Food chilling apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus and method for chilling food is provided. The apparatus includes first, second and third containers which are nestable and stackable. The second and third containers fit within a chamber defined in the first container. The second container is designed for holding ice and the third container is designed for separately holding food. The apparatus is configured so that as the ice in the second container melts, the volume of a subchamber defined between the second and third containers decreases to maintain the remaining ice in contact with an undersurface of the third container holding the food. The food is therefore more effectively and consistently chilled than in prior art designs. In one embodiment, the second container is buoyant. The second container will therefore float on the surface of ice water drained from the second container to the bottom of the first container. The apparatus may be configured to receive multiple food containers and/or multiple ice containers.

1 . A chilling apparatus comprising:
 (a) a first container defining a first chamber;   (b) at least one buoyant second container positionable within said first chamber for holding ice thereon; and   (c) at least one third container positionable overlying said second container and having an undersurface cooled by said ice, wherein said second and third containers are separable and define a subchamber therebetween,   
     wherein said second container is floatable within said first container to maintain said ice in contact with said undersurface of said third container during melting of said ice. 
   
   
       2 . The chilling apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein water derived from melting of said ice is conveyed from said second container to said first container during said melting. 
   
   
       3 . The chilling apparatus as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the volume of said subchamber decreases during said melting as said water is conveyed. 
   
   
       4 . The chilling apparatus as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said second container comprises a flotation chamber. 
   
   
       5 . The chilling apparatus as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said flotation chamber comprises a sealed air cavity. 
   
   
       6 . The chilling apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , comprising a conduit for draining water from said subchamber to said first chamber during said melting. 
   
   
       7 . The chilling apparatus as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said conduit allows flow of melted ice water between an outer perimeter wall of said second container and an inner wall of said first container defining said first chamber. 
   
   
       8 . The chilling apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the vertical position of said third container relative to said first container is movable during said melting of said ice. 
   
   
       9 . The chilling apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the vertical position of said second container relative to said first container is movable during said melting of said ice. 
   
   
       10 . The chilling apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the vertical positions of said second and third containers relative to said first container are movable during said melting of said ice. 
   
   
       11 . The chilling apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said third container is supported at a constant elevation relative to said first container. 
   
   
       12 . The chilling apparatus as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said first container comprises a step for supporting a peripheral flange portion of said third container. 
   
   
       13 . The chilling apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of second containers positionable in said first chamber. 
   
   
       14 . The chilling apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , comprising a plurality of third containers positionable in said first chamber. 
   
   
       15 . The chilling apparatus as defined in  claim 14 , wherein each of said third containers overlies a corresponding one of said second containers. 
   
   
       16 . The chilling apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said first, second and third containers are nestable. 
   
   
       17 . The chilling apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said second container comprises depressions formed in opposed sidewalls thereof to facilitate removal of said second container from said first container. 
   
   
       18 . A chilling container for use in a chilling apparatus, said chilling apparatus comprising a first container defining a first chamber and a food container positionable in said first chamber, said chilling container comprising a chilling chamber for holding ice therein below said food container, wherein said chilling container is movable relative to said food container during melting of said ice to maintain said ice in contact with an undersurface of said food container during said melting. 
   
   
       19 . The chilling container as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said container is buoyant. 
   
   
       20 . The chilling container as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said container comprises a flotation chamber. 
   
   
       21 . The chilling container as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said second container comprises depressions formed in opposed sidewalls thereof to facilitate removal of said second container from said first container. 
   
   
       22 . A method of chilling food comprising:
 (a) providing a first container defining a first chamber;   (b) positioning at least one second container holding ice within said first chamber;   (c) positioning at least one third container holding said food above said second container, said second and third containers defining a second chamber therebetween; and   (d) reducing the volume of said second chamber during melting of said ice to continuously maintain said ice in contact with an undersurface of said third container during said melting.   
   
   
       23 . The method as defined in  claim 22 , comprising draining melted ice water from said second chamber to said first chamber during said melting. 
   
   
       24 . The method as defined in  claim 23  wherein said draining comprises allowing said melted ice water to flow between adjacent sidewalls of said first and second containers. 
   
   
       25 . The method as defined in  claim 23 , wherein said reducing the volume of said second chamber comprises floating said second container within said first chamber. 
   
   
       26 . The method as defined in  claim 23 , comprising allowing said third container to lower relative to said first container by gravitational forces during said melting.