US1726071A - Sanitary ice tray - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 27, 1929. B. c. HOWLETT SANITARY ICE TRAY Filed Nov; '7, 1928 Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.-

IBLANCHE C. HOWLETT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SANITARY ICE TRAY.

Application fi1ed November 7, 1928. Serial No. 317,761.

The object of my invention is to provide a receptacle to receive the ice blocks or cubes from the ice pan of refrigerators of the modern type. In such refrigerators ice is frozen in pans provided with removable partition members furnishing compartments in which ice blocks or cubes are frozen. As the entire mass is frozen in and to the pan and partition members some difliculty is experienced in the removal of the ice blocks, the general practice being to invert the tray and to pour hot water on the bottom; in such practice the ice cubes fall down into the sink or receptacle placed to receive the drip of the hot water, and this is objectionable as being messy and more or less insanitary. To obviate these difficulties I have devised the sanitary ice tray as shown in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the tray.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the tray.

Figure 3 is a View in perspective of the tray.

The tray comprises a base portion 1 of an area suflicient to receive any ordinary ice pan, the edges of such base being upwardly and outwardly turned to. form retaining walls or flanges 2. Such retaining walls may extend from both sides and ends of the tray, though preferably the flange at one end or side is omittedor is bent only slightly upwards that the ice pan may be more easily placedvon the tray. The tray is provided with legs or supports 3 to hold it well above the sink or drain board on which it may be placed.

The tray is preferably made of woven galvanized wire mesh to provide openings in the bottom and side walls that water from the pan may readilydrain away, but the tray could be made of sheet metal or of other material with openings or perforations to per- 7) mit of the ready drain of the water. In practice the wire forming the base portion and end flanges of the tray is of smaller gauge than the binding wire 4 which is carried around the edgesof the flanges and which is bent downwardly to form the supporting legs. The flanges, asstated, extend upwardly and outwardly from the base portion and are sufficie-ntly high to retain the ice pan and ice blocks on the base and are bent outwardly at an angle to permit the pan to be easily inverted on the tray and also that the ice blocks may be readily poured or removed from the tray after removal from. the pan.

In operation the ice pan is placed inverted on the tray and hot water is poured on the bottom of the pan, such water heats the pan and partition member so that the ice blocks are freed and remain on the tray after the pan and partition member are removed. The wire forming the base and end flanges is of a thickness or gauge to give sufficient strength but is not so thick as to appreciably carryheat from the hot water poured around the edges of the pan as to cause any melting of the ice blocks. The b' ding or edge wire 4 is of heavier gauge t an the mesh wire and is car-' ried entire about the edges, being bent downwardly at the corners to form supporting legs. This construction gives great rigidity and provides a structure of tray of light weight with maximum strength, and also a tray structure which is entirely sanitary and'of pleasing appearance.

- Having described my invention, I claim L A sanitary ice tray comprising a base portion of woven wire mesh bent outwardly and upwardly at its edges to form retaining walls or flanges, and abinding wire of heavier gauge than the wire of the base carried entire about the edge of the base portion and bent downwardly to form supporting legs.

1 2. A sanitary ice tray to receive ice cubes from the ice pan of a refrigerator comprising a base portion of woven wire mesh bent outwardly and upwardly at three edges, two long edges and one short edge, 'to form retaining walls or flanges, and a binding wire of heavier gauge'than the wire of the base carried entire about the edge of the base portion and bent downwardly to form supporting le s.

in testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

BLANQHE o. HdWLETr.

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