Steam-table pan

Abstract

A steam-table pan having a pinch-gripping bead including a gripping-skirt which is configured and vertically dimensioned for horizontal pinch-gripping of the bead with an adult's fingers to raise the pan from the steam-table.

1 . In a steam-table pan including (a) a surrounding wall that is dimensioned for insertion in an opening in the top of a steam table and has an upper edge and (b) a lip-portion integral with the upper edge and protruding outwardly therefrom to overlap the steam-table top, the improvement comprising a pinch-gripping bead including an upper portion of the surrounding wall, the lip-portion, and a gripping-skirt which is integral with the lip-portion, extends downwardly therefrom to rest on the steam-table top, and is configured and vertically dimensioned for horizontal pinch-gripping of the bead with an adult's fingers to raise the pan from the steam-table. 
   
   
       2 . The steam-table pan of  claim 1  wherein the gripping-skirt is vertically dimensioned for its engagement by a mid-portion of an adult's thumb to raise the pan from the steam-table. 
   
   
       3 . The steam-table pan of  claim 1  wherein the gripping-skirt has a vertical dimension of at least about ½inch. 
   
   
       4 . The steam-table pan of  claim 1  wherein the gripping-skirt is substantially parallel to the surrounding wall. 
   
   
       5 . The steam-table pan of  claim 1  wherein the gripping-skirt is substantially vertical. 
   
   
       6 . The steam-table pan of  claim 1  further including:
 a bottom-wall;   bottom-corners that are integral with the surrounding wall and the bottom-wall, such bottom-corners being shaped with common partial circular cross-sections; and   the surrounding wall having a plurality of sidewalls and side-comers   integral with adjacent sidewalls, the side-corners being shaped with the   same common partial circular cross-sections as the bottom-corners,   
     thereby facilitating full engagement of all comers by industry-standard circular-edged utensils.