US20180356141A1

US20180356141A1 - Apparatuses and methods for making ice blocks, such as ice cubes

Info

Publication number: US20180356141A1
Application number: US16/004,872
Authority: US
Inventors: Jordan WOOD; Travis MIRAULT; Michael KOZELJ
Original assignee: Matayka Inc
Current assignee: Matayka Inc
Priority date: 2017-06-09
Filing date: 2018-06-11
Publication date: 2018-12-13
Also published as: CA3007769A1

Abstract

An ice cube mold consists of a flexible body having a first face, a second face and a peripheral edge. A plurality of ice forming cavities are formed in both the first face and the second face. Having ice forming cavities on both faces allows two or more of the ice cube molds to be formed into an assembly. In accordance with a described method, the assembly is inserted into a container, which is flooded with water and then placed in a freezer until the water forms ice in the ice forming cavities.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document relates to apparatuses and methods for making ice blocks, such as ice cubes.

BACKGROUND

Conventional ice cube molds are designed to be filled with water and placed in a freezer until the water freezes. Even though the majority of Americans enjoy access to a freezer, potable water and inexpensive ice cube molds, the inconvenience of using an ice cube mold, and the relatively small amount of ice produced by each mold, has created a situation where consumers purchase millions of bags of ready-made ice cubes each year.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect there is provided an ice cube mold which consists of a flexible body having a first face, a second face and a peripheral edge, with a plurality of ice forming cavities formed in both the first face and the second face. This aspect of having ice forming cavities on both faces allows two or more of the ice cube molds to be formed into an assembly capable of making a larger volume of ice cubes than can be made with an ice cube mold.
In the preferred embodiment that will hereinafter be described, bottoms of the ice forming cavities in the first face define spacer panels between cavities on the second face and bottoms of the ice forming cavities on the second face define spacer panels between cavities on the second face. This is a very space efficient manner of forming an ice cube mold with cavities on both faces.
In the preferred embodiment that will hereinafter be described, ice forming cavities with an open side are formed along at least a portion of the peripheral edge. The open side is closed when the ice cube mold is formed into an assembly and inserted into a container, as will hereafter be described.
According to another aspect there is provided an ice cube mold assembly which is formed by placing at least two of the ice cube molds in face to face relation. The ice forming cavities of a first ice cube mold in the assembly are aligned with the ice forming cavities of a second ice cube mold, which is adjacent to the first ice cube mold. The ice forming cavities of the first ice cube mold form a first half of a plurality of cumulative ice cube compartments and the ice forming cavities of the second ice cube mold form a second half of the cumulative ice cube compartments. Gaps between the at least two ice cube molds allow entry of water and exit of air from the cumulative ice cube compartments. A water retaining container receives the assembly in close fitting relation.
When the ice cube mold has ice forming cavities with an open side formed along at least a portion of the peripheral edge, as described above, the open side of the ice forming cavities are closed by the water retaining container.
According to a final aspect, there is provided a method of forming ice cubes. One step involves providing a plurality of ice cube molds as described above with each ice cube mold comprising a flexible body having a first face, a second face and a peripheral edge. The key aspect being a plurality of ice forming cavities formed in both the first face and the second face. One step involves forming an ice cube mold assembly by placing at least two of the ice cube molds in face to face relation. The ice forming cavities of a first ice cube mold are aligned with the ice forming cavities of a second ice cube mold, which is facing the first ice cube mold, with the ice forming cavities of the first ice cube mold forming a first half of a plurality of cumulative ice cube compartments and the ice forming cavities of the second ice cube mold forming a second half of the cumulative ice cube compartments. Gaps between the at least two ice cube molds allow entry of water and exit of air from the cumulative ice cube compartments. One step involves inserting the ice cube mold assembly into a water retaining container that accommodates the assembly in close fitting relation. One step involves filling the container with water. One step involves placing the container holding the assembly in a freezer until the water freezes. One step involves removing the assembly from the container. A final step involves disassembling the assembly to release ice cubes which have formed from the cumulative ice cube compartments.
Where the ice cube molds in the ice cube mold assembly have pull tabs formed along at least a portion of the peripheral edge, disassembly of the ice cube mold assembly can be effected by applying a pulling force on the pull tab of one of the ice cube molds to separate the ice cube mold from the assembly.
There are further features that will hereinafter be described in the detailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures, in which like reference characters denote like elements, by way of example, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an ice mold.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the ice mold of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the ice mold of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the ice mold of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the ice mold of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an ice-making apparatus that has a plurality of molds, a waterproof liner, a structural retainer, and a cover.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the ice-making apparatus of FIG. 6 with components in an assembled configuration.

FIG. 7A is a side elevation view of the ice-making apparatus of FIG. 7.

FIG. 7B is a front elevation view of the ice-making apparatus of FIG. 7.

FIG. 8A is a view taken along the 8A-8A section lines of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8B is a view taken along the 8B-8B section lines of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8C is an overlay of the views of FIGS. 8A and 8B.

FIG. 9 is a view taken along the 9-9 section lines of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of the portion of the ice-making apparatus as shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 10 is a view taken along the 10-10 section lines of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of the portion of the ice-making apparatus as shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 is a view taken along the 11-11 section lines of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of the portion of the ice-making apparatus as shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 12 is a view taken along the 12-12 section lines of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 12A is a perspective view of the portion of the ice-making apparatus as shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 13 is a view taken along the 13-13 section lines of FIG. 7B.

FIG. 13A is a perspective view of the portion of the ice-making apparatus as shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 14 is a view taken along the 14-14 section lines of FIG. 7B.

FIG. 14A is a perspective view of the portion of the ice-making apparatus as shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 15 is a view taken along the 15-15 section lines of FIG. 7B.

FIG. 15A is a perspective view of the portion of the ice-making apparatus as shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 16 is a view taken along the 16-16 section lines of FIG. 7B.

FIG. 16A is a perspective view of the portion of the ice-making apparatus as shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 17 is a view taken along the 17-17 section lines of FIG. 7B.

FIG. 17A is a perspective view of the portion of the ice-making apparatus as shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 18 is a front elevation view of a further embodiment of an ice-making apparatus with tapered gripping tabs.

FIG. 18A is a view taken along the 18A-18A section lines of FIG. 18.

FIG. 18B is a view taken along the 18B-18B section lines of FIG. 18.

FIG. 18C is a view taken along the 18C-18C section lines of FIG. 18.

FIG. 19 is a side elevation view of the ice-making apparatus of FIG. 18.

FIG. 19A is a view taken along the 19A-19A section lines of FIG. 19.

FIG. 20 is a front perspective view of an ice mold of the ice-making apparatus of FIG. 18.

FIG. 21 is a front elevation view of the ice mold of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a side elevation view of the ice mold of FIG. 20.

FIG. 23 is a bottom plan view of the ice mold of FIG. 20.

FIG. 24 is a perspective of a low cost retainer for a low cost ice cube mold assembly, in a collapsed condition.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the low cost retainer for the low cost ice cube mold assembly of FIG. 24 in an operative condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, an ice cube mold, generally identified by reference numeral 12 is illustrated. Ice cube mold 12 consists of a flexible body 13 having a first face 12B, a second face 12C and a peripheral edge consisting of first side 12F, second side 12G, side edges 12H, top 12P and base 12M. A plurality of ice forming cavities 12A are formed in both first face 12B and second face 12C. Bottoms 121 of ice forming cavities 12A in first face 12B define spacer panels between ice forming cavities 12A on second face 12C. Bottoms 121 of ice forming cavities 12A on second face 12C define spacer panels between ice forming cavities 12A on the first face 12B. Each of ice forming cavities 12A is tapered with decreasing width when moving from a width 12L of an access opening 12J of each ice forming cavity 12A to a width 12K at the bottom 121 of each ice forming cavities 12A. Ice forming cavities 12A with an open side 15 are formed along that portion of the peripheral edge identified as side edges 12H and base 12M. A pull tab 26 is formed along that portion of the peripheral edge identified as top 12P. Further aspects of ice mold 12 will be described below.
Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, an ice cube mold assembly 10 is illustrated. Referring to FIG. 9, ice cube molds 12 are placed in face to face relation to form the assembly. The ice forming cavities 12A of a first ice cube mold 12′ are aligned with the ice forming cavities 12A of a second ice cube mold 12″, which is adjacent to first ice cube mold 12′. Ice forming cavities 12A of first ice cube mold 12′ form a first half of a plurality of cumulative ice cube compartments, identified by reference numeral 12E, and ice forming cavities 12A of second ice cube mold 12″ form a second half of cumulative ice cube compartments 12E. The term “compartments” has been used to distinguish over “cavities” and also because when the two cavities 12A are mated the result is a compartment which is closed, except for gaps 12D provided between ice cube mold 12′ and ice cube mold 12″ which allows entry of water and exit of air from cumulative ice cube compartments 12E. Referring to FIG. 6, an apparatus, generally identified by reference numeral 10, is completed by a water retaining container which receives the assembly of ice forming molds 12 in close fitting relation. An inexpensive water retaining container can be formed by using a water retaining liner 16 supported within a structural retainer 14. In addition to being inexpensive, the use of a water retaining line 16 provides a number of advantages, as will hereinafter be described. Referring to FIG. 9, where ice cube mold 12 has ice forming cavities 12A with an open side along that portion of peripheral edge 12H, the open side of ice forming cavities 12A are closed by the water retaining container, i.e. water retaining liner 16 supported within structural retainer 14. Further aspects of ice mold 12 and apparatus 10 will be described below.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, an apparatus 10 is disclosed comprising a plurality of stacked submersible molds (for example a plurality of molds 12) with a form-fitting receptacle (an example of a structural retainer 14) and a consumable receptacle liner bag (an example of a waterproof liner 16) for the purpose of molding water or other fluids into ice cubes. The plurality of molds 12 may stack within the waterproof liner to define a plurality of ice compartments 12E. Apparatus 10 may be used to make low cost bulk ice blocks, such as ice cubes, in a consumer-level freezer. Apparatus 10 may have a compact shape and may produce bulk ice cubes in a more convenient and space-efficient fashion than with a common ice cube mold or molds. The apparatus 10 may be sized to produce as much ice as a standard store-bought bag of ice. Apparatus 10 may have roughly the same foot print in a freezer as, while producing as much or relatively more ice cubes than, a stack of conventional ice cube molds.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, apparatus 10 may be prepared for use by placing the receptacle liner 16 into the retainer 14. The molds 12 may be stacked together and placed into the lined form-fitting retainer 14. Molds 12 may be oriented to define a plurality of ice compartments 12E. Retainer 14 may hold the molds 12 together with slight compression. In some cases, molds 12 may be placed in liner 16 first and molds 12 and liner 16 are then placed into retainer 14.
Referring to FIGS. 9 and 9A, water may be poured, for example in a direction 22 into the liner 16 within retainer 14 to immerse, for example submerge, the molds 12. The water lever will not exceed a fill line 20 below a rim 14D of the retainer 14, as otherwise there is a danger water will overflow retainer 14. Where the mold is equipped with pull tabs, the water lever will not cover the pull tabs, as the pull tabs must be accessed in order to pull molds 12 away from other molds making up an assembly to recover the ice cubes formed. Gaps 12D between adjacent molds allow air to escape and water to fill all ice compartments 12E. Gaps 12D may be intentionally made in the form of small vent slots or holes or other openings. However, gaps 12D may simply be present due to a loose fitting engagement between molds 12. What would not be desirable, would be to have molds 12 interlock in such a tight manner than a seal was formed between the molds which prevented entry of water and exit of air. Liner 16 may contain between 2.2 and 3.2 liters of water, to produce roughly the size of a standard consumer-level bag of ice cubes. The access opening 16B may be sealed. A cover 30 (such as a lid as shown in FIG. 6) if present may be placed on rim 14D of retainer 14. Apparatus 10 may be placed in a freezer to lower the temperature of apparatus 10 and freeze the water in the plurality of ice compartments 12E to form a plurality of ice blocks. Water spillage may be less likely to occur during filling, transporting or placement of the apparatus 10 in the freezer. There may be no need to fill the apparatus 10 as close to the rim 14D of the retainer 14 as is required with a common ice cube mold.
Referring to FIG. 6, after completion of a water freezing cycle, apparatus 10 can be removed from the freezer to de-mold the plurality of ice blocks. Liner 16 containing the plurality of ice blocks and molds 12 may be removed from the retainer 14. With the liner 16 still holding the plurality of ice blocks, molds 12 and liner 16 may be tapped on a solid surface causing the molds 12 and liner 16 to separate from the ice blocks. The ice cubes may be removed from the molds 12 in the liner 16 by separating the molds 12 from one another, leaving liner 16 full of ice cubes. The retainer liner 16 or the retainer 14 or both may be used to store the ice cubes for use. During the ice de-molding process, all ice cubes and ice particles may be conveniently contained within the liner 16.
Referring to FIGS. 1-5, each mold 12 may define cavities, such as recesses 12A that form ice compartments 12E. Recesses 12A may be present on opposed faces of mold 12, for example a first face 12B, and a second face 12C. Recesses 12A may be defined on one or more of opposed faces 12B, 12C or sides 12F, 12G, of mold 12. In some cases, mold 12 defines recesses 12A on one face only, for example first face 12B, and may have a flat profile on the reverse side, for example second face 12C, of each respective mold 12. Recesses 12A may be defined along side edges 12H of mold 12. Some of the plurality of recesses 12A of each mold may open to one or more of the sides, such as a first side 12F, second side 12G of side edges 12H of the mold 12.
Referring to FIGS. 9 and 9A, recesses 12A of each mold 12 in a plurality of molds may form or define ice compartments 12E. Recesses 12A may form ice compartments 12E with one or both of adjacent molds 12 and liner 16. Recesses 12A of mold 12 may align to define ice compartments 12E that span across adjacent molds 12. In the example shown, ice compartment 12E spans across recesses 12A of a first mold 12′ to aligned recesses 12A of second mold 12″. Referring to FIGS. 8A-C and 13-17, recesses 12A in a first side 12F, may be arranged in a checkerboard pattern, and in some cases the pattern is the inverse of a checkerboard pattern of recesses in a second side 12G. The recesses 12A of the checkerboard pattern of side 12F (FIG. 8A) may align with the recesses 12A of the inverse checkerboard pattern of side 12G (FIG. 8B) to form ice compartments 12E. Referring to FIGS. 9-12, ice compartments 12E may be arranged to form a honeycomb-like configuration. Ice compartments 12E may be arranged in such a fashion to maximize the number and volume of compartments 12E and other patterns may be used.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, recesses 12A may be designed to produce various ice cube shapes that are able to be de-molded. Referring to FIG. 3, recesses 12A may be tapered with decreasing width when moving from an access opening 12J to a base 121 of the recess 12A. In the example shown, width 12K of base 121 is smaller than width 12L of the opening 12J, which gives recess 12A a tapered shape. Tapering recess 12A may reduce the retention of ice blocks within recess 12A after removal from the liner 16 and retainer 14. Other shapes of recesses 12A may be used, for example shaped to form ice tubes, cubes, spheres, stars, and others.
Referring to FIGS. 12 and 12A, molds 12 may be stacked either vertically (not pictured) or horizontally (shown). Molds 12 may stack face-to-face relative to one another, for example with first face 12B of mold 12″ stacked against second face 12C of an adjacent mold 12′. Each mold 12 may stand upright on side edges 12H within the stack. Each mold 12 may stack such that first face 12B and second face 12C of adjacent molds 12 face in lateral directions, such as directions 32. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, each mold or mold 12 may be tapered with decreasing lateral width when moving towards a base 12M of mold 12. For example, a lateral width 12N′ of mold 12 near a top 12P of mold 12 may be greater than a lateral width 12N″ of mold 12 near the base 12M. Each mold 12 or mold may have the peripheral shape of an isosceles trapezoid.
Referring to FIG. 7, ice compartments 12E may form a fluid network. Ice compartments 12E may be in fluid communication with an access opening 16B such as a top access opening defined by the waterproof liner 16. When the plurality of molds 12 are added to the liner 16 and retainer 14, water may be added by a suitable method, such as pouring from a container or tap, into the top access opening 16B. The water may then traverse the fluid network to fill the plurality of ice compartments 12E while the molds 12 are in the stacked configuration. Referring to FIGS. 10 and 10A, water may travel between ice compartments 12E via gaps 12D between the molds 12 within a stack. Gaps 12D may be defined at the interface of two molds 12. Gaps 12D may permit the escape of air from compartments 12E during filling. The fluid network may allow the filling of the plurality of compartments 12E during submerging of a stack of molds 12 in water.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the plurality of molds 12 may comprise finger grip parts, such as a pull tab 26, for removing each mold 12, and in some cases for separating adjacent molds 12 within a stack. Each mold 12 within a stack may comprise a pull tab 26. Pull tab 26 may provide a handle for a user to grip and separate molds 12, which may be otherwise difficult to separate after freezing. The molds 12 may be separated from one another by a user applying a pulling force on the pull tab 26 of the respective mold 12. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 18A, each pull tab 26 may be spaced or offset from closely adjacent or abutting pull tabs 26 on adjacent molds 12 to decrease the effort required to grip and remove the mold 12. Referring to FIG. 4, pull tab 26 may extend along the top 12P of mold 12, rising above the ice compartments 12E of the mold 12. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, pull tabs 26 may comprise a plurality of pull tabs 28, for example mounted adjacent or at opposing side edges of mold 12. Pull tabs 28 may comprise ridges or grooves 28A to increase friction between the tab 28 and a user's finger, to decrease the effort required to grip molds 12. As previously described, pull tabs 26 should project above the water line once the molds are immersed in the water.
Referring to FIGS. 18-23, pull tab 26 may have a tapered shape. Referring to FIG. 18A, pull tab 26 may be tapered with decreasing height, for example as shown by comparing heights 36, 38 when moving from opposed sides 12Q and 12R of pull tab 26. Referring to FIGS. 18A and 19A, the plurality of molds 12 may be arranged in pairs, for example the pair of molds 12′ and 12″ shown, with the pull tabs 26′, 26″ of each respective mold abutting (shown) or closely adjacent to one another when in the stacked configuration. Referring to FIG. 18A, a top edge 26B of each pull tab of the pair may be tapered, for example with increasing height, in an opposite lateral direction as the top edge 26B of the other pull tab of the pair. Each pull tab 26 of the pair may define a finger gripping part 26A that does not overlap with the other pull tab of the pair, for example the finger gripping part 26A of the other pull tab. Tapered pull tabs 26 may be staggered to offset the extended parts 26A from one another. Offsetting may decrease the effort required to grip and separate molds 12. Extended end or part 26A may extend past a perimeter rim 14D of retainer 14.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, retainer 14 may have a suitable structure. Retainer 14 may form a housing 14J that has side walls 14B and a base 14A. Side walls 14B may be tapered. Side walls 14B of housing 14J may be tapered with a decreasing lateral width when moving toward base 14A. For example, lateral width of the side wall portion of the perimeter rim 14D is greater than the width 14G of base 14A. Walls 14B may be tapered with respect to a plane 14E defined as being perpendicular to base 14A. Walls 14B may be angled from plane 14E with a suitable taper angle 14F, for example 5°, 10° and others. Side walls 14B may form mold bearing surfaces, which may be made of a bearing material selected to have a coefficient of friction less than or equal to 0.2 (for example 0.12 or 0.07 for nylon and UHMWPE, respectively), for example less than or equal to 0.1, in relation to steel. Polytetrafluoroethylene (TEFLON™) may be used to form the structural retainer. Coefficients of kinetic friction may be determined according to a standardized test, for example ASTM D1894. Kinetic friction is the resistance to sliding of one surface over another once those surfaces are in relative motion. Side walls 14B may be lubricated to decrease the friction between the inner surface of side wall 14B and mold 12 to decrease the effort required to remove the liner 16 and plurality of molds 12. In some cases, retainer 14 comprises hinges (not pictured) to open up side walls 14B and provide access to liner 16 and molds 12. In some cases, retainer 14 forms a water-tight seal to prevent leaking of water during filling. Referring to FIG. 18A, an interior surface of retainer 14 may have suitable radii or beveling, such as coves 14K, to assist in release of side walls 14B.
Apparatus 10 may be made to function without the use of consumable liner 16. For example, the retainer 14 may be made to itself form a waterproof liner. The apparatus 10 may be made using a retainer made of a material like silicone or similar material that does not stick to the product being molded or by coating the retainer with a release agent or non-stick coating or hydrophobic coating. The retainer may form a rigid structure, or may be a bag, or flexible or resilient part.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 12, the access opening 16B may be configured to close, for example seal, to retain water within the liner 16. Liner 16 may comprise a commercially available bag, for example a ZIPLOC™ bag that forms a seal 16A when closed. Opening 16B may be defined by first and second opposed sides 16C, 16D of liner 16. Referring to FIG. 12, first and second opposed sides 16C, 16D may be lined with a groove 16E and ridge 16F, respectively, that interlock to form seal 16A when pressed together. Liner 16 may form a seal by a slide element (not shown) that slides along the bag to seal the groove 16E and ridge 16F, respectively. A zipper, tie, string, cable, or other mechanism may be used to form a suitable seal or otherwise sufficiently close the bag.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, apparatus 10 may comprise a retainer or retainer cover 30 mounted on an access opening 14L of the retainer 14. A suitable lid or other type of cover 30 may fit by a suitable mechanism, such as a friction fit, latch, ridge and groove, or other mechanism.
Apparatus 10 may comprise a mold connector, for example a part that integrally or otherwise connects adjacent molds. In one case an entire plurality of molds may be integrally connected and folded, for example in an accordion fashion, to produce the stack within the retainer 14. Each mold 12 within the plurality of molds may be connected end-to-end to form a chain of molds 12.
The plurality of molds 12 may be made of a suitable material, such as silicone, that maintains flexibility at suitable subzero temperatures, such as −8° C., −18° C. and others. Retainer 14 may be made of a suitable material, such as plastic or metal. Liner 16 may be made of a suitable material, such as polyethylene film plastic. Other solids or fluids may be molded with apparatus 10, for example wax, JELL-O™, chocolate, plaster, plastic and others. Tapered shapers may incorporate one or more of straight, curved, or more complex profiles.
Apparatus 10 may provide a suitable alternative to the common ice mold, producing ice in relatively larger quantities, with less effort, time, and hassle. Pull tabs may be located on the sides or base of the mold.
During the development of a commercial embodiment of the present invention, it was determined that in order for the invention to have commercial success the cost would have to be reduced. This resulted in experimenting with low cost materials. The science of hydrophobic treatments has advanced markedly in the last number of years. Firstly it was determined that by using hydrophobic treatments, lower cost materials could be used. Instead of using silicone for molds 12, it is possible to use a less expense material that can be formed with less expensive molding processes such as thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) treated with or containing hydrophobic chemicals.
A major item of expense was retainer 14. For that reason, much effort was expended to arrive at a lower cost retainer. Referring to FIG. 24 and FIG. 25, there is disclosed retainer 200, shown in an operative condition in FIG. 25 and in a collapsed condition in FIG. 24. Referring to FIG. 24, retainer 200 has a flexible body 202. In order to keep cost down flexible body 202 is made from fabric. Flexible body 202 has a central portion 204 surrounded by appendages 206, 208, 210, and 212. Appendages 206, 208, 210, and 212 are movable between a collapsed position laying on a common plane relative to central portion 204, as illustrated in FIG. 24, and an operative position extending vertically relative to central portion 204 to provide containment, as illustrated in FIG. 25. Referring to FIG. 24, each of appendages 206, 208, 210, and 212 have rectangular pockets 214 in which are positioned rectangular stiffeners 216. Opposed appendages 206 and 210 are rectangular and form one pair of opposed sides of retainer 200. Opposed appendage 208 and 212 are have flexible side wings 218 that extend beyond rectangular pockets 214. Referring to FIG. 25, flexible wings 218 wrap around and capture opposed appendages 206 and 210 when retainer 200 is in the operative position. A wrap around tie strap 220 secures the four appendages 206, 208, 210 and 212 together to maintain retainer 200 in the operative position.
In use, retainer 200 is positioned around an assembly of molds 12 which are positioned in a plastic bag liner. Plastic bag line is then filled with water and retainer 200 is placed in a freezer. After a sufficient time interval to allow the water to turn to ice, retainer is removed from the freezer. Tie strap 220 is then loosened and appendages 206, 208, 210 and 212 moved to the collapsed position, to facilitate removal of molds.
In the claims, the word “comprising” is used in its inclusive sense and does not exclude other elements being present. The indefinite articles “a” and “an” before a claim feature do not exclude more than one of the feature being present. Each one of the individual features described here may be used in one or more embodiments and is not, by virtue only of being described here, to be construed as essential to all embodiments as defined by the claims.
The scope of the claims should not be limited by the illustrated embodiments set forth as examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with a purposive construction of the claims in view of the description as a whole.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An ice cube mold, comprising:

a flexible body having a first face, a second face and a peripheral edge, with a plurality of ice forming cavities formed in both the first face and the second face.

2. The ice cube mold of claim 1, wherein bottoms of the ice forming cavities in the first face define spacer panels between cavities on the second face and bottoms of the ice forming cavities on the second face define spacer panels between cavities on the second face.

3. The ice cube mold of claim 1, wherein ice forming cavities with an open side are formed along at least a portion of the peripheral edge.

4. The ice cube mold of claim 1, wherein a pull tab is formed along at least a portion of the peripheral edge.

5. The ice cube mold of claim 1, wherein each of the cavities is tapered with decreasing width when moving from an access opening of each cavity to a bottom of each cavity.

6. The ice cube mold of claim 1, wherein the flexible body maintain flexibility at temperatures below minus eighteen degrees Celsius.

7. The ice cube mold of claim 6, wherein the flexible body is made of silicone.

8. An ice cube mold, comprising:

a flexible body having a first face, a second face and a peripheral edge, with a plurality of ice forming cavities formed in both the first face and the second face, bottoms of the ice forming cavities in the first face defining spacer panels between cavities on the second face and bottoms of the ice forming cavities on the second face define spacer panels between cavities on the second face, each of the cavities is tapered with decreasing width when moving from an access opening of each cavity to a bottom of each cavity, ice forming cavities with an open side being formed along at least a portion of the peripheral edge and a pull tab being formed along at least a portion of the peripheral edge.

9. An ice cube mold assembly, comprising:

at least two of the ice cube molds of claim 1, placed in face to face relation to form an assembly, the ice forming cavities of a first ice cube mold being aligned with the ice forming cavities of a second ice cube mold, which is adjacent to the first ice cube mold, with the ice forming cavities of the first ice cube mold forming a first half of a plurality of cumulative ice cube compartments and the ice forming cavities of the second ice cube mold forming a second half of the cumulative ice cube compartments, gaps being provided between the at least two ice cube molds to allow entry of water and exit of air from the cumulative ice cube compartments;

a water retaining container receiving the assembly in close fitting relation.

10. The ice cube mold assembly of claim 9, wherein the water retaining container is comprised of a water retaining liner supported within a structural retainer.

11. The ice cube mold assembly of claim 10, wherein the water retaining liner is a bag having an access opening, with a first side and a second side opposed to the first side, the first side and the second side being lined with at least one groove and at least one ridge, respectively, the at least one groove and the at least one ridge interlocking to form a seal when the first side and the second side are pressed together.

12. The ice cube mold assembly of claim 9, wherein each ice cube mold is supported upright on the peripheral edge when the assembly is positioned within water retaining container.

13. The ice cube mold assembly of claim 9, wherein each ice cube mold has a pull tab formed along at least a portion of the peripheral edge, the pull tab of each ice cube mold being laterally offset from the pull tab of an adjacent ice cube mold.

14. The ice cube mold assembly of claim 9, wherein the ice cube molds are arranged in pairs.

15. The ice cube mold assembly of claim 9, wherein each ice cube mold has ice forming cavities with an open side formed along at least a portion of the peripheral edge, the open side of the ice forming cavities being closed by the water retaining container.

16. The ice cube mold assembly of claim 9, wherein a cover closes an access opening of the water retaining container.

17. The ice cube mold assembly of claim 9, wherein the water retaining container is comprised of a flexible body having a central portion surrounded by appendages, the appendages being movable between a collapsed position laying on a common plane relative to the central portion and an operative position extending vertically relative to the central portion to provide containment.

18. The ice cube mold assembly of claim 17, wherein there are four appendages configured in two pairs of opposed appendages and one of the two pairs of opposed appendages have lateral wings which cover gaps between the appendages.

19. The ice cube mold assembly of claim 17, wherein a tie strap maintains the appendages in the operative position.

20. A method of forming ice cubes, comprising:

providing a plurality of ice cube molds, each ice cube mold comprising a flexible body having a first face, a second face and a peripheral edge, with a plurality of ice forming cavities formed in both the first face and the second face;

forming an ice cube mold assembly by placing at least two of the ice cube molds in face to face relation, the ice forming cavities of a first ice cube mold being aligned with the ice forming cavities of a second ice cube mold, which is facing the first ice cube mold, with the ice forming cavities of the first ice cube mold forming a first half of a plurality of cumulative ice cube compartments and the ice forming cavities of the second ice cube mold forming a second half of the cumulative ice cube compartments, gaps being provided between the at least two ice cube molds to allow entry of water and exit of air from the cumulative ice cube compartments;

inserting the ice cube mold assembly into a water retaining container that accommodate the assembly in close fitting relation;

filling the container with water;

placing the container holding the assembly in a freezer until the water freezes;

removing the assembly from the container; and

disassembling the assembly to release ice cubes which have formed from the cumulative ice cube compartments.