US3887253A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Food service cart
Assignee: Aladdin Industries LLC
•
Filing: 1974-01-14
•
Granted: 1975-06-03
•
Expires: 1994-01-14
Abstract
Abstract A food delivery system for use in a hospital or other institution is disclosed. The system comprises a portable cart having compartments for receiving stackable food trays therein. A platform operated by a lever mechanism is provided on the cart for stacking the trays in intimate contact with each other to form a vertical thermal column for retaining heat or cold during transporting of the trays. During loading and unloading the platform is lowered to permit the trays to rest on ''''L'''' brackets which are spaced such that each tray is out of contact with every other tray.
Inventors
- 👤 John A Bridges
- 👤 W Burk Wyatt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:16
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B31/00; A47B2031/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
An institutional food delivery system for maintaining food temperature constant during transporting comprising: food trays capable of nesting one on top of the other to form a stack of trays; a portable cart having at least one side loading compartment for receiving said trays therein, and including means for nesting said trays in said compartment during transport to a desired location, and means for supporting said trays in an unnested condition to permit loading and unloading from the side of said compartment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
An institutional food delivery system for maintaining food temperature constant during transporting comprising: food trays capable of nesting one on top of the other to form a stack of trays; a portable cart having at least one side loading compartment for receiving said trays therein, and including means for nesting said trays in said compartment during transport to a desired location, and means for supporting said trays in an unnested condition to permit loading and unloading from the side of said compartment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
An institutional food delivery system for maintaining food temperature constant during transporting comprising: food trays capable of nesting one on top of the other to form a stack of trays; a portable cart having at least one side loading compartment for receiving said trays therein, and including means for nesting said trays in said compartment during transport to a desired location, and means for supporting said trays in an unnested condition to permit loading and unloading from the side of said compartment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
An institutional food delivery system for maintaining food temperature constant during transporting comprising: food trays capable of nesting one on top of the other to form a stack of trays; a portable cart having at least one side loading compartment for receiving said trays therein, and including means for nesting said trays in said compartment during transport to a desired location, and means for supporting said trays in an unnested condition to permit loading and unloading from the side of said compartment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The food delivery system of claim 1 wherein said food trays are thermally conductive in the vertical direction and include a bottom food receiving portion and a top cover portion, each of said cover portions having raised surfaces thereon for engaging corresponding recesses in the bottom portion of a tray immediately above it in a stack.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The delivery system of claim 1 wherein said food trays are thermally insulated along their sides and between compartments formed therein but are thermally conductive along a top and bottom portion of said trays.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The food delivery system of claim 3 wherein said trays, when stacked, form at least one thermal column rising vertically through the stack via the conductive top and bottom portions of said trays, each of said columns serving to maintain the temperature of the food in said column substantially constant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A food delivery system according to claim 1 wherein said means for supporting comprises: a plurality of L-brackets pairs vertically spaced in said compartment such that each pair supports a tray thereon out of contact with any other tray in the unnested condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The delivery system of claim 1 wherein said means for stacking includes: a platform vertically movable in said compartment; means for moving said platform between a raised position wherein the trays are nested and supported on said platform, and a lowered position wherein the trays are unnested and supported on said supporting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The delivery system according to claim 6 wherein said moving means includes: lever means for moving said platform between said raised and lowered positions; means for urging said platform toward said raised position; rachet means securing said lever means in a desired position against the bias of said urging means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The delivery system of claim 5 wherein said means for nesting includes: a platform vertically movable in said compartment; means for moving said platform between a raised position wherein the trays are nested and supported on said platform, and a lowered position wherein the trays are unnested and supported on said L-bracket pairs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
A portable cart having at least one side loading compartment for receiving trays capable of nesting one on top of the other to form a stack comprising: means for nesting the trays in said compartment for transport to a desired location; and means for supporting said trays in an unnested condition to permit loading and unloading from the side of said compartment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
A portable cart having at least one side loading compartment for receiving trays capable of nesting one on top of the other to form a stack comprising: means for nesting the trays in said compartment for transport to a desired location; and means for supporting said trays in an unnested condition to permit loading and unloading from the side of said compartment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A portable cart according to claim 9 wherein said means for supporting comprises: a plurality of L-brackets pairs vertically spaced in said compartment such that each pair supports a tray thereon out of contact with any other trAy in the unnested condition.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |