US3690175A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanism for predicting food temperatures
Assignee: Trane US Inc
•
Filing: 1971-04-05
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Granted: 1972-09-12
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Expires: 1991-04-05
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for predicting the surface temperature of packaged foodstuff, particularly meat, when the packages are exposed to a refrigerated environment. In the preferred form, it utilizes a model of red beefsteak manufactured from two metallic plates with insulating material sandwiched therebetween. In this embodiment, the exterior surface of the panel is textured and coated the same color as the meat being simulated and the temperature of the surface of the plate mating with the insulating material is measured by utilizing a thermocouple connected to an electric meter.
Inventors
- 👤 Earl E Butts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:41
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K13/00; G01K13/10; F; F25; F25D; F25D2700/00; F25D2700/16; G01K7/00; G01K7/42; G01K2007/422
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A mechanism for predicting the temperature of food in a refrigerated environment comprises: a first metal panel, a second metal panel spaced normally from said first panel, thermally insulating material secured between said panels and supporting said panels in fixed relationship with each other, so the thermal characteristics of the mechanism are substantially the same as said food, a thermo responsive device located in close proximity to one of said metal panels capable of sensing the temperature of the surface of said panel closest to said thermally insulating material, and temperature measuring device associated with said thermo responsive device capable of indicating the temperature of said panel, whereby the temperature of foodstuff may be predicted when said foodstuff is placed in the position corresponding to the position of said two metal panels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A mechanism for predicting the temperature of food in a refrigerated environment comprises: a first metal panel, a second metal panel spaced normally from said first panel, thermally insulating material secured between said panels and supporting said panels in fixed relationship with each other, so the thermal characteristics of the mechanism are substantially the same as said food, a thermo responsive device located in close proximity to one of said metal panels capable of sensing the temperature of the surface of said panel closest to said thermally insulating material, and temperature measuring device associated with said thermo responsive device capable of indicating the temperature of said panel, whereby the temperature of foodstuff may be predicted when said foodstuff is placed in the position corresponding to the position of said two metal panels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A mechanism for predicting the temperature of food in a refrigerated environment as claimed in claim 1 in which: the metal panel closest to said thermo responsive device is aluminum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A mechanism for predicting the temperature of food in a refrigerated environment as claimed in claim 1 in which: the thermally insulating material secured between said panels is a porous material having low heat conductivity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A mechanism for predicting the temperature of food in a refrigerated environment as claimed in claim 1 in which: the metal panel closest to said thermo responsive device has a surface opposite said thermally insulating material of texture and color approximating that of the foodstuff it is designed to simulate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A mechanism for predicting the temperature of food in a refrigerated environment as claimed in claim 1 in which: the metal panels are spaced apart by a distance approximating the thickness of the foodstuff being simulated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A mechanism for predicting the temperature of food in a refrigerated environment as claimed in claim 1 in which: the metal panels are sheet aluminum and the thermally insulating material is expanded styrene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A mechanism for predicting the temperature of food in a refrigerated environment as claimed in claim 1 in which: the two metal panels, the thermally insulating material and the thermo responsive device are all encased in a wrapping of the same material and thickness as that which is used on the foods being simulated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A mechanism for predicting the temperature of food in a refrigerated environment as claimed in claim 1 in which: said second metal panel is spaced normally from said first panel by the distance of a slice of meat being simulated, and the exterior surfaces of said metal panels have the same texture and color as the meat being simulated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
A mechanism for predicting the temperature of Food in a refrigerated environment as claimed in claim 1 in which: the thermo responsive device is a thermocouple secured to the surface of one of said metal panels next to said thermally insulating material and the temperature measuring device is a volt meter capable of measuring the electrical signal generated by said thermocouple throughout the temperature range of said refrigerated environment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
A mechanism for predicting the temperature of food in a refrigerated environment as claimed in claim 1 in which: said metal panels and said thermally insulating material is shaped in a contour and dimension approximating that of a steak and the external surface of said panels has the texture and color of freshly cut beef.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2752411A
Cited
US2769334A
Cited
US2998720A
Cited
US2979841A
Cited
US3299275A
Cited
US3606792A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-12 | 1976-03-13 | 1976-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-12 | 1980-03-13 | 1980-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-12 | 1984-03-13 | 1984-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |