GB2192452A - Hotplate and carving table assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A hotplate (10) formed of a heat-conducting material and presenting an easily cleanable upper surface is provided with one or more mounting means (24) each for removably mounting a carving table (28) thereabove; the or each mounting means includes an orifice (34) to drain liquid. The hotplate (10) may accommodate rotary carving tables (28) and such tables may be removed at any one time, the space being utilised for serving dishes or like receptacles.The hotplate (10) has improved versatility as it can readily be adapted to suit the requirements for each meal. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to hotplates This invention relates to hotplates having provision tomountatleastonecarvingtablethereon.

Claim 1 of our UK Patent No. 2 095 980B claims a carvingtablecomprising a carving basefor supporting meatto be carved and heating means arranged to heat the underside of the carving base, the table being provided with a drainage system comprising a gutter and one or more drainage holes extending through the base and arranged to deliver molten fat and other liquid draining from meat being carved thereon into the gutter without contacting the heating means.

Whilethetypeoftable having a rotary carving base as particularly described in the specification of the above Patent has proved very effective for its intended purpose, the size ofthe base has rendered it rather heavy for some people to remove itfor cleaning, and tended to make a small joint placed on the table look insignificant and ungenerous. Moreover, the large diameter ofthe rotary carving base impaired the versatility of the table: it could notfor example readily be adapted to serving breakfast. An alternative arrangement in which the circular rotary base was replaced with a square or oblong fixed plate, while very suitable for serving breakfast dishes, was conversely not so suitableforcarvingjointsatlunch ordinner.

According to the present invention there is provided a hotplate formed of a heat-conducting material and presenting an easily cleanable upper surface, the hotplate having oneor more mounting means each for removably mounting a carving table (or base) thereabove. Heating means for heating the underside ofthe plate may be provided; and also radiant heating means above the plate in accordance with conventional practice.

Conveniently the or each mounting means includes an orifice to allow the passage through the hotplate of molten fat and other liquid draining from the meaton the carving table mounted abovethe hotplate.

Preferably the or each carving table is a rotary carving table, and the mounting means comprise an annularface on which the table is seated and which surrounds the orifice, the orifice being arranged to accept a boss protruding from the underside ofthe carving table and having a ducttherethrough to allow drainage of liquid.

In a preferred form of the invention two such mounting means are provided and the hotplate is dimensioned to accommodatetwo removable rotary carving tables. If only onetable is requiredtheother table may be removed and the space utilised for serving dishes or like receptacles. Alternatively when no carving tables are required,forexample at breakfast, both tables may be removed and the hotplates used simplyforthe accommodation of serving dishes.

Where the receptacle to be accommodated is of a rather unstable nature, for example a sauce well, one or more areas of the hotplate may be formed with a depression, preferably surrounded bya rim, to receive the base thereof. Again, one or more areas of the hotplate may be removed and provision made for the permanent reception of a piece of equipment such as a plate holder.

Desirably the hotplate is formed of cast iron and has its upper surface coated with vitreous enamel and heating elements or panels bonded to its lower surface. Avert suitable form of construction ofthe hotplate isthatdescribed and claimed in our UK Patent No.2099 137B. Similarly the carving tables may be made of cast iron coated with vitreous enamel.

A good alternative material from which form the hotplate is heat-conductive porcelain of impact-resistant type.

Although the invention may be carried out in a variety of ways some particular embodiments thereof will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure lisa vertical section through a hotplate according to the invention having one out of a possible two rotary carving tables mounted thereon; Figure2 is a plan ofthe carving table shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section on the line A-A in Figure 2; Figure4is a plan ofthe hotplate of Figure 1 utilised to accommodate two serving dishes; Figure 5is a plan ofthe hotplate of Figure 1 with both carving tablesfitted; Figure 6is a plan ofthe hotplate of Figure 1 with both carving tables removed and used to accommodatefourserving dishes; and Figures 7to 9 are each a plan of a different modification of the hotplate of Figure 1.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4 a rectangular hotplate 10 comprises a cast iron substrate 12 having a peripheral bead 14, its upper surface finished in vitreous enamel to facilitate cleaning, and a silicone rubber insulated heater pad 16 bonded to its undersurface and controlled by a control panel 17.

Beneath the pad 16 is secured by means of screws 18 and spacers 19 an asbestos board 20 covered with a sheet 22 of heat-reflective foil. Two dependent annular bosses 24 are cast on the underside ofthe substrate 12, the mouths of which are machined to provide annular bearing faces 26.

The bosses 24 each provide a mounting for an integrally cast rotary carving table 28 comprising an annuiardisc portion 30 of about28 cm in diameter and a spigot-like underboss 32, the inner surface of which defines a drain hole 34, the outer surface of which is machined so as to rotate easily within the base of a boss 24, and the shoulder 36 of which is machined to provide a face to seat against the bearing face 26. To funnel juices and otherexudates down the drain hole 34 the upperface ofthe disc portion 30 is internally conical and formed with a circumferential channel 38 connecting with the outer ends of radial channels 40 running down to the drain hole 34.

A pair of diametrically opposed handles42 (see Figure 3) extend beyond the periphery of the disc portion 30 to facilitate transfer of the carving table 28.

Removable dishes 44 may be provided as necessary underthe drain holes 34 to collectjuices passing therethrough and radiant heating means (notshown) are positioned above the hotplate 10.

Figure4shows how an area ofthe hotplate 10 vacated by the removal of one carving table may be utilised for standing two serving dishes 46 thereon.

Figure 5 illustrates the utilisation ofthe hotplate 10 with a second carving table 48 fitted.

Figure 6 illustrates the utilisation of the hotplate 10 with both carving tables 10,50 removed and four serving dishes 46 being accommodated.

Figure 7 shows a hotplate 50 arranged to accommodateasingle carving table 28 and apertured to receivetwo sauce wells 52.

Figure 8 shows a hotplate 60-arranged to accommodate a single carving table 28 and apertured to receive a "Lowerator" plate dispenser 62 which is bolted thereto.

The hotplate 70 of Figure 9 isa modification ofthe hotplate 50 of Figure 7 in that it is dimensioned to be oftabletop size.

It will be appreciated that the above-described hotplates may-readily be incorporated into any suitableco-unterorstand,andthatthe-hotplate10in particular can easily be adapted, according to requirements, for the carving of joints orthe reception of serving dishes or a combination of both.

Moreoverthe diameter of thetable 28 atlowstwo such tables to be accommodated on a single hotplate and ensures that a medium- to small-sized joint is not made to look inconspicuous.

It will further be appreciated that a smaller, square or almost square hotplate (for exampie as shown in Figure 9) and having a single mounting may be made with an otherwise plain top to provide avery convenient and versatile embodiment of the invention.

Claims (13)

1. A hotplateformed of a heat-conducting material and presenting an easily cleanable upper surface;the hotplate having one or more mounting means each for removablymounting a carving table (or base) thereabove.

2. A hotplate as claimed in claim 1, in which the or each mounting means includes an orifice to allow the passage through said hotplate of molten fat and other liquid draining from the meat on the carving table mounted above the hotplate.

3. A hotplate as claimed in claims 1 or2, in which two such mounting means are provided and the hotplate is dimensioned to accommodatetwo removable rotary carving tables whereby either one or both tables may be removed at any one time, and the space utilised for serving dishes or like receptacles.

4. A hotplate as claimed in any preceding claim, in which one or more areas ofthe hotplate are formed with a depression to receive the base of a receptacle which is of a rather unstable nature.

5. A hotplate as claimed, in any preceding claim, and which is formed of cast iron and has its upper surface coated with vitreous enamel.

6. A hotplate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the hotplate is formed from heat-conductive porcelain of impact-resistant type.

7. A hotplate as claimed in any preceding claim and additionally comprising radiant heating means located above the plate.

8. A hotplate as claimed in any preceding claim and having heating means arranged to heatthe underside ofthe plate.

9. A hotplate as claimed in claim 8 and having heating elements or panels bonded to its lower surface.

10. An assembly comprising a hotplate, as claimed in any preceding claim, and one or more carving tables.

11. A hotplate as claimed in claim 10, in which the or each carving table is a rotary carving table, and the mounting means comprise an annularface on which the table is seated and which surrounds the orifice, the orifice being arranged to accept a boss protruding from the underside of the carving table and having a ducttherethrough to allow drainage of liquid.

12. A hotplate as claimed in claims 10 or 11, in which the carving tables are made of cast iron coated with vitreous enamel.

13. - A hotplate, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.