Dining unit

Abstract

A preferred embodiment of a dining unit includes a first case for at least one of holding, displaying, and serving food products. The first case includes at least one of a tray and a shelf. The dining unit also includes a second and a third case for at least one of holding, displaying, and serving others of the food products. The second and third cases each have a substantially wedge-shaped planform, and the first case is positioned between the second and third cases.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A dining unit, comprising: 
 a first and a second case for at least one of holding, displaying, and serving food products, the first and second cases each comprising at least one of a tray and a shelf; and    a third case for at least one of holding, displaying, and serving others of the food products and having a substantially wedge-shaped planform, wherein the third case comprises a shelf and is positioned between the first and second cases.    
     
     
         2 . The dining unit of  claim 1 , wherein the third case has a first side panel, and a second side panel angled in relation to the first side panel by an acute angle.  
     
     
         3 . The dining unit of  claim 2 , wherein an end of the first case abuts the first side panel of the third case, an end of the second case abuts the second side panel of the third case so that the first and second cases extend in substantially non-parallel directions.  
     
     
         4 . The dining unit of  claim 2 , wherein the acute angle is approximately forty-five degrees.  
     
     
         5 . The dining unit of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a fourth case for at least one of holding, displaying, and serving others of the food products, the fourth case comprising a shelf and having a substantially wedge-shaped planform; and    a truss system comprising a first support pole mounted on the third case, a second support pole mounted on the fourth case, and a truss mechanically coupled to the first and second support poles.    
     
     
         6 . The dining unit of  claim 5 , wherein the first case is positioned between the third and fourth cases, and the truss system secures the third case in position in relation to the second case and thereby inhibits movement of the first case.  
     
     
         7 . The dining unit of  claim 5 , further comprising means for mechanically coupling the truss to the first and second support poles.  
     
     
         8 . The dining unit of  claim 5 , further comprising a bracket mechanism for mechanically coupling the truss to the first support pole and comprising a substantially v-shaped bracket fixedly coupled to one of the truss and the first support pole, a pocket member fixedly coupled to the other of the truss and the first support pole and substantially conforming to an end of the bracket, wherein the pocket member receives the end of the bracket and engagement of the pocket member and the bracket inhibits movement of the pocket member in relation to the bracket.  
     
     
         9 . The dining unit of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the third case comprises a top panel having a bore formed therein;    an end of the first support pole is positioned within in the bore formed in the top panel of the third case;    the fourth case comprises a top panel having a bore formed therein; and    an end of the second support pole is positioned within the bore formed in the top panel of the second case.    
     
     
         10 . The dining unit of  claim 5 , further comprising lighting suspended from the truss.  
     
     
         11 . The dining unit of  claim 5 , further comprising one or more signs fixedly coupled to at least one of the first and second support poles and the truss.  
     
     
         12 . The dining unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a backdrop comprising a frame, and a display secured to the frame.  
     
     
         13 . The dining unit of  claim 5 , further comprising a light mounted on a top of one of the first and second support poles.  
     
     
         14 . The dining unit of  claim 1 , where the first case is a beverage and tray module.  
     
     
         15 . The dining unit of  claim 14 , where the beverage and tray module comprises a hot food cart and a beverage cart.  
     
     
         16 . The dining unit of  claim 1 , where the second case is a cold food and sandwich module.  
     
     
         17 . The dining unit of  claim 16 , where the cold food and sandwich module comprises a refrigerated cart and a cold food cart.  
     
     
         18 . The dining unit of  claim 2 , where the first side panel has an access opening formed therein, and the third case further comprises a door for selectively covering the access opening.  
     
     
         19 . The dining unit of  claim 2 , wherein the third case further comprises a top panel, and the top panel and the shelf each adjoin the first and second side panels and are substantially wedge shaped.  
     
     
         20 . The dining unit of  claim 2 , wherein the third case further comprises a rear panel adjoining the first and second side panels, the top panel, and the shelf.  
     
     
         21 . The dining unit of  claim 1 , wherein the dining unit has a substantially v-shaped planform.  
     
     
         22 . The dining unit of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a fifth case for at least one of holding, displaying, and serving food products and comprising at least one of a tray and a shelf; and    a sixth case for at least one of holding, displaying, and serving others of the food products, the sixth case comprising a shelf and having a substantially wedge-shaped planform, wherein the fifth case is positioned between the third and the sixth cases.    
     
     
         23 . The dining unit of  claim 22 , wherein the first and fifth cases extend in substantially the same direction.  
     
     
         24 . The dining unit of  claim 24 , further comprising a seventh case for at least one of holding, displaying, and serving others of the food products, the seventh case comprising a shelf and having a substantially wedge-shaped planform, wherein the fifth case is positioned between the sixth and seventh cases.  
     
     
         25 . The dining unit of  claim 24 , wherein the truss system further comprises a third support pole mounted on the sixth case, a fourth support pole mounted on the seventh case, a second of the trusses mechanically coupled to the first and third support poles, and a third of the trusses mechanically coupled to the third and the fourth support poles.  
     
     
         26 . The dining unit of  claim 1 , wherein an end of the first case is mechanically coupled to a first side panel of the third case, and an end of the second case is mechanically coupled to a second side panel of the third case.  
     
     
         27 . A modular assembly, comprising: 
 a first and a second elongated module for at least one of holding, displaying, and serving food products and each comprising at least one of a tray and a shelf; and    a corner module for at least one of holding, displaying, and serving others of the food products and comprising a shelf, and a first and a second side panel each adjoining the shelf, wherein the second side panel is angled in relation to the first side panel by an acute angle, an end of the first elongated module abuts the first side panel, and an end of the second elongated module abuts the second side panel so that the first and second modules extend in substantially non-parallel directions.    
     
     
         28 . The assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the corner module has a substantially wedge-shaped planform.  
     
     
         29 . The assembly of  claim 27 , further comprising; 
 another of the corner modules, a first side panel of the other of the corner modules abutting another end of the first elongated module; and    a truss system comprising a first support pole mounted on one of the corner modules, a second support pole mounted on the other of the corner modules, and a truss mechanically coupled to the first and second support poles.    
     
     
         30 . The assembly of  claim 29 , further comprising means for mechanically coupling the truss to the first and second support poles.  
     
     
         31 . The assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the corner module further comprises a top panel, and the top panel and the shelf are substantially wedge shaped.  
     
     
         32 . A dining unit, comprising: 
 a first case for at least one of holding, displaying, and serving food products and comprising at least one of a tray and a shelf, and    a second and a third case for at least one of holding, displaying, and serving others of the food products, the second and third cases each having a substantially wedge-shaped planform, wherein the first case is positioned between the second and third cases.    
     
     
         33 . The dining unit of  claim 32 , wherein the second and third cases each have a first side panel, and a second side panel angled in relation to the first side panel by an acute angle.  
     
     
         34 . The dining unit of  claim 33 , wherein the acute angle is approximately  45  degrees.  
     
     
         35 . The dining unit of  claim 32 , further comprising a truss system comprising a first support pole mounted on the second case, a second support pole mounted on the third case, and a truss mechanically coupled to the first and second support poles.  
     
     
         36 . The dining unit of  claim 35 , wherein the truss system secures the second case in position in relation to the third case and thereby inhibits movement of the first case.  
     
     
         37 . The dining unit of  claim 35 , further comprising means for mechanically coupling the truss to the first and second support poles.  
     
     
         38 . The dining unit of  claim 35 , further comprising a bracket mechanism for mechanically coupling the truss to the first support pole, the bracket mechanism comprising a pocket member fixedly coupled to one of the truss and the first support pole, and a substantially v-shaped bracket fixedly coupled to the other of the truss and the first support pole, wherein the pocket member receives an end of the bracket.  
     
     
         39 . The dining unit of  claim 35 , further comprising a sign fixedly coupled to one of the first support pole and the truss.  
     
     
         40 . The dining unit of  claim 32 , where the first case is one of a beverage and tray module and a cold food and sandwich module.  
     
     
         41 . The dining unit of  claim 32 , wherein the second and the third cases each further comprise a top panel, and the top panel and the shelf each adjoin the first and second side panels and are substantially wedge shaped.  
     
     
         42 . The dining unit of  claim 41 , wherein the second and the third cases each further comprise a rear panel adjoining the first and second side panels, the top panel, and the shelf.  
     
     
         43 . A modular assembly, comprising: 
 an elongated module for at least one of holding, displaying, and serving food products and comprising at least one of a tray and a shelf; and    a first and a second corner module for at least one of holding, displaying, and serving others of the food products, the first and second corner modules each comprising a shelf, and a first and a second side panel each adjoining the shelf, wherein the second side panel is angled in relation to the first side panel by an acute angle, the first side panel of the first corner module abuts a first end of the elongated module, and the second side panel of the second corner module abuts a second end of the elongated module.    
     
     
         44 . The assembly of  claim 43 , further comprising a truss system comprising a first support pole mounted on the first corner module, a second support pole mounted on the second corner module, and a truss mechanically coupled to the first and second support poles.  
     
     
         45 . A kit for a dining unit, comprising: 
 a first case for at least one of holding, displaying, and serving food products, the first case comprising at least one of a tray and a shelf;    a second and a third case for at least one of holding, displaying, and serving others of the food products and each having a substantially wedge-shaped planform; and    a truss system comprising a first support pole for mounting on the second case, a second support pole for mounting on the third case, and a truss for being mechanically coupled to the first and second support poles.    
     
     
         46 . The kit of  claim 45 , wherein the second and third cases each have a first side panel, and a second side panel angled in relation to the first side panel by an acute angle.  
     
     
         47 . The kit of  claim 46 , wherein the acute angle is approximately forty-five degrees.  
     
     
         48 . The kit of  claim 45 , further comprising means for mechanically coupling the truss to the first and second support poles.  
     
     
         49 . The kit of  claim 45 , further comprising a bracket mechanism for mechanically coupling the truss to the first support pole, the bracket mechanism comprising a pocket member fixedly coupled to one of the truss and the first support pole, and a substantially v-shaped bracket fixedly coupled to the other of the truss and the first support pole, wherein the pocket member receives an end of the bracket.  
     
     
         50 . The kit of  claim 45 , wherein the second and third cases each comprise a top panel having a bore formed therein for receiving respective ends of the first and second support poles.  
     
     
         51 . The kit of  claim 45  further comprising lighting for being suspended from the truss.  
     
     
         52 . The kit of  claim 45 , further comprising a sign for being fixedly coupled to one of the first support pole and the truss.  
     
     
         53 . The kit of  claim 45 , further comprising a backdrop comprising a frame, and a display secured to the frame.  
     
     
         54 . The kit of  claim 45 , where the first case is one of a beverage and tray module and a cold food and sandwich module.  
     
     
         55 . The kit of  claim 45 , wherein the second and third cases each further comprise a top panel, and the top panel and the shelf each adjoin the first and second side panels and are substantially wedge shaped.  
     
     
         56 . The kit of  claim 55 , wherein the second and third cases each further comprise a rear panel adjoining the first and second side panels, the top panel, and the shelf.  
     
     
         57 . A kit for a modular assembly, comprising: 
 an elongated module for at least one of holding, displaying, and serving food products and comprising at least one of a tray and a shelf,    a first and a second corner module for at least one of holding, displaying, and serving others of the food products and each comprising a shelf, and a first and a second side panel each adjoining the shelf, the second side panel being angled in relation to the first side panel by an acute angle; and    a truss system comprising a first support pole for mounting on one of the corner modules, a second support pole for mounting on the other of the corner modules, and a truss for being mechanically coupled to the first and second support poles.    
     
     
         58 . A method for assembling a dining unit comprising (i) a first case for at least one of holding, displaying, and serving food products, the first case comprising at least one of a tray and a shelf, (ii) a second and a third case for at least one of holding, displaying, and serving others of the food products and each having a substantially wedge-shaped planform, and (iii) a truss system comprising a first support pole for mounting on the second case, a second support pole for mounting on the third case, and a truss for being mechanically coupled to the first and second support poles, the method comprising: 
 positioning the first case between the second and third cases;    mounting the first support pole on the second case;    mounting the second support pole on the third case; and    mechanically coupling the truss to the first and second support poles.    
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein positioning the first case between the second and third cases comprises causing a first end of the first case to abut a side panel of the second case, and causing a second end of the first case to abut a side panel of the third case.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein mounting the first support pole on the second case comprises positioning an end of the first support pole in a bore formed in a top panel of the second case, and mounting the second support pole on the third case comprises positioning an end of the second support pole in a bore formed in a top panel of the third case.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein mechanically coupling the truss to the first and second support poles comprises positioning a bracket fixedly coupled to one of the first support pole and the truss in a pocket member fixedly coupled to the other of the first support pole and the truss.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein mounting the first support pole on the second case, mounting the second support pole on the third case, and mechanically coupling the truss to the first and second support poles secures the third case in position in relation to the second case and thereby inhibits movement of the first case.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 58 , further comprising fixedly coupling a sign to one of the truss and the first and second support poles.  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 58 , further comprising positioning a backdrop comprising a frame, and a display secured to the frame proximate the first, second, and third cases.  
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 58 , further comprising fixedly coupling a light to the truss.