US2325226A - Ice tray - Google Patents

Description

y 1943- c. R. CAR NEY 2,325,226

' ICE TRAY Filed Jan. 16. 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' INVENTOR CZZjZIZEQ/fq.

} ATTORNEY July 27, 19430 2 c. R. CARNEY 1cm TRAY I FiledJan. 16, 1941 2 Sheets -Sheet 2 INVENTOR a. a ##MM [7. a

Patented July 27, 1943 oFncs ICE my I Clifl'ord R. Carney, Dearborn. Mich, assig'nor to General Motors Corporation,

corporation of Delaware Detroit, Mich, a

v Application January 16, 1941, S8118]. N0. 374,629

. 11 Claims. (Cl. 621Q8.5)

' tending substantially vertically disposed sepa- This invention relates to ice trays and more particularly to a novel and improved ice tray grid which may be employed to divide the space within a pan into a plurality of ice block compartments of suitable size for domestic use,

tudinal separator member provided with a plurality of spaced substantially verticallydisposed slots adapted to receive a plurality of vertically disposed transverse separator members which may be moved angularly about a substantially vertical axis to release ice.

Another object is to provide a grid member having interlocked longitudinal and transversely extending separator members provided with means to move said members about horizontal and verticalaxes respectively to break the bond between frozen material and the walls of the grid and pan members.

directed separator members suitably interconnected by improved motion transmitting means whereby ice blocks may be readily released.

A further object -resides in the provision of an ice tray grid having a single longitudinal separator member and a plurality of generally vertically disposed separator members extending transversely to and interconnected with the Yet a further object resides in the provision of improved motion transmitting means between a longitudinal separator member and a pair of.

oppositely directed longitudinally movable bars whereby the actuating bars may be moved in longitudinal separator member in such a manner that the longitudinal member may be moved angularly from the vertical position, and the transverse separator members may be moved about a substantially vertical axis intermediate their ends to efiect the release of ice.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel motion transmitting means between a longitudinal separator member and a plurality of transversely extending separator members whereby said separator members may be moved in an improved manner with reference to each other to efliciently break the frozen bond between ice blocks and the component portions of said grid member.

A further object resides in the provision of an efllcient ice tray grid which may be economically manufactured in large quantities.

Still another object is to provide novel motion transmitting means for actuating interconnected grid members by moving spaced oppositely directed longitudinally movable actuating bars or members in opposite directions.

Yet a more detailed object of the invention is to provide novel oppositely directed actuating bars or members to move generally longitudinally extending separator means from a substantially vertical position toward an angularly inclined position, and to move generally transversely exthe grid in the actuated or ice releasing position.

opposite directions to release ice.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, submitted for purposes of illustration only, and not intended to define the scope of the invention, reference being had for that purpose to the subjoined claims.

In the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views:

, Fig. 1 is a perspective view partly in section of an ice tray grid embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the component parts of the grid structure shown in separated relationship.

Fig. 41s a plan view Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

Fig. 6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 4 showing Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 2. taken substantially on the line of Fig. 6; looking in the direction of the arrows,

of the grid structure illus- ,trated in Fig. l in the'normal or ice freezing .position.

showing the grid in the actuated or ice releasing position.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the inventtion is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be observed that an ice tray grid designated as a whole by the reference character 2 is adapted to be positioned in a pan 4 to divide the space within the pan into a plurality of ice block compartments 8 to form ice blocks of suitable size for domestic use.

The grid 2 preferably comprises a generally longitudinally extending separator member 8 and a plurality of generally transversely extending separator members i8. The transverse separator members II are substantially vertically disposed and receive the longitudinal separator member 8 in such a manner that it may move from a substantially vertical position toward an angularly inclined position.

The longitudinal separator member 8 is preferably provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced substantially vertically disposed slots l4 adapted to receive the portion of the transverse members l8 between lower apertured portions l8 and upper cut-out or apertured portions i8. The

longitudinal separator member 8 is provided preferably below the slots I4 with locking tabs 28 adapted to project into the apertured portions l8 of the transverse separator members I8 to maintain the longitudinal and transverse separator members in the assembled relation.

The slots i4 formed in the longitudinal separator member 8 are preferably of such a shape that the transverse separator members II are maintained in the substantially vertical position. However, the transverse members are free to osciliate about substantially vertical axes intermediate the length of the longitudinal separator member 8 to move out of substantially right angle positions as illustrated in the plan view, Fig. 4, to acute angle positions relative to the longitudinal separator member 8 as illustrated in Fig. 6.

The apertured or cut-out portions i8 of the transverse separator members l8 are provided with preferably angularly inclined edge portions 22 which engage the upper marginal portions of the vertically disposed slots i4 in the longitudinal separator member 8 to limit the angular position to which the longitudinal separator member 8 may move from the substantially vertical position.

The transverse separator members II are preferably provided with generally horizontally extending slots 24 adapted to receive edge portions 28 and 21 of oppositely directed longitudinally movable actuating bars or members 28 and 88 respectively to maintain the oppositely directed bars 28 and 88 in assembled relation relative to the grid structure. The transverse members i8 are also formed with generally vertically disposed edge portions 82 adapted to be received within ionthe oppositely directed bars 28 and 88 respectively.

The bars or members 28 and" are provided with apertured portions or slots 88 and 48 respectively toreceive generally upstanding projections 42 and 44 respectively carried by the longitudinally extending separator member 8. The portions 42 and 44 are preferably formed with contoured segments 48 adapted to be engaged by suitable cammlng portions 48 formed in the slots 88 and 48 of the oppositely directedbars or members 28 and 88 to exert a transversely directed'camming force to move the longitudinal separator member 8 from a substantially vertical position towards an angularly inclined position as the bars 28 and" are moved relative to each other.

The actuating members 28 and 88 are provided with cooperating upstanding'projections 88 and 82 respectively having apertures defining oppositely directed cammlng surfaces 84 and 88 respectively. A suitable key or actuating member 88 may be inserted in the apertures of the upstanding projections to engage the oppositely directed cammlng surface 84 and 88 in such a manner that as the key '88 is turned or moved angularly in the apertures by any suitable implement such: for example as a handle member 88, the projections 88 and 82 and with them the oppositely directed bars 28 and 88 will be moved in opposite directions.

It will be observed that the space between the horizontally extending notches 24 and the generally vertically disposed edge portions 82 of the transverse members l8 correspond substantially with the distance between the edge portions 28 and 21 and the inner wall of the notches 84 and 88 of the actuating bars 28 and 88 respectively. It thus appears that when the actuating bars 28 and 88 are assembled with reference to the longitudinal and transverse separator members the edge portions 82 and the upper wall of the horizontally extending apertures 24 of the transverse members i8 prevent transverse movement of the jactuating bars 28 and 88 relative to the grid structure.- The key or actuating member 88 prevents the longitudinally movable bars 28 and 88 from moving angularly upwardly relative to each other or rising vertically with reference to the grid structure. The grid structure is thus securely maintained in the assembled relation.

The operation of this device is as follows; Assume that the grid structure 2 is positioned in a pan member 4 as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, and that a liquid has been frozen within the compartments'8 to form ice blocks. To release the ice blocks the handle 88 is actuated by elevating it with reference to the grid and pan members. Movement of the handle 88 is transmitted through the key or actuating member 58 and the oppositely directed cammlng portions 84- and 88 of the projections 88 and 82 carried by the oppositely directed bars 28 and 88 to move said bars in opposite directions. Movement of the actuating members 28 and 88 relative to the longitudinal separator member 8 results in a movement of the cammlng portions 48 formed in the apertured portions 88 and 48 with reference to the cam-' ming portion 48 formed in the upstanding progitudinally spaced notches 84 and 88 formed in tudinal separator member 8 to move it transversely orthe grid. In view or-the fact that the lower portion the longitudinal member is maintained against transverse movement by the locking tabs 20 which project into the apertures ii of the transverse members l0. the lon itudinal separator member 8 is forced to move from the substantially vertical position toward an angularly inclined position.

Relative movement between the bars 28 and 30 operates through the notches 34 and 36 formed in said actuating bars to exert a longitudinally directed force on edge portions defining the horizontally extending slots 24 of the transverse separator members 10. The edge portions defining the generally vertically extending slots l4 of the longitudinal separator member l0 restrain the transverse members l0 from moving longitudinally relative to the grid. A force is thus exerted on each of the transverse members ill to move them angularly about a substantially Vertical axis while maintaining them in the substantially vertical position as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 which show the grid structure in the actuated or ice releasing position.

It will be noted that the notches 34 and 36 of the actuating bars or members 28 and 30 are slots 34 or the slots 36 of the oppositely directed actuating bars 28 or 30 respectively.

The slots 34 and 36 of the actuating bars 28 and 30 may be equally spaced to actuate all of the transverse separator members simultaneously or may be unequally spaced to successively actuate the transverse separator members. The camming portions 48 of the oppositely directed actuating bars 28 and 30.may be so positioned as to move the longitudinal separator member 8 from the substantially vertical position towards an angular position simultaneously with the actuation of the transverse separator members l0 or may be positioned to actuate it either before or after the transverse separator members are actuated. One of the camming portions 48 may be oilset with reference to the other to move one'end of the longitudinal member towards the angular position before the other end is so moved to give a progression of power and reduce the force required to actuate the grid structure to release ice.

I claim:

1. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of substantially vertically disposed transversely extending separator members, a longitudinal separator member interlocked with the transverse separator members and movable angularly on the transverse separator members, a pair of oppositely movable bars extending in opposite directions from a point intermediate the length of the grid, cam and locking means between said bars and the longitudinal and transverse separator members whereby movement of the bars in opposite directions moves the longitudinal separator member angularly about a horizontal axis and moves each of the transverse separator members angularly about a vertical axis intermediate the length of each orsaid transverse members, and manually operable means to move said bars in opposite directions.

2. An ice tray comprising a plurality of transversely extending separator members, a normally I 3 vertically disposed longitudinal separator member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced upstanding cam portions formed adjacent its upper edge, a pair of oppositely directed bars positioned to overlie'the longitudinal separator 1 member and each including apertured portions having confronting walls to engage said cam portions and confine the longitudinal separator member to limited angular movement, and manually operable means to actuate said bars to move the longitudinal separator from a, substantially vertical position towards an angular position and to move the transverse separator members about substantially vertical axes to release ice.

3. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of substantially vertically disposed transversely extending separator members, a longitudinal separator member mounted on the transverse separator members and movable from a substantially vertical normal ice forming position to an angularly inclined ice releasing position, and means comprising oppositely directed longitudinally extending bars associated with the longitudinal member and interlocked with the transverse members whereby movement of the bars in opposite directions moves the longitudinal separator member angularly and oscillates the transverse members about substantially vertically extending axes to release ice.

4. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of substantially vertically disposed transversely extending grid members, a longitudinally extending grid member mounted on the transverse members, means comprising a pair of oppositely directed overlapping bars associated with the iongitudinal and transverse members whereby the longitudinal separator member may be moved from a substantially vertical position toward an angular position and the transverse members may be rotated about substantially vertical axes intermediate their length to release ice, and

manually operable means connected to the overlapping portions of said bars to move the bars in opposite directions.

5. An ice tray grid comprising a longitudinal separator member having a plurality of spaced camming portions formed adjacent its upper edge, a plurality of oppositely directed bars having contoured apertured portions engaging said camming portions of the longitudinal separator member, and means to move said bars longitudinally in opposite directions to move the longitudinal separator member from a substantially vertical to an angularly inclined position to release ice.

6. An ice tray grid comprising a, plurality of vertically disposed transversely extending separator members, a longitudinal separator member mounted on the transverse members and movable from a substantially vertical position to an angularly inclined position, a plurality of longitudinally directed oppositely movable bars associated with the longitudinal and transverse members and having overlapping segments, means engaging said overlapping segments to move the bars in opposite directions, nd 00- operating means between the oppositely movable bars and the longitudinal and transverse memdiate their lengthand moves the longitudinal separator member from a substantially vertical toward an angular position to release ice.

7. An ice tray comprising a plurality or transhavingoverlapping sections and notched portions interlocking with the notched portions iormed adjacent the upper edges oi the transverse separator members, and manually operable means operably connected to said overlapping sections to move said bars in opposite directions to move said longitudinal separator member and said transverse members to release ice thereirom.

8. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of substantially vertically disposed transversely extending separator members, a longitudinal separator member having spaced cumming portions mounted on the transverse members and moviable thereon from a substantially vertical position to an angularly inclined position, a plurality oi lon itudinally extending oppositely directed I aaaaaao adjacent the upper edge oi the longitudinal separ'ator and manually operable means engaging said overlapping segments to move said actuating bars in opposite directions to move the longitudinal separator irom a substantlally vertical position towards an angularly inclined position and to move the transverse separator members about substantially vertical axes to release ice.

10. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality oi generally transversely extending substantially vertically disposed separator members having apertures iormed adjacent their lower edges and compoimd slots iormed adjacent their upper edges, a generally longitudinally extending separator member hingedly connected to the transverse separator members in such a manner that it is movable irom a normal substantially vertical ice iorming position towards an angularly inclined position to release ice, a pair oi oppositely'movable bars positioned to overlie the longitudinal separator member and extending in opbars associated with the longitudinal and transspaced notched portions iormed in edge portions oi the oppositely directed bars and engaging the transverse members whereby movement or the bars in opposite directions moves the transverse members angularly about substantially vertical axes intermediate their length and moves the longitudinal separator member from a substantially vertical toward an angularly inclined position to release ice.

9. An ice tray comprising a plurality oi transversely extending separator members having apertures iormed adjacent their lower edges and spaced notched portion iormed adjacent their upper edges, a normally vertically disposed longitudinal separator member having a plurality of spaced substantially vertically disposed slots for the reception oi the transverse members and a plurality oi longitudinally spaced cam portions iormed adjacent its upper edge. a pair or actuating bars extending in opposite directions irom a point intermediate the length of the tray and having overlapping segments, each or the bars having notched portions to receive the notched portions iormed adjacent the upper edges 0! the transverse separator members, each oi said bars having apertures including cam defining portions engaging the spaced cam portions iormed posite directions irom a point intermediate the length oi the grid, cooperating cam means between the longitudinal separator member and each oi said bars whereby the longitudinal separator member may be moved irom said normal substantially vertical ice forming position towards an angularly inclined position to release ice, and manually operable means to move said bars in opposite directions.

11. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality oi generally transversely extending substantially vertically disposed separator members having apertures iormed adjacent their lower edges and compound slots iormed adjacent their upper edges, a generally longitudinally extending separator member hingedly connected to the transverse separator members in such a manner that it is movable from a normal substantially vertical ice forming position towards an angularly inclined position and the transverse separator members are movable angularly relative to the longitudinal member about substantially vertically extending axes to release ice, 0, pair of oppositely movable bars positioned to overlie the longitudinal separator member and extending in opposite directions irom a point intermediate the length oithe grid, cooperating cam means between the longitudinal separator member and each oi said bars whereby the longitudinal separator member may be moved irom said normal substantially vertical ice forming position toward an angularly inclined position, cooperating motion transmitting means between the transverse separator members and said bars whereby the transverse separator members may be moved angularly about substantially vertical axes intermediate their length to release ice, and manually operable means to move said bars in opposite directions.

CLIFFORD R. CARNEY.

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