Food warmer with removable electric heater

DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve food warmers such as coffee urns and chafing dishes.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a completely detachable electrical heating element for use in conjunction with a food warming unit that is easy to install and remove and which does not detract from the aesthetic value of the unit.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an electrical heating unit for use in conjunction with a food warmer which can be easily replaced in the event the unit is damaged or broken.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a food warmer wherein either a disposable fuel cell or a removable electrical heater can be selectively employed to maintain food contained in the warmer at a desired temperature.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a removable heating unit for use in association with a food warmer that can be simply locked in place or removed from the warmer so that it can be easily cleaned and store when not in use.
These and other objects of the present invention are attained by a food warmer that includes a fluid tight tubular housing contained therein which opens to the outside through a side wall so that a cylindrical sleeve containing a heater can be inserted into the housing.
A counterweight is attached to the sleeve which automatically rotates the unit within the housing into a locked position.
A locking mechanism is arranged to automatically secure the sleeve within the housing when it is rotated into the locked position and to free the sleeve when it is rotated to a second release position.
The warmer may be further equipped with one or more disposable fuel cells that will allow it to be utilized when a source of electrical energy is not readily available.