US2201586A - Ice tray - Google Patents

Description

F. P. KEIPER May 21, 1940*.

ICE TRAY Original Filed June 8, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR. 7;,vc/s 7? Aff/P5P.

/l/' ATTORNEYS.

F. 5P. KEIPER May 2l, *1940.

ICE TRAY Qriginal 'Filed June 8,., '193.8

.3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Fe/vens 7D. A17/P5K.

BY l

#/J' ATTORNEYS.

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 F. P. KEIPER ICE TRAY Original Filed June 8, 1.938

May 21, 1940.

Bmma

. /f/' ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlciz ICE TRAY

Application June l8, 1938, Serial No. 212,487 Renewed February 5, 1940 -Claims.

This invention relates to liquid freezing devices and particularly to ice trays and grids therefor employed in household refrigerators.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide 5 an improved rigid movable Wall grid structure adapted to be removably disposed in an ice tray for dividing the tray into four or more longitudinal rows of ice block compartmentsand a novel method of removing the grid from the tray and ice blocks from the grid structure Without applyingl heat thereto.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved unitary rigid metal wall grid structure comprising a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal Walls and a plurality of spaced apart transverse walls for dividing a tray into four or more longitudinal rows of ice block compartments and wherein one of the longitudinal walls is movable in one direction relative to other longitudinal walls thereof. to cause movement of these other longitudinal walls in another direction relative to said one longitudinal wall to break ice blocks loose from the grid structure.

In carrying out the preceding object it is another object of my invention to simultaneously move a plurality of transverse walls of the grid structure relative to the longitudinal grid wall to enlarge the ice block compartments and liberate ice blocks therefrom.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved unitary rigid Wall grid structure comprising a plurality of spaced apart longi-A tudinal walls and a plurality of spaced apart normally angularly disposed' transverse 'walls dividing a tray into four or more longitudinal rows of ice block compartments and wherein movement of one of the longitudinal wallslengthwise of other longitudinal Walls thereof causes these other longitudinal walls to tilt in a direction transversely of the structure and causesthe angularly disposed transverse walls to tilt into a substantially vertical position simultaneously with tilting of the longitudinal walls to break ice blocks from the grid walls and to enlarge the ice block compartments to liberate the loosened ice blocks from the grid structure.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a unitary grid structure with leverage mechanism including a pair of levers pivotally mounted thereon and rotatable relative thereto for applying force to a tray to elevate the grid structure together with ice bonded thereto relative to the -tray and which levers are movable relative to one another to cause movement of the grid walls as specified in the foregoing objects.

Still further and more specific objects and advantages reside in the operation of my improved grid structure and in novel combinations and arrangement of parts thereof to provide a durable structure las will more fully appear in the course of the following description.V

In the drawings:

y Fig. 1 is a top plan view, of an improved freezing device having a grid structure-constructed according to my invention disposed in the tray thereof;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the tray of the improved freezing device taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing' the grid thereof partly in elevation and partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the device taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the freezing device taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing theattachment of a lever to the grid of the device;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the grid structure and ice blocks bonded thereto elevated relative to the tray;

. Fig. 7 is a top plan View of the grid removed from the tray and disclosing Walls thereof moved to release ice blocks fromthe grid;

Fig. 8 is a side view of the grid structure as disclosed in Fig. 7; and

- Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the grid structure with the walls thereof moved as shown in Fig. 7 and taken on the line 9-9 thereof. Referring to the drawings, for illustrating the invention, I have disclosed my improved liquid freezing device as including a metal ice tray I0 having a metallic grid structure removably disposed therein. The tray I0 has side Walls II, a. bottom wall I2 and opposed end walls I3 and I 4. The tray side walls II and the front Wall I3 thereof may diverge outwardly toward the top of the tray. The tray back wall I4 is diverged outwardly toward the top of the tray a greater distance than other walls thereof for the purpose of facilitating removal ofthe grid from the tray as will become apparent hereinafter. The upright Walls II, I3 and I4 of tray I0 have their upper portion rolled over as at I5 to provide a rim which extends continuously around the top of the tray to increase its structural strength. A portion of the metal of tray IIl is extended downwardly from the rim I5, as at I6 (see Fig. 2) at the front of the tray and provides a mounting or 'DESS support for aA heavy metal piece |1 'which has a handle |8 pivotally secured thereto, as at I9. The handle I8 is provided with a cam surface or surfaces 20 adapted to engage the support on a freezing shelf of an evaporator of a refrigerating system to facilitate removal of the freezing device from the evaporator as will hereinafter be gnore fully described.

The tray I of the freezing device has a unitary metallic grid structure generally represented by the reference character 2| removably disposed therein. The grid 2| includes three single-thicksubstantially non-flexible horizontally spaced apart and parallel longitudinal metal partitioning Walls'22, 23 and 24 and a plurality of single-thickness substantially non-flexible metai partitioning walls 26 extending transversely of and in spaced apart relation along the longitudinal walls 22, 23 and 24 to divide the interior of tray I0 into four longitudinal rows of open top cells or compartments 21. The central 1ongitudinal wall 23 is provided With a plurality of equally spaced apart slots 28 `(see Fig. 2) extending upwardly from the bottom edge thereof. These slots 28 are formed by the angled walls 29 and 30 and are greater in width at their lower ends. Each of the side longitudinal walls 22 andy 24 is provided with a plurality of equally spaced apart slots 3| (see Fig. 2) extending downwardly fromthe top edge thereof. These slots 3| are formed by the angled walls 32 and 33 and are of greater width at their upper ends. Each of the spaced apart transverse walls 26 have a pair of slots 34 extending upwardly from the 'bottom edge thereof and formed by the angled Walls 35, 36 and 31 (see Fig. 5). These slots 34 are of greater width at their lower en ds than at their upper closed ends. Each transverse wall 26 also has a straight walled slot 38 located between the spaced apart slots 34 therein' and extending downwardly from the top edge of wall 26. It will be noted that slots 28 in longitudinal wall 23 receive the web portion 4| of transverse walls 26 located below the slots 38 therein and slots 3| in the two other or side longitudinal walls 22 and 24 receive the web portion 42 of transverse walls 26 located above the slots 34 therein. In .order to prevent vertical movement of the longitudinal walls 22, 23 and 24 relative to one another and to lock the transverse walls 26 thereon, I extend a rod 45 through ears 46 provided at the one end of the walls 22, 23 and 24. 'I'he rod 45 is round and extends through round holes provided in the ears 46 of longitudinal walls 22 and 24. The rod 45 also extends through a horizontally elongated opening 41 (see Fig. 2) provided in the ear 46 on the central longitudinal wall 23 for a purpose to become apparent hereinafter. The rod 45 is provided with enlarged ends 48 to prevent its removal from walls 22, 23 and 24 and to lock the walls of the grid structure together at the one end thereof.

The parts at the other end of the grid structure 2| are locked together by a leverage mechanism (see Fig. 1), the operation of which will be described in detail in thedescription of operation of the device. 'I'his leverage mechanism includes a pair of levers located beside one another and comprising a handle end 52 and a short bent end portion 53 which lies over the rim I5 of tray IU. Each lever 5| has an integral part 54 extending from a side thereof through a. rounded opening provided in an ear portion 55 of the longitudinal ' walls 22 and 24, which part is beaded over as at 56. The flt of part 54 within the opening provided in the walls 22 and 24 is loose to permit angular movement of part 54 within the opening and relative to walls 22 and 24 as will become apparent hereinafter. The

, other side of each lever 5| is provided with an ear 51, and the two levers are connected together through a link 58 pivotally secured to the ears 51. Link 58 is a rounded member and extends through a round hole 58 formed in an upstanding ear 6| provided on the central longitudinal grid wall 23 (see Figs. 4 and 5). The link 58 is hollowed out inwardly from each end thereof to receive the ear portions 51 of levers 5|, and a `rivet or the like 62 passing through the link 58 and ears 61 secures the levers together. The levers 5| normally lie parallel to one another with the handle end 52 of one lever disposed in a horizontal plane slightly above the handle end 52 of the other lever (see Fig. 2). It will b'e noted that the levers 5| are pivotally mounted to the grid structure 2| for rotation in a direction upwardly of the structure and that the handle ends 52 of levers 5| can be moved in a horizontal direction toward one another.

The longitudinal grid walls 22 and 24 have a plurality of spaced apart portions 65 extending upwardly from their top edges and bent at an angle relative thereto to provide cam feet 68 (see Figs. 1 and 3). The central longitudinal partitioning grid wall 23 is provided with integral horizontally projecting portions' 61 extending from the top edge thereof. Each of these projecting portions -61 terminates in an upwardly directed reversely bent end 68 and provides a cam'shoe which fits over the cam feet 66 on walls 22 and'24. The rigid metal longitudinal grid walls 22, 23 and 24 are normally disposed in a vertical position, and the rigid metal `transverse grid walls 26 are normally angularly disposed or are inclined with respect to the bottom of tray |0 as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The normal inclination of the grid walls 26 provides the four longitudinal rows of ice block compartments 21 with a parallelogram form in-horizontal cross section. It will be noted that the slots 34 in transverse grid walls 26 permit tilting of the longitudinal grid walls 22 and 24 in a transverse direction relative to the grid structure and that slots 28 in the central longitudinal grid wall 23 and slots 3| in the other two or side longitudinal walls 22 and 24 permit titling of the transverse grid walls 26 in a direction longitudinally of the.grid structure 2|. While the grid structure 2| is of a unitary construction and is removably disposed in tray 8, the rigid metal walls thereof are movably connected together, `as stated, and are movable relative to one another in a manner and for 'a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

Assume that water has' been frozen in the freezing device disclosed in the form of ice blocks 10 in compartments 21, by the cooling effect produced by an evaporator of a refrigerating system, and the device is to be removed from its support in or on the evaporatorvto permit harvesting of the ice blocks 18. Handle |8 is clasped by the hand and pulled forward, thereby rotating about its pivotal mountings i9 to cause the cam surface 20 thereon to apply force between the freezing device and its support. This force elevates the freezing device relative to its support and breaks the ice bond therebetween to permit the device to be readily removed from the evaporator. 'I'he freezing device is, after removal thereof from the evaporator, placed on a about their pivotal mounting rivets 62.

table top or ledge and the handle ends -52 of levers 5| are simultaneously elevated about their pivotal mounting relative to the grid 2|. ,Elevation of the handle ends 52 of levers 5| causes the short bent end 53 of the levers to engage and apply force to the rim I5 of tray |0. This force applied to tray I causes the grid structure 2| and ice blocks 10 adhering thereto to be broken loose from and elevated relative ,to the tray. This raising movement oflevers is illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and it will be noted that portions 54 of levers 5| have rotated within the openings provided therefor in the grid walls 22 and 24 and that the round link 58 has also rotated within its opening 59 provided in the portion 6| of the central longitudinal wall l23. After the bond between the ice blocks and tray I0 has been broken, by elevation of the unitary metallicgrid structure 2| together with the i'ce blocks 10 adheringthereto relative to the tray, the grid structure 2| and ice blocks 10 may be readily removed from the tray or raised above same. Thereafter, the levers 5| are moved back toward the grid structure so as to be substantially in or near horizontal alignment therewith; and the handle ends 52 of the levers are then squeezed or moved toward one another. This position of the levers 5| is illustrated in Figs. '1, 8 and 9 of the drawings, and 'it will be noted that' the scissor-like movement of the handle ends 52 of levers 5| has caused the levers to pivot Since the levers 5| are prevented from moving lengthwise relative to the longitudinal grid walls 22 and 24 by the portions 54 thereof being secured to these walls, the pivoting of the levers about rivets 62 causes the link 58 and, consequently, the central longitudinal partitioning grid'YI wall 23 to move lengthwise of the grid structure 2| relative to the longitudinal walls 22 and 24. Movement of the central wall 23 relative to and lengthwise of longitudinal walls 22 and 24 moves the cam shoes 68, formed integral with wall 23, toward -the lever end of thestructure and these cam shoes 68 ride upon or over the cam feet 66 and, due to the angled disposition of these camming parts, a pulling force is applied to the upper portions of the longitudinal grid walls 22 and 24. This pulling force applied to walls 22 and 24 causes these longitudinal grid walls to tilt and slide in a direction transversely of the grid structure and outV of their normal vertical disposition into the angledposition shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. This movement of the longitudinal grid walls 22 and 24 relative to the central longitudinal wall 23 breaks the ice blocks 10 loose therefrom and moves the blocks of the outer longitudinal rows thereof outwardly at a side of the structure 2|. Movement of the central wall 23 relative to and lengthwise of the longitudinal walls 22 and 24 also causes the walls 30 of slots 28 to engage the tra/rrsverse grid walls 26 and simultaneously move/ or tilt these transverse walls from their normal angled or inclined disposition nto a substantially vertical position. The transverse walls 26 in moving in a direc- Ation longitudinally of the grid structure from their normal angled disposition into a vertical position hinge aboutthe top of slots 2B in wall 23 and about the bottom of slots 3| in walls 22 and 24. Movement of the transverse grid walls duly shattering the blocks.

square shape (see Fig. 8). This change of the horizontal cross sectional contour of compartments 21 slightly increases the distance between the transverse Walls 26 and thereby enlarges the compartments 21 in a direction along the length of t'he grid structure -2|. The ice blocks 10 around the peripheries of the grid structure 2| are simultaneously moved in two different directions by the simultaneous tilting of walls 22 and 24 transversely of the grid and tilting of walls 26 in a direction lengthwise of the grid. The breaking of longitudinal grid walls 22 and 24 away from the ice blocks in the two central rows of the four longitudinal rows thereof facilitates breaking of the ice blocks in these two central rows thereof from the longitudinal grid wall 23 by movement of the transverse grid walls 26. Since the ice compartments are slightly enlarged simultaneously with the breaking of the ice bond between the grid` Walls 22, 23, 24 and 26 the loosened ice blocks 10 freely fall out of their compartments 21 and away from the grid structure 2|. The change in the position of the grid walls to effect liberation of the ice blocks 10 from compartments 21 is illustrated by showing the blocks 10 within the compartments 21 in Figs. '1, 8 and 9. It is to be understood, however, that these figures in the drawings are merely for illustrative purposes and that, when the grid walls 22, 23, 24 and 26 are moved as described and as shown, the ice blocks 10 will be liberated from the structure 2|. Movement of rigid walls of the grid as described and enlargement of the ice compartments does not alter the unitary character of the .structure 2|; and, upon returning the levers 5| to their normal position shown in Figs.' l and 2 of the drawings, grid lwalls 22, 23, 24 and 26 will be moved back into/their normal ice block forming position and the grid structure can be repositioned in a tray. Release of ice blocks from their compartments may be facilitated, if desired, by treating or Vcoating walls of the compartments with a waxy or the like Water-repellent substance which will substantially reduce the adherence of the water or bondage of ice to walls of the grid structure. It will be seen from the foregoingthat I have provided an improved freezing device by providing an ice tray grid structure which divides the tray into four or more longitudinal rows of ice blocks and by providing an effective method of removing all ice blocks from the structure without application of heat thereto. By providing movement of a central longitudinal grid wall lengthwise of longitudinal walls disposed on each side thereof to effect movement or tilting of these side longitudinal walls in another or different' direction while at the same time moving or tilting transverse walls of a grid structure,

adapted to form four or more longitudinal rows of ice blocks in a tray; I am enabled to increase the ice block capacity or the number of `ice blocks to be formed in a freezing device. I, therefore, reduce the number of such freezing devices ordinarily required in a household rcfrigerating apparatus or provide a device for use in a small refrigerator which is capableof producing a greater number of ice blocks. My improved device is strong and durable and effectice in response toa minimum of manual force applied thereto to remove ice blocks without ungrid structure entirely of rigid metal parts, I eliminate distortion of parts thereof and also By constructing thev retain the fest freezing characteristics of metalv tray and grid combinations.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it isto 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. In combination, a tray having a grid disposed therein, said grid comprising a plurality of horizontally spaced apart longitudinal walls and a plurality of walls extending transversely thereto in spaced apart relation along the length thereof. said walls being secured together to form a unitary removable grid structure dividing the interior of the tray into a plurality of longitudinal rows of ice block compartments, one of the longitudinal walls of said grid structure being movable lengthwise of another longitudinal wall thereof `to cause said another longitudinal wall to tilt in a direction transverse of said grid structure, means for elevating said unitary grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray, and means for moving said grid walls relative to one another after said unitary structure has been elevated relative to the tray for breaking the bond between the compartment walls and ice blockstherein.

2. In combination, a tray having a grid disposed therein, said grid comprising a plurality of horizontally spacedapart longitudinal walls and a plurality of walls extendingv transversely thereto in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, said walls being secured together to form a unitary removable grid structure dividing thev interior of the tray into a plurality of longitudinal rows of ice block compartments, one of the longitudinal walls of said gr'id structure being movable lengthwise of another longitudinal wall thereof to cause said another longitudinal wall to tilt in a direction transverse of said grid structure, said movement of rsaid one longitudinal grid wall lengthwise of said another longitudinal grid wall also causing the transverse grid walls to tilt in a direction longitudinally of said grid structure, means for elevating said unitary structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray, and means for moving said grid Walls relative to one another after said unitary structure has been, elevated relative to the tray for breaking the bond between. the compar-tment walls and ice blocks therein.

3. In combination, a tray having a grid disposed therein, said grid comprising a plurality of horizontally spaced apart longitudinal walls and a plurality of walls ext nding transversely' thereto in spaced apart relati"n along the length thereof, said Walls being secured together to form a unitary removable grid structure dividing the interior of the tray into four or morewall relative to said another longitudinal grid ,wall also causing the transverse grid walls to be simultaneously tilted out of their normal inclined position to enlarge said ice block compartments. means for elevating said unitary grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray, and means for lmoving said grid walls relative to one another after said unitary structure has been elevated relative to the tray for breaking the bond between the compartment walls and ice blocks therein.

4. In combination, a tray having a grid disposed therein, said grid comprising a plurality of horizontally spaced apart longitudinal walls and a plurality of walls extending transversely thereto in spaced apart relation along the' length thereof, said walls` being secured together to form a unitary removable grid structure dividihg the interior of the tray into four or more longitudinal walls of said grid structure being movable lengthwise of another longitudinal wall thereof to cause said another longitudinal wall to tilt in a direction transverse of said grid structure out of its normal vertical position, said movement of said one longitudinal grid wall lengthwise of said another longitudinal grid wall also causing V*the transverse grid walls to be simultaneously tilted in a direction longitudinally of said grid structure out of their normal inclined position to enlarge said ice blockcompartments, means for elevating said unitary grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray, and means for moving said grid walls relative to one another after said unitary structure has been elevated relative to the tray for breaking the bond between the compartment walls and ice blocks therein.

5. In combination, a tray having a grid disposed therein, said grid comprising a central longitudinal wall and a longitudinal wall spaced from and disposed on each side of said central longitudinal wall, said grid also comprising a plurality of walls extending transversely to said longitudinal walls in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, said walls being secured together to form a unitary removable grid structure" dividing the interior of the tray into four or vmore longitudinal rows of ice block compartments, said longitudinal grid walls being normally vertically disposed and said transverse grid walls normally being inclined with respect to the bottom of the tray to provide said compartments with a parallelogram form in at least one direction of cross section therethrough, said central longitudinal wall of said grid structure having a connection with the longitudinal walls at each side thereof and being movable lengthwise of said side longitudinal walls, said central longitudinal wall of said grid' structure also having a connection with said transverse walls thereof, a pair of levers pivotally mounted upon the grid. structure and operable t0 apply force to the tray for elevating the unitary gridstructure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray, said levers also being pivotally mounted for movement relatives to one another for moving said central longitudinal grid wall lengthwise of vsaid side longitudinal grid walls after said unitary structure has been elevated relative to the tray. and said connections between said central longitudinal grid wall and said side longitudinal grid walls disposed at an angle relative to the vertical to d and said transverse grid walls being constructed and arranged whereby the lengthwise movement of said central longitudinal grid wall causes tilting of said side longitudinal walls transversely of said grid structure and tilting of said transverse walls longitudinally of the grid structure for breaking the bond between the compartment i walls and ice blocks therein.

6. A grid for disposition in an ice tray and removable therefrom as a unit comprising, a plurality of substantially non-flexible horizontally spaced apart longitudinal partitions'and a plurality of substantially non-flexible partitions extending transversely through the plane of said longitudinal partitions in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, said partitions being movably connected together to provide a unitary structure and forming walls of a plurality of longitudinal rows of ice block compartments, leverage mechanism carried by said unitary structure and operable for moving one of said longitudinal partitioning walls lengthwise of another longitudinal partitioningwall thereof, and saidconnection between the partitioning walls of said grid structure being such that the lengthwise movement of said one longitudinal partitioning wall causes tilting of said another longitudinal partitioning Wall transversely of the structure and tilting of said transverse partitioning walls longitudinally of the structure to break the bond between ice blocks and their compartment walls.

7. A grid for disposition in an ice tray and removable therefrom as a unit comprising, a central substantially non-ilexible longitudinal partition and a substantially non-flexible longitudinal partition located on each side of said central longitudinal partition and spaced horizontally therefrom, said grid also comprising a plurality of substantially non-flexible partitions extending through the plane of said longitudinal partitions in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, said partitions being movably connected together -to provide a unitary grid structure and forming walls of four or more longitudinal rows of ice block compartments, leverage mechanism carried by said unitary grid structure and operable for moving said central Alongitudinal partitioning wall in one direction relative to said side longitudinal partitioning walls, and said connection between the partitioning walls of said grid structure being constructed and arranged so that the movement of said central longitudinal partitioning wall causes said side longitudinal partitioning walls to move in another direction relative to said central longitudinal partitioning wall andralso causes said transverse partitioning walls to move relative to said longitudinal partitioning walls to l break the bond between ice blocks and their compartment walls.

8. A grid'for disposition in an ice tray and removable therefrom as a unit comprising, a central substantially non-flexible longitudinal partition and a substantially non-flexible longitudinal parprovide said compartments with a parallelogram form in at least one direction of cross section therethrough, leverage mechanism carried by said unitary grid structure and operable dfor moving said central longitudinal partitioning wall lengthwiseof said side 'longitudinal partitioning' walls, and said connection between the partitioning walls of said grid structure being constructed and arranged so that-the lengthwise movement of said central longitudinal partitioning wall causes tilting of said side longitudinal partitioning walls transversely of the structure and simultaneous tilting of said transverse partitioning walls out of their normal angled disposition in a substantially vertical position to break the bond between ice blocks and their compartment walls. 9. A grid for disposition in an ice tray cornlongitudinal walls and a plurality of walls extending transversely thereto in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, said walls being connected together to provide a removable unitary structure and forming a plurality of longitudinal rows of ice block compartments, one of said longitudinal walls of the grid structure being movable in one direction relative to another of said longitudinal walls thereof, and the connection between the walls of said grid structure being so constructed and arranged that said movement of said one longitudinal wall causes movement of said another longitudinal wall in a direction substantially at rightA angles to the direction of movement of saidkone longitudinal wall to break the bond between ice blocks and their compartment walls.

10. A grid for disposition in an ice tray comprising, a plurality of horizontally spaced apart longitudinal walls and a plurality of walls extending transversely thereto in spaced apart re- "lation alongthe length thereof, said walls being connected together to provide a removable unitary structure and forming a plurality of longitudinal rows of ice block compartments, one of said longitudinal walls of the grid structure being movable'in one direction relative to another of said longitudinal walls thereof, said transverse walls also being movable relative to said longitudinal walls, and the connection between the walls of said grid structure being so constructed and arranged that said movement of said one longitudinal wall causes movement of said another longitudinal wall in a direction substantially at right angles to the direction of movement of said one longitudinal wall and movement of said trans-` verse walls to break the bond between ice bloc and their compartment walls. l

1l. A grid for disposition in an ice tray comprising, a central longitudinal wall and a longitudinal wall spacedfrom and disposed on each side of said central longitudinal wall, a' plurality of walls extending transversely to said longitudinal walls in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, said walls being connected together to provide a removableunitary structure and forming four or more longitudinal rows of ice block compartments, one of said longitudinal walls of the grid structure being movable in one direction relative to the other two longitudinal walls thereof, and the connection between the walls of said vgrid structure being so constructed and arranged that said movement of said one longitudinal wall causes movement of said other two longitudinal walls in another direction of movement relative to the direction of movement of said one longi- 'prising, a plurality of horizontally spaced apart tudinal wall to break the bond between ice blocks andtheir compartment walls.

12. A grid for disposition in an ice tray comprising,y a central longitudinal wall and a longitudinal wall spaced from and disposed on each side of said central longitudinal wall, a plurality of walls extending transversely to said longitudi- 'nal walls in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, said walls being connected together to provide a removable unitary structure and forming four or more longitudinal rows of ice block fcompartments, one of said longitudinal walls of the grid structure being movable in one direction relative to the other two longitudinal walls thereof, said transverse walls also being movable relative to said longitudinal walls, and the connection between the walls of said grid structure being so constructed and arranged that said movement of said one longitudinal wall causes movement of said other two longitudinal walls in another direction of movement relative to the direction of movement of said one longitudinal wall and movement of said transverse walls to break the bond between ice blocks and their compartment walls.

13. A grid for disposition in an ice tray comprising, a central longitudinal wall and a longi- .tudinal wall spaced from and disposed on each side of said central longitudinal wall, a plurality of walls extending ,transversely to said longitudinalwalls in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, said walls being connected together to provide a removable unitary structure and forming four or more longitudinal rows of ice block compartments, certain of said Walls of the grid structure being movable in one direction relative to other walls thereof, and the connectionbetween the walls of said grid structure being so constructed and arranged that said movement of said certain walls causes movement of said other walls thereof in another direction of movement .rality of horizontally7 spaced apart substantially relative to said one direction of movement of said certain walls to break the bond between ice blocks and their compartment walls.

14. A grid for disposition in an ice tray comprising, a pluralitypof horizontally spaced apart longitudinal walls and a plurality of walls extending transversely thereto in spaced apart relation along the length thereof to form a row of ice block compartments on each side of said plurality of longitudinal walls, said walls being connected together to provide a removable unitary grid structure, one of said longitudinal walls of the grid structure being movable lengthwise relative to another of said longitudinal walls, means for causing said relative lengthwise movement of said one longitudinal wall, and the connection between the walls of said grid structure being so constructed and arranged that said lengthwise movement of said one longitudinal wall causes movement of said transverse walls relative to said longitudinal walls to break the bond between ice blocks and their compartment walls.

15. A unitary removable grid structure for 4disposition in a freezing tray comprising; a plunon-flexible partitions movably connected together to provide walls of an ice block compartment therebetween, means for imparting force directly to one of said partitions to move same relative to another of said partitions, means for transmitting g the force imparted to said one partition to said another partition, 'and said last named means being so ccmstructed' and arranged that movement of said one partition causes movement of said another partition /laterally with respect to the direction of movementJ of said one partition to break a bond between an ice block and its compartment walls.

FRANCIS P. KEIPER. 40

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