US2169180A - Ice tray - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 8, 1939 J. w. JACOBS ICE TRAY Filed Sept. 17, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Jim's M Jvcoss. BY

.11 i u w ///.5 ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 8, 1939 J, w JACOBS 2,169,180

v ICE TRAY Filed Sept. 17, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a M N I I d! '4; Q INVENIOR. v I Jpn: rlycoas.

I/IJ ATTORNEYS Aug. 8, 1939 J. w. JACOBS ICE TRAY Filed Sept. 17, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 INVENTOR rfurs: M rfieaaa, z I I ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 8, 1939 PATENT OFFICE ICE TRAY James W. Jacobs, Dayton, Ohio. assignor to Gen-' eral Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application September 17, 1938, Serial No. 230,466

9 Claims.

This invention relates to freezing devices for liquids and particularly to ice trays and grids therefor employed in household refrigerating apparatuses.

A general object of my invention is to provide an improved grid construction adapted to be removably disposed in an ice tray for dividing the interior of the tray into a plurality of ice block compartments and a novel method of-removing ice blocks from the tray and grid without applying heat thereto. v

Another object of my invention is to provide a unitary metallic grid structure for an ice tray which is removable from the tray as a unit together with ice blocks adhering thereto .and which structure has three substantially inflexible members or walls located one above the other in substantially the same vertical plane and forming a longitudinal partition carrying a plurality of substantially inflexible transverse partitions and wherein the two upper members of the longitudinal partition are movable upwardly of the lower member thereof to move the top member lengthwise of the intermediate member to cause a tilting or rotating movement of the transverse partitions for breaking the bond between ice blocks and the grid walls to thereby facilitate the harvesting of ice blocks. I It'is a further object of my invention to pro-' vide, in' a grid structure of the type described in the foregoing object, transverse partitions which are normally disposed in an upright acute angled position and are movable out of their acute angled disposition by movement of certan of the members or walls of the longitudinal partition relative to one another into another position to enlarge the ice block compartments formed therebetween for releasing iceblocks from the compartments.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a grid structure of the type described with a lever having a single direction of motion for elevating the unitary grid together with ice blocks adhering thereto from the tray and for elevating the intermediate and top members, or walls of the longitudinal partition relative to the lower member or wall thereof to move the top member lengthwise of the intermediate member for causing tilting or rotation of the transverse partitionsmz.

Still further and more specific objects and advantages of my invention reside in the construction and ease of operation of my improved grid structure and in novel combinations and arrangements of parts thereof as will more fully appear in the course of the following description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan.view of a freezing device comprising a tray and a grid constructed in accordance with my invention removably disposed in the tray; 5

Fig. 2 is a sideview of the freezing device disclosed in Fig. 1 and taken on the line 22 thereof showing the tray in section;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing ice blocks in the freezing device and disclosing the 10 grid structure and ice blocks therein elevated relative tolthe tray;

Fig. 4 is a view disclosing the grid removed from the tray and showing walls of the grid moved relative to one another for releasing ice 1 blocks therefrom;

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view of .thefreezing device taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view 20 of the device taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2 showing the transverse grid walls interlocking two of the members of the longitudinal partition together; and

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view of 25 the freezing device taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2 showing the connection of two of the members of the longitudinal grid partition with a third member thereof.

As before stated, my invention relates to a 3 freezing device of the type generally employed in household refrigerating apparatuses for produc-- ing small cubes or blocks of ice and reference to the accompanying drawings will be made to illustrate the invention. The freezing device includes 35 a metal ice tray I5 (see Fig. 1) having a unitary metal walled grid I6 removably disposed therein for dividing the interior thereof into longitudinal rows of ice block compartments H. The tray l5 has side walls It (see Figs. 5, 6 and '7), a bottom 40 wall It and opposed end walls 2| and 22. The

tray side walls It and the cnd'walls 2| and 22 thereof diverge outwardly. toward the top of the tray to facilitate removal of the grid and ice block's adhering thereto from the tray. The walls 45 ll, 2|, and 22 of tray |5 have their. upper edge rolled 0r bent over to form a rim 23 which extends continuously around' the top of the tray to increase its structural strength. A portion of the metal tray I5 is extended downwardly from rim 2!, as at 24, at the front end 22 thereof and provides a mounting for a heavy metal piece 26 which has a handle 21 pivotally secured thereto as at 2'.v The legs of handle 21 are provided with a cam surface 29 adapted to engage the u tray support to break an ice bond between the tray and its support as will hereinafter be more fully described.

The unitary grid structure, generally represented by the reference character I3, is removably disposed within tray I5 and includes a plurality of inflexible metal walls which divide the interior of the tray into the longitudinal rows of cells or Compartments IT. The grid structure l3 comprises a longitudinal partition 30 formed oi or comprising three rigid metal members 3|, 32 and 33. It will be noted that the major part of members 3|, 32 and 33 are disposed one on top of the other and lie in substantially the same vertical plane with one another, The lower longitudinal member 33 of partition 33 has an upstanding end portion 34 offset, as at 33 (see Fig. 1), so as to position the end portion 34 adjacent and out of the vertical plane of an enlarged end portion 33 (see Fig. 4) of member 32. The opposite end of member 33 terminates in an upstanding portion 31 also ofl'set, as at 33 (see Fig. 1), so as to position this end portion 31 of member 33 adjacent and out of the'vertical plane of the ends 33 and 4| of members 32 and 3| respectively. The ends 39 and 4| of longitudinal members 32 and 3| are secured to longitudinal member 33 by rivets or the like 42 and 43 respectively which pass through the upstanding end portion 31 of member 33: A lever 43 having a handle end 43 and a short end 41 is provided with legs 43 and 43 (see Fig. l), Astud or the like 3| staked or otherwise suitably secured to the one leg 43 of lever 43 extends into a suitable'opening therefor provided in the upstandingend portion 34 of member 33.

The opening within the end portion 34 01' member 33 and the stud 3| provides a pivotal mounting support for lever 43 upon member 33. A stud or the like 32 also staked or otherwise suitably secured to the other leg '48 of lever 43 extends into an angularly disposed slot 33 provided in the enlarged end portion 33 01 member 32. Slot 33 has an enlarged upper end portion 34, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. The legs 43 and 43 of lever 43 straddle the members 32 and 33, and the studs 3| and 32 secured to the lever movably lock the ends 34 and 33 of members 33 and 32 respectively together. Thus, lever 43 is pivotally secured to or mounted on member 33 of the longitudinal partition 33 by a stud 3|.

The upper member 3| of partition 33 has its end opposite the end 4| thereof terminating in spaced relation to a wall portion 33 of the enlargedend 33 of member for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described. This upper longitudinal member 3| of partition 33 has a plu-. rality of equally spaced apart slots 31 cut inwardly of its top edge. Slots 31 are wider at their lower portion than attheir top for a purpose which will become apparent in the description oi operation of the grid structure. The intermediate member 32 of the longitudinal partition 33 base. plurality of equally spaced apart slots pose to hereinafter become apparent.

33 cut inwardly of its bottom edge. -These slots 33 cut or provided in member 32 are wider at their tops than at their lower portion for a pur- The slots 51 in member 3| are, in the normal ice freezing position of the grid structure I3, disposed slightly to the right of slots 33 provided in member 32. Slots 31 and 33 are paired and each pair thereof is adapted to receive and hold in place upon the grid structure l3 a cross wall or partition which cooperates with the longitudinal partition to' divide the interior of tray I3 into the plurality of ice block compartments I1. I, therefore, located a plurality of transverse partitions or rigid metal walls 3| upon the two members 3| and 32 of the longitudinal partition 33 and within the slots 31 and 33 prior to securing the members 3| and 32 to the lower member 33 of the longitudinal partition. Each first members 3| is provided with a vertically disposed opening therein for the reception of the members 3| and 32. One

side of the opening in each member. is bounded by a straight vertical side wall 32 (see Fig. 6 The other side of the opening in each member 3| is formed or bounded by a short vertical wall portion 33 connected with a. second vertical wall portion 34 by an angularly disposed wall portion 33 which is connected, by a short horizontal wall portion 33, with a third vertical wall portion 31. In assembling the transverse partitions 3| upon the grid structure I3, the member 3| is first passed through the opening in each partition 3| and is moved over so that the web portions there-- of below the slots 31 lie against the wall portions 34 and 33. This temporary position of member 3| within the cross walls 3| leaves sufficient space within the opening provided in the wall 3| for the reception of the longitudinal member 32. The member 32 is then passed through the opening in each partition 3| to position the top wall of slots 33 provided therein against the bottom wall of the openings in partitions 3|. The short angular wall portion 33 oi the opening in each partition 3| permits'the member 3| to then be moved upwardly of member 32 into vertical alignment therewith whereby member 3| rests upon member 32 while at the same time locking the transverse members 3| in place by the engagement of member 3| with wall portion 33 and member 32 with wall portion 31 of members 3|. The assembled together members 3|, 32 and 3| are then secured to member 33 by the rivets 42 and 43 and by the studs 3| and 32 of lever 43 to provide a unitary grid structure. It will be noted that the cross walls or partitions 3| each have a vertical slot 1| provided therein and extending upwardly from in an. inclined or acute angled upright position relative to the bottom 01 tray |3 or relative to the vertical disposition of longitudinal partition 33. This acute angled disposition of partitions 3| provides the iceblock compartment IT with a parallelogram shape in one direction of cross section therethrough. Thus, it'will be seen ,that movement of the uppe'rmember 3| of longitudinal partition 33 toward the lever end of the grid structure l3, as by elevating member 32 relative to member 33 as will hereinafter be. more specifically described, will cause the inclinedcross walls or partitions 3| to straighten up or move into a substantially vertical position whereby the parallelogram-shaped compartments H are changed into a substantially square or rectangular form to thereby enlarge the compartments. The construction and arrangementoi the various parts of the unitary grid structure are such that one lever having a single direction oi motion will suflice to lift the grid l3 together with ice adhering thereto bers 3| and 32 relative to the rigid metal member 33 of grid IO, and move grid member 3| lengthwise of grid member 32 to rotate or swing the rigid transverse metal walls ii to enlarge the ice compartments ll.

Assume that water has been frozen in the freezing device in theform of ice blocks 15 in the compartments 11, by the cooling effect produced by a cooling element or evaporator of a refrigerating system, and removal or harvesting of these ice blocks is desired. The tray handle 21 is grasped. by the hand and pulled outwardly, thus causing same to pivot about its pivotal mounting 28 and move downwardly. This initial downward movement of handle 21 causes the cam surface or surfaces 29 thereon to bear against the evaporator to break the ice bond between the freezing device and the evaporator. The freezing device can, thereafter, be. readily removed from its support in or on the evaporator. After removal of the freezing device from the evaporator of the refrigerating system, handle end 46 of lever on grid i6 is grasped by the hand and elevated to cause the lever to rotate about its pivotal mounting pin or stud 5|. Initial upward movement of lever 45 causes the short end l| thereof to engage the rim 2? at the back end of tray l5 and apply force to the tray to elevate the unitary grid structure l6 nd the ice blocks 15 adhering thereto relative to he tray of the freezing device. The enlarged portion 54 of slot 53 in member 32 permits the initial movement of lever 45 to be carried out without moving any of the ice block compartment walls or partitions relative to others thereof. The position of the initial movement of lever 45 of the device is illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings and it willbe noted, that the grid l6 and ice blocks 15 bonded thereto are raised away from the bottom wall [9 of tray IS. The bond between the ice and tray l5 having now been broken permits the unitary grid structure 16 to be removed from the tray for the purpose of releasing ice blocks 15 from walls of thegrid. After grid ii has been removed from tray l5, further elevation or rotation of lever 45 about its pivotal mounting 5i causes the pin or stud 52 carried by the-lever to apply force to walls of the angularly disposed slot 53 to thereby lift the lever end of a second member or member 32 of longitudinal partition 30 relative to the first or lower member 33 thereof. Elevation of member 32 about its pivot 2 causes the third member or member 3i of longitudinal partition 30 tornove lengthwise of the second member 32 in a direction toward the lever end of the grid structure or toward the wall portion 56 of themlarged endportion 36 of member 32 to close'the gap between member 3| and wall portion (see Fig. 4). This lengthwise movement of member 3| relative to member, 32, during elevation of these members of the longitudinal partition 30 relative to the first or a lower member 33 thereof, applies force t'.- the transverse walls or .partitions 6| to swing or rotate same within the 7 lots 51 and.58. The swinging or rotating moveent of partitions 6! moves them out of their normal acute angled disposition into'a substantially vertically position which enlarges thev compartrnents *I'l. Movement of the rigid metal walls'or partitions of grid structure l6 relative to one another in the manner described and as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings breaks the bond between the ice blocks 15 and the grid walls or partitions and the enlarging of the ice block compartments ll causes the blocks 15 to be liberated from theunitary grid structure. In Fig. 4 of the drawings, I have shown the ice- 'blocks 18 in dot-dash lines within the compartments I! after the walls of grid I! have been moved merely to illustrate the change inform or enlargement of the normally parallelogramshaped ice compartments. 'It is to be understood, however, that, when the walls of the gridv have been moved to the position shown in Fig.4

grid structure to facilitate their removal with a minimum of effort manually exerted upon the operating lever. forces applied to the ice blocks in different directions relative to one another prevent undue shattering of the ice blocks. My improved grid structure is of low cost, strong and durable, and yet operable by one lever adapted to move in a single direction of motion for separating the grid together with ice blocks bonded thereto from the tray and for moving the grid walls relative to one another for liberating ice blocks therefrom. My improvedgrid structure isconstructed entirely of metal to thereby, retain the fast freezing characteristics of metal tray and grid combinations.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes'a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed. is as follows:

1. A unitary grid structure for disposition in an ice tray and removable therefrom as a unit, said grid structure comprising a longitudinal partition and a plurality of partitions disposed in spaced apart relation along the length of said stantially the same vertical plane with one another and cooperating with said outwardly extending partitions to form walls of a-plurality of ice block compartments, means for connecting said three members of said longitudinal partition and said plurality of outwardly extending partitions together in movable relation to one another, means mirriedby said grid structure for applying force between a first one and a second one of said members of said longitudinal partition to elevate a portion of said second one and the third one of said members together with said outwardly extending partitions relative to/sald first one of said members, and, the connection of said members being so constructed and arranged that the elevation of said second and said third members with said outwardly extending partitions relative to said first member causes movement of said third member lengthwise of said second member to thereby rotate said outwardly extending partitions. for liberating ice blocks from'said compartments.

2. A unitary grid structure for disposition in said grid structure comprising a longitudinal partition and a plurality of partitions disposed in spaced apart relation along the length of said longitudinal partition and extending outwardLv therefrom, said longitudinal partition including three superimposed members disposed in substantially the same vertical plane with one another and cooperating with said outwardly extending partitions to form walls of a plurality of ice biock compartments, means for connecting said outwardly extending partitions to at least two of said three members 01 said longitudinal partition, means for connecting said three members of said longitudinal partition together in movable relation to one another, means carried by said grid structure for applying force between a first one and a second one oi! said members of said longitudinal partition to elevate a portion of said second one and the third one of said members together with said outwardly extending partitions relative to said first one oi'said members, and the connection 01' said members being so constructed and arranged that the elevation of said second and said third members with said outwardly extending partitions relative to said first member simultaneously movessaidthird member lengthwise of said second member and rotates said outwardly extending partitions to liberate ice blocks from said compartments.

3. In combination, a tray having a grid disposed therein, said grid comprising a longitudinal partition and a plurality of partitions disposed in spaced apart relation along the length or said longitudinal partition and extending continuously through the plane thereof outwardly from its sides, said longitudinal partition including three superimposed members disposed-in substantially the same vertical plane with one another and cooperating with said outwardly extending partitions to divide the interior of said tray into rows of ice block compartments, means for connecting said three members of said longitudinal partition and said plurality of outwardly extending partitions together in movable relation to one another to form a unitary removable grid structure, means carried by said grid structure tor applying force to said tray for elevating the grid together with ice blocts adhering thereto relative to the tray, said means being arranged to impart a iorce between a first one and a second one of said members of said longitudinal partition to elevate a portion of said second one and the third one or said members together with said outwardly extending partitions relative to said first one oi said members after the unitary grid structure and ice blocks have been elevated relative to the tray, and the connection of said members being so constnscted and arranged that the elevation of said second and said third members with said outwardly extending partitions relative to said first member causes movement of said third member lengthwise 01 said second member to thereby rotate said outwardly extending partitions for liberating ice blocks from said Brid structure.

4. A unitary grid structure for d lpo tion an ice tray and removable tbereirom as a unit,

said grid s lond' tudinal partition and a plurality of partitions disposed in spaced apart relation along the length of said longitudinal partition and extending outwsrdly therefrom, said longitudinal, partition including three superimposed members dimosed in substantially the some vertical plane with one another and cooperating with said outwardly exand a second one of said members of said longitudinal partitionto elevate a portion of said second one and the third one or said members together with said outwardly extending partitions relative to said first one 01 said members, and the connection of said members being so con- I structed and arranged that the elevation of said second and said third members with said outwardly extending partitions relative to said first member causes movement of said third member lengthwise of said second member to thereby rotate said outwardly extending partitions out of their normal acute angleddisposition to enlarge said compartments for liberating ice blocks from said grid structure.

5. A unitary grid structure for disposition in an ice tray and removable therefrom as a unit,

said grid structure comprising a longitudinal partition and a plurality oi partitions disposed in spaced apart relation along the length of said longitudinal partition and extending outwardly therefrom, said longitudinal partition including three superimposed members disposed in substantially the same vertical plane with one another and cooperating with said outwardly extending partitlonsto iorm walls 0! a plurality of ice block-compartments, said outwardly extending partitions being normally disposed at an acute angle with respect to the disposition of ,said longitudinal partition to provide said ice block compartments with a parallelogram form in one direction of cross section therethrough, means for connecting said outwardly extending partitionsto at least two of said three members of said longitudinal partition, means for connecting said three members of said longitudinal partition together in movable relation to one another, means carried by said grid structure ior svvlyins force between a first one and a second one of said members oi said longitudinal partitionto elevate a portion oi said second one and the third one of said members together with said outwardly extending partitions relative to said first one of said members, and the connection oi said members being soconstructed and arranged that the elevation of said second and said third members with said outwardly extending partitions relative to said iirst member simultaneously movesssid third member lengthwise oi saidi second member and rotates said outwardly extending partitions out of their normal acute angled disposition to enlarge said compartments for lib erating ice block'sirom said grid structure.

8. In combination, a tray having a grid disposed therein. said grid comprising a longitudinal partition and a plurality of partitions disposed in spaced apart relation along the length or said longitudinal partition and extending continuously through the plane thereo! outwardly from its sides, said longitudinal partition including three superimposed members disposed in substantially the same vertical plane with one an-% other and cooperating with said outwardly exdisposition of saidrlongitudinal partition to provide said ice block compartments with a parallelogram form in one direction of cross section therethrough, means for connecting said three members of said longitudinal partition and said plurality of outwardly extending partitions together in movable relation to one another to form a unitary removable grid structure, means carried by said grid structure for applying force to said tray 'for elevating same together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray, said means being arranged toalso impart a force between a first one and a second one of said members or said longitudinal partition to elevate a portion of said second one and the third one of said members together with said outwardly extendingpartitions relative to said first one of said members after the unitary grid structure and ice blocks have been elevated relative to the tray, and the connection of said members being so constructed and arranged that the elevation of said second and said third members with said outwardly extending partitions relative to said first member causes movement of said third member lengthwise of said second member to thereby rotate said outwardly extending partitions out of their normal acute angled disposition to enlarge said compartments forliberating ice blocks fromsaid grid structure.

7. A unitary grid structure for disposition in an ice tray and removable therefrom as a unit,

said grid structure comprising a longitudinal partition and a plurality of partitionsdisposed in spaced apart relation along the length of said longitudinal partition and extending outwardly therefrom, said longitudinal partition including three superimposed members disposed in substantially the same vertical plane with one another and cooperating with said outwardly extending partitions to form walls of a plurality of ice block compartments, means for connecting said three members of said longitudinal partition and said plurality of outwardly extending partitions together in movable relation to one another, a lever pivotally carried by a first one of the three members of said longitudinal partition and having a connection with a second one of said members, said lever being operable to apply force between said first member and said second member to elevate a portion of said second member and the third one of said members together with said outwardly extending partitions relative to said first member, and the connection of said members being so constructed and arranged that the ele-. vation of said second and said third'members with said outwardly extending partitions relative to said first member causes movement or said third member lengthwise of said second member to thereby move said outwardly extending partitions relative to said members for liberating ice blocks from said compartments.

8. A unitary grid structure for disposition in an ice tray and removable therefrom as a unit,

5 said grid structure comprising a longitudinal partition and a plurality of partitions disposed in spaced apart relation along the length of said longitudinal partition and extending outwardly therefrom, said longitudinal partition including three members cooperating with said outwardly extending partitions to form walls of a' plurality of ice block compartments, means for connecting said three members of said longitudinal'partition structed and arranged that the elevation ofsaid second and said third members with said outwardly extending partitions relative to said first member causes movement of said third member relative to said second member to thereby move said outwardly extending partitions for breaking the bond between ice blocks and the compartment walls and for liberating iceblocks from said compartments.

I '9. A unitary grid structure for disposition in e an ice tray and removable therefrom as a unit, said grid structure comprising a longitudinal partition and a plurality of partitions disposed in R spaced apart relation along the length of said longitudinal partition and extending outwardly therefrom, said longitudinal partition including three superimposed members disposed in substantially the same vertical plane with one another and cooperating with said outwardly extending partitions to form walls of a plurality of ice block compartments, said outwardly extending partitions being normally disposed at an acute angle with respect to the disposition of said longitudinal partition to provide said ice block compartments with a parallelogram form in one direction of cross section therethrough, means for connecting said outwardly extending partitions to at least two of said three members of said longitudinal partition, means for connecting said three members of said longitudinal partition together in movable relation to one another, means for applying force between a first one and a second one of said members of said longitudinal partition to elevate a portion of said second one and the third one of said members togetherwith said outwardly extending partitions'relative to said first one of said members, and the connection of said members being so constructed and arranged that the elevation of said second and said third members with said outwardly extending partitions relative to said first member moves said third member relative to said second member and also moves said outwardly extending partitions out of their normal acute angled disposition to enlarge said compartments for breaking the bond between ice blocks and the compartment walls and for liberating ice blocks from said grid structure.

JAMES w. JACOBS.

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