US2240004A

US2240004A - Ice cube tray

Info

Publication number: US2240004A
Application number: US195354A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Thomas J Morton; Charles A Bauer
Original assignee: CARDINAL CORP
Current assignee: CARDINAL Corp
Priority date: 1938-03-11
Filing date: 1938-03-11
Publication date: 1941-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 1958-04-29

Description

T. J. MRTQN, JR., ET AL.

ICE CUBE TRAY Filed March ll, 3.938

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INVENTORS.

Patenteel Apr.. 29 Sill-l HQE @WEEE TRAY indiana Application March ll, 1938, Serial No. 195,354

(Ci. (i2-138.5)

3 iliaims.

Our invention relates to trays for use in freeing ice-cubes in domestic refrigerators, and especially to a novel form of grid dividing such a tray into a plurality of individual mold-compartments. It is the object of our invention to produce a tray and grid assembly of simple and economical construction from which the ice can readily be removed. A further object oi our invention is to produce a device oi this kind which can be operated to free the ice cubes from the grid progressively so that unwanted cubes may be returned with the grid into the tray with the ice-bonds between them and the tray unbroken.

In carrying out our invention, we employ a grid made of intersecting longitudinal and transverse partitions which, in the aggregate, serve to divide the interior of the tray into a plurality oi mold-compartments arranged in parallel rows. In the preferred iorm of the device, a single longitudinal partition is employed disposed at the center of the tray. This longitudinal partition and the transverse partitions are formed with complementary openings or slots so that the transverse partitions may extend through the plane of the longitudinal partition from one side of the tray to the other. Near one end each of the transverse partitions is arranged to be engaged by a lifting element through which there may be applied to the partition an upwardly directed force tending to free it from the tray. Because this force is applied eccentrically relative to the grid as a whole, the ice bonds between the tray and all the ice cubes are readily broken and the ice bonds adjacent the partition to which the lifting effort has been applied are likewise broken.

The accompanying drawing illustrates our invention: Fig. 1 is a plan view of an ice-cube Ytray with our improved grid in place therein; Fig. 2 is a side elevation oi' the tray with a portion of the side wall broken away; Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line il-li of Fia. l; Figs. t and 5 are iragmental side elevations illustrating two different means for lifting the grid shown in Figs. 1 to 3; and Fig. 6 is a transverse section through a tray embodying a modiiied form of grid, and shows means for lifting that modiiied form of grid.

The tray it shown in the drawing is formed with -a bottom and with side and end walls r which slope upwardly and outwardly. Within the tray, there is disposed a grid composed oi a plurality of transverse partitions il and a longi- 'tudinal partition to which such transverse partitions are attached. Conveniently, the longitudinal partition comprises upper and lower parts i2 and it disposed in co-planar relationship and extending through central rectangular holes in the transverse partitions li. The partition-part i3 is provided in its lower edge with a series of notches of a Width approximating the thickness of the transverse partitions il. In assembling the grid, the part i3 of the longitudinal partition is passed through the slots in the transverse partitions, such holes being just long enough to receive the part i3. After being placed upon the part i3, each transverse partition is alined with one of the notches therein and seated in such notch to bring its lower edge into co-l planar relationship with the lower edge of the part it. With all the transverse ^partitions so disposed, the upper part i2 oi the longitudinal partition is inserted through the holes of the transverse partitions to ll such holes and prevent raising oi the transverse partitions relative to ythe central partition. After assembly, the two parts i2 and i3 of the longitudinal partition are secured in xed position relatively to each other as by crimping them on opposite sides of one or more oi the transverse partitions il in the manner indicated at tl. Thus an assembly is provided in which the transverse and longitudinal partitions= are positively and permanently interconnected.

As previously indicated, each of the transverse partitions li is arrangednear at least one end for the application to it of a lifting effort. Conveniently, this is done by providing the respective transverse partitions along one side of the tray l@ with extensions lb which are bent over to provide horizontally extending ears, as is clear from Fig. 2. While this arrangement is preferred, there are obviously numerous other ways in which the transverse partitions could be adapted at their ends for the application of a lifting eiiort.

Desirably, although not necessarily, the application of a lifting effort to any of the transverse partitions is accompanied by the application of a downwardly directed force to an adjacent transverse partition. -A simple lever, such as illustrated at it in Fig. 4, may be employed for this purpose. In freeing the ice cubes from the tray by the use of the lever it, that lever is fulcrumed upon the top edge of the end transverse partition ll with its inner end disposed beneath the ear l5 on the adjacent transverserpartition. Upon the application of a downward force to the outer end of the lever it, the end transverse partition will be forced downwardly and the adjacent one to it will be forced upwardly. Since these forces are applied near one side of the grid, they result in a tendency to warp the grid as well as the two transverse partitions which the lever engages. lAs a result of this action, the ice bonds between the tray'and all the ice cubes will be broken as will also the ice bonds between the grid and the two pairs of ice cubes at the end of the tray. If these two pairs or cubes are all that is desired at the time, they may be removed from the grid, and the tray and grid may be replaced in the refrigerator with. the remaining ice cubes undisturbed. If more than the four cubes at the end of the tray are desired, the lever i5 is moved so that its inner end will engage the ear l5 on the third transverse partition, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. d; whereupon the application of a downward force to the outer end of the lever will free the third pair of cubes. This operation can be continued throughout the length of the grid to free all the cubes progressively.

As ice is relatively inelastic, only slight movements are required to break the ice bonds. Be-

cause of this, the deformation of the grid which results from operation of the lever IS may be relatively slight and well within the limits which would result in permanent deformation of the grid.

Instead of employing the movable lever i6 to yapply a lifting effort 'to the ears I5, 'the construction illustrated in Fig. 5 may be used. Here, a stationary lifting member His mounted on some convenient support such as a wall or lthe door of the refrigerator, such member being provided with an outwardly projecting longitudinal flange I8. This flange may be used as an equivalent of or substitute for the lever l 6 above described, the operator holding the tray, engaging the ears l5 progressively with ythe end of the ange I 8, and by tipping the tray applying a lifting effort to the transverse parti-tion engaged with the end of the flange i8.

In the modification of our invention illustrated in Fig. 6, the transverse partitions ii are provided with ears i@ which are co-planar with the respective partitions and which project outwardly laterally of .the tray. A grid so constructed may be freed from the tray through the use of a gridliftlng member, such as that indicated at 2i in Fig. 6, which engages beneath one of the ears it and reacts on the side wall of the tray.

We claim. as our invention:

i. In combination, an ice-cube tray, a grid having a longitudinal partition and e. plurality of transverse partitions intersecting and rigidly secured to said longitudinal partition and extending from one side of said tray 'to the other, corresponding ends of said transverse partitions being provided at their upper edges with horizontally extending ears, and e. lever adapted to rest upon the top of any of such transverse partitions and to engage beneath the ear of an adjacent 4transverse partition.

2. In combination, an ice-cube tray, a grid having a longitudinal partition and a plurality of transverse partitions intersecting and rigidly secured to said longitudinal partition and extending from one side of said tray to the other, and means for applying oppositely directed vertical forces to corresponding ends of adjacent transverse partitions, each of said transverse parti- .tions having near one end provisions co-operating r with said means in the application of said forces.

3. In combination, an ice-cube tray, a grid having a longitudinal partition and a plurality of .transverse partitions intersecting and rigidly secured to said longitudinal partition and extending from one side of said Itray to the other, and means reacting downwardly on one of said transverse partitions near an end thereof for applying a, lifting effort tothe corresponding end of an adjacent transverse partition, each of said transverse partitions having near one end provisions co-opera'ting with said means in the application of said lifting eiort.

THOMAS J. MORTON, JR. CHARLES A. BAUER.