Ventilated crate for freezing and thawing meat

Abstract

A crate includes a base and a plurality of walls extending upward from the base. A plurality of ventilation channels are formed in the base. The ventilation channels project upward relative to an upper support surface of the base. The ventilation channels include apertures therethrough.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A crate comprising:
 a base, a plurality of ventilation channels formed in the base, wherein the ventilation channels project upward relative to an upper support surface of the base, wherein the ventilation channels include apertures therethrough; and   a plurality of walls extending upward from the base.   
     
     
         2 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of ventilation channels include a longitudinal ventilation channel and a lateral ventilation channel crossing the longitudinal ventilation channel. 
     
     
         3 . The crate of  claim 2  further including a plurality of packages on the upper support surface of the base between the ventilation channels. 
     
     
         4 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the ventilation channels open downward of the base. 
     
     
         5 . The crate of  claim 1  further including a bail having a support portion and a pair of arms extending from the support portion, wherein the pair of arms are pivotably connected to the plurality of walls and pivotable between a support position over the base and a retracted position. 
     
     
         6 . The crate of  claim 5  further including a support channel defining a recess on a bottom surface of the base, wherein the support channel is aligned with the support portion of the bail when the bail is in the support position. 
     
     
         7 . The crate of  claim 5  wherein the plurality of walls include corner portions, wherein the bail is supported on the corner portions when in the retracted position, wherein the plurality of walls include portions of reduced height relative to the corner portions. 
     
     
         8 . The crate of  claim 7  wherein each of the plurality of walls includes one of the portions of reduced height. 
     
     
         9 . The crate of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of walls includes handle openings therethrough. 
     
     
         10 . The crate of  claim 7  wherein the plurality of walls include corner recesses aligned below the corner portions, such that the corner portions of the crate would be received in the corner recesses of an identical crate stacked thereon. 
     
     
         11 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of walls are hingeably connected to the base and pivotable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base. 
     
     
         12 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of ventilation channels include an end aperture aligned with an aperture through one of the plurality of walls. 
     
     
         13 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the ventilation channels extend completely across the base and are open on opposed edges of the base. 
     
     
         14 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of walls include an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion is configured to be received in the upper portion of an identical crate. 
     
     
         15 . A crate comprising:
 a base, a longitudinal ventilation channel formed in the base and extending from a first end edge of the base to a second end edge of the base, a pair of lateral ventilation channels formed in the base and extending from a first side edge of the base to a second side edge of the base, the longitudinal ventilation channel and the lateral ventilation channels including apertures therethrough;   a pair of side walls extending upward from the side edges of the base; and   a pair of end walls extending upward from the end edges of the base.   
     
     
         16 . The crate of  claim 15  wherein the longitudinal ventilation channel and the pair of lateral ventilation channels are open downward of the crate across their entire length. 
     
     
         17 . The crate of  claim 15  wherein the longitudinal ventilation channel and the lateral ventilation channels divide the base into a 2×3 array of support areas. 
     
     
         18 . The crate of  claim 15  wherein the pair of side walls includes corner portions and portions wherein uppermost surfaces have reduced height relative to the corner portions. 
     
     
         19 . The crate of  claim 18  wherein each of the pair of side walls includes one of the portions of reduced height. 
     
     
         20 . The crate of  claim 19  wherein the pair of end walls includes handle openings therethrough. 
     
     
         21 . The crate of  claim 18  wherein the pair of side walls include corner recesses aligned below the corner portions, such that the corner portions of the crate would be received in the corner recesses of an identical crate stacked thereon. 
     
     
         22 . The crate of  claim 15  wherein the longitudinal ventilation channel and the pair of lateral ventilation channels project upward relative to an upper support surface of the base and wherein the upper support surface of the base does not have any openings therethrough.