Abstract A device and system especially useful for reconstituting foods from a frozen state to an edible state in a period of about 15 minutes is disclosed. The system incorporates a unitized food preparation device comprising an outer thermally insulated shell provided with electrical connection means, an array of shelves having electrical connecting means for mating engagement with the electrical connection means of the shell and with the electrical connecting means of a plurality of individual meal-sized serving casseroles provided with integral, i.e., sandwiched, embedded or bonded, resistance heating elements. In utilizing the device, meal-sized portions of food are packed in each casserole, in which the food is then precooked and/or frozen for storage and distribution. In the reconstitution process, the food is heated or cooked by the integral heating elements of the individual casseroles.
Inventors
👤 Thomas S Shevlin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-27 16:09
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47J; A47J39/00; A47J39/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A unitized food preparation device comprising; an outer thermally insulated shell having electrical connection means, an array of shelves having electrical connecting means for engagement with the electrical connection means of said shell, a plurality of individual casseroles having integral resistance heating elements terminating in electrical connecting means adapted for engagement with the electrical connecting means of said array and means for transmitting electrical energy to said food preparation device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
A unitized food preparation device comprising; an outer thermally insulated shell having electrical connection means, an array of shelves having electrical connecting means for engagement with the electrical connection means of said shell, a plurality of individual casseroles having integral resistance heating elements terminating in electrical connecting means adapted for engagement with the electrical connecting means of said array and means for transmitting electrical energy to said food preparation device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
A food preparation device comprising; a thermally insulated shell; one or a plurality of slidable pan members disposed in said shell; electrical connecting means associated with each slidable pan member connectable to a source of electric energy; one or a plurality of individual casseroles removably disposed in said pan members; and electrical heating elements associated with each individual casserole, the elements terminating in contact tabs for engagement with said electrical connecting means to connect the elements to said source of electrical energy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
A food preparation device comprising; a thermally insulated shell; one or a plurality of slidable pan members disposed in said shell; electrical connecting means associated with each slidable pan member connectable to a source of electric energy; one or a plurality of individual casseroles removably disposed in said pan members; and electrical heating elements associated with each individual casserole, the elements terminating in contact tabs for engagement with said electrical connecting means to connect the elements to said source of electrical energy.