KR20140091625A - Improved method and cup for operation of frozen beverage device - Google Patents

Abstract

A beverage ice maker for converting a liquid beverage into a semi-ice or ice form comprises inner and outer walls forming a refrigerant space which occupies at least 80% of the volume of the refrigerant space and which contains a refrigerant having a freezing point below the freezing point of the liquid . Wherein the outer wall has a base portion for moving the inner wall from the first position where the beverage is at least half-cooled to a second position where the inner wall pushes the outer wall toward the outside by internal pressure inside the refrigerant space, To maximize heat transfer and minimize access restrictions to cold beverages.
Various methods of sealing the inner and outer walls sealing the refrigerant have also been introduced.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to an improved method and a cup for drinking ice making apparatus,

The present invention relates to an improved method of operating a beverage ice maker and a method of making a cold beverage using the cup and the ice maker.

The present invention relates in particular to a device for producing cold beverages in the form of semi-ice "slurry" or "slush" and to beverage-freezers that can be used as toys or toys.

Throughout the specification, the term "slurry" is used to encompass mixtures of liquid / semi-liquid, liquid / ice and semi-liquid / ice portions.

For example, a device for producing a so-called "slurry" type of drink, a famous drink such as "Coca Cola "," PepsiCola ", and & And can be seen normally. However, these devices are expensive to manufacture and install; For example, not suitable for household use; It is not suitable for making a wide variety of "slurry" form drinks, including alcoholic drinks such as cocktails.

International patent application PCT / AU2005 / 001895 (International Publication WO 2006/063401) (Bucceri, Alfio) introduces a method and apparatus for converting liquid in a vessel into semi-ice slurry or ice particles.

The ice maker is a cup designed to accommodate a refrigerant between two flexible walls and is provided in various sizes and shapes.

The refrigerant between the walls of the cup consists of salt and water or a similar saline solution, which lowers the freezing temperature of the solution. The coolant is put between the walls and air is vented before the walls of the two cups are sealed.

In this way, a vacuum is created between the walls so that the refrigerant is largely distributed over the sidewalls of the cup or the container or other cooling means, after which the beverage is cooled or frozen.

Thereafter, the cup is held for a period of time by the consumer's hand so that the beverage is cooled rapidly or partially cooled. Then the drink is ready to drink.

Using such an apparatus and method, it can be seen that the refrigerant between the wall spaces falls to the bottom of the cup by gravity and exerts a pressure on the flexible inner wall of the flexible.

The inner wall is made of a flexible, flexible material such as silicone, TPU, PE, EVA, thin aluminum, copper foil or a polyurethane or polyethylene material available for food.

There are no problems affecting the operation of the device; During the cooling of the cup and during the holding of the cups, there is no problem and the device is working well and performs the intended tasks during this process.

In fact, the problem is the pressure of the liquid refrigerant on the flexible inner wall of the cup, which makes the cup a usable innovation.

The double walled cup that receives the refrigerant during use of the device is cooled inside the freezer and the liquid refrigerant fills all the space between the cup walls so that heat transfer occurs from the bottom of the cup to the top of the inner cup.

In this way, the refrigerant is dispersed in such a manner that the cup is turned upside down, that is, the cup is turned over so that the refrigerant is easily and effectively dispersed in the freezer.

When the consumer pulls the cup out of the freezer, fills the cup with the cold beverage, and catches the side, the ice crystals formed on the inner wall of the device are pushed to the top of the cup and heat is transferred. Cups are shown to work perfectly and effectively to make slush drinks in this way.

However, this will cause the cup to become a problem while consumers are drinking.

The problem is that the refrigerant is converted from ice to liquid and releases cold air, so that the refrigerant that melts between the inner walls of the cup falls to the bottom of the cup due to the load.

The inner wall of the cup extends from the bottom and when the user drinks the cooled beverage, the amount of cooled beverage is reduced inside the cup.

The top of the inner wall is then moved inwardly from the top of the cup while the liquid refrigerant at the bottom side of the cup is pushed to the inner wall and swells up at the top of the cup.

As a result, the completely formed inner wall contracts around the cooling beverage, the bottom of which is left inside the cup, to resemble the shape of a wine glass.

The result of the nature of the flexible inner wall is understandable and the sponge in nature of the resilient flexible material It can be put into the constriction to drink the rest of the cooling beverage, for example 15% to 20%.

Another problem with the above-mentioned shrinkage is that the shrinkage and the pressure of the liquid refrigerant on the bottom of the inner wall make cleaning of the cup more difficult.

International patent application PCT / AU2008 / 001923 (Bucceri, Alfio) introduces another apparatus and method for converting liquid in a sealable container into half-ice slurry or ice particles, wherein the cooling device inside the thin deformable walls Which receives a coolant which forms a thin layer of ice crystals on deformable walls, wherein the ice crystals are allowed to fall off the wall by agitating the beverage inside the container by swinging, rotating and pressing on the container or removable cover.

 The above-mentioned prior art techniques have certain limitations in these devices, for example cold drinks are difficult to remove from the container and the cooling time is too late for the user to accept.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or at least ameliorate one or more problems inherent in prior art devices.

Other objects of the present invention are apparent from the accompanying description.

According to a first aspect,

An apparatus for converting a beverage into semi-ice or ice form,

An outer and an inner wall sealingly connected together to form a refrigerant space;

And a refrigerant material cooled at least partially below the freezing temperature of the beverage and at least partially filling the refrigerant space to at least partially cool the beverage when the beverage contacts the inner wall to form a semi-ice slurry or ice particles.

The inner wall being formed of a flexible liner and providing a cooling space for the beverage;

The outer wall having a base portion that is flexibly connected to the body portion and wherein the base portion is moved to a first position adjacent or at least partially within the body portion before the refrigerant is cooled and wherein the beverage is at least partially cooled And then moves to a second position in the lower portion of the main body to move the inner wall toward the main body of the outer wall by the internal pressure inside the refrigerant space.

Preferably, the outer wall is formed of a flexible insulating material, and the base portion and the body portion are interconnected by a foldable connection portion and formed integrally.

In a preferred embodiment, the connecting member connects the base to the lower portion of the inner wall.

In particular, the refrigerant material occupies at least 80% of the volume of the refrigerant space when the base portion is in the first position and nearly 100% of the inner wall of the refrigerant space when the base portion is in the second position.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a method for converting a beverage into semi-ice or ice form,

The refrigerant material contained within the sealed refrigerant space between the outer wall and the inner wall of the apparatus configured to place the base of the outer wall in a first position to move the flexible inner wall inwardly away from the outer wall is cooled in the refrigerator or freezer ;

Removing the device from the refrigerator or freezer;

Placing a beverage inside a cooling space formed by the inner wall,

Moving the base portion to a second position away from the inner wall when the beverage is semi-cooled or frozen to cause the inner wall to move outwardly toward the body portion of the outer wall by internal pressure within the refrigerant space .

According to a third aspect, the present invention provides a method for converting a beverage into semi-ice or ice form,

A refrigerant material contained within the sealed refrigerant space between the outer wall and the inner wall of the apparatus configured to position the base of the outer wall in a first position to move the inner wall inwardly away from the outer wall, Cooling the beverage inside the refrigerator or the freezer;

Removing the device from the refrigerator or freezer when the beverage is half-cooled or frozen;

Moving the base portion away from the inner wall to a second position and moving the inner wall outwardly away from the body portion of the outer wall by internal pressure within the refrigerant space.

According to a fourth aspect,

A sealing assembly for an apparatus for converting a beverage having an inwardly directed circumferential flange around each inlet into an anti-ice or ice state, comprising an outer wall and an inner wall defining a refrigerant space,

An inner locking ring having a tubular body having at least one outward locking forming portion and having said outward circumferential flange;

And an outer locking ring having a body portion having an inner annular wall connected to the outer annular wall by a web member,

Said inner annular wall having at least one inwardly locking forming portion engaging said outwardly locking forming portion, said outer annular wall having a downward rim;

Wherein the inner wall is positioned coaxially with each of the circumferential flanges within the outer wall, and when the circumferential flange of the inner locking ring wall engages the rim, the inner and outer lockings form a locking engagement of the inner and outer walls, The flanges being sealingly secured between the circumferential flange of the inner locking ring and the rim of the outer locking ring.

Advantageously, both said inner and outer walls have lip flanges around their circumferential flanges, and said lip flanges are sealingly received within the body of the outer locking ring.

According to a fifth aspect,

A sealing assembly for an apparatus for converting a beverage into an anti-ice or ice state comprising an outer wall and an inner wall forming a refrigerant space, each wall having an outwardly directed circumferential flange about the respective inlet,

An upper locking ring having an annular wall having an outer circumferential flange with at least one inward locking forming portion;

A lower locking ring having an annular wall with an upper portion having a rim received within said outer circumferential flange,

The annular wall having at least one inwardly locking forming portion engaging the inwardly facing locking forming portion;

The inner wall is positioned such that its respective circumferential flange is coaxially mounted within the outer wall, and when the circumferential flange of the outer wall engages the rim, the circumferential flanges of the inner and outer walls are locked by the locking engagement of the inward and outward locking forming portions, So as to be sealed between the annular wall of the ring and the rim of the lower locking ring.

Preferably, the annular wall of the lower locking ring has an annular groove, both the inner and outer walls have a lip flange around the circumferential flange, and the lip flanges are sealingly received within the annular groove.

The upper locking ring also has an inner circumferential flange on the opposite side of the annular wall.

Preferably, the inner circumferential flange has an outwardly-locking forming portion that forms the lower portion of the removable cover for the device or removably engages at least with the removable cover for the device.

In addition, the locking forming portion may have one or more screw-spirals, but may also have a bionet connecting member or a corresponding forming portion.

The flexible wall overlaps the inlet of the inner and outer walls and is fixed between the annular flange of the inner wall and the annular wall of the upper locking ring.

Preferably, the device according to the first aspect or the devices associated with the sealing assembly according to the fourth or fifth aspect are accommodated or contained within a cover made of a medium-strength rigid or flexible material.

According to a sixth aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for converting a beverage into a semi-ice or ice form,

An outer wall and an inner wall sealingly connected together to form a plurality of refrigerant spaces;

Characterized in that it comprises a refrigerant material which is cooled to at least the freezing temperature of the beverage and at least partly fills each of the refrigerant spaces so as to form a semi-ice slurry or ice particles at least partially when the beverage contacts the inner wall As shown in FIG.

The outer wall of the beverage ice maker for converting the liquid beverage into semi-ice or ice form is cooled from the first position where the beverage is at least half-cooled to the second position where the inner wall pushes outward toward the outer wall by the internal pressure inside the refrigerant space. Position so that the refrigerant material contacts the inner wall with the maximum surface area within the refrigerant space to maximize the heat transfer and minimize the access restriction to the cooling beverage.

For a better understanding of the present invention, embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1 to 4 are a perspective view, a first side view, a second side view, and a bottom view showing a first embodiment of a beverage-ice maker according to the present invention.
5 is a side cross-sectional view of the beverage-ice-making device of Figs. 1 to 4. Fig.
6 to 9 are a perspective view, a first side view, a second side view, and a bottom view showing a second embodiment of the beverage-ice maker according to the present invention.
10 is a side cross-sectional view in which the base of the outer wall is in the first (raised) position;
11 is a cross-sectional view in which the base is in the second (lowered) position;
12 to 14 are a side view, an upper side view, and a component side cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of the beverage-ice maker according to the present invention.
Fig. 15 is a side sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the beverage-ice maker according to the present invention. Fig.
Figure 16 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a sealing assembly for a beverage-freezing device used in the first, second, third and fourth embodiments with the lid.
17 is a side cross-sectional view of the sealing assembly and cover of Fig. 16;
18 is a perspective view of a locking ring of a second embodiment of a sealing assembly for a beverage ice maker used in the beverage ice machine of the second embodiment;
19 is a perspective view of a refrigerant agitating spoon used in combination with a beverage ice making apparatus.
20 is a perspective view showing a beverage-ice-maker in a vertical cover.
Fig. 21 is a perspective view showing three ball-shaped vertical covers. Fig.
22 is a perspective view showing two halves of an intermediate rigid material cover, in which a beverage ice maker is shown housed within one half cover;
23 is a perspective view showing the cover of Fig. 22 in a closed state.
24 and 25 are top and side perspective views of a fifth embodiment of a beverage-making machine according to the present invention.
26 is a perspective view of the ice-maker ice-making apparatus of Figs. 24 and 25 receiving a semi-cooled beverage.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, each component of the beverage-ice-making device 10 of the first embodiment of the present invention is made of a polymer material usable for foods such as silicone rubber and polyethylene.

The icemaker 10 has an outer wall 11 and an inner wall 12 which are sealed together as will be described later and they form a refrigerant space 13 which houses a refrigerant material 14 such as a salt solution.

The inner wall 12 is formed of a thin flexible liner having a narrowed side wall portion 15 and a bottom wall portion 16 and an inlet 17.

The outer wall 11 has a body portion 18 formed of a thick insulating material and narrowed downwardly and a base portion 19 connected by a connecting portion 20. [ The connecting portion 20 has an intermediate portion 21 connected to the body portion 18 and the base portion 19 by respective circumferential fold lines 22 and 23. The body portion 18, the base portion 19, and the connecting portions 20 are formed as an integral unit. The outer wall has an inlet (24).

The inlets 17 and 24 of the inner wall 12 and the outer wall 11 are sealed together and removed by the first sealing assembly 40 of the present invention, Is selectively closed by a possible cover (41).

Figs. 6 to 11 show a second embodiment of the beverage ice-making device 110 according to the present invention. The general construction method is similar to the first embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, except that the respective inlets 117, 124 of the inner wall 112 and the outer wall 111 are connected to the second sealing assembly 140 of the present invention And the second sealing assembly is described with reference to Figures 10,11, and 18. The removable lid 141 has an aperture 142 that allows access to the cold beverage inside the beverage ice maker 110 (which can be inverted).

The bottom wall portion 116 of the inner wall 112 is connected to the bottom portion 119 of the outer wall 111 by the flexible link 125 so that the bottom portion 119 is moved from the first When moving to the second (lowered) position shown at 11, the bottom wall portion 116 is pulled down together.

When the base 119 is moved to the first position, the liquid refrigerant material 114 in the refrigerant space 113 pushes the inner wall away from the outer wall 111. The volume of the refrigerant material 114 is at least 80%, preferably 85%, of the refrigerant space 113 (however, the volume of the refrigerant material should not exceed the volume of the refrigerant space 113, whether liquid or refrigerated) )

When the base portions 19 and 119 are moved to the respective second positions as shown in FIGS. 5 and 11, the refrigerant 13 and the refrigerant 113 flow into the side wall portion 15 in the refrigerant spaces 13 and 113, (Or precisely a vacuum) is applied to the side walls 16, 116 of the inner walls 12, 112 toward the outer walls 11, 111 .

Further, the inner walls 12, 112 do not restrict access to the cold beverage when the base portions 19, 119 are in the second position, so that it is easy to clean the beverage ice maker 10, 110 after use do.

The skilled artisan will appreciate that the beverage ice maker 10, 110 may be placed in a refrigerator or freezer to cool the refrigerant where it is poured after the beverage has been removed from the beverage ice machine, or before being placed in the refrigerator or freezer It can be seen that it can be put inside the device 10, 110. In any case, when taken out of the refrigerator or freezer, the consumer squeezes or wraps the beverage dispenser 10, 110 to make a cold beverage that has not frozen and the base 19, 119 is moved to the second position, To be transferred from the inner walls (12) and (112) to the cold beverage, so that the cold beverage can be approached.

12 to 14 illustrate a third embodiment in which the beverage ice maker 210 has an elliptical or football shape and this beverage ice maker has a configuration similar to that of the beverage ice maker of Figs. Has at least a moderate stiffness and the beverage ice dispenser tool 210 is located in a freezing space 239 defined by the inner wall 212 and the lid 241 and then shaken.

In the beverage ice machine 210, the outer wall 211 and the inner walls 212 are sealed together to form the refrigerant space 214 by the first sealing assembly 240, which will be described later.

15 is similar to the icemaker 10 and has a substantially spherical ball shape in which the inner wall 312 and the outer wall 311 are connected by a flexible link 325 Thereby allowing the inner wall 312 to move to the outside due to the internal pressure in the refrigerant space 313, as described previously.

Alternatively, the outer wall 311 may have a moderate stiffness and the beverage ice maker 310 may be ejected from the refrigerator or freezer and the beverage may be shaken after being placed in the freezer compartment 339.

The beverage ice maker 310 includes a first sealing assembly 340 that is described in detail with reference to Figs.

The beverage ice maker 310 has an inner wall 312 and an outer wall 311 and a removable lid 341. The inlet 324 of the outer wall 311 is made by an inwardly directed circumferential flange 360 and an upwardly directed lip flange 361. The inlet 317 of the inner wall 311 is made by an inwardly circumferential flange 362 and a conducting L-shaped lip flange 363 and the lip flange forms a downwardly annular sealing groove 364.

The inner locking ring 370 has a tubular body 371 and has an outer locking formation in the form of a screw-spiral 372. The entire circumferential flange 373 is installed around the lower end of the tubular body 371.

The outer locking ring 374 has an inverted U-shaped annular body 375 and the inner body wall 376 and outer body wall 377 are connected by a web member 378. Note: In this embodiment, the annular body 375 has an inclined extension 379 and the extension fills the gap between the cover 341 and the inlet 324 of the outer wall 311. In the beverage-icing device 10 of the first embodiment, the extension portion is placed side by side with the outer wall. An inward locking formation in the form of a screw-spiral 380 is provided on the inner body 376 to enable disassembly (and sealing) with the screw-spiral 372.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the lip flange 361 of the outer wall 311 is received within the annular groove 364 of the inner wall 312 and that the circumferential flanges 360, And the outer body wall 377 of the outer locking ring 374 to effectively seal the refrigerant space 313.

The lid 341 has an integral screw-spiral 343 that engages and seals the screw-spiral 372 and the inner seal ring 370.

The beverage ice maker 110 has a second sealing assembly 140, and the second sealing assembly is described with reference to Figs. 10, 11, and 18.

The inlet 124 of the outer wall 111 has an outwardly directed circumferential flange 180 and a downwardly directed lip flange 161. The inlet 117 of the inner wall 112 is bounded by similar flanges 162,163.

The lower locking ring 170 is a tubular body having an annular wall 171 and an external screw-spiral 172. The top surface of the annular wall 171 has an annular groove 173 surrounded by an inner circumferential ring 174 and an outer circumferential ring 175.

The upper locking ring 176 is a tubular body having an upper annular wall 177 and a lower annular wall 178 (large diameter) connected by a circumferential flange or web member 179. The outward screw-spiral 180 is installed around the upper annular wall 177 and the inward screw-spiral 181 is engaged with the screw-spiral 172 on the lower locking ring 170 on the lower annular wall 178 Respectively. The lid 141 has a screw-helix 143 that engages the screw-helix 180 so that the lid 141 is detachably secured to the beverage ice maker 110.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the lip flanges 161 and 163 of the outer wall 111 and the inner wall 112 are received within the annular groove 173 and the circumferential flanges 160 and 162 are received by the upper locking ring 176 Between the web member 179 and the outer circumferential rim 175 of the lower locking ring 170 to seal the inlets 124,117 of the side walls 111,121.

To allow the beverage to cool, the spoon 400 can be located inside the beverage ice machine 110, which has a hollow shaft 401 and a concave head 402 filled with refrigerant similar to the refrigerant described below . The spoon 400 is located inside the refrigerator or freezer with the beverage ice maker and after being filled with the beverage ice maker.

After the beverage dispenser is removed from the refrigerator or freezer, the spoon is inserted into the beverage to help cool the beverage or keep the beverage at least half-ice.

20 and 21, the beverage ice maker 10 is positioned inside the space 501 of the vertical cover 500 to throw, roll, shake, or stir the beverage in the beverage ice maker to accelerate the cooling process do. As shown in Fig. 21, the cover 500 has a shape and a shape of a soccer ball (football) shape.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, the beverage ice maker 10 is located in a space 601 within one half 602 of the cover 600 of medium stiffness material. The two halves 602 are secured together by elastic bands (not shown) received within the outer grooves 603.

In the fifth embodiment. The beverage ice maker 710 has an outer wall 711 and an inner wall 712, which are RF welded together to form a plurality of refrigerant spaces 713, for example. After the beverage is cooled inside the refrigerator or freezer, the liquid beverage turns into a beverage 709 that is at least moderately cooled and the consumer grasps the wall 711, 712 to allow cooling to take place. The tubular extension extending on the inner wall 712 and the outer wall 711 on the sealed line provides a foldable lid that covers the beverage or cold beverage 709.

The lid 41, the lid 141, the lid 141, the lid 141, the lid 141, the lid 142, The flexible circular cover sheet is placed over the inlet of the inner walls 12, 112, 212, 312 of the sealing assemblies 40, 140, 240, So that the beverage ice maker and the beverage can be removed from the cooling space 339 inside the beverage ice maker 10, 110, 210, 310 while the beverage is inside the refrigerator or freezer, Is prevented. The sealing assembly may be simply perforated so as not to peel off the cover sheet or to consume at least a moderately cooled beverage.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the embodiments of the present invention described and illustrated above provide a simple and relatively inexpensive beverage ice making device and method of making a beverage that is at least partially cooled.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its embodiments described and illustrated.

10: Deicing device 11: Outer wall
12; Inner wall 13: refrigerant space
14: refrigerant material 15: side wall portion
16; Bottom wall 17: inlet
18: main body part 19: base part

Claims (18)

An apparatus for converting a beverage into semi-ice or ice form,
An outer and an inner wall sealingly connected together to form a refrigerant space;
And a refrigerant material cooled at least partially below the freezing temperature of the beverage and at least partially filling the refrigerant space to at least partially cool the beverage when the beverage contacts the inner wall to form a semi-ice slurry or ice particles.
The inner wall being formed of a flexible liner and providing a cooling space for the beverage;
The outer wall having a base portion that is flexibly connected to the body portion and wherein the base portion is moved to a first position adjacent or at least partially within the body portion before the refrigerant is cooled and wherein the beverage is at least partially cooled The inner wall is moved toward the main body of the outer wall by the inner pressure of the inside of the refrigerant space.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the outer wall is formed of a flexible insulating material and the base and the body are interconnected and integrally formed by a foldable connection.
The method according to claim 1 or 2,
Wherein the connecting member connects the base to a lower portion of the inner wall.
4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Wherein the refrigerant material occupies at least 80% of the volume of the refrigerant space when the base portion is in the first position and is substantially 100% in contact with the inner wall within the refrigerant space when the base portion is in the second position.
A method for converting a beverage into semi-ice or ice form,
The refrigerant material contained within the sealed refrigerant space between the outer wall of the apparatus and the flexible inner wall of the apparatus configured to place the base of the outer wall in a first position to move the flexible inner wall inwardly away from the outer wall is introduced into the refrigerator or freezer Cooling;
Removing the device from the refrigerator or freezer;
Placing a beverage inside a cooling space formed by the inner wall,
Moving the base portion to a second position away from the inner wall when the beverage is semi-cooled or frozen to cause the inner wall to move outwardly toward the body portion of the outer wall by internal pressure within the refrigerant space .
A method for converting a beverage into semi-ice or ice form,
A refrigerant material contained within the sealed refrigerant space between the outer wall and the inner wall of the apparatus configured to position the base of the outer wall in a first position to move the inner wall inwardly away from the outer wall, Cooling the beverage inside the refrigerator or the freezer;
Removing the device from the refrigerator or freezer when the beverage is half-cooled or frozen;
Moving the base portion away from the inner wall to a second position and moving the inner wall outwardly away from the body portion of the outer wall by internal pressure within the refrigerant space.
A sealing assembly for an apparatus for converting a beverage having an inwardly directed circumferential flange around each inlet into an anti-ice or ice state, comprising an outer wall and an inner wall defining a refrigerant space,
An inner locking ring having a tubular body having at least one outward locking forming portion and having said outward circumferential flange;
And an outer locking ring having a body portion having an inner annular wall connected to the outer annular wall by a web member,
Said inner annular wall having at least one inwardly locking forming portion engaging said outwardly locking forming portion, said outer annular wall having a downward rim;
Wherein the inner wall is positioned coaxially with each of the circumferential flanges within the outer wall, and when the circumferential flange of the inner locking ring wall engages the rim, the inner and outer lockings form a locking engagement of the inner and outer walls, The flanges sealingly being secured between the circumferential flange of the inner locking ring and the rim of the outer locking ring.
8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein both the inner and outer walls have lip flanges around the circumferential flange and the lip flanges are sealingly received within the body of the outer locking ring.
A sealing assembly for an apparatus for converting a beverage into an anti-ice or ice state comprising an outer wall and an inner wall forming a refrigerant space, each wall having an outwardly directed circumferential flange about the respective inlet,
An upper locking ring having an annular wall having an outer circumferential flange with at least one inward locking forming portion;
A lower locking ring having an annular wall with an upper portion having a rim received within said outer circumferential flange,
Said annular wall having at least one outwardly locking forming portion engaging said inwardly facing locking formation;
The inner wall is positioned such that its respective circumferential flange is coaxially mounted within the outer wall, and when the circumferential flange of the outer wall engages the rim, the circumferential flanges of the inner and outer walls are locked by the locking engagement of the inward and outward locking forming portions, To seal between the annular wall of the ring and the rim of the lower locking ring.
10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein the annular wall of the lower locking ring has an annular groove and both the inner and outer walls have a lip flange around the circumferential flange and the lip flanges are sealingly received within the annular groove.
11. The method according to claim 9 or 10,
Wherein the upper locking ring has an inner circumferential flange on a side opposite the annular wall.
12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the inner circumferential flange has an outwardly locking forming portion that forms the bottom of the removable cover for the device or removably engages at least the removable cover for the device.
13. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 12,
Wherein the locking forming portion has one or more screw-spirals or has a bionet connecting member or a corresponding forming portion.
14. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 13,
Wherein the flexible wall overlaps the inlet of the inner and outer walls and is secured between the annular wall of the upper locking ring or the outer locking ring and the peripheral flange of the inner wall. RTI ID = 0.0 > 1, < / RTI > which is received within a cover of medium stiffness or soft material.
An outer and an inner wall forming a refrigerant space;
A beverage containing a refrigerant material cooled at least partially below the freezing temperature of the beverage and at least partly filling the refrigerant space to at least partially cool the beverage to form a semi-ice slurry or ice particles when the beverage contacts the inner wall, Or in the form of ice,
Said outer and inner walls being sealingly connected together by a sealing assembly of any one of claims 8 to 15.
17. The method of claim 16,
And is housed within a cover made of medium stiffness or soft material.
An apparatus for converting a beverage into semi-ice or ice form,
An outer wall and an inner wall sealingly connected together to form a plurality of refrigerant spaces;
Characterized in that it comprises a refrigerant material which is cooled to at least the freezing temperature of the beverage and at least partly fills each of the refrigerant spaces so as to form a semi-ice slurry or ice particles at least partially when the beverage contacts the inner wall .

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