Ice Mold

Abstract

A mold for ice including an elongated open-ended tubular container having cap seal means to tightly close the ends. A plurality of individual spacer members of the same shape as the cross section of the container is mounted on a flexible pull strip and defines therebetween individual ice portions which may be selectively removed from the container.

Description

This invention relates primarily to a new and useful improvement in molds for congealing liquids for table use and in particular to an ice mold adapted to provide ice portions in convenient sizes for conventional use in preparation of cooled drinks and food products.

The conventional ice cube containers in common use are generally rectangular in shape and open at the top. Such containers generally require that the entire contents be loosened and separated in order to gain access to even one or two as desired. It is frequently inconvenient to merely remove one or two cubes of ice as desired. Additionally, such prior art containers are not conducive to use in picnic hampers and portable ice chests since even slight melting causes the free liquid to leak and slosh within the container damaging other foods.

An additional disadvantage with the prior art form of ice molding container is that the same must always be stored flat due to its open top configuration and frequently it is difficult to properly load a freezing compartment due to the limitations imposed upon the manner in which the ice trays must be stored.

The present invention provides in one from a generally cylindrical container adapted to be completely sealed at both ends and including a removable strip of dividers to separate the liquid therein into individual portion sizes and thereby overcoming the problems inherent in the prior art as noted above.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid congealing apparatus and particularly a cylindrical tubular container adapted to mold ice into individual cylindrical portions.

Another object is to provide an ice congealing mold which may be stored in any convenient position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ice storage container and mold wherein individual portions of ice may be removed as desired without total removal of the contents of the container.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a suitable package or mold arrangement for ice which can be conveniently filled with water from any desired source, so that when the container is placed in a suitable refrigerator freezing compartment a series of individual cylindrical portions will be formed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ice molding container which will allow expansion of the freezing water and prevent bulging of the container.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a container for congealing water, which is attractive in configuration, is of a sturdy construction, economical to manufacture and use, and efficient in use.

For still further objects and for a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the following claims, which illustrate the best mode now contemplated in carrying out the invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the container and separator arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective showing the manner of removing individual ice portions from the container;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross section showing the end of the container and its associated hinged cap; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective of a modified form of separator.

Reference is now made specifically to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views and wherein the ice mold of the present invention is shown generally at 10.

The container or mold comprises an elongated, preferably cylindrical tube shown at 11. For sake of simplicity in description, the specification is directed specifically to a cylindrical container, however it should be understood that the teachings of the invention are not limited to this specific shape and that the same teachings could be applied to tubular containers of various sizes and shapes. For example, the tubular container could be triangular in cross section, square or hexagonal as desired.

Tube 11 is preferably extruded from polyethylene or other similar plastic material which exhibits good properties of thermal expansion. Since the mold will be subjected to large ranges in temperature, it must be resistant to breaking at low temperatures and should also possess a low coefficient of friction so that the ice may be removed therefrom. It has been found that polytetrafluoroethylene, commonly sold under the trademark "Teflon," may be used for this purpose. It is also contemplated that a container formed of another plastic may be internally coated with "Teflon."

Tube 11 may be formed at each end with an identical bead rim construction shown at 12 and 13. This bead cooperates with the cap construction later described to achieve a liquid tight seal. Each end of the container in the preferred form is provided with a removable closure cap 14, 15, also preferably formed of the same plastic material as the elongated tube 11. The internal periphery of the cap is formed with a shoulder 16 adapted to engage over the beaded portion 12, 13 of the tube. See FIG. 3. The cap is tethered or securely affixed to the container by means of a hinge member 17, 18. This hinge is preferably formed of a single piece of plastic and is heat sealed or otherwise connected to both the sidewall wall of the container tube 11 and the sidewall of the cap 14, 15. This construction forms an integral one-piece hinge of the type known in the art. Due to the elasticity of the cap material, the same will expand when it is placed over the bead of the tube and the shoulder 16 will snap over the bead forming a very tight liquid seal. A container filled with fluid and having the cap at both ends will not leak regardless of the position of storage. One end of the container may, if desired, be permanently sealed as only one cap is essential.

In order to separate the liquid within the container to provide individual units of ice, a separator strip 19 is provided. The strip is formed of relatively thin, flexible plastic material, preferably of the same type as that of which the elongated tube 11 is constructed. The strip is slightly curved so as to conform to the shape of the tube and has secured or formed integral therewith at spaced intervals divider plates 20, 21, 22, 23. It will be understood that a larger or lesser number of plates may be provided dependent upon the length of tube 11 and the size of the individual pieces of ice desired. Each of the dividers is provided with a small passageway as shown at 24 in FIG. 1. In the preferred embodiment, the passageway is a secant and is quite small in size, its function being to allow passage of the water throughout the container.

In the modification shown in FIG. 4, the strip 19 is provided with spaced divider plates 25, 26, 27, each having a triangular cutout 28. It is also contemplated that a plurality of small holes may be provided in the plates to allow circulation of the water in the container so that the water is completely distributed throughout the container when the same is stored flat. It will be understood that the spaced divider plates may be separately formed and later joined to the divider strip 19 as by heat sealing or the like. In the preferred form of the invention, however, the plates are integral with the strip and are so molded during the manufacturing process.

In use, one end 15 of the container is sealed and the remaining open end is placed beneath a water faucet or the like until the container is filled. The divider strip 19 is in place in the tube prior to filling and the tube may be filled almost completely to the top. The remaining cap 14 is then snapped in place and the container placed in the freezing compartment of a conventional refrigerator or freezer. It is not important as to the orientation of the container as the same may be placed either upright or on its side. Slight expansion during freezing will be accommodated by the container material. After the liquid has congealed, the container may be removed from the freezer and one end cap removed. Since a short portion of the strip 19 extends beyond the outer discs 20 and 23, an easy grip portion is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the extending end of the strip 19 is grasped in the fingers of the user and pulled outwardly to such an extent that the number of cylindrical ice portions as desired are exposed. Due to the flexibility of the strip 19, the same may be bent as shown in FIG. 2 which will cause separation of the discs 20 and 21 thereby permitting the ice portion to be freely removed therebetween. The strip may then be replaced in the tubular container 11 and the cap again applied until it is desired to remove additional ice portions.

The elongated mold when filled with ice may also be used itself as a cooler when applied to picnic jugs, large insulated containers, and the like. Several of these tubular containers filled with ice may be placed about the bottom or sides of an insulated chest and will adequately cool the contents thereof for a considerable amount of time. Ice may be removed in individual portions as desired for cooling of beverages.

Due to the relatively cheap construction of the ice mold herein described, the same may be manufactured as a giveaway or promotional item. In such cases, it is contemplated that advertising indicia may be applied either to the body of the elongated tube 11 or to the faces of the end caps 14 and 15. It is also contemplated that the container itself may be transparent so that the user can determine by mere glance as to the number of ice portions remaining therein.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention and a modification thereof, it is to be understood that the drawings and detailed disclosure are to be construed in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense since various modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made by those skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A mold for congealing liquids comprising an elongated tubular container open on at least one end, cap means to close said open end, seal means associated with said cap means to prevent leakage of liquid from said container when the same is closed, and a plurality of spacer plates having the same general shape as the container cross section, said plates being carried in spaced relation on an elongated flexible pull strip, said strip and associated plates being adapted to be received within said container.

2. A mold as defined in claim 1, and including tether means connecting said cap means to said container.

3. A mold as defined in claim 1, and further including a small cutout portion on each plate to permit through flow of liquid.

4. A mold as defined in claim 3 wherein said cutout portion is triangular in shape.

5. A mold as defined in claim 3, wherein said cutout portion is in the shape of a secant of a circle.

6. A mold as defined in claim 1 wherein said container is formed of plastic material having a relatively low coefficient of friction.

7. A mold as defined in claim 1 wherein said seal means comprises a peripheral bead formed on the open end of said container and a shoulder on the inner face of said cap.

8. A mold as defined in claim 7 wherein said cap is resilient.

9. A mold as defined in claim 3 wherein said pull strip is coextensive with the length of said container and is adapted to lie against the inside wall thereof, said spacer plates being attached thereto at their periphery.