Chafing dish transporter

Abstract

The combination of at least one catering container assembly for storing, transporting and presenting multiple portions of food in the form of a tray having a base defining the length and width dimensions of the tray, substantially continuous side walls extending upwardly from the base to define a height dimension of the tray, and a cover for the tray detachably connected thereto, wherein each catering container has disposed therein multiple portions of a prepared food product at a temperature warmer or colder than ambient conditions; and a transporting receptacle formed from an insulating material and dimensioned to receive the length, width and height dimensions of at least one catering container assembly, wherein the transporting receptacle has a tray having a base defining the length and width dimensions of the tray, substantially continuous sidewalls extending upwardly from the base to define a height dimension of the tray, and an insulating cover for the tray detachably connected thereto; wherein the transporting receptacle has at least one catering container disposed therein. Methods for transporting food-laden catering containers with the transporting receptacles are also disclosed.

1 . In combination: 
 At least one catering container assembly for storing, transporting and presenting multiple portions of food comprising a tray having a base defining the length and width dimensions of said tray, substantially continuous side walls extending upwardly from said base to define a height dimension of said tray, and a cover for said tray detachably connected thereto, wherein each catering container has disposed therein multiple portions of a prepared food product at a temperature warmer or colder than ambient conditions; and    a transporting receptacle formed from an insulating material and dimensioned to receive said length, width and height dimensions of at least one catering container assembly, wherein said transporting receptacle comprises a tray having a base defining the length and width dimensions of said tray, substantially continuous sidewalls extending upwardly from said base to define a height dimension of said tray, and an insulating cover for said tray detachably connected thereto;    wherein said transporting receptacle has at least one catering container disposed therein.    
   
   
       2 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said insulating material is cardboard.  
   
   
       3 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said insulating cover of said receptacle has a side that is hingedly affixed to a side wall of said receptacle.  
   
   
       4 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said transporting receptacle has a single catering container disposed therein.  
   
   
       5 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said transporting receptacle has a plurality of catering containers disposed therein.  
   
   
       6 . A method for transporting and serving multiple portions of a prepared food product at a temperature warmer or colder than ambient conditions, comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least one catering container assembly for storing, transporting and presenting multiple portions of food comprising a tray having a base defining the length and width dimensions of the tray, substantially continuous side walls extending upwardly from the base to define a height dimension of the tray, and a cover for the tray detachably connected thereto;    filling each container at a first location with multiple portions of a prepared food product at a temperature warmer or colder than ambient conditions;    disposing at least one container in a transporting receptacle formed from an insulating material and dimensioned to receive said length, width and height dimensions of at least one catering container assembly, wherein the transporting receptacle comprises a tray having a base defining the length and width dimensions of said tray, substantially continuous sidewalls extending upwardly from said base to define a height dimension of said tray, and an insulating cover for said tray detachably connected thereto; and    transporting said container-receptacle combination to a second location.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of serving said food product from each container at said second location.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein each container is removed from said receptacle before serving said food product.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said filling and disposing steps are performed simultaneously.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of forming said receptacle from a box blank at said first location before said step of disposing at least one container in said receptacle.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said insulating material is cardboard.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a single catering container is disposed in said transporting receptacle.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a plurality of catering containers are disposed in said transporting receptacle.