Ice cream dipping cabinet

Abstract

An ice cream dipping cabinet which holds tubs of ice cream, is provided with individual tub receptacles, surrounded by cooling coils. The cabinet, which can be used for other foods, either frozen or cold, has a solid top plate which orients the individual tubs. This allows lower maintenance time and cost, helps keep moisture out and cold air in the enclosed bottom of the cabinet. The top plate has holes for the tubs, which limits the escape of cold air from the cabinet, improving energy efficiency, as well as improving the overall visual aesthetics of the cabinet, and the ease of access to the desired tub by the server. The invention also includes a locking device for preventing each tub from turning when being accessed in the proper serving position, and means for moving the tub upward for ease of removal. A clear cover has a slidable lid, which is slidable about an arc, and also pivotable upwardly for ease of removing and replacing the more remote tubs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Apparatus for cooling and storage of cold or frozen foods, comprising:
 a generally box-shaped base;   a top plate engaging said box, and having one or more receiving holes therethrough;   at least one tub receptacle within said base and mating with said one or more receiving holes in said top plate for receiving a tub containing a foodstuff;   a cooling coil assembly within the base, arranged about at least a portion of each tub receptacle for cooling the tub and the contents thereof; and   a compressor connected to said cooling coil assembly for passing refrigeration gas therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising biasing means associated with each tub receptacle for urging a tub upwardly within said tub receptacle, and means for inhibiting the upward movement and rotation of a tub within said tub receptacle. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said means for inhibiting the upward movement of a tub within the tub receptacle is an associated collar adapted for friction contact of the top of a tub and to engage the top plate. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said collar is provided with at least one gasket to seal the collar against the top plate. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said top plate is insulated. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said base is comprised of side walls which are insulated. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said cooling coil assembly comprises one or more roll bond evaporator coils. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said one or more roll bond evaporator coils is adapted to fit about at least 50% of each tub receptacle. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said cooling coil assembly comprises a pair of identical roll bond end sections and one or more middle sections, connected in series. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said top plate is provided with additional holes for receiving serving items. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a drawer within said base for storage, 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said base is divided into an upper cooling zone in which the tubs and cooling coil assembly are located, and a lower storage zone. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said cooling coil assembly comprises at least one turn of a cooling coil around each tub receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said base is provided with at least one door. 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cover assembly atop said base, said cover assembly having a track for receiving a movable lid, and a movable lid engaged in said track. 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said movable lid is provided with rollers engageable in said track. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said movable lid is rotatable about said rollers to an upper position. 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said movable lid is provided with magnets to releasably hold the lid in an upper position.