US2995267A - Ice bucket - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 8, 1961 R. K. osTRANDER, JR 2,995,267

ICE BUCKET Filed June 9, 1959 IN VEN TOR.

United ,States Patent O Texas Filed June 9, 1959, Ser. No. 819,084 1 Claim. (Cl. 220-9) This invention is in the eld of containers and is concerned with plastic containers. The invention may be used as an ice bucket in that it relates to a double walled container with a spacing or air gap between the walls as an insulating medium.

A primary object of the invention is an all-plastic ice bucket which does not require yany fibrous mats, such as Fiberglas or the like, as its insulating material.

Another object is an ice bucket which is made in two parts or sections and thereafter sealed together, preferably by a heat seal.

Another object is an all-plastic ice bucket with excellent insul-ating properties.

Another object is an all-plastic ice bucket which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object is a plastic ice bucket that may be injection molded, vacuum formed, press formed or otherwise.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the ensuing speciiication and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of -the ice bucket;

FIGiURE 2 is an axial section with the parts separated or exploded; and

FIGURE 3 is an axial section, like FIGURE 2, with the parts together.

In FIGURE 1 the ice bucket has been indicated generally at and includes, as shown in FIGURE 2, a bottom 12 and a top 14. These two parts are both made entirely of plastic and the bottom 12 is shown in a cuplike `formation with a generally attened lower surface 16 and side walls 18 diverging upwardly somewhat and rising to an upper peripheral free edge 20.

'I'he top 14 has a central depression 22 which may have a somewhat rounded bottom 24 and generally cylindrical side walls 26 rising to a rolled over or outwardly formed upper smooth edge 28. From the upper edge an integral skirt 30 depends and terminates at a peripheral free edge 32.

It will be noted that the skirt 30 is -in annular spaced relation at all points to the side wall 26 of the depression so that a predetermined gap or air space exists between these surfaces or walls.

The upper free edge 20 of the bottom 12 is circular and has a predetermined diameter. The lower free edge 32 of the skirt on the -top 14 is also circular and has a corresponding diameter. These diameters should be the same so that, in manufacture, the two edges 20 and 32 may be brought together and heat sealed as at 33. For example, these two parts might be sealed by the procedure shown in 1U.S. Patent 2,597,704, or any suitable sealing procedure might be used.

The iinal product is shown in FIGURE 3 and it will be noted that the side wall 18 of the bottom forms a continuation of the skirt 30 and provides a uniform and continuous annular spacing from the depression 22 at all points. It will also be noted in FIGURE 2 that the top is constructed so that the bottom 24 of the depression 22 extends axially beyond or below the peripheral free edge 3,2. Thus, when the free edges 20 and 3-2 are brought together, lthe depressions bottom 24 extends down into the cuplike bottom 12.

I prefer that the interior of the ice bucket, when assembled as shown in FIGiURE 3, be left totally vacant so that the air gap or continuous spacing between the walls will function as a heat transfer barrier. While I prefer to leave this space without insulation, under certain circumstances and in certain applications it might be tlled with a suitable insulation, for example, berglass or glass wool. But, in any event, la thermal compartment is created.

The construction is such that the inner portion, which holds the ice cubes or liuids or whatever the container is used for, is insulated from the outer shell. In the event insulation is to be inserted in the unit, it can be easily put in place before the two halves are brought together and heat sealed.

The two parts or halves of the Ibucket might be injection molded, vacuum formed, press formed or otherwise. The particular procedure for making these two halves is not important. But Iit is signilicant that the two halves are each of a shape and structure such that they can each or both be made by any well known molding procedure. No complicated or fancy techniques are required.

The use, operation and function of my invention are as follows:

I provide an ice bucket that is preferably al1-plastic. The bucket is made in two parts and each part may' be injection molded, vacuum formed, press formed or otherwise. I provide a dishlike bottom which has an upper peripheral free edge with a diameter roughly the same as the diameter of the free edge of the depending skirt on the top part. The center of the top part is depressed or countersunk and extends down below the free edge of the skirt a substantial .axial distance. The depressed portion 24 of the depression 22 that extends beyond the free edge 32 of the skirt is related to the depth of the dish or bottom 12. When the two parts are brought together, the countersunk portion will extend down into the dish only so far and a continuous air gap or heat transfer barrier will be provided.

The unit may have any type of handle construction which may be suitably attached to the outside. A top may or may not be provided, as desired. I have shown the bottom somewhat flattened, as at 16, so that the unit will sit upright on a flat surface but a cage or stand might be provided to support it.

In any event, the ice bucket is extremely inexpensive since the two parts, while made entirely of plastic, are each simple and require no ditlicult or tricky manufacturing procedure. The parts may be brought together and the peripheral free edges heat sealed or otherwise sealed, as desired. I prefer that the seal be continuous and impervious so that when the bucket is washed, the inside will not fill up with water.

While I have shown and described the preferred form and suggested variations of my invention, it should be understood that suitable additional modications, changes, substitut-ions and alterations may be made without departing from lthe inventions `fundamental theme. I, therefore, wish that the invention be unrestricted except as by the appended claim.

I claim:

In a container for use as an ice bucket or the like, a plastic bottom in the form of a concave dish with an outer wall rising a substantial distance above a somewhat flattened lower surface, said outer wall aring outwardly from a predetermined diameter adjacent said lower surface and terminating in an upper otherwise free edge with a predetermined substantially larger diameter, and a plastic top having a centrally located countersunk downwardly concave depression, the upper edge of which is formed outwardly and over smoothly on a generally constant radius flowing into a depending skirt in annular spaced relation to the side wall of the depression at all points,

3 Y 4 said skirt flaring outwardly in increasing diameter and ous seal, the outer surfaces of the free edges being smooth terminating in a lower otherwise free edge spaced genen and uninterrupted. ally midway between the upper edge and the lower point of said depression, the free edge ofthe skirt having a diam- References cned m the me of this Patent eter substantially the same as said predetermined larger 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS diameter, the free edges of the top and bottom being 2,533,524 Joseph Jan. 15, 1951 sealed together to provide a continuous annular impervi- 2,637,182 Davis May 5 1953

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