Patent Publication Number: US-2009238939-A1

Title: Defrosting device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/037,349 filed Mar. 18, 2008. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates, in general, to a defrosting device and, more particularly, this invention relates to a housing for receiving predetermined frozen items therein and within which such predetermined frozen items will be thawed. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, it is generally well known in the prior art to thaw items by microwaving, allowing such items to thaw in refrigerators and on countertops. However, microwaving may change the flavor and texture of food items and may partially cook such food items reducing the quality and appeal of such food items. Allowing items to thaw in a refrigerator or on a counter top can take extremely long periods of time. Furthermore, leaving food items on a counter top to thaw may result in bacterial growth which can cause consumers of such food items to become very ill. 
     Specifically of interest to the present invention are the following: Wojidkow, U.S. Pat. No. 1,045,101, discloses a plate for keeping hot food hot until eaten. Similarly, Wagner, U.S. Pat. No. 1,316,006, also discloses a plate for keeping hot food hot until eaten. 
     Takeda, U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,622, discloses a defrosting apparatus including a housing for accommodating articles to be defrosted, a heater for heating air within the housing, and an air circulation fan for circulating the heated air so that it flows through the space. 
     Mitsugu, U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,038, discloses a defroster having storage area for storing a heat releasing substance and a defrosting plate having a product supporting surface surrounded by an upstanding perimeter edge wall and arranged above the storage area. The storage area includes a hot water reservoir in a first embodiment and the storage area includes a mounting tray for holding a heating element in a second embodiment of the invention. The defroster also includes a cover which covers the product supporting surface. 
     Pearlman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,362, discloses an electrically heated convection oven with built-in rotisserie for rotisserie roasting, baking, broiling, defrosting, and dehydrating foodstuff which is characterized by the use of two motors. One for operating a fan which rotates within the heating chamber to create high velocity air flow throughout the heating chamber; the second one for rotating the rotisserie spit. 
     None of the above cited references provide the benefits attenuate with the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a defrosting device which includes a substantially hollow liquid impervious housing having a predetermined size and a predetermined shape for receiving at least one of a predetermined frozen item, a predetermined amount of a predetermined liquid, and a combination thereof in an interior thereof. An access means is disposed on such housing at a first predetermined location thereon for accessing such interior of such housing. A securing means is operably disposed on such housing at a second predetermined location thereon closely adjacent such access means for securing such access means in a closed position. 
     A method of using a defrosting device includes the steps of providing a defrosting device including a substantially hollow liquid impervious housing having a predetermined size and a predetermined shape and including an access means disposed on said housing at a first predetermined location for accessing said interior of said housing and a securing means operably disposed on said housing at a second predetermined location thereon closely adjacent said access means for securing said access means in a closed position; placing a predetermined item in such interior portion of such housing; placing a predetermined amount of a predetermined liquid having a predetermined temperature in such interior portion of such housing; securing such access means in a closed position; waiting a predetermined amount of time for such predetermined item to thaw; and removing such predetermined item from such housing once such predetermined item is thawed. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a disposable defrosting device for quickly and easily defrosting predetermined consumable items such as meats, fish, and the like. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a defrosting bag which is easy to use and which greatly decreases the amount of time necessary to thaw predetermined consumable items. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an insulated bag which can be filled with heated water of a predetermined temperature, such bag retaining the heat of such water such that such heat is applied to a predetermined frozen or partially frozen item within such bag such that such predetermined item is thawed from being in proximity to such heat. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a simple economical device for thawing frozen beef, fish, poultry, lamb, and other meats and foodstuffs and which is inexpensive and easy to use. 
     In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention; a frozen steak is depicted beside the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention; a user of the device is illustrated placing the frozen steak of  FIG. 1  within the housing. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention; the user of  FIG. 2  is illustrated pouring a predetermined amount of a predetermined liquid into the housing over the frozen steak of  FIG. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention; the user of  FIG. 2 and 3  is illustrated securing the access opening of the housing of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3  in a closed position. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which such housing is a bag having four side walls. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which such housing is such bag as shown in  FIG. 5  and such bag is shown in a closed position with a clip type securing means retaining such bag in such closed position. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures. 
     Reference is now made, more particularly, to  FIGS. 1-6 . 
     The present invention provides a defrosting device, generally designated  10 , which includes a substantially hollow liquid impervious housing  12  having a predetermined size and a predetermined shape for receiving at least one of a predetermined frozen item  14 , a predetermined amount of a predetermined liquid  16 , and a combination thereof in an interior  18  thereof. It is presently preferred that such housing  12  is insulated. 
     An access means  22  is disposed on such housing  12  at a first predetermined location thereon for accessing such interior  18  of such housing  12 . It is presently preferred that such access means  22  is an opening  24  disposed at a top end  26  of such housing  12 . 
     A securing means  28  is operably disposed on such housing  12  at a second predetermined location thereon closely adjacent such access means  22  for securing such access means  22  in a closed position. 
     It is presently preferred that such housing  12  is manufactured from at least one of plastic, metal, fabric, and a combination thereof. Such metal is preferably aluminum. Such plastic is preferably polyethylene. It is further presently preferred that such housing  12  is formed as a bag  32 . 
     According to a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , such bag  32  includes at least one elongated panel  34  folded in half to form side walls  36  of such bag  32 , such side walls  36  being connected to each other at side edges thereof. 
     It is further presently preferred that such securing means  28  includes a male portion  42  disposed on a first interior side wall  44  of such bag  32  and a female portion  46  disposed on a second interior side wall  48  of such bag  32 , such male portion  42  and female portion  46  being engageable with each other and each extending to right and left ends of such bag  32 . 
     It is presently preferred that such bag  32  is formed from a plurality of layers  52  manufactured from a plurality of predetermined materials. It is further presently preferred that such bag  32  includes at least a first water impervious inner layer  54  manufactured from a first predetermined material and a second insulating outer layer  55  manufactured from a second predetermined material. 
     It is presently preferred that such predetermined liquid has a predetermined temperature. Furthermore, it is presently preferred that such predetermined liquid  16  is water  67 . It is presently preferred that such predetermined frozen item  14  is a predetermined food item  62 . It is further presently preferred that such predetermined food item  62  is at least one of beef, poultry, pork, fish, lamb, and a combination thereof. 
     It is meant that a user  11  place such predetermined frozen item  14  in such housing  12  along with such predetermined liquid  16 , for example, water which has been heated to a predetermined temperature may serve as such predetermined liquid and such predetermined frozen item may be meat, such as a steak  65 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 . The insulated housing  12  will retain the heat from the heated predetermined liquid  16  such that the heat is applied to the predetermined frozen item  14  and such predetermined frozen item will thaw. 
     According to another embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , such housing is such bag  32  and such bag  32  includes four side walls  72  connected to each other at side edges  75  thereof and includes a bottom wall (not shown) connected to each of such side walls  72  at bottom edges  77  thereof, such side walls  72  of such bag  12  being flexible such that predetermined portions of two predetermined opposite side walls  76  may be forced inward at predetermined locations such that inner portions  81  of a remaining two opposite side walls  78  may be brought together at top ends  82  thereof for closing an opening  87  closely adjacent top edges  84  of such bag  32 . Various types of securing means may be implemented to close such bag. For example, such securing means may be at least one of adhesive, at least one clamp, at least one clip, a hook and loop type securing means, and a combination thereof. As shown in  FIGS. 5-6  such securing means  28  includes a pair of clips disposed on such bag, such clips may be bendable wire clips. The top of the bag is closed via forcing portions of side walls  76  inwards and bringing side walls  78  together at top ends  82  thereof then the top of such bag can be folded or rolled downward and sides joined by such clips to secure such opening in such closed position. 
     According to the preferred embodiment such defrosting device  10  is disposable. 
     According to a another embodiment such defrosting device is at least one of washable, reusable, and a combination thereof. 
     According to yet another embodiment, a method of using a defrosting device includes the steps of providing a defrosting device including a substantially hollow liquid impervious housing having a predetermined size and a predetermined shape and including an access means disposed on such housing at a first predetermined location for accessing such interior of such housing and a securing means operably disposed on such housing at a second predetermined location thereon closely adjacent such access means for securing such access means in a closed position; placing a predetermined item in such interior portion of such housing; placing a predetermined amount of a predetermined liquid having a predetermined temperature in such interior portion of such housing; securing such access means in a closed position; waiting a predetermined amount of time for such predetermined item to thaw; and removing such predetermined item from such housing once such predetermined item is thawed. 
     While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.