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Claims  |
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We claim:
1. A meat spacer tray comprising:
A. a plurality of top rectangular planar members, said members having their
longer sides extending longitudinally and having said members' top and
bottom rectangular planar surfaces co-planar to one another respectively,
wherein the top and bottom surfaces of one said member are coplanar to the
corresponding surfaces of other said members,
B. a plurality of bottom rectangular planar members, said members having
their longer sides extending longitudinally and having each of said
members' top and bottom rectangular planar surfaces coplanar to one
another respectively, wherein the top and bottom surfaces of one said
member are coplanar to the corresponding surfaces of other said members,
and said bottom members are positionally related to the top planar
rectangular members in two ways: the first said way is by two distances,
one being a vertical distance in a direction normal to said members top
planar surfaces giving rise to a space between the bottom surfaces of said
top planar members and the top surfaces of said bottom planar members and
the other being a horizontal distance in a direction normal to said top
members' longer side and the second said way is an alternation of top and
bottom rectangular members wherein all top planar members have two nearest
neighbors of bottom rectangular planar members and vice versa, except for
the two planar recentgular members on the longitudinal outside edges,
C. a plurality of connecting means extending between bottom planar members
and top planar members to secure the relative position of each top planar
member with respect to each bottom planar member positionally adjacent to
said top planar member,
D. a plurality of holes of at least two types; at least one said type
extending between the top and bottom surfaces of top planar rectangular
members, and the other said type extending between the top and bottom
surfaces of bottom planar rectangular members,
E. a plurality of holes, wherein the sides of said holes are the sides of
two connecting means, the top surfaces of bottom planar members, and the
bottom surfaces of the top planar members.
2. The meat spacer tray of claim 1, wherein there is added a plurality of a
first and second type of ribs: the first type is attached to the top
surfaces of bottom planar members wherein said first type forms two outer
walls, which said outer walls are transverse to the longitudinal direction
of said bottom planar rectangular members, the second type is attached to
the bottom surfaces of top planar members, so that a continuous and
coplanar external outer surface consisting of surfaces from both types of
ribs and having the appearance of a uniform outer wall is formed.
3. The meat spacer of claim 2, wherein there is added a plurality of a
first, and second type of ribs: the first type is attached to the top
surfaces of bottom planar members wherein said first type forms at least
one inner rib, said inner rib has a first, second, and third fused
surface: the first fused surface is between the bottom surface of said rib
and the top surface of at least one bottom planar member, the second and
third fused surfaces are between the ends of said rib and two connectors,
the second type forms at least one inner rib, said inner rib has a first,
second, and third fused surface: the first fused surface is between the
top surface of said rib and the bottom surface of at least one top planar
member, the second and third fused surfaces are between the ends of said
rib and two connectors, wherein the sides of said ribs of the first and
second type are colinear with one another and transverse to planar members
so as together to form a continuous brace for planar rectan-gular members.
4. A meat spacer tray comprising:
A. a plurality of top rectangular planar members, said members having their
longer sides extending longitudinally and having each of said members' top
and bottom rectangular planar surfaces co-planar to one another
respectively, wherein the top and bottom surfaces of one said member are
co-planar to the corresponding surfaces of other said members, which said
members are of a first and second type: the first type having two rows of
square holes extending between said type's top and bottom surfaces
wherein: said square holes have rounded corners, the top edges of said
square holes are rounded and the side surfaces of said square holes are
normal to the bottom surfaces of said members; the second type having a
single row of rectangular holes penetrating said type's top and bottom
surfaces wherein the longer sides of said rectangular holes are parallel
to said longitudinal direction,
B. two flanges being attached to the bottom horizontal rectangular planar
surface along both longitudinal edges of each top rectangular planar
member wherein: the sides of said flanges extend downward from the top
planar member so that the bottom surface of each said flange is spaced
above the upper planar surface of the hereinafter recited bottom
rectangular planar members and an angle being formed between one vertical
surface of said flange and the said surface of the planar member is a
right angle, and the other vertical surface of said flange is continuous
with and co-planar to a vertical longitudinal side of said rectangular
planar member, and forms a right angle between said vertical longitudinal
side and the top rectangular planar surface of said top planar member,
C. a plurality of bottom rectangular planar members, said members having
their longer sides extending longitudinally and having each of said
members' top and bottom rectangular planar surfaces co-planar to one
another respectively, wherein the top and bottom surfaces of one said
member are co-planar to the corresponding surfaces of other said members,
which said members are of a first and second type: the first type has a
single row of square holes penetrating the top and bottom horizontal
rectangular surfaces of said member, wherein: said holes have rounded
corners, the side surfaces of said holes are normal to the top surfaces of
said members, and the bottom edges of said holes are rounded, and the
second type has two rows of square holes penetrating the top and bottom
horizontal rectangular surfaces of said member, wherein: said square holes
have rounded corners, the side surfaces of said square holes are at right
angles to the top surfaces of said members, and the bottom edges of said
square holes are rounded; which said members have two sloping longitudinal
sides, wherein: said sloping longitudinal sides are along the two longer
sides of said member, said side and the bottom surface of said member form
an angle between 90.degree. to 150.degree. as measured within said member,
and the top and bottom planar rectangular members are positionally related
to one another in two ways: the first said way is that the outer planar
rectangular members are top planar rectangular members each having a
single row of rectangular holes, and in positions positionally adjacent to
these said members are two bottom planar rectangular members each having a
single row of square holes; the second said way is that in positions
positionally adjacent to the two said bottom planar rectangular members
each said member having a single row of holes are two top rectangular
members each having two rows of square holes wherein positionally adjacent
to each said top planar member are two bottom planar members and said top
and said bottom planar members, alternate with one another so that between
each bottom planar member is a top planar member and vice versa, except
for the two outside top planar members each having a single row of
rectangular holes,
D. a plurality of spaced apart frustum connectors extending between bottom
rectangular planar members and top rectangular planar members which said
frustum connectors are of a first, second, and third type: the first type
is at each end of every bottom rectangular planar member, the second type
is spaced inward toward the center of said bottom rectangular planar
member in the longitudinal direction from the first type, and the third
type is spaced inward toward the center of said bottom rectangular planar
member in the longitudinal direction from the second type and this third
type alternates with this second type along both longitudinal top edges of
the bottom planar member and which said frustum connectors connect the top
surface of said bottom planar member to the side and flange of the top
planar member in a position positionally adjacent to said bottom planar
member, wherein: an angle of 90.degree.-170.degree. as measured internally
is formed between a sloping plane of said frustum connectors and the top
planar surface of said top rectangular planar member and the side of said
frustum connector opposite to the said sloping plane is continuous with
and co-planar to a sloping side of said bottom rectangular planar member,
E. a plurality of rectangular holes defined by the sides of said frustum
connectors, the top surfaces of the bottom rectangular members, and the
bottom surfaces of the downwardly extending flanges,
F. a plurality of ribs comprising a first and second type: the first type
is attached to the top surface of each bottom planar member wherein said
first type forms inner and outer ribs, said outer ribs have a first,
second, and third fused surface: the first fused surface is between the
bottom surface of each said rib and the top surface of each bottom planar
member, the second and third fused surfaces are between the ends of each
said rib and two frustum connectors of the first type so that a right
angle is formed between the top surface of said bottom planar member and
said rib's inner vertical surface in the direction toward the center of
said bottom planar member and so that said rib's outer surface opposite
said inner surface forms a right angle with the bottom surface of said
bottom planar member, and said inner ribs have a first, second, and third
fused surface: the first fused surface is between the bottom surface of
each said rib and the top surface of each said bottom planar member, the
second and third fused surfaces are between the ends of each said rib and
frustum connectors of the second type so that two right angles are formed
between the top surface of the bottom planar member and both vertical
wall-like sides of said rib; the second type of rib is connected to the
bottom surfaces of top planar members wherein said second type forms inner
and outer ribs, said outer ribs have a first, second, and third fused
surface: the first fused surface is between the top surface of each said
rib and the bottom surface of the top planar member, the second and third
fused surfaces are between the ends of each said rib and frustum
connectors of the first type so that a right angle is formed between the
bottom surface of the said top planar member and said rib's inner vertical
surface in the direction toward the center of said top planar member, so
that the outer surface of said rib forms a right angle with the top
surface of the top planar member and so that a continuous coplanar outer
surface is formed consisting of surfaces of alternating outer ribs of said
first and said second types, and said inner ribs have a first, second, and
third fused surface: the first fused surface is between the top surface of
said rib and the bottom surface of a top planar member and the second and
third fused surfaces are between the ends of each said rib and a
combination of flange pieces and frustum connectors of the second type so
that the right angles are formed between the bottom surface of said top
planar member and the two vertical wall-like surfaces of the said rib so
that said vertical surfaces of said rib are co-planar with vertical
surfaces of the first type of inner rib.
5. The meat spacer tray of claim 1 wherein the material used for said meat
spacer tray is polyethylene.
6. The meat spacer tray of claim 2 wherein the material used for said meat
spacer tray is polyethylene.
7. The meat spacer tray of claim 3 wherein the material used for said meat
spacer tray is polyethylene.
8. The meat spacer tray of claim 4 wherein the material used for said meat
spacer tray is polyethylene. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The quick freezing of meat process is aided by the disclosed device.
Presently, most meat processing plants are using either a wooden spacer or
a stainless steel spacer. Several disadvantages are encountered in these
present methods:
1. The cleaning of a wooden spacer is both a difficult and time-consuming
job;
2. Wood has a tendency to splinter and absorb water; and
3. The cost of stainless steel is much greater than the disclosed and
instantly claimed invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A meat spacer tray of molded plastic for freezing and storing meat is
disclosed wherein an open array of holes, ribs, and connectors permit free
circulation of air around meats placed thereon and also will hold
odd-shaped cuts of meat such as hams.
It is an object of this device to be easily cleanable.
It is an object of this device to be nestable for ease of storage when not
in use.
It is an object of this device to avoid crevices which will afford sites
for the undesirable growth of bacteria.
It is an object of this device to have both a one piece construction and a
non-porous surface.
It is an object of this device to be steam cleanable and also withstand low
temperatures of about -60.degree.F.
It is an object of this device to promote efficient air flow to aid rapid
and uniform freezing.
Other objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent to those
skilled in the art upon reading this specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The meat freezing spacer and tray of molded plastic is disclosed in FIGS.
1-4.
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the meat spacer tray of molded plastic.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the bottom corner section of the
meat spacer tray of molded plastic as shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-section side elevation view of the meat spacer
tray of molded plastic along the line 3--3 as shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the meat spacer tray of molded plastic
along line 4--4 in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Our invention consists of a meat spacer tray of molded plastic. The tray
has been specifically designed to facilitate uniform and rapid freezing of
meat by permitting the passage of air around meat placed between two meat
spacer trays. In its simplest form our meat spacer tray consists of the
following basic elements: top planar rectangular members [FIG. 1, 1-6],
bottom rectangular planar members [FIG. 1, 7-11], and connecting means
[FIG. 1, 12-22] to hold the top and bottom planar rectangular members in
fixed positions with respect to one another. To the previously described
basic structure are added the following elements which impart additional
strength and stability to the meat spacer tray, i.e., flanges [FIG. 3, 23]
and ribs [FIG. 1, 24-25]. The top rectangular planar members [FIG. 3, 1-2]
have their longer sides extending in the longitudinal direction of the
spacer and each of said members top and bottom rectangular planar surfaces
are coplanar to one and another, respectively. The top [FIG. 3, 37] and
bottom [FIG. 3, 53] surfaces of one said member [FIG. 3, 1] being coplanar
to the corresponding surfaces [FIG. 3, 38 and 30] of other said members
[FIG. 3, 2]. There are two types of top planar members. The first said top
type [FIG. 1, 2-5] has two rows of square holes [FIG. 1, 26] extending
between said types' top and bottom surfaces wherein said square holes have
rounded corners [FIG. 2, 27], the top edges of said square holes being
rounded [FIG. 3, 28] and the side surfaces [FIG. 3, 29] of said square
holes are normal to the bottom surfaces [FIG. 3, 30] of said top members.
The second said top type has a single row of rectangular holes [FIG. 2,
31] extending between said types' top and bottom surfaces wherein the
longer sides of the said rectangular holes are parallel to said
longitudinal direction of the spacer. The two top outside rectangular
planar members [FIG. 1, 1 and 6] having their longer sides in the
longitudinal direction of said spacer each have a single row of said
rectangular holes [FIG. 2, 31]. The remaining top planar rectangular
members, all have at least one row of square holes. It is to be noted that
the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular kind of
holes in either the top or bottom planar members, nor should the invention
be limited to holes which have particular rounded surfaces or normal sides
to the surfaces of either the top or bottom planar rectangular members.
There are two flanges [FIG. 3, 23] attached to the bottom horizontal
rectangular surface [FIG. 3, 30] along both longitudinal edges of all top
rectangular planar members. The sides of said flanges [FIG. 3, 32] extend
downward from the top planar member so that the bottom surface [FIG. 3,
33] of each said flange is spaced above the top planar surface [FIG. 3,
34] of the hereinafter recited adjacent bottom rectangular members [FIG.
1, 7-11]. These flanges are intended as structural pieces to strengthen
the overall meat spacer tray. One vertical surface [FIG. 3, 36] of said
flange and the bottom said surface [FIG. 3, 35] of the top planar member
forms a right angle and the other vertical surface [FIG. 3, 32] of said
flange is continuous with and coplanar to a vertical longitudinal side
[FIG. 3, 32] of said top rectangular member. Said other vertical surface
of said flange forms a right angle between said vertical longitudinal side
[FIG. 3, 32] and the top rectangular planar surface [FIG. 3, 37] of said
top planar member [FIG. 3, 1].
There are bottom rectangular members [FIG. 1, 7-11] which have their longer
sides extending longitudinally and each of said members top [FIG. 3, 34
and 40] and bottom rectangular planar surfaces [FIG. 3, 39 and 41] are
coplanar to one another respectively. That is, the top [FIG. 3, 40] and
bottom [FIG. 3, 39] surfaces of one said member [FIG. 3, 7] are coplanar
to the corresponding surfaces [FIG. 3, 34 and 41] of other said members
[FIG. 3, 8]. These said members are of two types. The first said type
[FIG. 1, 7 and 11] of bottom rectangular planar members has a single row
of square holes [FIG. 3, 42] extending between the top [FIG. 3, 40] and
bottom [FIG. 3, 39] horizontal rectangular surfaces of said member [FIG.
3, 7]. These holes have rounded [FIG. 2, 43] corners. The side surfaces
[FIG. 3, 44] of said holes are normal to the top surfaces [FIG. 3, 40] of
said members. The bottom edges [FIG. 3, 45] of said holes are rounded. The
second said type [FIG. 1, 8-10] of bottom rectangular planar member has
two rows of square holes extending between the top and bottom horizontal
rectangular surfaces of said member. The said square holes have rounded
corners. The side surfaces of said square holes are at right angles to the
top surfaces of said members. The bottom edges of said square holes are
rounded. It should be noted that the particular arrangement of holes
previously described is but one claimed example in a more general meat
spacer tray wherein the exact nature of the holes generally in a vertical
direction to the top and bottom surfaces of the planar rectangular members
are less defined.
In one embodiment of our meat spacer tray said bottom members have two
sloping longitudinally extending sides [FIG. 3, 46 and 47] wherein said
sloping longitudinally extending sides are along the two longer edges of
said member. They form an angle ranging from 90.degree. to 170.degree. as
measured within said member between one said sloping side [FIG. 3, 46] and
the bottom rectangular planar surface of a bottom planar member [FIG. 3,
39].
The top and bottom planar rectangular members are positionally related to
one another in two ways. The first way is that the outer planar
rectangular members [FIG. 1, 1 and 6] are top planar rectangular members
having a single row of rectangular holes and positionally adjacent
(hereinafter defined) to these said members are two bottom planar
rectangular members [FIG. 1, 7 and 11] each having a single row of square
holes. The second said way is that positionally adjacent to the two said
bottom planar rectangular members [FIG. 1, 7 and 11], wherein each said
member has a single row of holes, are two top rectangular [FIG. 1, 2 and
5] members each having two rows of square holes. Positionally adjacent to
said top planar members [FIG. 1, 2 and 5] are two bottom planar members
[FIG. 1, 8 and 10]. Said top [FIG. 1, 2-5] and said bottom [FIG. 1, 8-10]
planar members alternate with one another so that between each bottom
planar member is a top planar member except for the two outside top planar
members [FIG. 1, 1 and 6]. The top planar members on the outside have at
least one row of rectangular holes [FIG. 3, 31]. The direction of the
longer sides of said rectangular holes is in the longitudinal direction.
The overall arrangement of top and bottom rectangular planar members is
such that between two top planar rectangular members there will always be
a bottom planar rectangular member. Again it is noted for emphasis that
the invention should not and is not intended to be limited to the
particular type and arrangement of holes penetrating the top and bottom
surfaces of the planar rectangular members.
Positions of planar members adjacent to one another mean the two positions
occupied by a top planar member [FIG. 1, 2] and one of its nearest
neighbors, a bottom planar member [FIG. 1, 7 or 8] and vice versa, wherein
if one were to imagine that a top planar member [FIG. 1, 2] were to be
moved down vertically and then moved horizontally in a direction
perpendicular to said members longer side, then said "moved" member would
occupy the same position as said member's nearest neighbor, a bottom
planar member [FIG. 1, 7 or 8] and similarly if one were to imagine a
bottom planar member [FIG. 1, 7] moved upward vertically and then
horizontally in a direction perpendicular to said members longer edge then
said "moved" member would occupy the same position as said members nearest
neighbor, a top planar member [FIG. 1, 1 or 2].
Connecting means are provided to hold the top and bottom planar rectangular
members in a fixed position with respect to one another. Examples of said
connecting means are connectors [FIG. 1, 12-22] and/or transverse ribs
[FIG. 1, 25]. One suitable shape of these connectors is a frustum. For
purposes of illustration the connectors will be referred to as frustum
connectors. A plurality of spaced apart frustum connectors [FIG. 1, 12-22]
extend between bottom rectangular planar members and top planar
rectangular members. In one specific embodiment of our invention, there
are three types of frustum connectors. However, it is to be noted that in
a more general structure, the type and shape of particular connectors need
not be so limited. The first said type of frustum connector [FIG. 1, 12
and 22] is at each end of every bottom rectangular planar member. The
second said type [FIG. 1, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21] is spaced inward toward
the center of the meat spacer tray in the longitudinal direction from the
first said type and is connected along the longitudinal edge of said
bottom planar rectangular member. The third type [FIG. 1, 14, 16, 18, and
20] is spaced inward toward the center of the meat spacer tray in the
longitudinal direction from the said second type and this third said type
alternates with the second said type along both longitudinal top edges of
the bottom planar member. All frustum connectors of types one, two or
three connect the top surface [FIG. 3, 40] of said bottom planar members
to the side [FIG. 3, 32] and flange [FIG. 3, 23] of the nearest (adjacent)
top planar member [FIG. 3, 1 or 2]. The frustum connectors have one side
[FIG. 1, 48, 49, and 50] sloping in such a manner as to form an angle
between said sloping side of the frustum connector and the top planar
surface of the top rectangular planar members. An angle of between
90.degree. and 170.degree. as measured internally is formed between said
sloping planar side [FIG. 1, 48, 49 and 50] of said frustum connectors and
the top planar surface of the top planar rectangular member. The side
[FIG. 3, 51] of said frustum connector opposite the previously described
sloping planar side [FIG. 3, 50] is continuous with and coplanar to the
sloping sides [FIG. 3, 46] of said bottom rectangular planar member [FIG.
3, 7].
A plurality of rectangular holes are defined by the sides of frustum
connectors [FIG. 1, 12-22], the top of the bottom rectangular members and
the bottom [FIG. 3, 33] of the downwardly extending flanges. It is to be
noted that in the more general structure for this invention there are no
flange pieces.
In order to impart strength and stability to our meat spacer or as
connecting means to hold top and bottom planar members in fixed positions
with respect to one another, there are included a plurality of ribs [FIG.
1, 24 and 25]. Said ribs traverse the longitudinal direction of the bottom
planar members. These ribs are of two types. The first type [FIG. 1, 24
and 25] is attached to the top surfaces of bottom planar members wherein
said first type forms inner [FIG. 1, 25] and outer [FIG. 1, 24] ribs. The
outer said ribs [FIG. 1, 24] have three fused surfaces. The first said
fused surface is between the bottom surface of each said rib and the top
surface of each bottom planar member and the second and third fused
surfaces are between the ends of each rib and two frustum connectors [FIG.
1, 12 and 22] of the first type. In one of the specific embodiments, the
first type of rib [FIG. 1, 24] used as an outer wall is connected through
two fused surfaces to two frustum connectors of the first type [FIG. 1, 12
and 22]. A right angle is formed between the top surface of said bottom
planar member and the inner surface of the vertical side of said rib and
the outer surface of said rib forms a right angle with the bottom surface
of said bottom planar member. The inner ribs [FIG. 1, 25] of this first
type have three fused surfaces, the first said fused surface is between
the bottom surface of each said rib and the top surface of each said
bottom planar member. The second and third fused surface are between the
ends of each said rib and frustum connectors [ FIG. 1, 13, 15, 17, 19, and
21] of the second type. In one embodiment of our invention, two right
angles are formed between the top surface of the bottom planar member and
both vertical wall-like sides of said inner ribs.
The second said type is connected to the bottom surfaces of top planar
members wherein said second type forms inner [FIG. 3, 56] and outer [FIG.
3, 57] ribs. Said outer ribs have three fused surfaces: The first said
fused surface is between the top surface of each said rib and the bottom
surface of the top planar member. The second and third said fused surfaces
are between the ends of each said rib and a combination of frustum
connectors of the first type and flanges. A right angle is formed between
the bottom surface of the said top planar member and the inner surface of
the vertical side of said rib. The outer surface of said rib forms a right
angle with the top surface of the top planar member so that a continuous
coplanar outer surface [FIG. 1, 52] is formed consisting of the surfaces
of alternating outer ribs of said first and second types. Said inner ribs
[FIG. 3, 56] have three fused surfaces: The first said fused surface is
between the top surface of said rib and the bottom surface of the top
planar member and the second and third said fused surfaces are between the
ends of each said rib and a combination of flange pieces and frustum
connectors of the second type. Right angles are formed between the bottom
surface of said planar member and the two vertical wall-like surfaces of
the said rib so that said vertical surfaces of said rib are coplanar with
vertical surfaces of the first type of inner rib. It is to be noted that
flange [FIG. 3, 23] described previously can be omitted. Further the
overall appearance of the transverse inner ribs of the first and second
type when aligned with one another is a continuous wall-like member
divided into equal segments by frustum connectors. Said equal segments are
inner ribs alternately of the first and second kind.
It should be noted that by having the longitudinal dimension of all frustum
connectors (hereinbefore discussed) equal to the longitudinal dimension of
all ribs will result in the embodiment that uses only ribs as connecting
means. Note that this effect is approached by connectors [FIG. 1, 12 and
22] of the first type because the longitudinal dimension of said
connectors are almost the same as the outer ribs [FIG. 1, 24] of the first
type.
Our invention of a meat spacer tray also includes a more general embodiment
to be described briefly. In the more general form, our meat spacer tray
comprises a plurality of top rectangular planar members, a plurality of
bottom rectangular planar members and a plurality of connecting means.
The top planar members have the longer sides extending longitudinally and
have said members' top and bottom planar surfaces coplanar to one another,
respectively. i.e. the top and bottom surfaces of one said member is
coplanar to the corresponding surfaces of all other said members.
The bottom rectangular planar members have their longer sides extending
longitudinally and have each of their corresponding top and bottom
rectangular planar surfaces coplanar to one another respectively the top
and bottom surfaces of one said member being coplanar to the corresponding
surfaces of other said bottom members. The top and bottom planar members
are adjacent to [as hereinbefore defined] one another. The arrangement of
top and bottom planar members is such that they alternate with one another
so that the next nearest member for top planar members is always one or
more bottom planar members and vice versa. Also, in our more general
invention, are a plurality of connectors extending between bottom planar
members and top planar members to secure the relative positions of each
top member with respect to said top member's nearest neighbor, at least
one bottom planar member. The width of these connectors may be all of
uniform size or they may vary. For example, if the connectors extended the
whole length of the longitudinal side of the planar rectangular members
then there would be no vertical holes [hereinafter described] but rather a
solid wall-like structure. It is to be noted that the advantage of the
present invention arises from its ability to permit free circulation of
air so that it is a significant feature of our invention to have
connectors running along the longitudinal edge of the bottom planar
members whose width along the longitudinal edge is smaller than the total
width of the longitudinal direction.
A plurality of top and bottom holes which have sides defining an axis in a
horizontal direction and in a transverse direction to the longitudinal
arise from having connectors which do not totally extend the longitudinal
width. A plurality of holes having the following structural members for
said holes sides: Sides of connectors transverse to the longitudinal
direction, top surfaces and longitudinal side surfaces of the bottom
planar members, and the bottom surfaces and longitudinal side surfaces of
the top planar members.
In this more general structure, it is possible to incorporate ribs of the
first and second type as described earlier to traverse the longitudinal
direction of top and bottom planar members and thereby add structural
strength to our invention.
The following use and method of manufacture is but one example and should
not be unduly limiting. There are many variations on the invention herein
disclosed which will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art.
EXAMPLE OF USE
Said meat spacer tray is currently being used in the quick freezing of
meats wherein meat either packaged or not is placed upon one meat spacer,
followed by a second spacer, which is placed upon said first layer of
meat. Several layers of meat are thereby achieved.
It should be noted that the arrangement of meat is such that the meat
spacer placed thereon is level.
The temperatures range that a meat spacer would be subject to in freezing
varies 10.degree. above 0.degree.F to as much as 60.degree.F below.
EXAMPLE OF METHOD OF MANUFACTURE
One method of manufacturing our meat spacer is given in U.S. Pat. No.
3,268,636 invented by Richard G. Angelli, Jr., filed July 1, 1963. There
are a variety of foamable polymeric material indicated such as
polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, etc. which may be employed in
the fabrication of our meat spacer tray.
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Description |
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