EP1213550A1 - Ice-cube maker - Google Patents

Ice-cube maker Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1213550A1
EP1213550A1 EP01500036A EP01500036A EP1213550A1 EP 1213550 A1 EP1213550 A1 EP 1213550A1 EP 01500036 A EP01500036 A EP 01500036A EP 01500036 A EP01500036 A EP 01500036A EP 1213550 A1 EP1213550 A1 EP 1213550A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ice
base body
alveoli
cube maker
cover
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP01500036A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1213550B1 (en
Inventor
José Maria Llorente Hompanera
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Lekue SL
Original Assignee
Lekue SL
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Lekue SL filed Critical Lekue SL
Publication of EP1213550A1 publication Critical patent/EP1213550A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1213550B1 publication Critical patent/EP1213550B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C1/00—Producing ice
    • F25C1/22—Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds
    • F25C1/24—Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds for refrigerators, e.g. freezing trays
    • F25C1/243—Moulds made of plastics e.g. silicone

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an improved ice-cube maker for forming ice cubes in a refrigerator or freezer.
  • the ice-cube maker of the invention is of the type which comprise a base body which includes a plurality of alveoli for shaping the ice cubes and a cover which fits over said base body and thereby prevents direct contact of the ice cubes with food and other items which might be inside the refrigerator or freezer.
  • This invention has been developed in order to provide an ice-cube maker which resolves these disadvantages, while at the same time providing other additional advantages which will become obvious from the description set out below.
  • the improved ice-cube maker of the invention is characterised in that the base body is flexible and in that the cover is rigid and has a plurality of ribs located near the upper surface of the base body, each rib being interpolated between two alveoli.
  • the presence of the cover prevents the ice cube falling onto the floor when it is removed under pressure from the alveolus.
  • the base body includes a plurality of ribs situated between the alveoli and facilitating return of the alveolus to its initial position once the ice cube has been removed from inside it.
  • the alveoli are arranged radially on the base body.
  • the base body includes at least one orifice for water evacuation. Said orifices facilitate the emergence of excess water once all the alveoli have been filled.
  • the cover includes an orifice for emergence of the ice cubes and for fitting a deflector element which facilitates pouring of the water into the alveoli by distributing that water perimetrally.
  • the base body includes means of fixing to the cover to facilitate fitting the ice-cube maker together and taking it apart, thereby allowing each of the parts of the ice-cube maker to be cleaned independently.
  • the cover has means of levelling which ensure the horizontality of the ice-cube maker on a uneven surface. This ensures equal filling of each of the alveoli so that the ice cubes formed are all the same size.
  • Said means of levelling include at least one pair of lugs.
  • the surface in which the alveoli are located is concave so as to facilitate filling of the alveoli at the centre of the base body once all the peripheral alveoli have been filled.
  • the ice-cube maker 1 of the invention is made up principally of a base body 2 made of flexible material and having a circular plan, which base body includes a plurality of alveoli 3 with curved bases distributed radially, and a dome-shaped cover 4, made of rigid material, which covers the upper and side surface of said base body 2.
  • the ice-cube maker further includes fixing means between the base body 2 and the cover 4 which include a plurality of lugs 5 situated perimetrally on the base body 2 and inserting into some slots 6 situated on the side wall of the cover 4.
  • the upper central part of the cover 4 has an orifice 7 which serves as an outlet for the ice cubes to emerge from the ice-cube maker 1.
  • the orifice is fitted with a removable deflector 8 which has large side openings and a central part made up of a conical surface which facilitates radial distribution of the water towards the alveoli 3 situated at the periphery of the base 2.
  • Figure 2 shows in greater detail the design of the bottom of the base body 2, with the arrangement of ribs situated between the alveoli 3. Said ribs 9 facilitate return of the alveolus 3 to its initial position once the ice cube has been removed from inside it.
  • the central zone of the base body 2 also has three openings 10 which facilitate evacuation of excess water (see figure 1).
  • Figure 3 shows more clearly how the interior of the cover of the ice-cube maker includes a plurality of ribs 11, arranged radially, which are interpolated between two alveoli 3 once the parts of the ice-cube maker 1 have been fitted together. Said ribs considerably facilitate removal of the ice cube from the interior of the alveolus 3, making it easer to eject.
  • the cover 4 has some lateral extensions 12 whose ends have a pair of lugs 13.
  • the structural design means that they can be stacked one on top of the other.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
  • Steroid Compounds (AREA)
  • Table Devices Or Equipment (AREA)
  • Production, Working, Storing, Or Distribution Of Ice (AREA)
  • Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)
  • Treatments For Attaching Organic Compounds To Fibrous Goods (AREA)
  • Seal Device For Vehicle (AREA)

Abstract

It comprises a base body (2) which includes a plurality of alveoli (3) for shaping the ice cubes and a cover (4) which fits over said base body (2).
It is characterised in that the base body (2) is flexible and in that the cover (4) is rigid and has a plurality of ribs (11) located near the upper surface of the base body (2), each rib (11) being interpolated between two alveoli (3).
It prevents direct contact with other items in the refrigerator and facilitates turning the ice cubes out of the alveoli (3).

Description

  • This invention relates to an improved ice-cube maker for forming ice cubes in a refrigerator or freezer.
    • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • The ice-cube maker of the invention is of the type which comprise a base body which includes a plurality of alveoli for shaping the ice cubes and a cover which fits over said base body and thereby prevents direct contact of the ice cubes with food and other items which might be inside the refrigerator or freezer.
  • It has been found in practice that the current ice-cube makers of this type present certain difficulties when it comes to removing or ejecting the ice cube from inside the alveolus.
  • Moreover, once the ice cube has been extracted from the alveolus the latter often fails to return to its initial position and has to be restored subsequently to that initial position.
  • This invention has been developed in order to provide an ice-cube maker which resolves these disadvantages, while at the same time providing other additional advantages which will become obvious from the description set out below.
    • DESCRIPTION
  • The improved ice-cube maker of the invention is characterised in that the base body is flexible and in that the cover is rigid and has a plurality of ribs located near the upper surface of the base body, each rib being interpolated between two alveoli.
  • These characteristics provide an ice-cube maker which, on the one hand, prevents direct contact with other items in the refrigerator and the smells from foods placed close to the ice-cube maker, and on the other hand, due the presence of the ribs on the cover, considerably facilitates turning the ice cubes out of the alveoli. This is due to the ribs acting as an ice cube extracting lever when pressure is applied by hand from underneath the alveoli.
  • Moreover, the presence of the cover prevents the ice cube falling onto the floor when it is removed under pressure from the alveolus.
  • In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the base body includes a plurality of ribs situated between the alveoli and facilitating return of the alveolus to its initial position once the ice cube has been removed from inside it.
  • Preferably, the alveoli are arranged radially on the base body.
  • Advantageously, the base body includes at least one orifice for water evacuation. Said orifices facilitate the emergence of excess water once all the alveoli have been filled.
  • According to another aspect of the invention, the cover includes an orifice for emergence of the ice cubes and for fitting a deflector element which facilitates pouring of the water into the alveoli by distributing that water perimetrally.
  • Also preferably, the base body includes means of fixing to the cover to facilitate fitting the ice-cube maker together and taking it apart, thereby allowing each of the parts of the ice-cube maker to be cleaned independently.
  • Advantageously, the cover has means of levelling which ensure the horizontality of the ice-cube maker on a uneven surface. This ensures equal filling of each of the alveoli so that the ice cubes formed are all the same size.
  • Said means of levelling include at least one pair of lugs.
  • According to another characteristic, the surface in which the alveoli are located is concave so as to facilitate filling of the alveoli at the centre of the base body once all the peripheral alveoli have been filled.
    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • Other characteristics and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the description of a preferred, though not exclusive embodiment illustrated by way of non-restrictive example in the attached drawings, in which:
  • Figure 1 is a perspective, exploded view of the entire improved ice-cube maker of the invention; Figure 2 is an underside perspective view of the base body of the ice-cube maker; and Figure 3 is an underside perspective view of the cover of the ice-cube maker of the invention.
    • DESCRIPTION OF S PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
  • As shown in Figure 1, the ice-cube maker 1 of the invention is made up principally of a base body 2 made of flexible material and having a circular plan, which base body includes a plurality of alveoli 3 with curved bases distributed radially, and a dome-shaped cover 4, made of rigid material, which covers the upper and side surface of said base body 2.
  • The ice-cube maker further includes fixing means between the base body 2 and the cover 4 which include a plurality of lugs 5 situated perimetrally on the base body 2 and inserting into some slots 6 situated on the side wall of the cover 4.
  • Additionally, the upper central part of the cover 4 has an orifice 7 which serves as an outlet for the ice cubes to emerge from the ice-cube maker 1. For filling the ice-cube maker 1, the orifice is fitted with a removable deflector 8 which has large side openings and a central part made up of a conical surface which facilitates radial distribution of the water towards the alveoli 3 situated at the periphery of the base 2.
  • Figure 2 shows in greater detail the design of the bottom of the base body 2, with the arrangement of ribs situated between the alveoli 3. Said ribs 9 facilitate return of the alveolus 3 to its initial position once the ice cube has been removed from inside it. The central zone of the base body 2 also has three openings 10 which facilitate evacuation of excess water (see figure 1).
  • Figure 3 shows more clearly how the interior of the cover of the ice-cube maker includes a plurality of ribs 11, arranged radially, which are interpolated between two alveoli 3 once the parts of the ice-cube maker 1 have been fitted together. Said ribs considerably facilitate removal of the ice cube from the interior of the alveolus 3, making it easer to eject.
  • In order to ensure horizontality of the ice-cube maker 1 of the invention and the uniform size of all the ice cubes, the cover 4 has some lateral extensions 12 whose ends have a pair of lugs 13.
  • It should be noted that in order to avoid problems of space inside the refrigerator in the event of having to stow several ice-cube makers in it, the structural design means that they can be stacked one on top of the other.
  • The details, shapes, dimensions and other ancillary features, together with the materials used in manufacturing of the ice-cube maker of the invention, may be suitably replaced by others that are technically equivalent and do not depart from the essential nature of the invention or the scope defined by the claims included below.

Claims (9)

  1. Improved ice-cube maker (1) for forming ice cubes in refrigerators and the like, which comprises a base body (2) which includes a plurality of alveoli (3) for shaping the ice cubes and a cover (4) which fits over said base body (2), characterised in that the base body (2) is flexible and in that the cover (4) is rigid and has a plurality of ribs (11) located near the upper surface of the base body (2), each rib being interpolated between two alveoli (3).
  2. Improved ice-cube maker (1), as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the base body (2) includes a plurality of ribs (9) situated between the alveoli (3).
  3. Improved ice-cube maker (1), as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the alveoli (3) are arranged radially on the base body (2).
  4. Improved ice-cube maker (1), as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the base body (2) includes at least one orifice (10) for water evacuation.
  5. Improved ice-cube maker (1), as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the cover includes an orifice (7) for emergence of the ice cubes and for fitting a deflector element (8) which facilitates pouring of the water into the alveoli (3).
  6. Improved ice-cube maker (1), as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the base body (2) includes means of fixing to the cover (4).
  7. Improved ice-cube maker (1), as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the cover (4) has means of levelling which ensure the horizontality of the ice-cube maker on a uneven surface.
  8. Improved ice-cube maker (1), as claimed in Claim 7, characterised in that the means of levelling include at least one pair of lugs (13).
  9. Improved ice-cube maker (1), as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the surface in which the alveoli (3) are located is concave.
EP01500036A 2000-12-04 2001-02-09 Ice-cube maker Expired - Lifetime EP1213550B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ES200002974U ES1047786Y (en) 2000-12-04 2000-12-04 PERFECTED CUBITERA.
ES200002974U 2000-12-04

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1213550A1 true EP1213550A1 (en) 2002-06-12
EP1213550B1 EP1213550B1 (en) 2002-08-28

Family

ID=8495973

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01500036A Expired - Lifetime EP1213550B1 (en) 2000-12-04 2001-02-09 Ice-cube maker

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1213550B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE223024T1 (en)
DE (1) DE60100018D1 (en)
ES (1) ES1047786Y (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005054761A1 (en) * 2003-12-03 2005-06-16 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Ice tray
KR101977155B1 (en) * 2018-12-18 2019-05-13 김록배 Tray for manufacturing ice
WO2019216606A1 (en) * 2018-05-08 2019-11-14 Kim Rok Bae Tray for producing ice

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4372526A (en) * 1981-09-17 1983-02-08 Dart Industries, Inc. Ice cube making apparatus and serving system
US4417716A (en) * 1982-01-27 1983-11-29 Americo Penna Novelty ice tray
US4432529A (en) * 1982-09-30 1984-02-21 Mcmillan Charles Ice tray with lid
DE8608582U1 (en) * 1986-03-29 1986-05-15 Haushaltprodukte Vertriebs GmbH, 5430 Montabaur Ice maker
FR2649190A3 (en) * 1989-06-29 1991-01-04 Fagor S Coop Ltda Improved ice-cube tray for refrigerators

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4372526A (en) * 1981-09-17 1983-02-08 Dart Industries, Inc. Ice cube making apparatus and serving system
US4417716A (en) * 1982-01-27 1983-11-29 Americo Penna Novelty ice tray
US4432529A (en) * 1982-09-30 1984-02-21 Mcmillan Charles Ice tray with lid
DE8608582U1 (en) * 1986-03-29 1986-05-15 Haushaltprodukte Vertriebs GmbH, 5430 Montabaur Ice maker
FR2649190A3 (en) * 1989-06-29 1991-01-04 Fagor S Coop Ltda Improved ice-cube tray for refrigerators

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005054761A1 (en) * 2003-12-03 2005-06-16 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Ice tray
WO2019216606A1 (en) * 2018-05-08 2019-11-14 Kim Rok Bae Tray for producing ice
KR101977155B1 (en) * 2018-12-18 2019-05-13 김록배 Tray for manufacturing ice

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE223024T1 (en) 2002-09-15
EP1213550B1 (en) 2002-08-28
ES1047786Y (en) 2001-10-01
DE60100018D1 (en) 2002-10-02
ES1047786U (en) 2001-05-16

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