JP2004183930A - Spherical ice producing container with tilted surface - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a spherical ice producing container allowing the easy retrieval of round ices. <P>SOLUTION: This spherical ice producing container comprises a bottomed cylindrical water storage container and a round container having a spherical space on the inner side thereof by densely engaging a round container upper half shell with a round container lower half shell having inner surfaces formed in semi-spherical shapes by undercut connection at the outer peripheral ends thereof. The tilted surface opening upward is disposed on the round container upper half shell so as to be pressed from the outer periphery of the round container lower half shell. By this, when the round ices are made in the round container, the tilted surface is pressed from the outer periphery of the lower half shell to raise the round container upper half shell in a direction apart from the round container lower half shell so that the round ices can be easily removed from the round container. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a spherical ice production container for producing transparent ice that is spherical and does not contain air bubbles in a home refrigerator or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIGS. 7 and 8 show examples of spherical ice production containers for producing transparent ice free of air bubbles in a home refrigerator, for example, in a spherical shape. The spherical ice manufacturing container 50 shown in these figures includes a spherical round container 52 that is divided into two parts at the top and bottom, and a water storage container 54 that communicates with the lower part of the round container 52 through a hole 53 at the lower part of the round container 52. Then, the round container 52 is placed on the upper part of the water storage container 54, both sides are filled with water, and put in a freezer to freeze.
[0003]
Then, as shown in FIG. 8, air bubbles 60 are generated in the water storage container 54 where freezing lasts in the spherical ice manufacturing container 50, and there is no air bubble in the round container 52. Ice 62 is produced.
[0004]
The round container 52 is provided with water tightness at a joint portion so that water does not leak from the inside, and further, when the water is frozen, the volume expands. The half shell 57 is strongly connected by an undercut connection or the like.
[0005]
When the round ice is formed, first, the round container 52 is removed from the water storage container 54, and the connection between the upper half shell 55 and the lower half shell 57 of the round container 52 is released, and the completed round ice 62 is removed from the round container 52. It was taken out and used on the rock ice. (For example, see Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 1.)
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-156173.
[0007]
[Non-patent document 1]
Suntory Limited, "SUNTORY WHISKY Zen / Transparent Manmaru Ice Maker Q &A", [Retrieved November 1, 2002], Internet <URL: http // www. suntory. co. jp / whisky / zen / saijiki / manmaru / qanda2 / index. html>.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, conventionally, as described above, the upper half shell 55 and the lower half shell 57 are strongly connected by an undercut connection or the like, and since the round ice 62 formed on the inner surface of the round container 52 is frozen, the round container It was very time-consuming to divide 52. In particular, as shown in FIG. 9, since the outer shape of the round container 52 is substantially spherical, the upper half shell 55 is difficult to grasp, and it is difficult to hold the upper half shell 55 and the lower half shell 57 and separate them from each other. The resulting round ice 62 could not be taken out of the round container 52 quickly.
[0009]
In particular, as shown in FIG. 9, since the outer shape of the round container 52 is substantially spherical, the upper half shell 55 is difficult to grasp, and it is difficult to hold the upper half shell 55 and the lower half shell 57 and separate them from each other. For this reason, it is necessary to sufficiently release the icing in the gap of the fitting portion or the like, or the icing between the upper half shell 55 or the lower half shell 57 and the round ice. To do so, it took time and effort, and required considerable power.
[0010]
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide a spherical ice production container that can easily divide a round container and can easily remove manufactured round ice from the round container.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and in order to provide a spherical ice manufacturing container capable of easily dividing a round container and immediately taking out and using round ice, a spherical ice manufacturing container is configured as follows.
[0012]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a cylindrical water storage container with a bottom, an outer container attached outside the water storage container with a gap between the side surface and the bottom surface of the water storage container, and an upper portion of the water storage container The upper half shell of the round container and the lower half shell of the round container, the inner surfaces of which are formed in a hemispherical shape, are closely meshed with each other by an undercut connection of the outer peripheral end to have a spherical space inside, and The half shell has an air hole at the top and an outwardly facing surface of the upper half shell of the round container, and the upper side of the outwardly facing surface extends outwardly of the upper half shell of the round container. A sloping wall body inclined in a hang shape is provided, and the lower half shell of the round container has a hole at the bottom communicating with the water storage container, and a pressure from the side facing the sloping wall body. Swings in the pressing direction to push up the skewed wall body upward, and moves the upper half shell of the round container to the lower half shell of the round container. A round container provided a pressing piece to separate, constituted an inclined surface with a spherical ice manufacturing vessel from.
[0013]
Thereby, when the oblique wall body is pressed by the pressing piece, the oblique wall body is urged upward, so that the upper half shell of the round container is separated from the lower half shell of the round container, and the upper half shell of the round container is removed. It can be easily separated from the lower half shell of the round container.
[0014]
According to the invention described in claim 2, in the invention described in claim 1, the connecting structure for undercut connection formed on the outer peripheral end of the upper half shell of the round container is skewed in the upper half shell of the round container. The undercut connection is released below the oblique wall without being formed below the wall. According to this, since the undercut connection is not continuous and the undercut connection is released below the oblique wall, the entire undercut connection can be easily released starting from the release point.
[0015]
According to the invention described in claim 3, in the invention described in claim 1 or 2, at least one pair of oblique walls are formed symmetrically with respect to the center of the upper half shell of the round container, and the pressing piece is formed of the pair of pressing pieces. Are provided in correspondence with the sloping walls.
[0016]
According to the invention described in claim 4, in the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3, the pressing piece extends around the outer periphery of the lower half shell of the round container and fits inside the water storage container. It is characterized by being a body.
[0017]
According to these, by pressing the pressing piece from both sides and holding the oblique wall body, the upper half shell of the round container can be urged upward to separate from the lower half shell of the round container, and easily. The round container can be divided and the round ice can be removed from the round container.
[0018]
In addition, since the pressing piece is formed as an edge that fits inside the water storage container, it is not necessary to separately provide the pressing piece, so that the size can be reduced, and the pressing piece always faces the pressing piece regardless of the angle of the inclined wall body. And the division work becomes easy.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a spherical ice manufacturing container with a handle according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0020]
The spherical ice manufacturing container 1 is entirely made of synthetic resin or the like, and as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 which is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, a water container 2 and a round container disposed on the upper portion of the water container 2. 4 and an outer container 6 attached outside the water storage container 2.
[0021]
The water storage container 2 is a cylindrical container having a bottom and an open top, and the upper portion is one-step-diameter expanded from the main body 3. The outer container 6 has an outer diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the enlarged portion of the upper part of the water storage container 2, and forms a gap at a predetermined interval from the side wall surface and the bottom surface of the water storage container 2 when attached to the outer periphery of the water storage container 2.
[0022]
The round container 4 includes a round container upper half shell 8 (hereinafter, referred to as an upper half shell 8) having a hemispherical inner surface and a round container lower half shell 9 (hereinafter, referred to as a lower half shell 9). The outer diameter of the upper half shell 8 and the lower half shell 9 is equal to the inner diameter of the main body 3 of the water storage container 2, and the round container 4 can be fitted into the water storage container 2 without play.
[0023]
The lower half shell 9 includes a hemispherical portion 11 formed in a hemispherical shape, and an edge 13 fitted on the outer periphery of the hemispherical portion 11 inside the upper portion of the water storage container 2. The bottom wall 18 includes a raised first side wall 17, a bottom wall 18 extending laterally from an upper end of the first side wall 17, a second side wall 19 raised from an outer periphery of the bottom wall 18, and the like. The side wall 19 is formed such that the second side wall is bent inward with an appropriate elasticity, and when the second side wall 19 is pressed from the side, the angle between the second side wall 19 and the bottom wall 18 is appropriately changed and swings in the pressing direction. Further, the second side wall 19, the bottom plate 18 and the like have sufficient strength to maintain their shapes without being deformed in the vertical direction even if they are rocked in the pressing direction.
[0024]
The second side wall 19 fits around the outer periphery of the water storage container 2 without play, and the upper portion extends beyond the upper end of the outer periphery of the water storage container 2. A hole 10 communicating with the inside of the water storage container 2 is opened at the bottom of the hemispherical portion 11, and a mounting groove 14 which is one of the undercut connection structures is formed on the inner surface on the entire periphery along the upper edge. ing.
[0025]
The upper half shell 8 has a hemispherical hemispherical portion 15 on the outer surface of which a ridge 16 having a coupling structure corresponding to the mounting groove 14 is formed on the entire periphery along the outer peripheral edge. Is open. An inclined surface table 21 is provided above the hemispherical portion 15.
[0026]
The inclined surface base 21 has a flat rectangular shape on the upper surface, and stands upright on the hemispherical portion 15 so as to pass through the top of the upper half shell 8. As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of upwardly-opening inclined surfaces 22 forming a skewed wall body are formed on an upper portion of the sloping surface base 21, so that the skewed wall body is provided at both left and right ends. ing. The edge 13 of the lower half shell 9, that is, the upper end of the second side wall 19 as a pressing piece is opposed to and abuts on the tapered inclined surface 22. The second side wall 19 does not necessarily need to be normally in contact with the inclined surface 22. It is sufficient that the second side wall 19 can come into contact with the inclined surface 22 when the second side wall 19 is pressed and swung from the side, and the inclined surface 22 can be pressed from the side.
[0027]
Next, a method of using the spherical ice production container 1 will be described.
[0028]
First, the outer container 6 is fitted into the water storage container 2, and the inside of the water storage container 2 is filled up to the top with ice-making water. In the round container 4, the upper half shell 8 and the lower half shell 9 are securely connected by the engagement of the mounting groove 14 and the ridge 16, and are sunk into the water storage container 2 from above. The water in the water storage container 2 gradually flows into the round container 4 from the hole 10, and when the round container 4 is fitted into the main body 3 and completely submerged in the water storage container 2, the inside of the round container 4 becomes water for ice making. Is filled with
[0029]
In this state, the spherical ice production container 1 is stored in a freezer and frozen. In the freezer, it is preferable that the spherical ice production container 1 be placed as far as possible from the surrounding wall surface so that cold air only comes into contact with the upper surface of the spherical ice production container 1.
[0030]
The water storage container 2 has a heat insulating function because there is an air layer formed between the water storage container 2 and the outer container 6, and the cool air in the freezer comes into direct contact with the upper surface of the round container 4. Therefore, in the spherical ice production container 1, freezing is started from above the round container 4. Since freezing is basically performed while eliminating air bubbles, ice free of air bubbles is gradually formed in the round container 4 which starts freezing before the water storage container 2.
[0031]
Further, since the volume of the water expands when the water freezes, the water expanded by the freezing in the round container 4 flows out of the hole 10 into the water storage container 2 while containing bubbles. When the freezing in the round container 4 is completed and further cooled, the freezing in the water storage container 2 starts. In the water storage container 2, the freezing starts from the periphery of the water storage container 2, and the last water freezes near the central portion of the water storage container 2. Therefore, ice in which bubbles are trapped is formed in the water storage container 2 where the freezing is last.
[0032]
When the inside of the spherical ice manufacturing container 1 is completely frozen, the spherical ice manufacturing container 1 is taken out of the freezer and the round container 4 is divided from the water storage container 2 while freezing the surrounding ice by spraying water or the like. Since the round container 4 and the water storage container 2 are only connected by the hole 10, the ice can be easily divided simply by breaking the ice formed in the hole 10.
[0033]
Next, the edge member 13 of the lower half shell 9 is grasped, and the inclined surface 22 of the inclined surface base 21 is pressed as it is while deforming the edge member 13 from the lateral direction. The pressing force from the side applied to the inclined surface 22 from the edge body 13 is changed to an upward force by the inclined surface 22, and the upper half shell 8 is pulled upward with respect to the lower half shell 9. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 4, the undercut connection between the mounting groove 14 and the ridge 16 is released, and the upper half shell 8 is divided from the lower half shell 9. When the undercut connection is released, the upper half shell 8 is detached from the lower half shell 9 by holding the inclined surface base 21 or the like, and the round ice 62 can be easily taken out from the round container 4. In this way, when the transparent ice cubes are taken out of the round container 4, the ice cubes are transferred to a cup or the like and used as on-the-rock ice or the like.
[0034]
As described above, according to the spherical ice manufacturing container 1, the upper half shell 8 is easily pressed from the lower half shell 9 by pressing the inclined surface table 21 provided on the upper half shell 8 from the edge 13 of the lower half shell 9. The ice cubes 62 formed in the round container 4 can be immediately taken out.
[0035]
Note that the inclined surface does not have to be provided symmetrically on the upper half shell 8, and an inclined surface is provided only on one side surface of the upper half shell 8, and a pressing piece (neither is shown) for pressing this inclined surface is provided. It may be provided facing the inclined surface. According to this, an upward force is applied to the inclined surface by pressing the inclined surface provided at one position of the upper half shell 8 with the thumb or the like via the pressing piece (the edge 13 may be used). And the upper half shell 8 and the lower half shell 9 can be divided, and the round container 2 can be easily divided to take out the round ice.
[0036]
Further, an inclined surface may be formed on the entire inner periphery of the edge body 13 so as to face the edge body 13. In this way, the round container 4 can be divided by pressing any position of the edge 13.
[0037]
FIG. 6 shows another example. This is because the ridge 16 formed along the outer peripheral edge of the upper half shell 8 is not the entire outer peripheral edge of the upper half shell 8 but the lower part of the inclined surface base 21 below the inclined wall body. It is formed in. In this way, the upper half shell 8 can be formed by a vertically split mold, and there is a portion where the undercut connection is not partially made, and the undercut connection is released at that position, The entire undercut connection can be easily released from the release point as a starting point, and the upper half shell 8 and the lower half shell 9 can be easily separated and removed. In this case, in order to secure the bonding force between the upper half shell 8 and the lower half shell 9, the bonding force of the undercut connection may be increased.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
The spherical ice production container of the present invention has the following effects.
[0039]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a cylindrical water storage container with a bottom, an outer container attached outside the water storage container with a gap between the side surface and the bottom surface of the water storage container, and an upper portion of the water storage container The upper half shell of the round container and the lower half shell of the round container, the inner surfaces of which are formed in a hemispherical shape, are closely meshed with each other by an undercut connection of the outer peripheral end to have a spherical space inside, and The half shell has an air hole at the top and an outwardly facing surface of the upper half shell of the round container, and the upper side of the outwardly facing surface extends outwardly of the upper half shell of the round container. A sloping wall body inclined in a hang shape is provided, and the lower half shell of the round container has a hole at the bottom communicating with the water storage container, and a pressure from the side facing the sloping wall body. Swings in the pressing direction to push up the skewed wall body upward, and moves the upper half shell of the round container to the lower half shell of the round container. A round container provided a pressing piece to separate, constituted an inclined surface with a spherical ice manufacturing vessel from.
[0040]
Thereby, when the oblique wall body is pressed by the pressing piece, the oblique wall body is urged upward, so that the upper half shell of the round container is separated from the lower half shell of the round container, and the upper half shell of the round container is removed. It can be easily separated from the lower half shell of the round container.
[0041]
According to the invention as set forth in claim 2, in the invention as set forth in claim 1, at the outer peripheral end of the upper half shell of the round container except for the lower part of the oblique wall of the upper half shell of the round container, A bonding structure for undercut bonding was formed. According to this, since the undercut connection is not continuous, that portion becomes the starting point of the release, and the undercut connection can be easily released.
[0042]
According to the invention described in claim 3, in the invention described in claim 1 or 2, at least one pair of oblique wall bodies are formed symmetrically with respect to the center of the upper half shell of the round container, and the pressing piece is formed of the pair of pressing members. Are provided in correspondence with the sloping walls.
[0043]
According to this, the upper half shell of the round container can be urged upward by separating the upper half shell of the round container from the lower half shell of the round container by pressing the pressing piece from both sides and holding the oblique wall body. The round container can be divided and the round ice can be removed from the round container.
[0044]
According to the invention described in claim 4, in the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3, the pressing piece extends around the outer periphery of the lower half shell of the round container and fits inside the water storage container. It is characterized by being a body.
[0045]
According to this, since the pressing piece is an edge fitting into the inside of the water storage container, it is not necessary to separately provide the pressing piece, so that the size can be reduced, and the pressing piece is always pressed regardless of the angle of the inclined wall body. The upper half shell of the round container can be easily divided from the lower half shell of the round container by sandwiching the edge member.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a spherical ice production container according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing one embodiment of a spherical ice production container according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a round container.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a round container.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a usage form of the spherical ice production container.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing another example.
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a conventional example.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a conventional example.
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 1; spherical ice production container 2; water storage container 3; main body 4; round container 6; outer container 8; round container upper half shell 9; round container lower half shell 10; hole 11; hemispherical portion 12; air hole 13; Body 14; mounting groove 15; hemispherical portion 16; ridge 17; first side wall 18; bottom plate 19; second side wall 21; inclined surface table 22; inclined surface 50;

Claims (4)

A cylindrical water storage container with a bottom,
An outer container attached to the outside of the water storage container with a gap between a side surface and a bottom surface of the water storage container,
It is arranged at the upper part of the water storage container, and has a spherical space inside by tightly meshing the upper half shell and the lower half shell of the round container, the inner surfaces of which are formed in a hemispherical shape, with an undercut connection of the outer peripheral edge,
Further, the upper half shell of the round container has an air hole at the top and an outwardly facing surface of the upper half shell of the round container, and the upper side of the outwardly facing surface has an upper surface of the upper half shell of the round container. A sloping wall body that is inclined overhanging toward the outside is provided,
And, in the lower half shell of the round container, a hole communicating with the water storage container at the bottom, and facing the skewed wall body, swinging in the pressing direction by pressing from the side to raise the skewed wall body upward. A round container provided with a pressing piece that pushes up toward the bottom and separates the upper half shell of the round container from the lower half shell of the round container. No connecting structure for the undercut connection formed at the outer peripheral end of the upper half shell of the round container is formed below the oblique wall of the upper half shell of the round container, and the undercut connection is released below the oblique wall. The spherical ice manufacturing container with an inclined surface according to claim 1, wherein the container is formed. At least one pair of oblique walls are formed symmetrically with respect to a center line passing through the top of the upper half shell of the round container,
The spherical ice manufacturing container with an inclined surface according to claim 1, wherein a pressing piece is provided corresponding to each of the pair of oblique walls. The inclined piece according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pressing piece is a peripheral edge body that extends around the outer periphery of the lower half shell of the round container and fits inside the water storage container. Spherical ice making container.

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