Sub-0 home freezer

Abstract

An occasional use domestic counter top flash freezer. To accomplish this, all aspects of the refrigeration process have been scaled down into a unique and economical flash freezer for the home, here to for unavailable to the consumer. A refrigeration engine is contained within a light weight and low cost enclosure; and chills a diminutive cold chamber to temperatures substantially below 18 C. The cold chamber is sized to accommodate a small batch of foodstuffs at a time, such that the rate of heat removal effects flash freezing; the process of preventing formation of large cellular ice crystals. This appliance is an adjunct to a domestic home refrigerator/freezer, enabling the consumer, for the first time, to effectively freeze foodstuffs for later consumption, while not sacrificing taste! Thus, it will do for food preservation what the microwave has done for food preparation in the home.

Claims

1. A domestic portable countertop flash freezer for initially freezing foodstuffs prior to long term storage in a home freezer comprising: a) an enclosure having a storage area, a cover, a cold chamber, a lid, and a base portion; b) a refrigeration engine having a compressor, a condenser and an expansion valve disposed within the storage area and an evaporator disposed within the cold chamber; c) the base portion including an L-shaped interior sidewall defining an interior space and dividing the interior space to define the cold chamber and the storage area; d) the cold chamber including a base plug extending between the L-shaped interior sidewall and a first wall of the cold chamber and a second wall of the cold chamber and an exterior wall of the base portion, creating an insulation channel of dead air between a bottom of the cold chamber, the L-shaped interior sidewall and the first wall of the cold chamber and the second wall of the cold chamber and an exterior wall of the base portion; e) the cover fixed to the base portion and enclosing the storage area; f) the lid removably positioned over and covering the cold chamber; g) the refrigeration engine maintaining the cold chamber at a temperature below 0 F. for flash freezing a single portion of foodstuffs; and h) the flash freezer being configured for hand carrying by a user.

2. The domestic portable countertop flash freezer according to claim 1, further including a power switch for activating and deactivating the freezer for controlling operational time and energy consumption upon completion flash freezing operation.

3. The domestic portable countertop flash freezer according to claim 1, further including status indicators for indicating state of operation of the flash freezer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention with the top separated and the bottom cut-away providing insight of internal details.

(2) FIG. 2 is a rendering, in perspective, of the counter top flash freezer for the home, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, and showing all user accessible areas.

(3) FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the lower portion of FIG. 2 illustrating internal details of the cold chamber (41), insulation channel (50) and related components, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) Referring to the figures and table of reference numbers above, the Sub-0 Home Freezer is comprised of an enclosure, to contain and fix in place all components, and a conventional refrigeration engine (70) to remove heat. The engine is shown to present the interrelation of the various components. Depicted are: the compressor (71), condenser (72), evaporator (73), expansion device (74)shown as a X in a circle, refrigerant line (75), and refrigerant flow direction (76). Not shown are fans, controls, or power cords.

(5) The Enclosure (10) consists of the Cover (20) secured to the Base (30), and Lid (21). The Lid (21) is shown as hinged on the right, in the open position, however it could be attached at various other locations, or just be a loose item. Preferably, the enclosure would be molded in plastic, to accommodate its various functions. Further, FIG. 2 shows all user accessible areas. The Cold Chamber (41) is a spatial area encircled by the Evaporator (73) which in turn is encircled by the Insulation Channel (50). An example item of Foodstuffs (42) is situated in the Cold Chamber (41) and resting on the Foodstuffs Tray (40). The tray serves limit direct contact of the foodstuffs with the Evaporator (73) while facilitating loading and removal of the Foodstuffs (42). In addition, this tray minimizes the user to exposure of the very cold Evaporator (73) surface, and facilitates clean up.

(6) In order to achieve flash freezing, the cold chamber (41) must attain a temperature substantially below 0 F., and then reasonably maintain that temperature during the brief period of operation. To attain this temperature, those skilled in the art have many choices of refrigeration engine components, parameters and refrigerants that will develop the desired temperature in the Cold Chamber (41). The designer may offer the user a fixed state one temperature system or offer the user various settings to choose from depending upon intended use. Much like the popcorn or baked potato choices on microwave ovens.

(7) Secondly, the efficiency of the system is further enhanced by effectively insulating the cold chamber (41). FIG. 3 is a sectional view from front to rear of the, along line 3-3 thru the Cold Chamber (41) and adjacent components. The Foodstuffs (42) are situated on the Foodstuffs Tray (40) which in turn is encircled by the Evaporator (73). The Evaporator (73) is in turn encircled by a portion of the Base (30), forming a channel. Upon assembly of the Base Plug (31) to the Base (10) a sealed chamber is formed. This in-turn forms an Insulation Channel (50), which completely encases the Evaporator (73) on five sides. Thus forming a thermal insulator comprised of dead air. Dead air (i.e. still air) is on par with urethane foam insulation; and is both free and lower mass. The chamber's insulating properties could be further enhanced by creating a partial vacuum at assembly. While thermal conductivity approaches zero as the level of vacuum is increased, maintaining the vacuum over time may require more sophisticated materials and assembly methods than the added cost would warrant.

(8) Operational efficiency is further enhanced by a vertical (as shown) or near vertical orientation of the Cold Chamber (41). This orientation takes advantage of cold air being heavier than warm air.

(9) Considering this is specifically an occasional use appliance, it is assumed the user will desire to move it to a storage area when not in use. Thus emphasis is placed on mass and size. Portability implies both minimal weight and size. Not shown, but features like a non-skid base or handles could be added for user convenience. The essence here then is a scaled down flash freezing system which has not been described by prior art or in the literature.

(10) The Switch (61) and Status Indicator (62) are mounted on the Base (10), away from the Insulation Channel (50), so as not to compromise the integrity of the insulation channel. A power cord and electrical controls are assumed.

(11) Other components and/or orientations may produce similar results that skilled practitioners could choose to employ. Clearly advanced features, such as temperature sensors, ready/done indicators, and timers could be incorporated to enhance marketability or improvements as desired.

(12) Traditional thinking about any refrigeration device is that it would require two men and a dolly to move. By scaling down all aspects of the Sub-0 Home Freezer, mass has been removed to facilitate the concept of a portable counter top freezer. The biggest factor for scaling down a freezer is the size of the Cold Chamber (11). Considering the Sub-0 Home Freezer is intended to freeze small quantities at a time, the user can do this in several iterations. Thus, the Cold Chamber (11) can be diminutive. That causes a cascade effect. Now the condenser and compressor are respectively reduced in size and mass. The later being most significant here.

(13) Other mass factors include the: cabinetry {i.e. the Base (10) and Cover (20)}, which as described here are molded plastic, and hence orders of magnitude lower mass than steel. Probably air is the lowest mass attainable for its insulating properties in this type application. Not just any form of air, rather what is referred to in the art as dead air. That is stagnate air.

CONCLUSIONS AND RAMIFICATIONS

(14) Thus the reader will see that the above embodiments provide the consumer with a refrigeration system heretofore unavailable to them. The concepts presented offer the consumer a revolutionary new and effective means of preserving foodstuffs for later use.

(15) While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather an exemplification of the several embodiments described thereof. Many other variations are possible. The indicator and switch could be a simple elements, as shown, or multifunction devices. For example, there could be multiple lights or a digital display, while the switch could offer the user various settings for preparing a particular type of foodstuffs, or the system could be started by simply plugging into an electrical outlet. These features could be added as marketing features. For example, the system could be powered by a battery or a flame, rather than house current. Additionally, rather than a hinged door, the closure could be a cover similar to that of a picnic cooler. Scientific and medical laboratories may find the simple operation ideally suited for quick and low cost sample preparation.

(16) Accordingly, the scope should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.