WO2009098645A1

WO2009098645A1 - Ice cube tray

Info

Publication number: WO2009098645A1
Application number: PCT/IB2009/050449
Authority: WO
Inventors: Uri Wolf
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-02-05
Filing date: 2009-02-04
Publication date: 2009-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 2010-08-05

Abstract

An ice cube tray (12) comprising a tray portion with a plurality of ice cube compartments (10), for receiving a liquid to be frozen. The tray portion has a substantially planar top surface surrounding the ice cube compartments. A flexible cover is attached to or associated with the tray portion and generally corresponds to the top surface and typically adheres thereto, whereby the flexible cover substantially seals the ice cube compartments when laid upon the top surface. The flexible cover can have a plurality of apertures (20) therein corresponding to the cube compartments, and sticks (22) can be inserted in the apertures for making frozen snacks. The cover may also have flaps (24) which define the apertures, or else cover the apertures. A method of filling the ice cube trays is also disclosed.

Description

ICE CUBE TRAY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to kitchen utensils, more particularly an ice cube tray.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

After filling an ice cube tray with water or another liquid, some of the liquid may be spilled when being transported from a filling location, e.g. a kitchen sink, to the freezer and while it is placed in a freezer. To prevent or limit such spilling, covered ice cube trays have been designed. Such covers are also helpful for limiting or preventing issues such as: (a) evaporation (dehydration / sublimation) in the freezer; (b) absorption of odors from food in the freezer; and (c) contamination from food particles or other items.

Ice cube trays designs include those with covers that: are fitted (e.g. snap fitted) over the tray; slide over the tray between grooved edges; open and close via a hinge-like mechanism, or; are disposable heat sealed covers designed for one-time use. Some of such covers comprise an inlet for filling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an ice cube tray designed to prevent or at least greatly limit spillage of liquid during transport of the tray to the freezer after the tray is filled and during insertion of the tray into the freezer; as well as prevent or at least greatly limit sublimation in the freezer. The ice cube tray design further facilitates the full or nearly full filling of the tray (i.e. the individual ice cube compartments of the tray). Ice cube trays may be filled with liquids such as juice or the like to produce flavored frozen cubes, however, ice cube trays are typically filled with water and, as such, the terms water and liquid may be used interchangeably herein the specification and claims and should be understood in their broadest context.

For providing the aforementioned functions, the present ice cube tray comprises, or has associated therewith, a flexible cover for placing over the top surface of the tray that seals the water within the tray (i.e. within the individual ice cube compartments thereof). The flexible cover can be a separate, non- integral, piece; or may be attached, by any appropriate means, to a portion of the ice cube tray, typically at the top surface of one end of the tray. The cover typically adheres to the tray's top surface when the cover is laid flat thereupon and continues to adhere to the top surface even when the tray is held at an angle. After fully filling the tray's cube compartments, laying the flexible cover on the tray's top surface will expel excess water which can be poured off by placing the tray at an angle, without loss of water in the cube compartments. Furthermore, the filled and cover tray can be stored in the freezer at an angle without dehydration and only a minimum of water spillage, if at all.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an ice cube tray comprising a tray portion with at least one ice cube compartment, for receiving a liquid to be frozen. The ice cube compartment(s) are arranged in the tray portion, which has a substantially planar top surface and surrounds the at least one ice cube compartment. A flexible cover is attached to or associated with the tray portion and generally corresponds to the substantially planar top surface, whereby the flexible cover substantially seals the ice cube compartments when laid upon the top surface. According to one embodiment, the cover of the ice cube tray comprises a plurality of small apertures corresponding to the cube compartments wherethrough small sticks can be inserted, whereby ice cube or frozen snacks such as lollipops (commonly called Popsicles) can be made. The cover may also have flaps which define the apertures, or else cover the apertures. In a related aspect to this embodiment, the present invention provides an ice cube tray kit that comprises the aforementioned ice cube tray with a second flexible cover having at least one aperture generally corresponding to the at least one ice cube compartments; and may further include lollipop type sticks. According to another aspect, the invention provides a method of filling an ice cube tray, comprising the steps of: filling at least one ice cube compartment of an ice cube tray with a liquid, the tray comprising an essentially planar top surface adjacent the ice cube compartments; and laying a flexible cover on the essentially planar top surface to cover the at least one ice cube compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood upon reading of the following detailed description of non-limiting exemplary embodiments thereof, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of an ice cube tray in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the ice cube tray of Fig. 1 showing water being drained therefrom;

Fig. 3 is an exploded isometric view of another embodiment of the ice cube tray of the present invention; and

Fig. 4 is a side view of the ice cube tray of Fig. 3 showing removal of a frozen lollipop ("Popsicle") therefrom. The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings referred to above. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are chosen for convenience or clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts.

DESCRIPTION EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of an ice cube tray comprising a plurality of ice cube compartments 10; a tray top 12 having a top surface 14 abutting and surrounding the ice cube compartments; and a flexible cover 16 typically corresponding in shape to the area of the tray's top surface. Flexible cover 16 can be made of or comprise any suitable material, however, it is believed that an elastomeric material, typically a thermoplastic elastomer (although potentially a thermoset elastomer), such as silicone and natural or synthetic rubber, would constitute a preferable cover material. It is further believed that the side of flexible cover interfacing with top surface 14 be preferably substantially flat.

According to some embodiments, flexible cover 16 comprises a symbol or word written therein (e.g. a logo or a child's name, etc) corresponding to the location of cube compartments 10 so that such symbol/word appears in a corresponding ice cube. The word can be formed by a projecting portion or a recess (neither shown) of flexible cover 16.

According to some embodiments, ice cube compartments 10 are integrally formed with tray top 12; while in other embodiments, they are non-integrally formed and attached to each other, for example by fusion welding an adhesive or any other appropriate attaching means. If integrally formed with tray top 12, ice cube compartments 10 are most conveniently made of the same material; however, the ice cube compartments and tray top can be either made of the same material or different materials. When non-integrally formed, ice cube compartments 10 may be made of a softer, resilient material, which may ease removal of the ice cubes, in particular, one cube at a time as may be desired.

Top surface 14 of tray top 12 is substantially planar, preferably smooth and the tray top is typically generally rigid. However, tray top 12 can be flexible upon stress, for example, upon a bending or twisting movement that may be used to facilitate removal of ice cubes. It should be understood that by substantially planar, top surface 14 could none-the-less be slightly concave or curved, typically in the longitudinal direction of the tray, which may ease filling of the tray. According to some embodiments, tray top 12 comprises elongated rails 18 at the sides thereof and projecting upward from top surface 14. Such rails 18 can be useful to help direct excess water, if any, into the ice cube compartments 10 during filling and from the ice cube tray during draining (as shown in Fig. 2) after filling. To use the ice cube tray of the present invention, flexible cover 16 is peeled back away from top surface 14 and water (or other liquid) is poured into ice cube compartments 10. Although ice cube compartments 10 may be partially filled, it is a particular advantage of the invention that the ice cube compartments can be completely filled in a convenient manner. As such, ice cube compartments 10 are filled (even to overflowing) and flexible cover 16 is laid over top surface 14; and if appropriate, the ice cube tray is tilted at an angle whereby any excess water drains from the tray. As such, it can be understood that flexible cover 16 performs a wiper effect; and furthermore eliminates or greatly reduces the commonly undesirable phenomenon wherein ice cubes are frozen together. Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the ice cube tray in which flexible cover

16 comprises a plurality of apertures 20 whose location corresponds to ice cube compartments 10, typically the center of the ice cube compartments. Such a design offers the option of inserting (Popsicle/ frozen lollipop) sticks 22 (five illustrated) through apertures 20, to facilitate the making of ice cube sized Popsicles; however ice cube compartments 10 can designed to have relatively large recesses for the making of larger, or typically sized Popsicles. Such Popsicles can be made from juice and the like and offer an inexpensive, fun and healthy snack. Sticks 22 can be either disposable, or re-useable and can be included with the ice cube tray (e.g. in a kit, together with flexible cover 16 having apertures 20), or not included.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, apertures 20 are sized to correspond to sticks 22; and flaps 24 define the apertures, i.e. the periphery of the apertures. Flaps 24 are formed by way of cuts such as cuts 26 in flexible cover 16, which can be in a variety of configurations.

According to other embodiments, apertures 20 are sized so that water will not flow therethrough. According to still other embodiments, flaps 24 cover the apertures 20 and the flaps are peeled back when sticks 22 are disposed in the apertures. According to yet other embodiments, flexible cover 16 is made of a material and/or thickness that allows sticks 22 to penetrate the cover. In such case, flexible cover 16 typically comprises a plurality of marks, such as dots (not shown), corresponding to the location, typically the center, of ice cube compartments 10 to indicate where sticks 22 can be inserted.

It should be understood that the above description is merely exemplary and that there are various embodiments of the present invention that may be devised, mutatis mutandis, and that the features described in the above-described embodiments, and those not described herein, may be used separately or in any suitable combination; and the invention can be devised in accordance with embodiments not necessarily described above.

Claims

1. An ice cube tray comprising: a tray portion with at least one ice cube compartment, for receiving a liquid to be frozen and arranged in said tray portion, the tray portion having a substantially planar top surface surrounding said at least one ice cube compartment; and a flexible cover attached to or associated with the tray portion and generally corresponding to said substantially planar top surface and adapted to adhere thereto, whereby said flexible cover substantially seals said ice cube compartments when laid upon said top surface.

2. An ice cube tray as in claim 1, wherein the flexible cover comprises a smooth side interfacing with the tray portion's top surface.

3. An ice cube tray as in claim 1, wherein the tray portion's substantially planar top surface is essentially smooth.

4. An ice cube tray as in claim 1, wherein the flexible cover is made of a material comprising an elastomeric material.

5. An ice cube tray as in claim 4, wherein the elastomeric material is one of the group comprising: silicone, natural rubber and synthetic rubber.

6. An ice cube tray as in claim 1, further comprising elongated side rails extending upward from sides of the tray portion's top surface.

7. An ice cube tray as in claim 1, wherein the cube compartments are made of a resilient material.

8. An ice cube tray as in claim 1, wherein the flexible cover comprises at least one aperture generally corresponding to one of the at least one ice cube compartments.

9. An ice cube tray as in claim 8, wherein the flexible cover comprises at least one flap associated with the at least one aperture in order to cover the aperture(s) or to define the periphery of the aperture(s).

10. An ice cube tray as in claim 1, wherein the top surface is slightly curved or convex.

11. An ice cube tray kit comprising: an ice cube tray as defined in claim 1; a second flexible cover having at least one aperture generally corresponding to the at least one ice cube compartment.

12. An ice cube tray kit as in claim 10, further comprising at least one lollipop stick intended for being inserted through the flexible cover.

13. A method of filling an ice cube tray, comprising the steps of:

- filling at least one ice cube compartment of an ice cube tray with a liquid, the tray comprising an essentially planar top surface adjacent said ice cube compartments; and - laying a flexible cover on said essentially planar top surface to cover said at least one ice cube compartment.