US3147603A - Ice block service unit - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8, 1964 w. G. KNIFFIN ICE BLOCK SERVICE UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1962 a a. hll"- Attorney m WW mm 0 J f m w t Y B ll 07. 2 x mm m (\i B m. mm mm m 3 i; n t

Sept. 8, 1964 w. G. KNlFFlN ICE BLOCK SERVICE UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25, 1962 INVENTOR. Walter G. Km'ffih @ut fir,

His Attorney Sept. 8, 1964 w. G. KNIFFlN ICE BLOCK SERVICE UNIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 25, 1962 INVENTOR. Walter G. Kniff/h His Attorney United States Patent 3,147,603 ICE BLOCK SERVIQE UNIT Walter G. Knitfin, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed June 25, 1952, Ser. No. 204,812 11 Claims. (Cl. 62-344) This invention relates to refrigeration and particularly to a portable ice block service unit or element adapted to be inserted or/ and removed from a freezing chamber of a refrigerator cabinet.

The advent of portable ice block storage receptacles or buckets upon which a tray and grid type freezing device is invertedly placed, either within a chamber of a refrigerator cabinet or outside of and remote from the refrigerator, and from which ice blocks are then released into the receptacles for serving of the blocks therefrom have been generally approved by the public. For example, an ice block service arrangement as disclosed in the V. G. Sharpe Patent No. 2,835,113, dated May 20, 1958, has been incorporated in refrigerators sold and used in homes for the past several years. However, such innovations are not entirely satisfactory and some objections thereto have arisen in their use. Users of these arrangements complain of the necessity of handling a plurality of elements thereof such as separately removing an ice block storage receptacle and an ice tray from a freezing chamber of a refrigerator cabinet, bringing the tray into association with the removed receptacle in order to release ice blocks from the tray thereinto, thereafter reinserting a partially filled receptacle in the chamber and individually refilling the tray with water to again place it within the chamber. This act of harvesting ice blocks is a tedious task requiring the operator to handle several different elements of an ice block service arrangement before completing same. I, therefore, contemplate the easing of such task and reducing time required to perform it by the provision of a unitary portable element in which ice blocks are both frozen therein and ejected for harvest therefrom.

An object of my invention is to provide a unitary portable element for use in conjunction with a below 32 F. temperature of a chamber of a refrigerator cabinet having incorporated in the element an ice block freezing portion, an ice block releasing means and an ice block storage portion for the harvest of freed ice blocks therefrom.

Another object of my invention is to provide a portable combined ice block service element to be handled as a unit consisting of an ice block freezing member or device and an ice storage member or receptacle with the members of the combined unit movable relative to one another while inseparably connected together for ejecting ice blocks from the device into the receptacle.

A further object of my invention is to provide an ice block service unit having means combined in the unit for freezing ice blocks therein and for releasing ice blocks therefrom into a storage receptacle portion thereof which unit is adapted to be inserted in a freezing chamber of a refrigerator cabinet and is removable from the chamber with component members thereof movable with respect to each other when removed from the chamber to carry out the ice block releasing operation.

In carrying out the foregoing objects it is a still further and more specific object of my invention to inseparably connect one end of a tray and grid type freezing device to an end of an ice storage receptacle for swinging movement upwardly of the receptacle and for rotation 180 with respect thereto to ready the device for return swinging movement in an inverted position downwardly toward the receptacle whereby a means in the combined element 3,147,603 Patented Sept. 8, 1964 which is ineffective during upward swinging of the device is rendered effective by rotating the freezing device relative to the receptacle for causing when the device is swung toward same tilting of walls of the grid within the tray to eject ice blocks therefrom into the storage receptacle.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a multiple chambered household refrigerator cabinet with its main door open and a part of an auxiliary inner freezing chamber door broken away showing a unitary combined portable element of the present invention located in the freezing chamber;

FIGURE 2 is a side view partly in section of the element of my invention taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 showing the freezing device portion thereof in an upright ice block freezing position;

FIGURE 3 is a broken top plan view of the element shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view of the element with its freezing device portion swung upwardly of the ice storage receptacle portion thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 showing in dot-dash lines the freezing device portion of the element rotated with respect to the ice storage receptacle portion thereof and showing the freezing device swung in an inverted position down upon the receptacle with ice blocks ejected from the device thereinto; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 4 showing a connection of the freezing device portion of the element with a swivel stud secured to the receptacle thereof.

Referring to the drawings, for illustrating my invention, there is shown in FIGURE 1 thereof a refrigerating apparatus including an insulated household refrigerator cabinet 10 of the multiple chamber type in conjunction with which my unitary portable element is to be used. Cabinet 10 is provided with a lower unfrozen food storage chamber 11 which is cooled to a temperature of say, for example, between 37 and 43 F. by a plate-like sheet metal refrigerant evaporator 12 of a closed refrigerating system (not shown) associated with the cabinet. Evaporator 12 is secured to and spaced from the rear wall of chamber 11 behind a concealing cover or bafile 13. Cabinet 10 is also provided with an upper frozen food storage chamber 14 which is cooled to a temperature well below 32 F. for freezing foods and/or water in freezing devices, removably disposed in chamber 14, into ice blocks for table use in chilling salads or the like and drinks in glasses. Chamber 14 is cooled to a below freezing temperature by another refrigerant evaporator 15 of the refrigerating system associated with cabinet 10. The evaporator 15 is in the form of a conduit coiled or wrapped around the outer surface of and secured in metal-to-metal contact with a metallic can-like member 16 forming the liner of chamber 14. An auxiliary or inner door 17, shown broken away in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, is hingedly mounted at the front of chamber 14 to provide a closure for the access opening thereof as is conventional in the art. Another larger insulated main cabinet door structure 18 hingedly mounted on cabinet 10' extends across the front of both chambers 11 and 14 and is provided with a resilient gasket 19 for sealingly engaging the front side of the refrigerator cabinet. The construction of cabinet 10 is well known to those skilled in the refrigerator art and needs no further detailed description herein. A single unitary portable element generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 is shown re- 3 movably disposed within chamber 14 of cabinet 11 in FIGURE 1 and it is to be understood that several of these elements may, if desired, be located therein.

In accordance with my invention the element 20 which is adapted to be inserted in and removed from chamber 14 of the refrigerator cabinet serves as an ice block service unit when used in conjunction with the refrigerator and this unit or element is best shown in FIGURES 2 to 5 of the drawings. The unitary portable element comprises an ice block storage receptacle or member 21 and a freezing member or device 22 (see FIGURE 2) supported upon the receptacle member in substantially a horizontal upright position. Receptacle 21 is preferably an open top elongated box-like member constructed of any suitable molded plastic material and the freezing device member 22 normally closes the open top thereof. The freezing member or device portion 22 of element 20 includes a metal tray 23 and a metallic grid structure 25 anchored, by any suitable or conventional means, in the tray against removal therefrom. Grid structure 25 is provided with spaced-apart walls 26 extending transversely across tray 23 and mounted on a two-part longitudinal partition 27 of the grid so as to divide the interior of the tray into a plurality of rows of compartments in which water placed in tray 23 is frozen into separated ice blocks within chamber 14 of the refrigerator cabinet 10. The feature of locking a tiltable walled grid in a tray again-st removal therefrom is not new to me and I may, so far as the present invention is concerned, employ a freezing device of this character shown in several patents. In order to shorten the description herein I may, for example employ a freezing device of the type illustrated and fully described in the patent to A. J. Frei, No. 2,809,499, dated October 15, 1957, with a certain minor modification thereof for rendering it adaptable to the present disclosure.

Means is provided in my invention to inseparably connect one end of the freezing member or device 22 to an end of receptacle member 21 for vertical swinging movement with respect thereto and for rotation of one of these members throughout an arc of 180 relative to the other member in order to carry out the foregoing objects. Thus it is to be noted that the connection between freezing device 22 and receptacle 21 includes a hinge means, a portion of which comprises an extension 31 on one end of the lower part of two-part longitudinal partition 27 of grid structure 25, corresponding to the upwardly raised part of the lower grid wall in the Frei patent herein referred to. This extension 31 projects upwardly out of tray 23 and is pivotally locked, by a pin 32, to the flattened head portion 33 of a stud having a rounded part 34- swivelly or rotatably mounted one end of storage receptacle 21 (see FIGURE 2) and which stud forms the other portion of the hinge means inseparably connecting the freezing device member 22 to the receptacle member of unitary portable element 20. Hinge portion or extension 31, on grid 25, forms a wing or strap while the rotatable stud forms a butt of the hinge in the present disclosure. Head portion 33 of the swivel stud is provided with an elongated arcuate shaped slot 36 having a pin 37, secured to one end of a link 38, slidably disposed therein (see FIGURE 6). The slot 36 is on a radius common to the pivot point of the hinge means or hinge pin 32. Pin 37, slot 36 and the swivel stud, in which slot 36 is located, constitute or provide a cam in the hinge means of the present disclosure and the purpose or function of this cam will hereinafter be described. Link 38 has its other end pivotally attached, by a pin 39, to an end of the upper part or actuating bar of longitudinal partition 27 of grid 25, corresponding to the slidable upper actuating bar in the Frei patent, for causing relative tilting movement of transverse walls 26 of the grid structure within tray 23. The cam in the hinge means of the present disclosure is ineffective to tilt walls 26 of grid 25 during vertical swinging movement of member of freezing device 22 upwardly of receptacle member 21 and is rendered effective to cause relative tilt- 4 ing of these grid walls within tray 23 by rotating device 22 about the swivel stud and in response to swinging the freezing device down toward the open top of receptacle 21 of portable element 20.

Water is placed in the upright tray 23 of freezing device 22 supported on and closing the open top of receptacle 21 of the portable element 21 and then this element is inserted in the freezing chamber 14 of refrigerator cabinet 10 to freeze the water into separated ice blocks within compartments of the freezing device. After the water has been frozen into ice blocks element 20 is removed from chamber 14 of cabinet 10 and supported on a support such as a table top or a kitchen work ledge and the end of freezing device 22, opposite its pivoted or hinged end, is elevated or swung vertically upward of receptacle 21 into a substantially right-angled position with respect thereto as shown in FIGURE 4 of the drawings. During this upward swinging movement of device 22, about the pivot pin 32, pin 37 rigid on link 38 merely glides from one or the lower end to the other or upper end within lost motion slot 35. With freezing device 22 together with ice blocks therein elevated out of receptacle 21 as shown in FIGURE 4 it is now rotated thereabout around rounded mounting portion 34 of the swivel stud in an arc of with respect to the receptacle, as shown by the dot-dash lines in FIGURE 5, to prepare or ready same for a downward return swinging movement in an inverted position toward the open top of ice storage receptacle 21. Here it is to be understood that in order to effect this relative rotation of component members of element 21 either one of the members 21 or 22 may be held stationary while the other is rotated 180 with respect thereto. This rotation revolves rounded portion 34 of the swivel stud or hinge butt about its mounting and pin 37 on link 38 now engages or bears against the other or upper end of slot 36 in head portion 33 of the stud (see FIGURE 4) thus rendering the cam means within the hinge means readied to become effective. With freezing member or device 22 elevated with respect to member or receptacle 21 and rotated 180 relative thereto as shown by the dot-dash lines in FIGURE 5 of the drawings, the device 22 is now to be swung downwardly in an inverted position toward member 21. Swinging of device or member 22 toward receptacle member 21, with pin 37 abutted against the other or upper end of slot 36, causes the cam means in element 20 to pull on lever 38 and consequently the actuating bar part of longitudinal grid partition 27 whereby this bar slides lengthwise of the power part of partition 27 toward the hinged end of device 22 or to the left as viewed in FIGURE 5 of the drawings. This lengthwise movement of upper actuating bar part of longitudinally partition 27 of grid 25 causes the bar to engage the normally inclined transverse grid walls 25 one after another in succession for tilting them relative to one another toward the vertical to progressively loosen ice blocks from walls of freezing device 22 and from walls of grid 25 while simultaneously enlarging the compartments to eject ice blocks out of the freezing device. As freezing device 22 is swung down to near the top of receptacle 21, as shown in FIGURE 5, all of the grid cross walls 26 will be tilted and ice blocks in the device fall from their compartments into the ice storage receptacle of element 211. The ice blocks so ejected from the freezing device may, upon raising one end of device 22 relative to receptacle 21, be served from the ice storage receptacle into glasses or the like while element 20 is removed from chamber 14 and/or when it is located within the chamber. As it becomes desirable to again freeze water in freezing device 22 the device is elevated or swung upwardly of receptacle 21, about the hinge means, and rerotated 180 thereon to render the grid wall tilting cam ineffective and then device 22 is lowered, in an upright position, upon the open top of receptacle 21. Tray 23 is substantially filled with water and portable element or unit 20 is reinserted into chamber 14 of the refrigerator cabinet 10. Receptacle 21 is made larger than is required to receive ice blocks ejected from freezing device 22 at one time for a definite and advantageous purpose in the use of my ice service unit. As it is noticed that ice blocks are frozen in the freezing device 22 within chamber 14 one or more subsequent ice blocks ejection and tray filling operations may, irrespective of whether or not ice blocks have been removed from the receptacle, be periodically carried out so as to permit the building up of a reserve supply or substantial quantity of ice blocks in receptacle 21 for a preplanned tea or the like part.

It should, from the foregoing, be apparent that I have made an improvement in the art by providing an ice service unit in which water is frozen into ice blocks, the ice blocks ejected from the freezing portion or component thereof and in which the ejected ice blocks are stored for harvest from the unit. My invention permits the use of a single element for facilitating production and harvesting of ice blocks while at the same time eliminating the necessity of independently handling a plurality of different elements and bringing these elements into association with one another before ice blocks can be harvested. The improvement of inseparably connecting a freezing device member, ice block releaser and an ice block storage receptacle member together as integer components of a unitary element also prevents any one of several separate elements of an ice service arrangement from being misplaced and difficult to find when it is desired to harvest ice blocks. My invention can be produced at low cost and when used in conjunction with a refrigerator cabinet it eases the task and reduces the time required to perform an ice block releasing, storage and serving operation.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A unitary portable element adapted to be inserted in and removed from a below 32 F. temperature chamber of a refrigerator cabinet comprising in combination:

(a) an ice storage receptacle member and a freezing member supported in substantially a horizontal upright position upon said receptacle member,

(11) said freezing member including a tray for receiving water and a grid structure anchored therein against removal therefrom provided with spacedapart walls tiltable relative to one another dividing the interior of said tray into a plurality of compartments in which the water is to be frozen into separated ice blocks within said chamber,

(0) means inseparably connecting said freezing member to said receptacle member for vertical swinging movement with respect thereto and for rotation of said members relative to one another,

(d) said freezing member together with ice blocks therein being, when said element is removed from said chamber, swingable upward of said receptacle member,

(e) one of said members being rotatable 180 around said connecting means relative to the other of said members after swinging the freezing member upwardly of the receptacle member so as to ready said freezing member for return swinging movement in an inverted position downwardly toward the receptacle member, and

(f) means in said unitary element rendered effective only by rotation of the members thereof for causing, when said freezing member is swung down toward the receptacle member, said relative tilting of walls of said grid structure within said tray to eject ice blocks from their compartments into said ice storage receptacle member.

2. A unitary portable element adapted to be inserted in and removed from a below 32 F. temperature chamber of a refrigerator cabinet comprising in combination:

(a) an ice storage receptacle and a freezing device supported in a substantially horizontal-upright position upon said receptacle,

([2) said freezing device including a tray for receiving water and a grid structure anchored therein against removal therefrom provided with spacedapart walls tiltable relative to one another dividing the interior of said tray into a plurality of compantments in which the water is to be frozen into separated ice blocks within said chamber,

(0) means inseparably connecting said freezing device to said ice storage receptacle for vertical swinging movement in one direction with respect thereto and for rotation thereabout in another direction,

(d) said freezing device together with ice blocks therein being, when said element is removed from said chamber, swingable upward of said receptacle and thence rotatable thereon relative thereto while holding the receptacle stationary so as to ready the device for return swinging movement in an inverted position downwardly toward the receptacle, and

(2) means in said unitary element rendered effective only by rotating said device on said receptacle for causing said relative tilting of walls of said grid structure within said tray in response to swinging the freezing device down toward the receptacle to eject ice blocks from their compartments into said ice storage receptacle.

3. A unitary portable element adapted to be inserted in and removed from a below 32 F. temperature chamber of a refrigerator cabinet comprising in combination:

(a) an ice storage receptacle member and a freezing member supported in substantially a horizontal upright position upon said receptacle member,

(b) said freezing member including a tray for receiving water and a grid structure anchored therein against removal therefrom provided with spaced apart walls tiltable relative to one another dividing the interior of said tray into a plurality of compartments in which the water is to be frozen into separated ice blocks within said chamber,

(0) hinge means pivotally mounted on one of said members inseparably connecting the members together for vertical swinging movement of said freezing member with respect to said receptacle member and for rotation of said members relative to one another,

(d) said freezing member together with ice blocks therein being, when said element is removed from said chamber, swingable upward of said receptacle member,

(e) said freezing member being rotatable 180 around the pivotal mounting of said hinge means relative to said receptacle member after swingingthe freezing member upwardly of the receptacle member whereby to ready said freezing member for return swinging movement in an inverted position downwardly toward said receptacle member,

( cam means incorporated in said hinge means, and

(g) said 0am means being rendered effective by rotating the pivotal mount of said hinge means on said one member as the freezing member is rotated for causing, when said freezing member is swung down toward the receptacle member, said relative tilting of walls of said grid structure within said tray to eject ice blocks from their compartments into said ice storage receptacle member.

4. A unitary portable element adapted to be inserted in and removed from a below 32 F. temperature chamber of a refrigerator cabinet comprising in combination:

(a) an ice storage receptacle and a freezing device supported in a substantially horizontal upright position upon said receptacle,

(b) said freezing device including a tray for receiving water and a grid structure anchored therein against removal therefrom provided with spaced-apart walls tiltable relative to one another dividing the interior of said tray into a plurality of compartments in which the water is to be frozen into separated ice blocks within said chamber,

() hinge means pivotally mounted on the receptacle inseparably connecting the freezing device to said receptacle for vertical swinging movement in one direction with respect thereto and for rotation thereabout in another direction,

(d) said freezing device together with ice blocks therein being, when said element is removed from said chamber, swingable upward of said receptacle in said one direction and thence rotatable 180 thereon relative thereto in said another direction to ready the device for return swinging movement in an inverted position downwardly toward the receptacle,

(e) cam means incorporated in said hinge means, and

(7) said cam means being rendered effective only by rotating the pivotal mount of said hinge means on said receptacle as the freezing device is rotated for causing, when said device is swung down toward the receptacle, said relative tilting of Walls of said grid within said tray to eject ice blocks from their compartments into the ice storage receptacle.

5. A unitary portable element adapted to be inserted in and removed from a below 32 F. temperature chamber of a refrigerator cabinet comprising in combination:

(a) an elongated open top ice storage receptacle member and a freezing member supported in substantially a horizontal upright position on said receptacle member normally closing the open top thereof,

(b) said freezing member including an elongated tray for receiving water and a grid structure anchored therein against removal therefrom provided with spaced-apart walls tiltable relative to one another dividing the interior of said tray into a plurality of compartments in which the water is to be frozen into separated ice blocks within said chamber,

(0) means inseparably connecting one end of said freezing member to an end portion of said receptacle member for vertical swinging movement with respect thereto and for rotation of said members relative to each other,

(d) said one end of said freezing member together with ice blocks therein being, when said element is removed from said chamber, swingable upward about said connecting means of said receptacle member for opening the top thereof,

(e) one of said members being rotatable 180 around said connecting means relative to the other of said members after swinging said freezing member upwardly of said receptacle member to ready the freezing member for return swinging movement in an inverted position downwardly toward said open top of the receptacle member, and

(f) means in said connection rendered effective solely by the rotation of said members for causing, when said freezing member is swung down toward the receptacle member, said relative tilting of walls of said grid structure within said tray to eject ice blocks out of their compartments into said ice storage receptacle member.

6. A unitary portable element adapted to be inserted in and removed from a below 32 F. temperature chamber of a refrigerator cabinet comprising in combination:

(a) an elongated open top ice storage receptacle member and a freezing member supported in substantially a horizontal upright position on said receptacle member normally closing the open top thereof,

(b) said freezing member including an elongated tray for receiving water and a grid structure anchored therein against removal therefrom provided with spaced-apart Walls tiltable relative to one another dividing the interior of said tray into a plurality of compartments in which the 'water is to be frozen into separated ice blocks within said chamber,

(c) hinge means having a swivel mounting on one of said members inseparably connecting ends of the members together for vertical swinging movement of said freezing member with respect to said receptacle member and for rotation of said members relative to one another,

(d) one end of said freezing member together with ice blocks therein being, when said element is removed from said chamber, swingable upward about said hinge means of said receptacle member for opening the top thereof,

(c) said freezing member being rotatable around the swivel mounting of said hinge means relative to the other of said members after swinging the freezing member upward of said receptacle member to ready said freezing member for return swinging movement in an inverted position downwardly toward said open top of the receptacle member,

(f) cam means incorporated in said hinge means ineffective during swinging of said one end of the freezing member upwardly of said receptacle member to tilt said grid walls, and

(g) said cam means being rendered effective by rotating the freezing member and said swivel mounting of the hinge means around said receptacle member for causing, when said freezing member is swung down toward said open top of the receptacle member, said relative tilting of walls of said grid structure within said tray to eject ice blocks from their compartments into said ice storage receptacle member.

7. A unitary portable element adapted to be inserted in and removed from a below 32 F. temperature chamber of a refrigerator cabinet comprising in combination:

(a) an elongated open top ice storage receptacle and a freezing device supported in substantially a horizontal upright position on said receptacle normally closing the open top thereof,

(b) said freezing device including an elongated tray for receiving water and a grid structure anchored therein against removal therefrom and provided with spaced-apart walls tiltable relative to one another dividing the interior of said tray into a plurality of compartments in which the water is to be frozen into separated ice blocks within said chamber,

(0) hinge means having a swivel mounting on said receptacle inseparably connecting an end of said freezing device to an end of the receptacle for vertical swinging movement with respect thereto and for subsequent rotation of the freezing device relative to said receptacle,

(d) the end opposite said hinged end of said freezing device together with ice blocks therein being, when said element is removed from said chamber, swingable upward about said hinge means of said receptacle for opening the top thereof,

(e) said freezing device being rotatable 180 around the swivel mounting of said hinge means relative to said receptacle after swinging the freezing device upward of the receptacle to ready said freezing device for return swinging movement in an inverted position downwardly toward said open top of the receptacle,

(f) a cam incorporated in the swivel mounting of said hinge means ineffective during swinging of said freezing device upwardly of said receptacle to tilt said grid walls, and

(g) said cam being rendered effective by rotating the freezing device and said swivel mounting of the hinge means around said receptacle for causing, when said freezing device is swung down toward said open top of the receptacle, said relative tilting of walls of said grid structure within said tray to eject ice blocks from their compartments into said ice storage receptacle.

8. A portable unit for use in the refrigeration art adapted to be inserted in and removed from a below 32 F. temperature chamber of a refrigerator cabinet comprising:

(a) an ice storage receptacle member,

(b) a freezing member in which water is frozen into ice blocks,

() a hinge inseparably connecting said freezing member to said receptacle member and forming therewith integer components of said portable unit,

(d) said freezing member being swingable upwardly and downwardly of the receptacle member about said hinge while they are connected together,

(e) a portion of said hinge being rotatably mounted on one of said members whereby the members are rotatable 180 with respect to one another after swinging said freezing member upwardly to ready same for a downward return swinging movement in an inverted position toward said receptacle member, and

(1) means incorporated in said portion of said hinge rendered effective by the rotation of said members and responsive to swinging said freezing member down toward the receptacle member for ejecting ice blocks out of the inverted freezing member into said ice storage receptacle member of the portable unit.

9. A portable unit for use in the refrigeration art adapted to be inserted into and removed from a below 32 F. temperature chamber of a refrigerator cabinet comprising:

(a) an ice storage receptacle member,

(b) a freezing member in which water is frozen into ice blocks inseparably connected to said receptacle member and forming therewith integer components of said portable unit,

(0) ice block ejecting means incorporated in said unit,

(d) said freezing member being swingable upwardly of said receptacle member while the members are connected together,

(e) said means being inelfective during the upward swinging movement of said freezing member,

(i) one of said members of said unit being after swinging said freezing member upward rotatable 180 relative to the other member thereof for rendering said means effective,

(g) said freezing member then being swingable downwardly toward said receptacle member, and

(It) said means being responsive to the downward i swinging movement of said freezing member for ejecting ice blocks therefrom into said ice storage receptacle member of the portable unit.

10. A portable unit for insertion into and removal from a below 32 F. temperature chamber of a refrigerator cabinet comprising:

(a) an ice storage receptacle member and a tray member including a connection element for directly and inseparably connecting the receptacle member and the tray member whereby said tray member is at all times portaged with said receptacle member,

(1')) said connection affording swinging movements of said members in a plurality of different directions relative to one another,

(0) said tray member having walls defining compartments therein adapted to receive water to be frozen into ice blocks within said chamber when said tray member is in one position above said ice receptacle member,

(d) means on said unit for ejecting ice blocks out of compartments of said tray member into said receptacle member, and

(e) said means being rendered effective only in response to a predetermined swinging movement for inverting said tray member with respect to said receptacle member.

11. A portable unit for insertion into and removal from a below 32 F. temperature chamber of a refrigerator cabinet comprising:

(a) an open top ice storage receptacle member and a combined cover and tray member including a connection element for directly and inseparably connecting the receptacle member and the tray member whereby said combined member is at all times portaged with said receptacle member,

(12) said connection affording swinging movement of said members in a plurality of diiferent directions relative to one another,

(0) said combined member of said unit normally closing the open top of said receptacle member,

(d) said tray of said combined member having walls defining compartments therein adapted to receive water while the combined member closes the open top of said receptacle member to be frozen into ice blocks within said chamber,

(8) means on said unit for ejecting ice blocks out of compartments of said combined member into said storage receptacle member through the open top thereof, and

(1) said means being rendered effective after said combined member has been swung to uncover the open top of said receptacle member in response to another swinging and rotary movement thereof toward the top of the receptacle member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,954,235 Becker et al Apr. 10, 1934 2,697,918 Comstock Dec. 28, 1954 2,835,113 Sharpe May 20, 1958 2,846,855 Frei Aug. 12, 1958 2,867,995 Weinrich Jan. 13, 1959 2,895,312 Frei et al. July 21, 1959 2,899,804 Carew Aug. 18, 1959 2,967,407 Melikian Jan. 10, 1961; 2,981,080 Koch Apr. 25, 1961

Claims (1)

10. A PORTABLE UNIT FOR INSERTION INTO AND REMOVAL FROM A BELOW 32* F. TEMPERATURE CHAMBER OF A REFRIGERATOR CABINET COMPRISING: (A) AN ICE STORAGE RECEPTACLE MEMBER AND A TRAY MEMBER INCLUDING A CONNECTION ELEMENT FOR DIRECTLY AND INSEPARABLY CONNECTING THE RECEPTACLE MEMBER AND THE TRAY MEMBER WHEREBY SAID TRAY MEMBER IS AT ALL TIMES PORTAGED WITH SAID RECEPTACLE MEMBER, (B) SAID CONNECTION AFFORDING SWINGING MOVEMENTS OF SAID MEMBERS IN A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER, (C) SAID TRAY MEMBER HAVING WALLS DEFINING COMPARTMENTS THEREIN ADPATED TO RECEIVE WATER TO BE FROZEN INTO ICE BLOCKS WITHIN SAID CHAMBER WHEN SAID TRAY MEMBER IS IN ONE POSITION ABOVE SAID ICE RECEPTACLE MEMBER, (D) MEANS ON SAID UNIT FOR EJECTING ICE BLOCKS OUT OF COMPARTMENTS OF SAID TRAY MEMBER INTO SAID RECEPTACLE MEMBER, AND (E) SAID MEANS BEING RENDERED EFFECTIVE ONLY IN RESPONSE TO A PREDETERMINED SWINGING MOVEMENT FOR INVERTING SAID TRAY MEMBER WITH RESPECT TO SAID RECEPTACLE MEMBER.

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