Display case

Abstract

A countertop bulk food display case has a single unitary cavity which receives a plurality of individual food containers. The containers have lips which extend outwardly from their open top and support elements, which extend across the cavity, and are arranged such that adjacent support elements contact the lips on opposed sides of the container.

1 . A system for displaying bulk food products, comprising:
 (a) a case having a single, unitary cavity defined therein;   (b) a plurality of individual food containers containing bulk food products and having open top portions covered by removable covers which seal said open top portions;   (c) said containers having a flange which extends outwardly at least partially around its periphery adjacent said top portions;   (d) support elements which extend across said cavity at spaced apart intervals which allow adjacent support elements to contact at least a portion of said flange of a container placed into said cavity without said support element substantially extending into said cavity or extending outwardly substantially beyond said flange;   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said support elements are cylindrical rods. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said case has a lip which extends at least partially around the periphery of said cavity, said lip capable of supporting at least a portion of said flange of a container placed in said cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said container has a lid which is attached to said container by a hinge which allows said lid to be moved between a closed position where it covers said cavity and an open position where there is access to containers placed in said cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  including a stop which is attached to said container and limits movement of said lid past the predetermined position. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein said stop is resiliently deformable. 
     
     
         7 . A system for displaying bulk food products, comprising:
 (a) a case having a single, unitary cavity defined therein which opens out of a top portion of said case; and   (b) a plurality of spaced apart cylindrical rods which extend across said cavity proximate said top portion.   
     
     
         8 . A system for displaying bulk food products, comprising:
 (a) a case having a single, unitary cavity defined therein;   (b) a plurality of individual food containers containing bulk food products having open top portions and removable covers which seal said open top portions;   (c) said containers having an outwardly extending flange which extends at least partially around the periphery of said containers; and   (d) a plurality of cylindrical rods which extend across said open top portion of said case, said rods being separated from one another by a distance which allows adjacent rods to contact the flange on opposed sides of a container placed in said cavity between said adjacent rods.   
     
     
         9 . A system for displaying bulk food products, comprising:
 (a) a case having a single, unitary cavity defined therein;   (b) a plurality of individual food containers containing bulk food products having open top portions and removable covers which seal said open top portions;   (c) said containers having an outwardly extending flange which extends at least partially around the periphery of said containers; and   (d) a plurality of cylindrical rods which extend across said open top portion of said case, said rods being separated from one another by a distance which allows adjacent rods to contact the flange on opposed ends of a container placed in said cavity.   
     
     
         10 . A system for displaying bulk food products, comprising:
 (a) a case having a single, unitary cavity defined therein;   (b) a plurality of individual food containers containing bulk food products having open top portions and removable covers which seal said open top portions;   (c) said containers having an outwardly extending flange which extends at least partially around the periphery of said containers; and   (d) a plurality of cylindrical rods which extend across said open top portion of said case, said rods being separated from one another by a distance which allows adjacent rods to contact said flange on at least one side and one edge of a container placed in said cavity.   
     
     
         11 . A case for displaying bulk foods, comprising:
 (a) a single, unitary cavity; and   (b) said cavity configured to permit multiple food filled containers to be supported therein without said cavity being divided into multiple compartments.