AU2020101110A4

AU2020101110A4 - Improved ice mould

Info

Publication number: AU2020101110A4
Application number: AU2020101110A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Joshua Leigh Metcalfe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-06-27
Filing date: 2020-06-24
Publication date: 2020-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 2028-06-24

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for making clear ice, said apparatus including an ice mould 1 with at least one ice shaping cavity 2 extending down from an upper face 3 of said mould to a cavity bottom 4 and a passage 5 exiting down from said bottom to an underside 6 of the mould whereby in use when said mould is fitted within an open top of an insulated vessel 9 to define a reservoir 8A thereunder and said cavity and insulated vessel are filled with water and subjected to a subfreezing temperature the water in the cavity freezes progressively down from the exposed upper face of said mould to form said clear ice with any gas and impurities in the water being forced out through said passage into said reservoir. -7- 2 3 2 7 A 2 FIGURE 1

Description

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2

7 A 2

FIGURE 1

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 (As Amended)

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT

Invention Title: IMPROVED ICE MOULD

The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing known to me.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the field of ice making. More particularly, although not exclusively, it discloses a method and apparatus for making shaped clear ice for use in cooling beverages.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Standard ice cubes as used for cooling beverages are typically frozen in an open ice trays. The ice is normally opaque due to air being trapped in the water as the cube simultaneously freezes inward from all sides. The ice may also retain the impurities often present in tap water such as chlorine, copper, cadmium, zinc, mercury and lead. These impurites can adversely affect the taste and odour of the beverage in which the ice is placed. Also, the trapped air reduces the clarity and aesthetic appearance of the ice and causes more rapid melting. This melting waters down taste of the beverage and reduces the cooling effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the invention to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantages and accordingly apparatus is disclosed for making clear ice, said apparatus including an ice mould with at least one ice shaping cavity extending down from an upper face of said mould to a cavity bottom and a passage exiting down from said bottom to an underside of the mould whereby in use when said mould is fitted within an open top of an insulated vessel to define a reservoir thereunder and said cavity and insulated vessel are filled with water and subjected to a subfreezing temperature the water in the cavity freezes progressively down from the exposed upper face of said mould to form said clear ice with any gas and impurities in the water being forced out through said passage into said reservoir.

Preferably said mould includes a plurality of ice shaping cavities.

It is further preferred that said mould is flexible to facilitate removal of ice from the cavities.

It is further preferred that said mould is a close tolerance fit into the open top of the insulated vessel.

It is further preferred that the sides of the mould are tapered inwardly in the downward direction to assist said close tolerance fit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of an ice mould according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ice mould along the lines A-A of figure 1,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the ice mould of figure 1 when fitted within the top of an insultated vessel,

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional elevation view along the lines B-B of figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a clear ice square cube or block as produced by the mould of figure 1.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of another shape of ice in the form of a diamond cube,

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of another shape of ice in the form of a cylindrical puck,

Figure 8 shows a second embodiment of a mould for producing said cylindrical puck of figure 7,

Figure 9 shows a third embodiment of a mould for producing said square cube of figure 5, and

Figure 10 shows a fourth embodiment of a mould for producing said diamond cube of figure 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to figures 1 to 5 there is a rectangular mould indicated generally as 1 which with this embodiment is preferably, but not essentially, formed from a flexible material such as silicone. There are a series of square cavities 2 extending down from the upper face 3 of the mould. As best shown in the cross-sectional elevation view of figure 2 the bottoms 4 of the cavities slope down to central exit passages 5 which lead to the underside surface 6 of the mould. This surface 6 is preferably bevelled inwardly in the regions 6A where these passages open to the underside. The planar outer sides 7 of the mould are also tapered inwardly in the downward direction for reasons discussed later.

In use of the mould it is preferably fitted into the open top of a known type of

insulated cooler box 8 such as an "Esky" or the like as shown in figures 3 and 4.

The width and length of the mould and cooler box are chosen so that the mould, due to the aforementioned tapered sides 7, wedges into a close tolerance fit within the

open top of the box to form a closed reservoir 8A thereunder. The mould and reservoir are then filled by pouring water directly into the cavities 4 before placement in a freezer. Due to the insulated sides 9 and bottom 10 of the cooler box the water in the cavities freezes downwardly from the exposed upper face 3 of the mould with the water at the bottom 4 freezing last. This progressive downward freezing pushes air and impurities in the water downward ahead of the ice front and out through the passages 5 to accumulate in the reservoir 8A below the mould. The result, after the water has frozen down to the underside 6 of the mould and the mould is emptied, is clear ice square cubes or blocks 11 of increased purity as shown in figure 5.

In order to facilitate removal of the mould from the cooler box after freezing one or more handles 12 of any suitable design may be formed in the upper faces 3 of the moulds as shown in figures 8, 9 and 10.

It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form of the embodiment described provides a novel and inventive form of ice mould. As stated however the embodiment is only the currently preferred form of the invention and a wide variety of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example the design of the mould and the shape, configuration and number of cavities may all be changed according to application requirements. In particular the cavities may be adapted to produce ice of any useful or decorative shape including but not limited to the aforementioned square cubes 11, diamond cubes 13 and cylindrical pucks 14 shown in figures 5, 6 and 7. Although silicone is currently preferred for constructing the mould any other suitable material such as PLA Plastic, rubber, fibreglass or metal may also be used.

Claims

The claims:

1. An apparatus for making clear ice which includes an ice mould with at least one ice-shaping cavity extending down from an upper face of said mould to a cavity bottom and a passage exiting down from said bottom to an underside of the mould whereby in use when said mould is fitted within an open top of an insulated vessel to define a reservoir thereunder and said cavity and insulated vessel are filled with water and subjected to a subfreezing temperature the water in the cavity freezes progressively down from the exposed upper face of said mould to form said clear ice with any gas and impurities in the water being forced out through said passage into said reservoir.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mould is flexible to facilitate removal of said ice from said mould.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein in a position of use of the mould the sides thereof are tapered inwardly in the downward direction whereby in use said mould wedges into a close tolerance fit within said open top of the insulated vessel.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bottom of the ice-shaping cavity slopes down to said passage.

5. The aparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of ice-shaping cavities.

Dated this 24th day of June, 2020 Joshua Leigh Metcalfe By His Patent Attorney MICHAEL ANDERSON-TAYLOR