Food service delivery system

Abstract

Food and beverage transport and container systems and methods for serving food stuffs or liquids and which includes an insulating cover and a temperature manipulating element associated with the cover. In one aspect, at least a portion of the cover is constructed to allow visual inspection of goods disposed therebehind. The temperature manipulating element associated with the cover is preferably thermally rechargeable such that the cover is reusable whether deployed for heating or cooling operations. In a preferred aspect, the cover and/or temperature manipulating element is configured to monitor and communicate one or more of location, temperature, dwell and/or delivery times associated with use thereof and for assessing overall food service operation sequences and/or efficiency.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly for covering food or liquid, comprising:
 a cover having a first side wall and a second side wall that extend along one another along a portion of the cover and wherein the cover is shaped to overlie an article disposed within an interior cavity of the cover adjacent a respective one of the first side wall and the second side wall;   a gap arranged between the first side wall and the second side wall along at least a portion of the cover; and   wherein at least a portion of the first side wall and at least a portion of the second side wall are one of transparent or translucent and aligned with one another to allow visual inspection of the interior cavity of the cover.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the gap is formed between interior facing surfaces of the first side wall and the second side wall, wherein the first side wall defines an inner wall of the cover and faces the interior cavity and the second side wall defines an outer wall of the cover, and further comprising at least one of an anti-fogging layer, a chemical resistant layer, and a scratch resistant layer associated with at least one of the interior cavity facing surface of the inner wall and an atmosphere facing surface of the outer wall of the cover. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the gap is formed between inner surfaces of the first side wall and the second side wall, wherein the first side wall is an inner wall of the cover facing the interior cavity and the second side wall is an outer wall of the cover, and further comprising at least one of the first side wall and the second side wall being formed of at least one of a fogging resistant material, a chemical resistant material, and a scratch resistant material. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the cover is at least one of shaped to be nestable with similarly shaped covers and is dome shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4  wherein the cover is nestable and has at least one of a hemispherical shape, a cloister shape, a non-circular shape, a rounded dome shape, defines a depth of the cover, and a dome shape with a flattened portion proximate an apex of the dome. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising one of a volume of air or a vacuum pressure in the gap. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a handle formed on a top of the cover. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising an induction chargeable temperature manipulator connected to the cover. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein the induction chargeable temperature manipulator removeably cooperates with the cover. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein the induction chargeable temperature manipulator is one of disposed proximate an apex of the cover, extends about a portion of a rim of the cover, and extends in a circumferential direction about a portion of the cover between an apex and a base. 
     
     
         11 . An assembly for covering prepared food or liquid during transit, the assembly comprising:
 a cover assembly wherein a body of the cover assembly is defined by a first wall and a second wall that extending upwardly from a lower perimeter edge of the body, at least a portion of the first wall and the second wall being at least one of translucent and transparent to maintain visibility through at least a portion of the cover assembly and configured to extend over food or liquid disposed under the body of the cover assembly; and   an airtight gap formed between the first and second walls.   
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein the gap is formed between inner surfaces of the first and second walls, and wherein at least one of a scratch resistant layer, a chemical resistant layer, and a fog resistant layer is arranged on outer surfaces of the first and second walls and at least one of the first wall and the second wall are at least one of formed of a material that is at least one of fog resistant, chemical resistant, and scratch resistant. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein a majority of the cover assembly that is defined by the first and second walls is at least one of translucent and transparent. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 11  further comprising a handle attached to at least one of the first and second walls and shaped to be grasped to lift the cover assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 11  further comprising a base member that is defined by at least one of the cover assembly and a dishware or a tray constructed to be disposed under the cover assembly, the base member being shaped to at least one of cooperate with a rim of the cover assembly or be surrounded by the cover assembly and support or contain the food or liquid disposed under the cover assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 11  further comprising an induction chargeable temperature manipulator attached to the cover assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16  wherein the induction chargeable temperature manipulator further comprising at least one of a location indicator, a temperature indicator, and an available discharge indicator. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 16  further comprising a charging station that is constructed to change an energy level of the induction chargeable temperature manipulator. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 16  wherein the induction chargeable temperature manipulator and cover assembly are dishwasher safe. 
     
     
         20 . A food service foodstuffs delivery system comprising:
 a cover constructed to cooperate with a foodstuff support; and   an induction chargeable temperature manipulator secured to the cover and configured to manipulate a temperature of at least one of a volume between the cover and the foodstuff support, the foodstuff support, and the cover.   
     
     
         21 . The food service foodstuffs delivery system of  claim 20  wherein at least a portion of the cover is at least one of transparent or translucent and defined by a first wall and a second wall that define a cavity therebetween. 
     
     
         22 . The food service foodstuffs delivery system of  claim 20  wherein the cover has a dome shape and the induction chargeable temperature manipulator at least one of removeably cooperates with the cover, is disposed proximate an apex of the cover, and extends circumferentially about at least a portion of a rim of the cover. 
     
     
         23 . The food service foodstuffs delivery system of  claim 20  wherein the cover and the induction chargeable temperature manipulator are dishwasher safe. 
     
     
         24 . The food service foodstuffs delivery system of  claim 20  wherein the induction chargeable temperature manipulator includes an outer wall whose temperature can be manipulated inductively and a core disposed within the outer wall and that is constructed of a material that dissipates thermal energy at a different rate than the outer wall. 
     
     
         25 . The food service foodstuffs delivery system of  claim 24  wherein the induction chargeable temperature manipulator includes an electronic control module and an insulator disposed between the electronic control module and the core. 
     
     
         26 . The food service foodstuffs delivery system of  claim 25  wherein the electronic control module is configured to communicate a status of the core to a user. 
     
     
         27 . The food service foodstuffs delivery system of  claim 26  wherein the communication of the status is at least one of wireless, audible, visual, electrical, to a remote control panel, and to a personal electronic device. 
     
     
         28 . The food service foodstuffs delivery system of  claim 20  wherein the induction chargeable temperature manipulator manipulates a temperature of at least one of a volume between the cover and the foodstuff support, the foodstuff support, and the cover at least one of via convection and via conduction. 
     
     
         29 . A food service foodstuff delivery system comprising:
 a plurality of covers that are each constructed to overlie a foodstuff support; and   a plurality of induction chargeable temperature manipulators that are each associated with a respective one of the plurality of covers and constructed to effectuate at least one of a conductive thermal exchange with at least one of the respective one of the plurality of covers and a foodstuff support with which the respective cover is associated and a convective thermal exchange with a cavity between a respective cover and a respective foodstuff support.   
     
     
         30 . The food service foodstuff delivery system of  claim 29  wherein the plurality of induction chargeable temperature manipulators is constructed to at least one of removably cooperate with each of the plurality of covers and be permanently connected to one of the plurality of covers. 
     
     
         31 . The food service foodstuff delivery system of  claim 29  wherein each of the plurality of induction chargeable temperature manipulators are permanently secured to respective one of the plurality of covers and is positioned to provide a convective thermal exchange with a respective one of the foodstuff supports with which the respective cover is associated. 
     
     
         32 . The food service foodstuff delivery system of  claim 29  wherein each of the induction chargeable temperature manipulators includes a core constructed of a first material and a shell constructed of another material that is different than the first material. 
     
     
         33 . The food service foodstuff delivery system of  claim 29  further comprising at least one of a controller and at least one status indicator associated with each of the plurality of induction chargeable temperature manipulators. 
     
     
         34 . The food service foodstuff delivery system of  claim 29  wherein at least one of the plurality of covers includes a first wall and a second wall that are each at least one of transparent and translucent and are offset from one another and define a cavity therebetween. 
     
     
         35 . The food service foodstuff delivery system of  claim 34  wherein the at least one of the plurality of covers includes a bore formed at an apex thereof and which is constructed to removeably cooperate with a respective one of the plurality of induction chargeable temperature manipulators. 
     
     
         36 . The food service foodstuff delivery system of  claim 29  wherein each induction chargeable temperature manipulator of the plurality of induction chargeable temperature manipulators extends about a rim of a respective one of each cover of the plurality of covers that is associated with a respective induction chargeable temperature manipulator. 
     
     
         37 . The food service foodstuff delivery system of  claim 29  wherein each of the plurality of induction chargeable temperature manipulators includes at least one of a rechargeable electrical power source, a communication interface, at least one temperature charge indicator, and as least one electrical power source indicator.