Abstract:
A cookie dough tray is formed with a substantially rigid frame having a plurality of cavities formed from an elastomeric material, each of the cavities being sized to accommodate dough for a single cookie. The cavities may include a convex bottom portion to facilitate inversion of the cavities for removal of the dough.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims the benefit of prior U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/718,390 filed Oct. 25, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to trays for storing cookie dough, particularly as formed into individual cookie portions for storage and subsequent baking. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Cookie dough stores well when frozen, but in its frozen state it is extremely difficult to separate the dough into individual cookie-sized portions. Typically, frozen dough must either be thawed before using, or must be frozen in a cylindrical shape that allows it to be cut in frozen form. It is possible to freeze and store the dough in individual portions, but such frozen dough tends to stick to the container, and separate portions tend to stick to one another. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A preferred cookie dough tray is formed with a plurality of cavities, each of the cavities being sized to accommodate dough for a single cookie. In a preferred version of the invention, the tray is substantially rigid and contains six cookie cavities. In other versions the tray includes twelve cavities or more. 
     The cavities are formed from a soft, flexible material allowing a user to press against an outer surface of the cavity, at least partially inverting the cavity to separate the dough from the cavity. 
     In a preferred version, the cavities are configured as a unitary resilient portion forming several cavities that are joined together. The resilient portion is attached to a relatively more rigid tray which, in a preferred implementation is formed from a different material than the material forming the unitary resilient portion and the cavities. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred and alternative examples of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a preferred cookie dough tray. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of a preferred cookie dough tray. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of a preferred cookie dough tray, taken along line A-A in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a unitary resilient portion of a preferred cookie dough tray. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a preferred cookie dough tray. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a preferred cookie dough tray  10  includes a rigid or semi-rigid upper frame  12 . The frame preferably is formed with a raised rim surrounding a substantially planar central surface area bounded by the raised rim. The rim in the preferred version of the invention extends above the planar surface and further continues below the planar surface for added rigidity and strength. In the illustrated version, several bowls or cavities  31 ,  32 ,  33  are provided for receiving portions of cookie dough, with the cavities organized in multiple rows or sections  20 ,  30 . 
     As best seen in the exploded view of  FIG. 5 , in one version of the invention the tray is configured as a separate rigid frame  12  formed from a first material and having openings configured to receive bowls formed from a second material that is relatively more resilient than the first material. Most preferably, the tray frame is formed from ABS, but other rigid or semi-rigid materials may be used instead. In one version, the bowls or cavities are formed from an elastomeric material such as a TPE, silicone or other resilient materials. 
     In the version of  FIG. 5 , within the central planar portion of the frame  12  several openings  13 ,  14 ,  15  are formed, and in the preferred version of the invention six such openings are provided. Each of the openings serves as a location for a resilient material forming a bowl or cavity, such as cavities  31 ,  32 ,  33  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The interior space of each bowl serves as a cavity configured to receive cookie dough which, in the preferred version, is of a sufficient size to form a single cookie. 
     In the illustrated example, the tray  10  includes a total of six openings, formed in two rows of three. Thus, in a first row three openings  13 ,  14 ,  15  are formed in the tray. Each of the openings is further shaped to include a peripheral rim formed as a short vertical portion and an inward-protruding horizontal flange. A recessed region is provided between adjacent openings to provide a seat for resilient material, as described below. As best seen in  FIG. 5 , a recessed region  16  is formed in the tray between first and second openings  13 ,  14 , and another recessed region  17  is formed between the second and third openings  14 ,  15 . 
     In one version, the resilient material forming the cavities is likewise formed in two unitary pieces  20 ,  30 , each forming a total of three separate cavities. Thus, in one example a first resilient cavity portion  30  is created to form a first group of three cavities  31 ,  32 ,  33  while a second resilient cavity portion  20  is created to form a second group of three cavities  21 ,  22 ,  23 . In other versions of invention, the resilient cavity portions may be formed to define a larger or smaller number of separate cavities. 
     The illustrated versions of the resilient cavity portions are formed with sidewalls that extend downwardly from the top of the planar tray, curving continuously downwardly and inwardly until they reach the cavity floor  34 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . In one version, the sidewalls are continuously curved to define a hemispherical shape. In another example, a portion of the floor of the cavity is shaped to be flat or planar. In the illustrated version, a portion of the cavity floor is formed with a convex shape or a slightly raised dome shape. In such a version, cookie dough is less likely to stick to the bottom of the cavity and releases more freely when a user presses inwardly against an outside portion of the cavity floor. By forming the convex bottom portion within the resilient bowl, the resilient bowl is more readily able to fold upon itself under a force exerted against the bottom of the bowl and toward the frame. 
     As shown, in a version in which the cavity portion is formed to define three separate cavities, most preferably a substantially flat connector portion  38 ,  39  is provided between adjacent cavities  31 ,  32 ,  33 . The connector portions are sized to be snugly received within the recessed portions  16 ,  17  formed in the planar portion of the rigid tray  12 . Accordingly, combined recessed portions and connector portions serve to improve the adhesion between the cavity portion and the tray. 
     At an upper rim along the perimeter of the cavity portion, an inward channel  35  is formed, as best seen in  FIG. 4 . The channel is sized and configured to surround the flange  36  (see  FIGS. 3 and 5 ) formed in the rigid tray  12 , within the rim defining each of the openings. Together, the flange and channel cooperate to provide a surface area for adhering the cavity portion to the tray. In addition, as described above, the connector portions  38 ,  39  adhere to the surface of the tray and provide a larger surface area for a stronger attachment of the resilient portions and the tray. 
     Optionally, the cookie dough tray may further include a lid  40  sized and shaped to enclose the top portion of the tray. Most preferably, the combination of the peripheral rim formed on the tray and the configuration of the lid serve to raise the inside portion of the lid slightly above the top surface of the cavity portion. 
     In use, cookie dough is placed within each of the cavities formed in the cavity portion. The cookie dough tray is then stored, either in a refrigerator or freezer. In order to bake cookies from the frozen cookie dough, a user presses upwardly against the floor of a cavity such that the upward force at least partially inverts the cavity and urges the cookie dough from the cavity. Most preferably, the cavity portions are formed from a resilient material such as TPE or silicone which includes nonstick properties. This further facilitates the release of the cookie dough from the cavity. Once released, the dough may be baked in frozen form or may be thawed before baking. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.