Modular food service system and method

Abstract

A modular system and method are disclosed. The system comprises a first unit, a second unit, and a connector for coupling the first unit and the second unit. The first unit has a first upper projection and a first lower projection, and the second unit has a second upper projection and a second lower projection. The connector comprises upper lower tracks. Both the upper and lower tracks have a slot and an engagement guide configured to receive and to guide the projections into a sliding engagement with the slots. The first unit is coupled to the second unit by positioning the first unit proximate the second unit so that the upper and lower projections are proximate each other; aligning the engagement guides and the slots with the projections; and moving the connector so that the engagement guides guide the projections into engagement with the tracks and slide into the slots.

1 . A modular food service system comprising:
 a first food service unit having a first upper projection and a first lower projection;   a second food service unit having a second upper projection and a second lower projection;   a connector for coupling the first food service unit to the second food service unit, the apparatus comprising:
 an upper track having a slot and an engagement guide configured to receive and guide the first upper projection and the second upper projection into a sliding engagement with the slot; 
 a lower track having a slot and an engagement guide configured to receive and guide the first lower projection and the second lower projection into a sliding engagement with the slot; 
   wherein the first food service unit is coupled to the second food service unit by the upper track engaging the first upper projection and the second upper projection, and by the lower track engaging the first lower projection engaging the second lower projection.   
   
   
       2 . The modular food system of  claim 1  wherein the engagement guide comprises a first edge and a second edge, the first edge and the second edge are angled relative to the slot to increase the width of the opening that receives the first projection and the second projection. 
   
   
       3 . The modular food system of  claim 2  wherein the first edge extends between about a 10 degree and about a 45 degree angle relative to the slot, and the second edge extends between about a 10 degree and about a 45 degree angle relative to the slot. 
   
   
       4 . The modular food system of  claim 3  wherein the first edge extends about 30 degrees relative to the slot, and the second edge extends about 30 degrees relative to the slot. 
   
   
       5 . The modular food system of  claim 1  further comprising one or more friction reduction members configured to reduce friction between the first food service unit, connector, and the second food service unit. 
   
   
       6 . The modular food system of  claim 5  wherein the one or more friction reduction members comprises a polymer component coupled to one of the upper track, lower track, first upper projection, first lower projection, second upper projection, or second lower projection. 
   
   
       7 . The modular food system of  claim 6  wherein the one or more friction reduction members comprises a polymer extrusion. 
   
   
       8 . The modular food system of  claim 7  wherein the polymer extrusion is “L” shaped or “U” shaped. 
   
   
       9 . The modular food system of  claim 5  wherein the one or more friction reduction members comprises a flexible member. 
   
   
       10 . The modular food system of  claim 9  wherein the flexible member is a Teflon coated tape. 
   
   
       11 . The modular food system of  claim 5  wherein the one or more friction reduction members comprises Saniboard, Delrin, or Bakelite. 
   
   
       12 . The modular food service system of  claim 1  wherein the upper track comprises a pair of spaced apart vertical members, and a pair of spaced apart horizontal engagement members that define a slot that receives the first upper projection and the second upper projection, and wherein the lower track comprises a pair of spaced apart vertical members, and a pair of spaced apart horizontal engagement members that define a slot that receives the first lower projection and the second lower projection. 
   
   
       13 . The modular food service system of  claim 12  wherein the first food service unit comprises a base, the first upper projection extends downwardly from an upper portion of the base, and the first lower projection extends upwardly from a lower portion of the base. 
   
   
       14 . The modular food service system of  claim 1  wherein the connector is quickly and easily removable from engagement with the first food service unit and the second food service unit. 
   
   
       15 . The modular food service system of  claim 1  wherein the first food service unit comprises a third upper projection and a third lower projection configured to receive a second connect to couple the first food service unit to a third food service unit or to receive a panel. 
   
   
       16 . A connector for coupling a first modular unit to a second modular unit, the first modular unit having a first upper projection and a first lower projection and the second modular unit having a second upper projection and a second lower projection, the connector comprising:
 a front member;   a rear member;   an upper track extending between upper portions of the front member and the rear member, the upper track having a slot and an engagement guide configured to receive and guide the first upper projection and the second upper projection into a sliding engagement with the slot;   a lower track extending between lower portions of the front member and the rear member, the lower track having a slot and an engagement guide configured to receive and guide the first lower projection and the second lower projection into a sliding engagement with the slot;   wherein the first modular unit is coupled to the second modular unit by the upper track engaging the first upper projection and the second upper projection, and the lower track engaging the first lower projection engaging the second lower projection.   
   
   
       17 . The connector of  claim 16  wherein the upper track comprises a base, a pair of spaced apart vertical members extending from the base member, and a pair of spaced apart horizontal members extending from the vertical members to form a slot therebetween, and wherein the lower track comprises a base member, a pair of spaced apart vertical members extending from the base member, and a pair of spaced apart horizontal members extending from the vertical members to form a slot therebetween. 
   
   
       18 . The connector of  claim 16  wherein the engagement guide comprises a first edge and a second edge on the pair of spaced apart horizontal members, the first edge and the second edge angled relative to the slot to increase the width of the opening of the slot that receives the first projection and the second projection. 
   
   
       19 . The connector of  claim 18  wherein the first edge extends between about a 10 degree and about a 45 degree angle relative to the slot, and the second edge extends between about a 10 degree and about a 45 degree angle relative to the slot. 
   
   
       20 . The connector of  claim 19  wherein the first edge extends about 30 degrees relative to the slot, and the second edge extends about 30 degrees relative to the slot. 
   
   
       21 . The connector of  claim 16  further comprising one or more friction reduction members configured to reduce friction between the first food service unit, connector, and the second food service unit. 
   
   
       22 . The connector of  claim 21  wherein the one or more friction reduction members comprises a polymer component coupled to one of the upper track, lower track, first upper projection, first lower projection, second upper projection, or second lower projection. 
   
   
       23 . The connector of  claim 16  further comprising a support member coupled to the upper track and to the lower track and located between the front member and the rear member. 
   
   
       24 . The connector of  claim 16  further comprising a support member coupled to the front member and to the rear member and located between the upper track and the lower track. 
   
   
       25 . The connector of  claim 24  wherein the front member comprises a U-shaped channel, and wherein the rear member comprises a U -shaped channel. 
   
   
       26 . The connector of  claim 25  wherein the upper track, the lower track, the front member, and the rear member define an interior space void of additional structure. 
   
   
       27 . The connector of  claim 16  wherein the apparatus comprises a front panel having a pair of opposed flange members extending along at least a portion of the panel approximately perpendicular to the panel. 
   
   
       28 . The connector of  claim 27  wherein a pair of opposing tabs extending from the panel substantially parallel to the panel. 
   
   
       29 . The connector of  claim 16  wherein the first upper projection is a generally vertical member of a U-shaped channel coupled to the first modular unit, the second upper projection is a generally vertical member of a U-shaped channel coupled to the second modular unit, the first lower projection is a generally vertical member of a U-shaped channel coupled to the first modular unit, and the second lower projection is a generally vertical member of a U-shaped channel coupled to the second modular unit. 
   
   
       30 . A method for configuring, reconfiguring, or installing a modular system, the method comprising:
 providing a first modular unit and a second modular unit, the first modular unit having a first upper projection and a first lower projection, and the second modular unit having a second upper projection and a second lower projection;   providing a connector having an upper track and a lower track, the upper track having an upper slot and an upper engagement guide, the lower track having a lower slot and a lower engagement guide;   positioning the first modular unit proximate the second modular unit so that the first upper projection is proximate the second upper projection and the first lower projection is proximate the second lower projection;   aligning the engagement guide and the slot of the upper track with the first upper projection and the second upper projection;   aligning the engagement guide and the slot of the lower track with the first lower projection and the second lower projection;   coupling the first modular unit to the second modular by moving the connector so that the upper engagement guide guides the first upper projection and the second upper projection into engagement with the upper track and slides into the upper slot and the lower engagement guide guides the first lower projection and the second lower projection into engagement with the lower track and slides into the lower slot.   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the upper engagement guide directs the first upper projection and the second upper projection into the upper slot on the upper track. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein moving the connector constricts the first upper projection and the second upper projection, and constricts the first lower projection and the second lower projection to position the first food service unit closely adjacent to the second food service unit. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 30  wherein moving the connector pulls the first modular unit closer to the second modular unit. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising moving the connector out from engagement with the first modular unit and the second modular unit. 
   
   
       35 . In a modular food service system comprising a first food service unit having a first upper projection and a first lower projection; a second food service unit having a second upper projection and a second lower projection; a connector for coupling the first food service unit to the second food service unit, the connector comprising an upper track having a slot configured to receive the first upper projection and the second upper projection into a sliding engagement with the slot, and a lower track having a slot configured to receive the first lower projection and the second lower projection into a sliding engagement with the slot; wherein the first food service unit is coupled to the second food service unit by the upper track engaging the first upper projection and the second upper projection, and by the lower track engaging the first lower projection engaging the second lower projection, the improvement comprising:
 one or more friction reduction members configured to reduce friction between the first food service unit, connector, and the second food service unit.   
   
   
       36 . The modular food system of  claim 35  wherein the first food service unit comprises a first upper projection and a first lower projection; the second food service unit comprises a second upper projection and a second lower projection; the comprises an upper track having a slot configured to receive the first upper projection and the second upper projection into a sliding engagement with the slot, and a lower track having a slot configured to receive the first lower projection and the second lower projection into a sliding engagement with the slot; wherein the first food service unit is coupled to the second food service unit by the upper track engaging the first upper projection and the second upper projection, and by the lower track engaging the first lower projection engaging the second lower projection. 
   
   
       37 . The modular food system of  claim 36  wherein the one or more friction reduction members comprises a polymer component coupled to one of the upper track, lower track, first upper projection, first lower projection, second upper projection, or second lower projection. 
   
   
       38 . The modular food system of  claim 37  wherein the one or more friction reduction members comprises a polymer extrusion. 
   
   
       39 . The modular food system of  claim 38  wherein the polymer extrusion is “L” shaped or “U” shaped. 
   
   
       40 . The modular food system of  claim 35  wherein the one or more friction reduction members comprises a flexible member. 
   
   
       41 . The modular food system of  claim 39  wherein the flexible member is a Teflon coated tape. 
   
   
       42 . The modular food system of  claim 36  further comprising a support member coupled to the upper track and to the lower track and located between the front member and the rear member. 
   
   
       43 . The modular food system of  claim 36  further comprising a support member coupled to the front member and to the rear member and located between the upper track and the lower track.