Patent ID: 7159510

Claim:
A food dehydrator including a basket for retaining a food product to be dehydrated, said basket comprising: a) a first grate defined by spaced vertically extending parallel rods extending between a first transverse rod at the upper end of the grate and a second transverse rod at the lower end of the first grate; b) a second grate defined by spaced horizontally extending parallel rods extending between a first side member and a second side member situated parallel to each other on opposite sides of the second grate; c) at least one hinge clip secured to the lower ends of said first and second grates to permit pivotal movement of said grates; d) extensions formed on the opposite ends of said first transverse rod of said first grate, and anchors formed on the first and second side members of said second grate; e) said extensions and said anchors being located at different elevations along the vertical extent of said basket; and f) springs extending at an acute angle between said anchors and said extensions to bias one of said grates upwardly toward the other grate and securely retain the food product placed within the perimeter of the basket.