the terminal end being positioned proximate the back wall when the drawer frame is in the closed position; a food tray removably held by the drawer frame; a door moveably connected to the side rails of the drawer frame, the door moveable between an open position and a closed position; and a locking mechanism in connection between the door and the side rails of the drawer frame for selectively maintaining the door in the closed position.

Problems solved by technology

In the prior art devices having a permanent food storage container as part of the drawer increases the effort and time required to clean and sanitize the food storage area.

First, it is necessary to shut down the heating element for safety reasons resulting in taking the food cabinet out of service, not only for the cleaning process but also during the period of time for the heating cavity to cool and then for the period of time for the heating cavity to again attain the desired temperature.

Further, to achieve adequate cleaning the entire drawer must be removed from the food cabinet wasting time and often resulting in damage to the drawer and / or the food cabinet.

However, these prior art devices require that a user precariously grip the food container when placing the container into the drawer or removing the container from the drawer.

The limited access and ability to grip the food container is due to the required minimal foot print of the food cabinet and the utilization of a minimal heated cavity.

This limited ability to handle the food container often results in accidents wherein the food container is dropped or mishandled resulting in injury to the user or others in the vicinity, damage to the food cabinet, and loss of food product.

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