EP2670286A1

EP2670286A1 - Multi-functional mobile catering device

Info

Publication number: EP2670286A1
Application number: EP12713280.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tamás KANGYAL; Gerzson KRASZNAY
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-02-03
Filing date: 2012-02-02
Publication date: 2013-12-11
Also published as: HU4069U; WO2012104665A1

Abstract

Multi-functional mobile catering device in particular to serve food and/or drinks in hotels or at workplaces or to render catering services at various events, the catering device has a counter (2) covered by an upper countertop (1), on the countertop (1) a warm food serving unit (3) or a cooling cabinet or a beverage dispenser is placed, and the side of the counter (2) closer to the guests is equipped with a decorative front panel (6), whereas on the rear side of the counter the storage area (7) below the upper countertop (1) is equipped with at least one door (8) and/or drawer forming a vertical closure of the storage area (7), and in the storage area (7) electronically heated and/or cooled storage places and electronic connectors are disposed. Main idea of the invention is that the counter (2) is a body with unitary structure, on the bottom of which wheels (9) are assembled, the wheels are rotatable about their axis by 360°, can be braked and make possible the movement of the device by rolling, and the countertop (1) is releasably mounted on top of the counter (2) so as to be replaceable according to the intended operation.

Description

Multi-functional mobile catering device

The present invention refers to a multi-functional mobile catering device which is applicable to serve warm and/or cold food or to offer drinks at various events in hotels, at airports, at workplaces, office buildings, business districts and at similar spots. Application of the device is particularly suitable at locations where a permanent cooking facility and the associated dining room cannot be arranged or set up in a cost effective way or cannot be built at all, e.g. in a hotel, in an airport lounge, an office building, a business park or at any event taking place at any arbitrary location, however, at said places there is a need for accessing catering services offering warm and/or cold food or drinks.

Conventional areas for catering services are configured so that they have a permanent cooking facility with hot and cold tap water access, from where the courses are served in predetermined periods to guests staying in areas or rooms dedicated for the catering services by waiting staff or other personnel over a counter or chafing system. A counter which is set up immovably or a chafing system which is inherently immovable is commonly provided with serving dishes sank into the countertop of the counter, the dishes are placed in a warmer to which heat is supplied by electric means or in many cases by a burning jelly. A conventional, permanently fixed tabletop warmer has a lower heating system and depending on the type or price of the device can be provided with an upper heater (also called a heating bridge). On the counter or in its direct surroundings e.g. on a supplementary counter such accessories and table settings are placed, like plates, serving ware, napkins, and at one end of the counter or in its vicinity one or more cash-registers can also be placed. Further, in cooking facilities of this kind it is essential to set up a preparation area, in which raw materials are made ready for cooking separately from each other; and storage rooms are needed to store raw materials to be processed; and it is also needed to set up areas or arrange appliances which make possible to wash up separately the "white" and "black" dishes.

In general a warming area - which is provided with a cooking or warming facility for cooking operations but has no preparation area - is essential in every case, even if the preparation of foods is not carried out on site. Prepared food products coming from outside must be regenerated, warmed up, or the cooking process must be finished, though prepared food products supplied from outside can arrive nowadays to the location of consumption in food delivery containers, in transport boxes, or placed in food transport carts without interrupting the warming up process. A food delivery container with special heat insulation layer can keep the food products warm. These food delivery containers or transport carts can receive so called gastronorm bowls and dishes of standard size.

Nevertheless at some places conditions are not met to set up a dining area and a cooking facility with water supply and sewage, with a storage area and a preparation room to fulfill every requirement of event catering - and though these undesirable conditions exist, the foods delivered to the site must be served in a demanding and hygienic way, while maintaining the temperature of foods displayed and served in the serving bowls.

A proposal to solve this problem is disclosed in document DE 10 2008 009 248 Al, where in itself well-known transport carts are described, which receive gastronorm dishes and which are able to keep the temperature of foods stored in said gastronorm dishes at a required level; and these carts are provided with functional units, first of all warming or cooling units which can be introduced into the inside of the transport cart; and on the other hand the transport carts and supporting elements arranged on top of the transport carts are connected by cross beam elements in a required length to form a counter or a serving stand at the location of the dinner. Delivery of foods to the spot, keeping them warm and dosing them into portions can be solved in this way, however, due to disadvantageous structure and arrangement of the carts the serving and refilling of food products is cumbersome and inconvenient. On the other hand it is aesthetically unpleasant, which is unacceptable unless it is fitted to the environment in case of outdoor events.

Aim of the invention is to realize an easily movable food and/or beverage serving device and/or on site cooking device which is able to render full event catering, which means that according to the actual type it is suitable to display and offer in a very attractive way a great number, in some cases as many as 50 different items of warm and/or cold food products, and further according to the actual type it is able to provide on site cooking/grilling of 5 to 10 different courses, and according to the actual type it is also able to dispense a wide variety of drinks, wherein the guest can choose according to his own taste from the daily selection being selected according to the requirements of the operating staff or the guests, and the functions of the device are easily and quickly adopted to the actual demands.

Based on the inventive idea the above aim can be achieved by a food and/or beverage serving and/or on site cooking device with a unitary structure, i.e. which device is built up on a unitary frame structure, and for the catering service and/or wide variety of business operations it is equipped with every necessary device, and by replacement of one part of the catering device its functions can be adopted to the actually demanded services, and which device after use can be moved from the location of the dinner to another designated area, maybe a smaller storage area, which area can be out of use, and the movement can be done - depending on the actual type of the device - in a collapsed form of the device achieved by folding or in a compact state.

The above aims are achieved by a multi-functional food and drink serving catering device for providing event catering in hotels, at airports or at workplaces, wherein the catering device has a counter covered by an upper countertop, on the countertop a warm food serving unit or a cooling cabinet or a beverage dispenser is placed, and the side of the counter closer to the guests is equipped with a front panel which can be decorated, whereas on the rear side of the counter the storage area below the upper countertop is equipped with at least one door and/or drawer forming a vertical closure of the storage area, and in the storage area electronically heated and/or cooled storage places and electronic connectors are disposed. The invention has a main feature that the counter is a body with unitary structure, to the bottom of which wheels are fastened, the wheels are rotatable about their axis by 360°, can be braked and make possible the movement of the device by rolling, and the countertop is releasably mounted to the counter so as to be replaceable according to the achievable operation, thus the device can advantageously used to completely manage business related matters and/or can be used to store tools, devices or any other accessories which make possible full event catering according to the requirements.

In one embodiment of the inventive device front panel of the counter is covered by a releasably mounted decorative element, which is easily replaceable, may be colored by any selected color and may contain unique items or logos selected by the customer according to his or her own expectations; or the front panel itself is formed as such decorative element. This solution makes possible for the outer appearance of the catering device to conform to the outside environment or to fit to the atmosphere of the actual event.

In another advantageous embodiment of the present invention a display, preferably an LCD or LED display is mounted on the counter, which gives information about the offered food or beverage products, and the display is optionally connected to a multimedia controlling device. In this embodiment the multimedia device - besides displaying the prices - can render, depending on the variety of its built in features, wireless internet connection to prospective customers or users of the device through wifi access, and further it is able to receive orders through the web environment designed to provide interactive operation of the device, and it can also deliver music through the built in audio device. It is further very advantageous if the warm food serving unit is submerged into at least one suitably formed opening or recess of the countertop. If instead of the warm food serving unit the device is provided with a cooling cabinet or beverage dispenser, the cooling cabinet or beverage dispenser are preferably laid on the surface of the counter at the positions of the recess(es) for receiving the warm food serving unit, or can be submerged into said recess(es). In this case by effecting appropriate change of the countertop a mobile bar function can be rendered for guests or users of the device.

According to the invention the warm food serving unit can be a warmer, or after replacement of the countertop can be a unit for on site cooking/grilling.

In order to offer the warm foods hygienically and appetizingly, it is preferred that the warmer besides its heating function is provided with an upper heating bridge suitable for illumination of foods, and a breath proof shield made preferably of transparent material or glass is attached to the heating bridge. In this embodiment the upper heating bridge together with the breath proof shield is movable in vertical direction, e.g. by an electromotor, and this makes possible to cover all serving bowls by the breath proof shield. When the warmer is replaced in the relevant countertop by a warm food serving unit operating as an on site cooking/grilling unit, the latter may contain a cooking plate, a grilling grid, a wok bowl or combination of these, and the unit is preferably cooperating with an integrally built in fume hood.

According to another preferred embodiment the capacity of the device can be adjusted to the actual needs by building up the counter of more counter modules, wherein the counter has connecting elements which join to each other from the side by form fitting connection. Decorative appearance of the device can be enhanced if the front panel of the counter has a curved design instead of the common rectangular arrangement, and on the side closer to the guests the countertop is formed with corresponding curved profile, and behind the front panel or decorative element a LED series is disposed which is able to emit colored light. Further details and advantages of the present invention are described in the following description made with reference to the attached drawings, wherein on the drawing Fig. 1 shows a catering device of the present invention with curved design in perspective view,

Fig. 2 shows the device of Fig. 1 in side view,

Fig. 3 shows the device of Fig. 1 in rear view,

Fig. 4 shows the device of Fig. 1 in top view,

Fig. 5 shows the device of Fig. 1 in front view,

Fig. 6 is a top view of the decorative curved front panel of the device,

Fig. 7 is a front view of the decorative curved front panel, in

Fig. 8 a rectangular embodiment of the inventive catering device with food serving and warming functions is shown in perspective view without warmer and wheels, in

Fig. 9 the catering device of Fig. 8 is shown in perspective view, in

Fig. 10 the replaceable countertop of a rectangular embodiment of the inventive catering device for on site cooking and grilling is shown in perspective top view,

Fig. 11 is the countertop of Fig. 10 in perspective bottom view.

As shown in Figures 1-5, the food and/or drink serving catering device of the present invention has a counter 2 covered by an upper countertop 1, and in an opening of the surface of the countertop 1 a warm food serving unit 3, optionally a warmer with a lower and upper heating bridge is built in. In the countertop 1 serving bowls are submerged or sank. The upper heating bridge 4 of the warmer - which besides warming serves for illuminating the foods - together with a breath proof shield 5, made preferably of transparent material or glass, is movable in the vertical direction by e.g. an electromotor. It is also conceivable that the warming unit is replaced after removal of the countertop 1 of the device by a warm food serving unit 3 functioning as an on site cooking (grilling) unit, which can be submerged into at least one suitably formed opening or recess of the countertop 1 and may contain a cooking plate, a grilling grid, a wok bowl or combination of these, and which unit is preferably cooperating with a fume hood integrated into the device. If instead of warm foods cold foods or beverages are served the warm food serving unit 3 is replaced by a cooling cabinet or a beverage dispenser installed in the surface of the appropriate countertop 1. The counter 2 is equipped - depending on the actual type - with foldable or fixed storage means 2a disposed on at least one side of the warm food serving unit 3 or the cooling cabinet or the beverage dispenser; and the same side can be advantageously used to completely manage business related matters and/or can be used for storage of tools, devices or any other accessories according to the requirements for full event catering. On the side of the counter 2 closer to the guests the counter is equipped with a front panel 6 extending along the whole length of the counter, whereas on the rear side of the counter doors or drawers 8 are provided which form a vertical closure for the storage area 7 below the upper countertop 1. In the storage area 7 of the device among others heated and/or cooled storage places and electronic connectors can be disposed. Main feature of the food and/or beverage serving device of the present invention is that the counter 2 is set up as a body with a unitary structure, and to the bottom of the counter wheels 9 are fastened, which wheels are rotatable about their axis by 360°, can be braked and make possible the movement of the device by rolling, and which preferably have a rubber tread surface, and the countertop 1 is releasably mounted to the counter 2 and as a consequence it is replaceable according to actual needs.

On the counter 2 of the catering device of the present invention a display, preferably an LCD or LED display 10 is mounted, which gives information about the offered food or beverage products. Optionally this can be connected to a multimedia device, which - depending on the variety of its built in features - can render wireless internet connection to prospective customers via wifi access to the catering device, and further it is able to receive catering orders through the web environment designed to provide interactive operation of the catering device, and it can deliver music through the built in premium audio device. A control panel 12 for controlling the warm food serving unit 3 and the upper heating bridge 4 is placed to an adequate portion of the storage area 7 in the rear part.

Preferably the front panel 6 of the counter 2 is provided with a releasably mounted and thus replaceable decorative element 13 as shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, the color of which can be changed on demand; the decorative element in cooperation with the decorative and also replaceable countertop 1 makes possible to conform the outer appearance of the food serving device of the present invention to the actual environment or the atmosphere of an ongoing party or other event, and this can be done according to the choice of customers. This feature can be further enhanced if the front panel 6 and the replaceable decorative element 13 of the counter 2 is formed with a curved profile and on the side closer to the guests the countertop 1 is formed with a corresponding curved profile, and behind the decorative element 13 a LED series able to emit light in more colors is disposed. The food and/or beverage serving device of the invention can be formed not only with a curved profile, but - in particular for everyday use - it can be designed to have a rectangular form which is realized more easily. In this case the counter 2, according to actual requirements, can be an assembly of more modules, where the modules - each module can comprise the whole device itself - can be joined to each other from the side preferably by means of connecting elements by form fitting connection, even without joint gaps. If the device is applied in its basic form, the counter 2 can be supplemented by extendable counter elements which can be folded up or folded down on the sides, and also the side closer to the guests can be provided with a foldable bag holder or tray holder shelf which can be folded up or down.

Rectangular forms of the device of the invention are shown in Fig. 8-11.

Fig. 8 and 9 show a rectangular embodiment of the inventive catering device with food serving and warming up function in perspective front and rear view, respectively, the device shown without warmer and rollers. In the pictures it is seen that in the countertop 1 ' of the counter 2' of the device an opening 15' with larger dimensions is cut out and in the opening an appropriately formed warm food serving unit 3 operating as a warmer can be submerged. In Fig. 8 the front panel 6' of the counter 2' is provided with a decorative element 13 ' which can be decorated and can be provided with graphics, and is releasably assembled to the front panel 6'. Fig. 9 shows that on the side of the counter 2' opposite to the front panel 6' the counter is closed by elements 16' like doors and/or drawers.

Fig. 10 and 1 1 shows the replaceable countertop 1" of one embodiment of the inventive rectangular catering device for on site cooking and grilling in perspective top and bottom view, respectively. As opposed to the previous countertop in this countertop 1" more openings and/or recesses are formed. Opening 17" is produced for a rinsing tray, recess 18" is provided for a cutting tray and also has a hole for garbage disposal, recess 19" can receive various devices or accessories applied during on site cooking or grilling and openings 20" are for electronic connectors. Behind these openings another opening 21" is formed which can receive a fume hood.

The offered products of the food and/or beverage serving device of the invention can be selected from almost an arbitrarily large palette by the operating staff of the cooking facility or by the customer itself according to his or her taste. For installment of the device only a mains outlet and a suitable room is needed, in which room the customer wants to arrange food and beverage service and/or possibly serve dinner for its workers, guests etc. and/or where in some cases the device can be stored outside the operation hours. In cases where the warm food serving unit operates as a warmer and no cooking or grilling function is needed, the service provided by the device is completely odor and contamination free.

The catering device of the present invention complies with the design and quality requirements of our days, and complies with and is operated according to the food hygiene and safety regulations of the European Union, thus it can be set up at any location, event or occasion ranging from a dining area of a business park to a lobby of a modern office building.

The device of the invention can be built up in size according to 1 GN (gastronorm size) or a size in this range to 15GN or a size in this range, and consequently the guests or workers can select their everyday food from 1-50 different type food items. The device can be rolled on freely rotatable wheels which can be steered, however, since the wheels can be disassembled, the device can be placed in a permanently fixed position.

The warmer unit of the catering device can maintain the temperature of food products placed in the device between 0-90°C degrees, and can do it by manual or remote control. The warmer is manufactured of a stainless steel material, whereas the receiving part, i.e. the counter 2 can be made of wood, water repellent, impregnated wood, any type of stainless metal alloy with long lifetime, glass fiber, carbon fiber, colored plastic material, acryl, and any other material and any combination of these which is eligible for the intended purpose from aesthetical and legal aspects and complies with food hygiene regulations.

The warmer can be made as a custom-built unit, or any other warmer unit is feasible, which was manufactured by a well-known manufacturer of the technical field. The warmer is preferably provided with a lower heater and an upper heating bridge for illumination. The device can be featured with only a lower heater, or only an upper heater bridge, or with a unit containing any combination of these, and it may optionally contain a built in fume hood unit.

Heat dissipation of the device can be effected based on radio frequency, common, ultrasonic or induction heating principles. Supply of electric energy can be solved by supply of electric current, gas, solar cell, battery or an electric current generator or any other means for energy supply that will be available with future development of technology.

For every part that can be opened up, bended down, folded out or slidden out the movement is done by gas-, oil- or air telescopes, or manually, or depending on the type by insertion of an electromotor. Openable or fixed front tray holders or bag holders can be fastened to the device, or it can be provided with lateral tables or storage elements which are fixed or can be opened up, folded out or folded up. The joints are formed in aesthetically attractive way.

Preferably, the catering device is provided with an LCD or LED display 10 which gives information about the offered food or beverage products, and in the vicinity of the device it can render wireless internet connection to the device to prospective customers via wifi access. The multimedia system, depending on its type, is able to receive catering orders through the web environment of the device, which is designed to provide interactive operation, or it can deliver music.

The catering device is also available as a framework structure, which framework can be dressed with prefabricated outer casings in any selected color, decorated with individual items or logos. In this embodiment with the LED display mounted on the front part it is possible to digitally display information about the offered food or beverage products that are contained in the device.

Depending on the size the catering device may contain 1-100 drawers and heated or cooled lower storage spaces or storage spaces without heating or cooling, which can be opened or closed by a two-wing door, a sliding door or a shutter door.

The cold food products can be served independently or as a supplement for a dinner or a warm food course. Structure of the counter 2 provided with wheels 9 is the same irrespective of whether cold or warm foods or beverages are served, the only difference is that in order to serve warm food products a warmer or a unit containing devices for on site cooking/grilling is needed, and for serving cold foods a shelf structure and a cooling cabinet is installed in the device, and for the beverage serving variation of the device such devices and working areas are installed which can be used for preparation and cooling of drinks. The shelf system can be curved or rectangular in shape, may have a sliding rear panel, or may be equipped with stackable shelves, or shelves which can be inserted in one another, while the cooling cabinet can be placed on top of the counter or can be built as an integral part of the counter, can be a commercially available finished product formed of curved or rectangular elements.

The food serving device of the present invention can render high quality event catering services even for 1000 people, the device itself being adopted for any environment and any circumstances.

Claims

1. Multi-functional mobile catering device in particular to serve food and/or drinks in hotels or at workplaces or to render catering services at various events, the catering device has a counter (2) covered by an upper countertop (1), on the countertop (1) a warm food serving unit (3) or a cooling cabinet or a beverage dispenser is placed, and the side of the counter (2) closer to the guests is equipped with a decorative front panel (6), whereas on the rear side of the counter the storage area (7) below the upper countertop (1) is equipped with at least one door (8) and/or drawer forming a vertical closure of the storage area (7), and in the storage area (7) electronically heated and/or cooled storage places and electronic connectors are disposed, characterized in that the counter (2) is a body with unitary structure, on the bottom of which wheels (9) are assembled, the wheels are rotatable about their axis by 360°, can be braked and make possible the movement of the device by rolling, and the countertop (1) is releasably mounted on top of the counter (2) so as to be replaceable according to the intended operations.

2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the front panel (6) of the counter (2) is provided with a releasably fastened decorative element (13).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that on the countertop (1) of the counter (2) a display, preferably an LCD or LED display (10) is mounted, which gives information about the offered food products or beverages. 4. Device according to any of claims 1 -3 characterized in that the warm food serving unit (3) is built into at least one opening or recess formed in the surface of the countertop (1).

5. Device according to any of claims 1-4 characterized in that the warm food serving unit (3) is a warmer, on which the food serving bowls are placed and are submerged into the countertop (1).

6. Device according to claim 5 characterized in that the warmer has an upper heating bridge (4), which besides being available for warming up the food products serves for illuminating the foods, and a breath proof shield (5) made preferably of transparent material or glass is attached to the heating bridge.

7. Device according to claim 6 characterized in that the upper heating bridge (4) together with the breath proof shield (5) is connected to a device for vertical movement, e.g. an electromotor. 8. Device according to any of claims 1-4 characterized in that the warm food serving unit (3) is an on site cooking/grilling unit containing an induction cooking plate, a grilling grid, a wok bowl or combination of these, the unit is submerged into the countertop (1) and the unit is operatively connected to a fume hood integrally built into the countertop (1). 9. Device according to any of claims 1-8 characterized in that the counter (2) has connecting elements which join to each other from the side by form fitting connection and make possible the assembly of more counters (2).

10. Device according to any of claims 1-9 characterized in that the front panel (6) of the counter (2) is formed with a curved profile and on the side closer to the guests the countertop (1) is formed with a corresponding curved profile, and behind the decorative element (13) a LED series is disposed which is capable to emit colored light.