CN212585254U - Ice maker - Google Patents

Abstract

An ice maker comprising: a top insulating cover including a through hole therethrough; the replaceable silica gel forming die comprises a top silica gel die and a bottom silica gel die, the top silica gel die and the bottom silica gel die respectively comprise corresponding hollow forming parts and hollow parts communicated with the hollow forming parts in a fluid mode, and ice forming spaces are formed by inner cavities of the corresponding hollow forming parts; a middle heat insulating cover which supports the bottom silica gel mold from below in use; a tray assembly comprising an ice cube tray cover and an ice cube tray; and a bottom insulating cover provided with a cavity in an upper surface thereof, the bottom insulating cover being adapted to, in use, tightly engage with the intermediate insulating cover to retain the tray assembly in the cavity, wherein, in use, the ice-forming space of the silicone mold is in fluid communication with the cavity formed by the ice cube tray cover and the ice cube tray, and the portions of the respective hollow formations that are in fluid communication with the respective hollows are each formed with an aperture.

Description

Ice maker

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an ice maker, and more particularly, to an ice maker capable of making transparent ice balls.

Background

Ice cubes used in cocktail brewing are typically ice balls because the surface area of the ball is the smallest and therefore less in contact with the liquid for the same volume and melting is relatively slow, greatly lengthening the effective ice time. Therefore, people who like wine can drink wine slowly, and better drinking experience is brought to the people.

In addition, when the ice hockey balls are of the same size, the dissolution rate of the ice hockey balls in wine is also approximately equal, so that the ice hockey balls are not greatly different in taste, but are quite different in appearance. The transparency of the ice hockey balls special for the bar is obviously much higher than that of the ordinary ice hockey balls.

Generally, ice cubes made by using common ice grids in a home have no way of showing transparent colors and are almost turbid white. The reason is that the air in the water is somewhat contained, and when the water is condensed into ice, most of the water is condensed from the outside (directly contacting with a low-temperature place, most of the water is on the top side), and the air contained in the water automatically goes to a high-temperature place (the bottom of the ice is not completely frozen yet). Since the outside is frozen and the bottom of the ice tray is sealed, the air can not escape and is wrapped in the middle of the ice blocks. The ice that finally condenses out will then have a lot of white fog and also bubbles. Such ice blocks are not well transparent because of their low transparency.

For a bar with a large demand of ice cubes and insufficient ice making places, an ice making factory is contacted as a supplier to supply large transparent ice bricks at regular time. These transparent ice blocks are produced by a direct-cooling ice maker, which takes about two to three days. The principle of the machine is that gas in water is released and cannot be condensed in the middle of the ice brick by continuously stirring in the freezing process.

After a large block of ice is delivered to the bar, the block can be chiseled into the desired size and shape using a saw blade, hammer, etc., and then placed in the bar's freezer for use. In order to obtain a perfect ice ball, a drinker needs to select a proper ice block for secondary processing according to the size of the cup.

Chiseling an ice hockey puck has become an artistic experience, with most people going to an additional point in the bar, much more to watch the performance of the wine preparer. In addition to round ice balls, diamond-like ice cubes are also popular. In a bar, the dispenser is additionally required to do a hockey puck, and the price charged would likely exceed the original wine price.

Therefore, the conventional ice maker of transparent ice and the manufacturing process thereof are long in time, complicated in process, large in occupied area, and require a skilled ice hockey making skill of a brewer, and are not suitable for use in homes or bars.

There is a need for a compact ice maker for making transparent ice balls suitable for use in homes and bars.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The utility model aims at providing an ice maker, wherein constitute the main part of ice maker by modular thermal-insulated lid and silica gel forming die, inject to freeze along vertical direction A from the top down orientation. Excess water is collected in the lower ice cube tray portion and the lower ice cube tray portion also acts as a reservoir for micro-bubble gas, thereby obtaining sparkling and translucent ice balls in the ice-forming space formed by the inner cavity of the silicone gel-forming mold.

Furthermore, according to the utility model discloses an ice maker has the function of piling up, can pile up a plurality of ice shaping portions to make things convenient for the water injection and economize freezing space. This stacking function allows the ice maker to be installed at a single pour point more quickly. The size of the ice maker of the utility model is smaller than that of the ice maker on the market, and the ice maker can be used for smaller-size refrigerators in European/Asian markets.

An ice maker according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes:

a top insulating cover including a through hole passing through the top insulating cover,

the replaceable silica gel forming mold comprises a top silica gel mold and a bottom silica gel mold, the top silica gel mold comprises a first hollow forming part and a first hollow part communicated with the first hollow forming part in a fluid mode, the bottom silica gel mold comprises a second hollow forming part and a second hollow part communicated with the second hollow forming part in a fluid mode, the first hollow part can penetrate through the through hole to allow water to be poured through the opening end of the first hollow part, and an ice forming space is formed by the inner cavity of the first hollow forming part and the inner cavity of the second hollow forming part;

a middle heat-insulating cover to support the bottom silicone mold from below in use, while the top heat-insulating cover holds the top silicone mold from above to hold the silicone shaping mold therebetween, and the middle heat-insulating cover includes a through hole passing through the middle heat-insulating cover, the second hollow portion being capable of passing through the through hole of the middle heat-insulating cover;

a tray assembly comprising an ice cube tray cover and an ice cube tray, the ice cube tray cover to cover an open end of the ice cube tray in use; and

a bottom insulating cover provided with a cavity in an upper surface thereof, the bottom insulating cover to tightly engage with the middle insulating cover in use to retain the tray assembly in the cavity,

wherein, in use, the ice-forming space of the silicone mold is in fluid communication with the cavity formed by the ice cube tray cover and the ice cube tray, and

wherein a portion of the first hollow forming part in fluid communication with the first hollow is formed with a plurality of first apertures and a portion of the second hollow forming part in fluid communication with the second hollow is formed with a plurality of second apertures.

According to another embodiment, the first and second apertures are circular.

According to another embodiment, the diameter of the first and second orifices is in the range between 2mm and 10 mm.

According to a further embodiment, the distance between the apertures in the first apertures is larger than 1mm and the distance between the apertures in the second apertures is larger than 1 mm.

According to another embodiment, the first and second hollow formations are hemispherical.

According to another embodiment, said first and second hollows are cylindrical.

According to another embodiment, the ice forming space can have a variety of shapes.

According to another embodiment, the ice forming space has a sports implement shape

According to another embodiment, the sports implement shape is that of an american football, a basketball, a soccer ball, a softball, a cricket, a golf ball, a tennis ball or a football.

According to another embodiment, the ice forming space can have a classic shape.

According to another embodiment, the classic shape is a rose, diamond, heart, cube or ball shape.

According to another embodiment, the ice forming space can have a movie shape.

According to another embodiment, the movie shape is the shape of a baby, a skull, a spot of a special bullet (38special), a space station.

According to another embodiment, the ice forming space can have a fantasy shape.

According to another embodiment, the fantasy shape is the shape of a bulb, a light, a tetrapod.

According to another embodiment, the top insulating cover, the silicone gel forming mold and the middle insulating cover constitute an ice ball forming assembly, and the ice maker can include two or more ice ball forming assemblies that are stacked one above the other in a vertical direction in use.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an assembled perspective view of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing various components of the ice maker;

fig. 3 is a bottom view illustrating a configuration of a plurality of first apertures of a top insulating cover according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view illustrating a configuration of a plurality of second apertures of a bottom insulating cover according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a first step of an assembly step of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a second step of an assembling step of the ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a third step of an assembling step of the ice maker according to the embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a fourth step of an assembling step of the ice maker according to the embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a fifth step of an assembling step of the ice maker according to the embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a first step of the operating principle and process of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a second step of the operating principle and process of the ice maker according to the embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a third step of the operating principle and process of the ice maker according to the embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a fourth step of the operating principle and process of the ice maker according to the embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a fifth step of the operating principle and process of the ice maker according to the embodiment of the present invention; and

fig. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a sixth step of the operating principle and process of the ice maker according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this document, the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "rear", etc. indicating directions are used only for convenience in describing the drawings, and do not constitute substantial limitations of the present invention. Furthermore, for purposes of clarity, the drawings in part are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, an ice maker 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the present embodiment, the ice maker 1 includes a top heat-insulating cover 2, a middle heat-insulating cover 3, and a bottom heat-insulating cover 4 constituting a main body of the ice maker 1, two silica gel-forming molds accommodated between the top heat-insulating cover 2 and the middle heat-insulating cover 3, and an ice tray assembly accommodated between the middle heat-insulating cover 3 and the bottom heat-insulating cover 4. The two silica gel forming molds are each composed of a top silica gel mold 5 and a bottom silica gel mold 6, and are arranged in parallel between the top heat insulation cover 2 and the middle heat insulation cover 3. The ice cube tray assembly includes an ice cube tray cover 7 and an ice cube tray 8.

The top heat-insulating cover 2, the silicone gel-forming mold, the middle heat-insulating cover 3, the ice tray assembly, and the bottom heat-insulating cover 4 are stacked in this order in the vertical direction. The top heat insulation cover 2, the silica gel forming mould and the middle heat insulation cover 3 form a replaceable ice hockey forming assembly.

The top insulating cover 2 is substantially parallelepiped-shaped, having an upper surface 9, a flat lower surface 10 opposite the upper surface, two opposite short sides 11 and two opposite long sides 12. In the top heat-insulating cover 2, two through holes 13 penetrating the top heat-insulating cover 2 in the vertical direction a are formed. The two through holes 13 are preferably arranged symmetrically with respect to the central longitudinal axis and the central transversal axis of the top insulating cover 2.

At the open end of the through hole 13 in the lower surface 10, a preferably hemispherical recess (not shown) concentric with the respective through hole is formed. In each of the two short sides 11 and the two long sides 12, a flat-bottomed recess 11a, 12a is preferably formed extending across the corresponding side in the vertical direction a on a portion of the corresponding side.

Referring to fig. 1, an optional protrusion 14 is formed in the top surface 9. The periphery of the protrusion 14 is spaced inwardly from the corresponding periphery of the top surface 9 by a distance. In both short sides 14a and both long sides 14b of the protruding part 14, recesses are formed at positions corresponding to the flat-bottomed depressions 11a, 12a, and preferably, a placard letter is printed in one of the respective recesses of both long sides (fig. 2).

The top silicone mold 5 includes a hollow cylindrical portion 5a, a hollow hemispherical portion 5b extending concentrically downward from the periphery of the lower open end of the hollow cylindrical portion 5a, and optionally, an outward rib 5c extending concentrically in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction a from the periphery of the lower open end of the hemispherical portion and a downward rib 5d extending in the vertical direction a.

The length of the hollow cylindrical portion 5a is such that, in use, the upper end of the hollow cylindrical portion 5a extends through the through hole 13 and emerges from the upper surface of the projection 14, forming an injection port for filling liquid.

The hollow portion of the hollow hemispheric portion 5b is concentric with and in fluid communication with the through hole portion of the hollow cylindrical portion 5 a. In use, the hollow cylindrical portion 5a passes through the through hole 13, and a hemispherical recess (not shown) in the top heat-insulating cover 2 contacts with the outer peripheral surface of the hollow hemispherical portion 5b to hold the hollow hemispherical portion 5b from above.

Preferably, a part of the outward protruding rib 5c is formed as the grip portion 5 e. The grip portion 5e is further outwardly convex relative to the rest of the outward protruding rib 5c and is thickened to facilitate gripping of the outward protruding rib 5c by a user during mounting and dismounting, avoiding damage to the mold due to excessive force on the rest of the outward protruding rib.

The bottom silicone mold 6 comprises a hollow hemispheric portion 6a, a hollow cylindrical portion 6b extending concentrically downward from the periphery of the lower open end of the hollow hemispheric portion 6a, and optionally a hollow tapered portion 6c extending concentrically downward from the periphery of the lower open end of the hollow cylindrical portion 6b, the hollow portions of the hollow hemispheric portion 6a, the hollow cylindrical portion 6b, and the hollow tapered portion 6c being concentric with and in fluid communication with each other.

The utility model discloses an among the ice maker, the area of the filling opening that hollow cylindrical portion 5a of top silica gel mould 5 formed outside through-hole 13 is big more, and the performance of freezing in order to make transparent ice ball is better from the top to the orientation of bottom during then ice making, but the area of too big filling opening can make to be difficult to remove the ice from the silica gel mould.

For this, referring to fig. 3 and 4, in the top silicone mold 5 and the bottom silicone mold 6, a portion of the hollow hemispheric portion 5b of the top silicone mold 5, which is in fluid communication with the hollow cylindrical portion 5a, is made with a plurality of first orifices 5f, and a portion of the hollow hemispheric portion 6a of the bottom silicone mold 6, which is in fluid communication with the hollow cylindrical portion 6b, is made with a plurality of second orifices 6 h.

The applicant has found that if the density of these apertures is too great, the thin material between the apertures is liable to cause tearing of the connection between the apertures; also, as the orifice becomes smaller, as the surface tension of the liquid increases, or as the density of the liquid decreases, the flow resistance of the liquid as it flows through the orifice increases.

For this purpose, said first and second orifices 5f, 6h are preferably circular. Preferably, the first and second apertures 5f, 6h have a diameter in the range between 2mm and 10mm, more preferably 2.5 mm. Preferably, the distance between the orifices of the first plurality of orifices 5f is greater than 1mm and the distance between the orifices of the second plurality of orifices 6h is greater than 1 mm.

Preferably, an external bead 6d and an internal bead 6e extend from the periphery of the upper open end of the hollow semispherical part 6a in a direction opposite to the vertical direction a, said external bead 6d and internal bead 6e extending parallel to each other and with a space therebetween arranged to allow the downward bead 5d of the top silicone mold 5 to be sealingly inserted into said space to achieve fluid communication between the top silicone mold 5 and the bottom silicone mold 6.

Preferably, a part of the external rib 6d is formed as the grip portion 6 f. The grip portion 6f is further outwardly convex relative to the remainder of the external bead 6d and is thickened to facilitate gripping of the external bead 6d by a user during installation and removal, avoiding damage to the mold due to excessive force on the remainder of the external bead.

Preferably, the flange 6g is provided at or near the junction of the tapered portion 6c and the cylindrical portion 6 b.

The intermediate heat insulating cover 3 also has the shape of a parallelepiped comprising a flat upper surface 3a, a flat lower surface 3b opposite to the flat upper surface, and two opposite short sides 3c and two opposite long sides 3 d.

Two through holes 3e are formed through the middle heat insulating cover 3 in the vertical direction a, and are concentric with the corresponding through holes 13 in the top heat insulating cover 2. In use, the upper surface 3a of the intermediate insulating lid 3 contacts the lower surface 10 of the top insulating lid 2 and the side surfaces 3c, 3d are aligned with the side surfaces of the top insulating lid 2.

At the open end of the through-hole 3e in the upper surface 3a, a preferably hemispherical recess (not shown) concentric with the corresponding through-hole 3e is formed. In use, the cylindrical portion 6b and the tapered portion 6c are inserted into the respective through holes 3e, and the hemispherical recess is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the hemispherical portion 6a to support the bottom silicone mold 6 from below.

Preferably, in each of the two short sides 3c and the two long sides 3d, a recess 3f, 3g is formed on a portion of the respective side, wherein in each short side 3c, the two recesses 3f extend a distance in the vertical direction a and in the opposite direction to the vertical direction a from the periphery of the upper surface 3a and the lower surface 3b, respectively; and in each long side surface 3d, two recessed portions 3g extend from the peripheries of the upper surface 3a and the lower surface 3b, respectively, at a distance in the vertical direction a and in the opposite direction to the vertical direction a. The positioning of the depressions 3f, 3g corresponds to the flat-bottomed depressions 11a, 12 a.

The ice cube tray cover 7 is substantially flat parallelepiped-shaped and comprises a flat upper face 7a, an opposite flat lower face 7b, and two opposite short sides 7c and two opposite long sides 7 d.

Preferably, a cavity 7e recessed downward in the vertical direction a is formed in the upper surface 7a, the periphery of the cavity 7e being spaced substantially parallel to the periphery of the upper surface 7 a. In the cavity 7e two hollow cylinders 7f are provided, said two hollow cylinders 7f preferably being arranged symmetrically with respect to both the central longitudinal axis and the central transversal axis of the upper surface 7a, and the through hole portions of the hollow cylinders 7f being coaxial with the respective through holes 13, 3 e. In use, the hollow cylindrical portion 6b and the hollow tapered portion 6c of the bottom silicone mold 6 are inserted through the through hole 3e in the middle gap thermal cover 3 into the through hole portion of the hollow cylinder 7 f.

Preferably, a cavity (not shown) recessed in the opposite direction of the vertical direction a is also formed in the lower surface 7d, the periphery of the cavity being spaced apart in parallel from the periphery of the lower surface 7 b. The cavity is further recessed at the periphery of its bottom in a direction opposite to the vertical direction a with respect to the lower surface 7b by a distance so that a slot (not shown) extending along the periphery of its bottom is formed at the bottom of the cavity.

Preferably, in each of the two short side faces 7c and the two long side faces 7b, a tab portion 7f, 7g extending in the vertical direction a on a part of the corresponding side face is formed.

The ice cube tray 8 has a substantially parallelepiped shape including an upper surface 8a, an opposite lower surface (not shown), two opposite short side surfaces 8c and two opposite long side surfaces 8 d.

A cavity 8e is formed in the upper surface 8a, the periphery of said cavity 8e being spaced substantially parallel to the periphery of the upper surface 8a and being recessed a distance inwards with respect to the upper surface 8 a. Alternatively, an ice grid array consisting of a plurality of individual ice grids spaced apart from each other is formed in the cavity 8 e.

Preferably, in each of the two short sides 8c and the two long sides 8b, a recess 8f, 8g is formed extending in the vertical direction a on a portion of the respective side, the positioning of the recess 8f, 8g corresponding to the tongue portion 7f, 7g of the ice cube tray cover 7.

In use, the upper edge of ice cube tray 8 is inserted into the slot of ice cube tray cover 7 and the tab portions 7f, 7g of ice cube tray cover 7 snap over the recess portions 8f, 8g of ice cube tray cover 8 such that ice cube tray cover 7 covers ice cube tray 8.

The bottom insulating cover 4 has a substantially parallelepiped shape with an upper face 4a, an opposite lower face 4b, two opposite short sides 4c and two opposite long sides 4 d.

Preferably, in each of the two short side faces 4c, there is formed a flat-bottomed recess 4e extending across the corresponding side face in the vertical direction a on a portion of the corresponding side face. In each of the two long side faces 4d, a flat-bottomed recess 4f is formed which extends a distance in the vertical direction a on a portion of the corresponding side face. The flat bottom depressions 4e, 4f are positioned to correspond to the depressions 3f, 3g of the middle heat insulating cover 3.

In the upper surface 4a, a cavity 4g recessed downward in the vertical direction a is formed. The periphery of the cavity 4e is spaced substantially parallel to the periphery of the upper surface 4 a. The cavity 4g is sized to receive an ice cube tray 8.

In another embodiment, a sealing means (not shown), such as an O-ring, is provided between the ice tray cover 7 and the ice tray 8 to improve the seal therebetween.

In another embodiment, an ice maker according to the present invention may include two or more replaceable ice ball forming assemblies. The two or more puck forming assemblies can be stacked one on top of the other in the vertical direction a.

In another embodiment, the top thermal cover 2 and the middle thermal cover 3 may be integrally formed. In another embodiment, the middle heat-insulating cover 3 and the bottom heat-insulating cover 4 are integrally formed.

In another embodiment, the ice forming space formed by the combination of the inner cavity of the top silicone mold 5 and the inner cavity of the bottom silicone mold 6 of the ice maker according to the present invention has a sports implement shape, such as the shape of american football, basketball, soccer, softball, cricket, golf ball, tennis ball, or football; or a classic shape such as the shape of a rose, diamond, heart, cube or sphere; or in-movie shapes such as the shape of an infant, a skull, a bullet of the triple eight special type (38special), a space station; or fantasy shapes such as the shape of a light bulb, light, tetrapod.

In another embodiment, the silica gel mold and the thermal insulation cover of the ice maker according to the present invention can be closely and seamlessly attached, and a layer of space can be formed between the silica gel mold and the thermal insulation cover, and the space can be filled with air or other media, and the space can be the outer peripheral shape of the silica gel mold, or can be other shapes, so as to slow down the cooling process or optimize the icing process, so that the ice can better transmit light, or the shape of the icing can better match the shape of the ice forming space of the silica gel mold.

The assembly of the ice maker of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 5 to 9.

The utility model discloses an equipment of ice maker is realized through following step:

(1) referring to fig. 5, ice cube tray cover 7 and ice cube tray 8 are tightly assembled together and the combined tray assembly is placed within the cavity of bottom insulating cover 4.

(2) Referring to fig. 6: a middle heat-insulating cover 3 is placed on top of the tray assembly.

(3) Referring to fig. 7: the bottom silicone mold 6 is inserted into the middle heat-insulating cover 3 by inserting the cylindrical portion 6b and the tapered portion 6c of the bottom silicone mold 6 into the through-hole 3e of the middle heat-insulating cover 3 to support the bottom silicone mold 6 from below by the middle heat-insulating cover 3.

(4) Referring to fig. 8: the top silicone mold 5 is placed on top of the bottom silicone mold 6 and pressed down around the edges to seal the two molds together.

(5) Referring to fig. 9: the top insulating cover 2 is arranged to complete the assembly. No sticking or bounce of the parts was confirmed.

For the case of two or more puck forming assemblies, steps (2) through (5) may be repeated multiple times to complete the final assembly.

The operation principle and process of the ice maker of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 10 to 15.

(1) Referring to fig. 10: after complete assembly, the funnel attachment is placed in a water injection port protruding from the top of the top insulating cap 2. In this example, 280ml/9.5fl oz (liquid ounce) of boiling water, for example, is poured into the funnel. When water reaches the top of both fill ports, it indicates fill. Ensuring that there is no water leakage on the sides.

(2) The ice maker according to the present invention is preferably placed in the freezer compartment for about 36 hours, with a recommended freezer compartment temperature setting of-15 c/5 f. This long and controlled cooling time is necessary to obtain crystal clear ice. The ice maker according to the invention is not to be arranged at the cooling duct in the freezer compartment, since it is too cold here.

(3) Referring to fig. 11: the ice maker 1 is taken out of the freezing chamber, left for several minutes to be thawed; if it is frozen colder than the recommended temperature, it will be left for about 10 minutes, or chilled or room temperature water poured thereon. It is to be noted that if the ice maker is opened prematurely after being taken out of the freezer compartment, there is a risk of damage to the ice maker.

(4) Referring to fig. 12: the top insulating cover 2 is removed and cold or room temperature water is poured over the mould and ice to speed up the thawing process, so that crystal clear ice balls are obtained. Water also contributes to the gloss of the thawed surface of ice.

(5) Referring to fig. 13: the bottom insulated cover 4 is ready to be removed from the ice cube tray assembly.

(6) Referring to fig. 14: the ice cube tray is removed from the bottom insulating cover 4.

(7) Referring to fig. 15: the ice cube tray is twisted to remove ice cubes (where the ice cubes that are removed will not be crystal clear).

Here, utilize the utility model discloses an ice maker because the main part of ice maker is constituted with silica gel forming die to the thermal-insulated lid of modularization, the water of water filling opening department is at first frozen, then freezes downwards gradually, also promptly the utility model discloses an ice maker has injectd to freeze from the top downward orientation along vertical direction A. Excess water is collected in the lower ice tray portion and the lower ice tray portion also acts as a reservoir for micro bubble gas, thereby obtaining sparkling and crystal clear ice balls in the ice forming space formed by the inner cavity of the silicone gel forming mold, the ice pieces obtained in the ice tray assembly can be cloudy but the ice pieces are clean and usable and therefore not wasted.

It will also be appreciated that although in the above embodiments the top silicone mold 5 is described as comprising a hollow hemispherical portion 5b and a hollow cylindrical portion 5a and the bottom silicone mold 6 is described as comprising a hollow hemispherical portion 6a and a hollow cylindrical portion 6b, the present solution is not limited to these particular shapes and the respective portions 5b, 5a and 6a, 6b of the top and bottom silicone molds 5, 6 may also take other suitable shapes.

Various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, all of which are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.

List of reference numerals

1 Ice maker

2 top heat insulation cover

3 middle heat insulation cover

3a upper surface

3b lower surface

3c short side

3d long side

3e through hole

3f, 3g recess

4 bottom heat insulation cover

4a upper surface

4b lower surface

4c short side

4d long side

4e, 4f recess

4g Cavity

5 top silica gel mould

5a hollow cylindrical portion

5b hollow hemispherical portion

5c outward bead

5d downward convex rib

5e gripping part

5f orifice

6 bottom silica gel mould

6a hollow hemispherical portion

6b hollow cylindrical portion

6c hollow tapered part

6d external bead

6e internal bead

6f gripping part

6g flange

6h orifice

7 ice cube tray cover

7a upper surface

7b lower surface

7c short side

7d long side

7e Cavity

8 ice cube tray

8a upper surface

Short side of 8c

8d long side

8e Cavity

8f, 8g depressions

9 top surface

10 bottom surface

11 short side

12 long side

11a, 12a flat bottom depression

13 through hole

14 projecting part

14a short side

14b long side

15a, 15b are recessed

Claims (16)

1. An ice maker (1), characterized in that the ice maker (1) comprises:

a top insulating cover (2), the top insulating cover (2) comprising a through hole (13) passing through the top insulating cover,

a replaceable silicone forming mold comprising a top silicone mold (5) and a bottom silicone mold (6), the top silicone mold (5) comprising a first hollow forming part (5b) and a first hollow part (5a) in fluid communication with the first hollow forming part (5b), the bottom silicone mold (6) comprising a second hollow forming part (6a) and a second hollow part (6b) in fluid communication with the second hollow forming part (6a), the first hollow part (5a) being capable of passing through the through hole (13) to allow for filling of water through an open end of the first hollow part (5a), an inner cavity of the first hollow forming part (5b) and an inner cavity of the second hollow forming part (6a) forming an ice forming space;

-a middle heat-insulating cover (3), said middle heat-insulating cover (3) being intended to support, in use, said bottom silicone mold (6) from below, while said top heat-insulating cover (2) holds said top silicone mold (5) from above, thereby holding said silicone-forming mold between said top heat-insulating cover (2) and said middle heat-insulating cover (3), and said middle heat-insulating cover (3) comprises a through hole (3e) passing through said middle heat-insulating cover (3), said second hollow portion (6b) being able to pass through the through hole (3e) of said middle heat-insulating cover (3);

a tray assembly comprising an ice cube tray cover (7) and an ice cube tray (8), the ice cube tray cover (7) to cover, in use, an open end of the ice cube tray (8); and

a bottom insulating cover (4) with a cavity provided in an upper surface of the bottom insulating cover (4), the bottom insulating cover (4) being for tight engagement with the intermediate thermal insulating cover (3) in use to retain the tray assembly in the cavity,

wherein, in use, the ice forming space of the silicone mold is in fluid communication with the cavity formed by the ice cube tray cover (7) and the ice cube tray (8), and

wherein the portion of the first hollow formation (5b) in fluid communication with the first hollow (5a) is made with a plurality of first orifices (5f) and the portion of the second hollow formation (6b) in fluid communication with the second hollow (5a) is made with a plurality of second orifices (6 h).

2. An icemaker according to claim 1 wherein said ice-forming space can have a variety of shapes.

3. An icemaker according to claim 2, wherein the ice forming space has a sports implement shape.

4. An icemaker according to claim 3, wherein the sports implement shape is that of a soccer ball, a basketball, a soccer ball, a softball, a cricket ball, a golf ball, a tennis ball, or a football.

5. The ice maker of claim 2, wherein the ice-forming space can have a classic shape.

6. The ice maker of claim 5 wherein said classic shape is a rose, diamond, heart, cube or ball shape.

7. An icemaker according to claim 2, wherein the ice forming space may have a movie shape.

8. The ice maker of claim 7 wherein said movie shape is a shape of an infant, a skull, a bullet of the three eight specials, a space station.

9. An icemaker according to claim 2, wherein the ice-forming space can have an illusive shape.

10. An icemaker according to claim 9 wherein said fantasy shape is a light bulb, light, quad-pod shape.

11. An icemaker according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein the top heat insulating cover (2), the silicone gel forming mold and the intermediate heat insulating cover (3) constitute an ice ball forming assembly, and the icemaker can comprise two or more ice ball forming assemblies which are stacked one above the other in a vertical direction in use.

12. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the first aperture (5f) and the second aperture (6h) are circular.

13. Ice maker according to claim 12, wherein the first aperture (5f) and the second aperture (6h) have a diameter in the range between 2mm and 10 mm.

14. The ice maker according to claim 12 or 13, wherein a distance between the apertures of the first plurality of apertures (5f) is greater than 1mm, and a distance between the apertures of the second plurality of apertures (6h) is greater than 1 mm.

15. Ice maker according to any of claims 1-10, wherein the first hollow forming part (5b) and the second hollow forming part (6a) are hemispherical.

16. Ice maker according to any of claims 1-10, wherein the first hollow (5a) and the second hollow (6b) are cylindrical.

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