US20150069067A1 - Tray with a plurality of cavities for the freezing and storage of foodstuffs in specific volumes, and methods to stabilize said tray - Google Patents
Tray with a plurality of cavities for the freezing and storage of foodstuffs in specific volumes, and methods to stabilize said tray Download PDFInfo
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- US20150069067A1 US20150069067A1 US14/337,239 US201414337239A US2015069067A1 US 20150069067 A1 US20150069067 A1 US 20150069067A1 US 201414337239 A US201414337239 A US 201414337239A US 2015069067 A1 US2015069067 A1 US 2015069067A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- tray
- cavities
- lid
- food
- manufactured
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D25/00—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled
- F25D25/005—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled using containers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
- B65D1/34—Trays or like shallow containers
- B65D1/36—Trays or like shallow containers with moulded compartments or partitions
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D25/00—Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D25/02—Internal fittings
- B65D25/04—Partitions
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D43/02—Removable lids or covers
- B65D43/0202—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element
- B65D43/0214—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured only by friction or gravity
- B65D43/0218—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured only by friction or gravity on both the inside and the outside of the mouth of the container
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
- F25C1/00—Producing ice
- F25C1/22—Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds
- F25C1/24—Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds for refrigerators, e.g. freezing trays
- F25C1/243—Moulds made of plastics e.g. silicone
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
- B65D2543/00064—Shape of the outer periphery
- B65D2543/0012—Shape of the outer periphery having straight sides, e.g. with curved corners
- B65D2543/00175—Shape of the outer periphery having straight sides, e.g. with curved corners four straight sides, e.g. trapezium or diamond
- B65D2543/00194—Shape of the outer periphery having straight sides, e.g. with curved corners four straight sides, e.g. trapezium or diamond square or rectangular
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
- B65D2543/00259—Materials used
- B65D2543/00296—Plastic
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
- B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
- B65D2543/00555—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on both the inside and the outside
Definitions
- the invention relates to the field of food storage and freezing. More specifically, the invention comprises a tray with a plurality of cavities of specific volumes useful for cooking and calculation of caloric value, a lid, and possibly an external support structure, which is an improvement over current methods of storing and freezing foods and liquids.
- ice trays are designed to freeze water in a variety of sizes and shapes, in a plurality of cavities, which are convenient for use in cooling a second body of fluid in a glass or other container.
- ice tray available specifically designed to store or freeze foods or fluids for use in cooking.
- ice trays available that create a frozen product that is of a measured volume designed to be useful in cooking or in the calculation of caloric value.
- Ice trays that are currently available are made from either a hard plastic, or from silicone rubber. The majority of ice trays made from hard plastic do not come with a lid, and none of the currently available trays made from silicone have lids. Silicone ice trays are also designed with vertical sides that make it difficult to remove the resulting frozen product from the tray.
- General food storage containers are designed to store larger portions of food or liquid, in a single cavity, that can be placed in the refrigerator or freezer. Containers of this type are designed to hold individual volumes that are larger than those held in the individual cavities of ice trays. When these containers are used to freeze and store liquids or food, their product is very large and creates an all-or-nothing scenario for the un-freezing of the liquid or food in question. The volume represented is rarely useful in a situation where the liquid or food will be used in the creation of a recipe, or in portion control, creating an excess, and commonly wasted, amount of food or liquid.
- the current patent application pertains to an invention that is used for the containment, transportation and storage of liquids and other non-solid foodstuffs in portions of specific volumes. This allows for useful, specific volumes of liquid or food to be stored and/or frozen for use at a later date. These volumes are also useful in calculation of caloric values, and for easy management of portion size.
- the invention consists of two main pieces:
- a tray made from a flexible rubber or hard plastic
- a lid made from a rigid material
- the invention can also include an exterior structure that is attached to the tray to increase the dimensional stability, possibly necessitated by the flexible nature of the material from which the tray is made, and/or if the overall dimensions of the tray render the tray dimensional unstable when handled.
- the figures in the present disclosure feature a tray with a plurality of cavities.
- the number of cavities present in the figures is four, and only serves as an exemplar of one possible embodiment covered by this patent.
- the number of cavities proposed in the current patent (a plurality) is intended to be more than one, and is therefore not limited to four.
- the present embodiment is also depicted as having horizontal dimensions that are different from each other (forming a rectangular tray). Different embodiments of the current invention can also have horizontal dimensions that are the same.
- FIG. 1 Exterior Side View of tray, larger horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment)
- FIG. 2 Exterior Side View of tray, smaller horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment)
- FIG. 3 Exterior Side View of tray with interior cavity visible (hidden line), larger horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment)
- FIG. 4 Exterior Side View of tray with interior cavity visible (hidden line), smaller horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment)
- FIG. 5 Cross-section of tray at center of cavity, larger horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment)
- FIG. 6 Cross-section of tray at center of cavity, smaller horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment)
- FIG. 7 Top view of tray showing the cavity opening's dimensions (one possible embodiment)
- FIG. 8 Top view of tray showing cavity openings and bottom dimensions of cavities (one possible embodiment)
- FIG. 9 Top view of the lid (one possible embodiment)
- FIG. 10 Side View of tray with lid attached, larger horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment)
- FIG. 11 Side View of tray with lid attached, smaller horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment)
- FIG. 12 Cross-section of tray with lid above, larger horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment)
- FIG. 13 Cross-section of tray with lid above, smaller horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment)
- FIG. 14 Side View of lid, larger horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment)
- FIG. 15 Side View of lid, smaller horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment)
- FIG. 16 Perspective View of tray (one possible embodiment)
- FIG. 17 Perspective View of tray with lid above (one possible embodiment)
- FIG. 18 Perspective View of tray with lid attached (one possible embodiment)
- FIG. 19 Perspective View of internal support structure (one possible embodiment)
- FIG. 20 Top View of internal support structure (one possible embodiment)
- FIG. 21 Side View of internal support structure, larger horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment)
- FIG. 1 Shows an exterior side view of one possible embodiment of the current invention.
- the tray 100 can be made from any material of the family of silicones or plastics considered to be food-safe.
- the view is the larger horizontal dimension of the tray, though the tray can have horizontal dimensions of equal length.
- This view also shows the lip 101 of the tray, which is continuous around the top of the tray.
- FIG. 2 Shows an exterior side view of one possible embodiment of the current invention.
- the view is the smaller horizontal dimension of the tray, though the tray 100 can have horizontal dimensions of equal length.
- the lip 101 can be seen in this view, and in combination with FIG. 1 is shown to travel along the whole top edge of the tray uninterrupted.
- FIG. 3 This view is a side view of a larger horizontal dimension in a hidden line drawing of the present embodiment of the invention.
- the plurality of cavities 300 is visible in this view.
- This view also shows the wall created by two abutting cavities 301 .
- the wall intersects with, and is connected to 302 , the lip 101 of the tray, forming the basis of an integrated internal support structure 1900 ( FIG. 19 ) that helps add dimensional stability to the tray when the tray in manufactured from a flexible material, such as silicone.
- FIG. 4 This view is a side view of a smaller horizontal dimension in a hidden line drawing of the present embodiment of the invention.
- the plurality of cavities 300 is visible in this view.
- the interior wall 301 , the lip of the tray 101 , and their intersection 302 are also represented in this view, showing that with a plurality of cavities on both horizontal axes, supporting ribs are created along both horizontal axes, aiding in dimensional stability.
- FIG. 5 This view is a cross-section of the larger horizontal dimension of the present embodiment of the invention. This view shows the opening of the cavities 500 as larger than the bottom surface of the cavities 501 . This difference in dimension creates cavity sides 502 that are angled inward from the opening at the top of the cavity to the bottom wall of the cavity. These angled sides make it easier to remove the contents of the cavities when said contents are frozen.
- FIG. 6 This view shows the smaller horizontal dimension having the same wider opening 500 and narrower bottom surface 501 as in the previous horizontal dimension shown in FIG. 5 , which creates the same angled wall 502 as FIG. 5 , which aids in the easy removal of substances that are frozen in the cavities.
- FIG. 7 Top view of tray showing the plurality of cavities 300 , as well as the lip of the tray 101 .
- FIG. 8 This is a top view of the tray showing the top opening of the cavities 500 , as well as the smaller dimension of the bottom surface of the cavities 501 . This view also shows the top view of the interior ribs between the abutting cavities, as well as the intersection 302 of the lip 101 and the ribs 301 view of tray showing cavity openings and bottom dimensions of cavities.
- FIG. 9 This view shows a top view of the lid 900 , which can be made from any plastic that is food-safe, or a food-safe metal or ceramic, which may also have the added benefit of increased thermal conductivity to aid in the freezing of the contents of the tray, or a combination of the two.
- FIG. 10 This figure is a side view of the larger horizontal dimension in the current embodiment.
- the view shows the tray 100 with the lid 900 attached.
- the lid made from a stiff material such as plastic, ceramic, metal or a combination thereof
- the lid also serves the purpose of food preservation by covering the openings of the cavities in the tray.
- FIG. 11 Side View of tray 100 with lid 900 attached, smaller horizontal dimension.
- FIG. 12 Cross-section of tray 100 with lid 900 above, along the larger horizontal dimension. This figure shows the channel in the lid 1200 and the indentation on the lip of the tray 1201 that overlap and inter-connect, creating a tight fit that aids in dimensional stability when the tray is made from a flexible material.
- FIG. 13 Cross-section of tray 100 with lid 900 above, smaller horizontal. This view shows the channel in the lid 1200 and the indentation in the lip of the tray 1201 that inter-connect.
- FIG. 14 Side view of lid 900 along the larger horizontal dimension of the present embodiment.
- FIG. 15 Side view of lid 900 along the smaller horizontal dimension of the present embodiment.
- FIG. 16 This figure is a perspective view of tray 100 in the present embodiment.
- FIG. 17 This figure is a perspective view of tray 100 with the lid 900 above.
- FIG. 18 This figure is a perspective view of tray 100 with the lid 900 attached.
- FIG. 19 This figure is a perspective view of the integrated internal support structure 1900 created by the different sized opening and bottom surface of the cavities as described in FIGS. 5 , 6 , and 8 .
- the view shows the lip 101 and ribs 301 created by abutting walls, as well where the two intersect and connect 302 to create a single support structure.
- This structure is an inherent feature of the product due to the specification of the larger opening, smaller bottom surface of the cavities, and abutting walls, and is not a separate piece.
- FIG. 20 This figure is a top view of the integrated internal support structure 1900 .
- the view shows the lip 101 and ribs 301 created by abutting walls, as well where the two connect 302 to create a single support structure.
- FIG. 21 This figure is a side view of the integrated internal support structure 1900 .
- the view shows the lip 101 and ribs 301 created by abutting walls.
Abstract
A tray for the storage and preservation of foods and liquids that has a plurality of cavities, the volumes of which are common units of measure in cooking recipes and for calorie counting. A lid is also described which fits tightly onto the top of the tray to act as a sealing piece to help in the extended preservation of the contents of the tray. The lid also acts as a stabilizing element. When the tray is made from a flexible material, design features that create an internal support structure are described. There is also an optional external support structure that can be manufactured and attached to the tray to add dimensional stability, when necessary.
Description
- The invention relates to the field of food storage and freezing. More specifically, the invention comprises a tray with a plurality of cavities of specific volumes useful for cooking and calculation of caloric value, a lid, and possibly an external support structure, which is an improvement over current methods of storing and freezing foods and liquids.
- There are vast numbers of products available for the containment, transportation and storage of liquid and semi-liquid foodstuffs. There are also many products that that have been created for the freezing of foods, in various forms of trays. When freezing large quantities of foods and liquids, it is common practice for any number of containers to be used. These can include products specifically designed to freeze liquid, but not foodstuffs (such as ice trays), or products that are designed to store food in general within a single cavity (such as Tupperware or various sizes and types of bowls or other containers).
- There are currently no food storage or freezing containers that have a plurality of cavities, where the cavities are of specific volumes, where the tray is designed to store or freeze foodstuffs in portions that are useful for cooking recipes.
- In the current state of the art, ice trays are designed to freeze water in a variety of sizes and shapes, in a plurality of cavities, which are convenient for use in cooling a second body of fluid in a glass or other container. There is currently no ice tray available specifically designed to store or freeze foods or fluids for use in cooking. There are also no ice trays available that create a frozen product that is of a measured volume designed to be useful in cooking or in the calculation of caloric value. Ice trays that are currently available are made from either a hard plastic, or from silicone rubber. The majority of ice trays made from hard plastic do not come with a lid, and none of the currently available trays made from silicone have lids. Silicone ice trays are also designed with vertical sides that make it difficult to remove the resulting frozen product from the tray.
- General food storage containers are designed to store larger portions of food or liquid, in a single cavity, that can be placed in the refrigerator or freezer. Containers of this type are designed to hold individual volumes that are larger than those held in the individual cavities of ice trays. When these containers are used to freeze and store liquids or food, their product is very large and creates an all-or-nothing scenario for the un-freezing of the liquid or food in question. The volume represented is rarely useful in a situation where the liquid or food will be used in the creation of a recipe, or in portion control, creating an excess, and commonly wasted, amount of food or liquid.
- None of the currently patented or available products for the storage or freezing of foods and liquids are designed to hold specific volumes of substances in common standardized units of measure, neither imperial nor metric, that are useful in the preparation of food recipes, for a facilitated calculation of caloric value, or for meal portion control.
- The current patent application pertains to an invention that is used for the containment, transportation and storage of liquids and other non-solid foodstuffs in portions of specific volumes. This allows for useful, specific volumes of liquid or food to be stored and/or frozen for use at a later date. These volumes are also useful in calculation of caloric values, and for easy management of portion size.
- The invention consists of two main pieces:
- 1. A tray made from a flexible rubber or hard plastic
- 2. A lid made from a rigid material
- The invention can also include an exterior structure that is attached to the tray to increase the dimensional stability, possibly necessitated by the flexible nature of the material from which the tray is made, and/or if the overall dimensions of the tray render the tray dimensional unstable when handled.
- The figures in the present disclosure feature a tray with a plurality of cavities. The number of cavities present in the figures is four, and only serves as an exemplar of one possible embodiment covered by this patent. The number of cavities proposed in the current patent (a plurality) is intended to be more than one, and is therefore not limited to four. The present embodiment is also depicted as having horizontal dimensions that are different from each other (forming a rectangular tray). Different embodiments of the current invention can also have horizontal dimensions that are the same.
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FIG. 1 : Exterior Side View of tray, larger horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment) -
FIG. 2 : Exterior Side View of tray, smaller horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment) -
FIG. 3 : Exterior Side View of tray with interior cavity visible (hidden line), larger horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment) -
FIG. 4 : Exterior Side View of tray with interior cavity visible (hidden line), smaller horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment) -
FIG. 5 : Cross-section of tray at center of cavity, larger horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment) -
FIG. 6 : Cross-section of tray at center of cavity, smaller horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment) -
FIG. 7 : Top view of tray showing the cavity opening's dimensions (one possible embodiment) -
FIG. 8 : Top view of tray showing cavity openings and bottom dimensions of cavities (one possible embodiment) -
FIG. 9 : Top view of the lid (one possible embodiment) -
FIG. 10 : Side View of tray with lid attached, larger horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment) -
FIG. 11 : Side View of tray with lid attached, smaller horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment) -
FIG. 12 : Cross-section of tray with lid above, larger horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment) -
FIG. 13 : Cross-section of tray with lid above, smaller horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment) -
FIG. 14 : Side View of lid, larger horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment) -
FIG. 15 : Side View of lid, smaller horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment) -
FIG. 16 : Perspective View of tray (one possible embodiment) -
FIG. 17 : Perspective View of tray with lid above (one possible embodiment) -
FIG. 18 : Perspective View of tray with lid attached (one possible embodiment) -
FIG. 19 : Perspective View of internal support structure (one possible embodiment) -
FIG. 20 : Top View of internal support structure (one possible embodiment) -
FIG. 21 : Side View of internal support structure, larger horizontal dimension (one possible embodiment) -
FIG. 1 : Shows an exterior side view of one possible embodiment of the current invention. Thetray 100 can be made from any material of the family of silicones or plastics considered to be food-safe. In this embodiment, the view is the larger horizontal dimension of the tray, though the tray can have horizontal dimensions of equal length. This view also shows thelip 101 of the tray, which is continuous around the top of the tray. -
FIG. 2 : Shows an exterior side view of one possible embodiment of the current invention. In this embodiment, the view is the smaller horizontal dimension of the tray, though thetray 100 can have horizontal dimensions of equal length. Thelip 101 can be seen in this view, and in combination withFIG. 1 is shown to travel along the whole top edge of the tray uninterrupted. -
FIG. 3 : This view is a side view of a larger horizontal dimension in a hidden line drawing of the present embodiment of the invention. The plurality ofcavities 300 is visible in this view. This view also shows the wall created by two abuttingcavities 301. The wall intersects with, and is connected to 302, thelip 101 of the tray, forming the basis of an integrated internal support structure 1900 (FIG. 19 ) that helps add dimensional stability to the tray when the tray in manufactured from a flexible material, such as silicone. -
FIG. 4 : This view is a side view of a smaller horizontal dimension in a hidden line drawing of the present embodiment of the invention. The plurality ofcavities 300 is visible in this view. Theinterior wall 301, the lip of thetray 101, and theirintersection 302 are also represented in this view, showing that with a plurality of cavities on both horizontal axes, supporting ribs are created along both horizontal axes, aiding in dimensional stability. -
FIG. 5 : This view is a cross-section of the larger horizontal dimension of the present embodiment of the invention. This view shows the opening of thecavities 500 as larger than the bottom surface of thecavities 501. This difference in dimension creates cavity sides 502 that are angled inward from the opening at the top of the cavity to the bottom wall of the cavity. These angled sides make it easier to remove the contents of the cavities when said contents are frozen. -
FIG. 6 : This view shows the smaller horizontal dimension having the samewider opening 500 andnarrower bottom surface 501 as in the previous horizontal dimension shown inFIG. 5 , which creates the sameangled wall 502 asFIG. 5 , which aids in the easy removal of substances that are frozen in the cavities. -
FIG. 7 : Top view of tray showing the plurality ofcavities 300, as well as the lip of thetray 101. -
FIG. 8 : This is a top view of the tray showing the top opening of thecavities 500, as well as the smaller dimension of the bottom surface of thecavities 501. This view also shows the top view of the interior ribs between the abutting cavities, as well as theintersection 302 of thelip 101 and theribs 301 view of tray showing cavity openings and bottom dimensions of cavities. -
FIG. 9 : This view shows a top view of thelid 900, which can be made from any plastic that is food-safe, or a food-safe metal or ceramic, which may also have the added benefit of increased thermal conductivity to aid in the freezing of the contents of the tray, or a combination of the two. -
FIG. 10 : This figure is a side view of the larger horizontal dimension in the current embodiment. The view shows thetray 100 with thelid 900 attached. When thelid 900 is attached to thetray 100, the lid (made from a stiff material such as plastic, ceramic, metal or a combination thereof) adds dimensional stability to the tray when the tray is made from a flexible material. The lid also serves the purpose of food preservation by covering the openings of the cavities in the tray. -
FIG. 11 : Side View oftray 100 withlid 900 attached, smaller horizontal dimension. -
FIG. 12 : Cross-section oftray 100 withlid 900 above, along the larger horizontal dimension. This figure shows the channel in thelid 1200 and the indentation on the lip of thetray 1201 that overlap and inter-connect, creating a tight fit that aids in dimensional stability when the tray is made from a flexible material. -
FIG. 13 : Cross-section oftray 100 withlid 900 above, smaller horizontal. This view shows the channel in thelid 1200 and the indentation in the lip of thetray 1201 that inter-connect. -
FIG. 14 : Side view oflid 900 along the larger horizontal dimension of the present embodiment. -
FIG. 15 : Side view oflid 900 along the smaller horizontal dimension of the present embodiment. -
FIG. 16 : This figure is a perspective view oftray 100 in the present embodiment. -
FIG. 17 : This figure is a perspective view oftray 100 with thelid 900 above. -
FIG. 18 : This figure is a perspective view oftray 100 with thelid 900 attached. -
FIG. 19 : This figure is a perspective view of the integratedinternal support structure 1900 created by the different sized opening and bottom surface of the cavities as described inFIGS. 5 , 6, and 8. The view shows thelip 101 andribs 301 created by abutting walls, as well where the two intersect and connect 302 to create a single support structure. This structure is an inherent feature of the product due to the specification of the larger opening, smaller bottom surface of the cavities, and abutting walls, and is not a separate piece. -
FIG. 20 : This figure is a top view of the integratedinternal support structure 1900. The view shows thelip 101 andribs 301 created by abutting walls, as well where the two connect 302 to create a single support structure. -
FIG. 21 : This figure is a side view of the integratedinternal support structure 1900. The view shows thelip 101 andribs 301 created by abutting walls.
Claims (19)
1. A storage device for preserving and freezing foods and liquids: a tray with a plurality of cavities; a lid that fits on top of the tray; an optional external support structure into which the tray is placed.
2. The tray as defined in claim 1 wherein said tray is manufactured from any of the family of silicones that are considered food-safe.
3. The tray as defined in claim 1 wherein said tray is manufactured from a material that is considered food-safe, such as PET, PETG, or polycarbonate, or other food-safe plastics.
4. The tray as defined in claim 1 wherein said cavities are manufactured to hold specific volumes of foods or liquids in either imperial or metric units of measure; when imperial these volumes include two-cups, one-cup, one-half-cup, one-quarter cup, one-third cup; when metric these volumes include 500-millileters, 250 milliliters, 200-milliliters, 100-milliliters or 50 milliliters, or other volumes used when cooking recipes or for the calculation of caloric content.
5. The volumes of the cavities as defined in claim 4 wherein said cavities are manufactured to hold specific volumes of foods or liquid which can be used in the preparation of cooking recipes commonly found in cookbooks, family recipe collections, or on the Internet.
6. The volumes of the tray in claim 4 wherein said cavities are manufactured to hold specific volumes of foods or liquid which can be used for the calculation of caloric content of said foods or liquid.
7. The cavities as described in claim 1 wherein said cavities have an upper opening that is dimensionally larger than the bottom of the cavity, creating sides that are angled inward toward the bottom of the tray. These sides make the removal of any frozen substance contained in the cavities easier than if the sides were straight.
8. The tray as described in claim 1 wherein said tray is made from silicone as described in claim 2
9. The tray as described in claim 8 wherein said tray has a plurality of cavities separated by walls which are either created by the abutting walls of two adjacent cavities or the outer walls of the tray.
10. The walls as described in claim 9 wherein said walls are created from abutting walls of two adjacent cavities, said walls are thinner at the top and thicker at the bottom due to the difference in the dimensions between the opening and the bottom surface of the cavity as described in claim 7 . This creates an angled support structure in the body of the tray when multiple cavities are present in the tray. These support structures extend the full length and width of the tray when multiple cavities are present.
11. The tray as described in claim 1 wherein said tray has a top lip or rim that is present around the top circumference of the tray and extends below the top opening of the cavities of the tray
12. The lip as described in claim 11 wherein said lip intersects and connects to the support structure as described in claim 10 due to the lip extending below the cavity opening creating an internal support structure (FIG. 19 ), which creates dimensional stability for the tray when it is being handled or transported
13. The lid as defined in claim 1 wherein said lid is manufactured from: a) a food-safe plastic, such as PET, PETG, or polycarbonate, or other food-safe plastics; b)a food-safe metal or ceramic with thermal conductivity characteristics that aids in the freezing of the contents of the tray; c) or a combination of a) and b).
14. The lid as defined in claim 1 wherein said lid fits tightly on top of the tray described in claim 1 helping the substances stored or frozen in said tray to stay fresh and delay the adverse affects of freezing and storing on contents of the tray.
15. The lid as defined in claim 13 wherein the lid creates dimensional stability for the tray, especially when the tray is made from a flexible material such as silicone.
16. The external support structure defined in claim 1 wherein said external support structure is manufactured separately from the tray as described in claim 1 and can be attached to the external sides and/or bottom of the tray.
17. The external structure defined in claim 16 wherein said external structure aids in the stability of a full tray when it is transported or handled, especially when the tray is of a larger size or made from a more flexible material such as silicone.
18. The external structure as defined in claim 17 wherein the structure, in one embodiment, is formed by one piece that encompasses the outer circumference of the tray and one or more pieces that run along underneath the tray and are attached to the first piece at either end of the tray, lengthwise, widthwise or both.
19. The external structure defined in claim 30 wherein said external structure is manufactured from: a) a food-safe plastic, such as PET, PETG, or polycarbonate, or other food-safe plastics; b)a food-safe metal or ceramic with thermal conductivity characteristics that aids in the freezing of the contents of the tray; c) or a combination of a) and b).
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US14/337,239 US20150069067A1 (en) | 2013-07-21 | 2014-07-22 | Tray with a plurality of cavities for the freezing and storage of foodstuffs in specific volumes, and methods to stabilize said tray |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201361856755P | 2013-07-21 | 2013-07-21 | |
US14/337,239 US20150069067A1 (en) | 2013-07-21 | 2014-07-22 | Tray with a plurality of cavities for the freezing and storage of foodstuffs in specific volumes, and methods to stabilize said tray |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20150069067A1 true US20150069067A1 (en) | 2015-03-12 |
Family
ID=52624519
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/337,239 Abandoned US20150069067A1 (en) | 2013-07-21 | 2014-07-22 | Tray with a plurality of cavities for the freezing and storage of foodstuffs in specific volumes, and methods to stabilize said tray |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20150069067A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20160023841A1 (en) * | 2014-07-25 | 2016-01-28 | Nestor Charles Villalobos | Single use sealed container assembly for a large format ice unit |
USD968211S1 (en) * | 2021-07-07 | 2022-11-01 | Pinfen Fu | Plastic box |
-
2014
- 2014-07-22 US US14/337,239 patent/US20150069067A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20160023841A1 (en) * | 2014-07-25 | 2016-01-28 | Nestor Charles Villalobos | Single use sealed container assembly for a large format ice unit |
USD968211S1 (en) * | 2021-07-07 | 2022-11-01 | Pinfen Fu | Plastic box |
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