Heat-retaining food server

Claim 2

A food serving dish comprising a generally rectangular upper metal shell, a generally rectangular lower metal shell hermetically sealed to the upper shell only about the peripheral edges thereof, said upper and lower shells defining a space therebetween, a heat-retention pellet disposed within said space in direct contact with the undersurface of said upper shell, and a resilient heat-insulating cushion within said space between said pelLet and said lower shell urging said pellet upwardly to maintain the same in direct contact with the undersurface of said upper shell throughout the range of temperatures to which said dish is normally subjected.

Claim 3

The structure of claim 1 in which said pellet is generally rectangular in shape.

Claim 4

The structure of claim 2 in which said pellet has a central aperture, said upper shell having a centrally depressed portion projecting downwardly into said aperture, and said lower shell having a centrally raised portion disposed within said aperture, said central portions of said upper and lower shells being disposed adjacent but unattached to each other.

Claim 5

The structure of claim 3 in which said central portions of said upper and lower shells are generally circular in configuration.

Claim 6

The structure of claim 4 in which said upper and lower shells are formed of stainless steel.

Claim 7

A food serving dish comprising a generally rectangular upper metal shell having a substantially horizontal wall portion and an upwardly and outwardly inclined side wall portion extending thereabout, said horizontal wall portion being rectangular in shape and being dimensioned so that the shortest distance from the center of such horizontal portion to the outer limits thereof falls within the range of about 2 to 3 inches, a generally rectangular lower metal shell having a horizontal portion and having an upwardly and outwardly inclined side wall portion, the inclined side wall portions of said upper and lower shells having their peripheral edges hermetically sealed together, said upper and lower shells defining a space therebetween, a heat-retention pellet disposed within said space, said pellet having an enlarged flat portion adapted to engage the undersurface of the horizontal wall of said upper shell, and a resilient heat-insulating cushion within said space between said pellet and said lower shell for urging said pellet upwardly and maintaining the same in contact with the undersurface of said upper shell, the horizontal portions of said upper and lower shells being unsecured to each other.

Claim 8

A food serving dish comprising a generally rectangular upper metal shell having a substantially horizontal wall portion and an upwardly and outwardly inclined side wall portion extending thereabout, said horizontal wall portion being rectangular in shape and being dimensioned so that the shortest distance from the center of such horizontal portion to the outer limits thereof falls within the range of about 2 to 3 inches, a generally rectangular lower metal shell having a horizontal portion and having an upwardly and outwardly inclined side wall portion, the inclined side wall portions of said upper and lower shells having their peripheral edges hermetically sealed together, said upper and lower shells defining a space therebetween, a heat-retention pellet disposed within said space, said pellet having an enlarged flat portion adapted to engage the undersurface of the horizontal wall of said upper shell, and a resilient heat-insulating cushion within said space between said pellet and said lower shell for urging said pellet upwardly and maintaining the same in contact with the undersurface of said upper shell, the horizontal portions of said upper and lower shells being unsecured to each other.

Claim 9

The structure of claim 6 in which said heat-retention pellet is formed of metal and is generally rectangular in shape.

Claim 10

The structure of claim 6 in which said pellet is provided with a central aperture, and at least one of the horizontal portions of said upper and lower shells being provided with a central portion projecting into said aperture of said pellet.

Claim 11

The structure of claim 8 in which both said upper and lower shells are provided with central portions extending into the aperture of said pellet.

Claim 12

The structure of claim 9 in which said aperture of said pellet and said central portions of said upper and lower shells are all generally circular in configuration.