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US 6,386,504 B1Granted
Variable size food molding tray
OwnerFrancis Schemelinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variable size food molding tray apparatus is disclosed, having at least two flat base portions of uniform thickness, with selected sizes in length and width. Multiple frame portions each having a groove along the inner and outer side receive the outer perimeter of the selected flat base portion. Multiple latches are positioned in spaced relation on the second end of the frame portions. The multiple catches are aligned with a movable latch positioned on the top side of the first end of each adjacent frame portion, to releasably secure the frame portions about the selected flat base portion, to form an open topped enclosure there-between. The open topped enclosure receives the food ingredients to be molded, and once the food has set, the multiple frame portions are removed, for ease of cutting the molded food into segments.
Claims14
A food molding tray apparatus, which comprises:
- a) two or more different sized flat base portions having a uniform thickness;
- b) multiple frame portions, each frame portion having a top side, an inner side, an outer side, a bottom side, a first end, and a second end, with the inner side of each of the frame portions having a first elongated groove extending substantially the length of each of the multiple frame portions, the first elongated groove sized to closely receive the uniform thickness of a selected flat base portion therein;
- c) a second elongated groove extending substantially the length of the outer side of each of the multiple frame portions, the second elongated groove sized to closely receive the uniform thickness of a selected flat base portion therein;
- d) a securement means for releasably securing adjacent frame portions, said securement means comprising a tongue and locking groove arrangement formed integrally with the frame portions, wherein each of said multiple frame portions has:
- a tongue extending from its said first end;
- one or more locking grooves formed in its said inner side;
- one or more locking grooves formed in its outer side;
- said first or second elongated grooves to closely and selectively receive the thickness of a selected flat base portion therein;
- wherein said frame portions are removably assembled about said selected flat base portion by engaging the tongue of one of said frame portions in a locking groove of an adjacent one of said frame portions to form an open topped enclosure for use in the preparation of food, and wherein different sized base portions may be used depending on whether the tongue engages said locking grooves on the first side or the second side of said frame portions, the adjacent frame portions to be slidably removed from said flat base portion for ease of cutting the food portions into uniform food segments.
6 more elements
An adjustably sized food molding tray apparatus, comprising:
- a) a first large, rectangular flat base portion, and a second smaller, rectangular flat base portion;
- the first and second flat base portions each having a uniform thickness about the outer parameter;
- b) at least four frame portions, each frame portion having a top side, a first side, a second side, a bottom side, a first end, and a second end, with the first side and the second side of each of the frame portions having a first elongated groove sized to closely receive the uniform thickness of a selected one of the first and second flat base portions;
- c) a first elongated sealing means disposed substantially along the entire length of at least one of the first and second grooves located in each of the at least four frame portions, and a second sealing means secured to the first end of each of the frame portions between the top and bottom sides of each of the at least four frame portions, the elongated sealing means comprising a resilient, tubular member;
- d) a tongue extending from said first end of the at least four frame portions;
- e) a first locking groove positioned in proximity to the second end of the first side of the at least four frame portions, and a second locking groove positioned in offset relation from the first locking groove on the second side of the at least four frame portions;
- f) the tongue selectively engagable with a selected one of the locking grooves located on at least one of the first and second sides of the frame portions for releasably securing adjacent frame portions together about a selected one of the flat base portions, the elongated frame portions extending above the selected flat base portion to form an open top enclosure there-between;
- g) the tongue selectively released from said locking groove to enable the frame portions to be slidably removed from the selected base portion after the molded food is set, for ease of cleaning, transport and storage, and
- wherein the flat base portion serves as a support for the molded food while cutting and serving the individual food portions.
6 more elements
A food molding tray apparatus, comprising;
- a) a plurality of different sized flat base portions to suit various quantities of molded food, the plurality of different sized flat base portions each having a uniform thickness about the outer parameter;
- b) at least four frame portions, each frame portion having a top side, a first side, a second side, a bottom side, a first end, and a second end, the first side of each of the frame portions having a first elongated groove sized to closely receive the uniform thickness of a selected one of the flat base portions therein, and the second side of each of the frame portions having a second elongated groove sized to alternately and closely receive the uniform thickness of a selected one of the flat base portions therein;
- c) a first elongated, resilient, tubular sealing means disposed substantially along the entire length of at least one of the first and second grooves located in each of the at least four frame portions;
- and a second elongated, resilient, tubular sealing means secured to the first end of each of the frame portions between the top and bottom sides of each of the at least four frame portions;
- d) a tongue extending from said first end of the at least four frame portions;
- e) at least two offset locking grooves located in spaced relation on at least one of the first and second sides of each of the frame portions in proximity to the second end of each of the frame portions, the tongue selectively engagable with one of said offset locking grooves to form a securement means for releasably securing adjacent frame portions together about a selected one of the flat base portions, the elongated frame portions extending above the selected flat base portion to form an open top enclosure there-between;
- f) each tongue and locking groove selectively released to enable the frame portions to be slidably removed from the selected base portion after the molded food is set, for ease of cleaning, transport and storage, and
- wherein the flat base portion serves as a support for the molded food while cutting and serving the individual food portions.
5 more elements
An adjustable food molding apparatus comprising:
- a first base portion comprising an outer perimeter, the outer perimeter of said first base portion comprising a uniform thickness;
- a second base portion comprising an outer perimeter, the outer perimeter of said second base portion comprising a uniform thickness, said second base portion comprising a comparatively smaller size than said first base portion;
- a plurality of frame portions, each of said plurality of frame portions comprising a top portion, a first side portion, a second side portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion, said first side portion comprising a first elongated groove extending substantially along a length of said first side portion, said second side portion having a second elongated groove extending substantially along a length of said second side portion, at least one of the first and second elongated grooves configured to receive the uniform thickness of one of said first base portion and said second base portion;
- and
- a securement mechanism for releasably securing adjacent frame portions,
- wherein said securement mechanism allows the plurality of frame portions to be slidably removed from one of said first base portion and said second base portion when food preparation is complete.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.