AU2006201786A1 - Method and apparatus for producing ice sculptures - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for producing ice sculptures Download PDFInfo
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- AU2006201786A1 AU2006201786A1 AU2006201786A AU2006201786A AU2006201786A1 AU 2006201786 A1 AU2006201786 A1 AU 2006201786A1 AU 2006201786 A AU2006201786 A AU 2006201786A AU 2006201786 A AU2006201786 A AU 2006201786A AU 2006201786 A1 AU2006201786 A1 AU 2006201786A1
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AUSTRALIA
Patents Act 1990 CHOONG-YEOUL KIM COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Method and apparatus for producing ice sculptures The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- S2 cI Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for creating ice 0C sculptures.
INO Background to the Invention 00 Ice sculptures are popular items used to decorate and visually enhance a variety of situations.
NO
Ice sculptures can take many shapes and sizes and are often used in events such as celebrations and parties, particularly events which involve the preparation of food and drinks. In this regard, ice sculptures can be shaped as foodstuffs or similarly related themes and placed on food presentation tables and the like, to act as a centrepiece for the occasion. The specific shape or form of the ice sculpture can be varied to suit a particular theme applicable to the event.
Traditionally, ice sculptures have been hand produced from a block of ice by ice sculptors. The block of ice has been typically shaped by the sculptor using a variety of tools, such as chisels and other similar cutting tools, to remove pieces of the ice to form a unique and intricate hand crafted sculpture. Due to the considerable artistic expertise required to make such a sculpture, such hand made sculptures are expensive and require considerable time to produce. Further, hand made sculptures are each unique and cannot be readily reproduced in a consistent manner. As such, during the production of the ice sculpture, the shape and form may vary from that initially agreed upon and imperfections may form within the sculpture, thereby resulting in the purchaser receiving a sculpture differing to that which they initially ordered.
In order to address this issue, moulds have been developed having a variety of shapes for receiving fluid, such as water, therein for freezing such that the frozen fluid assumes the desired shape. Typically, available moulds comprise one or two pieces fitted together to define a space for receiving the fluid such that as the fluid freezes it expands to fill the space. The resultant frozen fluid then assumes the shape of the mould to creating an ice sculpture that substantially replicates the shape of the mould.
In this regard, the mould is typically formed such that it can be readily disassembled to m:\speci\ 20000\1 26-127\1 2710 4cmpgpd.doc IND 3 access the ice sculpture formed therein, with the mould either discarded following use, or reused to produce a plurality of similarly shaped ice sculptures.
00 The use of moulds to create ice sculptures, rather than hand crafting the sculptures from a block of ice, has significantly reduced the time required to prepare ice IO sculptures as well as the cost of preparing ice sculptures. This in turn has made ice 00oO sculptures more available to the consumer. However, the quality of such moulded ice sculptures has typically been considered inferior to hand crafted ice sculptures, due in \the main to the moulding process creating cracks in the exterior of the ice sculpture and the finished product having a generally cloudy appearance.
Cracks in moulded ice sculptures typically occur due to the fact that the fluid within the mould freezes from outside to inside, thereby creating an internal expansion force as the fluid in the interior of the mould expands against the outer surface.
Various methods of freezing the moulds have been proposed to overcome this, such as immersion tanks which receive the mould and control freezing in a direction from the bottom of the tank to the top of the tank. However, the need to employ such a dedicated tank to create the ice sculpture increases the cost and time of production of the ice sculpture.
Similarly,. the cloudy appearance of the moulded ice sculptures is due to the entrapment of air bubbles within the ice as the fluid freezes. This is typical when fluid is frozen quickly. Similarly, this has been addressed by reducing the speed of freezing and employing immersion tanks in fluid communication with the fluid within the mould to facilitate the dissipation of dissolved gasses and bubbles from the fluid.
Whilst such methods may aid in the formation of ice sculptures that are substantially clear and substantially free from cloudy regions, such devices and methods can significantly increase the cost and time required to manufacture the ice sculptures.
Therefore, there is a need to provide a method and apparatus for producing ice sculptures that utilises existing freezer devices and which enables relatively quick and relatively inexpensive production of ice sculptures to a variety of user requirements without substantially contributing to the presence of defects within the finished ice sculpture.
Summary of the Invention m:\speci\1 20000\1 26-127\1 27104cmpgpd.doc
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Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as .1 "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of 00 any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
IND According to a first aspect, the present invention is an apparatus for forming an 0 ice sculpture comprising: a mould body having an internal cavity for receiving a fluid to be moulded, the mould body being exposable to temperatures sufficient to freeze said fluid such that said frozen fluid assumes the shape of said internal cavity to form said ice sculpture; a fluid circulation device configured to extend at least partially into said internal cavity so as to be in fluid communication with the fluid received therein to circulate at least a portion of said fluid therethrough; and a drain tube adapted to extend at least partially into said internal cavity so as to be in fluid communication with the fluid received therein, said drain tube providing an egress path for excess fluid to travel from said internal cavity during the freezing process.
In one embodiment, the fluid circulation device extends into the central region of the internal cavity so as to circulate the fluid disposed in the central region of the internal cavity. The fluid circulation device may comprise an inlet pipe having an opening through which the fluid is drawn into said device and an outlet pipe having an opening from which the fluid is returned to said internal cavity. The inlet pipe and the outlet pipe may be inserted into mould body through an inlet formed in the mould body such that both said inlet pipe and said outlet pipe circulate the fluid in the central region of the internal cavity. In this regard, the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe may be positioned within the internal cavity such that their openings are in close proximity to facilitate circulation of the fluid in the central region of the internal cavity.
The fluid circulation device may comprise a pump unit in communication with the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe to provide sufficient circulation force to draw the fluid through said inlet pipe and deliver the fluid from said outlet pipe. In this regard, the fluid may pass through the pump unit as it circulates through the device. The pump unit may comprise one or more filters through which the water passes. The one or more filters may be configured to assist in the removal of air and/or impurities present m:\speci\1 20000\1 26-127\1 27104cmpgpd.doc O in the fluid. The circulation of fluid through the fluid circulation device in the central region of the internal cavity delays freezing of the fluid in this region.
o00 In another embodiment, the drain tube has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end may be inserted into the internal cavity such that it is in fluid INO communication with the fluid present therein. The distal end may be positioned remote 00oO from the internal cavity thereby providing a path for the fluid to travel from the internal cavity under the action of the expansion forces associated with the fluid freezing to ~form the ice sculpture. The proximal end of the drain tube may be located in the central region of the intemal cavity, adjacent the openings of the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe, to facilitate removal of fluid in this region. In this regard, as the fluid in this region of the internal cavity is delayed from freezing with respect to the remainder of the fluid in the internal cavity, the expansion forces present on the fluid in this region may cause the excess fluid to pass from the internal cavity through the drain tube. The distal end of the drain tube may be connected to a collection reservoir to receive and collect the excess fluid from the internal cavity.
The mould body may comprise one or more parts which define the internal cavity. In one embodiment, the mould body comprises a first and second part. The first and second part may each have an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface may be substantially concave. The first and second part may be detachably connected such that their inner surfaces thereof cooperate to form the internal cavity.
In this regard, the inner surface of the first and second part may be configured to define the shape of the ice sculpture formed by the apparatus.
The outer surface of the first and second part may comprise a flange extending therefrom. The flange may extend substantially about the periphery of the first and second part such that when the first and second parts are brought together, the corresponding flanges cooperate to from a seal between the parts. The first and second part may be detachably connected along the corresponding flanges. In this regard, one or more clip elements may be provided on a surface of the flange of the first or second part which engage with one or more lugs provided on a surface of the corresponding flange of the first or second part to detachable connect the first and second parts.
Following formation of the ice sculpture, the first and second parts of the mould body may be separated to access the ice sculpture through disengagement of the clip elements with their associated lugs.
m:\speci\1 20000\1 26-127\1 27104cmpgpd.doc S6 k S -A recess may be provided in the first and second parts of the mould body. The 00 recess is positioned such that when the first and second parts are brought together to N, form the mould body the recesses formed therein cooperate to provide an inlet in the mould body, through which fluid can be received by the internal cavity. The inlet may INO also receive the fluid circulation device and the drain tube such that the fluid circulation 00oO device and the drain tube may be in communication with the fluid received within the internal cavity of the mould body.
According to a second aspect, the present invention is a method for forming an C ice sculpture comprising: providing a mould having an internal cavity shaped in accordance with the desired shape of the sculpture to be formed; adding fluid into the internal cavity of the mould to fill said internal cavity to a desired level; reducing the temperature of the fluid to facilitate a change in state of the fluid from liquid to solid; regulating the internal expansion forces experienced by the fluid within the internal cavity as the fluid changes state; and removing said mould to access said formed sculpture.
In one embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, the step of providing the mould comprises assembling the mould where the mould comprises two or more parts. The parts of the mould may be assembled by removably securing the parts together to form a mould body. Upon assembly, the mould body may include an inlet which is in communication with the internal cavity of the mould.
In another embodiment, the step of adding fluid into the internal cavity of the mould comprises introducing said fluid through the inlet provided in the mould body.
The desired level to which the internal cavity is filled with fluid may be around 90-96% of the capacity of the internal cavity.
In yet another embodiment, the step of reducing the temperature of the fluid comprises exposing the mould to temperatures down to around -20'C. In one form, the mould may be exposed to temperatures of between around -7'C to around -10 0 C. In this regard the exposed temperatures are sufficient to facilitate freezing of the fluid m:\speci\1 20000\126-127\127104cmpgpd.doc INO 7 c within the internal cavity. This step may be achieved by placing the mould within a freezer unit, such as a commercial and/or conventional freezer unit.
00 In yet another embodiment, the step of regulating the internal expansion forces experienced by the fluid within the internal cavity as the fluid changes state comprises INO draining said fluid from the internal cavity. The amount of fluid drained from the 00 0. internal cavity may depend upon the volumetric expansion of the fluid as it changes state from liquid to solid. The fluid may be drained from the central region of the iinternal cavity as the fluid changes state from the periphery of the internal cavity towards said central region. A drain tube may be inserted into the central region of the Sinternal cavity to provide an egress path for the fluid to pass from the internal cavity in accordance with the volumetric expansion of the fluid as it changes state.
To facilitate draining of the fluid in the central region of the internal cavity, the transition of the change in state of the fluid in this central region may be delayed. This may be achieved by circulating the fluid in the central region of the internal cavity to maintain the fluid in this region in a liquid state to facilitate draining where necessary.
A fluid circulation device may be provided to extend into the central region of the internal cavity to circulate the fluid present therein. The fluid circulation device may comprise a pump which draws fluid from the central region of the cavity, through said pump, and returns the fluid to the central region of the internal cavity. The pump may be controlled to be activated at specific times during the temperature reducing step to facilitate circulation of the fluid. The fluid circulation device may also comprise filters through which the fluid passes as it is circulated to remove impurities and/or air bubbles present therein.
The step of removing the mould may comprise disassembling the mould to access the formed sculpture. Following access of the sculpture, the sculpture may be further trimmed to remove any excess solid matter left over during the forming steps.
In each of the above aspects of the invention, the fluid may be water. The water may be treated prior to use to remove impurities and air bubbles present therein. The water may be distilled water. The water may also be coloured through the addition of a colouring agent, such as a dye or similar.
Brief Description of the Drawings m:\speci\ 20000\1 26-127\127104cmpgpd.doc SA preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figures in which: 00oO Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a mould of the ice sculpture forming INO apparatus and the formed ice sculpture in accordance with one embodiment of the oO 0 present invention ,iFigure 2 shows a prospective view of the assembled ice sculpture forming 0 10 apparatus of one embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 3 shows a flow chart depicting the method for forming an ice sculpture in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed Description of ExemDlary Embodiments One embodiment of the moulding apparatus 20 for creation of an ice sculpture is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be appreciated that whilst the moulding apparatus 20 is shown as a two-part, re-usable mould, the present invention could equally employ a one-part disposable mould, or a multi-part reusable or disposable mould. Similarly, as the ice sculpture 10 is shown having a three-dimensional configuration with an animal motif, the ice sculpture 10 could assume any specific design as desired and may assume a two-dimensional configuration in accordance with the consumer's requirements. Further, as the ice sculpture 10 will be described below as being formed of water, it will be appreciated that other fluids may also be used to form the sculpture Referring to Fig. 1, the moulding apparatus 20 comprises a first mould part 12, and a second mould part 14 which can be assembled together to form a mould 16 as shown in Fig. 2. Each part 12, 14 comprises an internal cavity portion 13 which is configured to represent the outer surface of the formed ice sculpture 10, such that when the parts 12, 14 are assembled together the respective internal cavity portions 13 define a space which is substantially the shape of the resultant ice sculpture m:\speci\1 20000\1 26-127\1 27104cmpgpd.doc
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cI A flange 15 is provided which extends about the periphery of the internal cavity Sportions 13 of the parts 12, 14. The flanges 15 of the parts 12, 14 are in the form of a substantially flat surface along which the parts 12, 14 are brought together to form the oO 00 mould 16 as shown in Fig. 2. A plurality of flexible clips 18 extend from the outer surface of the flange 15 of part 14 to be received by a plurality of lugs 17 formed on the INO outer surface of the flange 15 of part 12, in the manner as shown in Fig. 2. The clips 18 00 may be in the form of pivoting wire elements shaped to extend about the flanges 15 and around the lugs 17 to secure the parts 12, 14 together along their corresponding flanges C¢I 15. In this arrangement, the clips 18 and lugs 17 form a locking system which secures the two parts 12, 14 together along the inner surfaces of flanges 15 to provide a water tight seal between the corresponding flanges 15. By creating such a seal between the flanges 15, the water present in the mould 16 is maintained within the internal cavity portions 13 and is substantially prevented from leaking from the mould 16. It will be appreciated that the inner surfaces of the flanges 15 may also be provided with a lining made from a deformable material, such as rubber or the like, to further facilitate a watertight seal between the flanges As shown more clearly in Fig. 1, each mould part 12, 14 comprises a base portion 19 in the form of a substantially flat surface. The base portion 19 is configured to form the base of the ice sculpture 10 following the moulding process, such that the ice sculpture 10 is able to be supported on a substantially flat surface for display. The base portions 19 have recesses 11 formed along an edge thereof such that when the parts 12, 14 are secured together to form the mould 16, through engagement of the clips 18 with the lugs 17, the recesses 11 cooperate to form an inlet 21. Inlet 21 provides a passage through which the water is delivered into the mould 16.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, during moulding of the ice sculpture 10, the mould 16 is oriented such that the base portions 19 of the parts 12, 14 are arranged uppermost to receive and retain the water within the mould. In this regard, various clamps or racks may be employed to maintain the mould 16 in such a position during creation of the sculpture 10, as would be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
The mould parts 12, 14 may be made from a plastic material, such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) resin and moulded to assume a desired shape and surface texture. In this regard, when the parts 12, 14 are assembled, the mould 16 is relatively rigid thereby ensuring that the shape of the mould 16 doesn't significantly alter during m:\speci\1 20000\1 26-127\127104cmpgpd.doc O Sthe moulding process. As will be appreciated, any significant change in shape of one or both of the mould parts 12, 14 could affect the quality and reproducibility of the resulting ice sculpture 10. It will be appreciated, however, that the mould parts may be oO Smanufactured such as they incorporate a degree of flexibility within their structure to facilitate removal following the moulding process to release the mould 16 from the IO sculpture 00 Fig.2 shows the mould 16 in an assembled form and the process 40 for \producing the ice sculpture will be described in relation to Fig. 3.
r At step 42, the parts 12, 14 are assembled together to form the mould 16. This is achieved through securing the clips 18 to the lugs 17 to form a watertight seal between the parts 12, 14 as discussed above. The mould 16 is then orientated such that the inlet 21 is arranged uppermost with respect to the remainder of the body of the mould 16.
At step 44, water is then introduced into the internal cavity of the mould 16 through the inlet 21. The water is preferably purified and/or distilled prior to being introduced into the mould 16 to remove impurities and air therefrom. As discussed previously, any impurities or air bubbles present in the water can affect the quality of the resulting ice sculpture 10. It will also be appreciated that whilst the present process will be described with respect to the creation of the ice sculpture from water, other fluids or combination of fluids could also be used to create the sculpture according to the present invention.
Due to the relatively rigid nature of the parts 12, 14 of the mould 16, the internal cavity of the mould 16 will not substantially expand with the water as the water freezes.
In this regard, the amount of water introduced into the mould 16 is controlled so that the mould 16 is not fully filled with water so as to prevent the creation of undesirable forces within the mould 16. Typically, as water freezes, the volume of the water increases to about 4% more than its original volume. Therefore, the mould 16 is ideally a little larger than the expansion volume of the water, and as such the mould 16 is typically filled to around 90-96% of its capacity.
Following the addition of water into the mould 16 to the desired level, a drain tube 29 is provided to extend into the internal cavity of the mould 16 through the inlet m:\speci\1 20000\1 26-127\1 27104cmpgpd.doc ,O 11 21. The drain tube 29 ensures that the internal expansion pressure of the water in the e central region of the mould 16 does not become too great during the freezing process.
As discussed previously, the water within the mould 16 freezes from the outside of the oo 0, mould inwards, and as the water present in the centre of the mould freezes and hence expands, excess internal expansion pressure can be created in the central region of the IND mould 16. This increased pressure can create significant forces within the mould which 00 can result in cracking of the ice sculpture 10. In this regard, the drain tube 29 may be configured to provide an egress path for the excess water away from the central region "1of the mould, which is the final portion of the water in the mould 16 to freeze, to reduce the build-up of pressure within this region of the mould. Any rise in fluid pressure within the central region of the mould 16 as the water freezes, results in water entering and travelling along the drain tube 29 and travelling thereby regulating the fluid pressure within the mould 16.
As shown in Fig. 2, a fluid circulation device 25 is also provided to extend into the central region of the internal cavity of the mould 16. The fluid circulation device comprises a pump unit 26 having a fluid intake pipe 27 and a fluid outlet pipe 28.
The fluid intake pipe 27 and the fluid outlet pipe 28 are positioned such that they extend through the inlet 21 to be in fluid communication with the fluid proximal the central region of the mould 16 as shown in Fig. 2.
In this arrangement, activation of the pump unit 26 draws water from the central region of the mould 16 through fluid intake pipe 27 where it passes through the pump unit 26 and is returned to the central region of the mould 16 by way of fluid outlet pipe 27. The pump unit 26 may comprise filters (not shown) through which the water passes to aid in the removal of impurities and/or air from the water, thereby reducing the likelihood of air bubbles and/or impurities becoming entrapped in the forming ice which can affect the aesthetics of the ice sculpture 10, typically resulting in cloudy regions in the ice as discussed previously. The action of the fluid circulation device circulates the fluid in the central region of the mould 16 in the manner which will be described in more detail below.
Following the positioning of the fluid circulation device 25 and the drain tube 29 within the mould 16, the mould is then exposed to a sufficient temperature to freeze the water contained therein at step 46. In one embodiment, this is done by placing the mould 16 within a freezer unit, such as a commercial freezer unit or the like, whereby m:\speci\1 20000\1 26-127\1 27104cmpgpd.doc INO 12 k-the mould 16 is exposed to temperatures down to around -20*C, preferably between -7 to -10°C. Such temperature exposure causes the water within the mould 16 to freeze 00 thereby forming the ice sculpture At step 48, during the freezing process, the fluid circulation device 25 is ,O1 operated to circulate the water within the mould 16. As discussed above, as the water 00 within the mould 16 gradually freezes from the outside inwards, the water proximal the walls of the mould 16 freezes before the water present in the central region of the mould 16. As the water freezes it expands, thereby reducing the available space within the mould 16. This in turn creates a smaller space at the central region of the mould for retaining the water, thereby increasing the pressure of the water in this central region of the mould 16. As the fluid circulation device 25 acts to circulate the water in this region of the mould 16, the water does not freeze as it circulates, and as such the onset of the formation of the ice in this region is delayed. Such a delay allows excess water, due to the expansion of the ice within the mould, to drain from the mould 16 by way of the drain tube 29. This in turn acts to substantially equalise the expansion forces present within the mould 16 such that they are not delivered to the outside of the sculpture 10 which has the tendency to create cracks and the like in the sculpture Such pressure equalisation and draining of excess water will continue until all the water within the mould 16 freezes. This can be facilitated through the cessation of the fluid circulation device 25 thereby enabling the water to settle and freeze in a stationary state. It will be appreciated that, even with the fluid circulation device operating, the water present in the mould will eventually completely freeze over time.
At step 50, following freezing of the water within the mould 16, the mould 16 is opened to access the ice sculpture 10 by releasing the clips 18 from the lugs 17. As desired, the ice sculpture 10 may then be trimmed to remove any excess ice left over from the moulding process and decorated. The resulting ice sculpture 10 is then available for purchase and or use by the end user.
As previously discussed, whilst the above invention has been described in relation to an ice sculpture 10 made from water, other fluids or combinations of water and various additives may also be used to create sculptures having various visual effects. As discussed, to create clear transparent ice sculptures, purified or distilled water is desirable such that the presence of air bubbles and/or other impurities is m:\speci\1 20000\1 26-127\1 27104cmpgpd.doc IND 13 (71 reduced. However, in order to make more colourful ice sculptures, various types of colouring agents may be added to the water to control the colour or the chromaticity of the sculpture. These colouring agents may be dyes or similar food colouring agents.
00 It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations IND and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific 00 -00 embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as 1illustrative and not restrictive.
m:\speci\1 20000\1 26-127\127104cmpgpd .doc
Claims (44)
1. An apparatus for forming an ice sculpture comprising: 00 oO a mould body having an internal cavity for receiving a fluid to be moulded, the mould body being exposable to temperatures sufficient to freeze said fluid such that 1,1 said frozen fluid assumes the shape of said internal cavity to form said ice sculpture; oO 0 a fluid circulation device configured to extend at least partially into said internal cavity so as to be in fluid communication with the fluid received therein to circulate at ,Ileast a portion of said fluid therethrough; and a drain tube adapted to extend at least partially into said internal cavity so as to be in fluid communication with the fluid received therein, said drain tube providing an egress path for excess fluid to travel from said internal cavity during the freezing process.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluid circulation device extends into the central region of the internal cavity so as to circulate the fluid in the central region of the internal cavity.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the fluid circulation device comprises an inlet pipe having an opening through which the fluid is drawn into said device and an outlet pipe having an opening from which the fluid is returned to said internal cavity.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are inserted into the mould body through an inlet formed in the mould body. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are positioned within the internal cavity such that their openings are in close proximity to facilitate circulation of the fluid in the central region of the internal cavity.
6. An apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the fluid circulation device comprises a pump unit in communication with the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe.
7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the pump unit provides circulation force to draw the fluid through said inlet pipe and deliver the fluid from said outlet pipe. m:\speci\1 20000\1 26-127\1 27104cmpgpd.doc k S8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the fluid passes through the pump unit as it circulates through the fluid circulation device. 00
9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the pump unit comprises one or INO more filters through which the water passes. 00oO An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the one or more filters are ,Iconfigured to assist in the removal of air and/or impurities present in the fluid.
11. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the circulation of said fluid through the fluid circulation device delays the freezing of the circulating fluid.
12. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drain tube has a proximal end and a distal end.
13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the proximal end is inserted into the internal cavity such that it is in fluid communication with the fluid present therein.
14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the distal end is positioned remote from the internal cavity thereby providing a path for the fluid to travel from the internal cavity under action of expansion forces associated with the fluid freezing.
15. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the proximal end of the drain tube is located in the central region of the internal cavity.
16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the proximal end of the drain tube is located adjacent the openings of the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe of the fluid circulation device to facilitate removal of fluid in this region of the internal cavity.
17. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the distal end of the drain tube is connected to a collection reservoir to receive and collect the excess fluid from the internal cavity. m:\speci\l 20000\1 26-127\1 27104cmpgpd.doc \O INDU
18. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mould body comprises one or Smore parts. 00 19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the mould body comprises a first part and a second part. 00 20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first part and the second part each have an outer surface and an inner surface. ION 10 21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the inner surface is substantially concave.
22. An apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the first part and the second part are detachably connected such that the inner surfaces thereof cooperate to form the internal cavity.
23. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the inner surfaces of the first part and the second part are configured to define the shape of the ice sculpture formed by the apparatus.
24. An apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 23, wherein the outer surface of the first part and the second part comprise a flange extending therefrom. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the flange extends substantially about the periphery of the first part and the second part.
26. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein when the first part and the second parts are brought together to form said mould body, the corresponding flanges cooperate to from a seal between the parts.
27. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the first part and the second part are detachably connected along the corresponding flanges.
28. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein one or more clip elements are provided on a surface of the flange of the first or second part which engage with one or more lugs provided on a surface of the corresponding flange of the first or second part. m:\speci\l 20000\1 26-127\127104cmpgpd.doc IND 17
29. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein following formation of the ice sculpture, the first and second parts of the mould body are separated to access the ice 00 sculpture through disengagement of the clip elements with their associated lugs. IN 30. A method for forming an ice sculpture comprising: 00 0 providing a mould having an internal cavity shaped in accordance with the desired shape of the sculpture to be formed; Sadding fluid into the internal cavity of the mould to fill said internal cavity to a desired level; Sreducing the temperature of the fluid to facilitate a change in state of the fluid from liquid to solid; regulating the internal expansion forces experienced by the fluid within the internal cavity as the fluid changes state; and removing said mould to access said formed sculpture.
31. A method according to claim 30, wherein the step of providing the mould comprises assembling the mould where the mould comprises two or more parts.
32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the parts of the mould are assembled by removably securing the parts together to form a mould body.
33. A method according to claim 32, wherein following assembly, the mould body includes an inlet which is in communication with the internal cavity of the mould.
34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the step of adding fluid into the internal cavity of the mould comprises introducing said fluid through the inlet provided in the mould body.
35. A method according to any one of claims 30 to 34, wherein the desired level to which the internal cavity is filled with fluid is around 90-96% of the capacity of the internal cavity.
36. A method according to claim30, wherein the step of reducing the temperature of the fluid comprises exposing the mould to temperatures down to around m:\speci\120000\126-127\1 27104cmpgpd.doc 18
37. A method according to claim 36, wherein the mould is exposed to temperatures of between around -71C to around -10 0 C. 00
38. A method according to claim 36 of claim 37, wherein the mould is placed within a freezer unit, such as a commercial and/or conventional freezer unit. 00 0 39. A method according to claim 30, wherein the step of regulating the internal expansion forces experienced by the fluid within the internal cavity as the fluid changes astate comprises draining said fluid from the internal cavity. A method according to claim 39, wherein the amount of fluid drained from the internal cavity is dependent upon the volumetric expansion of the fluid as it changes state from liquid to solid.
41. A method according to claim 39, wherein the fluid is drained from the central region of the internal cavity as the fluid changes state from the periphery of the internal cavity towards said central region.
42. A method according to claim 41, wherein a drain tube is inserted into the central region of the internal cavity to provide an egress path for the fluid to pass from the internal cavity in accordance with the volumetric expansion of the fluid as it changes state.
43. A method according to claim 42, wherein the transition of the change in state of the fluid in the central region of the internal cavity is delayed to facilitate draining.
44. A method according to claim 43, wherein the transition of the change in state of the fluid in the central region of the internal cavity is delayed by circulating the fluid in the central region of the internal cavity to maintain the fluid in this region in a liquid state. A method according to claim 44, wherein a fluid circulation device is provided to extend into the central region of the internal cavity to circulate the fluid present therein. m :\speci\120000\1 26-127\1 27104cmpgpd.doc ID19
46. A method according to claim 45, wherein the fluid circulation device comprises a pump which draws fluid from the central region of the cavity, through said pump, and returns the fluid to the central region of the internal cavity. 00
47. A method according to claim 46, wherein the pump is controlled to be activated INO at specific times during the temperature reducing step to facilitate circulation of the oO 0fluid. ,48. A method according to claim 30, wherein the step of removing the mould comprises disassembling the mould to access the formed sculpture.
49. A method according to claim 48, wherein following access of the sculpture, the sculpture is further trimmed to remove any excess solid matter left over during the forming steps. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 29, wherein the fluid is water.
52. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the water is treated prior to use to remove impurities and air bubbles present therein.
53. An apparatus according to claim 52, wherein the water is distilled water.
54. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the water is coloured through the addition of a colouring agent, such as a coloured dye. A method according to any one of claims 30 to 49, wherein the fluid is water.
56. A method according to claim 55, wherein the water is treated prior to use to remove impurities and air bubbles present therein.
57. A method according to claim 56, wherein the water is distilled water.
58. A method according to claim 55, wherein the water is coloured through the addition of a colouring agent, such as a coloured dye. m:\speci\1 20000\126-127\127104cmpgpd.doc NO 0 oo 0-
59. An apparatus for forming an ice sculpture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures. A method for forming an ice sculpture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures. Dated this twenty eighth day of April 2006 Choong-Yeoul Kim Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F B RICE CO m:\speci\120000\126-127\127104cmpgpd.doc
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2006201786A AU2006201786A1 (en) | 2006-04-28 | 2006-04-28 | Method and apparatus for producing ice sculptures |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2006201786A AU2006201786A1 (en) | 2006-04-28 | 2006-04-28 | Method and apparatus for producing ice sculptures |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| AU2006201786A1 true AU2006201786A1 (en) | 2007-11-15 |
Family
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Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2006201786A Abandoned AU2006201786A1 (en) | 2006-04-28 | 2006-04-28 | Method and apparatus for producing ice sculptures |
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| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU2006201786A1 (en) |
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