US2004525A - Freezing tray - Google Patents

Description

Jun 11, 1935. H. D. GEYER El Al.

FREEZING TRAY Filed Nov. 25, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 11, 1935. H. D. GEYER Hm. I 2,004,525

FREEZING TRAY Filed Nov. 25, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III/II g HHJTVEYZZEEYER HND Patented June 11, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREEZING TRAY Application November 25, 1931, Serial No. 577,250

6 Claims.

This invention relates to freezing containers especially such as may be used as ice trays for domestic refrigerators.

An object of the invention is to provide an 5 improved form of a molded flexible non-metallic ice tray having a metal support therefor which is simply attached to the molded tray after it is completely molded.

Another object is to provide such a flexible I tray having a metal support therefor, which support may itself be flexed or be provided with a hinge movement between its two halves, whereby to facilitate the upward flexing of the central portion of the tray when it is desired to i remove its frozen contents.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accom panying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a tray made according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modification.

Fig. 7 is in part a section on line 1-1 of Fig. 1 and in part a side elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of one end of the tray, looking in direction of arrow 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is taken on line 99 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is taken on line I of Fig. 1.

Numeral I0 designates as a whole the molded flexible rubber container or tray which has suitable integral partitions ll dividing it into ice pockets l2. Tray ID has two integral lugs i3 projecting at each end thereof and aligned holes l4 extending through the two lugs l3 at each end of the tray. Tray [0 also has a transverse aperture I extending across its central bottom portion, best shown in section views 4 and 5. This tray I II is preferably molded of quite soft and flexible rubber and consequently a-stiffening metal support designated as a whole by reference numeral 20, is provided to give said tray proper support when it is filled with water and to facilitate its handling. In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4, this support 20 comprises four separate fairly rigid metal rods 2|, each rod having an inturned end 22 extending into central aperture 15 approximately half way across the tray. Each rod 2| also is bent inwardly at 23 to pass through the holes M in lugs l3 and terminates in an outwardly curved portion 24, to which a suitable hand-grip or handle 25 is applied as described below. These four metal rods 2|, shaped as clearly illustrated, may be easily inserted in place in the apertures l4 and I5 after the rubber tray is molded and finished. In this assembling operation the rubber tray is first wet to reduce friction and the curved ends 24 of rods 2| inserted through the holes [4 in lugs IS, the handles 25 of course being absent at this time. The great flexibility of the entire tray l0 readily permits such distortion thereof as may be necessary for so inserting rods 2|. The inturned ends 22 of rods 2| are next inserted within the central aperture l5, which is preferably just large enough to snugly receive the ends 22 lying side by side as clearly shown in Fig. 5. Now having so attached the four rods 2i to the rubber tray [0 in the manner described, the soft flexible molded rubber handles 25 are next applied to the curved projecting ends 24 of rods 2|. The easy distortibility of both the handles 25 and the entire tray I0 is relied upon for so applying handles 25. To do this, preferably the tray I0 is substantially folded upon itself about its longitudinal center line in order to bring the curved ends 24 into approximate parallelism. These ends 24 are then inserted into the corresponding holes 26 in handle 25 which at the same time is bent or folded about its center line to bring said holes 26 into approximate parallelism The curved ends 24 of the metal rods 2| may then be forced into holes 26 by hand, the rubber of course being wet to facilitate the slipping of rubber on metal.

In operation, to remove the frozen contents from the tray, the two handles 25 are grasped one in each hand and by a bending action on the tray about its transverse center line' the central portion thereof may be easily flexed or distorted upwardly sufficiently to loosen all the ice cubes and even to force the cubes near the center of the tray entirely from their pockets. During this bending action the two metal rods 2| fastened to each handle 25 move together as half of the supporting metal frame 20. Such two halves of the frame have an easy hinge movement relative to each other since the inturned ends 22 lying in aperture I 5 are not connected but readily slide upon one another. The tray is also capable of being similarly flexed about its longitudinal center line since the two rods 2| on one side of the tray are not connected to the two rods 2| on the other side and since the handles 25 as well as the soft rubber tray ID are easily distorted about any axis. Thus the metal frame 20 gives all necessary support forthe rubber tray but at the same time it is divided into four relatively movable quarters so that the entire unit may be readily flexed in most any desired manner to facilitate the removal of the frozen contents. v

In the form of the invention shown. in Figs. 6 to 10, the one-piece molded rubber tray 40 has two integral apertured lugs 4| and a central apertured lug 42 at each end of the tray. The supporting metal frame 45 comprises two resilient metal rods 46, each having inturned ends 41 which project through the holes inthe lugs 4|, and the bent extremities 48 of rods 46 are rigidly secured to the metal hand1es'5ll by any suitable means, such as by the small metal clamps 49 fixed to the handles 50 by screws Handles 50 are also attached to the central rubber lugs 42 respectively by means of the pin 52 which passes through a hole in lug 42 and through two ears 53 on each side thereof. The two metal handles 50 are thus securely but flexibly attached to the two ends of the rubber tray 40 and form part of the supporting frame 45. The two resilient side rods 46 are connected together across the bottom of the center of the tray by a metal strap 55. Strap 55 preferably lies snugly up within a groove molded in the bottom of the tray so it will lie flush with the bottom surface thereof.

In operation, to remove the frozen contents of the tray, the two handles 50 are grasped, one in each hand, and the entire tray bent upward at its central portion similarly to the method of operation of the first tray described. The side rods 46 are quite resilient and so permit such upward bending of the central portion or, to look at it in another way, the downward bending of the end portions of the tray. While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A freezing tray comprising: a flexible rubber container having partitions therein to form ice pockets, and a metal support attached to said container to prevent undue flexing thereof when filled with water, said support being attached to said flexible container only at its two opposed and portions and its central portion whereby to facilitate the manual flexing of said container to remove the frozen contents therefrom.

2. A freezing tray comprising: a flexible rubber container having partitions therein to form ice pockets, and a metal support attached to said container to prevent undue flexing thereof when filled with water, said support comprising metal rods extending exterior of but adjacent to two opposed sides of said container and having portions supporting said container at its two end portions and its central portion whereby to facilitate its manual flexing to remove its frozen contents.

3. A freezing tray comprising: a flexible rubber container having partitions therein to form ice pockets, and a metal support attached to said container to prevent undue flexing thereof when filled with water, said support compris-' ing metal rods extending exterior of but adjacent to two opposed sides of said container and having portions supporting said container only at its two upper end portions and its central portion.

4. In combination, a molded flexible rubber freezing tray having integral apertured lugs at its two ends, and a metal support for said flexible tray comprising metal rods extending exterior of but adjacent to the opposed sides of said tray and having inwardly turned end portions fitting within said apertured lugs whereby to support the twoends of said rubber tray, said rods also having means supporting the bottom central portion of said tray.

5. In combination, a molded flexible rubber freezing tray having integral apertured lugs at its two ends, and a metal support for said flexible tray comprising metal rods extending exterior of butadjacent to the opposed sides of said tray and having inwardly turned end portions fitting within said apertured lugs whereby to support the two ends of said rubber tray, said rods also having means underlying and supporting the bottom central portion of said tray. I

6. In combination, a molded flexible rubber freezing tray and a metal support therefor attached thereto at its two upper end portions and its lower central portion, said combined rubber tray and metal support being capable of a substantial endwise bending movement, whereby to facilitate the upward flexing of the central portion of said tray. I

HARVEY D. GEYER. FREDERICK W. SAMPSON.

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