The present invention provides protective enclosures and food and/or beverage stations with these enclosures in which one or more of the side panels are easily raised and lowered and easily fixed in one or more positions as desired. For example, side panels can be easily lowered or closed or easily raised and fixed in one or more open configurations. The present invention is based at least in part on a coupling system that pivotably and slideably couples the moveable and positionable side panels to the protective enclosure. The coupling system uses a system of coordinated slots that cooperatively guide the movement of the side panel in its range of motion.

A cubby unit includes a unit housing, a plurality of cubbies disposed within the unit housing, and an interface positioned along the unit housing. Each of the plurality of cubbies includes a cubby housing defining an internal compartment and a door coupled to the cubby housing. The door facilitates accessing the internal compartment of the cubby housing. The interface provides a cubby selection interface that facilitates manual assignment of a respective cubby to a respective order by an employee.

A rotation and detent mechanism includes a body defining a cavity and having a travel limiter with two fixed faces protruding into the cavity. A detent plate nests and rotates within the cavity and has two limiting surfaces between which the travel limiter of the body is disposed. One of the limiting surfaces engages a respective one of the travel limiting faces of the body at each extreme of angular rotation of the detent plate. The detent plate includes recesses for engaging one or more spring loaded ball plungers mounted in the body. Each ball plunger engages a recess in the detent plate at certain angular detent positions of the detent plate within the body. The mechanism further includes an axle on which the detent plate rotates, and a coil spring that engages the detent plate, resisting rotation of the detent plate in one rotational direction.

A rotation and detent mechanism includes a body defining a cavity and having a travel limiter with two fixed faces protruding into the cavity. A detent plate nests and rotates within the cavity and has two limiting surfaces between which the travel limiter of the body is disposed. One of the limiting surfaces engages a respective one of the travel limiting faces of the body at each extreme of angular rotation of the detent plate. The detent plate includes recesses for engaging one or more spring loaded ball plungers mounted in the body. Each ball plunger engages a recess in the detent plate at certain angular detent positions of the detent plate within the body. The mechanism further includes an axle on which the detent plate rotates, and a coil spring that engages the detent plate, resisting rotation of the detent plate in one rotational direction.

A modular food holding system includes a plurality of individual modularized food holding chambers, each of the plurality of food holding chambers being physically and communicatively removably connected to one another. Each of the food holding chambers includes a food holding cavity and at least one of a heating element and/or a cooling element for heating or cooling the food holding cavity. A chamber base is physically and communicatively removably connected to one of the food holding chambers and operation of at least one food holding chamber is controlled by the chamber base.

A modular food holding system includes a plurality of individual modularized food holding chambers, each of the plurality of food holding chambers being physically and communicatively removably connected to one another. Each of the food holding chambers includes a food holding cavity and at least one of a heating element and/or a cooling element for heating or cooling the food holding cavity. A chamber base is physically and communicatively removably connected to one of the food holding chambers and operation of at least one food holding chamber is controlled by the chamber base.

A food service system is formed using a plurality of units capable of being interlocked together in a variety of customizable configurations. The units of the food service system include a food service bar with buffet pan chillers, a work table, a cashier station, and variety of connecting pieces for linking each of the units together. The food service bar comprises a sneeze guard that protects the food contained within the bar on three sides and can be broken down and folded down and into itself when the bar is being transported or stored. The buffet pan chillers are double sided and configured such that when frozen, may accommodate a shallow food pan on one side and then flipped over to accommodate a deep food pan on the other side while still maintaining the same serving height. Each unit is configured to receive multiple sizes of wheels or casters.

A food service system is formed using a plurality of units capable of being interlocked together in a variety of customizable configurations. The units of the food service system include a food service bar with buffet pan chillers, a work table, a cashier station, and variety of connecting pieces for linking each of the units together. The food service bar comprises a sneeze guard that protects the food contained within the bar on three sides and can be broken down and folded down and into itself when the bar is being transported or stored. The buffet pan chillers are double sided and configured such that when frozen, may accommodate a shallow food pan on one side and then flipped over to accommodate a deep food pan on the other side while still maintaining the same serving height. Each unit is configured to receive multiple sizes of wheels or casters.

This invention is a foldable buffet station comprising, having supporting legs and a countertop frame mounted on upper ends of the supporting legs. The supporting legs comprise have two sets of supporting panels on left and right sides. Each set of the supporting panels comprises has a front supporting panel and a rear supporting panel which are rotationally connected. The countertop frame comprises has a front beam, a rear beam, and two left and right side beams which form a rectangular frame. The two left and right side beams are respectively fixed at upper ends of the two rear supporting panels on left and right sides. The rear beam is detachably fixed at upper ends of the two back side supporting panels. The front beam is fixed at upper ends of the two front side supporting panels. When it is necessary to fold the buffet cart, the cooking module on the countertop frame is removed first, and then the rear beam is removed; since the front supporting panels and the rear supporting panels are rotationally connected, pushing the two rear supporting panels at this time results in rotation and folding, and the side beams follow the corresponding supporting panels to rotate. As a result, the occupying space of the entire buffet Gaftstation can be greatly reduced, which is convenient for transportation and storage.

This invention is a foldable buffet station comprising, having supporting legs and a countertop frame mounted on upper ends of the supporting legs. The supporting legs comprise have two sets of supporting panels on left and right sides. Each set of the supporting panels comprises has a front supporting panel and a rear supporting panel which are rotationally connected. The countertop frame comprises has a front beam, a rear beam, and two left and right side beams which form a rectangular frame. The two left and right side beams are respectively fixed at upper ends of the two rear supporting panels on left and right sides. The rear beam is detachably fixed at upper ends of the two back side supporting panels. The front beam is fixed at upper ends of the two front side supporting panels. When it is necessary to fold the buffet cart, the cooking module on the countertop frame is removed first, and then the rear beam is removed; since the front supporting panels and the rear supporting panels are rotationally connected, pushing the two rear supporting panels at this time results in rotation and folding, and the side beams follow the corresponding supporting panels to rotate. As a result, the occupying space of the entire buffet Gaftstation can be greatly reduced, which is convenient for transportation and storage.