| 摘要 |
A temperature attenuator (32, 42 or 64) is provided for spacing a container, such as a coffee container (24), from a warming hot plate (14 or 14'). The temperature attenuator has a thermally insulating spacer (34, 66 or 66') which may be secured to the container or to the hot plate by an adhesive (70), by a harness (44) or any other suitable retainer. The spacer (34, 66 or 66') is of closed peripheral configuration, for example, it may be an O-ring or gasket ring, so that heated air is trapped in an enclosed space(s) sealed between the container bottom and the hot plate. Hot spots which otherwise would result from direct contact of the container (24) with the hot plate (14) are thus avoided and beverages such as coffee may be heated for protracted periods without developing an acrid taste. A method of heating the container contents includes spacing the container by means of the spacer about 1/32nd to 1/8th of an inch (about 0.8 to 3.2 mm) from the heating surface (14s) of the hot plate, and maintaining the hot plate at an elevated temperature of from about 200 DEG F. to 450 DEG F. (about 93 DEG C. to 232 DEG C.). |
