FOOD SEPARATORS

Abstract

Various embodiments of food separators are provided. Preferably, the food separator will have a first member which has a length and width, a second member which has a length and width, and a separation member which is built of a first substantially upright member which has a first base and a second base and a second substantially upright member which has a third base and a fourth base. The first base is connected to the third base at an angle, the first member is connected to the second base, and the second member is connected to the fourth base.

Claims

1. A food separator, comprising: a first member, having a first length and a first width; a second member, having a second length and a second width; a separation member, comprising: a first substantially upright member having a first base and a second base; and a second substantially upright member having a third base and a fourth base, wherein said first base is connected to said third base at an angle, wherein said first member is connected to said second base, and wherein said second member is connected to said fourth base.

2. The food separator of claim 1, wherein said third base and said first base are located in a first plane and said second base and said fourth base are located in a second plate.

3. The food separator of claim 1, further comprising a first skirt attached to said first length and a second skirt attached to said second length.

4. The food separator of claim 1, wherein said third base and said first base are equally sized.

5. The food separator of claim 1, wherein said second base and said fourth base are equally sized.

6. The food separator of claim 1, wherein said third base and said first base are equally sized, and said second base and said fourth base are equally sized, wherein said third base and said first base are longer than said second base and said fourth base.

7. The food separator of claim 1, wherein said first length, said second length, said second base and said fourth base have an equal length.

8. The food separator of claim 1, wherein said food separator is constructed out of a material selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, steel, plastic, and ceramic.

9. A food separator, comprising: a first separation member, having a first base, a second base, and at least one slot; and a second separation member, having a third base, a fourth base, and at least one slot, wherein said at least one slot of the first separation member extends from said second base, wherein said at least one slot of the second extension member extends from said third base, wherein said at least one slot of the first separation member and at least one slot of the second separation member are complimentarily sized.

10. The food separator of claim 9, wherein said first base and said third base have lengths of 6.38″, wherein said second base and said fourth base having lengths of 7″, and wherein said food separator has a height of 1.38″.

11. The food separator of claim 9, wherein said first base and said third base have lengths of 7.63″, wherein said second base and said fourth base having lengths of 8.37″, and wherein said food separator has a height of 1.5″.

12. The food separator of claim 9, further comprising a first angle and a second angle between said first member and said second member.

13. The food separator of claim 10, wherein said first angle is 60°.

14. The food separator of claim 10, wherein said first angle and said second angle are 60°.

15. The food separator of claim 10, wherein said first angle and said second angle are variable.

16. The food separator of claim 9, wherein said food separator is constructed out of a material selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, steel, plastic, and ceramic.

17. A food separator, comprising: a front trapezoidal face having a top base and a bottom base; a back trapezoidal face having a top base and a bottom base; a left trapezoidal face having a top base and a bottom base; a right trapezoidal face having a top base and a bottom base; a top face having a length and a width; and a bottom face having a length and a width, wherein said top face width is larger than said bottom face width.

18. The food separator of claim 17, wherein said top base of said front trapezoidal face is 7.33″ and said bottom base of said back trapezoidal face is 6.82″; and wherein said food separator has a height of 2.86″.

19. The food separator of claim 18, wherein said top base of said back trapezoidal face is 7.33″ and said bottom base of said back trapezoidal face is 6.82″.

20. The food separator of claim 17, wherein said bottom base of said left trapezoidal face and said bottom base of said right trapezoidal face have lengths of 11″, wherein said top base of said left trapezoidal face and said top base of said right trapezoidal face have lengths of 12.5″, wherein said bottom base of said front trapezoidal face and said bottom base of said back trapezoidal face have lengths of 7″, wherein said top base of said front trapezoidal face and said top base of said back trapezoidal face have lengths of 8″, wherein said food separator has a height of 3″.

21. The food separator of claim 17, wherein said bottom base of said left trapezoidal face and said bottom base of said right trapezoidal face have lengths of 8″, wherein said top base of said left trapezoidal face and said top base of said right trapezoidal face have lengths of 10″, wherein said bottom base of said front trapezoidal face and said bottom base of said back trapezoidal face have lengths of 5.38″, wherein said top base of said front trapezoidal face and said top base of said back trapezoidal face have lengths of 7″, wherein said food separator has a height of 3″.

22. The food separator of claim 17, wherein said bottom base of said left trapezoidal face and said bottom base of said right trapezoidal face have lengths of 7.12″, wherein said top base of said left trapezoidal face and said top base of said right trapezoidal face have lengths of 8.25″, wherein said bottom base of said front trapezoidal face and said bottom base of said back trapezoidal face have lengths of 7.12″, wherein said top base of said front trapezoidal face and said top base of said back trapezoidal face have lengths of 8.25″, wherein said food separator has a height of 1.62″.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1.

[0033] FIG. 4A shows a side view of an embodiment of the first separation member of the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 4B shows a side view of an embodiment of the second separation member of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the first and second separation members inside of a round storage container.

[0036] FIG. 6A shows a front view of an embodiment of the front trapezoidal face of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 6B shows a front view of an embodiment of the left trapezoidal face of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention inside a rectangular pan.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals.

[0040] Reference will now be made in detail to each embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto.

[0041] While this disclosure refers to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications will be appreciated by those skilled in the art to adapt a particular instrument, situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the spirit thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Here, food separator 100 comprises first member 101, second member 102, separation member 103 which consists of first substantially upright member 104 and second substantially upright member 105. Food separator 100 is shaped such that it provides a physical gap and barrier between items located on either side of the foot separator. Preferably, food separator 100 will be used with a standard pan. More preferably, this pan is a lasagna pan, but any other appropriately shaped pan will be suitable. A pan is suitably shaped if food separator 100 can substantially stop the flow of liquid across separation member 103 due to separation member 103 being proximate to the walls of a pan.

[0043] Food separator 100 can have many sizes, and will optimally be matched to a particular pan size. Preferably, separation member 103 is 9.7 inches long, first member 101 and second member 102 are 8.37 inches long, and separation member 103 has a height of 2.45 inches. Preferably, food separator 100 will have a thickness of 0.79 inches, but it may be as thick as 1 inch. In another preferred embodiment, separation member 103 is 11.48 inches long and first member 101 and second member 102 are 10.17 inches long.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1. Here, the present invention comprises first member 101, second member 102, first substantially upright member 104, second substantially upright member 105, and angle 110. Preferably, this angle is 27°, but angle 110 may range from 15° to 165°.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 3, a top view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is shown. Here, the present invention features first base 106, second base 107, third base 108, and fourth base 109. In some embodiment's first base 106, second base 107, third base 108, and fourth base 109 all have the same lengths, while in other preferred embodiments, they have varying lengths to create various geometric shapes. In a highly preferred embodiment, third base 108 and said first base 106 are longer than second base 107 and said fourth base 109. Preferably, third base 108 and first base 106 are the same length, and second base 107 and fourth base 109 are also the same length, giving separation member 103 (See FIG. 1) a substantially trapezoidal appearance. This is by design as many standard pans have sloped walls such that this embodiment of the present invention fits snugly within these pans. In various embodiments, the present invention is constructed out of a material selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, steel, plastic, and ceramic. Preferably, the present invention will be constructed out of aluminum or ceramic such that the present invention may safely be placed in an oven or microwave to allow for convenient reheating of any stored food.

[0046] FIG. 4A shows a side view of an embodiment of the first separation member of the present invention, and FIG. 4B shows a side view of an embodiment of the second separation member of the present invention.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 4A, first separation member 201 is provided, showing first base 202, second base 203, and first slot 204. Preferably, second base 203 will be wider than first base 202. This is so that first separation member 201 will be substantially trapezoidal in shape, to facilitate a snug fit within most standard food storage containers.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 4B, second separation member 205 is provided, showing third base 206, fourth base 207, and second slot 208. Preferably, third base 206 will be wider than fourth base 207. This is so that second separation member 205 will be substantially trapezoidal in shape, to facilitate a snug fit within most standard food storage containers.

[0049] In some embodiments, the present invention is optimized for a round food container having a base diameter of 6 inches. In that instance, first base 202 and third base 206 have lengths of 6.38″, and second base 203 and fourth base 207 have lengths of 7″. Preferably the present invention height of 1.38″. In other embodiments, the present invention is optimized for a round food container having a base diameter of 7 inches. In that instance, first base 202 and third base 206 have lengths of 7.63″, and second base 203 and fourth base 207 have lengths of 8.37″. Preferably the present invention height of 1.50″.

[0050] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the first and second separation members inside of a round storage container. Preferably, first separation member 201 and second separation member 205 (See FIG. 4B) will be attached together via first slot 204 and second slot 208 (See FIG. 4B) to provide four separate containment areas. This is shown by FIG. 5. When first separation member 201 and second separation member 205 are interfaced via first slot 204 and second slot 208 (See FIG. 4B), first angle and a second angle between first separation member 201 and second separation member 208. Preferably, this first and second angle are 60°, but these may range from 15° to 165° depending on the tolerances of first slot 204 and second slot 208. In other embodiments, these angles are variable and may be set by a user.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 6A, a front view of an embodiment of the front trapezoidal face of an embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment of front trapezoidal face 301 shows top base 302 and bottom base 303. The lengths of top base 302 and bottom base 303 are preferably sized to create a trapezoid. This shape is preferable for a snug fit with most standard pans. This particular embodiment is optimized for rectangular pans but can be used in other pans. In most embodiments, the rear trapezoidal face of the present invention mirrors the dimensions of the front trapezoidal face 301.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 6B, a front view of an embodiment of the left trapezoidal face of an embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment of left trapezoidal face 304 shows top base 305 and bottom base 306. In a preferred embodiment, the top base of front trapezoidal face 301 is 7.33″ and said bottom base of front trapezoidal face 301 is 6.82″. In another preferred embodiment, the bottom base of left trapezoidal face 304 and the bottom base of said right trapezoidal face (not shown) have lengths of 11″, the top base of left trapezoidal face 304 and the top base of right trapezoidal face (not shown) have lengths of 12.5″, the bottom base of front trapezoidal face 301 and the bottom base of back trapezoidal face (not shown) have lengths of 7″, the top base of front trapezoidal face 301 and the top base of said back trapezoidal face (not shown) have lengths of 8″, and the present invention has a height of 3″. This is optimized for a 7″×12″ rectangular pan.

[0053] In another preferred embodiment, the bottom base of left trapezoidal face 304 and the bottom base of said right trapezoidal face (not shown) have lengths of 8″, the top base of left trapezoidal face 304 and the top base of right trapezoidal face (not shown) have lengths of 10″, the bottom base of front trapezoidal face 301 and the bottom base of back trapezoidal face (not shown) have lengths of 5.38″, the top base of front trapezoidal face 301 and the top base of said back trapezoidal face (not shown) have lengths of 7″, and the present invention has a height of 3″. This is optimized for an 8″×10″ rectangular pan.

[0054] In some embodiments, the present invention is equipped with a first skirt and a second skirt where the skirts are attached to the first and second member of the present invention, respectively. These skirts help prevent the migration of juices.

[0055] In another preferred embodiment, the bottom base of left trapezoidal face 304 and the bottom base of said right trapezoidal face (not shown) have lengths of 7.12″, the top base of left trapezoidal face 304 and the top base of right trapezoidal face (not shown) have lengths of 8.25″, the bottom base of front trapezoidal face 301 and the bottom base of back trapezoidal face (not shown) have lengths of 7.12″, the top base of front trapezoidal face 301 and the top base of said back trapezoidal face (not shown) have lengths of 8.25″, and the present invention has a height of 3″. This is optimized for a 7″×7″ rectangular pan.

[0056] When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. Similarly, the adjective “another,” when used to introduce an element, is intended to mean one or more elements. The terms “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive such that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.