WO2003065819A1

WO2003065819A1 - Machine for forming blocks of ice cream

Info

Publication number: WO2003065819A1
Application number: PCT/US2002/019679
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kristin A. Mccloskey; Scott M. Masline; Lawrence A. Blaustein
Original assignee: Wham-O, Inc.
Priority date: 2002-02-08
Filing date: 2002-06-21
Publication date: 2003-08-14
Also published as: AU2002322283A1

Abstract

A device (10) is provided for forming a block (86) of frozen liquid in a receptacle (50), and for removing the block from the receptacle by a lifter (74) that includes a portion that substantially underlies the frozen liquid. The receptacle includes an upper lip (58) and a cap (60) installed over the lip, and the cap includes a plug (70) to receive the drive shaft (68) of the handle (18) for rotation of the receptacle in a salted ice bath (24). The receptacle is mounted in the bath by a support (34) rotatably disposed on a central mount (28) in a tub (22) that contains the bath. The support includes a plurality of agitation arms (36).

Description

MACHINE FOR FORMING BLOCKS OF ICE CREAM

Cross-Reference to Related Application This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 10/071,580, filed February 8, 2002, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Background This invention relates generally to a machine for freezing a substance in a receptacle by immersing the receptacle in a salted ice bath. The invention relates more particularly to an ice cream maker with a pan for holding the ice cream as it freezes and a lifter disposed in the pan for lifting out the ice cream when frozen, and to a support for the pan that holds the pan for rotational movement in the salted ice bath and which also agitates the bath as the pan is rotated.

A simple way to make an ice cream confection is by mixing a dry blend of sugar, corn syrup solids, nonfat dry milk, and other ingredients with cream or half-and-half, and freezing the mixture. Freezing can be accomplished by placing the mixture in a freezer, or otherwise reducing the temperature of the mixture, for example, by placing in a salted ice bath.

Summary of the Invention The device of the present invention allows a user to freeze an ice cream mixture in a pan and then to remove the frozen ice cream in a single piece or block through use of a lifter to withdraw the ice cream from the pan. The device includes a tub in which the user prepares the salted ice bath. A support is rotatably mounted in the tub, which provides agitation to the bath and also holds the pan in the bath. The device also includes a cap fitted to the pan, which provides a coupling to the support and a plug to receive a handle. A tub lid is disposed over the tub and the pan, and the handle extends through the lid, into the plug in the cap on the pan. The handle is rotatable above the lid to rotate the pan and the support to agitate the bath and promote freezing of the mixture in the pan. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the device of the present invention for making ice cream, showing a lidded tub for containing a salted ice bath and a handle above the tub's lid for rotating internal components of the device in the bath.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device of Fig. 1, showing the tub, lid and handle, and beneath the lid a cap, to which the handle is coupled and which is disposed over a pan, a lifter disposed in the pan, and a support for the pan coupled to the cap and having four (three shown) ribbed arms for agitating the bath and a dimple at the bottom of the support which is rotatably coupled to a mount in the bottom of the tub.

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the device of Fig. 1, showing the tub, which is configured to stand on a tabletop or other surface, the pan support including the four ribbed arms, the pan, which has a lip around its upper edge, the lifter, which includes a base ring and two side extensions accessible above the ice cream, the pan cap with the plug for the handle, the tub lid, and the handle.

Fig. 4 is an isometric view of the pan with frozen ice cream disposed therein, and showing a user's hands grasping the side extensions of the lifter and rotating the lifter and the ice cream back and forth to disengage the ice cream from the pan wall prior to lifting the ice cream out of the pan.

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of the ice cream being reversed and dropped from the lifter and onto a plate.

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of a crust-making ring for use with the invention, showing the crust mixture being packed into the ring by a spoon. Fig. 7 is an isometric view of the crust-making ring after removal from the crust.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments As shown in Fig. 1, a device, indicated generally at 10, according to the present invention includes a container 12 with a base 14 upon which the container may be placed on a tabletop or countertop or other surface. Container 12 includes a lid 16 and a rotatable handle 18 atop the lid. Handle 18 includes a knob 20, preferably rotatable relative to the handle and configured for a user to grasp and rotate the handle. Container 12 is preferably generally cylindrical in shape, although other suitable shapes may be used. Alternatively, as will be seen below, container 12 can have any configuration suitable for providing a freezing environment, and thus could be an electrically powered freezer, an ice chest, or other suitable container for the freezing environment. Freezing here is understood to mean a temperature sufficiently low to substantially solidify over time a liquid that is placed in the device. The liquid is typically a water-based mixture, and thus has a freezing temperature of about 32° F, but any base may be used for the mixture, and thus it may have a different freezing temperature and require a different freezing environment sufficient to substantially solidify the liquid over time. As shown in the cross-section of Fig. 2, container 12 includes a tub 22 defining a space 24 configured to receive a freezing material, such as mixture of salt and ice making a salted ice bath, which produces the freezing environment. Container 12 can be made of any suitable material, and preferably is formed of molded plastic. At a bottom 26 thereof, tub 22 includes a mount 28 that includes a cone

30 and a rod 32 extending above cone 30. A support 34 is disposed on mount 28 for rotational movement about a vertical axis in the salted ice bath. Support 34, which is preferably formed of molded plastic, includes four generally reshaped arms 36, each arm including a lower end 38 and an upper end 40. Other numbers and shapes of arms may be used. Arms 36 join at their lower ends 38 where support 34 couples to mount 28 at a dimple 42, which receives cone 30, and an aperture 44, which receives rod 32. Each arm preferably includes an outer rib 46, which promotes agitation of the salted ice bath. Three of the arms are shown in Fig. 2, and all four arms are shown in Fig. 3. Arms 38 also include nubs 47, which minimize rocking of support 34.

Upper ends 40 of arms 36 are interconnected by a preferably generally circular ledge 48 which supports a receptacle 50, which is preferably a generally cylindrical aluminum pan. Receptacle 50 includes a base 52 adjoining a wall 54 to form an area 56 for receiving the liquid to be frozen. Base 52 is preferably substantially circular. Wall 54 extends up from base 52 and culminates in an upper lip 58. Ledge 48 of support 34 may abut the outside of wall 54 to support receptacle 50. Receptable 50 is fitted with a cap 60 that couples to lip 58 of the receptacle. Cap 60 includes an outer rim 62 (best seen in Fig. 3) that rests on ledge 48, thereby supporting receptacle 50. Cap 60 is preferably molded plastic. Cap 60 includes four legs 64 that extend downwardly from outer rim 62 and interlock with support 34 by fitting into four mating notches 66 (see Figs. 2 and 3) in ledge 48. Thus, rotational movement of cap 60 about a generally vertical axis A is imparted to receptacle 50 and to support 34 through fitted coupling of cap 60 to receptacle 50 and interlocking coupling of cap 60 to support 34.

Cap 60 is rotated by rotational movement of handle 18 through a drive shaft 68 of handle 18 that is coupled to a plug 70 in cap 60 (see Fig. 2). Drive shaft 68, in coupling to plug 70, extends through an aperture 72 in lid 16.

In operation, a lifter 74 is placed in receptacle 50, and then the liquid to be frozen is poured into, or mixed in receptacle 50. Lifter 74 includes a portion 76, preferably a plastic ring, which rests on base 52 of receptacle 50, and when the liquid is poured into receptacle 50, portion 76 substantially underlies the liquid. Portion 76 preferably conforms to the shape of base 52 of receptacle 50. Lifter 74 includes one or more extensions, such as generally upwardly extending arms 78, each coupled at a lower end 80 to portion 76 and having an upper end 82 reaching at least about as high as upper lip 58 of receptacle 50. Preferably, lifter 76 is molded of a single piece of plastic to integrally form the ring and the arms. Preferably, arms 78 extend up high enough to allow a user to grasp the arms above the liquid or otherwise secure the arms for withdrawal of the lifter from the receptacle. Preferably, arms 78 each include a hook 84 (see Figs. 3 and 4) at upper end 82, which overlies lip 58 and facilitates grasping of arms 78. Arms 78 are preferably spaced apart on ring 76 by about 180°. Cap 60 preferably presses down on hook 84 at upper end 82 of arm 78 to maintain the position of lifter 74 with portion 76 substantially underlying the liquid.

Ice, preferably crushed or small cubes, is placed in tub 22, and is salted to the extent necessary to lower the temperature of the ice to provide the freezing environment. Support 34 is then mounted onto cone 30 and rod 32 in tub 22. Cap 60 is fitted onto receptacle 50 and installed on ledge 48 of support 34 for rotational movement in the tub. Lid 16 is placed over tub 22 and handle 18 is coupled to plug 70 of cap 60. At this point, with liquid-containing receptacle 50 in the freezing environment, the liquid will over time substantially solidify due to its dropping below its freezing temperature. Promotion of the substantial solidifying is believed to be promoted by rotating handle 18, and thus, cap 60, receptacle 50, support 34, and arms 48, because the agitation of the salted ice bath promotes dispersal of the salt, and thus, causes the temperature of the bath to drop, and also because rotation of the receptacle and movement of the bath tends to disperse the relative heat of the liquid into the bath.

When the liquid is substantially solidified, the user removes lid 16 and handle 18, removes receptacle 50 from the bath, rinses off the salt, and removes cap 60 from receptacle 50. Then the user grasps arms 78, as best seen in Fig. 4, and withdraws lifter 74 from receptacle 50, together with a block 86 of substantially solidified liquid. Disengagement of block 86 from base 52 and wall 54 of receptacle 50 may be promoted by first rotating lifter 74 as shown by arrows B in Fig. 4. When lifter 78 and block 86 are withdrawn from receptacle 50, they may be flipped upside down, as shown in Fig. 5, and dropped onto a plate. It will be seen that the annular configuration of lifter 78 promotes the separation of block 86 from lifter 78, but this is not necessary, and other configurations may be used for lifter 78, for example a central arm and radially extending underlying portions.

The device of the present invention also includes a ring 100 that can be used to create a crust for substantially solidified liquid 86. As shown in Fig. 6, a crust can be created by compressing with a spoon S on a plate P a mixture 104, for example of cookie crumbs and cream which can then be frozen. Once frozen, ring 100 may be removed, preferably by first rotating as shown by arrows C in Fig. 7 and lifting up. Then, substantially solidified liquid 86 may be placed on top of crust mixture 104.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined only by the claims of any patent that ultimately issues from this or a subsequent application.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A device for forming, in a container that provides a freezing environment, a block of frozen liquid, the device comprising: a receptacle for holding the liquid, the receptacle configured to be placed in the container and thereby to reduce the temperature of the liquid to substantially solidify the liquid; and a lifter disposed in the receptacle, the lifter including a portion configured to substantially underlie the liquid in the receptacle, the lifter further including an extension which couples to the substantially underlying portion, the extension configured for removal of the block from the receptacle.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the substantially underlying portion of the lifter includes a plastic ring, and the extension of the lifter includes a first plastic arm coupled to the ring.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the lifter further includes a second plastic arm coupled to the ring.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the plastic arms are coupled to the ring at positions separated by about 180°.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the receptacle is an aluminum pan.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the receptacle includes a base and an adjoining wall, and the substantially underlying portion of the lifter is disposed on the base adjacent the wall.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the receptacle includes a base that is substantially circular.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the substantially underlying portion of the lifter conforms to the substantially circular shape of the base, of the receptacle.

9. The device of claim 1 for use in the container, wherein the container includes a tub providing a salted ice bath, wherein the receptacle is a cylindrical pan configured to be rotatably mounted in the tub.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the container includes a handle with a drive shaft, the handle operable to rotate the receptacle in the bath, wherein the receptacle is fitted with a cap with a plug for receiving the drive shaft of the handle.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the container includes a support rotatably mounted in the tub, wherein the receptacle includes a cap configured to couple to the support for rotatable movement of the receptacle and the support in the tub.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the receptacle is a substantially cylindrical pan, defining a substantially circular base and a wall extending up from the base and culminating in a lip, and the lifter includes an integrally formed plastic ring and two arms, the ring providing the substantially underlying portion of the ring, and the arms providing the extension, the arms extending, when the ring is disposed in the pan to substantially underlie the liquid, at least about as high as the lip of the pan.

13. A device for forming a block of frozen liquid, the device comprising: a container that provides a freezing environment, the container including a tub configured to receive salt and ice to create a salted ice bath; a receptacle for holding the liquid, the receptacle configured to be placed in the container and thereby to reduce the temperature of the liquid to substantially solidify the liquid; a support rotatably mounted in the tub, the support holding the receptacle in the container, the support including at least one arm for agitating the salted ice bath.

14. The device of claim 13 further comprising a lifter disposed in the receptacle.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the lifter includes a portion configured to substantially underlie the liquid in the receptacle, the lifter further including an extension which couples to the substantially underlying portion, the extension configured for removal of the block from the receptacle.

16. The device of claim 13 wherein the support includes a plurality of arms, each arm having an upper end, and a ledge interconnecting the upper ends of the arms, the ledge supporting the receptacle.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein a cap is coupled to the receptacle, and the ledge supports the receptacle by supporting the cap.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the cap and the ledge interlock to impart to the support a rotational movement of the cap.

19. The device of claim 13 wherein the rotatable mounting of the support includes a substantially circular aperture defined in one of the support and the tub, and a substantially cylindrical rod coupled to the other of the support and the tub.

20. A device for forming a block of frozen liquid, the device comprising: a tub configured to receive salt and ice to create a salted ice bath, the tub including a central mount and an upper lip; a receptacle for holding the liquid, the receptacle configured to be rotatably mounted in the tub in contact with the salted ice bath, thereby to reduce the temperature of the liquid to substantially solidify the liquid, the receptacle including an upper lip and a cap installed over the lip, the cap including an outer rim; a support rotatably disposed on the central mount in the tub, the support including a plurality of agitation arms, each arm extending up to an upper end, the support further including a ledge interconnecting the upper ends of the arms, the ledge supporting the outer rim of the cap; and a lifter disposed in the receptacle, the lifter including a portion configured to substantially underlie the liquid in the receptacle, the lifter further including an extension which couples to the substantially underlying portion, the extension configured for removal of the block from the receptacle.