Food pan configured for nested stacking

US6557720B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Vollrath Company, L.L.C. · US

Inventors

• David R. Tosdale · Manitowoc, US
• Mark L. Baumann · Elkhart Lake, US
• Victor M. Frauenfeld · Cleveland, US
• William C. Heimerl · Hingham, US
• Ronald J. McGettrick · Sheboygan, US
• Richard E. Velten · Cleveland, US
• Jeffrey T. Zank · Germantown, US
• Cory R. Boudreau · Madison, US
• William Lindeman · Sun Prairie, US
• Sheldon Roberts · Sun Prairie, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 19, 2001
• Grant date: May 6, 2003
• Expiry date: Mar 9, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A47J36/2405
• WIPO field: Furniture, games
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

A pan for use with a well for receiving the pan is disclosed herein. The pan includes a bottom panel, a plurality of walls, and a ramp. The plurality of walls extend upwardly from the bottom panel and define a cavity. The plurality of walls also have an upper end which defines a top opening. The upper end has an extension away from the cavity which defines a rim. The ramp is proximate the rim and exterior to the cavity, whereby the pan rides up on the ramp when the pan is drawn up against the well. In one exemplary embodiment, the plurality of walls includes at least one internal shoulder formed in the plurality of walls and extending along a cavity of the pan at least partially in each corner of the pan between the bottom panel and the rim and at least one external shoulder formed in the plurality of walls and extending along an exterior of the pan at least partially in each corner between the bottom panel and the at least one internal shoulder such that the at least one external shoulder rests upon the at least one internal shoulder of an identical underlying food pan when the food pan is nested within the underlying food pan.