GB2267957A - Ice trays - Google Patents

Abstract

An ice tray comprises a mould (1) provided with recesses (3) for the formation of blocks of ice and a lid (2) with tapering projections (6) enabling the ice blocks to be removed with the lid. Ridges (4) on the mould and a resilient layer (8) on the underside of the lid cooperate to prevent a continuous film of ice being formed which would impede the separation of the individual blocks. <IMAGE>

Description

ICE TRAY This invention relates to ice trays of the kind commonly used in domestic freezers and the freezer compartments of domestic refrigerators for forming blocks of ice for use, for example, for adding to cold drinks.

Such ice trays have hitherto simply consisted either of a plain tray with a removable separator that divided the tray into compartments, or of a noulded tray having moulded recesses. In either case, when the tray is filled with water and the water allowed to freeze, blocks of ice of a convenient size for use are formed according to the shape and size of each compartment or recess.

Ice trays are normally used to produce a substantial number of blocks of ice, generally up to a dozen and sometimes more and, if only a single block is required, it may be inconvenient to separate it from the remainder of the contents of the tray or to reinsert the remainder of the contents into the tray for re-freezing or continued freezing in a refrigerator.

It is an object of the present invention to produce an ice tray from which blocks of ice may be conveniently removed, one block at a time.

According to the present invention a tray for forming blocks of ice comprises an ice mould including at least one mould recess and a lid including a downwardly-extending tapered projection positioned over and extending substantially centrally into each mould recess.

Preferably, each mould recess is tapered in cross section so as to converge with an increase in depth of the recess and thereby assist in removal of each block of ice. Conveniently, the or each tapered projection on the lid is conical with the smaller end of each projection positioned remotely from the lid and depending, in use, into each mould recess. If desired the or each tapered projection may be of any cross-sectional shape, for example, circular, oval, rectangular, cruciform or star shaped.

According to one specific form of tray of the present invention, entrances into adjacent mould recesses are separated from one another by upstanding ridges and the underside of the lid is adapted to co-operate with the ridges and form a seal therewith.

The ridges serve to reduce the possibility of a continuous film of ice from forming between adjacent blocks. Further, the ridges also serve to reduce the possibility of the lid sticking to a film of ice which would, but for the ridges, be formed between the adjacent blocks of ice. If desired the lid may be attached to the mould by a hinge or simply be a "snap-fit".

An ice tray according to the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective of the ice tray and lid; Figure 2 is a fragmentary section through two mould recesses and lid of the ice tray of Figure 1; Figure 2A is an enlarged section of that part of Figure 2 which is encircled, and Figure 3 shows the lid of the ice tray inverted and bearing a block of ice.

Referring to the Figures, the ice tray comprises an ice mould tray (1) having a plurality of ice mould recesses (3) and a lid (2) having a handle (20).

The mould (1) is moulded from a flexible plastics material and the ice mould recesses (3) are formed with a slight taper as shown. The taper of the recesses (3) not only facilitates manufacture of the ice mould tray (1) but enables the blocks of ice frozen within the recesses (3) to be easily withdrawn. A single ice mould tray (1) may have half a dozen or a dozen recesses according to size and the recesses are usually arranged in two rows.

Between each mould recess and its neighbours is a small upstanding ridge (4), (See Figure 2A), the purpose of which will be explained below. The outer edge of the ice mould is upturned to form a lip (5) to reinforce the edge of the lid (2) which constitutes a snap fit as will be described below.

The lid (2) of the ice tray is generally flat and made of a slightly flexible or resilient plastics material. The lid (2) has a number of tapering projections (6), each projecting downwards into the middle of a corresponding recess in the mould when the lid (2) is in position. A rim (7) projecting downwards when fitted to the ice mould tray (1) is continuous around the whole edge of the lid and is shaped to provide a snap fit over the lip (5). The downward facing surface of the lid through which the projections extend is covered by a layer (8) of resilient material.

In use, the ice mould recesses (3) are filled with water, the lid is placed in position and snapped home, any surplus water being expelled and the ice tray placed in a freezer or in the freezer compartment of a domestic refrigerator and the water allowed to freeze.

When it is required to remove a block of ice, the lid is removed from the ice mould tray (1) and the ice blocks (9) adhere to the projectiors (6) from which one or more may easily be removed as required. If the remaining ice blocks are not needed at that time, the lid may be replaced with the ice blocks not required and returned to their original positions in the mould.

Since water expands on freezing, even if the mould recesses are not completely filled with water, it is likely that a film of water would form across the top of the ice mould tray (1) causing the ice blocks to be joined together rendering it less convenient to separate a single block from the lid. To reduce the possibility of the formation of such a continuous film of ice, the ridges (4) (see Figure 2A) are provided on the mould and these bed against the resilient layer (8) of the lid (2) preventing such ice layer from being continuous.

Figure 3 shows the lid (2) of an ice tray inverted and carrying a single ice block (9). It will be seen that the rim (7) is continuous around the edge of the lid so that, when inverted, the lid forms a water retaining tray and restricts the spillage of melt water from the ice blocks.

Although the ice tray, ice mould and ice blocks illustrated in the accompanying drawings are of generally rectangular shape and form, other shapes and forms may also be used. For example the ice trays and moulds may be of circular, oval or other non-rectangular form. Thus, the shape of the ice blocks will vary according to the shape and form of the ice tray and mould.

Claims (8)

C L A I M S

1. A tray for forming blocks of ice comprising an ice mould including at least one mould recess and a lid including a downwardly-extending tapered projection positioned over and extending substantially centrally into each mould recess.

2. An ice tray according to claim 1 in which the mould recesses are separated from one another by ridges and the underside the lid is adapted to co-operate with the ridges to reduce the possibility of a continuous film of ice from forming between adjacent blocks.

3. An ice tray according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the lid has a continuous rim so that, when Inverted, forms a tray which retains melt water from the ice blocks.

4. An ice tray according to any preceding claim in which the edge of the lid is shaped to engage the rim of the ice mould.

5. An ice tray according to any preceding claim in which either one or both of the ice mould and the lid are flexible.

6. An ice tray according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the lid includes a layer of resilient material for cooperation, in use, with the ridges thereby reducing the possibility of ice forming between adjacent recesses.

7. An ice tray according to any preceding claim wherein a projection extends into the centre of each mould recess.

8. A tray according to any preceding claim wherein each recess is tapered to converge with an increase in depth of the recess.