Portable food warmer

Abstract

An insulated, portable, hot food container maintains the temperature of cooked foods. The container has an insulated housing having an insulated base, insulated enclosing walls, and an insulated removable cover. The insulated removable cover engages the insulated enclosing walls to resist movement parallel to the insulated base. The insulated removable cover having grips to enable lifting of the insulated removable cover from the insulated base. The insulated base having grips to enable the container to be lifted and support both the insulated base and the insulated cover. A support carrier is inserted into and removed from the container, the support carrier having a base support surface and raised edges circumscribing the base support surface to restrict horizontal flow of liquids.

1 . An insulated, portable, hot food container comprising:
 an insulated housing having an insulated base, insulated enclosing walls, and an insulated removable cover;   the insulated removable cover engages the insulated enclosing walls to resist movement parallel to the insulated base;   the insulated removable cover having at least one grip to enable lifting of the insulated removable cover from the insulated base;   the insulated base having grips to enable the container to be lifted and support both the insulated base and the insulated cover; and   a support carrier that can be inserted into and removed from the container, the support carrier having a base support surface and raised edges circumscribing the base support surface to restrict horizontal flow of liquids.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the support carrier nests within the insulated housing and when nested in the housing provides manual gripping capability above the base and away from the walls of the insulated housing. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the at least one grip on the cover comprises a single handle on the top of the cover. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the at least one grip comprises two slots or handles on opposed sides of the cover. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein an insulating liner is present within the insulated housing and is positioned between the insulated base and the support carrier. 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the support carrier comprises a metal and the raised edges extend up at least 1 cm above a plane of a support surface on the support carrier. 
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein an inner surface of the insulated carrier has a non-stick surface coating thereon. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1  wherein an inner surface of the insulated carrier has a metal surface thereon. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the insulating housing comprises a polymeric material. 
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 9  wherein the polymeric material is a foamed polymeric material. 
   
   
       11 . An insulated, portable, hot food container comprising:
 an insulated housing having an insulated base, insulated enclosing walls, and a removable cover;   the insulated removable cover engages the insulated enclosing walls to resist movement parallel to the insulated base;   the insulated removable cover having at least one grip to enable lifting of the insulated removable cover from the insulated base;   the insulated base having grips to enable the container to be lifted and support both the insulated base and the insulated cover; and   a support carrier that can be inserted into and removed from the container, the support carrier having a base support surface and raised edges circumscribing the base support surface to restrict horizontal flow of liquids.   
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the removable cover comprises a metal cover that is not insulated. 
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the removable cover comprises a metal cover that has insulation thereon. 
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the at least one grip on the cover comprises a single handle on the top of the cover. 
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the at least one grip comprises two slots or handles on opposed sides of the cover. 
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 11  wherein an insulating liner is present within the insulated housing and is positioned between the insulated base and the support carrier. 
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the support carrier comprises a metal and the raised edges extend up at least 1 cm above a plane of a support surface on the support carrier. 
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 11  wherein an inner surface of the insulated carrier has a non-stick surface coating thereon. 
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 11  wherein an inner surface of the insulated carrier has a metal surface thereon.