Food dehydrator

Abstract

Apparatus and related methods for adding increased functionality to a food dehydrator through the use of stackable drying trays that define a circulation plenum during operation and then nest within one another during disassembly so as to reduce an overall storage size of the food dehydrator. The food dehydrator can further include a base portion having a removable splash guard to prevent the introduction of liquids or solids into a mechanical space within the base portion.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A food dehydrator, comprising:
 a base portion; and   at least one tray level, wherein each tray level is defined by a first tray and a second tray,   wherein the first tray is placed on the base portion and the second tray is placed on the first tray to define the tray level having a dehydrating configuration defining a perimeter air supply plenum, wherein the base portion and at least one tray level define a dehydrating height; and   wherein the first tray and second tray can be positioned in a nested arrangement and said nested arrangement is placed on the base portion to define a storage configuration having a storage height that is less than the dehydrating height.   
     
     
         24 . The food dehydrator of  claim 23 , wherein the first tray comprises a carrying tray having at least two tray handles, wherein the two tray handles allow the at least one tray level to be transported by grasping and lifting the at least two tray handles. 
     
     
         25 . The food dehydrator of  claim 24 , comprising a plurality of tray levels. 
     
     
         26 . The food dehydrator of  claim 25 , wherein each tray level can be individually transported by grasping and lifting the at least two tray handles of the corresponding carrying tray. 
     
     
         27 . The food dehydrator of  claim 25 , wherein an entire tray portion defined by the plurality of tray levels can be transported as a single unit by grasping and lifting the at least two tray handles of a lowermost carrying tray. 
     
     
         28 . The food dehydrator of  claim 23 , wherein the base portion includes an upper base surface having a perimeter channel and wherein the nested arrangement of the first tray and the second tray can be positioned in the perimeter channel in the storage configuration. 
     
     
         29 . The food dehydrator of  claim 23 , wherein the first tray and the second tray define an air supply plenum in the storage configuration. 
     
     
         30 . The food dehydrator of  claim 29 , wherein the air supply plenum includes duct slots in each of the first tray and the second tray, whereby air is directed from the air supply plenum and through the ducts slots whereby air is directed horizontally across a food support surface of the first tray. 
     
     
         31 . The food dehydrator of  claim 30 , wherein the first and second tray define a central tray aperture, and whereby air is directed horizontally across the food support surface of the first stray and into the central tray aperture. 
     
     
         32 . The food dehydrator of  claim 31 , wherein at least a portion of the air is directed through the central tray aperture and into a central base aperture of the base portion. 
     
     
         33 . The food dehydrator of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 a lid that is operably coupled to an uppermost tray level in the dehydrating configuration.   
     
     
         34 . A method for reducing a storage height of a food dehydrator, comprising:
 providing a food dehydrator including a base portion and at least one tray level residing on the base portion, wherein the at least one tray level includes a first tray and a second tray, and wherein the base portion and at least one tray level define a dehydrating configuration having a dehydrating height;   removing the at least one tray level from the base portion and repositioning the first tray and the second tray into a nested arrangement; and   placing said nesting arrangement on the base portion to define a storage configuration having a storage height that is less than the dehydrating height.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein placing said nesting arrangement on the base portion, further comprises:
 placing the nesting arrangement in a perimeter channel defined in an upper base surface of the base portion.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the first tray comprises a carrying tray having a plurality of tray handles, and wherein the step of removing the at least one tray level from the base portion, further comprises:
 grasping the plurality of tray handles on the carrying tray; and   lifting the carrying tray to remove the at least one tray level from the base portion.