Technical Field

[0001 ] The present invention generally relates to a food dehydrator. Background Art

[0002] Dehydrating food is a well-known process that has been used to extend the life of food, reduce its weight and minimize the risk of bacterial contamination. Food dehydrators require a heat source and air flow to draw moisture out of the food and then remove the moisture from the dehydrator.

[0003] Commonly food dehydrators include vertically racked/stacked mesh tray levels where the trays allow moisture to evaporate and drain from the food. Regardless of whether air flow to the food is horizontal or vertical, as the food is stacked in vertical levels, food on the bottom level, or in other positions, may absorb moisture that drains from the food above. Additionally the vertical stacking of food in levels allows different areas within the hydrator to experience varying levels of air flow and heat. Some existing food dehydrators rotate around a point on a single horizontal level, but this does not eliminate the variation in air flow and heat across dehydrator levels.

[0004] Each document, reference, patent application or patent cited in this text is expressly incorporated herein in their entirety by reference, which means that it should be read and considered by the reader as part of this text. That the document, reference, patent application, or patent cited in this text is not repeated in this text is merely for reasons of conciseness.

[0005] Reference to cited material or information contained in the text should not be understood as a concession that the material or information was part of the common general knowledge or was known in Australia or any other country.

Summary of Invention

[0006] In a first embodiment, the present invention seeks to provide a dehydrator comprising:

two spaced apart wheels; and

a plurality of trays with their sides attached to the inner faces of the wheel; wherein the attachment of the sides of the tray to the inner faces of the wheels is such that each tray is kept continuously in the horizontal condition during rotation of the wheels.

[0007] Preferably, the dehydrator includes:

a lid and a base;

wherein the lid includes a heat source and air flow source; and

wherein the lid is arranged to diffuse heat and air flow supplied from the heat source and air flow source around the trays.

[0008] The lid and base serve to seal the enclosure of the dehydrator and provide the dying heat and air flow.

[0009] Preferably, the lid includes:

a motor and drive rod;

wherein the motor and drive rod are arranged to provide rotational motion to the wheel plates.

[001 0] Preferably, a wheel drive rod connects the two spaced apart wheel plates and provides rotational motion to the two spaced apart wheel rods.

[001 1 ] Preferably, the dehydrator includes hanging means arranged to attach the trays to the spaced apart wheel plates.

[001 2] Preferably, the hanging means are arranged to attach to the two spaced apart wheel plated by hanging from pins extending from each of the two spaced apart wheel plates.

[001 3] Preferably, the tray includes:

a base member; and

a rim member configured to surround the outer periphery of the base member; wherein the rim member is releasably attached to the base member.

[0014] Preferably, a perforated liner is arranged between the base and rim members.

[001 5] Preferably, the hanging means is adapted to lock the rim and base members together. [001 6] In a second embodiment, the present invention seeks to provide a tray for use in the dehydrator, the tray comprising:

a bottom member and a rim member configured to surround the outer periphery of the bottom member;

wherein the rim member is releasably attached to the bottom member.

[001 7] It is particularly advantageous that the rim member is releasably attached to the bottom member of tray because it allows removing the rim member for covering the bottom member in its entire with a lining, by subsequently attaching the rim member to the bottom member a seal is defined at the periphery of the bottom member and between the rim member and the bottom member impeding liquid to leak out of the tray.

[001 8] Preferably, the tray includes hanging means at opposite ends of the tray.

[001 9] Preferably, the hanging means is adapted to releasably fix the rim member to the base member.

[0020] In a second embodiment, the present invention seeks to provide dehydrator comprising:

two spaced apart wheel plates;

a hanging rack; and

a plurality of trays arranged to attach to the two spaced apart wheel plates; wherein the two spaced apart wheel plates are arranged to rotate and attachment of each of the plurality of trays to the wheel plates is such that each tray is kept continuously in the horizontal condition during rotation of the wheel plates.

[0021 ] It is an object of this invention to provide to ameliorate, mitigate or overcome, at least one disadvantage of the prior art, or which will at least provide the public with a practical choice.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] Further features of the present invention are more fully described in the following description of several non-limiting embodiments thereof. This description is included solely for the purposes of exemplifying the present invention. It should not be understood as a restriction on the broad summary, disclosure or description of the invention as set out above. The description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a food dehydrator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a food dehydrator according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the internal mechanisms for the food dehydrator of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a front on view of the food dehydrator of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an exploded view of a lid for the food dehydrator of both Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 6 is a side view of a base for the food dehydrator of both Figures 1 and

2;

Figure 7 is a top down view of a base of a tray for the food dehydrator of both Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 8 is a top down view of a rim of a tray for the food dehydrator of both Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 9 is a top down view of a tray for the food dehydrator of both Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 1 0 is a perspective view of the tray of Figure 9;

Figure 1 1 is aside view of a supporting wheel for the food dehydrator of both Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 1 2 is a side view of a supporting wheel for the food dehydrator of both Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 1 3 is a side view of a wheel drive rod for the food dehydrator of both Figures 1 and 2; Figure 14 is a side view of a supporting extension for the rotating drive rod of Figure 10;

Figure 1 5 is a side view of a supporting extension for the rotating drive rod of Figure 10;

Figure 1 6 is a side view of a motor drive rod for the food dehydrator of both Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 1 7 is a top down view of a collection of the bases of trays of Figure 7;

Figure 1 8 is a top down view of a collection of the bases of Figure 7 prepared to be joined to rims;

Figure 1 9 is a top down view of a collection of the bases and rims of Figures 6 and 7 joined together;

Figure 20 is a top down view of a collection of the bases and rims of Figures 6 and 7 joined and clamped together;

Figure 21 is a top down view of a collection of the bases and rims of Figures 6 and 7;

Figure 22 is a perspective view of a collection of the bases and rims of Figures 6 and 7;

Figure 23 is a front on view of the supporting wheels of Figures 1 1 and 12 connected with the wheel drive rod of Figure 12;

Figure 24 is a front on view of the supporting wheels of Figures 1 1 and 12 connected with the wheel drive rod of Figure 16 used in the food dehydrator of Figure 2; and

Figure 25 is a front on view of the supporting wheels of Figures 1 1 and 12 connected with the wheel drive rod of Figure 12 used in the food dehydrator of Figure 2.

[0023] In the drawings like structures are referred to by like numerals throughout the several views. The drawings shown are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the present invention. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0024] Broadly, the present invention relates to a food dehydrator 10 with a plurality of trays 22 for drying food. The dehydrator 1 0 is arranged to rotate the horizontally arranged trays 22 within the dehydrator to allow even heat and airflow distribution over food placed on different platforms 22. The trays move both vertically and horizontally within the dehydrator. Heated air flow is provided over the trays from a fan 36 and heater 44. Air and moisture are also extracted from the dehydrator 1 0.

[0025] Referring to Figures 1 and 5 to 24, the invention according to a first embodiment is in the form of a dehydrator 10 with a lid 12, base 14 and sides 1 1 forming a sealed enclosure within which food to be dehydrated is to be placed.

[0026] Two spaced apart wheel plates 20 are located within the dehydrator 10. The two spaced apart wheel plates 20 are connected to each other with a wheel drive rod 24 so that rotation of the wheel drive rod 24 will cause the wheel plates 20 to rotate around the axis defined by the wheel drive rod 24. Support barrels 30 are attached to the ends of the wheel drive rod 24. In one embodiment the support barrels 30 are arranged so that the wheel drive rod 24 rotates within a bore of the support barrels 30 so that the support barrels 30 do not rotate themselves. In an alternative embodiment the support barrels 30 are fixed to the wheel drive rod 24 so that the support barrels 30 rotate with the wheel drive rod 24. The skilled addressee will recognize that the spaced apart wheel plates 20 need not be of circular profile as shown in the Figures and can assume other shapes that are able to be rotated within the dehydrator 1 0.

[0027] Pins 32 extend from the wheel plates 20 towards the opposing wheel plate 20 within the dehydrator 10. The pins 32 are located on a face of the wheel plate 20 at regular intervals around the perimeter of the wheel plate 20.

[0028] The support barrels 30 are supported by hooks 34 that engage the lid 1 2 of the dehydrator 10. In the embodiment where the wheel drive rod 24 rotates within the support barrels 30 the support barrels 30 can be fixed to the hooks 34 or can be allowed to rotate whilst supported by the hooks 34. In the embodiment where the support barrels 30 are fixed to the wheel drive rod 24, the barrels are not fixed to the hooks 24 and rotate whilst supported by the hooks 24. This can be achieved by having a groove around the circumferential perimeter of the support barrels 30 midway along the width of the support barrels 30 within which the shaft of the hooks 34 sit.

[0029] Substances to be dehydrated are placed on trays 22. Trays 22 extend between and are supported by the spaced apart wheel plates 20. Hanging supports 18 are arranged to connect to and hang from pins 32 that extend from each of the spaced apart when plates 20. The pins 32 are arranged to extend from the wheel plate 20 they are attached to towards the other wheel plate 20. In one embodiment, as shown in the figures, the hanging support 1 8 is shaped as a polygon with a generally triangularly shaped profile with a rectangular base. The triangular section leads into the rectangular based at stepped section 19. The top angle of the triangle is arranged to hang from a pin 32. The stepped section 19 includes an extension transverse to the base that extend to and connect to the tray 22.

[0030] The skilled addressee will recognise that the hanging supports may take a different profile.

[0031 ] As the hanging supports 18 hang from pins 32 and the wheel plates 20 are driven by the wheel drive rod 24 and rotate, the hanging supports 18 allow the pins 32 and hanging support 18 to rotate relative to each other so that the tray 22 remains horizontal at all positions during rotation of the wheel plates 20.

[0032] A vertical drive rod 26 extends from the lid 12 to engage and drive the wheel drive rod 24. The vertical drive rod 26 is driven by a motor 40 located in the lid 1 2. A first gear 28 on the vertical drive rod 26 engages with a mating second gear 60 attached to the wheel plate 20 and wheel drive rod 24 to provide rotational force to the wheel drive rod 24.

[0033] With specific reference to Figures 3, 4, 1 1 and 1 2, the regular spacing of the pins 32 around the perimeter of the wheel plates 20 are placed so that when the wheel plates 20 are driven by the wheel drive rod 24 the rotating hanging supports and trays 22 do not touch each other.

[0034] With specific reference to Figure 5, the lid 12 will now be described. Within the lid a fan 36 and heating element 44 are located. The fan and heater are arranged to blow heated air downward around the wheel plates 20 and trays 22. The bottom of the lid (not shown) includes small apertures 76 and large apertures 75 to allow air flow produced by the fan to blow into the cavity of the dehydrator containing the wheel plates 20 and trays 22. In one embodiment holes are arranged in the base of the lid 1 2 to diffuse the air flow produced by the fan 36.

[0035] In one embodiment the lid has small apertures 76 in the centre of the base of the lid 12 and large apertures 75 towards the edge of the base of the lid 12. In one embodiment the small apertures 76 are 1 mm in diameter and the large apertures 75are 2mm in diameter. The skilled addressee will recognize that alternative air flow diffusion mechanisms can be used in the lid 12 and still be within the scope of the present invention.

[0036] A motor (not shown) is located in the lid 1 2 and rotates a drive sheath (not shown). The drive sheath receives and rotates vertical drive rod 26 to power the rotation of the wheel plates 20 as described above.

[0037] In one embodiment, the lid 12 is in communication with the enclosure of the dehydrator 10 to extract air and moisture from the dehydrator 1 0 and expel it through a vent. In one embodiment the vent is a spring loaded vent, but the skilled addressee will recognize that alternative vents may be used and fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0038] In one embodiment, air and moisture extracted from the dehydrator 1 0 is captured in re-sealable vacuum bags.

[0039] With specific reference to Figure 6, the base 14 includes a bottom space 50 suitable to store the trays 22 when the trays 22 are not engaged with the wheel plates 20 with hanging supports 18 hanging on pins 32. A sealed top encloses the bottom space 50. The base 14 also includes a raised lip 48 that is arranged to sit inside the sides 1 6 of the dehydrator extending upwardly from the sealed top. The raised lip 48 in conjunction with the sealed top captures spillage that falls on the base 14.

[0040] The skilled addressee will recognize that the motor 40 acting as the drive means for the wheel drive rod 24 can be located elsewhere in the dehydrator 10 other than in the lid 12 and still fall within the scope of the present invention. The skilled addressee will also recognize that the fan 36 and heating element 44 can also be located elsewhere in the dehydrator 10 other than in the lid. [0041 ] Figure 7 illustrates a base 54 for the tray 22 and Figure 8 illustrates a rim 56 for the tray 22. The base 54 and rim 56 are releasably engageable together to form the tray 22. The base 54 includes platform 55 for substances to be dehydrated to rest on and a raised projection 52 along the middle of its side edge. The raised portion 52 is attached to the hanging support 18. The hanging support base 53 is arranged as a rod that is received in a passageway within the raised projection 52. The passageway within the raised projection 52 allows the hanging support to be rotated from a position generally level with the base 54 as shown in Figures 7, 18, 19 and 20 to a position generally perpendicular to the base as shown in Figures 9, 1 0, 21 , 22 and 23.

[0042] In one embodiment the platform 55 of base 54 is solid. In an alternative embodiment the platform 55 of base 54 is a mesh forming a grid pattern.

[0043] As shown in Figure 9, rim 56 attaches to the base 54 around the outer periphery of the base 45. The rim 56 includes an edge perimeter 57 and projections 58 extending outwardly from the sides of the rim 56. The projections 58 are arranged to engage with the platform 55 of base 54 to connect base 54 and rim 56 together to form the tray 22. The projections 58 on one side of the rim 56 are arranged to sit either side of the raised projection 52 on one side of the base 54.

[0044] The projections 58 include passageways profiled to receive portions of the stepped section 19 of the hanging portion 18 when the base 54 and rim 56 are engaged and the hanging portion 18 is arranged generally perpendicular to the platform 55 as shown in Figure 1 0. In one embodiment the passageway in the projections 58 is arranged to snap lock with the stepped portion 19 to lock the rim 56 and base 54 together forming the tray 22.

[0045] Figures 1 1 and 1 2 illustrate wheel plates 20 used in the dehydrator 10 as described above. One of the wheel plates 20 has mating second gear 60 attached to the outer surface of the wheel plate 20. The centre of the second gear 60 includes an aperture adapted to receive the wheel drive rod 24 so that rotation of the second gear 60 is transferred to the wheel drive rod 24.

[0046] In an alternative embodiment, the rim 57 and base 54 connect with each other to form tray 22 in an alternative manner. In one example, the platform 55 may include raised projections or a raised continuous projection that are arranged to be received in a recess or recesses in the rim 57 to snap lock together.

[0047] Figure 1 8 shows bases 54 connected to rims 56 after trays 22 are joined and fixed together with the stepped portions 19 of the hanging portion 18 locking to the passageway between the projections 58.

[0048] With specific reference to Figure 1 3, the wheel drive rod 24 includes stoppers 23 extending transverse to the wheel drive rod 24. The stoppers 23 stop the wheel plates 20 from moving toward each other, keeping the wheel plates fixed in place.

[0049] In one embodiment the present invention includes a pump to extract air and moisture.

[0050] With reference to Figures 18 to 24, a perforated liner 80 can be placed over the base 54 to protect the base and assist with moisture transfer. The liner 80 is adapted to absorb fluid and sits underneath the rim 56. In one embodiment, the engagement of the rim 54 with the base 54 locks the liner in place against the base 54.

[0051 ] In an alternative embodiment, there is an absorbing liner rather than a perforated liner.

[0052] A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 2 to 4 and 25 to 26. For convenience features of the second embodiment that are similar or correspond to features of the first embodiment have been referenced with the same reference numerals. The second embodiment in the form of a dehydrator 70 with a lid 12, base 14 and sides 1 1 forming a sealed enclosure within which food to be dehydrated is to be placed. Inside the sealed enclose at the top are top hanging elements 72.

[0053] Two spaced apart wheel plates 20 are located within the dehydrator 70. The two spaced apart wheel plates 20 are connected to each other with a wheel drive rod 24 so that rotation of the wheel drive rod 24 will cause the wheel plates 20 to rotate around the axis defined by the wheel drive rod 24. Support barrels 30 are attached to the ends of the wheel drive rod 24. In one embodiment the support barrels 30 are arranged so that the wheel drive rod 24 rotates within a bore of the support barrels 30 so that the support barrels 30 do not rotate themselves. In an alternative embodiment the support barrels 30 are fixed to the wheel drive rod 24 so that the support barrels 30 rotate with the wheel drive rod 24. The skilled addressee will recognize that the spaced apart wheel plates 20 need not be of circular profile as shown in the Figures and can assume other shapes that are able to be rotated within the dehydrator 1 0.

[0054] Pins 32 extend from the wheel plates 20 towards the opposing wheel plate 20 within the dehydrator 70. The pins 32 are located on a face of the wheel plate 20 at regular intervals around the perimeter of the wheel plate 20.

[0055] The support barrels 30 are supported by hooks 34 that engage the rack 72 of the lid 12 of the dehydrator 1 0. In the embodiment where the wheel drive rod 24 rotates within the support barrels 30 the support barrels 30 can be fixed to the hooks 34 or can be allowed to rotate whilst supported by the hooks 34. In the embodiment where the support barrels 30 are fixed to the wheel drive rod 24, the barrels are not fixed to the hooks 24 and rotate whilst supported by the hooks 24. This can be achieved by having a groove around the circumferential perimeter of the support barrels 30 midway along the width of the support barrels 30 within which the shaft of the hooks 34 sit.

[0056] Substances to be dehydrated are placed on trays 22. Trays 22 extend between and are supported by the spaced apart wheel plates 20. Hanging supports 18 are arranged to connect to and hang from pins 32 that extend from each of the spaced apart when plates 20. The pins 32 are arranged to extend from the wheel plate 20 they are attached to towards the other wheel plate 20. In one embodiment, as shown in the figures, the hanging support 1 8 is shaped as a polygon with a generally triangularly shaped profile with a rectangular base. The triangular section leads into the rectangular based at stepped section 19. The top angle of the triangle is arranged to hang from a pin 32. The stepped section 19 includes an extension transverse to the base that extend to and connect to the tray 22.

[0057] Unlike in the first embodiment, the dehydrator 70 includes top hanging rack 72. Top hanging rack 72 is arranged adjacent the lid and is connected to the frame 74. Hanging rack 72 are arranged to receive skewers that meat is arranged on so that the meat can dehydrate in a vertical arrangement. This allows meat to hang from rack 72 and fruit and vegetable to be placed on the trays 22 at different times. The arrangement of the trays 22 and skewers allows easy cleaning of the dehydrator after dehydration. The use of skewers allows thin strips of meat to be dehydrated. [0058] This allows the risk of cross contamination to be avoided.

[0059] In an alternative embodiment, the hanging rack 72 receives hooks rather than skewers.

Method of Operation

[0060] Exemplary operation of the dehydrator 10 of the first and second embodiments to dehydrate food will now be described with reference to the Figures.

[0061 ] The hanging portions 18 on either end of the base 54 are placed so that they are generally level with the base. Rims 56 are placed on the outer periphery of base 54 so that projections 58 of the rims 56 sit either side of the raised projections 52 of the base 54. The hanging portions 1 8 are moved so that the hanging portion 1 8 is generally perpendicular to the base 54. When the hanging portion 18 is moved to be perpendicular to the bas 54, the stepped portion 19 engage the passageways in the projections 58 to lock the rim 56 to the base 54 forming tray 22.

[0062] Trays 22 are then placed in the enclosure of the dehydrator 10 and the hanging means 1 8 on the ends of the trays are hung from opposing and aligned pins 32. The hanging means 1 8 rotates around the pins 32 so that the tray 22 is horizontally level regardless of the position of the aligned pins 32.

[0063] Food or another appropriate substance is placed on the trays 22 in the dehydrator 1 0 and the enclosure of the dehydrator 10 is sealed.

[0064] The motor 40 rotates the drive sheath which in turn rotates the vertical drive rod 26 engaged with the drive sheath 42. The first gear 28 rotates with the vertical drive rod 26 and by engaging second gear 60 on the wheel drive rod 24 causes the second gear 60 and support barrels 30 to rotate. The rotation of the when drive rod 24 causes the wheel plates 20 to rotate at the same rate. With the trays 22 hanging from the pins 32 of the wheel plates 20 the trays rotate with the wheel plates 20 and maintain a horizontally level position throughout rotation.

[0065] The fan 36 in the lid 12 blows air over the heating element 44 into the enclosure of the dehydrator 10. As the trays 22 are constantly rotating any food on the trays get generally equal exposure to the heated air flow and dehydrate consistently. [0066] Operation of the dehydrator 1 0 specific to the second embodiment to dehydrate food will now be described with reference to the Figures. Meat is hung from hanging rack 72

[0067] Throughout the specification the dehydrator 10 has been described as dehydrating food. The skilled addressee will recognize that the present invention can be applied to other substances that are to be dehydrated that can be dehydrated in conventional dehydrators.

Modifications and Variations

[0068] Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to the skilled addressee are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention. The present invention is not to be limited in scope by any of the specific embodiments described herein. These embodiments are intended for the purpose of exemplification only. Functionally equivalent products, formulations and methods are clearly within the scope of the invention as described herein.

[0069] Reference to positional descriptions, such as lower and upper, are to be taken in context of the embodiments depicted in the figures, and are not to be taken as limiting the invention to the literal interpretation of the term but rather as would be understood by the skilled addressee.

[0070] Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

[0071 ] Also, future patent applications maybe filed in Australia or overseas on the basis of, or claiming priority from, the present application. It is to be understood that the following provisional claims are provided by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of what may be claimed in any such future application. Features may be added to or omitted from the provisional claims at a later date so as to further define or re-define the invention or inventions.