Abstract:
A device for thawing frozen food requires no electrical energy consumption. A frozen food item is supported by a metallic bottom part and a metallic top part overlies the food item so that the food item is held in sandwiched relation between the top and bottom parts. The distance between the top part and the bottom part is vertically adjustable to accommodate frozen food items of differing sizes. A plurality of heat transfer fins are integrally formed in the top part and deliver heat from the ambient environment into the food item. A second embodiment includes fins on the bottom part as well. Moisture created by the thawing drains away from the food item under the influence of gravity.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates, generally, to food preparation. More particularly, it relates to an environmentally-friendly food-thawing device. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Most food-thawing devices of the prior art are energy-consuming devices. They typically draw electrical current through resistive heating elements to generate the heat required for thawing. Microwave ovens may also be used; the molecules of moisture in the frozen item oscillate at the same frequency as the microwaves and the resulting friction produces heat. 
     It is of course well-known that no energy is consumed if a frozen item is simply exposed to room temperature for an extended period of time. However, depending upon the size, mass, temperature, and heat transfer characteristics of the food article, as well as the temperature, humidity and other parameters of the ambient atmosphere, the amount of time required to thaw may be unacceptably long. 
     What is needed, then, is an environmentally-friendly device that performs the function of food thawing in a relatively short amount of time and in the absence of electrical energy consumption. 
     The needed device should have a simple yet elegant construction so that is it economical to manufacture and easy to use. 
     However, in view of the prior art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how the identified needs could be fulfilled. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The long-standing but heretofore unfulfilled need for a food thawing device that consumes no electrical energy is now met by a new, useful, and nonobvious invention. 
     In a first embodiment, the novel structure includes a bottom part and a top part of predetermined geometrical configuration. The bottom part has a flat support wall adapted to support a food item. The top part has a flat top wall adapted to abuttingly engage and overlie a food item supported by the support wall. An adjustable spacer means for adjusting a vertical spacing between the bottom and top parts is provided so that the device is adapted to accommodate food items of differing sizes. The adjustable spacer means includes a pair of upstanding posts that slidingly engage respective proximal ends of the top part and the bottom part. The pair of posts includes a first post and a second post. 
     First and second bores are formed in a proximal end of the bottom part in transversely spaced apart relation to one another and first and second bores are formed in a proximal end of the top part in transversely spaced apart relation to one another. The first bores are in vertical alignment with one another and the second bores are in vertical alignment with one another. The first bores slideably receive the first post and the second bores slideably receive the second post. 
     In a first embodiment, a plurality of heat transfer fin members is formed integrally with the top part of the novel food thawing device. Each fin of the plurality of heat transfer fins has a broad base and a narrow top and extends the entire longitudinal extent of the top part. The fins could also have an untapered construction. 
     The top part and the bottom part are of metallic construction, preferably aluminum. Heat from an ambient environment is transferred through the plurality of heat transfer fin members to the food item held in sandwiched relation between the bottom and top parts. Accordingly, the food item thaws rapidly in the absence of electrical energy consumption. 
     The bottom part has a flat bottom wall of less extent than the flat support wall of the bottom part. A beveled flat wall interconnects respective distal ends of the bottom part support wall and bottom wall. The device is adapted to be supported by a support surface. The flat beveled wall is adapted to squarely overlie the support surface when the proximal end of the bottom part is in predetermined spaced relation to respective bottom ends of the first and second posts so that the flat support wall of the bottom part is sloped downwardly from a proximal end thereof to a distal free end thereof. 
     A second embodiment also includes a top part and a bottom part of predetermined geometrical configuration but heat transfer fins are formed on both of said top and bottom parts. As in the first embodiment, the bottom part has a flat support wall adapted to support a food item and the top part has a flat top wall adapted to abuttingly engage and overlie a food item supported by the support wall. A plurality of heat transfer fin members is formed integrally with the top wall in upstanding relation thereto and a plurality of heat transfer fin members is formed integrally with the support wall of the bottom part in depending relation thereto. Adjustable spacer means are provided to adjust a vertical spacing between the support wall of the bottom part and the top wall of the top part so that the device is adapted to accommodate food items of differing sizes. 
     Heat from an ambient environment is transferred through the plurality of heat transfer fin members to the food item held in sandwiched relation between the support and top walls so that a food item disposed therebetween thaws rapidly in the absence of electrical energy consumption. The number of fins is doubled in this second embodiment relative to the first embodiment so the time required to defrost an item is shortened. 
     The second embodiment also includes a stand that is detachably secured to the distal end of the bottom part. The stand has a low profile so that the support wall is sloped downwardly as in the first embodiment. In both the first and second embodiments, the preferred slope of the support wall is about thirty degrees. 
     An important object of this invention is to provide a food-thawing device that operates without electrical energy consumption. 
     A closely related object is to provide a food-thawing device that thaws food quickly. 
     Another important object is to provide an easy-to-use device that is readily affordable by consumers. 
     These and other important objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become clear as this description proceeds. 
     The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the description set forth hereinafter and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first illustrative embodiment of the novel food-thawing device; and 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second illustrative embodiment of the novel food-thawing device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the perspective view of FIG. 1, it will there be seen that the reference numeral  10  denotes an illustrative embodiment of the novel food-thawing device as a whole. 
     Device  10  includes top part  12  and bottom part  14 . First post  16  and second post  18  interconnect said top and bottom parts at the respective proximal ends  20 ,  22  thereof. 
     Top part  12  is a heat transfer device. It is preferably formed of aluminum and includes a plurality of heat transfer fins, collectively denoted  24 . Each fin has a longitudinal extent equal to the longitudinal extent of top part  12 . Each fin  24  has a wide base  26  that tapers down to a narrow top  28 . Each fin  24  has a solid construction to enhance its heat transfer capability. 
     Bottom part  14  is also preferably made of aluminum, but in this first embodiment it is not finned as is top part  12 . Bottom part  14  may be of solid or hollow construction, but a solid construction is preferred so that said bottom part may act as a heat sink. 
     Bottom part  14  has a flat support wall  30  that supports a frozen food item, not shown. The length and breadth of said support wall  30  is substantially equal to the length and breadth of top part  12 . Side walls  32  of bottom part  14  have a height substantially similar to the height of fins  24 , i.e., the thickness of bottom part  14  is substantially equal to the thickness of top part  12 . 
     Bottom wall  34  of bottom part  14  has the same breadth as support wall  30  thereof, but it has less longitudinal extent as depicted. A flat beveled wall  36  interconnects the respective distal free ends of support wall  30  and bottom wall  34 . As will be better understood as this description proceeds, flat beveled wall  36  overlies a support surface, not shown, when device  10  is in use. 
     First and second post members  16 ,  18  interconnect top part  12  and bottom part  14  to one another at their respective proximal ends  20 ,  22  as aforesaid. Post members  16 ,  18  are transversely spaced apart from one another and are equidistantly spaced on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of symmetry of device  10 . When device  10  is in use, bottom ends  17 ,  19  of posts  16 ,  18  are squarely positioned atop a flat support surface such as a table top, not shown. Beveled wall  36  also is positioned squarely atop such support surface. Thus, beveled wall  36  and post members  16 ,  18  provide a stable three-point triangular support means for device  10 . 
     Proximal end  22  of bottom part  14  is bored as at  38 ,  40  to slidingly receive post members  16 ,  18 , respectively. Proximal end  20  of top part  12  is similarly bored as at  42 ,  44  for the same reason. 
     Each post member  16  and  18  has an annular shoulder, not shown, formed therein so that upper ends  16   a,    18   a  thereof have a reduced diameter relative to lower ends  16   b,    18   b.    
     To assemble thawer  10 , reduced diameter upper end  16   a  of post  16  is inserted through bore  38  formed in bottom part  14  from the bottom side of said bottom part until the unillustrated shoulder abuts bore  38 . Reduced upper diameter end  16   a  is then inserted through bore  42  formed in top part  12 . 
     Substantially simultaneously, reduced diameter upper end  18   a  of post  18  is inserted through bore  40  formed in bottom part  14  from the bottom side of said bottom part until the unillustrated shoulder abuts said bore  40 . Reduced upper diameter end  18   a  is then inserted through bore  44  formed in top part  12 . 
     The unillustrated shoulder is the only shoulder formed in posts  16 ,  18 . Thus, proximal end  22  of bottom part  14  is positioned a fixed distance above a support surface such as a table when thawer  10  is assembled. 
     Proximal end  20  of top part  12  is slideable along the extent of the reduced diameter part  16   a,    18   a  of posts  16 ,  18 , respectively, there being a frictional engagement between said reduced diameter parts  16   a,    18   a  and bores  38 ,  42  and  40 ,  44 , respectively, that enables such sliding motion to occur when a moderate amount of force is applied to displace said top part  12  along the length of said reduced diameter parts. The friction is sufficient to maintain the proximal ends of the top and bottom parts in a preselected spaced vertical relation to one another when no force is applied to change said vertical spacing. In this way, the vertical distance between the proximal ends  20 ,  22  of top part  12  and bottom part  14  is infinitely adjustable from an uppermost position where said top and bottom parts are vertically spaced from one another by a maximum distance to a lowermost position where top part  12  abuttingly engages and overlies bottom part  14 . 
     Top part  12  has a flat top wall  27  formed collectively by bases  26  of fins  24 . Said flat top wall  27  is adapted to abuttingly engage and overlie a frozen food item supported by flat support wall  30  of bottom part  14 . Accordingly, a frozen food item is held in sandwiched relation to said top and bottom parts  12  and  14  when device  10  is in use. 
     To use the first embodiment of device  10 , posts  16  and  18  are slideably introduced through bores  38 ,  42  and  40 ,  44 , respectively, as described above. The unillustrated annular shoulders in said posts  16 ,  18  thus abut bores  38 ,  40 , respectively as aforesaid and thus position proximal end  22  of bottom part  14  a predetermined distance above a support surface. This imparts a downward slope from said proximal end  22  to the distal free end  46  of bottom part  14 . It also positions flat beveled wall  36  into squarely overlying relation to said support surface. 
     Top part  12  is then raised to its highest, uppermost position. The frozen food item, whether meat, vegetable, bread, fruit, or the like, is then placed atop support wall  30  of bottom part  14  and top part  12  is lowered with respect to posts  16  and  18  until top wall  27  thereof abuttingly engages the food item in overlying relation thereto. In a preferred method of use, top part  12  is pressed down firmly onto the food item to enhance the heat transfer process. 
     Fins  24  quickly transfer heat in the ambient environment into the food item. A sizzling sound is heard as the frost quickly dissipates and the item is brought quickly to room temperature. The downward slant of support wall  30 , caused by the elevation of proximal end  22  of bottom part  14  relative to its distal free end as aforesaid, allows the moisture generated by the rapid thawing to flow downwardly to the support surface so that no moisture accumulates atop support wall  30 . Such accumulation could insulate the food item to some extent and slow the thawing process. 
     Leading edge  46  of bottom part  14  is advantageously placed in open communication with a sink or other basin adapted to receive liquid. 
     Food thawer  10  provides a rapid thaw of any food item and does so in the absence of electrical or other energy consumption. Posts  16 ,  18  may be manufactured in any length to accommodate large food items such as frozen turkeys and the like. Similarly, top and bottom parts  12  and  14  may also be manufactured in any size for the same reason. 
     There is no requirement that top and bottom parts  12  and  14  be rectangular in configuration. They may be square, round, triangular, elliptical, or any other predetermined geometric configuration. 
     Nor must food thawer  10  be made of aluminum. Other metals will work and empirical studies may show that another element or alloy is more optimal than aluminum. 
     Moreover, the unillustrated annular shoulders formed in posts  16 ,  18  are not critical to this invention. Due to the friction fit between posts  16 ,  18  and their respective bores  38 ,  40 , proximal end  22  of bottom part  14  may still be elevated above a support surface by a preselected extent even if no annular shoulders are provided. The unillustrated shoulders ensure that the slope of bottom wall  30  will be about thirty degrees (30°), but without said shoulders a user can still adjust said bottom wall to approximately said slope with no substantial difficulty. 
     Referring now to the perspective view of FIG. 2, it will there be seen that the reference numeral  10   a  denotes a second illustrative embodiment of the novel food-thawing device as a whole. 
     Device  10   a  includes top part  12   a  and bottom part  14   a.  First post  16   a  and second post  18   a  interconnect said top and bottom parts at the respective proximal ends  20   a,    22   a  thereof. 
     Top part  12   a  is a heat transfer device. It is preferably formed of aluminum and includes a plurality of heat transfer fins, collectively denoted  24   a,  that project upwardly in upstanding relation to flat top wall  27   a.  Each fin has a longitudinal extent equal to the longitudinal extent of top part  12   a.  Each fin  24   a  has a uniform width, includes a base  26   a  and a top  28   a,  and has a solid construction to enhance its heat transfer capability. 
     Bottom part  14   a  is also a heat transfer device and is also preferably made of aluminum. It includes flat support wall  30   a  having a plurality of longitudinally extending fins, collectively denoted  48 , that depend therefrom. Support wall  30   a  supports a frozen food item, not shown. The length and breadth of flat support wall  30   a  is substantially equal to the length and breadth of flat top wall  27   a.    
     First and second post members  16   a,    18   a  interconnect top part  12   a  and bottom part  14   a  at their respective proximal ends  20   a,    22   a  as aforesaid. Post members  16   a,    18   a  are transversely spaced apart from one another and are equidistantly spaced on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of symmetry of device  10   a.    
     When device  10   a  is in use, bottom ends  17   a,    19   a  of posts  16   a,    18   a  are squarely positioned atop a flat support surface such as a table top, not depicted. 
     Proximal end  22   a  of bottom part  14   a  is bored as at  38   a,    40   a  to slidingly receive post members  16   a,    18   a,  respectively. Proximal end  20   a  of top part  12   a  is similarly bored as at  42   a,    44   a  for the same reason. 
     Each post member  16   a  and  18   a  has an annular shoulder, not shown, formed therein so that upper ends  16   b,    18   b  have a reduced diameter relative to lower ends  16   c,    18   c.    
     To assemble thawer  10 , reduced diameter upper end  16   b  of post  16   a  is inserted through bore  38   a  formed in bottom part  14   a  from the bottom side of said bottom part until the unillustrated shoulder abuts bore  38   a.  Reduced upper diameter end  16   b  is then inserted through bore  42   a  formed in top part  12   a.    
     Substantially simultaneously, reduced diameter upper end  18   b  of post  18   a  is inserted through bore  40   a  formed in bottom part  14   a  from the bottom side of said bottom part until the unillustrated shoulder abuts bore  40   a.  Reduced upper diameter end  18   b  is then inserted through bore  44   a  formed in top part  12   a.    
     The unillustrated shoulder is the only shoulder formed in posts  16   a,    18   a.  Thus, proximal end  22   a  of bottom part  14   a  is positioned a fixed distance above a support surface such as a table when thawer  10   a  is assembled. 
     Proximal end  20   a  of top part  12   a  is slideable along the extent of the reduced diameter part  16   a,    18   a  of said posts, their being a frictional engagement between said reduced diameter parts of said posts  16   a,    18   a  and bores  38   a,    40   a  that enables such sliding motion to occur when a moderate amount of force is applied to displace said top part  12   a  along the length of said reduced diameter parts. The friction is sufficient to maintain the proximal ends of the top and bottom parts in a preselected spaced vertical relation to one another when no force is applied to change said vertical spacing. In this way, the vertical distance between the proximal ends of top part  12   a  and bottom part  14   a  is infinitely adjustable from an uppermost position where said top and bottom parts are vertically spaced from one another by a maximum distance to a lowermost position where top wall  27   a  abuttingly engages and overlies support wall  30   a.    
     Top wall  27   a  of top part  12   a  is adapted to abuttingly engage and overlie a frozen food item supported by flat support wall  30   a  of bottom part  14   a.  Accordingly, a frozen food item is held in sandwiched relation to said top and bottom parts  12   a  and  14   a  when device  10   a  is in use. 
     Support member  50  is adapted to releasably engage the distal end of bottom part  14   a.  Interconnecting part  52  has a transverse extent substantially equal to the collective transverse extent of depending fins  48 . Grips  54 ,  54  are interconnected to one another and are formed integrally with interconnecting part  52  at opposite ends thereof. Although device  10   a  may be used without support member  50 , said support member is preferably engaged by a detachable press fit to the opposite ends of depending fins  48  when device  10   a  is in use. The height of interconnecting member  52  is nominal, being only a quarter inch or so. Accordingly, support wall  30   a  slopes downwardly to ensure drainage of moisture therefrom. 
     To use food thawer  10   a,  top plate  12   a  is raised to its highest, uppermost position. The frozen food item, whether meat, vegetable, bread, fruit, or the like, is then placed atop flat support wall  30   a  of bottom part  14   a  and top part  12   a  is lowered with respect to posts  15   a  and  16   a  until bottom wall  27   a  of top part  12   a  thereof abuttingly engages the food item in overlying relation thereto. In a preferred method of use, top part  12   a  is pressed down firmly onto the food item to enhance the heat transfer process. 
     Fins  24   a  and  48   a  quickly transfer heat in the ambient environment into the food item. A sizzling sound is heard as the frost quickly dissipates and the item is brought quickly to room temperature. 
     Leading edge  46   a  of bottom part  14   a  is advantageously placed in open communication with a sink or other basin adapted to receive liquid. 
     As in the first embodiment, food thawer  10   a  provides a rapid thaw of any food item and does so in the absence of electrical or other energy consumption. Posts  16   a,    18   a  may be manufactured in any length to accommodate large food items such as frozen turkeys and the like. Similarly, top and bottom parts  12   a  and  14   a  may also be manufactured in any size for the same reason. 
     There is no requirement that top and bottom parts  12   a  and  14   a  be rectangular in configuration. They may be square, round, triangular, elliptical, or any other predetermined geometric configuration. 
     Nor must food thawer  10   a  be made of aluminum. Other metals will work and empirical studies may show that another element or alloy is more optimal than aluminum. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained. Since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. 
     Now that the invention has been described,