WO2015011485A1

WO2015011485A1 - A food warmer

Info

Publication number: WO2015011485A1
Application number: PCT/GB2014/052272
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luke Parr
Original assignee: Luke Parr
Priority date: 2013-07-26
Filing date: 2014-07-24
Publication date: 2015-01-29
Also published as: GB201313355D0; GB201600640D0; GB2530231B; GB2530231A

Abstract

a food warmer (1) for warming or maintaining the temperature of the food that comprises an individual meal, the food warmer comprising an upper tray element (2) adapted for holding food and/or crockery on the upper surface thereof, and a main body (3) formed so that the upper tray element (2) locates on or into the top of the main body (3) and is securely held in position, an internal heating means (8) located within the main body and in use providing heat to the tray element (2), the main body (3) having a contoured underside (6) suitable for placing on the lap of a user. The heating means (8) allows food held on the tray element to be kept warm while it is being transported or eaten, and it will take longer to cool and become inedible, and the contoured underside (6) allows a user to comfortably place and position the warmer on their lap for eating.

Description

A food warmer

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a food warmer. More particularly, the invention relates to a portable and personal food warmer. Even more particularly, the invention relates to a portable and personal food warmer that can be placed and used on a user's lap.

Background

In hospitals or care homes, it is common for food to be prepared in a central kitchen location which may be some distance from the wards or other areas where the food is to be taken. Once prepared, the food is portioned into individual meals, and large multi-meal heating units are used to transport the individual meals to the wards, rest rooms or other locations. People who are in residential or nursing homes may also have their meals delivered from another location or central kitchen area. The occupants of hospitals, rest homes or similar are frequently elderly and infirm, and may eat slowly, or may require feeding at a slower pace than a younger, more able- bodied individual. The food will start to cool once served, and may become cold or unappetising before a user has had a chance to eat as much as they would want or require.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following:

WO200832135 describes and shows a battery powered lunch box that includes an electric element extending about a food-receiving dish in the base and an evacuated heat insulating base-chamber surrounding the element , sides and floor of the dish. A lid includes an evacuated heat insulating lid chamber with a plug portion which projects into the mouth of the dish for closing the dish and reducing heat losses.

US6570133 describes and shows a portable food warming system for keeping food warm while travelling in a vehicle having a power socket. The portable food warming system includes a container that has an opening extending into an interior of the container. A cover is shown for selectively closing the opening in the container. A heating assembly is provided for selectively heating a bottom wall of the container. The heating assembly preferably includes a housing that has an aperture extending into a cavity of the housing. In one embodiment of the present invention, the bottom wall of the container selectively closes the aperture of the housing. A heating element is mounted in the cavity of the housing for heating the bottom wall of the container when the container is mounted on the housing.

EP1068825 describes and shows a food box for food distribution, with a heat- insulating outer container holding an eating tray with a thermally-coupled heat store, in which the heat store is a latent heat storage element comprising at least two components of which at least one has a transition temperature above and at least one has a transition temperature below a cooking point of 85 degrees C. Meals can be cooked and kept hot in the food box by precooking the meal outside the box and then placing it in the box so that the meal is fully cooked by the heated box and then kept warm for a certain time with the aid of the box.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a food warmer which goes some way to overcoming the abovementioned disadvantages or which at least provides the public or industry with a useful choice.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention consists in a food warmer, comprising an upper tray element adapted for holding food and/or crockery on the upper surface thereof, a main body formed so that the upper tray element locates on or into the top of the main body and is securely held in position, and an internal heating means located within the main body and in use providing heat to the tray element, the main body having a contoured underside suitable for placing on the lap of a user.

The heating means allows food held on the tray element to be kept warm while it is being transported or eaten, and it will take longer to cool and become inedible, and the contoured underside allows a user to comfortably place and position the warmer on their lap for eating.

Preferably the tray element is a unitary item, removable from the main body. This allows easy cleaning and replacement of a particular tray element with a same- shaped or differently-shaped replacement, and allows easy manufacture by stamping from metal sheet, or moulding from plastic, or similar.

Preferably the underside of the main body further has at least one shaped portion adapted to allow the food warmer to rest on a surface. This allows the warmer to be stably placed on a table or other surface without tipping or spilling the contents of the tray

Preferably the main body has two shaped portions formed on the sides of the food warmer, opposite sides of the food warmer having a flattened portion on the underside at or towards the edge of the food warmer. This arrangement allows both the shaped portions and the contoured portions to be simply and easily positioned on the underside of the main body, without interfering with one another.

Preferably the food warmer is substantially rectangular with two side edges, the side edges forming the shaped portions.

Preferably the internal heating means is an electric heating element. This allows the overall weight of the warmer to be kept low, which is advantageous when used by the elderly or infirm.

Preferably the food warmer further has a heat conducting warming plate located between the electric heating element and the underside of the tray element, the warming plate extending below substantially the entire underside of the tray element. This aids in spreading heat evenly across the entirety of the tray element, and the food thereon.

Preferably the heating element is shaped to extend below substantially the entire underside of the tray element. This aids in spreading heat evenly across the entirety of the tray element, and the food thereon.

Preferably the electric heating element is powered from a mains power source. This helps to keep the weight down while still providing adequate power.

Preferably the food warmer further has an internal battery to power the heating element. This allows the warmer to be used independently of any mains supply for a short while and allows greater flexibility in usage location.

Preferably the battery is rechargeable from a mains power source. This helps to cut down on replacement maintenance.

Preferably the food warmer further has an internal controller to regulate the temperature of the heating element.

Preferably the food warmer further has a display element that indicates the temperature of the plate in use.

Alternatively the internal heating means is a compartment in the main body that in use is filled with hot water. Preferably the compartment is removable from the main body.

Preferably the tray element is profiled to have a plurality of separated open-topped compartments.

Alternatively the tray element is profiled to have a bowl-shaped depression, located substantially in the centre of the tray element.

Preferably the tray element is profiled to have at least one elongate open-topped compartment for holding eating utensils.

Preferably the food warmer further has a domed lid adapted to fit over the tray element.

Preferably the main body and the lid are mutually profiled to fit together in use so that the lid is held in position on the main body.

Preferably the walls of the food warmer are insulated.

Preferably the main body is profiled to have two handles, substantially opposite one another on each side of the main body.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the food warmer of the present invention, having a main body and an upper tray element, the food warmer having an internal heating element, a power cable shown extending from the food warmer.

Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the food warmer of figure 1 , with a lid further shown, detail of the internal heating element also shown, and a battery which supplements the mains power and allows the warmer to be used independently of mains power also shown.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the warmer of figure 2, with the lid in position over the tray element.

Figure 4 shows a front view of the warmer of figures 1 and 2, with detail of a contoured underside shown, which allows a user to rest the warmer comfortably on their lap.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view from a different angle of the warmer of the preceding figures, with the tray lifted up above the main body for removal, replacement or similar.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the warmer of the preceding figures in use, resting on a surface, with food on the tray and the lid removed. Detailed Description

The preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the figures.

A food warmer 1 is shown in figure 1 in perspective view. The food warmer 1 is shown in an exploded view in figure 2. In the preferred embodiment, the warmer 1 is generally rectangular in plan view. The side edges are to the left and right of a user in use, and the front edge is away, or furthest from, a user. The food warmer 1 has three main elements: an upper tray element 2, a main body 3, and an internal heating element 4 (not shown in figure 1 ). The upper surface of the tray element 2 is adapted for holding food and/or crockery, and is profiled for this purpose. The preferred form of tray element is a unitary item, pressed or moulded as a single item. This will be explained in greater detail below. The main body 3 is formed so that the upper tray element 2 locates on or into the top of the main body and is securely held in position. This is achieved in the preferred embodiment by having a central open- topped hollow portion in the main body 3, bounded around its perimeter by walls or edges 5. The central portion of the main body 3 and the main part of the tray 2 are mutually shaped and sized so that the main part of the tray 2 locates into the hollow portion in use and is a snug fit. The tray element 2 has a lip 4 that extends outwards substantially horizontally around the perimeter of the tray 2 and which rests on the top of the walls or edges 5 to hold the tray 2 in position and stop it dropping into the main body 3.

In the preferred embodiment, the main body 3 has a contoured underside so that it can rest comfortably on the lap of a user. This comprises two elongate shallow depressions 6 formed in the underside of the main body 3, running from the front side to the rear side of the main body 3, substantially parallel to the side edges of the warmer 1 , as best shown with reference to figure 3. The underside of the main body 3 further has two flattened portions 7 along each side edge to allow the food warmer to rest on a surface. Although in the preferred embodiment these are two flat portions, a single shaped portion could also be used, such as a flat central section of sufficient size to balance the warmer 1 , or a loop of flat surface that extends around the side edges and the front edge.

The internal heating means 8 is located within the main body 5, below the tray element 2. In the preferred embodiment, the internal heating means is an electric heating element, such as a nichrome wire or coil element generating heat by having an electric current passed through it. It is most preferred that the food warmer further has a heat conducting warming plate 9 located between the electric heating element 8 and the underside of the tray element 2, the warming plate 9 extending below substantially the entire underside of the tray element 2. It is also most preferred that the heating element 8 is shaped to extend below substantially the entire underside of the tray element 2. In the preferred embodiment, the electric heating element 2 is powered from a mains power source, a power cable running between the warmer 1 and a mains plug. However, the food warmer 1 also has an internal battery 10 to power the heating element 8. The battery 10 is rechargeable via the mains power source and can be used to power the heating element 8 independently of the mains power source. A PCB controller and transformer 1 1 are used to control the current flow and temperature of the heating element 8. It is most preferred that the warmer 1 has a display element 12 that indicates the temperature of the plate 8 in use.

As noted above, the tray element 2 is profiled to have a plurality of separated open- topped compartments. These can be separate compartments for separate foodstuffs (e.g. vegetables in one compartment, meat in another, dessert in a third, etc). Alternatively, the tray 2 could be removed and replaced by a tray element profiled to hold separate dishes and cutlery, for example by having a bowl-shaped central depression into which the base of a bowl or similar can be placed to hold the bowl in position and to warm the contents. Alternatively or as well as this, the tray 2 can be profiled to have at least one elongate open-topped compartment for holding eating utensils.

It is most preferred that the food warmer 1 further has a domed lid 13 adapted to fit over the tray element 2 and keep food on the tray 2 covered and warm. The main body 3 and the lid 13 are mutually profiled to fit together in use so that the lid 13 is held in position on the main body 3.

The walls of the main body 3 of the food warmer 1 are insulated to keep food on the tray 2 covered and warm, and also to help protect the legs of a user from heat radiating downwards form the heating means.

The main body 3 is profiled to have two handles 14, substantially opposite one another on each side of the main body 3.

A food warmer 1 as described above can be used to maintain the temperature of a meal as it travels from where it is produced to where it will be consumed. The food warmer 1 can be placed on the laps of the elderly or infirm as the construction outlined makes it comfortable and lightweight. The configuration described allows warming to continue while the food is being consumed.

In alternative embodiments, the food warmer could have an internal and removable compartment in the main body that in use is filled with hot water and replaced in the compartment to maintain the temperature of food in/on the food warmer 1 . Alternatively, the food warmer could have an internal compartment adapted to be part-filled with water that is heated by an internal element or similar. However, these are not preferred embodiments as they add substantially to the weight of the food warmer.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as set out in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A food warmer, comprising:

an upper tray element adapted for holding food and/or crockery on the upper surface thereof;

a main body, formed so that the upper tray element locates on or into the top of the main body and is securely held in position;

an internal heating means located within the main body and in use providing heat to the tray element;

the main body having a contoured underside suitable for placing on the lap of a user.

2. A food warmer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tray element is a unitary item, removable from the main body.

3. A food warmer as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the underside of the main body further has at least one shaped portion adapted to allow the food warmer to rest on a surface.

4. A food warmer as claimed in claim 3 wherein the main body has two shaped portions formed on the sides of the food warmer, opposite sides of the food warmer having a flattened portion on the underside at or towards the edge of the food warmer.

5. A food warmer as claimed in claim 4 wherein the food warmer is substantially rectangular with two side edges, the side edges forming the shaped portions.

6. A food warmer as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the internal heating means is an electric heating element.

7. A food warmer as claimed in claim 6 wherein the food warmer further has a heat conducting warming plate located between the electric heating element and the underside of the tray element, the warming plate extending below substantially the entire underside of the tray element.

8. A food warmer as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the heating element is shaped to extend below substantially the entire underside of the tray element.

9. A food warmer as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein the electric heating element is powered from a mains power source.

10. A food warmer as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein the food warmer further has an internal battery to power the heating element.

1 1 . A food warmer as claimed in claim 10 wherein the battery is rechargeable from a mains power source.

12. A food warmer as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 1 1 further having an internal controller to regulate the temperature of the heating element.

13. A food warmer as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 12 further having a display element that indicates the temperature of the plate in use.

14. A food warmer as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the internal heating means is a compartment in the main body that in use is filled with hot water.

15. A food warmer as claimed in claim 14 wherein the compartment is removable from the main body.

16. A food warmer as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the tray element is profiled to have a plurality of separated open-topped compartments.

17. A food warmer as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein the tray element is profiled to have a bowl-shaped depression, located substantially in the centre of the tray element.

18. A food warmer as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17 wherein the tray element is profiled to have at least one elongate open-topped compartment for holding eating utensils.

19. A food warmer as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18 wherein the food warmer further has a domed lid adapted to fit over the tray element.

20. A food warmer as claimed in claim 19 wherein the main body and the lid are mutually profiled to fit together in use so that the lid is held in position on the main body.

21 . A food warmer as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20 wherein the walls of the food warmer are insulated.

22. A food warmer as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21 wherein the main body is profiled to have two handles, substantially opposite one another on each side of the main body.