Cold well with slanted entrance

Abstract

A food holding and display device. The food holding and display device includes a housing that defines a volume and that has an upper opening providing access to the volume. The upper opening is at least partially defined by a beveled surface. The food holding and display device also includes a pan that is removably positioned within the volume and that is adapted to support a food product, and a cooling mechanism that is coupled to the housing and that is positioned to cool the food product in the pan.

1 . A food holding and display device comprising:
 a housing defining a volume and having an upper opening providing access to the volume, wherein the upper opening is at least partially defined by a beveled surface;   a pan removably positioned within the volume and adapted to support a food product, and   a cooling mechanism coupled to the housing and positioned to cool the food product in the pan.   
   
   
       2 . The food holding and display device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes an exterior shell and an interior shell disposed substantially completely within the exterior shell and further spaced inward a horizontal distance from the exterior shell to define an interior space, and wherein the cooling mechanism is at least partially positioned in the interior space. 
   
   
       3 . The food holding and display device of  claim 2 , wherein the beveled surface is coupled between an upper edge of the exterior shell and an upper edge of the interior shell. 
   
   
       4 . The food holding and display device of  claim 2 , wherein the beveled surface extends a horizontal distance, and wherein a horizontal ratio of the horizontal distance of the beveled surface and the horizontal distance between the exterior shell and the interior shell is between about 0.20 and 0.80. 
   
   
       5 . The food holding and display device of  claim 4 , wherein the horizontal ratio is between about 0.40 and 0.60. 
   
   
       6 . The food holding and display device of  claim 4 , wherein the horizontal ratio is approximately 0.45. 
   
   
       7 . The food holding and display device of  claim 2 , wherein the housing further includes an inner support that is recessed a distance below an upper edge of the housing, wherein the beveled surface extends a vertical distance, and wherein a vertical ratio of the vertical distance of the beveled surface and the vertical distance between the upper edge of the housing and the inner support is between about 0.20 and 1.00. 
   
   
       8 . The food holding and display device of  claim 7 , wherein the vertical ratio is between about 0.40 and 0.80. 
   
   
       9 . The food holding and display device of  claim 7 , wherein the vertical ratio is approximately 0.75. 
   
   
       10 . The food holding and display device of  claim 1 , wherein the beveled surface is disposed at an angle between about 10 degrees and 80 degrees from vertical. 
   
   
       11 . The food holding and display device of  claim 10 , wherein the beveled surface is disposed at an angle between about 25 degrees and 50 degrees from vertical. 
   
   
       12 . A food holding and display device comprising:
 a housing defining a volume and having an upper opening providing access to the volume, the housing further including an inner support adapted to support a pan in the volume, wherein the upper opening is at least partially defined by a beveled surface; and   a cooling mechanism coupled to the housing and positioned to cool the volume.   
   
   
       13 . The food holding and display device of  claim 12 , further comprising a pan that is removably positioned within the volume and adapted to support a food product. 
   
   
       14 . The food holding and display device of  claim 12 , wherein the housing further includes an exterior shell and an interior shell disposed substantially completely within the exterior shell and further spaced inward a horizontal distance from the exterior shell to define an interior space, and wherein the cooling mechanism is at least partially positioned in the interior space. 
   
   
       15 . The food holding and display device of  claim 14 , wherein the beveled surface is coupled between an upper edge of the exterior shell and an upper edge of the interior shell. 
   
   
       16 . The food holding and display device of  claim 14 , wherein the beveled surface is partially defined by a horizontal distance, and wherein a horizontal ratio of the horizontal distance of the beveled surface and the horizontal distance between the exterior shell and the interior shell is between about 0.20 and 0.80. 
   
   
       17 . The food holding and display device of  claim 16 , wherein the horizontal ratio is between about 0.40 and 0.60. 
   
   
       18 . The food holding and display device of  claim 16 , wherein the horizontal ratio is approximately 0.45. 
   
   
       19 . The food holding and display device of  claim 12 , wherein the inner support is recessed a vertical distance below an upper edge of the housing, wherein the beveled surface is partially defined by a vertical distance, and wherein a vertical ratio of the vertical distance of the beveled surface and the vertical distance between the upper edge of the housing and the inner support is between about 0.20 and 1.00. 
   
   
       20 . The food holding and display device of  claim 19 , wherein the vertical ratio is between about 0.40 and 0.80. 
   
   
       21 . The food holding and display device of  claim 19 , wherein the vertical ratio is approximately 0.75. 
   
   
       22 . The food holding and display device of  claim 12 , wherein the beveled surface is disposed at an angle between about 10 degrees and 80 degrees from vertical. 
   
   
       23 . The food holding and display device of  claim 12 , wherein the beveled surface is disposed at an angle between about 25 degrees and 50 degrees from vertical.