US2444789A

US2444789A - Ice cube tray and grid

Info

Publication number: US2444789A
Application number: US98213A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald H Reeves
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 1936-08-27
Filing date: 1936-08-27
Publication date: 1948-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 1965-07-06

Description

July 6, 1948. D. H. REEvEs ICE CUBE TRAY 5ND GRID- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 27, 1936 m f a J t a z t Y a! 7 4 all 4..\

Is /S ATTORNEYS.

s E v E E R H n ICE CUBE TRAY AND GRID 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 27. 1936 V lNvoR. pan/AM. a M E5 M3.

H/s ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 6, 1948 ICE CUBE TRAY AND GRID Donald H. Reeves, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application August 27, 1936, Serial No. 98,213

(Cl. BB-108.5)

This invention relates to freezing apparatus for liquids such as ice trays employed in mechanically refrigerated household refrigerator cabinets.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved grid construction adapted to be disposed in an ice tray for dividing the tray into a plurality of ice block compartments and a novel method of removing ice blocks from the tray and grid without application of artificial heat, thereto. V

Another object of the present invention is to provide a freezing tray with a removable single walled metallic grid structure having certain walls thereof readily movable lengthwise of certain other walls thereof for breaking the bond between ice blocks in the grid and the grid walls to thereby release the blocks therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a single walled grid structure for disposition in an ice tray and having a mechanism associated therewith which will separate the grid together with ice blocks adhering thereto from the tray and which will also be effective to move certain of the grid walls relative to certain other walls thereof progressively from one portion to another portion along the length of the grid structure for dislodging ice blocks consecutively from the structure after its separation from the tray.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means for directing a force against ice blocks within the grid structure progressively from one end to the other end of the structure whereby any desired number of ice blocks may be removed therefrom without moving and loosening other blocks therein to thereby permit the grid structure together with the other blocks adhering thereto to be replaced in the tray and the tray repositioned on or in a cooling element for future harvesting of the remaining ice blocks.

In carrying out the foregoing objects it is a still further object of the invention to provide a single walled metallic grid structure for an ice tray which is simple in construction, durable and eflicientin operation and novel combinations of parts of which, as more fully become apparent .from the following description, will present other I line l4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2 showing a toggle connection between parts of the grid structure;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side view of the grid showing a certain wall thereof moved relative to other walls thereof for releasing ice blocks therefrom; and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the position of walls of the grid structure after having been moved to release all ice blocks therefrom.

In order to illustrate the present invention I i have shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawings a metal ice tray it having side walls H (see Fig. 4) and opposed end walls I2 and H3. The tray side walls I l' and the front end wall I! thereof converge outwardly toward the top of the tray. The back wall l3 of tray Ill may be converged outwardly toward the tray top a greater distance than other walls of the tray for a purpose which will become apparent hereinafter. The walls ll, i2 and I3 of tray ill have their top edge rolled over to form a rim M which extends continuously around the tray. The metal of tray i0 is extended downwardly from the rim It as at 16 at the front end thereof to provide a mounting sur-- face for a heavy metal piece I! which has a handle pivotally secured thereto. The handle l8 facilitates placing of the tray Ill in or on a cooling element of a refrigerating system and a cam surface I9 formed thereon functions, upon actuating the handle iii, to break an ice bond between the tray l0 and its support in or on the cooling element to permit removal of the tray therefrom as is well known in the art.

, A unitary grid-structure, generally represented by the reference character 20, is disposed within tray ill for dividing the interior thereof into a plurality of open-top molds, cells or compartments 2|. The grid structure 20 includes a vertically disposed singleiongitudinal wall 22 having a plurality of slots or openings 23 therein (see Fig. 2) for the reception of the part2! (see Fig.

4) of single walls 2! which intersect the wall 22 and extend transversely thereto. The transverse walls 25 are cut out as at 28 (see Fig. 4) to fit over the continuous part of the longitudinal wall 22 disposed below the slots 23. In order to movably or slidably secure the transverse walls 25 to the longitudinal wall 22 or to the grid structure 20 I place an elongated metal member 28, which is U-shaped in cross-section, over the top of the longitudinal wall 22. Member 28 is slidably attached to the wall 22 by a pair of pins 29 which pass through horizontally elongated holes 3| provided in the upper portion of wall 22 and which pins pass through and are riveted or otherwise rigidly fastened to the leg portions of the U-shaped member 28 (see Figs. and 6). It will be noted that each of the transverse walls 25 has an upwardly extending car 33 formed thereon above raised shouldered portions 34 (see Fig. 4) provided above the central continuous part 24 thereof. The ear 33 of each wall 25 fits into the U-shaped member 28 between the leg portions thereof. Member 28 is provided with a plurality of corresponding and aligned pairs of notches 38 cut in the depending leg portions thereof and which notches receive the raised shouldered portions 34 of walls 25. The single transverse walls 25 are each thereby locked to the grid structure between the U-shaped member 28 and the continuous portion of the longitudinal wall 22 but are freely movable lengthwise of wall 22 by being slidably mounted in the openings 23 provided therein. A means for moving the member 28 relative to and lengthwise of the wall 22 to cause engagement of walls of the notches 36 with the raised shouldered portions 34 formed on the walls is provided. This means comprises a lever 4| pivotally secured to the grid structure 20 by a, pin 42 which passes through the longitudinal wall 22 thereof (see Fig. 5). is U-shaped in cross-section and is adapted to fit over or straddle the U-shaped member 28 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Lever 4| also includes a handle end portion 43 and an opposite end portion 44 which extends over the rim l4 of tray ID at the back of the tray. The depending leg portions of the end part 44 of lever 4| are mounted so as to clear the rim H of tray l0 when the and structure 20 is positioned within the tray as shown in Fig. 2 and so as to providea cam adapted to engage the rim H of the tray when the lever 4| is operated for a purpose to be presently described. The pivot pin 42 is disposed on a plane slightly above the plane in which the pins 29 are located. A pair of arms or links 46 have their one end attached tothe pin 28, disposed at the lever end of the structure, and each arm or link 46 is located between the longitudinal grid wall 22 and the depending leg portions of member 28 (see Fig. 5). The other ends of arms or linlm 46 are secured by a pin 41 to the lever 4i ata point inwardly of pin 42. Arms or links 46 have a portion of their bottom edge cut away as at 48 so as to permit movement of the arms around the pin 42 during operation of lever 4|. The top portion of the longitudinal wall 22 is cut away as at 43. adjacent the part thereof through which pin 42 passes. so as to afford clearance for travel of pin 41 toward the wall 22 when moving the lever 4| to normal position. It is to be noted that the point of attachment of pin 41 to lever 4|. is slightly below the point of attachment of pin 42 thereof so as to position the pin 41 below a straight line drawn The lever 4| has a portion thereof which through

pins

42 and 23 when the lever 4| is in its normal position shown in Fig. 2 thereby forming a toggle mechanism.

It will he noted in observing the structure disclosed that the openings or slots 23 provided in the longitudinal grid wall 22 are of diflerent widths relative to one another and that certain of the walls of these openings, disposed toward the lever end of the grid structure, are cut at an angle relative to the opposite walls'thereof. The purpose of this difference in the widths of openings 23 and the provision of the one angled wall thereof will become apparent from the description of the operation of the structure. It should also be observed that one wall of one notch 36, provided in member 28, is equally spaced from the corresponding wall of other of the notches but that the opposed wall of the one notch 361s spaced 2. different distance away from the corresponding opposed wall of other of the notches. This difference in spacing of the walls of notches 36 provides relatively narrow notches at the lever and of the grid structure and successively wider notches toward the front end of the grid to thus cooperate with the difference in the widths of openings 23 relative to one another for a purpose to be hereinafter apparent. When the parts of the grid structure described are in a normal position as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, with the lever 4| lying parallel with and against member 28, it will be noted that the corresponding and equally spaced apart walls of notches 36 are abutting the transverse grid walls 25 to hold same in a vertical position within the openings or slots 23 and against the straight corresponding and equally spaced apart walls thereof.

Assuming that water has been frozen in the tray In in the form of blocks 5| in compartments 2 I, by the cooling effect produced by a cooling element of a refrigerating system, and the tray handle has been manipulated to remove the tray from the cooling element and it is now desired to bar-- vest the ice blocks 5|, the handle end 43 of lever 4| is elevated to cause the lever to pivot about the pin 42 and to thereby cause the cam end 44 thereof to engage and exert a force against the rim ll of tray l0. Force applied to tray ill in this manner causes the grid structure 20, together with the ice blocks 5| adhering thereto, to be elevated relative to the tray as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The bond between the ice blocks 5| and the tray I8 thus having been broken the grid structure and ice blocks adhering thereto can then be readily removed from the tray. During manipulation of lever 4| to break the bond between the ice and tray ill and to elevate same relative to the tray the U-shaped member 28 has been moved toward the lever end of the grid structure without engaging any of the transverse grid walls 25 due to the elongation of notches 38. However, further movement of lever 4|, after the grid has been removed from the tray, causes elevation or rotation of the pivotpin 41 about the pin 42 and movement of arms 46 toward the rear end of the iongitudinal wall 22 of the grid structure. This further movement of lever 4| causes the wall of theone notch 38 adjacent the lever and of the structure 20 to engage and move the transverse grid wall 25 disposed therein lengthwise of wall 22. The transverse grid walls 25 are preferably of a highly tempered metal so as to be somewhat elastic or capable of springing back to their normal po-- sition after having been slightly deformed by force applied thereto. Thus initial force applied to the central portion '26 or walls 25 by movement of member 28 causes thesewalls to bow intermediate their ends prior to being forced lengthwise oi the longitudinal grid wall 22. This initial movementor bowing of walls 25 thereby substantially peels same away from the adjacent ice blocks Iii. After walls 25 are freed from the ice blocks 5i by the bowing action thereof they then spring back to their normal straight position and continued force applied thereto begins the lengthwise or tilting movement thereof relative to wall 22. Upon moving the endtransverse grid wall 25 lengthwise of the longitudinal wall 22 in the manner described the portion adjacent the bottom edge of wall 25 fulcrums about the lower part of the second from the end pair of ice blocks 68 and is tilted. The end pair of ice blocks receives the force near the top portions thereof and movement of the end transverse grid wall causes the end blocks to move lengthwise of the longitudinal grid wall 22. Movement of the end ice blocks El in this manner to break the bond between same and the grid wall 22 causes the ice, formed integral with each end block and disposed in the'openings or slots 23 of the longitudinal wall 22, to crack thus separating the end pair of blocks from one another and permitting same to freely fall from the grid structure. If two ice blocks only are desired for immediate use movement of lever ll is discontinued and this lever may be moved back to its normal position as shown in Fig; 2, and the grid structure 20 together with the ice blocks 56 remaining therein can be replaced in tray iii and the tray with its frozen contents repositioned in or on the cooling element until future harvesting of the remaining ice blocks is required. However,

d interfere with movement of the next wall 25 and removal of the second pair of ice blocks M. It is believed that a description of the individual success'ive movement of each transverse wall is unnecessary and that it is obvious that force applied directly to each wall 25 progressi ely from the lever end to the other end of the grid structure 20 will release the ice blocks 5| therefrom in succession. .I have found that in addition to applying force directly and progressively to-the walls in such a structure that it is also desirable to I provide a positive movement of the end pair of if more than the end pair of ice blocks are desired or required for immediate use continued movement of lever 6| in a counter-clockwise direction then causes the one wall of the second notch 3%, from the lever end of the structure 20, to engage and move the second transverse wall 2% lengthwise of the longitudinal grid wall 22. It being understood, of course, that the diiTerence betweenthe widths of the plurality of notches 36 permits engagement of a wall of the first notch with the first transverse grid wall to move same, upon movement of lever ll and member 28, but does not cause'engagement of the wall of the next notch 36 with the second from end transverse wall 25 to move same. In other words, the walls of notches 33 are so spaced relative to one another that these walls progressively engage their respective transverse walls 25 fitted therein upon movement of member 28 toward the lever end of the grid structure. Thus the second transverse wall 25 from the lever end of the structure 20 is moved relative to the longitudinal wall 22 after movement of the first or end transverse'wall and upon a continued The fulcruming of the second from the lever end -transverse wall 25 and loosening of the second ice blocks located remote from the lever end of the structure 20 relative to the longitudinal wall 22. Therefore the bottom of opening 23 at the end opposite the lever end of the structure 22 is intentionally made very narrow to permit a slight lengthwise initial movement only of the end transverse wall 25 relative to wall 22 and to cause further movement thereof to tilt this wall at an angle. This positive tilting action of the end wall 25 opposite the lever end of structure 22 causes the lower portion thereof to apply force to the end pair of ice blocks which tilts same upwardly within their respective compartments and relative to the longitudinal wall 22 to thus break the bond between the end blocks and the longitudinal wall after the end wall 25 has been broken therefrom to permit the end ice blocks 5i to freely fall from the grid structure as disclosed in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

The application of force directly to each transverse wall 25 to cause progressive movement of these walls relative to the longitudinal wall 22 to successively remove ice blocks at from the grid structure 20 may be discontinued at any point along the length of the structure 20, after the required number ofice blocks have been removed therefrom, to permit the grid together with the number of ice blocks reniaining therein to be repositioned in the tray l0 and the tray replaced in or on the cooling element until such time as the ice blocks remaining in the grid structure are desired to be harvested. After all of the ice blocks 5i have been removed from grid structure 20, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, the lever M is moved back into its normal position disclosed in'Fig. 2 to thereby cause the pair of ice blocks 5! from the grid walls is similar to that described relative to the first or end transverse wall and the end pair of ice blocks. It is to be noted that the lengthwise movement and tilting of the first or end wall 25 causes same to be peeled away from the second pair of ice blocks 5! and that, after the first or end pair of blocks fall from the grid structure, end wall 2 5 is freely movable within notch 36 and opening 23 so as not to corresponding and evenly spaced apart walls of notches 38 to engage and move each of the transverse walls 25 to its normal compartment forming position. The grid structure is then placed in tray i6 and the tray and compartments 2! filled with water to be frozen in order to repeat the harvesting of ice blocks from the tray in the manner described.

When lever 4! is moved to its normal position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the pin 61, to which the one end of arms 46 are secured, moves downwardly beyond the plane of a line extended through pin 42 and the pin 29 disposed at the lever end of the grid structure 20. In other words, the lever M when in the position disclosed in Fig. 2 is in an over-center position and the parts associated therewith form a, toggle mechanism. I provide a close fit between the pivot points 29, 42, M and arms 36 and the toggle mechanism tends to maintain lever 41 in its normal position to prevent same from being accidentally raised to a position whereby the handle end 53 thereof would interfere with removal of the tray from superimposed freezing compartrator. This toggle action also locks the trans- 7 verse walls into their proper positions in relation to the longitudinal wall.

While I have shown the grid structure 20 as being removed from the tray l prior to manipulating lever ll to release the ice blocks from the structure 20 in the present disclosure, it is to be understood that walls of the grid structure may be moved while the structure 20 is in the elevated position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings as disclosed in my copendlng application Serial No. 87,263, filed June 25, 1936. While the structure is in the elevated position shown in Fig. 3 and still maintained within the confines of the tray it may be operated in the manner described to break the bond between all the ice blocks and the grid walls, due to the clearance afforded at the one end of the'tray, to thereby permit the'ice blocks to fall into and remain in the tray during removal of the grid structure upwardly and out of tray ll. Thus harvesting of the ice blocks 5| from tray ll may be obtained if desired. Due to the quick releasing action of the device disclosed the ice blocks do not melt during manipulation of the device and when they are permitted to remain in the tray, upon removal of the grid from the tray and ice therein, the ice blocks do not stick or bond to one another when positioned in the tray and replaced in or on the cooling element. Therefore the ice blocks can be readily and individually removed from the tray when the tray is pulled outwardly of the cooling element.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided an improved device which is of low cost, durable, eiiicient in operation and effective to remove ice cubes or blocks therefrom without shattering the blocks and which device is constructed entirely of metal to thereby retain the fast freezing characteristics of metal tray and grid combinations. The improved grid structure is of a single wall type and the walls thereof do not therefore occupy valuable space within the tray and reduce its cubical capacity. The improved construction of the grid and the method of moving the transverse'walls relative to the longitudinal wall thereof is such that only a force sufficient to release two ice blocks therefrom is required during the entire progressive,

operation to release all of the blocks. Thus ob- J'ections to prior devices wherein utmost effort is required to exert sufficient force to effect release of the ice blocks has been overcome in my improved device and release of ice blocks therefrom can be readily effected by the housewife without difiiculty. Single pairs or a plurality of pairs of ice blocks can be removed from my improved device as desired while I have at the same time provided for the repositioning of the grid, together with ice blocks permitted to remain therein, into the tray and the replacement of the contents of the tray in or on the cooling element for future harvesting of the remainder of the ice blocks therefrom. In the construction disclosed I have provided a single lever which is operable, in the same direction and with a single continued motion, to carry out two functions in the harvesting of blocks of ice from a tray in which they are frozen.

While the form of embodiment of the 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 apparatus for liquids comprising in combination, a tra having a grid structure removably disposed therein, said grid structure including a longitudinal wall and a plurality of walls extending transversely to said longitudinal wall in spaced apart relation along the length thereof and dividing the interior of the tray into a plurality of ice block compartments, said transverse walls being movably attached to said grid structure, means for elevating said grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray, and means for en-' gaging and applying force to each of said transverse walls to cause movement thereof lengthwise of said longitudinal wall to break the bond between the ice blocks and said grid walls.

2. A freezing apparatus for liquids comprising in combination, a tray having a grid structure removably disposed therein, said grid structure including a longitudinal wall and a plurality of walls extending transversely to said longitudinal wall in spaced apart relation along the length thereof and dividing the interior of the tray into a plurality of ice block compartments, said transverse walls being movably attached to said grid structure, means for elevating said grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray, and means for engaging and applying force to each of said transverse walls to cause movement thereof relative to said longitudinal wall progressively from one portion to another portion of said structure to break the bond between the ice blocks and said grid walls.

3. A freezing apparatus for liquids comprising in combination, a tray having a grid structure removably disposed therein, said grid structure including a longitudinal wall and a plurality of walls extending transversely to said longitudinal wall in spaced apart relation along the length thereof and dividing the interior of the tray into a plurality of ice block compartments, said transverse walls being movably attached to said grid structure, means for elevating said grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray, and means for engaging and applying force to each of said transverse walls to cause movement thereof lengthwise of said longitudinal wall progressively from one end to the other end of said structure to break the bond between the ice blocks and said grid walls.

4. The combination with a tray adapted to contain a substance to be frozen, of a grid structure normally positioned in the tray and having a longitudinal wall and a plurality of transverse walls dividing the interior of the tray into a plurality of compartments, means carried by said grid and disposed in a position to exert a force against the tray to thereby move the grid together with frozen substance adhering thereto relative to the tray, and means associated with and operable by said first named means for engaging and moving each of said transverse walls lengthwise of the longitudinal wall to thereby release the frozen substance from the grid.

5. The combination with a tray adapted to contain a substance to be frozen, of a grid structure normally positioned in the tray and having a longitudinal wall and a plurality of transverse walls dividing the interior of the tray into a plurality of compartments, means carried by said grid and disposed in a position to exert a force against the tray to thereby move the grid together with frozen substance adhering thereto relative to the tray, and means associated with and operable by said first named means for enmovably disposed therein, said grid structure including a vertically disposed longitudinal wall and a plurality of vertically disposed single walls extending transversely to said longitudinal wall in spaced apart relation along the length thereof and dividing the tray into a plurality of ice block compartments, said single transverse walls being movably attached to said grid structure, means for elevating said grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray,- and means for moving said transverse walls relative to said longitudinal wall progressively from one portion to another portion of said grid structure to break the bond between the ice blocks and said grid walls.

7. In a device of the character described, a continuous one-piece rigid longitudinal wall and a plurality of spaced apart walls extending transversely to and along the length of said longitudinal wall, said walls defining rows of compartments on each side of said longitudinal wall, said transverse walls being mounted for sliding movement relative to said longitudinal wall, and an element for engaging and sliding said transverse walls lengthwise of said longitudinal wall.

8. The combination with a tray adapted to contain a substance to be frozen, of a grid structure normally positioned in. the tray and having a longitudinal wall and a plurality of transverse walls dividing the interior of the tray into a plurality of compartments, a lever carried by said grid and disposed in a position to exert a force against the tray to thereby move the grid together with frozen substance adhering thereto relative to the tray, means associated withand operable by said lever for engaging and moving each of said transverse walls relative to the longitudinal wall progressively from one end to the other end of the grid structure to thereby release the frozen substance therefrom, and a toggle connection between said lever and said means for holding the lever in its normal non-operative position.

9. The combination with a tray adapted to contain a substance to be frozen, of a grid struc- \ture normally positioned in the tray and having a longitudinal wall and a plurality of transverse walls dividing the interior of the tray into a plurality of compartments, a lever carried by said grid and disposed in a position to exert a force against the tray to thereby move the grid together with frozen substance adhering thereto relative to the tray, means associated with and operable by said lever for engaging and moving each of said transverse walls lengthwise of the longitudinal wall of the grid structure to thereby release the frozen substance therefrom, and a toggle connection between said lever and said means for holding the lever in its normal non-operative position.

10. A freezing apparatus for liquids comprising in combination, a tray having a grid structure removably disposed therein, said grid structure including a longitudinal wall and a plurality of walls extending transversely to said longitudinal wall in spaced apart relation along the lengtn thereof and dividing the interior of the tray into a plurality of ice block compartments, means 10 for elevating said grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray, means traversing all of said transverse walls and being engageable therewith to movably secure same to said grid structure, and means connecting said two means together whereby operation of said first named means actuates said second named means to move said transverse walls relative to said longitudinal wall progressively from one end to the other end of said grid structure to break thenbond between the ice blocks and said grid wa s.

11. A freezing apparatus for liquids comprising in combination, a tray having a grid structure removably disposed therein, said grid structure ineluding a longitudinal wall and a plurality of walls extending transversely to said longitudinal wall in spaced apart relation along the length thereof and dividing the interior of the tray into a plurality of ice block compartments, means for elevating said grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray, means lying over said longitudinal wall and having a portion thereof engageable with each of said transverse walls adjacent the point of intersection of said walls for movably securing the transverse walls to the grid structure, and means connecting said two means together whereby operation of said first named means actuates said second named means to move said transverse walls lengthwise of said longitudinal wall of said grid structure to break the bond between the ice blocks and said *grld walls.

12. A freezing apparatus for liquids comprising in combination, a tray having a grid structure removably disposed therein, said grid structure including a longitudinal wall and a plurality of walls extending transversely to said longitudinal wall in-spaced apart relation along the length there-' of and dividing the interior of the tray. into a plurality of ice block compartments, means for elevating said grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray, means lying over said longitudinal wall and having a portion thereof engageable with each of said transverse walls adjacent the point of intersection of said walls for movably securing the transverse walls to the grid structure, and means connecting said two means together whereby operation of said first named means actuates said'second named means to move said transverse walls relative to said longitudinal wall progressively from one end to the other end of said grid structure to break the bond between the ice blocks and said grid walls.

13. The combination with a tray of aunitary grid structure normally positioned in the tray and having a plurality of interlocked walls of single thickness dividing the interior of the tray into a plurality of ice block compartments, certain of said grid walls being movable relative to another wall thereof, a lever having a single direction of motion carried 'byv said grid structure, and means cooperating with said lever for engaging and moving certain of the movable walls of said unitary grid structure in succession relative to said another 'wall thereof to release ice blocks from the grid.

14. The combination with a tray adapted to contain a substance to be frozen, of a grid structure normally positioned in the tray and having a plurality of walls dividing the interior of the tray into rows of compartments, certain of said grid walls being movable relative to another. wall thereof, and a lever having a. single direction of motion carried by said grid structure for elevating the grid together with frozen substance adhering thereto relative to the tray and for moving the movable walls of said grid structure lengthwise of the other wall thereof to release the frozen substance from the gridafter same has been elevated relative to the tray.

15. In a device of the character described, a partition extending longitudinally of the device ,and a plurality of spaced apart partitions extending transversely to and along the length of said longitudinal partition, said transverse partitions forming walls of compartments on each side of said longitudinal partition, said transverse partitions being mounted for sliding movement relative to said longitudinal partition, and an element for engaging, progressively from one end to the other end of the device, and imparting a sliding movement to said transverse partitions lengthwise of said longitudinal partition.

16. In a device of the character described, a mold element comprising a supporting member and a plurality of transverse members mounted for lce-dislodging movement thereon, and leveractuated mechanism for imparting ice-dislodging movement to the plurality of members and acting thereon to hold the same against relative movement in theinactive position of the lever.

17. A metallic unitary grid structure for disposition in a freezing tray and removabletherefrom as a unit, said grid structure including a substantially inflexible metal longitudinal partition wall and a plurality of separate substantially inflexible metallic cross walls spaced lengthwise alon said longitudinal wall, said cross walls being movably mounted upon and interlocked with the longitudinal wall and extending continuously in a straight line plane on both sides of said longitudinal wall through the plane of said longitudinal wall, said cross walls and said longitudinal wall cooperating with each other to form a plurality of the grid structure, said last named means in-' cluding means having a portion engaging and moving a wall of each ice block compartment relative to the remaining walls of each compartment, said movement taking place progressively along the length of said longitudinal wall strucice block compartments on opposite sides of said longitudinal wall, said mounting of the cross walls on said longitudinal wall permitting movement of said cross walls in a direction lengthwise of said longitudinal wall, and means carried by the grid structure for moving the cross walls lengthwise of the longitudinal wall.

18. The combination including an ice tray, a removable grid positioned therein, said grid including a substantially inflexible metal longitudi nal partition and a plurality of substantially inflexible cross walls loosely mounted upon and interlocked with the longitudinal partition, said cross walls being spaced along the length Of the longitudinal partition and said cross walls extending continuously in a straight line plane on both sides of said longitudinal partition through the plane of the longitudinal partition to form a row of ice cube compartments on either side of said longitudinal partition, and means carried by the grid structure for elevating the grid together with the ice adhering thereto relative to the tray and for moving the movable walls of said grid structure relative to the longitudinal partition wall to release the ice from the grid after the grid and ice have been elevated relative to the tray, said last named means including an operating handle movable in the same direction to both elevate the grid and ice from the tray and to release the ice from the grid.

19. A metallic grid structure for disposition in a freezing tray and removable therefrom as a unit, said grid structure comprising a longitudinal wall structure and a plurality of separate ture.

20. A grid for an ice tray including a substantially inflexible metal longitudinal wall structure including a lower partition member and an upper operating member movable relative thereto, a plurality of substantially inflexible metal cross walls loosely mounted upon and interlocked with said longitudinal wall structure, said cross walls being spaced lengthwise along said longitudinal wall structure and extending continuously on both sides of said longitudinal. wall structure through the plane thereof to form a row of ice cube compartments on either side of the longitudinal wall structure, said upper operating member having formed therein a plurality of slots embracing the upper edges of said cross members, means for moving said operating member relative to and lengthwise of said lower partition member to cause the side walls of the notches to engage and move said cross walls lengthwise of said lower partition member, said last named means including an operating handle carried by the said grid.

21. A grid for an ice tray including a substantiall inflexible metal longitudinal wall structure including a lower partition member and an upper operating member movable relative thereto, a plurality of substantially inflexible metal cross walls loosely mounted upon and interlocked with said longitudinal wall structure, said cross walls being spaced lengthwise along said longitudinal wall structure and extending continuously on both sides of said longitudinal wall structure through the plane thereof to form a row of ice cube compartments on either side of the longitudinal wall structure, said upper operating member having formed therein a plurality of slots embracing the upper edges of said cross members, the width of said slots increasing from end to end of the operating member, means for moving said operating member relative to and lengthwise of said lower partition member to cause the side walls or the notches to progressively engage and progressively move said cross walls lengthwise of said lower partition member, said last named means including an operating handle carried by the said grid.

22. An ice cube tray organization including a tray and a grid removably disposed therein, said grid comprising a longitudinal member composed .of a plurality of relatively movable longitudinal sections lying in substantially the same vertical plane and a series of spaced substantially rigid transverse fins mounted in slots on a longitudinal section but loose with respect to all of said sections and so associated therewith that said fins may move pivotally with relation to all of tion of a tray, a grid within the tray for dividing said tray into a plurality of cells for forming ice cubes, said grid including a longitudinally extending divider member having a plurality of notches formed along one of the horizontally positioned edges thereof, a plurality of transverse dividers each having a portion extending in a notch of the longitudinal divider and portions extending on opposite sides of said longitudinal divider but spaced therefrom to permit relative movement between the longitudinal and transverse dividers, and means adapted for engaging the upper portion of the transverse dividers for moving same longitudinally to the longitudinal divider by tilting the upper portion of the transverse divider toward the cube adhered thereto to free the cube therefrom. a

'24. A unitary grid structure for disposition in a freezing tray and removable therefrom' as ,a unit, said grid structure comprising a substantially non-flexible longitudinal wall member and a plurality of substantially non-flexible wall members extending laterally from said longitudinal wall member and being interlocked therewith to form a plurality of ice block compartments, means for moving said laterally extending walls lengthwise of said longitudinal wall, .and said means being so constructed and arranged as to prevent initial simultaneous movement of said laterally extending walls and to cause said move-. ment thereof to be progressive from one portion to another portion of said unitary structure.

25. A grid structure for disposition in a freezing tray and removable therefrom as a unit, said unitary grid structure comprising a wall extending longitudinally of a tray and a plurality of walls carried by and extending transversely of said longitudinal wall to form within the tray rows of ice block compartments, and a longitudinally extending member longitudinally slldable and carried by the upper portion of said unitary removable grid for breaking a bon between ice blocks and the compartment walls.

26. A grid structure for disposition in a freezing tray and removable therefrom as a unit, said unitary grid structure comprising a wall extending longitudinally of a tray and a plurality of walls carried by and extending transversely of said longitudinal wall to form within the tray rows of ice block compartments, and a member carried by the upper portion of said longitudinal wall and longitudinall slidable therealong for breaking a bond between ice blocks and the compartment walls.

2'7. A unitary grid structure for disposition in a freezing tray and removable therefrom as a unit, said grid structure comprising a longitudinal wall member and a plurality of spaced apart separate and independent one-piece transverse wall members extending through the plane of said longitudinal wall member and being movably interlocked therewith to form a permanent unitary grid structure providing rows of ice block compartments, and mechanism for moving said transverse wall members relative to and in a direction paralleling the extension of said longitudinal wall member, said mechanism including means for moving said transverse wall members one by one in succession from a portion to another portion of said unitary structure.

DONALD H. REEVES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: