Freezable Gel Pack Assembly

Abstract

A freezable gel pack assembly for enhancing freshness of a food product includes a basket that is comprised of a plurality of intersecting members such that the basket can be positioned around a food bowl. A plurality of gel packs is each integrated into the basket and each of the plurality of gel packs abuts the food bowl when the food bowl is positioned in the basket. Each of the plurality of gel packs is comprised of a thermally conductive material thereby facilitating the plurality of gel packs to be frozen. In this way the plurality of gel packs can cool the bowl when the bowl is positioned in the basket.

Claims

1. A freezable gel pack assembly being positionable around a food bowl thereby facilitating a food product in the food bowl to be cooled, said assembly comprising: a basket being comprised of a plurality of intersecting members wherein said basket is configured to be positioned around a food bowl; and a plurality of gel packs, each of said plurality of gel packs being integrated into said basket wherein each of said plurality of gel packs is configured to abut the food bowl when the food bowl is positioned in said basket, each of said plurality of gel packs being comprised of a thermally conductive material thereby facilitating said plurality of gel packs to be frozen wherein said plurality of gel packs is configured to cool the bowl when the bowl is positioned in said basket.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of intersecting members includes a series of bottom members that radiate outwardly from a central connection point, each of said series of bottom members having a distal end with respect to said central connection point, each of said series of bottom members having a curve located adjacent to said distal end wherein said series of bottom members is configured to conform to curvature of the food bowl.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of intersecting members including a series of horizontal members, each of said series of horizontal members having a first end and a second end, said series of horizontal members being arranged into a top row and a bottom row.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein: each of said plurality of gel packs comprises a pouch having a front wall, a back wall and an outer wall extending between said front wall and said back wall, said outer wall having a top side, a bottom side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side, each of said first lateral side and said second lateral side angling inwardly between said top side and said bottom side such that said pouch has a trapezoidal shape; and each of said first end and said second end of each of said plurality of horizontal members associated with said basket being attached to a respective one of a first lateral side and a second lateral side of said outer wall of said pouch associated with a respective pair of said gel packs.

5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein: said basket includes a plurality bottom members each radiating outwardly from a central connection point, each of said bottom members having a distal end; and said distal end of each of said bottom members being attached to said bottom side of said outer wall of said pouch associated with a respective one of said gel packs such that said plurality of gel packs is arranged to for a ring having said front wall of said pouch being directed toward said central connection point of said basket, said outer wall being comprised of a thermally conductive material wherein said pouch is configured to be in thermal communication with the food bowl when the food bowl is positioned in said basket.

6. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein each of said gel packs includes a gel being contained within said pouch, said gel being comprised of a thermally conductive material thereby facilitating said gel to be frozen, said gel being in thermal communication with said pouch thereby facilitating said gel to lower the temperature of said pouch wherein said pouch is configured to cool the food bowl when the food bowl is positioned in said basket.

7. A freezable gel pack assembly being positionable around a food bowl thereby facilitating a food product in the food bowl to be cooled, said assembly comprising: a basket being comprised of a plurality of intersecting members wherein said basket is configured to be positioned around a food bowl, said plurality of intersecting members including a series of bottom members that radiate outwardly from a central connection point, each of said series of bottom members having a distal end with respect to said central connection point, each of said series of bottom members having a curve located adjacent to said distal end wherein said series of bottom members is configured to conform to curvature of the food bowl, said plurality of intersecting members including a series of horizontal members, each of said series of horizontal members having a first end and a second end, said series of horizontal members being arranged into a top row and a bottom row; and a plurality of gel packs, each of said plurality of gel packs being integrated into said basket wherein each of said plurality of gel packs is configured to abut the food bowl when the food bowl is positioned in said basket, each of said plurality of gel packs being comprised of a thermally conductive material thereby facilitating said plurality of gel packs to be frozen wherein said plurality of gel packs is configured to cool the bowl when the bowl is positioned in said basket, each of said plurality of gel packs comprising: a pouch having a front wall, a back wall and an outer wall extending between said front wall and said back wall, said outer wall having a top side, a bottom side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side, each of said first lateral side and said second lateral side angling inwardly between said top side and said bottom side such that said pouch has a trapezoidal shape, each of said first end and said second end of each of said plurality of horizontal members associated with said basket being attached to a respective one of a first lateral side and a second lateral side of said outer wall of said pouch associated with a respective pair of said gel packs, said distal end of each of said bottom members being attached to said bottom side of said outer wall of said pouch associated with a respective one of said gel packs such that said plurality of gel packs is arranged to for a ring having said front wall of said pouch being directed toward said central connection point of said basket, said outer wall being comprised of a thermally conductive material wherein said pouch is configured to be in thermal communication with the food bowl when the food bowl is positioned in said basket; and a gel being contained within said pouch, said gel being comprised of a thermally conductive material thereby facilitating said gel to be frozen, said gel being in thermal communication with said pouch thereby facilitating said gel to lower the temperature of said pouch wherein said pouch is configured to cool the food bowl when the food bowl is positioned in said basket.

8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein said outer wall of said pouch associated with each of said gel packs has a plurality of perpendicular sides such that said pouch associated with each of said gel packs has a rectangular shape.

9. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein said central connection point is elongated along a longitudinal such that said central connection point has a rectilinear shape thereby facilitating said basket to define a rectangle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0011] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a freezable gel pack assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a perspective in-use view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new gel pack device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0020] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the freezable gel pack assembly 10 generally comprises a basket 12 that is comprised of a plurality of intersecting members 14. The plurality of intersecting members 14 may be comprised of a flexible material, including but not being limited to plastic or vinyl, thereby facilitating the basket 12 to be positioned around a food bowl 16. The plurality of intersecting members 14 includes a series of bottom members 18 that radiate outwardly from a central connection point 20 and each of the series of bottom members 18 has a distal end 22 with respect to the central connection point 20. Furthermore, each of the series of bottom members 18 has a curve 24 located adjacent to the distal end 22 such that the series of bottom members 18 can conform to curvature of the food bowl 16. The plurality of intersecting members 14 includes a series of horizontal members 26. Each of the series of horizontal members 26 has a first end 28 and a second end 30 and the series of horizontal members 26 is arranged into a top row 32 and a bottom row 34.

[0021] A plurality of gel packs 36 is included and each of the plurality of gel packs 36 is integrated into the basket 12. In this way each of the plurality of gel packs 36 abuts the food bowl 16 when the food bowl 16 is positioned in the basket 12. Each of the plurality of gel packs 36 is comprised of a thermally conductive material thereby facilitating the plurality of gel packs 36 to be frozen. In this way the plurality of gel packs 36 can cool the food bowl 16 when the food bowl 16 is positioned in the basket 12. Thus, a food product 38, such as mayonnaise or other perishable food item, can be kept cool in the food bowl 16 thereby extending freshness of the food product 38. Each of the plurality of gel packs 36 comprises a pouch 40 that has a front wall 42, a back wall 44 and an outer wall 46 extending between the front wall 42 and the back wall 44 and the outer wall 46 has a top side 48, a bottom side 50, a first lateral side 52 and a second lateral side 54. Each of the first lateral side 52 and the second lateral side 54 angles inwardly between the top side 48 and the bottom side 50 such that the pouch 40 has a trapezoidal shape. Additionally, as is most clearly shown in FIG. 2, the front wall 42 of the pouch 40 associated with each gel pack 36 may curve outwardly toward the central connection point 20.

[0022] Each of the first end 28 and the second end 30 of each of the plurality of horizontal members 26 associated with the basket 12 is attached to a respective one of a first lateral side 52 and a second lateral side 54 of the outer wall 46 of the pouch 40 associated with a respective pair of the gel packs 36. The distal end 22 of each of the bottom members 18 is attached to the bottom side 50 of the outer wall 46 of the pouch 40 associated with a respective one of the gel packs 36 such that the plurality of gel packs 36 is arranged to form a ring having the front wall 42 of the pouch 40 being directed toward the central connection point 20 of the basket 12. The outer wall 46 is comprised of a thermally conductive material thereby facilitating the pouch 40 to be in thermal communication with the food bowl 16 when the food bowl 16 is positioned in the basket 12.

[0023] Each of the gel packs 36 includes a gel 56 that is contained within the pouch 40. The gel 56 is comprised of a thermally conductive material thereby facilitating the gel 56 to be frozen. Additionally, the gel 56 is in thermal communication with the pouch 40 thereby facilitating the gel 56 to lower the temperature of the pouch 40. In this way the pouch 40 can cool the food bowl 16 when the food bowl 16 is positioned in the basket 12 thereby extending the freshness of the food product 38 in the food bowl 16. In an alternative embodiment 58 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the outer wall 46 of the pouch 40 associated with each of the gel packs 36 may have a plurality of perpendicular sides such that the pouch 40 has a rectangular shape. Furthermore, the central connection point 20 may be elongated along a longitudinal axis such that the central connection point 20 has a rectilinear shape thereby facilitating the basket 12 to define a rectangle. In this way the basket 12 can accommodate a casserole pan 60, for example.

[0024] In use, the basket 12 and gel packs 36 are positioned in a freezer, for example, to facilitate the gel 56 in each of the gel packs 36 to be frozen. The food bowl 16 is subsequently positioned in the basket 12 such that the plurality of gel packs 36 encircles the food bowl 16 and rest against the food bowl 16. In this way the gel packs 36 cool the food bowl 16 thereby facilitating the food bowl 16 to cool the food product 38. Thus, the freshness of the food product 38 is extended while the food bowl 16 is placed on a table during a meal, for example. In this way the food product 38 can be safely consumed during the meal with minimal risk of spoiling.

[0025] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0026] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word comprising is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article a does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.