GB2230331A - Ice containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A pre-filled and sealed water container for making ice cubes from spring water comprises a tray (1, 2) of flexible or rigid plastics material, an internal partitioning structure (3) which can be formed integrally with the tray, and a plastics cover sheet 5 heat-sealed to a flange (4) on the tray. <IMAGE>

Description

ICE CONTAINERS This invention relates to ice containers, and in particular to a water pack for containing water to be frozen for use in drinks.

Whilst people are often particular about the source of water which is added to drinks the ice cubes they use are generally made from local water which is frozen in an open tray, and may therefore be unsuitable, or even unsafe, for such use.

I consider that there would be an advantage in providing a sealed pack of water which can be frozen to produce ice cubes.

In this Description the term 'ice cube' should be understood where appropriate to cover ice lumps of any convenient shape.

According to one aspect of my invention a water pack comprises a sealed water container containing an internal partitioning structure, the arrangement being such that the water pack can be placed in a freezer to freeze the water, and the container can then be opened to enable ice cubes to be extracted, if necessary by breaking any integral ice connections.

The water is preferably spring water, and the source or brand name is preferably displayed on the pack.

The container can be of any convenient shape but is preferably in the form of a tray, or array of trays. Such sealed trays can be shaped to be capable of being stacked one on top of another without damaging the integrity of the seal.

The internal partitioning structure may be an independently formed structure laid in the tray or it may be formed integrally with the tray.

The tray is conveniently sealed by a flexible or stretchable membrane which extends across the open top of the tray and is sealed to the upper margin of the tray walls in any suitable way.

Preferably the tray walls are provided with a depending flange to which the membrane is sealed, by heat sealing for example.

The use of a flexible or stretchable membrane would accommodate the expansion of the water on freezing.

If desired the water provided in the pack may contain additives for flavouring or colouring purposes.

A water pack in accordance with the invention is shown, by way of example only, in the accompanying schematic drawing, which is a perspective view of the pack.

The dimensions indicated in the drawing are typical but it should be appreciated that any convenient shape or size of tray may be employed.

The illustrated tray has substantially vertical sidewalls 2 and endwalls 1 and is formed of rigid moulded plastics, but it might be possible for the tray to be of a relatively flexible plastics material (providing that the unfrozen packs were not then going to be stacked). The internal partitioning structure 3 comprises an integral network of vertical plastics partitions which can be of relatively thin plastics material, particularly when formed integrally with the tray.

The endwalls 1 and sidewalls 2 are formed with an outwardly directed depending flange 4 extending parallel to the base of the tray, and to this depending flange is heat-sealed the margin of a plastics cover sheet 5, which is transparent in this example for the sake of appearance but which could be opaque.

The cover sheet is sufficiently flexible to permit expansion of the water in the pack on freezing of the pack.

Claims (9)

1. A water pack comprising a sealed water container containing an internal partitioning structure, the arrangement being such that the water pack can be placed in a freezer to freeze the water, and the container can then be opened to enable ice cubes, as hereinbefore defined, to be extracted, if necessary by breaking any integral ice connections.

2. A water pack as claimed in claim 1, in which the container is in the form of at least one tray.

3. A water pack as claimed in claim 2, in which the container is so shaped as to be capable of being stacked one on top of another without damaging the integrity of the seal.

4. A water pack as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 in which the internal partitioning structure is formed integrally with the tray.

5. A water pack as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 in which the tray is sealed by a membrane which extends across the open top of the tray and is sealed to the upper margin of the tray walls.

6. A water pack as claimed in claim 5 in which the walls of the tray are provided with a depending flange to which the membrane is sealed.

7. A water pack as claimed in claim 5 in which the membrane is stretchable to accommodate the expansion of the water on freezing.

8. A water pack as claimed in any of the preceding claims containing spring water.

9. A water pack substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.