Rack for storing and freezing processed food product

Abstract

A modular rack assembly for storing goods includes a first rack having a base and a plurality of wall portions extending away from the base. Each of the plurality of wall portions is separated from an adjacent of the plurality of wall portions by a space. A lip extends around a perimeter of the base. A second rack is generally identical to the first rack such that, in a first position, the second rack is stackable on top of the first rack such that the first rack engages the base of the second rack in a plane, and the lip of the second rack extends within the plane. A method of transferring heat between atmosphere and chub logs on the rack assembly includes the steps of loading chub logs onto a first rack and then placing a second rack on top of the first rack.

1 . A modular rack assembly for storing goods comprising: 
 a first rack having: 
 a base;  
 a plurality of wall portions extending upwardly away from the base, wherein each of the plurality of wall portions is separated from an adjacent portion of the plurality of wall portions by a relatively flat region;  
 and  
 a lip extending around a perimeter of the base;  
   and    a second rack generally identical to the first rack,    wherein, in a first position, the second rack is stackable on top of the first rack such that the first rack engages the base of the second rack in a region of contact defining a plane, and the lip of the second rack extends across the plane.    
     
     
         2 . The modular rack assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising, when in the first position, a product disposed between the first base and the second base.  
     
     
         3 . The modular rack assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of wall portions extend higher from the base than the product.  
     
     
         4 . The modular rack assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the first position, each relatively flat region has a surface on the underside thereof adapted to individually contact the tops of the plurality of wall portions and each of the plurality of wall portions of the first rack is underneath and contacts one of the flat regions of the second rack and each of the flat regions of the first rack is underneath one of the plurality of wall portions of the second rack.  
     
     
         5 . The modular rack assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wall portions are tapered from wider at the base to narrower in a direction away from the base.  
     
     
         6 . The modular rack assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wall portions comprise a plurality of peripheral wall portions wherein, in the first position, the lip of the second rack extends over the plurality of peripheral wall portions such that the first rack interlocks with the second rack.  
     
     
         7 . The modular rack assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the second rack is rotated 180 degrees to move between the first position and a second position, in which the second rack is nested on top of the first rack.  
     
     
         8 . The modular rack assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein, in the first position, the assembly has a first height and in the second position, the assembly has a second height lower than the first height.  
     
     
         9 . The modular rack assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the first rack comprises first indicia on at least one of its plurality of wall portions and the second rack comprises second indicia on at least one of its plurality of wall portions such that, in the first position, only one of the first and second indicia is visible from any one direction and, in the second position, both of the first and the second indicia are visible from any one direction.  
     
     
         10 . The modular rack assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein, in the second position, the second rack is stackable on top of the first rack such that each of the plurality of wall portions of the first rack is insertable into an opening of a corresponding one of the plurality of wall portions of the second rack.  
     
     
         11 . The modular rack assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first rack and the second rack further comprises: 
 a front end;    a rear end; and    a plurality of spacer portions extending away from the base between the front end and the rear end.    
     
     
         12 . The modular rack assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of spacer portions extend perpendicularly to at least one of the plurality of wall portions.  
     
     
         13 . The modular rack assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein, in the first position, at least one of the spacer portions of the first rack engages the base of the second rack.  
     
     
         14 . The modular rack assembly according to  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of concave portions extending between the front end and the rear end and bounded by one or more of the plurality of spacer portions.  
     
     
         15 . A modular rack assembly for storing goods comprising: 
 a first rack having: 
 a base;  
 a plurality of wall portions extending upwardly away from the base, wherein each of the plurality of wall portions is separated from an adjacent portion of the plurality of wall portions by a relatively flat region; and  
   a lip extending around a perimeter of the base;    and    a second rack generally identical to the first rack,    wherein, in a first position, the second rack is stackable on top of the first rack such that the first rack engages the lip of the second rack.    
     
     
         16 . A modular rack assembly for storing goods comprising: 
 a first rack having: 
 a base; and  
 a plurality of wall portions extending upwardly away from the base, wherein each of the plurality of wall portions is separated from an adjacent of the plurality of wall portions by a relatively flat region and wherein each of the plurality of wall portions includes convex tops;  
   and    a second rack generally identical to the first rack,    wherein, in a first position, the second rack is stackable on top of the first rack such that at least one of the convex tops of the first rack engages the base of the second rack.    
     
     
         17 . The modular rack assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein, in the first position, the first rack interlocks with the second rack.  
     
     
         18 . The modular rack assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein each of the first rack and the second rack further comprises: 
 a front end;    a rear end; and    a plurality of spacer portions extending away from the base between the front end and the rear end.    
     
     
         19 . The modular rack assembly according to  claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of concave portions extending between the front end and the rear end.  
     
     
         20 . A modular rack assembly comprising: 
 a first rack having: 
 a base;  
 a plurality of wall portions extending upwardly away from the base, wherein each of the plurality of wall portions is separated from an adjacent portion of the plurality of wall portions by a relatively flat region and wherein each of the plurality of wall portions is tapered from wider at the base to narrower in a direction away from the base;  
 a front end;  
 a rear end;  
 a plurality of spacer portions extending away from the base between the front end and the rear end, wherein the plurality of spacer portions extend perpendicularly to at least one of the plurality of wall portions;  
 a plurality of concave portions extending between the front end and the rear end and bounded by one or more of the plurality of spacer portions;  
 and  
 a lip extending around a perimeter of the base;  
   and    a second rack, identical to the first rack,    wherein, in a first position, the second rack is stackable on top of the first rack such that the first rack engages the base of the second rack in region of contact extending in a plane, and the lip of the second rack extends across the plane, and    wherein the first rack comprises first indicia on at least one of its plurality of wall portions and the second rack comprises second indicia on at least one of its plurality of wall portions such that, in the first position, only one of the first and second indicia is visible from any one direction and, in the second position, both of the first and the second indicia are visible from any one direction.    
     
     
         21 . A method of transferring heat between a plurality of chub logs and a surrounding atmosphere comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first rack having: 
 a base;  
 a plurality of wall portions extending upwardly away from the base, wherein each of the plurality of wall portions is separated from an adjacent of the plurality of wall portions by a relatively flat region;  
 a front end;  
 a rear end;  
 a plurality of spacer portions extending away from the base between the front end and the rear end;  
 a plurality of concave portions extending between the front end and the rear end and bounded by one or more of the plurality of spacer portions; and  
 a lip extending around a perimeter of the base;  
   loading the plurality of chub logs individually in the plurality of concave regions;    placing a second rack, identical to the first rack, on top of the first rack such that the first rack engages the base of the second rack in a region of contact, forming a space between the base of the second rack and the chub logs; and    exposing the product to the surrounding atmosphere to transfer heat between the chub logs and the surrounding atmosphere.    
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising the step of allowing air to flow over the top of the chub logs.