Serving and cooling apparatus for food and beverages

Abstract

 A serving and cooling apparatus for food and beverages that consists of a housing (1), in which there is a box (2) with walls (3) and a bottom (4) being heat insulated and within the housing (1), preferably under the box (2), there is a cooling aggregate (5), designed in a way that within the box (2) there is an element (7) intended to contain food and beverages, said element (7) being designed in a way that its upper board (10) is simultaneously also the cover of the box (2) closing it in closed position and that it has at least one set of means (11) for its ascending and descending, whereby the means (11) are provided with a control unit (15) for controlled descending and ascending of the element (7).

Description

Object of Invention

[0001] The object of the present invention is a serving and cooling apparatus for food and beverages preferably intended to be built into a counter or table in a dining room or into a large kitchen-dining section combined with a stove and oven for instance.

Technical Problem

[0002] The technical problem solved by the invention is how to conceive such serving and cooling apparatus for food and beverages that would make it possible for a person to take food to be consumed cooled, like butter, ice cream, juices, etc., at an optionally shaped table or counter, without having to move from his seat, whereby the arrangement of an apparatus of this type should also respect the principles of economic use, safety principles and also the principle of safe access of children to food and beverages.

Prior Art

[0003] We know several adaptations of refrigerators and iceboxes to be used as serving apparatuses. Unlike ordinary refrigerators and iceboxes they have a different shape of a door or cover, being preferably transparent, through which food and beverages can be seen. The shape and arrangement of shelves and other racks is also adapted for the purpose. A further characteristic of these apparatuses lies in that they are intended to be built into cabinets, counters, but they can also be of a stand-alone type, which is a reason why they are not positioned in a dining room. The food and beverages to be consumed cold need to be brought on the table and carried back to the refrigerator if not fully consumed. If we would like to have a dish, of which we had not thought during the preparation of the table, we have to interrupt eating, go to the refrigerator or icebox and bring a dish or beverage.

[0004] Thus there exists a need for such new apparatus to do away with the described disadvantages and simultaneously to offer those new applications indicated in the technical problem.

Solution to the Technical Problem

[0005] The described technical problem is solved by the apparatus of the invention, the essential characteristic of which lies in that an ordinary icebox with a cooling unit and a heat insulated housing has an element with shelves, vessels and other optional supports and racks for optionally wrapped food and beverages, whereby said element is equipped with means for controlled mechanical ascending from the icebox and with a cover that tightly closes the icebox when said element is in totally descended position in the icebox.

[0006] The invention will now be described in more detail with a description of an embodiment and the enclosed drawing, on which

Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal cross-section of the apparatus according to a first embodiment in closed position,

Fig. 2 shows the same in open, i.e. serving position.

[0007] The serving and cooling apparatus for food and beverages consists of a housing 1, in which there is a box 2 with walls 3 and a bottom 4 being heat insulated in an optional known way. Within the housing 1, preferably under the box 2 there is a cooling aggregate 5, whose cooling unit 6 can be positioned anywhere in the inside 21 of the box 2, or in its walls 3 or bottom 4.

[0008] The box 2 has an element 7 intended to contain food and beverages in an optional packaging and positioned directly in it or indirectly on trays, etc. Preferably, shelves 8 and racks 9 for food and beverages are intended for this purpose. The element 7 is of a type that its upper board 10 is simultaneously also the cover of the box 2 tightly covering it, when the board 10 is in level with the counter 10a of a table. The board 10 is heat insulated. The element 7 has at least one means 11 for its ascending from and descending into the box 2. The means 11 are preferably conceived as a threaded bushing 12a with a screw spindle 12b and go through the bottom 4 of the box 2 and are seated in a bearing 13 below the bottom 4, and rotatingly via an electromotor drive 14 of an optional known embodiment. The threaded bushing 12a is linked to the board 10 and can also function as a support of shelves 8. Depending on the shape of the interior of the box 2, racks 9 for food and beverages can hang below the board 10. The mode of arrangement and the form of shelves 8 and racks 9 is optional and is not subject of this invention.

[0009] The drive 14 is manually controlled preferably via wireless electronic control unit 15 in a known way to allow ascending or descending of the element 7 for an optional height selected by the user, or it can be ascended or descended in stages, so that the selected shelf lies in the level with the board 10a of the table. Moreover, the control unit 15 has an electronic key for locking the entire element 7 or only some shelves 8, in order to prevent children from reaching food or beverages on these shelves. The drive 14 can also have sensors, not shown in figures, for detection of overload or for protection, for instance if an object or a part thereof or a user's hand is present in the area of the element 7 and the edge 17 of the opening of the box 2 during descending of the element 7.

[0010] Drive 14 overload sensors can be replaced by sensors to detect the presence of objects or parts thereof in the area of the edge 17 of the box 2. These sensors, not shown in figures, can be placed on the board 10a in the vicinity of the edge 17 of the box 2 or inside the edge of the board 10 of the element 7. If any object or a part thereof is detected in the area of the edge 17 of the box 2, descending or ascending of the element 7 is immediately discontinued and only after the detected object is removed from the area, ascending or descending continues.

[0011] The means 11 can also be pneumatic or hydraulic in an optional known way. The control electronic unit 15 is the same as with said drive 14. Such pneumatic or hydraulic means 11 are intended to have their source of a pressure medium.

[0012] Additionally, it is also possible to have a hydraulic variant of the means 11 where a cooling aggregate 5 compressor is used as a source of a pressure medium. Cooling agent is supposed to act on the hydraulic unit indirectly via pressure converter, for there is another pressure medium in the means 11.

[0013] Considering optional design and application amendments of the apparatus of the invention it is possible to have a cover 18 within the board 10 from the upper (external) side for a user to access a vessel 19 for current cooling of a bottle with a beverage when the element 7 is closed.

[0014] The edge 17 of the box 2 in relation to the board 10 and the edge of the vessel 19 in relation to the cover 18 are designed optionally in an airtight way, they are preferably slanted and provided with an elastic gasket.

[0015] The apparatus of the invention is not essentially limited as to its external shape and dimensions, although it is shown in the figures as being oblong and provided with two means 11 for the ascending of the element 7. The apparatus can also be rounded or polygonal, which consequently calls for the adaptation of the board 10 of the element 7 and also the number of the means 11 for ascending the element 7.

[0016] It is understood that a man skilled in the art can conceive other embodiments and variants by knowing the present description, especially in the sense of industrial design, without circumventing the characteristics of the invention defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A serving and cooling apparatus for food and beverages consisting of a housing (1), in which there is a box (2) with walls (3) and a bottom (4) being heat insulated in an optional known way and within the housing (1), preferably under the box (2), there is a cooling aggregate (5), whose cooling unit (6) can be positioned anywhere in the inside (21) of the box (2), or in its walls (3) or bottom (4), characterised in that the box (2) has an element (7) intended to contain food and beverages, said element being designed in a way that its upper board (10) is simultaneously also the cover of the box (2), which is in level with the counter (10a) of a table in closed position and that it has at least one set of means (11) for its ascending and descending, whereby the means (11) are provided with a control unit (15) for controlled descending and ascending of the element (7), whereby there are sensors to detect overload of the means (11), or sensors to detect a possible object or a part thereof within the area of the edge (17) of the box (2) that allow or discontinue ascending or descending of the element (7).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the means (11) are conceived as a threaded bushing (12a) with a screw spindle (12b) and continue through the bottom (4) of the box (2) and are seated in a bearing (13), and rotatingly via an electromotor drive (14).

3. The apparatus according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the drive (14) is controlled manually via wireless electronic control unit (15) to allow opening or closing of the element (7) or ascending or descending of the element (7) for an optional height selected by the user, or it can be ascended or descended in stages, so that one shelf (8) lies in the level with the board (16) of the table.

4. The apparatus according to claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the wireless electronic control unit (15) has an electronic key for locking the entire element (7) or only some shelves (8).

5. The apparatus according to claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the drive (14) with the control unit (14) also comprises sensors for detection of overload of the drive (14) or sensors for detection of presence of an object or a part thereof in the area of the edge (17) of the box (2).

6. The apparatus according to claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the means (11) are pneumatic or hydraulic with a control electronic unit.

7. The apparatus according to claims 1 to 6, characterised in that under the board (10) from the upper (external) side of the element (7) there is access to a vessel (19) with a cover (18).

8. The apparatus according to claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the sealing edge (17) of the box (2) in relation to the board (10a) and the edge of the vessel (19) in relation to the cover (18) are designed in an airtight way, they are preferably slanted and provided with an elastic gasket.

9. The apparatus according to claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the element (7) has shelves (8) and racks (9) for food and beverages.

Drawing