ENCLOSED MEASURED FOOD STORAGE FREEZER TRAY FOR INFANTS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Technical Field

The present invention relates to freezer trays for storage of human breast milk. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for an enclosed measured food storage freezer tray utilized for facilitating the storage of human breast milk and pureed food for the consumption by infants, wherein the inventive freezer tray includes a snap-on lid and exhibits design characteristics which are intended to limit the volumetric dimensions of each freezer tray channel cube for providing a measured volume of one fluid once for {a} providing a correct measured amount of fluid for an infant under the age of two years, {b} reducing food waste, and {c} successful insertion of each frozen channel cube into a conventional infant feeding container.

Background Art

Ice cubes are very useful in chilling and cooling food and beverages. In modern refrigeration systems, freezer trays are commonly used to change the state of water or other fluid substances into frozen blocks or cubes for convenient use. In preserving food substances for use by infants, the volume and dimensions of the channels of a freezer tray are important. Unfortunately, conventional freezer trays of the prior art are not directed to an enclosed, measured food storage freezer tray that are designed to have a measured volume for providing the proper amount of food for infant consumption and for reducing food waste, and where the size of the frozen cubes are compatible with the mouth of a conventional baby bottle.

Freezer trays are well known in the art. They exist for freezing water into ice cubes for use in cooling beverages, ice bags and the like. Certain speciality freezer trays are also likely known for use in storing special food items. Each of the freezer trays has a plurality of compartmentalized channels wherein once filled with a food or fluid, each channel provides a frozen cube of typically a standard size.

The prior art freezer trays are typically designed to a standard size having twelve-to-sixteen channels per tray each having conventional dimensions. Older freezer trays were fashioned from metal such as, for example, aluminum and included a mechanical handle release mechanism to remove the frozen cubes from the channels. Newer freezer trays are comprised of a more flexible material such as plastic or a synthetic material wherein the newer freezer trays can be manually manipulated such as by twisting them to release the frozen cubes from the channels. The freezer trays of the prior art and their conventional designs and dimensions do not meet the modern needs for storing measured amounts of human breast milk and pureed food in an enclosed environment for consumption by infants.

Prior art patents and publications directed to conventional freezer trays utilized for food storage systems will now be mentioned that may be relevant to the enclosed measured food storage freezer tray for infants of the present invention.

Prior art patents and publications directed to freezer trays will now be mentioned that may be relevant to the enclosed measured food storage freezer trays for infants of the present invention.

In U.S. Pat. No. 2,594,127 issued to Collier on Apr. 22, 1952 entitled Ice Cube Tray, there is disclosed an ice cube tray of the conventional design fashioned to facilitate the removal of the ice cubes with ease. The tray has the ice cube cavities in the upper face thereof and a flange or skirt depending from its lower face to form a chamber which may be filled with hot water to expedite the removal of the cubes. A cover plate for the tray has depressions in the lower face thereof for the reception of the cubes as they fall from the freezing cups in the plate.

In U.S. Pat. No. 2,741,103 issued to Cummins on Apr. 10, 1956 entitled Mold for Freezing Liquids, there is disclosed an improved ice freezing tray that facilitates the production of frozen objects of cylindrical formation capable of being inserted in the necks of vacuum bottles and to avoid the necessity of filling each mold cavity individually.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,097 issued to Dale on Mar. 14, 1995 entitled Ice Cube Trays With Integral Lids, there is disclosed an ice cube tray comprising a tray having an upper horizontal peripheral ledge and an upwardly extending vertical periphery terminating in an upper edge, a plurality of planar connectors in a grid pattern located in the plane of the upper ledge and a plurality of compartments extending downwardly from the connectors, each of the compartments having a lower horizontal surface parallel with, but spaced beneath the upper horizontal plane with the connectors at a depth essentially equal to the distance of the depth of the water placed in the tray and the resulting ice cubes, each of the compartments also including a plurality of generally vertically extending sidewalls in a rectangular configuration extending between the connectors and the lower horizontal surface.

In U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2005/0064069 issued to Adams on Mar. 24, 2005 entitled Small Girthed Ice Articles and Trays For Making Same, there is disclosed a first form of an ice stick having a rectangular shape, a flat upper surface and a tub-shaped sidewall, and having rounded corners. Preferred dimensions are on the order of: four inches long, about three-quarters of an inch wide, and about one-half of an inch deep. A second form of the ice stick has a generally elliptical cross-section sidewall which gently tapers from an upper face toward an opposite bottom face. Preferred dimensions thereof are on the order of: about three inches long, wherein at the upper face the ellipse has a major axis of about three-quarters of an inch and a minor axis of about one-half of an inch, and wherein at the lower face the ellipse has a major axis of about three-eights of an inch to about seven-sixteenths of an inch, however these dimensions may vary. To provide the first form of ice sticks, a multi-compartmentalized lateral tray is provided, preferably formed of plastic. Each compartment is shaped complimentary to the aforementioned shape of the sidewall of the first form of ice stick. To provide the second form of ice stick, a vertical tray is provided, preferably formed of plastic, having a plurality of vertical compartments which are closed at the bottom, and each having the cross-sectional shape of the sidewall of the second form of ice stick.

In U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2006/0193753 issued to Redburn on Aug. 31, 2006 entitled System and Method For Cold Specimen Transport, there is disclosed a system and method for cooling, storing, and transporting specimens within a container, wherein the system includes a temperature control medium for maintaining the stored specimens at a desired temperature grade.

In UK Patent Application No. GB 2,428,961 issued to Johnson on Feb. 14, 2007 entitled A Weaning Tray, there is disclosed a weaning tray comprising an Ice cube tray with an air tight lid to allow the freezing of food portions for a baby that is shaped to allow the tray to fit inside a baby sterilizing unit. Preferably the tray has variable sized cubes to allow the freezing of variable sized food portions for babies of different ages. The tray may be made from a plastic that is microwave proof, freezer proof and may be sterilized. At the bottom of each cube there may be a push button to pop up one frozen food cube at a time.

In Japanese Patent Publication No. JP 3,149,489 issued to Matsumoto on Apr. 2, 2009, entitled Silicon Ice Tray comprising a silicon ice tray for freezing baby food having several storage (compartments) portions who edges are fashioned into a curved shape. Also, a groove for accommodating a memory is provided in a lid for closing the ice tray. The function of the silicon ice tray is for freezing baby food. The extraction of the frozen substance is performed with less force, by using silicon material for the ice tray. The burden with respect to maintenance is reduced by setting the edges of the stored portions into a curved shape. The smell change can be prevented by providing the lid. The effort of measurement can be saved by providing the memory.

Therefore, there is a need for freezer trays for storing food for infants such as human breast milk and pureed food in a specific limited measured volume for providing the proper amount of food for consumption by infants under the age of two years and for reducing food waste, wherein the freezer tray includes a snap-on lid for facilitating containment of the food or fluid in the freezer tray, the frozen channel cubes being of a suitable size as to fit through the mouth opening of a conventional infant feeding container.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, and in general terms, the present invention provides a new and improved enclosed measured food storage freezer tray for infants for use in storing food such as human breast milk and pureed food in a specific limited measured volume for providing the proper amount of food for consumption by infants under the age of two years and for reducing food waste, wherein the freezer tray includes a snap-on lid for facilitating containment of the food or fluid in the freezer tray, and wherein a plurality of frozen food cubes are created each being of a suitable size as to fit through the mouth opening of a conventional infant feeding container such as, for example, a baby bottle.

The present invention is embodied in an enclosed measured food storage freezer tray that includes a tray assembly comprising a tray portion, a tray lid and a plurality of adhesive identification labels. The tray portion and the tray lid are typically comprised of a silicone-plastic material and the tray portion includes a plurality of freezer tray channels such as, for example, eight freezer tray channels. Each freezer tray channel has a plurality of upward extending walls and a horizontal base where the upward extending walls form a first planar surface at their upper dimension which exhibits a peripheral edge. The dimensions of each of the upward extending walls and the horizontal base are less than one inch for limiting the volume of each freezer tray channel to one fluid ounce for preventing food waste of human breast milk and for providing a suitable frozen food cube ration that is defrosted to a suitable temperature prior to infant consumption.

The tray lid has dimensions that cooperate with those of the tray portion and the dimensions of the freezer tray channels, and further includes a small lip. The small lip is formed typically at each end of the tray lid for cooperating with and removably attaching to the peripheral edge of the first planar surface of the tray portion for sealing each of the freezer tray channels to prevent spillage, evaporation and freezer burn of the frozen food ration. A top surface of the tray lid which is adjacent to the corners at a perimeter thereof further includes a plurality of protruding rounded corners for use in stacking at least a second of the food storage freezer trays. The tray lid also includes a plurality of indentations corresponding to the number of freezer tray channels, each indentation for accommodating an adhesive identification label for manually recording data regarding the content of each freezer tray channel and the original freeze date.

A further feature of the preferred embodiment of the enclosed measured food storage freezer tray for infants of the present invention includes at least one scored measuring line which is formed on the upward extending walls of each of the freezer tray channels for preventing the overfilling of each of the freezer tray channels and the resulting waste of the food ration. This is the case since human breast milk should be conserved and measured out in specific volumetric amounts for the limited consumption by an infant child. Also, the freezer tray channels of the tray portion of the present invention are designed so as to prevent the mixing of the contents of adjacent channels. This feature helps to ensure the isolation of the contents of the adjacent freezer tray channels which permits a different type of food ration to be stored and frozen in adjacent freezer tray channels such as, for example, human breast milk and pureed food. Additionally, the frozen food ration which is typically manifested as a frozen food cube is purposely sized to successfully pass through an opening of a conventional infant feeding container such as, for example, a baby bottle.

The present invention is generally directed to an enclosed measured food storage freezer tray for infants including a tray portion and a tray lid. The tray portion includes a plurality of freezer tray channels with each channel having a plurality of upward extending walls and a horizontal base. The upward extending walls form a first planar surface having a peripheral edge. The dimensions of each of the upward extending walls and the horizontal base are less than one inch for limiting the volume of each freezer tray channel to one fluid ounce for preventing waste and for providing a suitable frozen food cube ration sized to pass through an opening of a conventional infant feeding container such as, for example, a baby bottle. A small lip is formed on an end of the tray lid for enabling the tray lid to be removably attached to the peripheral edge of the tray portion for sealing each of the freezer tray channels of the food storage freezer tray for preventing spillage, evaporation and freezer burn of the frozen food cube ration.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, by way of example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an enclosed measured food storage freezer tray for infants of the present invention showing a tray assembly comprising a tray portion, a tray lid, and identification labels;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the tray assembly of the food storage freezer tray of FIG. 1 showing the tray portion, tray lid, and identification labels disassembled;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the tray assembly of the food storage freezer tray of FIG. 1 showing the identification labels impressed onto the top of the tray lid;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the tray assembly of the food storage freezer tray of FIG. 1 taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tray portion of the enclosed measured food storage freezer tray for infants of FIG. 1 showing eight food storage freezer channels;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the tray portion of FIG. 5 of the food storage freezer tray of the present invention showing the eight food storage freezer channels;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the tray portion of FIG. 5 of the food storage freezer tray of the present invention showing the depth of each of the eight food storage freezer channels;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the tray portion of FIG. 5 of the food storage freezer tray of the present invention taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of the tray portion of FIG. 5 of the food storage freezer tray of the present invention taken along the line 8A-8A of FIG. 7;

FIG. 8B is an enlarged detail view of a top edge of the tray portion of the food storage freezer tray of FIG. 5 taken from FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged detail drawing of a partial cross-sectional view of a tray channel of the tray portion of FIG. 5 of the food storage freezer tray of the present invention taken from FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the tray lid of the food storage freezer tray of FIGS. 2 and 3 showing the eight indentations for affixing the identification labels;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the tray lid of the food storage freezer tray of FIG. 10 showing a pair of chamfered edges and the indentations formed in the tray lid for affixing the identification labels;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged detail drawing of a small lip formed at an outer edge of the tray lid of the food storage freezer tray of FIG. 10 taken from FIG. 11;

FIG. 13A is a partial elevation view of the tray lid of the food storage freezer tray shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view of the tray lid of the food storage freezer tray of FIG. 10 taken along the line 13B-13B of FIG. 13A; and

FIG. 14 is an enlarged detail drawing of the small lip of the tray lid of the food storage freezer tray of FIG. 10 taken from FIG. 13B,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an enclosed measured food storage freezer tray for infants 100 as shown in FIGS. 1-14 (hereinafter referred to as the food storage freezer tray 100). The food storage freezer tray 100 is intended for use in facilitating the storage of human breast milk and pureed food for the consumption by small infants. The food storage freezer tray 100 exhibits design characteristics which are intended to limit the volumetric dimensions of each frozen food cube formed in a plurality of freezer tray channels 102 for providing a measured volume of one fluid once for {a} providing a correct measured amount of food or fluid for an infant under the age of two years, {b} reducing food waste of human breast milk, and {c} successful insertion of each frozen food cube into a conventional infant feeding container such as, for example, a baby bottle (not shown).

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1-14, the enclosed measured food storage freezer tray 100 includes a tray assembly 104 comprising a tray portion 106, a snap-on tray lid 108 and a plurality of adhesive identification labels 110 best shown in the exploded view of FIG. 2. The tray portion 106 and the snap-on tray lid 108 are typically comprised of, for example, a silicone-plastic or other suitable material and the tray portion 106 includes the plurality of freezer tray channels 102 such as, for example, eight freezer tray channels 102 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 7. However, a different number of freezer tray channels 102 can include the inventive features as taught by the present invention. The entire tray assembly 104 is shown in the assembled state in FIG. 1 with the snap-on tray lid 108 positioned over the tray portion 106 and the adhesive identification labels 110 positioned on the top side of the snap-on tray lid 108. Each adhesive identification label 110 is position directly over the corresponding freezer tray channel 102 so that the contents and freeze date of that particular freezer tray channel 102 can be identified as shown in FIGS. 1-3. This feature enables adjacent freezer tray channels 104 to store different contents such as, for example, human breast milk or any of a plurality of pureed baby foods. An exploded view of the tray assembly 104 is shown in FIG. 2 with the adhesive identification labels 110 shown positioned above the snap-on tray lid 108 and the tray lid 108 positioned above the tray portion 106. The snap-on tray lid 108 shown from above is illustrated in FIG. 3 and a detailed cross-sectional view of the tray assembly 104 is shown in FIG. 4 which exhibits the integral cooperation of the snap-on tray lid 108 with the tray portion 106. The cooperation of the inventive components as shown in FIG. 4 will be discussed in more detail herein below on page 17.

We will now turn our attention to the detailed construction of the tray portion 106 of the food storage freezer tray 100. It has been shown that newborns that are fed human breast milk for the first six months of life tend to have fewer childhood diseases and/or complications. Because a new mother can generate only a limited volume of breast milk, it is important to properly store and not waste the human breast milk. Thus, breast milk should be measured out in specific volumetric amounts prior to being fed to the infant. In order to accomplish this goal, the tray portion 106 of the present invention is designed with this limitation in mind. The tray portion 106 is that component of the tray assembly 104 that comprises the plurality of freezer tray channels 102 dearly shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5 herein. Each freezer tray channel 102 has a plurality of upward extending walls 112 and a generally horizontal base 114 where the upward extending walls 112 form a first planar surface 116 at their upper dimension. The first planar surface 116 exhibits at its outer dimension a peripheral edge 118 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. Each of the freezer tray channels 102 is generally rectangular in shape and each dimension is less than one inch, Thus, the length, width and depth dimensions of each freezer tray channel 102 is designed to measure less than one inch (e.g., 1″ or 2.54 centimeters). Consequently, the dimensions of each of the upward extending walls 112 and the horizontal base 114 are less than one inch for limiting the volume of each freezer tray channel 102 to one fluid ounce as shown in FIGS. 4, 7 and 8. The volume of one fluid ounce of liquid serves to prevent waste of the human breast milk since this volume is adequate for an infant under the age of two years and particularly up to eighteen months. This volume of liquid also provides a suitable frozen food cube ration 120 that is defrosted to a suitable serving temperature prior to infant consumption. Because the dimensions of each freezer tray channel 102 is less than one inch, the size of the resulting frozen food cube ration 120 indicated best in FIGS. 8, 8A and 9 can pass through the mouth opening of a conventional infant feeding container such as, for example, a baby bottle for defrosting and delivery to the infant during feeding.

In the inventive food storage freezer tray 100, eight freezer tray channels 102 are shown in the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 2, 5, 7 and 8. The appropriate liquid {e.g., breast milk or pureed food} is poured into the individual freezer tray channels 102 prior to being placed in a refrigerator freezer (not shown). In the design of the inventive food storage freezer tray 100, at least one specific scored measuring line 122 is incorporated into the interior mold and formed on the upward extending walls 112 of the tray portion 106 as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 8, 8A, 8B and 9. The scored measuring line 122 is intended as a guide to limit the fluid volume to one fluid ounce per freezer tray channel 102 when pouring the appropriate fluid into the freezer tray channels 102. This design feature is intended to prevent the overfilling of each of the freezer tray channels 102 and any resulting waste of the human breast milk. This is the case since human breast milk should be conserved and measured out in specific volumetric amounts for the limited consumption by an infant child. Consequently, the volume of each of the freezer tray channels 102 located between the horizontal base 114 and the scored measuring line 122 formed on the upward extending walls 112 does not exceed one fluid ounce as shown best in FIGS. 4, 8, 8A, 8b and 9.

It is also noted that the adjacent freezer tray channels 102 in the food storage freezer tray 100 shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 are designed as non-mix channels so as to prevent the mixing of contents of adjacent channels. This means that the adjacent freezer tray channels 102 in the inventive food storage freezer tray 100 do not cooperate with one another, e.g., food and/or fluid stored in one freezer tray channel 102 does not pass through or mingle with the food and/or fluid stored in an immediately adjacent freezer tray channel 102. This isolation feature is best shown in FIGS. 5 and 8. Consequently, the food storage freezer tray 100 can simultaneously accommodate both human breast milk in a first freezer tray channel 102 adjacent to a second freezer tray channel 102 containing any of a plurality of pureed food. This is the case since the freezer tray channels 102 in the same food storage freezer tray 100 are designed to isolate and not to mix their respective contents. There is no portal or opening between adjacent freezer tray channels 102 in the food storage freezer tray 100 of the present invention. This feature provides for the isolation of the freezer tray channels 102 as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 8. Additionally, the frozen food cube rations 120 provided by the isolated freezer tray channels 102 are {a} typically manifested in the form of a frozen food cube, and {b} purposely sized to successfully pass through the mouth opening of a conventional infant feeding container such as, for example, a baby bottle.

We shall now turn our attention to the snap-on tray lid 108 clearly illustrated in the accompanying FIGS. 1-3, 6, and 10-14 and its cooperation with the tray portion 106 best shown in FIG. 4. The snap-on lid 108 of the tray assembly 104 is employed to facilitate the containment of the food or fluid poured into the freezer tray channels 102 prior to the freezing thereof as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The snap-on freezer tray lid 108 is designed to fit directly over, to correspond to the dimensions of, and to seal each of the plurality of freezer tray channels 102 as is best shown in FIG. 4. In particular, the snap-on lid 108 fits over and seals each of the corresponding freezer tray channels 102 for preventing the spillage, evaporation and freezer burn of the contents. This sealing of the freezer tray channels 102 to prevent freezer burn is important because when the food or fluid is exposed to the air in the freezer, the flavor of the frozen breast milk and/or pureed food is altered. As a result, the taste of the contents changes and the infant will often reject the food and/or fluid because of the altered taste. This is one of the problems that the tray lid 108 is designed to prevent.

The snap-on tray lid 108 is generally rectangular-shaped and includes a plurality of indentations 124 formed in the top surface thereof. The indentations 124 as shown in FIGS. 6, 10 and 11 are fashioned in the silicon-plastic or other suitable material during the fabrication manufacturing process by a suitable mold. The indentations 124 formed in the tray lid 108 are positioned over each corresponding freezer tray channel 102 as is best shown in the exploded view of FIG. 2 and are intended as a base for the receipt of the adhesive identification labels 110 as shown in FIGS. 1-3. The adhesive identification labels 110 which are removable serve as a convenient location for the manual recording of data specific to the contents of each particular freezer tray channel 102 and the original freeze date thereof. Consequently, the removable identification labels 110 adhesively attached to the indentations 124 formed on the top surface of the tray lid 108 enable the identification of the contents of each freezer tray channel 102 to avoid confusion.

A careful review of the top surface of the food storage freezer tray 100 of the present invention will also disclose that the tray lid 108 exhibits a pair of chamfered edges 126 and a plurality of protruding rounded corners 128 as shown in FIGS. 1-3, 6, 10 and 11. The chamfered corners 126 formed in the tray lid 108 as shown in, for example, FIGS. 1-3, serve several specific purposes. Initially, the chamfered corners 126 of the snap-on tray lid 108 are congruent with a pair of corresponding chamfered corners 130 formed on the tray portion 106 as is best shown in the exploded view of FIG. 2. See also the chamfered corners 130 of the tray portion 106 in FIG. 5. Upon assembly, the chamfered corners 126 formed on the snap-on tray lid 108 must cooperate with the chamfered corners 130 on the tray portion 106 so as, {a} to permit assembly and to ensure that the tray lid 108 is always properly aligned with the tray portion 106. This, in turn, {b} ensures that the identification labels 110 adhesively attached to the top side of the tray lid 108 always appear above the corresponding freezer tray channels 102. That is, an identification label 110 reciting “breast milk” actually does appear above a freezer tray channel 102 containing breast milk and not above a tray channel 102 containing, for example, pureed carrots. An additional function of the pair of chamfered corners 126 formed on the tray lid 108 is that {c} this beveled construction assists in physically removing the tray lid 108 from the tray portion 106 by facilitating the use of the fingers of the human hand to grasp the chamfered corner 126. An additional feature of the present invention includes the plurality of protruding rounded corners 128 appearing on the top surface of the snap-on tray lid 108 located adjacent to each of the chamfered corners 126 of the rectangular-shaped snap-on tray lid 108 best shown in FIGS. 1-3. The protruding rounded corners 128 formed on the top surface of the tray lid 108 are intended to function as a load bearing platform for use in stacking at least a second or even multiple of the food storage freezer trays 100 when not being utilized.

The tray lid 108 of the food storage freezer tray 100 of the present invention has dimensions that cooperate with the dimensions of the tray portion 106 and the dimensions of the freezer tray channels 102. The tray lid 108 further includes a small lip 132 which is typically formed at each end 134 of the tray lid 108 that provides the inventive snap-on feature as shown in FIGS. 1-3, 8-10 and 11-14 herein. In particular, the small lip 132 is formed at each end 134 of the tray lid 108 as shown in FIGS. 12, 13B and 14 for cooperating with and removably attaching to the peripheral edge 118 of the first planar surface 116 of the tray portion 106. Thus, the freezer tray lid 108 removably snaps over the peripheral edge 118 of the freezer tray portion 106 with the assistance of the small lip 132. This construction facilitates the sealing of each of the freezer tray channels 102 to prevent spillage, evaporation and freezer burn of the frozen food cube ration 120 as is shown in FIG. 4. A representation of the small lip 132 is clearly shown in FIG. 12 as positioned extending over the end 134 of the tray lid 108. The small lip 132 is also shown in FIG. 13B and in an enlarged detail in FIG. 14 wherein the shape thereof is fashioned to capture the peripheral edge 118 shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 of the freezer tray portion 106.

Let us now refer to the cross-sectional view of the tray assembly 104 of the food storage freezer tray 100 of the present invention shown in FIG. 4 which includes the snap-on tray lid 108 positioned on top of the freezer tray portion 106. Attention to the bottom surface 136 of the tray lid 108 discloses a construction intended to cooperate with the dimensions of the tray portion 106 and the dimensions of the freezer tray channels 102. In particular, the bottom surface 136 of the tray lid 108 includes a plurality of sealing caps 138 distributed along the bottom surface 136. The frequency of appearance of the sealing caps 138 corresponds to that of the top surface 140 of each of the upward extending walls 112 connected to the first planar surface 116 of the tray portion 106 shown in FIG. 5. That is, wherever the top surface 140 of an upward extending wall 112 exists, a sealing cap 138 is formed on the bottom of the tray lid 108 at the corresponding location. See also FIGS. 13A, 13B and 14. Thus, if a tray portion 106 contains eight freezer tray channels 102, then there are seven separating upward extending walls 112 with seven top surfaces 140. If there are seven top surfaces 140, then there are seven corresponding sealing caps 138. In this manner, when the freezer tray channels 102 are filled with an appropriate liquid such as, for example, human breast milk or pureed food, each of the sealing caps 138 will cover a corresponding top surface 140 of an upward extending wall 112. The bottom surface 136 of the tray lid 108 then covers and seals the fluid stored in the corresponding freezer tray channel 102 as shown in FIG. 4. This inventive structure prevents the spillage, evaporation and freezer burn of the stored fluid.

Thus, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is generally directed to an enclosed measured food storage freezer tray for infants 100 including a tray portion 106 and a tray lid 108. The tray portion 106 includes a plurality of freezer tray channels 102 with each channel 102 having a plurality of upward extending walls 112 and a horizontal base 114. The upward extending walls 112 form a first planar surface 116 having a peripheral edge 118. The dimensions of each of the upward extending walls 112 and the horizontal base 114 are less than one inch for limiting the volume of each freezer tray channel 102 to one fluid ounce for preventing waste and for providing a suitable frozen food cube ration 120 sized to pass through an opening of a conventional infant feeding container such as, for example, a baby bottle. A small lip 132 is formed on an end 134 of the tray lid 108 for enabling the tray lid 108 to be removably attached to the peripheral edge 118 of the tray portion 106 for sealing each of the freezer tray channels 102 of the food storage freezer tray 100 for preventing spillage, evaporation and freezer burn of the frozen food cube ration 120.

The present invention provides novel advantages over other food storage freezer trays for infants known in the prior art including those silicon ice trays for freezing baby food and having integral lids and trays for making small ice articles. A main advantage of the enclosed measured food storage freezer tray 100 of the present invention for use in storing human breast milk or pureed food for infants is: {1} that the freezer tray 100 is designed to reduce food waste; {2} by limiting the dimensions of each of the freezer tray channels 102 to less than one inch; {3} for limiting the volume of each freezer tray channel 102 to one fluid ounce; {4} for providing a frozen food cube ration 120 that conveniently fits through the mouth of a conventional infant feeding container such as a baby bottle; and {5} when defrosted provides the proper amount of food for consumption by infants under the age of two years; {6} includes a tray portion 106 capable of having a range of the number of freezer tray channels 102; and {7} a tray lid 108 having a small lip 132 for providing a convenient snap-on feature when mounted onto the tray portion 106; {8} for providing a secure seal for each of the freezer tray channels 102 for preventing spillage, evaporation and freezer burn; {9} wherein each freezer tray channel 102 includes at least one scored measuring line 122 to prevent overfilling thereof and the waste of human breast milk; {10} wherein the construction of the freezer tray channels 102 prevents the mixing of the fluids in adjacent channels 102 for facilitating isolated storage of different fluids therein; {11} wherein the top surface of the tray lid 108 includes a plurality of indentations 124 corresponding to the number of freezer tray channels 102 for attaching an adhesive identification label 110 thereto for recording the contents and freeze date of each channel 102; {12} a pair of chamfered corners 126 on the tray lid 108 corresponding to the pair of chamfered corners 130 formed on the tray portion 106 for ensuing the proper alignment there between; and {13} a plurality of protruding rounded corners 128 for use in stacking at least a second of the food storage freezer trays 100 when not in use.

While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the present invention would be of significant utility such as, for example, the frozen food industry. It is therefore intended by the appended claims to cover any and all such modifications, applications and embodiments within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly,

ENCLOSED MEASURED FOOD STORAGE FREEZER TRAY FOR INFANTS

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