Defrosting Apparatus

Abstract

A defrosting apparatus has a foundation unit having a top surface and sidewalls, a water pump, an opening enabling water to pass into the unit, a vertically-oriented conduit extending from the top surface and connected to the water pump, and an upper end, a horizontally-oriented conduit having a first and a second end, connected to the upper end of the vertically-oriented conduit, and a downspout connected at the second end of the horizontally-oriented, conduit, the downspout open at a lower end. Water from outside the foundation unit passes through the opening, is drawn into the inlet of the pump, passed from the outlet of the pump to the lower end of the vertically-oriented conduit, passes upward to the horizontally-oriented telescoping conduit assembly, and thence to the downspout, where the water flows down to be collected outside the foundation unit, available to pass again into the foundation unit through the opening.

1 . A defrosting apparatus, comprising:
 a foundation unit having a top surface and sidewalls, housing an electrically-powered water pump with an inlet and an outlet, with an opening enabling water to pass from outside the foundation unit to inside;   a vertically oriented conduit extending from the top surface of the foundation unit, with a lower end connected to the outlet of the water pump, and an upper end;   a horizontally-oriented conduit having a first and a second end, connected proximate the first end to the upper end of the vertically-oriented conduit; and   a vertically-oriented downspout connected at the second end of the horizontally-oriented, telescoping conduit assembly, the downspout open at a lower end;   wherein water from outside the foundation unit passes through the opening, is drawn into the inlet of the pump, passed from the outlet of the pump to the lower end of the vertically-oriented conduit, passes upward to the horizontally-oriented conduit, and thence to the downspout, where the water flows out and down to be collected outside the foundation unit, available to pass again into the foundation unit through the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The defrosting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the horizontally-oriented conduit is a telescoping assembly enabling alteration of length from the vertically-oriented conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The defrosting apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a thermometer on the top surface of the foundation unit, displaying water temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The defrosting apparatus of  claim 3  comprising a switch-enabled thermometer with a variable setting, enabling automatic shut-off of the pump at a predetermined temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The defrosting apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a visible fill line around the sidewalls of the foundation unit, indicating a desired water depth. 
     
     
         6 . The defrosting apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the opening is through the sidewalls below the visible fill line. 
     
     
         7 . The defrosting apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a metal base providing weight to the foundation unit. 
     
     
         8 . The defrosting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the horizontally oriented conduit is enabled to rotate in a horizontal plane around a central axis of the vertically-oriented conduit extending upward from the top surface of the foundation unit. 
     
     
         9 . The defrosting apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the horizontally-oriented conduit is a telescoping assembly, and wherein rotation of the horizontally oriented, telescoping conduit assembly, and translation of the telescoping conduit assembly enables the downspout to be located over any point within an area proscribed by a radius of the maximum length of extension of the telescoping conduit assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The defrosting apparatus of  claim 1  comprising multiple openings enabling water to pass from outside the foundation unit to inside. 
     
     
         11 . The defrosting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the downspout is formed by a curvature of ninety degrees in the second end of the horizontally-oriented, conduit assembly. 
     
     
         12 . A system for defrosting, comprising:
 a container for water, having a bottom surface and container sidewalls;   water to a specific depth in the container; and   a defrosting apparatus, comprising a foundation unit having a top surface and sidewalls, housing an electrically-powered water pump with an inlet and an outlet, with an opening enabling water to pass from outside the foundation unit to inside, a vertically oriented conduit extending from the top surface of the foundation unit, with a lower end connected to the outlet of the water pump, and an upper end, a horizontally oriented, conduit assembly having a first and a second end, connected proximate the first end to the upper end of the vertically-oriented conduit, and a vertically-oriented downspout connected at the second end of the horizontally-oriented, conduit assembly, the downspout open at a lower end;   wherein the defrosting apparatus is placed on the bottom surface of the container with the opening fully beneath an upper surface of the water, and the pump is operated to re-circulate water from the container through the conduits to the downspout, and water from the downspout is directed over a frozen item to be defrosted.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the horizontally-oriented conduit is a telescoping assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the frozen item to be defrosted is placed on the bottom surface of the container away from the foundation unit of the defrosting apparatus, and the vertical and horizontal conduits are adjusted to place the downspout over the frozen item to be defrosted. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the frozen item to be defrosted is placed upon a support holding the frozen item at least partially above the upper surface of the water and below the downspout. 
     
     
         16 . A defrosting method, comprising:
 placing a defrosting apparatus, having a pump enabled to pump water from a container upward through a conduit assembly and outward to flow downward from a downspout above a surface of the water, on a bottom surface of a container;   filling he container with water to a depth indicated on the defrosting apparatus;   placing a frozen item to be defrosted on the bottom surface of the container away from the defrosting apparatus;   adjusting position of the downspout to be directly over the frozen item to be defrosted; and   operating the pump, causing water to be drawn from the container and to be poured over the frozen item, returning to the container, and re-circulated through the pump and conduits until the frozen item is defrosted.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising supporting the item to be defrosted on a support at least partially above the surface of the water and below the downspout. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising a switch-enabled thermometer enabling the pump to be turned off at a pre-determined temperature.