Patent Application
20240190611
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
It may be useful to store items in containers or storage bins. Storage bins may vary in size to accommodate the size of the items to be stored. Storage bin configurations may also need to consider the particular characteristics of the items to be stored in the storage bin.
In one embodiment, a storage system is provided that includes a stadium shaped bin having a bottom and an outer wall adjacent and extending from an outer edge of the bottom. The bottom and the outer wall defining an inner storage area. The bin having a plurality of legs located on a lower side of the bottom of the bin. The storage system further includes a lid having a raised top-hat portion about an upper surface and a skirt about an outer edge of the lid. The lid sized such that the skirt extends over the outer wall of the bin when the lid is placed on the bin, wherein the legs of pthe bin and raised top-hat portion of the lid are sized so that the legs nest about the raised top-hat portion of the lid when the bin is placed on the lid.
In one embodiment, a system is provided that includes a plurality of storage systems including at least a first and a second storage system. Each of the plurality of storage systems include a stadium shaped bin having a bottom and an outer wall adjacent and extending from an outer edge of the bottom, the bottom and the outer wall defining an inner storage area, the bin having a plurality of legs located on a lower side of the bottom of the bin. Each of the plurality of storage systems further include a lid having a raised top-hat portion about an upper surface and a skirt about an outer edge of the lid. The lid sized such that the skirt extends over the outer wall of the bin when the lid is placed on the bin, wherein the legs of the bin and raised top-hat portion of the lid are sized so that the plurality of legs of either the first or second storage system nest about the raised top-hat portion of the lid of the other of the first or second storage system when the first or second storage system is on top of the lid of the other of the first or second storage system.
These and other features will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims.
For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts.
It should be understood at the outset that although illustrative implementations of one or more embodiments are illustrated below, the disclosed systems and methods may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or not yet in existence. The disclosure should in no way be limited to the illustrative implementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated below, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.
It should be appreciated that while the present disclosure may discuss utilizing the storage system 10 in the context of food, or more specifically pizzas and pizza dough 22, the features of the present system are not so limited, and one or more combinations of disclosed features may be beneficially implemented for storing any other potential items. However, the present disclosure may discuss the storage system 10, for the purposes of general understanding by example, in implementations for tempering pizza dough 22. For example, in the food service industry, food items, such as pizza dough 22, may be delivered or stored in a frozen state. Prior to preparation, the pizza dough 22 may require tempering. Tempering numerous pieces of pizza dough 22 may require many hours and tempering times may be inconsistent. However, restaurants may desire for numerous pieces of pizza dough 22 to be tempered sooner rather than later and for all the pieces of pizza dough 22 to be uniformly tempered within the desired time-frame. This is merely one example of an application where the storage system 10 may be used.
Although the sizes of pizzas and pizza dough 22 vary widely, for purposes of this disclosure, exemplary dough for small pizzas may be around 5.6″ in diameter, while exemplary medium and large pizzas may be around 8″ and 9.5″ in diameter, respectfully. The storage system 10 may be generally sized to accommodate two (2) medium or large pizzas or pizza doughs 22 positioned side-by-side in the bin bottom 18 substantially as shown in
The storage bin 12 may be provided with a plurality of legs 30 on an underside 32 of the bin bottom 18. Although six (6) legs 30 are shown, more or fewer legs may be used in other embodiments. Legs 30 may be useful for a variety of reasons, for example, to enable air to circulate underneath the storage bin 12. As mentioned above, pizza dough 22 may be in a frozen state and need to be tempered. When pizza dough 22 is positioned in storage area 20 of the storage bin 12, as discussed above, the lowest most pizza dough 22 contacts the bin bottom 18. Air circulating underneath the underside 32 of the bin bottom 18 promotes heat transfer through the bin bottom 18, as well as elsewhere, and tempering of the pizza dough 22 stored therein. As can be seen, the outer wall 16 and bin bottom 18 are solid uniform construction such that when provided with the lid 14, the items stored in the storage area 20 are not subject to air flow. This may be useful to prevent items, such as pizza dough 22, from drying out or otherwise being exposed to unnecessary air flow during tempering. However, in other embodiments where air flow is desired, slots or openings may be provided in various locations in the storage bin 12 and lid 14.
The legs 30 are “X” or cross-shaped in the present embodiment. The “X” shape of the legs 30 may also enhance cleanability. For example, rounded legs might create crevices that are difficult to clean and manufacture via injection molding. Further the “X” shape of the legs 30 ease manufacturing and enhance strength. In circumstances where the storage systems 10 are located on uneven or inconsistent surfaces, such as wire shelves, the cross-shaped configuration may prevent the legs 30 from slipping through gaps in the surface and to facilitate sliding or moving the storage system 10 on such shelves. For example, where the wire in wire shelves are spaced one inch (1″) apart, each of the legs 30 may be several or more inches in length across a leg bottom 31 in those embodiments. The legs 30 may be spaced apart on the bin bottom 18 so as to allow for a person's hand to hold the storage bin 12 from the bin bottom 18 between the legs 30. Further, a bottom leading edge 34 of the legs 30 may be rounded or curved to further facilitate the smooth movement of the storage system 10 across surfaces. While the legs 30 are shown cross-shaped in this embodiment, square, round, or other shapes and sizes of legs 30 may be used in other embodiments.
Referring also to
In embodiments, where the storage system 10 is used to temper pizza dough 22, the storage system 10 may be loaded with pizza dough 22 and moved and stored in refrigerators or walk-in coolers for tempering. To conserve space, which may be at a premium in restaurants and walk-in coolers or refrigeration systems, stacking multiple storage systems 10, for example, two (2) to four (4) or more stacked one on the other, may conserve space. However, during tempering, condensation may develop on the storage systems 10. The over-lid design of the skirt 38 prevents condensation from entering the storage area 20 and instead drips down over the outside of the storage bin 12, which may be useful for food quality and safety or otherwise protecting items stored therein.
The storage system 10 may be sized, such as discussed above, to one or more storage systems 10 fit into a commercial dishwasher at one time, since the storage system 10 may require frequent cleaning for food safety or other reasons. The storage system 10 may be constructed by injection molding using high density polyethylene in this embodiment, however the storage system 10 may be constructed using other methods and materials in other embodiments.
The open access provided by the storage bin 12 allows for restaurant staff to quickly load multiple pieces of pizza dough 22 into the storage area 20. Also, as discussed above, the legs 30 allow for air to flow underneath the storage systems 10 whether located on a shelf or surface or stacked one on top of another, which provides for quicker and more consistent tempering times for all the pizza dough 22 located in the storage system 10 as compared to other systems that are not configured to promote airflow underneath the system.
While several embodiments have been provided in the present disclosure, it should be understood that the disclosed systems and methods may be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. The present examples are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the intention is not to be limited to the details given herein. For example, the various elements or components may be combined or integrated in another system or certain features may be omitted or not implemented.
Also, techniques, systems, subsystems, and methods described and illustrated in the various embodiments as discrete or separate may be combined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, or methods without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Other items shown or discussed as directly coupled or communicating with each other may be indirectly coupled or communicating through some interface, device, or intermediate component, whether electrically, mechanically, or otherwise. Other examples of changes, substitutions, and alterations are ascertainable by one skilled in the art and could be made without departing from the spirit and scope disclosed herein.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/387,030 filed Dec. 12, 2022 entitled, “Storage Bin and Lid”, which is incorporated by reference herein as if reproduced in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63387030 | Dec 2022 | US |
