WO1993017287A1

WO1993017287A1 - Ice maker

Info

Publication number: WO1993017287A1
Application number: PCT/GB1993/000361
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert David Victor Broadbent
Original assignee: Hewins Plastics Ltd
Priority date: 1992-02-21
Filing date: 1993-02-19
Publication date: 1993-09-02
Also published as: AU3509993A; GB9203765D0

Abstract

An ice maker comprises an outer housing (2) and a plurality of divider structures (9) each for dividing a plurality of ice pieces, the ice maker having a plurality of containers (8) which locate in the outer housing, the divider structures being removable to fit inside the containers. Each container may be removed in an upright direction independently of neighbouring containers, thus avoiding disturbance of freezing water in neighbouring containers. The housing is provided with a lid (3).

Description

ICE MAKER

Technical Field

This invention relates to ice makers of the type having a plurality of divider structures each for dividing a plurality of ice pieces.

Background Art

There are many applications where and adequate supply of ice cubes is required and for which conventional ice trays employed with domestic refrigerators are totally inadequate. Thus in such establishments as public houses, clubs, and restaurants, consideration has had to be given to the installation of ice cube forming machines to generate ice cubes in the numbers required. Such machines have noticeable costs in terms of both their purchase and their operation. The alternative has been to purchase bagged ice cubes from a suitable source which need to be kept in stock in sufficient quantities to guard against the supplies being exhausted at times when ice cubes are required. There is not only the costs attendant to the purchase of the bagged ice cubes, but also the considerable storage problems that can be created.

In establishments as mentioned above, it is almost invariably so that freezer units of upright and chest form need to be provided for the storage of food.

A known ice maker is disclosed in US 4,627,595 comprising a cylindrical bucket-shaped tub in which a number of coiled strips, each having a plurality of compartments for forming ice pieces therein, are stacked vertically on top of one another, each strip being coiled about a central vertically extending axis of the tub, the strips being separated from each other by circular partition members. However, in the known ice maker, there are problems in the availability of ice pieces in differing quantities at different times. The ice maker needs to be fully unloaded of ice in one operation to access the lowermost coils of ice. All the ice is unloaded at once and it then takes a considerable time for the replenished water to freeze over. If only a small quantity of ice is needed, the uppermost coils of ice can be unloaded separately, leaving the lower coils of ice intact, and the upper coils can then be replenished with water. However this causes the problem that the ice pieces in the lowermost coils cannot be emptied until the water in the uppermost coils has frozen over, so that after partial unloading of the ice maker, a period of unavailability of ice is experienced.

Disclosure of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a means of ice piece formation that can be employed with conventional freezer units and enable bulk ice piece production.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided

an ice maker comprising:

an outer housing (2) ; and

a plurality of divider structures (9) each for dividing a plurality of ice pieces;

the ice maker characterised by having a plurality of containers (8) which locate in the outer housing, one or more said divider structures adapted to removably fit in one or more said containers.

Preferably, one or more of the said containers are individually insertable into and removable from the outer housing without disturbing the other containers. Thus, the ice maker may allow an ice cassette comprising a container and divider structure, to be emptied individually to provide a convenient quantity of ice, without affecting the freezing of water in other cassettes. The ice maker need not be completely emptied all at once. The availability of ice from a freezer held ice maker may therefore be improved as compared to prior art ice makers.

Preferably, the containers are each arranged in an upright position in the housing. This may avoid spillage of water and allow freezing water to expand upwardly in the container.

Preferably, the containers can be lowered in a downward direction into the housing and lifted out of the housing in an upward direction. This may facilitate the removal of individual cassettes.

Preferably, the containers are suspended from an upper end of the outer housing.

Preferably, the containers are arranged side by side in the housing.

Preferably, the outer housing has a peripheral outer flange at an upper end of the housing, by which the housing may be carried. Thus, the ice maker may be conveniently carried between a freezer and a drinks bar without spillage of water.

Preferably, the outer housing comprises a plurality of projections extending into the housing from a base portion of the housing. These may prevent water from dripping out of the base of the housing.

Preferably, the outer housing is provided with a plurality of apertures, defined in the base portion of the housing. These may aid in pushing out the cassettes from the housing.

Preferably, the outer housing comprises a lid, which may prevent the ingress of dirt into the ice.

Preferably, the outer housing has an inner flange at an upper end of the housing for locating the lid thereto.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cassette for making pieces of ice, the cassette comprising:

an elongate rigid container (8) having a base portion and a plurality of upwardly extending sides; and

a divider structure (9) which removably fits in the container, the divider structure defining a plurality of sections for forming ice therein, the sections being disposed laterally, longitudinally and vertically within the container.

Preferably, the ice forming sections are disposed in rows and columns along a main length of the container, the rows being stacked one on top of another along the main - D - length of the container, the columns extending along a height of the container. This may have an advantage that a single cassette may be placed upright in a freezer, without taking a large shelf area.

Preferably, the divider structure comprises a plurality of partition fins, the ice forming sections being defined between the partition fins and the side walls of the container.

Preferably, the divider structure has a main body of a substantially sheet material, each fin being attached at only one edge thereof to the main body and each fin (23) being tapered towards a projecting end thereof such that the ice forming sections are tapered inwardly towards the main body. This may facilitate removal of the ice pieces, since the pieces can easily fall out of the ice forming sections.

Preferably, the fins are each connected to the main body only at their lower ends and are not directly connected to any other adjacent fin. This may help to make the divider structure bendable for release of ice pieces.

Preferably, the divider structure comprises a handle at one edge thereof for pulling the divider structure out of the container.

Preferably, the divider structure is made of a flexible plastics material.

Preferably, said flexible plastics material is E.V.A. Preferably, the upwardly extending sides of the container extend outwardly towards an upper rim of the container. This may help the freezing water expand upwardly and not become trapped in the lower part of the container.

Preferably the container has a peripheral flange at an upper end of the walls for suspending the container. These may lend rigidity to the container and thus help the water to expand upwardly on freezing.

Preferably, the container has a plurality of strengthening ribs extending along the sides thereof.

Preferably, the container is made of a rigid plastics material.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided ice cube forming means comprising an outer housing, a number of parallel support means extending across the housing to locate within the housing a corresponding number of ice cube forming cassettes in closely spaced relationship across the housing.

The invention includes a vertical ice tray structured to permit the formation of individual ice cubes. The tray is contained in a cassette which contains the water which is formed into ice. The cassette may be used individually or in multiples which can be contained in an outer housing to which a lid may be fitted if required. It is not however necessary for a housing to be used. The housings or individual cassettes can be conveniently located in a freezer to form multiple ice cubes from each cassette. As ice cubes are required for use, a cassette or number of cassettes can be taken out and the ice tray removed to release the ice cubes that have formed, permitting the ice tray to be re-inserted into the cassette, re-filled with water and replaced in the housing, if used, and into the freezer.

Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a general view of an ice maker according to a first specific embodiment of the present invention, having a single ice containing cassette present;

Figure 2 shows a cut-away view of the ice maker of Figure 1, along the line Y-Y';

Figure 3 shows a cut-away view of the ice maker of Figures 1 and 2 along the line X-X' , the ice maker having a full complement of ice containing cassettes;

Figure 4 shows a partial view of a first embodiment of an ice cassette suitable for use in the ice maker of Figures 1 to 3 or as an independent unit;

Figure 5 shows a first embodiment of a container of the ice cassette;

Figure 6 shows a cut-away end view of the container of the cassette;

Figure 7 shows another, partial, cut-away end view of the container of the cassette; Figure 8 shows a partial view of the container of the cassette from above;

Figure 9 shows a finned divider structure of the cassette of Figures 1 to 4;

Figure 10 shows an enlarged detail of a junction between the finned partition walls of the divider structure of Figure 9;

Figure 11 shows a cross-section about a central axis of the divider structure of Figure 9; and

Figure 12 shows a partial cut-away view from above the divider structure.

Best Mode for carrying out the Invention

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, an ice maker 1 comprises an outer housing 2 having a lid 3 and a plurality of ice forming cassettes 4 (only one of which is shown in Figure 1) -

The outer housing 2 is of a rigid plastics material and has a peripheral outer flange 5 at an upper end of the housing which acts as a carrying handle for the housing. The lid 3 locates on an upper rim 6 of the housing, the lid and rim cooperating to provide a snap fit of the lid to the housing. The lid has a moulded indented handle 7.

Each cassette 4 comprises a container 8 and a finned divider structure 9 which fits inside the container. The divider structure 9 is provided with a handle 10 for pulling the divider structure out of the container. Each container is removable as a whole from the outer housing. In use, each container is filled with water to a fill level indicated 10 in Figure 1, and the containers are fitted side by side in the outer housing, each container being suspended from the upper end of the housing. An inner ledge 11 is provided on the outer housing from which to suspend the containers.

The ice maker, with the lid closed, is then inserted in a freeze compartment of, for example a chest freezer, until the water inside the cassettes is frozen. When ice is required for use, one or more individual cassettes 4 are removed from the ice maker. Each cassette can be removed individually by pulling it upwardly, which may be assisted by pulling the handle 10. Otherwise simply tapping the ice maker will free the cassette, and the cassette, full of ice can be removed from the outer housing. In this way, to remove one cassette it is not necessary to significantly disturb any of the other cassettes.

Once a cassette is removed, the divider structure 9 in that cassette can be pulled from the container 8 using the handle, and the divider structure flexed by hand to release the ice. The shape and materials of the container and divider structure are especially adapted to enable easy removal of the ice as described below.

Once the ice is removed from the removed container, the divider structure can be inserted back into the container and the container refilled with water up to a fill level 10, and the container is replaced in the outer housing. The ice maker can then be replaced in the freezer. Because the ice maker is a self contained box, there is no need for a special shelf in the freezer. When further ice is required, if the water in the previously emptied ice container has not yet frozen over, removal of an adjacent container does not necessitate removal of the previous container, in which the water may not have yet frozen over, because each container can be removed individually without disturbing the other containers.

Furthermore, where the ice maker needs to be transported from a freezer to a point where the ice is required, eg. a drinks bar, the whole housing can be easily transported using the peripheral flange 5 as a handle. The shape of the peripheral flange is especially adapted so that fingers can be inserted under the flange either side of the housing in central positions 12. Where the ice maker has been previously partially emptied, and some cassettes have been filled with water which has not yet frozen over, the ice maker can be carried in an upright position, without spilling the water to the point of delivery. Any cassette containing solid ice can be removed from the ice maker without disturbing the other cassettes which contain partially frozen liquid. The newly emptied cassette can then be refilled with water and the whole ice maker be transported using the handles 12, such that the liquid does not spill from the cassettes. The lid 3 is replaced on the outer housing to prevent the ingress of dirt into the ice.

Alternatively, where the cassettes are sold or used separately, one or more cassettes can be individually placed in a freezer. This may have an advantage that the present cassette having ice forming sections disposed vertically upwards does not take up as much shelf space as a conventional ice tray of similar ice capacity, having ice sections disposed side by side horizontally. Referring to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings, a section along the line Y-Y' of Figure 1 is shown.

The cassettes 4 are shown suspended from the upper ledge 11 of the outer housing. With a container hanging in the outer housing, a void 21 is provided between the base of the container and the base 14 of the outer housing, to allow space for any water which may spill from the container to be collected in the outer housing. The base of the outer housing has upwardly extending cylindrical projections 15 which surround apertures 16. The apertures 16 are provided to enable a finger to be inserted under the ice maker to push the container outwardly from the outer housing, if the end walls 100 of the container become frozen to the end walls 101 of the outer housing.

The projecting parts 15 prevent water which may collect in the base of the outer housing from dripping out of the apertures. Thus, when carrying the ice maker, a person carrying the ice maker need not incur water dripping from the bottom of the ice maker onto his or her clothing.

The base of the outer housing is also provided with a lower flange 17 on which to stand the ice maker. This prevents the ice maker slipping when placed in a freezer.

The end walls 100 of the containers 8 abut the end walls 101 of the outer housing when the cassettes are fitted into the housing. This may provide efficient heat transfer between the lower temperature atmosphere outside the outer housing when in a freezer, and the higher temperature, as yet unfrozen water, inside the cassette. Referring to Figures 2 to 4, the divider structure 9 comprises a main body 22 comprising a substantially sheet material, having a plurality of outwardly projecting fins 23 (shown end on in Figure 2 and side on in Figure 3) . The fins 23, the main body 22, and the side walls 32 of the container define therebetween a plurality of ice forming sections 24.

Each fin is connected at a lower edge 25 to the main body 22, the divider structure being moulded in a plastics material in one piece. Each fin 23 extends outwardly from the main body and is tapered such that a projecting end 26 of each fin is thinner than the lower edge 25 of the fin. Thus, each ice forming section 24 is of a truncated four sided pyramid shape, i.e. each section tapers towards the end of the section nearest the main body 22.

When the divider structure 22 is removed from the container, the tapering of the sections and tapering of the fins enable easier removal if the ice pieces formed therein. The ice pieces are held on as few sides as possible (in this case 4 or 5 sides) in the divider structure, consistent with good ice piece formation.

The divider structure is moulded of a flexible plastics material, to enable flexibility in the main body 22 and of each fin 23. Thus, the whole divider structure, when removed from the container 8, can be flexed such that the ice pieces formed therein easily drop out of the cavities 24. It has been found that a suitably flexible material, which combines the requirements of ease of moulding, strength, flexibility and cost, for the divider structure, is the material E.V.A. The container 8 is formed of a rigid plastics material for example copoly er polypropylene, and additionally has strengthening ribs 28 arranged along the longitudinal sides 32 of the container.

Referring to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, a section along the lines X-X' is shown, in which four cassettes are inserted side by side in the outer housing, two cassettes are shown having a divider structure 9 inserted, whilst two cassettes are shown with their divider structures removed.

The handles 10, are hinged along a line 30, in which the plastics material is moulded in a reduced thickness, such that the handle 10 can fold flat, or nearly so, to save space and allow the lid 7 to be fitted without fouling the handles.

Whilst the lateral ends 100 of the container 8 abut the ends 101 of the outer housing for efficient heat transfer, the longitudinal sides 32 of each container extend outwardly towards an upper end of the container such that voids 33 are provided between adjacent containers.

The shape of the container, the strengthening ribs 28 and the material for the container all contribute to the efficient operation of the ice maker for the following reasons. When a container is filled to the fill level 10 with water, and placed in a chest freezer, the water begins to freeze to ice. Since the water expands upon freezing, the water must expand upwardly towards the upper end of the container. The water permeates the gaps between the fins 23, and between the divider structure and the container 8. Close fitting of the divider structure to the container is important so that ice does not creep between the main body 22 of the divider structure and the longitudinal side wall 32 of the container. The container must keep a rigid shape upon freezing of the ice, otherwise the sides 32 may bulge out, and cause problems in jamming of the divider structure in the container. In the embodiments shown, bulging out of the sides 32 is prevented by provision of the stiffness ribs 28, by provision of the rigid material by the container, by the generally upwardly expanding shape of the container, and by the close fitting of the divider structure to the container and the gaps between the fins of the divider structure.

The longitudinal side walls of the two outermost containers, nearest the longitudinal walls 35 of the outer housing, may touch the longitudinal walls of the outer housing for efficient heat transfer. However voids 33 between adjacent containers are provided to enable easy removal of any container without disturbing an adjacent container.

Referring to Figures 5 to 8 of the accompanying drawings, further views of a container are shown. In the example embodiment shown, the container has a maximum length of around 248mm and a maximum inner dimension of 238mm. The container has a height of around 178mm. The stiffness ribs 28 are of maximum width around 3mm at a lower end thereof, and taper towards the upper end of the container. The side and end wall thickness of the container is of the order of 2mm, and the container has a maximum width or around 41mm.

In use, it is anticipated a shrinkage of the container will be around 1.5%in a lateral and/or longitudinal direction, and around 1.8% in a vertical direction. The dimensions and tolerances of the outer housing (where used) may be selected to accommodate such shrinkage. The angle from the vertical (as shown in Figure 6) of the side wall is around 1° 15 minutes, such that the walls extend at an angle towards each other of around 2° 30 minutes.

Referring to Figures 9 to 12 of the accompanying drawings, further details of the divider structure are shown. Referring to Figure 11, the divider structure also tapers towards a lower end thereof, with an angle of 1° 15 minutes to the vertical, to match the container. The peripheral end of each fin is preferably of a thickness l.5mm and the major surfaces of each fin preferably taper towards each other with an angle of 1 minute 15° from a centre plane of the fin, as shown in Figures 11 and 12.

As shown in Figure 10, a gap between adjacent fins is preferably of around 4.5mm, to allow free passage of water therebetween. Other dimensions of the divider structure are as required to fit inside the container.

In another embodiment of the present invention, an ice cube forming means comprises an outer housing, a number of parallel support means extending across the housing to locate within the housing a corresponding number of ice cube forming cassettes in closely spaced relationship across the housing. Preferably, a lid is provided for the container to prevent the ingress of foreign bodies that would otherwise be embodied in the ice cubes to be formed.

The housing may be a simple rectangular structure, and the support means may be a number of generally T- shaped struts extending across the housing towards its upper end. Preferably, each cassette has lateral flanges at its upper end, to contact respective opposed legs of the struts and whereby to suspend the cassettes within the housing.

Each cassette may be formed as a discrete, generally rectangular-sectioned elongate container within which is located a finned structure to divide the interior of the container into a multiple number of individual ice cube forming sections disposed laterally, longitudinally, and vertically within the container. Each finned structure may have a projection at its upper end to lie clear of the uppermost edge of the container and to serve as a handle.

Thus, each cassette formed by its container and its finned structure, can readily be filled with water and the cassette placed within the housing. With the housing conveniently located in such as a chest freezer and with the cassettes in spaced relationship across the housing and hence with an air gap around each container, there is relatively rapid freezing of the water within each container to form a multiple number of ice cubes in each cassette. As ice cubes are required for use, a cassette or a number of cassettes, can be removed from within the housing and the finned structure within the or each container relatively easily pulled out of its container to release the ice cubes that have been formed, and when the finned structure can immediately be replaced within its container, refilled with water and replaced in the housing.

Specific embodiments of the invention may therefore enable the production of ice cubes in quantities sufficient to serve the needs of a wide variety of drinking and eating establishments, at relatively low cost, and employing freezer units that would ordinarily be found in such establishments, the overall size of the housing being such as not to occupy an excessive proportion of the space within the freezer unit to the detriment of its ability to store other required items.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s) . The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. An ice maker comprising:

an outer housing (2) ; and

2. An ice maker as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that one or more of the said containers are individually insertable into and removable from the outer housing without disturbing the other containers.

3. An ice maker as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the containers are each arranged in an upright position in the housing.

4. An ice maker as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the containers can be lowered in a downward direction into the housing and lifted out of the housing in an upward direction.

5. An ice maker as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the containers are suspended from an upper end of the outer housing.

6. An ice maker as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the containers are arranged side by side in the housing.

7. An ice maker as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the outer housing has a peripheral outer flange (5) at an upper end of the housing, by which the housing may be carried.

8. An ice maker as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the outer housing comprises a plurality of projections (15) extending into the housing from a base portion of the housing.

9. An ice maker as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the outer housing is provided with a plurality of apertures (16) , defined in the base portion of the housing.

10. An ice maker as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the outer housing comprises a lid (3) .

11. An ice maker as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that the outer housing has an inner flange (6) at an upper end of the housing for locating the lid thereto.

12. A cassette (4) for making pieces of ice, the cassette comprising:

13. A cassette as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that the ice forming sections are disposed in rows and columns along a main length of the container, the rows being stacked one on top of another along the main length of the container, the columns extending along a height of the container.

14. A cassette as claimed in claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the divider structure comprises a plurality of partition fins (23) , the ice forming sections being defined between the partition fins and the side walls of the container.

15. A cassette as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that the divider structure has a main body (22) of a substantially sheet material, each fin being attached at only one edge- thereof to the main body and each fin (23) being tapered towards a projecting end thereof such that the ice forming sections are tapered inwardly towards the main body.

16. A cassette as claimed in claim 14 or 15, characterised in that the fins are each connected to the main body only at their lower ends and are not directly connected to any other adjacent fin.

17. A cassette as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16, characterised in that the divider structure comprises a handle (10) at one edge thereof for pulling the divider structure out of the container.

18. A cassette as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 17, characterised in that the divider structure is made of a flexible plastics material.

19. A cassette as claimed in claim 18, characterised in that said flexible plastics material is E.V.A.

20. A cassette according to any one of claims 12 to 19, characterised in that the upwardly extending sides of the container extend outwardly towards an upper rim of the container.

21. A cassette according to any one of claims 12 to 20, characterised in that the container has a peripheral flange (40) at an upper end of the walls for suspending the container.

22. A cassette according to any one of claims 12 to 21, characterised in that the container has a plurality of strengthening ribs (28) extending along the sides thereof.

23. A cassette as claimed in claim 22, characterised in that the container is made of a rigid plastics material.

24. Ice cube forming means comprising an outer housing, a number of parallel support means extending across the housing to locate within the housing a corresponding number of ice cube forming cassettes in closely spaced relationship across the housing.