A STACKABLE TRAY FOR FREEZING OF FISH

Abstract: Stackable tray for freezing of fish, where several upwardly saddles (1) are adapted to receive the weight of a fish towards the bottom of the fish belly, that each saddle (1) being provided with an acute rim (6), that the front edge (2) of the saddle being adapted to receive the belly portion of the fish between the breast fins which are not cut by cutting of the fish, that the rear edge (3) of the saddle (1) being provided with a rear inclined surface to adjust to the anus area of the fish and that a tail holder (4) being arranged at a distance behind each saddle, adapted to receive the tail fin of the fish and contribute to support the fish during handling and freezing.

Description: A stackable tray for freezing of fish The present invention is related to a stackable tray for freezing of fish. For freezing of fish before transportation, to a large extent corrugated plates are used today where cut fish is laid on the back down in to the concave grooves. This leads, however, to a relative large extent to injuries by frost on the fish, thereby decreasing the value of the fish in the market. It therefore is an object for the present invention to provide a stackable tray for freezing of fish where the trays may be stacked empty on each other without sticking to each other, and where the fish is stable on the tray when the tray is brought into the freezing room. The handling and freezing operation should be performed without causing freezing marks on the fish. Further more the tray should allow easy removing of the fish after freezing, meaning removing of all fish on a tray with a manual handling. The above mentioned objects are achieved with the stackable tray according to the present invention as defined with the features stated in the claims. The drawing discloses in figure 1 a tray according the invention seen in a perspective, figure 2 discloses schematically the profile of the belly support as seen from the side and figure 3 discloses the profile of the belly support as seen from the front. The tray according to the invention preferably is manufactured by a vacuum forming of a plastic sheet in polyurethane/polyethylene, ensuring that stacked trays do not stick to each other. It is also important to choose a material for the tray, which ensures that the fish is not freezing in such a way that it is fastened to the tray due to the freezing process. The tray 5 has a number of upwardly protruding saddles 1 having an upper tapered rim 6 which is somewhat rounded down to the sides, adapted for receive the belly of the ship. The rim 6 is adapted to receive the bottom of the belly of the fish and ensures that the fish lies stable as the sides of the fish rest on the sides of the saddle 1. The saddle 1 extends from the anus of the fish to the breast fin in such a way that the remaining part of the fish belly near the breast fin, are guided down above the front edge 2 of the saddle 1 , whereas the anus fins are guided behind the rear edge 3 of the saddle 1. A tail holder 4 is arranged in a distance behind the saddle 1 to contribute to the stable position of the fish. The tale holder 4 is provided with a groove having a width to ensure that the tale bumper does not experience freezing marks when the tail bumper is expanding during the freezing process. The stackable tray according to the present invention suitably may be produced with saddles 1 in two sizes to cover fishes respectively in range of 1-3 kilograms and 3-12 kilograms. It is important, to ensure that the fishes stable on the saddles 1 , that the width of the fish is equally distributed across the saddles 1 without causing freezing marks.

Claims: P a t e n t C l a i m s 1. Stackable tray for freezing of fish, characterised in that several upwardly saddles (1) are adapted to receive the weight of a fish towards the bottom of the fish belly, that each saddle (1) being provided with an acute rim (6), that the front edge (2) of the saddle being adapted to receive the belly portion of the fish between the breast fins which are not cut by cutting of the fish, that the rear edge (3) of the saddle (1) being provided with a rear inclined surface to adjust to the anus area of the fish and that a tail holder (4) being arranged at a distance behind each saddle, adapted to receive the tail fin of the fish and contribute to support the fish during handling and freezing. 2. Tray according to preceding claim, characterised in that the tray is vacuum drawn of a plastic material which may be for example a mixture of polyethylene and polyurethane.

Inventors: FYLLING SVEIN, FYLLING, SVEIN
Applicants: FYLLING SVEIN, FYLLING, SVEIN
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B65D21
IPC codes: A23B4, F25D25