Heated tray
First Claim
1. A heated tray which comprises:
- an electrically insulative body portion having a plurality of compartments for receiving a liquid to be frozen;
an electrically conductive polymer having a resistance which changes as a function of temperature of the electrically conductive polymer, the electrically conductive polymer being configured to conform to a shape of each compartment of the electrically insulative body;
a first electrode grid; and
a second electrode grid,said first electrode grid being positioned between said electrically insulative body portion and one side of said electrically conductive polymer, and having a first electrode member adjacent each compartment of the electrically insulative body portion, to facilitate a generally uniform current flow density through the electrically conductive polymer thereby helping facilitate a generally uniform heating thereof, andsaid second electrode grid being positioned on another side of said electrically conductive polymer and having a second electrode member adjacent each compartment of the electrically conductive polymer, to facilitate a generally uniform current flow density through the electrically conductive polymer thereby helping facilitate a generally uniform heating thereof.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A heated tray which can be activated to release a frozen liquid from compartments thereof. The tray includes an electrically insulative body having one or more compartments for receiving a liquid to be frozen. The tray also includes an electrically conductive polymer which can be heated by applying a potential across the conductive polymer. The conductive polymer is provided so as to be adjacent each compartment of the insulative body. The tray further includes first and second electrode grids on either side of the conductive polymer, which electrode grids include electrode members that are adjacent each compartment of the insulative body. The first and second electrode grids and the conductive polymer form a circuit which is used to heat the compartments of the insulative body.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A heated tray which comprises:
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an electrically insulative body portion having a plurality of compartments for receiving a liquid to be frozen; an electrically conductive polymer having a resistance which changes as a function of temperature of the electrically conductive polymer, the electrically conductive polymer being configured to conform to a shape of each compartment of the electrically insulative body; a first electrode grid; and a second electrode grid, said first electrode grid being positioned between said electrically insulative body portion and one side of said electrically conductive polymer, and having a first electrode member adjacent each compartment of the electrically insulative body portion, to facilitate a generally uniform current flow density through the electrically conductive polymer thereby helping facilitate a generally uniform heating thereof, and said second electrode grid being positioned on another side of said electrically conductive polymer and having a second electrode member adjacent each compartment of the electrically conductive polymer, to facilitate a generally uniform current flow density through the electrically conductive polymer thereby helping facilitate a generally uniform heating thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A heated tray, comprising:
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an electrically insulative body portion having a plurality of compartments for receiving a liquid to be frozen; an electrically conductive polymer for heating each compartment of the electrically insulative body portion, the electrically conductive polymer having a resistance which changes as a function of temperature of the electrically conductive polymer; a first electrode grid for facilitating a generally uniform current flow density through the electrically conductive polymer to help facilitate a generally uniform heating thereof, the first electrode grid being positioned adjacent a first side of the electrically conductive polymer and having a first electrode member adjacent each compartment of the electrically insulative body portion; and a second electrode grid for facilitating a generally uniform current flow density through the electrically conductive polymer to help facilitate a generally uniform heating thereof, the second electrode grid being positioned adjacent a second side of the electrically conductive polymer to form an electrically continuous circuit that includes the first electrode grid, the electrically conductive polymer, and the second electrode grid, the second electrode grid having a second electrode member adjacent each compartment of the electrically insulative body. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification