U.S. patent application number 15/956028 was filed with the patent office on 2019-09-19 for ice formation and storage device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Stuart Berger. Invention is credited to Stuart Berger.
Application Number | 20190285326 15/956028 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 67905346 |
Filed Date | 2019-09-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190285326 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Berger; Stuart |
September 19, 2019 |
Ice Formation and Storage Device
Abstract
The present invention relates to an ice formation device that
can be used to form and store ice and ice cubes. The ice formation
device includes an outer bucket, a cylinder, and a lid. The
cylinder is sized to snugly fit within the outer bucket to form a
water tight seal with the outer bucket. The outer bucket has
channels and pockets that are filled with water when the cylinder
is inserted into the outer bucket, and the water is frozen to form
ice/ice cubes. The cylinder can be re-inserted into the outer
bucket after ice is formed and stored in the outer bucket, to allow
for subsequent ice formation when the outer bucket contains ice
cubes that have been released from the outer bucket's channels and
pockets. The ice formation device can also be used as an ice bucket
for chilling a bottle or other items that can be placed inside the
cylinder once ice has been formed between the cylinder and the
outer bucket.
Inventors: |
Berger; Stuart; (Scarsdale,
NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Berger; Stuart |
Scarsdale |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
67905346 |
Appl. No.: |
15/956028 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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62642152 |
Mar 13, 2018 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 3/08 20130101; F25C
1/04 20130101; F25D 2303/0841 20130101; F25D 2303/0843 20130101;
F25D 2303/081 20130101; F25D 2331/809 20130101; F25D 3/06 20130101;
F25C 2500/06 20130101; F25D 2331/803 20130101; F25D 2303/0831
20130101; F25C 1/243 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25C 1/243 20060101
F25C001/243; F25D 3/06 20060101 F25D003/06 |
Claims
1. An ice formation and storage device comprising an outer bucket
and a cylinder, wherein the cylinder is configured to insert into
the outer bucket and form a water tight seal with the outer bucket;
and the outer bucket has channels that hold water for the formation
of ice.
2. The ice formation and storage device of claim 1, further
comprising a lid configured to seal across the top of the outer
bucket.
3. The ice formation and storage device of claim 2, wherein the lid
forms an air tight seal across the top of the outer bucket.
4. The ice formation and storage device of claim 1, wherein the
outer bucket has an interior groove across its interior floor, the
groove configured to accept the cylinder's bottom edge to form a
water tight seal.
5. The ice formation and storage device of claim 1, wherein the
cylinder has one or more handles to facilitate insertion and
removal of the cylinder relative to the outer bucket.
6. The ice formation and storage device of claim 1, wherein the
device has an interior, upper channel formed between an inserted
cylinder and the upper bucket, wherein the upper channel is
configured to receive water used to fill the channels and pockets
of the outer bucket.
7. The ice formation and storage device of claim 1, wherein the
outer bucket has an upper, raised block having a channel in it;
wherein the channel is connected to other channels in the outer
bucket and configured to allow air to escape as the channels and
pockets of the outer bucket are filled with water when the cylinder
is inserted into the outer bucket.
8. The ice formation and storage device of claim 1, wherein the
outer bucket is formed from a flexible and collapsible material
that allows the outer bucket to be compressed so as to release ice
formed in the channels and buckets of the outer bucket.
9. The ice formation and storage device of claim 1, wherein the
outer bucket is formed from a thermoplastic rubber.
10. The ice formation and storage device of claim 1, wherein the
outer bucket is formed from a material selected from the group
consisting of thermoplastic rubber, silicone, and polyethylene.
12. The ice formation device of claim 1, wherein the cylinder is
formed from a material selected from the group consisting of
thermoplastic rubber, silicone, and polyethylene.
13. The ice formation device of claim 2, wherein the lid is formed
from a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic
rubber, silicone, and polyethylene.
14. The ice formation and storage device of claim 1, wherein the
outer bucket has a cylindrical configuration including: a flat
bottom portion having an interior, circular groove configured to
receive a bottom edge of the cylinder to form a water-tight seal
between the groove and bottom edge of the cylinder; an upper,
cylindrical portion having alternating flat, curved panels;
channels, and pockets; wherein the flat, curved panels form an
interior cylindrical wall configured to fit against an exterior
wall of the cylinder to form a water-tight seal between the flat,
curved panels and the exterior wall of the cylinder; wherein the
channels and pockets protrude exterior relative to the interior
wall of the cylinder, to form openings that seal against the
exterior wall of the cylinder to form water-holding compartments;
wherein the channels and pockets alternate such that each pocket of
the outer bucket is connected to another pocket via three or more
channels, whereby each channel connects between two pockets;
wherein each of the pockets has a greater volume than each of the
channels; wherein each flat, curved panel is surrounded by
alternating channels and pockets; wherein the top of the outer
bucket cylindrical configuration has an upper, open channel
configured to receive water that is poured into the upper, open
channel when the cylinder is fully inserted into the outer bucket;
and wherein each of the upper most pockets of the outer bucket is
connected to the upper, open channel by a single upper most channel
that vertically connects from the pocket to the upper, open channel
and forms an opening to the upper, open channel through which water
can flow from the upper, open channel into the water-tight channels
and pockets formed between the outer bucket and the fully inserted
cylinder.
15. The ice formation device of claim 14, wherein the outer bucket
cylindrical configuration further contains an upper, raised block
having a channel in it; wherein the channel is connected to other
channels in the outer bucket and configured to allow air to escape
as the channels and pockets of the outer bucket are filled with
water when the cylinder is inserted into the outer bucket.
16. The ice formation device of claim 1, wherein each of the outer
bucket and cylinder is formed from bisphenol A-free material.
17. The ice formation device of claim 1, wherein each of the lid is
formed from bisphenol A-free material.
18. An ice bucket comprising an outer bucket, and an inner
cylinder; wherein the inner cylinder is configured to slide into
and form a water-tight seal with the outer bucket; and wherein the
outer bucket has channels and pockets that hold ice against the
cylinder.
19. The ice bucket of claim 18, wherein the outer bucket has as an
interior groove across a bottom of the outer bucket; the interior
groove configured to engage a bottom edge of the inner cylinder to
form a water-tight seal across the bottom of the outer bucket and
inner cylinder.
20. The ice bucket of claim 19, wherein the ice bucket further
comprises a lid configured to seal across the outer bucket and
cylinder when the cylinder is fully inserted into the outer bucket.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/642,152 filed Mar. 13, 2018.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a device used for the formation
and storage of ice, particularly ice cubes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The formation of ice with conventional ice trays is both
cumbersome and problematic. Issues with use of conventional ice
trays include, but are not limited to, the difficulty of filling
each ice compartment to the same level; transporting the filled
tray to the freezer without spilling any water from the tray;
placing the tray in the freezer without spilling water; ensuring
the tray is level within the freezer; ice cubes going stale from
absorbing food and other odors in the freezer, and ice cube
evaporation while in the tray.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 8,307,670 to Stewart et al. is directed to an
ice holding device that addresses several of the issues or problems
associated with conventional ice cube trays. The device disclosed
therein has an ice holding assembly that includes an external
chamber, a bucket that inserts snugly into the external chamber and
a lid for closing the assembly. Pockets for the forming of ice may
be formed in the external chamber or the internal bucket, depending
on the embodiment. The device is promoted as also useful for the
serving of ice, as well as the chilling of wine bottles and other
cold beverage containers.
[0005] Despite the improvements described in the aforementioned
device, it still has limitations. With it's bucket design, the ice
forming device can only be used once to form ice cubes. After the
bucket is removed to obtain ice cubes, the cubes fall into the
space occupied by the bucket when the bucket is in use. Therefore,
the external chamber has to be emptied before the bucket can be
re-inserted to make more ice cubes.
[0006] Thus, there remains a need in the art for an ice cube
forming device that can be conveniently used to make and store ice,
and provide an ice bucket for chilling bottles, such as wine
bottles. The present invention provides such an ice formation and
storage device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present disclosed ice formation device includes an outer
bucket, a cylinder, and an optional lid. The cylinder is designed
to be inserted into the outer bucket and form a water tight seal,
in which the outer wall of the cylinder forms a water tight seal
with the inner wall and bottom of the outer bucket. The bottom of
the outer bucket contains a groove or slot that the bottom edge of
the cylinder snugly fits into to form a water tight seal across the
bottoms of the cylinder and the outer bucket. The outer bucket
contains channels and bulbous pockets that water can flow into when
the cylinder is fully inserted into the outer bucket. The channels
and pockets are therefore ice forming compartments, such that when
filled and then placed into a freezer for freezing, ice in the form
of ice cubes is formed in the channels and pockets.
[0008] Once the ice is formed in the outer bucket, the cylinder is
removed, and ice is released from the outer bucket by
squeezing/compressing the outer bucket. Accordingly, the outer
bucket is made from a flexible material that repeatedly can be
frozen and thawed. Such a material includes, but is not limited to,
thermoplastic rubber, silicone, polyethylene, and the like.
[0009] Once ice is released from the outer bucket, the ice can be
stored in the outer bucket or poured into another container or used
in various, typical ways. Advantageously, the cylinder can be
re-inserted into the outer bucket while the outer bucket has ice in
it. The ice formation device can therefore be used to
simultaneously make and store ice.
[0010] The ice formation and storage device can also be used as an
ice bucket, whereby a bottle, food, and the like can be inserted
into the cylinder while the cylinder is inserted into the outer
bucket and ice is formed in the channels and pockets of the outer
bucket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 shows an angled, exploded side view of an embodiment
of an ice formation device.
[0012] FIG. 2 shows an angled, side view of an embodiment of an ice
formation device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention relates to an ice formation and
storage device. In particular, the presently disclosed device is
useful for making and storing ice cubes, along with simultaneously
being able to store ice cubes and make more. In addition, the ice
formation device is useful as an ice bucket for chilling bottles,
such as wine bottles, and other items that can conveniently fit
within the cylinder portion of the ice formation device.
[0014] The presently disclosed device is comprised of an outer
bucket that has formations or protrusions on it for forming ice and
ice cubes, an inner sleeve or cylinder that fits into the outer
bucket, and a lid that can be fitted on top of the ice bucket and
cylinder. The outer bucket and cylinder design can also be referred
to as a double chamber design, in which the outer bucket
constitutes an outer chamber or chambers that are used to freeze
water and form ice. The interior of the outer bucket constitutes an
interior chamber that can be used to store ice. The interior
chamber aspect of the ice formation device may or may not include
the cylinder, which may be inserted into the outer bucket either
when there is no ice in the outer bucket or when there is ice in
the outer bucket.
[0015] The outer bucket formations or protrusions that form
ice-forming compartments (in conjunction with the cylinder, as
described below) are herein referred to as channels and/or pockets
for convenience. One of skill in the art will recognize that the
terms "channels" and "pockets" may be used interchangeably, along
with terms such as formations, protrusions, spaces extending from
the outer bucket interior wall, and so forth. The channels and
pockets hold water for the formation of ice. As used herein with
respect to a preferred embodiment, "channels" refer to smaller
openings to be filled with water, while "pockets" refer to larger,
more rounded openings to be filled with water. The channels allow
water to flow between and fill the pockets, and in themselves
function as ice forming compartments. As shown in the preferred
embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the channels lie between the
pockets and vice versa, such that the channels and pockets form a
lattice-like structure defined by alternating, connecting channels
and pockets. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a channel typically
connects between two adjacent pockets in the ice formation device.
Since there are a number of rows of pockets in the ice formation
device, each pocket is connected to another pocket by several
channels.
[0016] For example, in the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1
and 2, the pockets formed at the bottom of the ice formation device
each connect to other pockets via three channels, with two
horizontal channels and one vertical channel. The upper pockets
each connect to each other via four channels, with two vertical
channels and two horizontal channels. The uppermost pockets connect
to an upper, outer channel or rim that is formed between the
cylinder and the outer bucket. The uppermost pockets connect to
vertical channels that open to the outer channel/rim, such that
water can be poured into the outer channel/rim and inter into the
outer bucket's channels and pockets via the openings of the upper,
vertical channels.
[0017] The lid preferably fits onto the outer bucket to form an air
tight seal over the outer bucket. The lid fits onto the outer
bucket regardless of the presence (fully inserted) or absence of
the cylinder. Accordingly, the lid forms an air tight seal over the
outer bucket alone or the outer bucket in combination with the
fully inserted cylinder.
[0018] The ice formation device is used in the formation of ice by
first inserting the inner cylinder into the outer bucket. The
bottom of the outer bucket contains a slot or groove that receives
the bottom edge of the inner cylinder, such that the bottom edge of
the inner cylinder engages the bucket to form a water-tight seal.
The cylinder has an outer diameter that is approximately the same
size as the inner diameter of the outer bucket. In this regard, the
exterior of the cylinder tightly engages the inner surface of the
outer bucket to form a water-tight seal. Thus, the bottom edge and
exterior of the cylinder work to seal the inner wall of the outer
bucket and make it water tight, such that water can be poured into
the outer bucket to form ice cubes.
[0019] The outer bucket is typically formed as a single, continuous
material that has an overall configuration of a bucket having a
bottom connected to an upright, cylindrical portion. The upright,
cylindrical portion is comprised of a series of curved panels that
form and define an interior wall of the outer bucket. The curved
panels are continuously connected by a series of portions that
extend out from the interior wall to form a network or lattice of
outwardly extended portions. The network or lattice of extended
portions creates a series of channels and/or pockets that water can
flow through and into for the formation of ice. Once a given
channel and/or pocket is filled with water, it can be frozen to
form ice. In this regard, the channels and/or pockets are
compartments that fill with water in the formation of ice.
[0020] In a traditional ice/ice cube tray, the compartments are
horizontally positioned to be filled with water, and then are
frozen to form ice that is removed from the tray. In the presently
disclosed ice formation device, the channels and/or pockets that
protrude from the interior diameter of the outer bucket are
compartments that hold water for the formation of ice. The cylinder
that slides/inserts into the outer bucket forms a water-tight seal
with the outer bucket, such that the cylinder seals against the
curved panels of the outer bucket. The channels and/or pockets that
protrude from the curved panels, in combination with the cylinder,
form sealed compartments that hold water for the formation of ice.
The ice formation device therefore has a series of connected
compartments that form ice from water held in a vertical
orientation, rather than the horizontal orientation of a
traditional ice/ice cube tray.
[0021] In this regard, the present device is space saving compared
to traditional ice trays, since it is self-contained and does not
have to be stacked onto another tray or spread out over a large
horizontal space to make ice. Moreover, the freezing compartments
are sealed off, such that the ice formation device is a spill-proof
series of ice-forming compartments, with little to no spilling of
water poured into the device, provided the device is kept level or
nearly so one water is poured into it for the formation of ice
through a freezing cycle.
[0022] Moreover, the ice formation device can be used sequentially
several times to make ice while holding/storing already formed ice.
For example, in a preferred embodiment, the outer bucket has a
total of 40 connected channels and/or pockets that can form 40 ice
cubes in a single freezing cycle. Those 40 ice cubes can then be
removed from the channels and/or pockets and stored in the interior
space of the outer bucket. The cylinder can then be re-inserted to
allow another freezing cycle to produce more ice, or 40 ice cubes
in this instance. In a preferred embodiment, the ice formation
device has a size and storage capacity that allows for 3 freezing
cycles, such that the ice formation device will be filled with up
to 120 ice cubes from 3 sequential rounds of forming 40 ice
cubes.
[0023] When the inner cylinder is inserted into the outer bucket,
water can flow into the outer bucket and its channels through a
series of slots/openings in the top of the outer bucket. In this
regard, the outer bucket can be filled with water by pouring water
into the rim formed between the outer bucket and the inner
cylinder.
[0024] Once ice is formed in the outer bucket, it can be extracted
by simply removing the inner cylinder and then squeezing the outer
bucket to forcibly release the ice/ice cubes that were formed
between the outer bucket and the inner cylinder. After the ice is
released from the outer bucket, it can be removed from the outer
bucket for storage, use, etc. Alternatively, the ice can remain in
the outer bucket for storage and/or use. Advantageously, the ice
formation device can be used to make more ice without removing ice
from the outer bucket. Given the design of the inner cylinder and
the means by which it seals into the bottom of the outer bucket and
inside the interior, upright/vertical surface of the outer bucket,
the cylinder can be fitted over ice in the outer bucket, such that
the cylinder can be re-inserted over ice formed within the bucket.
In this manner, the ice formation device can be used in subsequent
formations of ice while holding/storing ice/ice cubes that has been
formed in the device. The ice formation device advantageously can
simultaneously store and form ice.
[0025] The ice formation device can also be used as chilling device
for chilling bottles and other objects or foods placed into the
inner cylinder while the cylinder is in place and ice has been
formed in the outer bucket's channels and pockets. In this respect,
the ice formation device may have an overall design that
incorporates a cylinder having an inner diameter sized to readily
accept or accommodate a typical bottle size and/or shape, such as
sizes typically found in wine bottles and other beverages, such as
soda and other non-alcoholic beverages.
[0026] Turning to the drawings, an exploded view of an embodiment
of the presently disclosed ice formation device 10 is shown in FIG.
1. As shown in FIG. 1, the embodiment 10 has an outer bucket 20, a
cylinder 40, and a lid 50. The cylinder 40 is sized to fit snugly
into the outer bucket 20, such that when the cylinder 40 is
inserted into the outer bucket 20, it forms a water tight seal
between the exterior wall of the cylinder 40 and the interior wall
of the outer bucket 20. FIG. 2 shows an angled, side view of the
ice formation device 10 in which the cylinder 40 is inserted into
the outer bucket 20 to form a water tight seal.
[0027] The cylinder 40 is open on the bottom, and the cylinder 40
is sized to be inserted into the outer bucket 20. The interior of
the bottom of the outer bucket 20 has a groove or slot that the
bottom edge 42 of the cylinder 40 snugly fits into to form a water
tight seal along the interior bottom of the outer bucket 20. The
cylinder 40 also optionally has one or more handles 44 to
facilitate handling of the cylinder, such as inserting or removing
the cylinder 40 from the outer bucket 20.
[0028] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer bucket 20 has a
configuration of a series of channels 22 that connect to bulbous
pockets 24, with the channels 22 and pockets 24 being
interconnected/alternating with curved, flat panels 26. The
channels 22 and pockets 24 are ice forming compartments that are
filled with and hold water when the cylinder 40 is inserted into
and forms a water tight seal with the outer bucket 20. The water
tight seal is formed between the bottom edge 42 of the cylinder 40
and groove/slot in the interior bottom of the outer bucket 20, and
between the outer wall 46 of the cylinder 40 and the interior wall
formed by the curved, flat panels 26 of the outer bucket 20.
Accordingly, the channels 22 and pockets 24 act as compartments for
forming ice/ice cubes, with the resulting ice cubes having shapes
defined by the channels 22 and pockets 24.
[0029] To use the device 10 for ice formation, the cylinder 40 is
first inserted into the outer bucket 20. The water tight seal
between the cylinder 40 and outer bucket 20 is then filled with
water by pouring water into the upper channel 28 formed between the
cylinder 40 and the outer bucket 20. The water flows around the
channel 28 and falls/flows into openings or slots 30 that connect
to the channels 22 and pockets 24. The openings 30 are the open
tops of channels 22 that connect to a first/top row of pockets 24.
As the water flows into the openings 30, it flows down through the
channels 22 and pockets 24 to fill the channels 22 and pockets 24
with water. As the channels 22 and pockets 24 are filled with
water, air that is in the channels 22 and pockets 24 is displaced
by the water and pushed out through the channels 22 and pockets 24.
The air escapes by passing through the channels 22 and pockets 24
and out an opening 32 that sits in a raised-block or chimney-like
configuration 34 and is higher than the other openings 30. This
opening 32 allows air to escape as water fills the upper channels
22 and pockets 24. Without the opening 32, water would not run down
and through the channels 22 and pockets 24 because the air would
not have a route of displacement/escape as it is pushed out of the
channels 22 and pockets 24.
[0030] After the ice formation device 10 is filled with water, it
is inserted into a freezer for the formation of ice. Once the water
is frozen into ice, the channels 22 and pockets 24 will essentially
contain a lattice of ice. After the cylinder 40 is removed from the
outer bucket 20, the outer bucket 20 is squeezed to break and
release the lattice of ice from the channels 22 and pockets 24. The
resulting ice cubes release from the channels 22 and pocket 24 into
the central interior space of the outer bucket 20, where they can
be stored for use or poured out into another container.
[0031] The lid 50 is designed to snugly fit over the outer bucket
20 (and cylinder 40 when it is inserted in the outer bucket 20).
The lid 50 form an air-tight seal over the ice formation device 10
so that ice stored in the outer bucket 20 remains fresh and is less
susceptible to evaporation, absorbing food and other odors, and so
forth. Likewise, the lid 50 provides insulation over the top of the
ice formation device 10 to slow ice melting and thawing when the
ice formation device 10 is used outside of a freezer, such as for
chilling items placed in the cylinder or when the ice formation
device 10 is transported from one location to another.
[0032] As mentioned above, ice formed in the ice formation device
10 is released from the channels 22 and pockets 24 by squeezing the
outer bucket 20. Accordingly, the outer bucket 20 is made from a
flexible material that can be repeatedly frozen and thawed, such as
a rubber, silicone, thermoplastic rubber (TPR) and the like.
Moreover, the material needs to be a food-grade
appropriate/approved material. Typically, the outer bucket 20 is
formed/manufactured through an injection molding or similar
process, as commonly used in the art. The cylinder 40 and lid 50
are each made of a plastic or resin and the like that can also be
repeatedly frozen/thawed and is likewise a food-grade
appropriate/approved material.
[0033] While the present invention has been described as having
particular configurations disclosed herein, the present invention
can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this
disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any
variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general
principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such
departures from the present disclosure as come within known or
customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and
which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
* * * * *