Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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1 SMALL GIRTHED ICE ARTICLES AND TRAYS FOR MAKING SAME
2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
3 1. Field of the Invention:
4 The present invention relates to ice cubes, and more particularly to small
girthed ice
articles, hereinafter referred to as "ice sticks", wherein the ice sticks are
placeable through
6 narrow necks and openings of containers. Still more particularly, the
present invention is
7 related to trays configured for the making of ice sticks.
8 2. Description of the Related Art:
9 Ice cubes are commonly provided and used by pouring potable water into a
compartmentalized ice cube tray, placing the tray into a freezer to freeze the
water into ice
11 cubes, removing the ice cubes from the tray, and, finally, placing the ice
cubes into a drink
12 filled container, as for example a glass or cup. Ice cubes for the last six
decades have been
13 basically the same shape and size, for example about one inch deep, about
one inch wide,
14 and about one and one-half to two inches long.
Just prior to WWI I, home refrigerators included a small freezer compartment
and two
16 aluminum ice cube trays which usually included a "pry bar" to free the
frozen ice cubes from
17 the metal dividers and tray. Although some plastic trays came to market in
the seventies,
18 metal trays and dividers with 'built-in" injector handles/levers were still
popular through the
19 seventies and eighties. Plastic trays of high density polyethylene with
individual (molded in)
cube cavities came into increasing favor to produce ice cubes, which were
generally of the
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1 same basic size and shape. Multi-cavity ice cube trays of injection molded
high density
2 polyethylene use dies (i.e. molds) with highly-polished (even chrome-plated)
cavity surfaces
3 in order to provide mirror- finish ice cubes (with rounded bottom edges)
which can be easily
4 released by simply twisting the tray from end to end.
Commercial ice cube making machines came into use in the sixties and later ice
cube
6 makers were offered as an option in home refrigerators starting in the
seventies, some with
7 dispenser features which allowed for selection between cubed and crushed
ice. The cube
8 shapes were basically conventional often with rounded bottoms, but some,
particularly those
9 made automatically in home refrigerators, had semi-circular shapes (ie.,
"half-moon"
shapes).
11 The regular use of conventional ice cubes through the eighties and early
nineties was
12 to put ice cubes in wide-mouth glasses for cooling of soft drinks,
cocktails, iced water, etc.
13 Also popular were ice cubes in (wide-mouthed) picnic jugs for Kool Aid,
lemonade, ice tea,
14 etc. Ice cubes also were used to fill ice chests for cooling of cans and
bottles of one's
favorite liquid refreshment.
16 There was a slight underlying need for ice shape that would fit into
regular narrow-
17 mouth vacuum bottles. But, to accomplish this feat, a user would need to
reshape a
18 conventional ice cube by melting it under running water sufficient to
reduce its size so that
19 it would fit into the vacuum bottle mouth. Many such fragile glass vacuum
botties were
broken by the "impatient" user trying to 'pound- in' square cornered cubes
into the narrow
21 opening. The only other alternative, using crushed ice, is not a viable
option. This is
22 because as the small sized pieces quickly melt, the liquid becomes rapidly
diluted and the
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1 liquid is cooled only momentarily while the pieces quickly melt.
2 The stay-on tab beverage can, known in the seventies as a "pop-top" or "pull-
tab"
3 beverage can, is now ubiquitous, as is the screw-cap plastic beverage
bottle. Indeed, the
4 screw-cap plastic beverage bottle has the advantage of being refillable, and
has become a
favorite of those (as for example runners or bikers) wishing to carry a supply
of drinking
6 water with them.
7 Conventional ice cubes are typically configured of a rather cubic shape
which is
8 impossible to place into the neck of a soda bottle, the opening of a vacuum
bottle, or the tab
9 opening of a stay-on tab beverage can. Accordingly, persons wishing to cool
liquids of these
containers must typically first pour the liquid into a wide mouth container,
such as a glass or
11 a cup, and then add ice cubes to it. This detracts from the simplicity of
drinking an ice cooled
12 liquid directly from a soda bottle or an opened can.
13 A product currently on the market attempts to provide ice sticks for use
with small
14 necked and small opening containers (ie., soda bottles and stay-on tab
cans). This product,
of Ice Tubes, Inc., Tallmadge, OH 44278, is a tray having a plurality of
elongated, hollow
16 cylinders which are selectively closed at one end by a removable bottom
base for the making
17 of a plurality of cylindrical ice articles, hereinafter referred to as "ice
tubes". At first glance
18 the ice tube product seems to address the need addressed by ice sticks, in
that the ice tubes
19 are of an elongated, cylindrical shape. However, the two-piece tray used to
make ice tubes
requires complex (time-consuming) installation and removal procedure forthe
bottom base.
21 Further, the constant diameter of the hollow cylinders of the tray make
extraction of the ice
22 tubes formed therein difficult. So difficult, that they must be partially
melted, such as by
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1 running hot water onto the tray, in order for them to be extracted. The wet
ice tubes then
2 may be subject to cross-freeze (that is, freeze together) if they are
grouped together in a
3 container and then placed back into a freezer. Also, the diameter of the ice
tube is too large
4 to allow it to pass through the tab opening of a stay-on tab beverage can.
Accordingly, what remains needed in the art is an ice stick which fits easily
into the
6 narrow neck of a soda bottie, the small opening of a stay-on tab can, or
other small mouthed
7 containers (such as for example vacuum botties and baby bottles), wherein
the tray for its
8 making is easy to use and provides for easy extraction of the ice sticks
formed therein.
9 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes small girthed ice articles, herein referred to
as "ice
11 sticks", wherein the small girth allows them to be easy placed through
small openings and
12 narrow passages of containers. The present invention further includes trays
for the making
13 of the ice sticks according to the present invention.
14 A first form of ice stick is provided having a small girthed body,
characterized by a
generally rectangular shape, having a generally flat upper face and a
generally tub-shaped
16 sidewall having rounded corners everywhere accept where the sidewall meets
the upper
17 face. Preferred dimensions of the first form of ice stick are on the order
of: about four inches
18 long, about three-quarters of an inch wide, and about one-half of an inch
deep; however, the
19 dimensions may be varied from these.
A second form of ice stick is provided having a small girthed body,
characterized by
21 a generally elliptical cross-section (that is, an oval cross-section)
sidewall which is gently
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1 tapered from a generally flat upper face toward an opposite bottom face. The
bottom face
2 is preferred to be gently rounded where it meets the sidewall. Preferred
dimensions of the
3 second form of the ice stick are on the order of: about three inches long,
wherein at the
4 upper face the ellipse has a major axis of about three-quarters of an inch
and a minor axis
of about one-half of an inch, and wherein at the lower face the ellipse has a
major axis of
6 about five-eighths of an inch and a minor axis of just under one-half of an
inch preferably
7 between three-eighths of an inch and seven-sixteenths of an inch; however,
the dimensions
8 may be varied from these.
9 In operation of the ice sticks according to the present invention (either of
the first and
second forms thereof), an ice stick is grasped, oriented so that the small
girth is oriented
11 parallel with the opening cross-section of a container, and then placed
into the container,
12 which may or may not already be filled with a liquid. For example, the
container may be a
13 narrow neck bottle of the type used to store soda or bottled water, wherein
the small girth
14 dimensions of the ice stick admits its passage through the narrow neck.
Further for example,
the container may be a stay-on tab can, wherein the ice stick is placed
through the tab
16 opening formed by a user pulling up on the stay-on tab. Again, the small
girth dimensions
17 of the ice stick admit its easy passage through the tab opening of the can.
18 To provide the first form of ice stick, a multi-compartmented lateral tray
is provided,
19 preferably formed of plastic. Each lateral compartment has a tub shaped
wall
complementarily shaped to the aforementioned tub shape of the sidewall of the
first form of
21 ice stick. Preferably, the lateral tray features water overflow channels
for self-leveling water
22 between lateral compartments and a raised perimeter rim for preventing
accidental spillage
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1 as a water-filled lateral tray is transported from a sink to a freezer. The
orientation of the
2 lateral compartments are mutually parallel, and may be longitudinal or
transverse in relation
3 to the lateral tray outside dimensions.
4 In one preferred aspect of the lateral tray, an ice stick chute is
incorporated for
directing ejected ice sticks along a chute path and out a portal (and
thereupon into a
6 container). In a second preferred aspect of the lateral tray, several
lateral trays may be
7 nestably stacked and slightly tilted, whereupon a water stream (from a
faucet) glancingly
8 hitting all the lateral trays causes all the lateral trays to be filled
simultaneously.
9 To provide the second form of ice stick, a vertical tray is provided,
preferably formed
of plastic, having a plurality of vertical compartments which are closed at
the bottom, and
11 each having a tapering, elliptically cross-sectioned shape wall that is
complementary to the
12 shape of the sidewall of the second form of ice stick. Preferably, the
vertical tray features
13 water overflow channels between lateral compartments and a raised perimeter
rim for
14 preventing accidental spillage as a water-filled lateral tray is
transported from a sink to a
freezer.
16 Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ice
stick having a
17 small girth which allows it to pass through small openings, narrow necks,
small mouths, etc.
18 It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an ice stick
having a small
19 girth, and an elongated shape featuring a generally flat top face abutting
a generally tub-
shaped, rounded sidewall.
21 It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ice stick
having a small girth
22 and an elliptical cross-section which gently tapers.
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1 It is yet another object of the present invention to provide trays suitable
for the making
2 of ice sticks having a small girthed, elongated shape featuring a generally
flat top face
3 abutting a generally tub-shaped rounded sidewall so that the ice sticks
release from the ice
4 stick forming compartments thereof simply by twisting the tray, wherein
wetting and/or
melting of the ice sticks is obviated for release from the tray.
6 It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide trays
suitable for making
7 ice sticks having a small girthed, elliptical cross-section that gently
tapers.
8 It is still another object of the present invention to provide trays for
making ice sticks,
9 wherein the trays are nestable together such that the trays may be filled
simultaneously from
a stream of water.
11 These, and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the
present
12 invention will become apparent from the following specification.
13 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
14 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first form of ice stick according to
the present
invention, shown being placed into a vacuum bottle.
16 Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first form of ice stick according to
the present
17 invention, shown being placed into an opening of a stay-on tab can.
18 Figure 3 is a perspective view of a first form of ice stick according to
the present
19 invention, shown being placed into a threaded cap plastic beverage bottle.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of an ice stick according to a first form of
the present
21 invention.
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1 Figure 5 is a side view of the first form of ice stick according to the
present invention
2 Figure 6 is a top plan view of the first form of ice stick, seen along arrow
6 of Figure
3 5.
4 Figure 7 is an end view of the first form of ice stick, seen along arrow 7
of Figure 5.
Figure 8 is a sectional view of the first form of ice stick, seen along line 8-
8 of Figure
6 6.
7 Figure 8A is a sectional view as in Figure 8, wherein the sidewall of the
first form of
8 ice stick has a semi-circular tub shape.
9 Figure 9 is a perspective view of a lateral tray according to the present
invention for
making the first form of ice stick according to the present invention, wherein
the lateral
11 compartments are longitudinally oriented.
12 Figure 10 is a sectional view of the lateral tray, taken along line 10-10
of Figure 9.
13 Figure 11 is a sectional view of the lateral tray, taken along line 11-11
of Figure 9.
14 Figure 11 A is a sectional view as in Figure 11, wherein the wall thereof
has a semi-
circular tub shape for making the ice stick of Figure 8A.
16 Figure 12 is a perspective view of a first altemative form of the lateral
tray according
17 to the present invention.
18 Figure 13 is a sectional view of the first alternative form of the lateral
tray, seen along
19 line 13-13 of Figure 12.
Figure 14 is another view of the lateral tray according to the present
invention,
21 wherein in the lateral compartments are transversely oriented.
22 Figure 15 is a broken-away sectional view of the lateral tray, taken along
line 15-15
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1 of Figure 14.
2 Figure 16 is a perspective view of a second alternative form of the lateral
tray,
3 wherein four lateral trays are shown vertically stacked (nested).
4 Figure 17 is a perspective view of the second alternative form of the
lateral tray,
wherein the four lateral trays are shown vertically stacked (nested) and heid
tilted back while
6 each is being simultaneously filled with water.
7 Figure 18 is a perspective view of a second form of ice stick according to
the present
8 invention.
9 Figure 19 is a side view of the second form of ice stick according to the
present
invention.
11 Figure 20 is a top plan view of the second form of ice stick, seen along
line 20 of
12 Figure 19.
13 Figure 21 is a bottom plan view of the second form of ice stick, seen along
line 21 of
14 Figure 19.
Figure 22 is an edge view of the second form of ice stick according to the
present
16 invention.
17 Figure 23 is a perspective view of a vertical tray according to the present
invention
18 for making the second form of ice stick according to the present invention.
19 Figure 24 is a broken-away sectional view of the vertical tray, seen along
line 24-24
of Figure 23.
21 Figure 25 is a broken-away sectional view of the vertical tray, seen along
line 25-25
22 of Figure 23.
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1 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
2 Referring now to the Drawing Figures 1 through 3 depict a first form of ice
stick 100
3 according to the present invention shown in operation with several small
opening containers.
4 It will be seen that the small girth G (see Figure 7) of the body of the ice
stick 100 allows for
its easy passage through the small mouth 102 of a vacuum bottle 104, the tab
opening 106
6 of a stay-on tab beverage can 108, and the small mouthed neck and opening
110 of a
7 threaded cap plastic beverage bottle 112. By placing one or more ice sticks
100 into any of
8 these containers, the liquid contained therein will be pleasingly cooled by
the one or more
9 ice sticks while the liquid yet remains in the container. The dimensions of
the ice stick
provide a large surface area for excellent heat exchange with the liquid to be
cooled, and the
11 relatively large bulk size (as opposed to crushed ice pieces) allows for
slow melting and for
12 the considerable heat capacity (latent heat) of the ice stick to absorb
heat of the liquid as it
13 changes phase. Further, the shape of the ice stick is selected to not only
provide large bulk
14 and provide passage through narrow openings, but to provide sidewall shapes
that allow for
easy removal from compartments of trays used for their making.
16 Tuming now to Figures 4 through 8, the first form of ice stick 100 is
depicted. As
17 mentioned, the girth G of the body (that is, the circumferential size
thereof) is small enough
18 to allow it to pass through small sized openings of containers, wherein the
girth has a widest
19 cross-sectional diameter C on the order of less than about one inch,
preferably at or less
than about three-quarters of an inch, wherein seven-eighths of an inch is,
approximately, the
21 inside diameter the opening 110 of a standard screw cap plastic beverage
container 112.
22 The length may be any convenient length, as for example between about one
and five
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1 inches.
2 Figure 8A depicts that the tub-shape of the sidewall 116' of the ice stick
100' may be
3 any rounded shape, including a semi-circular shape, as shown.
4 The first form of ice stick 100 is generally rectangularly shaped body,
having an upper
face 114 and a generally tub-shaped sidewall 116 having rounded corners 118.
At the
6 interface 120 where the sidewall 116 meets the upper face 114, a right angle
corner is
7 formed. The upper face 114 is flat, being the result of the water level in a
lateral
8 compartment (discussed hereinbelow) at the time of freezing. A peripheral
ridge 122 will
9 generally form at the sidewall to upper face interface 120 because of
surface tension wetting
of the water with respect to the wall (for example, see 202a of Figure 9) of
the lateral
11 compartment of a tray used for forming the ice stick 100, and when formed
is included in the
12 cross-sectional diameter C. The length may be any convenient length, as for
example
13 between about one to about four inches. Referring again to Figure 2, it
will be noted the
14 rounded comers 118 of the sidewall 116 and the flatness of the upper face
114 complement
the general configuration of the tab opening 106 of the stay-on tab can 108
(when the tab
16 is oriented perpendicularly upward).
17 Preferred dimensions of the first form of ice stick 100 are on the order
of: a length L
18 of about four inches, a width W of about three-quarters of an inch, and a
depth D of about
19 one-half of an inch; however, the dimensions may be varied from these.
Tuming now to Figures 9 through 17 trays for the making of the first form of
ice stick
21 100 will be discussed.
22 Figures 9 through 11 show a multi-compartmented lateral tray 200, which is
preferably
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1 formed of plastic, particularly a non-stick plastic (which, depending on the
wetting action, as
2 adduced by surface tension, may reduce or eliminate the peripheral ridge).
Each lateral
3 compartment 202 is formed downwardly in a tray table 208, having a wall 202a
that is tub
4 shaped complementary (having a length and a cross-section girth) to the
aforementioned tub
shape of the sidewall 116, and they are oriented in a mutually parallel
arrangement in a
6 longitudinal pattem of sets 204a, 204b, wherein the number of sets may be
other than two,
7 as shown. Preferably, the lateral tray 200 features water overflow channels
206 (three
8 comer-type overflow channels being shown) between lateral compartments
formed in the
9 tray table 208 for providing self-leveling of water between compartment. A
raised perimeter
rim 210 abuts the tray table 208, and serves to prevent accidental spillage of
water as the
11 lateral tray 200 is transported from, for example, a sink to a freezer. The
perimeter rim 210
12 may have a height of about one-quarter inch above the tray table 208
Preferably, a
13 perimeter base 212 is integral with the perimeter rim 210, wherein the
perimeter base aids
14 grasping and handling of the lateral tray 200, wherein, preferably, the
perimeter base and
perimeter rim are shaped to allow nesting of the lateral trays 200.
16 In operation, a user holds the lateral tray 200 level and fills it with
water (or another
17 liquid, such as a flavored drink), noting that all lateral compartments are
about equally filled,
18 then places the lateral tray into a freezer for freezing of the water into
ice sticks 100. To
19 remove the ice sticks, the lateral tray is grasped at each end and gently
twisted. Other
techniques of ice stick removal can be used, such as for example running warm
water over
21 the lateral tray to loosen the ice sticks from the wall 202a.
22 Figure 11 A is a depiction similar to Figure 11, indicating that the
lateral tray 2001 may
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1 have compartment walls 2021 which are of any tub-shape with rounded corners,
including
2 the semi-circular shape shown for making the ice stick 100'.
3 Figures 12 and 13 show a first variation of the lateral tray 200' which
includes an ice
4 stick chute 214. Each lateral compartment 202' has a wall 202a' that is tub
shaped
complementary (having a length and cross-section girth) to the aforementioned
tub shape
6 of the sidewall 116, and they are oriented in a mutually parallel
arrangement in a longitudinal
7 pattern of sets 204a', 204b', 204c', wherein the number of sets may be other
than three.
8 Preferably, the lateral tray 200' features water overflow channels 206' for
self-leveling of
9 water between lateral compartments formed in a tray table 208'. A raised
perimeter rim 210'
abuts the tray table 208', and serves, as mentioned previously, to prevent
accidental spillage
11 of water as the lateral tray 200' is transported from a sink to a freezer.
A perimeter base 212'
12 is also preferably provided, wherein, preferably, the perimeter base and
perimeter rim are
13 shaped to allow nesting of the lateral trays 200'.
14 The ice stick chute 214 is integrated into one side of the perimeter rim
210' at an
orientation parallel with the lateral compartments 202'. The ice stick chute
214 includes a
16 raised chute rim 216, a chute slot 218 for receiving ice sticks 100 and a
portal 220 which
17 allows exiting of the ice sticks from the chute without interference by the
perimeter rim. For
18 example, the raised rim 210' may be raised about one-quarter of an inch
above the tray table
19 208', and the chute rim 216 may be raised about one or more inches above
the tray table.
In operation, a user holds the lateral tray 200' level and fills it with water
(or another
21 liquid, such as a flavored drink), noting that all lateral compartments are
about equally filled,
22 then places the lateral tray into a freezer for freezing of the water into
ice sticks 100. To
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1 remove the ice sticks, the lateral tray is grasped at each end and gently
twisted. Other
2 techniques of ice stick removal can be used, such as for example running
warm water over
3 the lateral tray to loosen the ice sticks from the wall 202a'. By inclining
the lateral tray 200',
4 the ice sticks slide toward the ice stick chute 214 and fall into the chute
slot 218. A second
inclining of the lateral tray 200' results in the ice sticks in the chute slot
exiting at the portal
6 220.
7 Figures 14 and 15 depict yet another altemative lateral tray 200", wherein
the lateral
8 compartments 202"are transversely arranged in the tray table 208". Each
lateral
9 compartment 202" has a wall 202a" that is tub shaped complementary to the
aforementioned tub shape of the sidewall 116. Preferably, the lateral tray
200" features
11 water overflow channels 206" for providing self-leveling of water between
lateral
12 compartments 202" formed in the tray table 208". A raised perimeter rim
210" abuts the tray
13 table 208", and serves to prevent accidental spillage of water. Preferably,
a perimeter base
14 212" is integral with the perimeter rim 210", wherein the perimeter base
aids grasping and
handling of the lateral tray 200", and wherein, preferably, the perimeter base
and perimeter
16 rim are shaped to allow nesting of the lateral trays 200".
17 In operation, a user holds the lateral tray 200" level and fills it with
water (or another
18 liquid, such as a flavored drink), noting that all lateral compartments are
about equally filled,
19 then places the lateral tray into a freezer for freezing of the water into
ice sticks 100. To
remove the ice sticks, the lateral tray is grasped at each end and gently
twisted. Other
21 techniques of ice stick removal can be used, such as for example running
warm water over
22 the lateral tray to loosen the ice sticks from the wall 202a".
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1 Figures 16 and 17 depict another variation of the lateral tray 200"',
wherein the raised
2 perimeter rim 210"' includes left and right inclined rim portions 210a, 210b
and a raised rear
3 rim portion 210c connecting therebetween. A preferred angle A of incline of
the left and right
4 inclined rim portions 210a, 210b is preferably about ten degrees with
respect the remainder
of the perimeter rim 210"'. A perimeter base 212"' includes a raised front
base portion 212a.
6 Each lateral tray 200"' includes a plurality of lateral compartments 202"'
formed downwardly
7 in a tray table 208"', each lateral compartment having a wall 202a"' that is
tub shaped
8 complementary to the aforementioned tub shape of the ice stick sidewall. The
lateral
9 compartments 202"' are most preferably oriented transversely, as shown at
Figures 16 and
17, although they could be oriented longitudinally. Overflow channels 206"'
connect
11 adjacent lateral compartments 202"' so that water may self-level
therebetween.
12 The lateral trays 200"' are mutually stackable by nesting into a stack 230.
Nesting
13 occurs because the left and right rim portions 210a, 210b taper toward each
other so that
14 they are nestable into the perimeter base 212"' a lateral tray placed
thereabove, resting upon
the underside of the tray table of the upper lateral tray. Further, nesting
occurs because the
16 front base portion 212a is inwardly tapered so as to rest inside the
perimeter rim 210"' of the
17 lateral tray thereunder, resting upon the upperside of the tray table of
the lateral tray
18 thereunder.
19 In operation as shown at Figure 17, a user grasps a stack 230 of lateral
trays 200"',
so that they are inclined at an angle (ie., ten degrees) making the left and
right rim portions
21 210a, 210b approximately horizontal. Then, a water stream 222 glancing onto
each of the
22 lateral trays 200"', at a front rim portion 210d so as to simultaneously
fill the lateral
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1 compartments 202"' of all the lateral trays 200"', wherein water accumulates
adjacent the
2 rear rim portion 210c and eventually overflows it. When the lateral trays
200"' are again
3 retumed to horizontal, as shown at Figure 16, the water redistributes to
equally fill all the
4 lateral compartments 202"'. The lateral trays 200"' may then be carried,
still nestably
stacked, to a freezer to form the ice sticks 100. Removal of the ice sticks
may be by twisting
6 of the lateral trays 200"' or by other means convenient to the user.
7 A second form of ice stick 300 is depicted at Figures 18 through 22. The
second form
8 of ice stick 300 has a small girth G' body, defined by a generally
elliptical cross-sectioned
9 sidewall 302. The sidewall 302 gently tapers from a generally flat upper
face 304 (formed
by water level at the time of freezing) toward an opposite, small cross-
sectioned, bottom face
11 306. The bottom face 306 is preferably convex and gently rounded at the
interface 308
12 where the sidewall meets the bottom face, but this is not required.
13 Again, as in the first form of ice stick 100, the largest cross-sectional
diameter C'
14 (which is the major axis of the elliptical cross-section (oval shape) is on
the order of less than
one inch, preferably about three-quarters of an inch or less. The elliptical
shape provides
16 large bulk, longitudinal strength and ease of passage through a narrow
opening, and the
17 short minor axis allows for passage through a tab opening 106. The taper of
the sidewall
18 302 provides easy extraction from the tray lateral compartment in which it
was formed, and
19 the convex narrower bottom face 306 provides an easy first-to-enter end for
insertion into
a narrow opening of a container. The length may be any convenient length, as
for example
21 between about one inch to about five inches. There may, or may not be a
peripheral ridge
22 formed at the interface between the upper face 304 and the sidewall 302.
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1 Preferred dimensions of the second form of the ice stick 300 are on the
order of: a
2 length L' of about three inches long, wherein at the upper face 304 the
ellipse has a major
3 axis C' of about three-quarters of an inch and a minor axis S of about one-
half of an inch,
4 and wherein at the lower face 306 the ellipse has a major axis C" of about
five-eighths of an
inch and a minor axis S' of about three-eighths of an inch to about seven-
sixteenths of an
6 inch; however, the dimensions may be varied from these.
7 To provide the second form of ice stick, a vertical tray 400 is provided, as
shown at
8 Figures 23 through 25, preferably formed of plastic, particularly a non-
stick plastic. The
9 vertical tray 400 has a plurality of vertical compartments 402 formed
downwardly in the tray
table 408, as for example having forty-eight vertical compartments. Each
vertical
11 compartment 402 is closed at (a preferably interiorly convexly contoured)
bottom 404 and
12 open at the top. Each vertical compartment 402 has a wall 402a having a
tapering elliptically
13 shaped cross-section which is complimentary (having a length and cross-
section girth) to the
14 tapering elliptical shape of the sidewall 302 of the second form of ice
stick 300. Preferably,
water overflow channels 406 between adjacent vertical compartments 402 are
formed in the
16 tray table 408 for providing self-leveling of water therebetween. A raised
perimeter rim 410
17 abuts the tray table 408, and serves to prevent accidental spillage of
water.
18 It will be appreciated that the taper of the second form of ice sticks 300,
and the
19 complementary taper of the vertical compartments 402 allow for easy
extraction of the ice
sticks, in that any degree of movement of an ice stick relative to its
vertical compartment
21 results in separation every where, which effect may not occur if the
vertical compartment
22 were cylindrical without a taper. Also, the elliptical cross-section of the
second form of ice
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CA 02305947 2000-04-18
1 stick 300 allows for maximum cross-section which yet can pass through a stay-
on tab can
2 opening.
3 In operation, a user holds the vertical tray 400 level and fills it with
water (or another
4 liquid, such as a flavored drink), noting that all vertical compartments are
about equally filled,
then places the vertical tray into a freezer for freezing of the water into
ice sticks 300. To
6 remove the ice sticks, the vertical is placed into running or pooled warm
water to loosen the
7 sidewall 302 of the ice sticks 300 from the wall 402a. Since the vertical
tray 400 can be
8 molded of resilient plastic, the convex bottom 404 provides a spot where
pressure may be
9 applied to the vertical tray to deform the convex bottom and thereby push
the ice stick 300
therein upwardly therefrom. Ice stick extraction in this manner can be
conveniently
11 performed by pressing the convex bottoms 404 against a counter-top, or
selectively against
12 an edge of a counter-top, wherein the resilient denting of the convex
bottom forces the ice
13 stick upward.
14 While the ice sticks 100, 300 were described hereinabove with respect to
frozen
water, the frozen water may be pure or may be composed of any type of frozen
drinkable
16 water, as for example a flavored water drink, including for example a
flavored water drink,
17 orange juice, grape juice, etc.
18 To those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, the above
described
19 preferred embodiment may be subject to change or modification. Such change
or
modification can be carried out without departing from the scope of the
invention, which is
21 intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
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