Food or Beverage Serving Apparatus that Maintains Non-Ambient Temperatures

Abstract

A food or beverage serving apparatus is associated with a heat source or sink and one or more heat transfer devices. The food or beverage serving apparatus includes a serving surface for supporting a food or beverage. Each of the one or more heat transfer devices has a first portion in thermal communication with the serving surface and a second portion in thermal communication with the heat source or sink. The one or more heat transfer devices communicate heat between the first portion and the second portion via phase change of an internal working fluid.

1 . A system comprising:
 a food or beverage serving apparatus that includes a serving surface for supporting a food or beverage;   a heat source or sink associated with the food or beverage serving apparatus; and   at least one heat transfer device associated with the food or beverage serving apparatus, each heat transfer device including a first portion in thermal communication with the serving surface and a second portion in thermal communication with the heat source or sink, each heat transfer device operable to communicate heat between the first portion and the second portion via phase change of an internal working fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat transfer device comprises a plurality of heat pipes. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the heat pipes are spaced about the serving surface. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat transfer device comprises a vapor chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the vapor chamber mates with the serving surface to exchange heat with substantially the entire serving surface. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat source or sink comprises a cold pack or a hot pack. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the food or beverage serving apparatus further includes:
 a housing; 
 an internal cavity within the housing; 
 an access door that permits accessing the internal cavity; and 
   the cold or hot pack is housed within the cavity.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat source or sink comprises a thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the food or beverage serving apparatus further includes:
 a housing; 
 an internal cavity within the housing; 
 an access door that permits accessing the internal cavity; and 
   the thermoelectric device is powered by a battery that is housed within the cavity.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat source or sink is in electrical communication with an external power source. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the thermoelectric device includes a hot side and a cold side; and   each of the at least one heat transfer devices is positioned with its second portion in thermal communication with the cold side of the thermoelectric device, so that the thermoelectric device operates as a heat sink.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the thermoelectric device includes a hot side and a cold side; and   each of the at least one heat transfer devices is positioned with its second portion in thermal communication with the hot side of the thermoelectric device, so that the thermoelectric device operates as a heat source.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a switch operably associated with the thermoelectric device, wherein actuating the switch reverses the hot side and the cold side of the thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the food or beverage serving apparatus includes the serving surface, an exterior surface, and an interior defined between the serving surface and the exterior surface;   the heat source or sink is housed within the interior; and   the at least one heat transfer device is housed within the interior.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat transfer device is positioned adjacent to the serving surface. 
     
     
         16 . A system comprising:
 a serving dish that includes:
 an upper surface, 
 a lower surface, and 
 an interior defined between the upper surface and the lower surface; and 
   a heat sink positioned in the interior of the serving dish;   at least one heat transfer device positioned in the interior of the serving dish, each heat transfer device including a first portion in thermal communication with the serving surface and a second portion in thermal communication with the heat sink, each heat transfer device operable to communicate heat between the first portion and the second portion via phase change of an internal working fluid.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the heat sink comprises a cold pack. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the serving dish further includes:
 an internal cavity; 
 an access door that permits accessing the internal cavity; and 
   the cold pack is housed within the cavity.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the heat sink comprises a thermoelectric device that includes a hot side and a cold side; and   each of the at least one heat transfer devices is positioned with its second portion in thermal communication with the cold side of the thermoelectric device.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one heat transfer device comprises a plurality of heat pipes or at least one vapor chamber.