Post-Supported Covers for Food Trays

Abstract

A food warming apparatus includes one or more heating compartments that can hold one or more trays, each covered by a cover, each tray containing previously cooked food portions. One or more supports are disposed inside a heating compartment. A support includes one or more guide members and one or more stop members. A cover includes one or more engagement sections. Without a tray, the cover rests on the one or more stop members. When a tray is inserted into the receiving space defined by the cover and the support, the cover is lifted. The one or more engagement sections engage the one or more guide members to guide the upward motion of the cover. The cover then rests on the tray to at least partially block an open top of the tray, thereby restricting evaporation of liquids from the previously cooked food portions contained therein.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method for covering a tray in a food warming apparatus, said food warming apparatus including a heating compartment, said tray having a lip defining a tray opening, said method comprising:
 providing a support that fits into said heating compartment, said support including at least one stop member and at least one guide member;   providing a cover for said tray, said cover including at least one engagement section for engaging said at least one guide member;   mounting said cover on said support in a first position such that said cover rests on said at least one stop member and said at least one engagement section engages said at least one guide member;   inserting said support with said cover mounted thereon into said heating compartment such that said cover and said support cooperatively define a receiving space within said heating compartment for receiving said tray; and   inserting said tray into said receiving space until said cover is in a second position in which said cover rests on said lip of said tray and at least partially blocks said tray opening.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein inserting said tray into said receiving space until said cover is in a second position comprises:
 said cover moving upwardly from said first position to said second position, guided by said at least one guide member.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 withdrawing said tray from said heating compartment, wherein said cover moves downwardly from second position to said first position, guided by said at least one guide member.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one engagement section at least partially surrounds said at least one guide member.