US20050199776A1

US20050199776A1 - Ice cube tray

Info

Publication number: US20050199776A1
Application number: US10/796,075
Authority: US
Inventors: Jason Huang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-03-10
Filing date: 2004-03-10
Publication date: 2005-09-15

Abstract

An ice cube tray includes a base and a plurality of containers. Both are connected together in an injection method. The base is made of inflexible material with hollow cavities while the containers are made of flexible material. Each container is corresponding in shape to each cavity of the base. The containers can be made to various colors. The inflexible base is easy to handle while the flexible containers facilitate dislodging of ice cubes from the base.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an ice cube tray, and more particularly to an ice cube tray that is made of injection method and has a base and containers in different colors and materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A refrigerator is popular on the market for a certain of years. Some refrigerators have attached with an ice cube tray, some don't. Ice cube trays are sold almost everywhere for its convenience. A conventional ice cube tray 4, as shown in FIG. 4, has a plurality of cavities 5. A user can fill water inside each cavity 5 and place the tray into a freezer. After a while, the water is frozen and ready for use. The conventional ice cube tray 4 is generally made of either inflexible or flexible material. The inflexible material of the tray 4 makes the frozen ice cube may stick to the tray 4 and not easy to be taken away. The user has to wait the ice cube to melt slightly and then knock the tray 4 to dislodge the sticking ice cubes from the cavities 5.
The flexible material of the tray 4 may be squeezed or tweezed to break the sticking ice cubes from the cavities 5. However, when filling water inside the tray 4, the soft material makes the tray 4 not easy to handle or to seat correctly, sometimes water may be spilled out.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an ice cube tray, which base is inflexible enough for carrying and containers are flexible enough to dislodge ice cubes from cavities of the tray.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an ice cube tray, which is more attractive to consumers.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ice cube tray, which is cost effectiveness in manufacture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the present invention;
FIG. 1A is an enlarged view taken along circle A of FIG. 1;
FIG. 1B is an enlarged view taken along circle B of FIG. 1;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a cavity of the present invention, with partial sectioned;
FIG. 3 is a similar view of FIG. 2, showing an upside down status; and
FIG. 4 is an ice cube tray of a prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention comprises a base 1 and a plurality of containers 2. Both are connected together in an injection method.
The base 1 is made of inflexible material, which can be polyphosphate (PP), ploycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer (ABS resin), and has a plurality of cavities 11. One end of each cavity 11 has a large size and the opposite end has a small size. A circumferential bottom edge of each cavity 11 is in a step shape to form a connecting edge 12.
The containers 2 are made of flexible material, which can be thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), trans-1, 5-polypentenamer rubber (TRP) or Silicon material. A circumferential top edge of each container 2 is also in a step shape to form a connecting edge 21 corresponding to the step design of the connecting edge 12 of each cavity 1. Each container 2 is corresponding in shape to each cavity 11 of the base 1.
In manufacture of the present invention, adopt different colors and materials to inject with an injection machine. The connecting edges 11 and 21 of the base 1 and the containers 2 connect both the base 1 and the containers 2 together, as shown in FIG. 2. The colorful ice cube tray makes the product more attractive.
To make ice cubes with the present invention, the cavities 11 are filled with water and the ice cube tray is placed into a freezer. Owing to the base 1 is made of inflexible material, the base 1 is easy to handle and to stand firm in the freezer, which minimizes possibility of water spill. Once the water in the cavities 11 is frozen, turn the base 1 upside down and press the containers 2. Because the containers 2 are made of flexible material, the ice cubes can easily be dislodged from the cavities 11, as shown in FIG. 3.

Claims

1. An ice cube tray comprising a base and a plurality of containers, wherein

said base made of inflexible material and having a plurality of cavities, each cavity being hollow and having a connecting edge at a circumferential bottom edge thereof;

said containers made of flexible material, each container having a connecting edge at a circumferential top edge thereof, corresponding to said connecting edge of each cavity.

2. The ice cube tray, as recited in claim 1, wherein said connecting edge of each cavity and said connecting edge of each container are in a step design.