GB2529013A

GB2529013A - Food defrosting tray

Info

Publication number: GB2529013A
Application number: GB1506105.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yuan-Song Tsai; Sheng-Chi Lin
Original assignee: Sekond Creative Design Co Ltd
Current assignee: Sekond Creative Design Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-04-10
Filing date: 2015-04-10
Publication date: 2016-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 2035-04-10
Also published as: GB2529013B; GB201506105D0

Abstract

A food defrosting tray 1 includes a tray body 2 on which a food material F may be placed. The tray body 2 includes a plurality of spaced thermal conductive sheets 21. The food defrosting tray 1 further includes a plurality of first sheaths 3, a plurality of second sheaths 3a, and two connectors 4. Each of the first and second sheaths 3, 3a includes an inner end 30 having a coupling slot 31 and an outer end (33) having a through-hole 321. The connectors 4 penetrate the through-holes 321 of the first and second sheaths for connection of the thermal conductive sheets respectively. The tray body can be folded or rolled up for better contact between the tray body and the food material and for preferable defrosting effect.

Description

FOOD DEFROSTING TRAY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a food defrosting tray and, more particularly, to a food defrosting tray which effectively contacts frozen food materials for better defrosting effect.

The modern people who are accustomed to western-style diets and urban schedules gradually prefer bulk purchases of living goods and food materials which can be frozen in refrigerators, in general, frozen foods to be processed should be defrosted in either the ambient air condition or running water, each of which consumes much time and accelerates propagation of germs affecting freshness of food materials.

Furthermore, metal defrosting boards on which frozen food materials are placed are available in the market and rely on high thermal conductivity of metal to speed up defrosting. However, a conventional defrosting board with a large-sized plate body cannot completely or properly match an uneven surface of a bulky food material and, 1 5 thus, result in the food material defrosted unequally. In addition, the conventional defrosting board with a fixed size may not be stored easily.

BRIEF SUMIVIARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a food defrosting tray for improving the above mentioned problems. The food defrosting tray of the present invention is adapted to be placed by a frozen food for fast defrosting and matches a profile of the frozen food for preferable defrosting capability Furthermore, the food defrosting tray of the present invention is collapsible and can be rolled up for preferable defrosting capability and an effective storage.

To achieve this and other objectives, a food defrosting tray of the present invention includes a tray body, a plurality of first sheaths, a plurality of second sheaths and two connectors. The tray body includes a plurality of thermal conductive sheets spaced from one another. Each thermal conductive sheet includes spaced first and second ends. Each first sheath includes an inner end having a coupling slot, and the coupling slots of the first sheaths are respectively covered on the first ends of the thermal conductive sheets. Each second sheath includes an inner end having a coupling slot therein, and the coupling slots of the second sheaths are respectively covered on the second ends of the thermal conductive sheets. Each of the first and second sheaths further includes an outer end having a connecting portion with a through-hole therein.

The connectors respectively engage with the first and second sheaths for connection of the thermal conductive sheets. One of the connectors penetrates the through-holes of the connecting portions of the first sheaths, and the other of the connectors penetrates the through-holes of the connecting portions of the second sheaths. Thereby, the thermal conductive sheets link to one another, and any two adjacent thermal conductive sheets develop a space by which one thermal conductive sheet is foldable from the other.

In a preferred form, each connector is an elongate elastic component and includes a front end, a rear end, a stopper portion, and a positioning portion, The stopper portion is located between the front end and the rear end and adjacent to the front end.

The positioning portion is provided at the rear end. The front ends and stopper portions of the two connectors extend through the through-holes of the first sheaths and the through-holes of the second sheaths, respectively. The stopper portion has an aperture, and the positioning portion has at least one pilot hole, The front end of each connector extends through the aperture of the stopper portion or the pilot hole of the positioning portion.

In a preferred form, the outer end of each of the first and second sheaths further includes a drain hole communicating the coupling slot with the through-hole of the connecting portion thereof The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG I shows an exploded, perspective view of a food defrosting tray according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG lAis an enlarged view of a circled portion in FIG 1.

FIG 2 is a perspective view of the food defrosting tray of FIG 1.

FIG 3 shows a perspective view of a food defrosting tray according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the food defrosting tray of FIG. 3 which is being rolled up.

FIG 5 is a schematic view of the food defrosting tray of FIG 3 which is folded for use.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the food defrosting tray of FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 5, illustrating two connectors of the food defrosting tray in FIG 5 in an alternative use embodiment.

FIG 8 is a schematic view which illustrates two food defrosting trays of FIG 1 which are connected with connectors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A food defrosting tray I according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. I through 7 of the drawings and includes a tray body 2, a plurality of first sheaths 3, a plurality of second sheaths 3a, and two connectors 4. The tray body 2 includes a plurality of thermal conductive sheets 21 spaced from one another aiid arranged in parallel. The tray body 2 includes four thermal conductive sheets 2 in a first embodiment as shown in FIGS. I and 2. The tray body 2 includes eight thermal conductive sheets 2 in a second embodiment as shown in FIG. 3 through FIG. 7. Each thermal conductive sheet 21 is made of good thermal conductive metal (e.g., aluminum, copper, etc.) and includes spaced first and second ends 211 and 212, a top surface 214 on which foods are carried, and a bottom surface 213 opposite to the top surface 214. A plurality of cooling fins 22 extend from the bottom surface S vertically and are spaced at a fixed interval.

Alternatively, the cooling fins 22 can be parallelized and extend obliquely or staggered.

Each of the first and second sheaths 3 and 3a made of soft and tensile material (silicone, mbber, etc.) includes an inner end 30 having a coupling slot 31 with a contour less than those of the first and second ends 21] and 212 of the thermal conductive sheet 21. The coupling slot 3 1 is securely covered on one of the first and second ends 211 and 212 of an associated thermal conductive sheet 2] because of the soft and tensile nature of the first and second sheaths 3 and 3a, Each of the first and second sheaths 3 and 3a further includes an outer end 33 having a drain hole 34 and a connecting portion 32 with a through-hole 321 therein, The drain hole 34 in each of the first and second sheaths 3 and 3a communicates the coupling slot 31 th the through-hole 321, allowing melt water from a frozen food to be guided into the first and second sheaths 3 and 3a and expelled from the drain hole 34.

Each connector 4 is an elongate elastic component and includes a front end 41, a rear end 42, a stopper portion 43, and a positioning portion 44. The stopper portion 43 located between the front end 41 and the rear end 42 and adjacent to the front end 41 includes an aperture 43]. The positioning portion 44 is provided at the rear end 42 and includes at least a pilot hole 441 (two pilot holes 441 in figures). In the two connectors 4, one penetrates the through-holes 321 of the connecting portions 32 of the first sheaths 3 and the other penetrates the through-holes 321 of the connecting portions 32 of the second sheaths 3a, As such, the thermal conductive sheets 21 which are connected to one another constitute the tray body 2, and any two adjacent thermal conductive sheets 21 develop a space by which one thermal conductive sheet 21 can be folded up from the other thermal conductive sheet 21.

As shown in FIG 2, the stopper portions 43 and the positioning portions 44 of the connectors 4 which penetrate the through-holes 321 of the first and second sheaths 3 and 3a are effectively confined to outsides of the foremost connecting portions 32 and the last connecting portions 32 of the first and second sheaths 3 and 3a, respectively.

As shown in FIG 3, FIG 4, the thermal conductive sheets 21 cannot be separated when the front ends 41 of the connectors 4 are inserted into the apertures 43 1 of the stopper portions 43, Alternatively the connectors 4 can be fixed when both the front end 41 and the stopper portion 43 of each connector 4 extend through one of the pilot holes 441 of the positioning portion 44, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Alternatively the connectors 4 can be fixed when the front end 41 of each connector 4 extends through the pilot holes 441 of the positioning portion 44, as shown in FIG 7.

As shown in FIG 8, two food defrosting trays 1 in FIG 1 constitute a greater IS food defrosting tray when the front end 41 of each connector 4 in one food defrosting tray I is engaged in the pilot holes 441 of the positioning portion 44 of an associated connector 4 in the other food defrosting tray 1.

In the implementation of the food defrosting tray 1 according to the present invention, the food defrosting tray I can be folded in half to allow the food material F to be held inside (see FIG 5 and FIG 6) for concurrent heat exchange at both sides of the food material F and preferable defrosting capability based on better contact with the food material F. Moreover, the tray body 2 can be tied up with the connectors 4 for better defrosting effect, More thermal conductive sheets 21 can be added for an expanded area of the food defrosting tray 1 based on the size of one food material (FIG 8). The thermal conductive sheets 21 of the tray body 2 can be rolled up and stored when the food defrosting tray is not used. Furthermore, water droplets incurred from defrosting of the C, food material F is discharged through the drain hole 34 and is not in contact with the food material F to maintain freshness of food materials.

The embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

CLAIMS1 A food defrosting tray (1) comprising: a tray body (2) adapted to be placed by a food material (F) and including a plurality of spaced thermal conductive sheets (21), with each of the thermal conductive sheets (21) including spaced first and second ends (211, 212); a plurality of first sheaths (3) and a plurality of second sheaths (3a), with each of the first sheaths (3) including an inner end (30) having a coupling slot (31) therein, with the coupling slots (31) of the first sheaths (3) respectively covered on the first ends (211) of the thermal conductive sheets (21), with each of the second sheaths (3 a) including an inner end (30) having a coupling slot (31) therein, with the coupling slots (31) of the second sheaths (3a) respectively covered on the second ends (212) of the thermal conductive sheets (21), with each of the first and second sheaths (3, 3 a) frirther including an outer end (33) having a connecting portion (32) with a through-hole (321) therein; and two connectors (4) respectively engaging with the first and second sheaths (3, 3a) for connection of the thermal conductive sheets (21), with one of the two connectors (4) penetrating the through-holes (321) of the connecting portions (32) of the first sheaths (3), with the other of the two connectors (4) penetrating the through-holes (321) of the connecting portions (32) of the second sheaths (3 a).
2, The food defrosting tray (I) according to claim 1, wherein each connector (4) is an elongate elastic component and includes a front end (41), a rear end (42), a stopper portion (43), and a positioning portion (44), with the stopper portion (43) located between the front end (41) and the rear end (42) and adjacent to the front end (41), with the positioning portion (44) provided at the rear end (42), with the front ends (41) and stopper portions (43) of the two connectors (4) extending through the through-holes (321) of the first sheaths (3) and the through-holes (321) of the second sheaths (3a), respectively.
3, The food defrosting tray (1) according to claim 2, wherein the stopper portion (43) has an aperture (431), with the positioning portion (44) having at least one pilot hole (441), with the front end (41) of each of the two connectors (4) extending through the aperture (431) of the stopper portion (43) or the pilot hole (441) of the positioning portion (44).
4. The food defrosting tray (1) according to claim 1, wherein the outer end (33) of each of the first and second sheaths (3, 3a) further includes a drain hole (34) communicating the coupling slot (31) with the through-hole (321) of the connecting portion (32).
5. A food defrosting tray substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.Amendment to Claims have been filed as followsCLAIMS1. A food defrosting tray (1) comprising: a tray body (2) adapted for holding a food material (F) and including a plurality of spaced thermal conductive sheets (21), with each of the thermal conductive sheets (21) including spaced first and second ends (211, 212); a plurality of first sheaths (3) and a plurality of second sheaths (3a), with each of the first sheaths (3) including an inner end (30) having a coupling slot (31) therein, with the coupling slots (31) of the first sheaths (3) respectively covered on the first ends (211) of the thermal conductive sheets (21), with each of the second sheaths (3a) including an inner end (30) having a coupling slot (31) therein, with the coupling slots (31) of the second sheaths (3a) respectively covered on the second ends (212) of the thermal conductive sheets (21), with each of the first and second sheaths (3, 3a) further including an outer end (33) having a connecting portion (32) with a through-hole (321) therein; and two connectors (4) respectively engaging with the first and second sheaths (3, 3a) for connection of the thermal conductive sheets (21), with one of the two connectors (4) penetrating the through-holes (321) of the connecting portions (32) of the first sheaths (3), with the other of the two connectors (4) penetrating the through-holes (321) of the connecting portions (32) of the second sheaths (3a), wherein each connector (4) is S...an elongate elastic component and includes a front end (41), a rear end (42), a stopper portion (43), and a positioning portion (44), with the stopper portion (43) located *SS.between the front end (41) and the rear end (42) and adjacent to the front end (41), with the positioning portion (44) provided at the rear end (42), with the front ends (41) and stopper portions (43) of the two connectors (4) extending through the through-holes (321) of the first sheaths (3) and the through-holes (321) of the second sheaths (3a), respectively.2. The food defrosting tray (1) according to claim 1, wherein the stopper portion (43) has an aperture (431), with the positioning portion (44) having at least one pilot hole (441), with the front end (41) of each of the two connectors (4) extending through the aperture (431) of the stopper portion (43) or the pilot hole (441) of the positioning portion (44).3. The food defrosting tray (1) according to claim 1, wherein the outer end (33) of each of the first and second sheaths (3, 3a) further includes a drain hole (34) communicating the coupling slot (31) with the through-hole (321) of the connecting portion (32).4. A food defrosting tray substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. a fl * . a a.. .S Ia..-.. S * a a...SS..... * aS5.55.. S *