Drawer for a heated food cabinet

Abstract

The food warmer oven includes a cabinet 12 having opposing side walls 16, 18 , a top wall 20 , a bottom wall 22 , a back wall 24 , and a front wall 26 defining a heating cavity 28 , the front wall 26 defining an opening 30 into the heating cavity 28 ; a heating source 32 disposed within the heating cavity 28 ; a drawer frame 38 having a pair of opposing side rails 44, 46 , each of the side rails having a front end 48 and a terminal end 50 , the side rails being functionally connected with the side walls 16, 18 of the cabinet in a manner such that the drawer frame 38 can be moved between an open position wherein the drawer frame 38 extends substantially exterior of the heating cavity 28 through the opening 30 and a closed position wherein the drawer frame 38 is positioned substantially within the heating cavity 28 , the front end 48 of the side rails 44, 46 being positioned proximate the front wall 26 and the terminal end 50 being positioned proximate the back wall 24 when the drawer frame 38 is in the closed position; a food tray 42 removably held by the drawer frame 38 ; a door 40 is moveably connected to the side rails 44, 46 of the drawer frame, the door 40 moveable between an open position and a closed position; and a locking mechanism in connection between the door 40 and the side rails 44, 46 of the drawer frame 38 for selectively maintaining the door 40 in the closed position.

1 . A drawer having a positional drawer door comprising: 
 a drawer frame having a pair of opposing side rails, each of the side rails having a terminal end and a front end; and    a door moveably connected to the front end of the side rails in a manner to be positional between an open position and a closed position.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including a food tray removably disposed within the drawer frame.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including a locking mechanism in connection between the side rails and the door.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the locking mechanism includes: 
 a holding mechanism connected to the sides rails proximate the front end thereof, the holding mechanism including a keyhole formed therethrough; and    a probe extending from the door and connectable to the holding mechanism in a manner to maintain the door in a locked and closed position.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the locking mechanism includes: 
 a holding mechanism connected to the door, the holding mechanism including a keyhole formed therethrough; and    a probe connected to and extending from each of the side walls proximate the front end thereof connectable to the holding mechanism in a manner to maintain the door in a locked and closed position.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the door is hingedly connected to the side rails proximate the front end thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the drawer frame is insertable within a heated cavity formed by a cabinet.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the door is hingedly connected to the side rails proximate the front end thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the door is hingedly connected to the side rails proximate the front end thereof.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the door is hingedly connected to the side rails proximate the front end thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further including a food tray removably disposed within the drawer frame.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further including a food tray removably disposed within the drawer frame.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further including a food tray removably disposed within the drawer frame.  
   
   
       14 . A food warmer oven comprising: 
 a cabinet having opposing side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and a front wall defining a heating cavity, the front wall defining an opening into the heating cavity;    a heating source disposed within the heating cavity;    a drawer frame having a pair of opposing side rails, each of the side rails having a front end and a terminal end, the side rails being functionally connected with the side walls of the cabinet in a manner such that the drawer frame can be moved between an open position wherein the drawer frame extends substantially exterior of the heating cavity through the opening and a closed position wherein the drawer frame is positioned substantially within the heating cavity, the front end of the side rails being positioned proximate the front wall and the terminal end being positioned proximate the back wall when the drawer frame is in the closed position;    a food tray removably held by the drawer frame;    a door moveably connected to the side rails of the drawer frame, the door moveable between an open position and a closed position; and    a locking mechanism in connection between the door and the side rails of the drawer frame for selectively maintaining the door in the closed position.    
   
   
       15 . The food warmer oven of  claim 14  wherein when the door is in the closed position the door substantially seals the opening formed through the front wall of the cabinet.  
   
   
       16 . The food warmer oven of  claim 14  wherein the locking mechanism includes: 
 a holding mechanism connected to the sides rails proximate the front end thereof, the holding mechanism including a keyhole formed therethrough; and    a probe extending from the door and connectable to the holding mechanism in a manner to maintain the door in a locked and closed position.    
   
   
       17 . The food warmer oven of  claim 14  wherein the locking mechanism includes: 
 a holding mechanism connected to the door, the holding mechanism including a keyhole formed therethrough; and    a probe connected to and extending from each of the side walls proximate the front end thereof connectable to the holding mechanism in a manner to maintain the door in a locked and closed position.    
   
   
       18 . A method of maintaining a temperature of food products comprising the steps of: 
 providing a food warmer oven comprising: 
 a cabinet having opposing side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and a front wall defining a heating cavity, the front wall defining an opening into the heating cavity,  
 a heating source disposed within the heating cavity,  
 a drawer frame having a pair of opposing side rails, each of the side rails having a front end and a terminal end, the side rails being functionally connected with the side walls of the cabinet in a manner such that the drawer frame can be moved between an open position wherein the drawer frame extends substantially exterior of the heating cavity through the opening and a closed position wherein the drawer frame is positioned substantially within the heating cavity, the front end of the side rails being positioned proximate the front wall and the terminal end being positioned proximate the back wall when the drawer frame is in the closed position,  
 a door moveably connected to the side rails of the drawer frame, the door moveable between an open position and a closed position, and  
 a locking mechanism in connection between the door and the side rails of the drawer frame for selectively maintaining the door in the closed position;  
   providing a desired temperature within the heating cavity;    pulling the door and drawer frame substantially through the front wall opening from the heating cavity;    manipulating the door to disconnect the door from the drawer frame via the locking mechanism;    moving the door to the open position;    removing a food tray from the drawer frame;    placing a food tray in the drawer frame;    moving the door to the closed position; and    manipulating the door to secure the door to the door frame via the locking mechanism.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the locking mechanism includes: 
 a holding mechanism connected to the sides rails proximate the front end thereof, the holding mechanism including a keyhole formed therethrough; and    a probe extending from the door and connectable to the holding mechanism in a manner to maintain the door in a locked and closed position.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the locking mechanism includes: 
 a holding mechanism connected to the door, the holding mechanism including a keyhole formed therethrough; and    a probe connected to and extending from each of the side walls proximate the front end thereof connectable to the holding mechanism in a manner to maintain the door in a locked and closed position.