Counter top food warmer and display case

Claim 1

A counter top food warmer and display case comprising: a glass enclosure including a display window; heating means carried within an insulated upper portion of said enclosure; a compact lower housing carrying said glass enclosure thereon; said lower housing including spaced end walls, front and back side walls, and a bottom wall defining a housing structure having an open interior; opposing ledge means integral with said side walls of said lower housing defining an upper portion of said lower housing; a water carrying receptacle contiguous with said opposing ledge means of said housing coextending generally across said open interior for humidifying said enclosure; a food carrying tray means extending between and carried by said opposing ledge means above said water carrying receptacle; said tray means forming a bottom of said glass enclosure adjacent an upper portion of said housing; a heating element disposed in said housing below said water carrying receptacle and closely adjacent thereto for heating water carried therein; an insulated base carried on the bottom wall of said housing, said heating element being carried on said insulated base affording protective placement of said food warmer on the surface of an associated counter top; said lower housing providing a compact low profile structure for housing said food tray means, water receptacle means, heating element, and insulated base in a closely stacked configuration; and said glass enclosure having a height at least twice that of said compact lower housing; whereby said food warmer can be placed on a counter top utilizing a minimum amount of space while affording a maximum exposure of the interior of said food warmer.