Abstract:
A method of releasing ice from a mold apparatus is disclosed which includes the steps of: providing a mold apparatus having a first mold portion including a concave depression and a liquid circulating manifold and a second mold portion having a concave depression; pivotally coupling to the first mold portion to the second mold portion such that the mold apparatus is operable between an ice forming position and an ice harvesting position; assembling the mold apparatus to the ice forming position such that the concave depressions abut to from a mold cavity; injecting water into the mold cavity; cooling the mold apparatus; forming at least one ice structure within the mold cavity; circulating a warm liquid medium in the liquid circulating manifold to warm the mold apparatus; disassembling the mold apparatus to the ice harvesting position; and releasing the at least one ice structure from the mold apparatus.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/713,176, filed Dec. 13, 2012, entitled METHOD TO WARM PLASTIC SIDE OF MOLD. The aforementioned related application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0002]    The present application is related to, and hereby incorporates by reference, the entire disclosures of the following applications for United States Patents: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/713,126 entitled CLEAR ICE SPHERES, filed on Dec. 13, 2012; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/713,131 entitled MOLDED CLEAR ICE SPHERES, filed on Dec. 13, 2012; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/713,119 entitled CLEAR ICE HYBRID MOLD, filed on Dec. 13, 2012; and U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/713,140 entitled MOLDED CLEAR ICE SPHERES, filed on Dec. 13, 2012. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention generally relates to an ice mold apparatus for making substantially clear ice pieces, and methods of using the same. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of releasing ice from a mold apparatus, includes the steps of: providing a mold apparatus having a first mold portion including a concave depression and a liquid circulating manifold and a second mold portion having a concave depression; pivotally coupling to the first mold portion to the second mold portion such that the mold apparatus is operable between an ice forming position and an ice harvesting position; assembling the mold apparatus to the ice forming position such that the concave depressions abut to from a mold cavity; injecting water into the mold cavity; cooling the mold apparatus; forming at least one ice structure within the mold cavity; circulating a warm liquid medium in the liquid circulating manifold to warm the mold apparatus; disassembling the mold apparatus to the ice harvesting position; and releasing the at least one ice structure from the mold apparatus. 
         [0005]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of releasing ice from a mold apparatus, including the steps of: providing a mold apparatus having a first mold portion including a liquid circulating manifold and a second mold portion; assembling the mold apparatus such that the first mold portion and the second mold portion are abuttingly engaged to create a mold cavity; injecting water into the mold cavity; cooling the mold apparatus; forming at least one ice structure within the mold cavity; and circulating a warm liquid medium in the liquid circulating manifold to warm the mold apparatus. 
         [0006]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of releasing ice from a mold apparatus, including the steps of: providing a mold apparatus having a first mold portion including a liquid circulating manifold and a second mold portion; pivotally coupling the first mold portion to the second mold portion; assembling the mold apparatus such that the first mold portion and the second mold portion are abuttingly engaged to create a mold cavity; injecting water into the mold cavity; cooling the mold apparatus; forming at least one ice structure within the mold cavity; circulating a warm liquid medium in the liquid circulating manifold to warm the mold apparatus; disassembling the mold apparatus; and ejecting the ice structure from the mold apparatus using an ejector pin. 
         [0007]    These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    In the drawings: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of an ice-producing mold in a closed position; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the ice-producing mold of  FIG. 1  in an open position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of another embodiment of an ice-producing mold in an open position; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of another embodiment of an ice-producing mold in an open position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    For purposes of description herein, the aspects of this disclosure may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. The specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  generally illustrates an ice-producing mold  10  which includes a first mold portion  20  and a second mold portion  30 . The first mold portion  20  is generally rectangular in shape and includes a top surface  22 . The top surface  22  typically has at least one perimeter side wall  26 , more commonly two perimeter side walls  26 , which extend downwardly from the top surface  22 . The first mold portion  20  of the mold  10  also has a bottom surface  24  which includes a concave depression  28 . This depression  28  is typically formed in a semi-spherical shape and is centrally arranged on the bottom surface  24 . 
         [0015]    The mold  10  further includes has a second portion  30  which is operably coupled to the first mold portion  20 . The second mold portion  30  includes a top surface  32  which has at least one, and preferably two, perimeter side walls  36  extending upwardly therefrom. Along with a bottom surface  34 , the top surface  32  and perimeter side walls  36  form a generally rectangular shape of the second mold portion  30  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The top surface  32  of the second mold portion also includes a concave depression  38  which is typically semi-spherically shaped and reciprocal of the concave depression  28  of the first mold portion  20 . The second mold portion  30  also includes a plurality of apertures which receive mounting fasteners  48  in order to mount the second mold portion  30  in an appliance, such as a freezer. The bottom surface  34  of the second mold portion is adapted to be in thermal communication with a cooling mechanism  50 , typically an evaporator, in order to cool the mold  10 . 
         [0016]    The mold  10  is operable between a closed position  16 , shown in  FIG. 1 , and an open position  18 , shown in  FIG. 2  as the first and second mold portions  20 ,  30  are generally operably coupled by a hinge member  52  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). When the mold  10  is in the closed position  16 , the bottom surface  24  of the first mold portion  20  abuts the top surface  32  of the second mold portion  30 . Also, while in the closed position  16 , at least one perimeter sidewall  26  of the first mold portion  20  and at least one perimeter sidewall  36  of the second mold portion  30  form a flat planar surface. In the closed position  16 , the first mold portion  20  and the second mold portion  30 , form a single rectangular mold  10 . The mold  10  may also be of any other shape, including but not limited to spherical, cylindrical, cubical, or any other shape one with ordinary skill in the art would use to create specially shaped ice structures. While in the closed position  16 , the concave depression  28  of the first mold portion  20  and the concave depression  38  of the second mold portion  30  are aligned and cooperate to define a mold cavity  40  which is adapted to form one or more ice structures therein. As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the mold cavity  40  is spherical in shape but may be star-shaped, heart-shaped, rectangular-shaped, triangular-shaped, or any other shape a user would desire. 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , when the mold  10  is in an open position  18 , the bottom surface  24  of the first mold portion  20  is separated or spaced apart from the top surface  22  of the second mold portion  30 . As noted above, the first mold portion  20  and the second mold portion  30  may be operably coupled in a pivotal manner by a hinge member  52 . Typically, one perimeter side wall  26  of the first mold portion  20  is connected with one perimeter side wall  36  of the second mold portion  30 . It is further contemplated that the first mold portion  20  and the second mold portion  30  may be separate pieces that are moveably associated with one another. 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the first mold portion  20  may also include one or more liquid circulating manifolds  54 . These manifolds  54  are integrally formed in a body portion of the first mold portion  20  and are in fluid communication with at least one manifold inlet  62  and at least one manifold outlet  64 . The manifold inlet  62  is adapted to provide liquid ingress into the at least one manifold  54  of the first mold portion  20  in order to warm the mold  10 . The liquid circulating manifolds  54  are arranged adjacent to the concave depression  28  on the first mold portion  20 . The manifolds  54  may have a variety of shapes including cylindrical, triangular, or any other shape that would allow for sufficient warming of the first mold portion  20 . The manifolds  54  may be of any arrangement which allows bonds formed between an ice structure and the mold  10  to be broken in order to facilitate harvesting of the ice structure from the mold  10  including a plurality or liquid circulating structures  54  disposed adjacent to the concave depression of the first mold portion  20  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The manifold may also be a single manifold jacket  56  which is disposed adjacent to and generally follows the contours of the concave depression  28  of the first mold portion  20  as shown in  FIG. 4 . When the manifold  54  is a single manifold jacket  56 , the first mold portion  20  may be comprised of a two-piece system having an upper mold portion  58  and a cavity side portion  60 . The upper mold portion  58  of the first mold portion  20  includes the top surface  22  of the first mold portion  20  along with the perimeter side walls  26 . The cavity side portion  60  of the first mold portion  20  includes the mold segment disposed between the manifold water jacket  56  and the concave depression  28 . The liquid circulating manifold  54  is further adapted to receive a warm liquid medium in order to heat the first mold portion  20  and to release the at least one ice structure from the first portion  20  of the mold  10  while the mold  10  is in the open position  18 . 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the top surface  22  of the first mold portion  20  includes one or more apertures configured to receive an inlet  42  and an outlet  44 . The inlet  42  is generally configured to allow liquid to pass through the top surface  22  of the mold  10  and down into the concave depression  28  of the first mold portion  20 . The inlet  42  is typically coupled to an appliance or other liquid supplying device. Any excess liquid not frozen during the ice forming process is typically dispelled through the outlet  44 , thereby providing continuous water movement or circulation within the mold cavity  40  during an ice formation process. 
         [0020]    When forming an ice structure, the mold  10  generally begins in the ice forming, or closed position  16 . Water is injected through the inlet  42  of the first mold portion  20  and into the mold cavity  40  and fills the mold cavity  40 . Excess water is typically removed through the outlet  44  by water pressure, but water could also be removed from the mold cavity  40  by any known technique as one with ordinary skill in the art would use to remove excess water. The mold  10  is then cooled by using the evaporator  50  located in thermal communication with the bottom surface  34  of the second mold portion  30 , but could be cooled by any other known technology such as thermoelectric cooling or cold air circulation. The first mold portion  20  and the second mold portion  30  of the present invention are configured to have different thermal conductivities. The second mold portion  30  is made from a substantially metallic material while the first mold portion  20  is comprised of a substantially polymeric or thermoplastic material. This allows for optimal freezing and releasing of the ice as formed in the mold cavity  40 . Having the cooling device  50  disposed adjacent to the second mold portion  30 , the portion with a higher thermal conductivity, allows the cooling device  50  to be used more efficiently to cool the mold  10  quickly. Having a first mold portion  20  with a lower thermal conductivity, allows for an ice removal process that is less susceptible to dimpling or cracking and allows the first mold portion  20  to be warmed in precise locations needed to efficiently and effectively remove the ice from the mold  10 . 
         [0021]    Once the ice structure is completely formed, the mold  10  is opened to an open position  18 . The mold  10  can be opened at its hinge member  52  located on the perimeter side wall of each of the first and the second mold portions  26 ,  36 , or the first mold portion  20  may be completely separated from the second mold portion  30 . The first mold portion  20 , while in the open position  18 , is generally angled downward, which allows the formed icebody, or ice structure, to be gravitationally removed from the first mold portion  20 . This also allows the ice structure to eject or release from the first mold portion  20  into an awaiting ice storage container, without interference from the second mold portion  30 . Once the mold  10  is opened, warm liquid flows into the manifold inlet  62  in order to warm the plastic first mold portion  20 . This heating effect helps to break any mechanical ice bonds formed between the ice structure and the first mold portion  20 . The ice structure is then released down into the storage container. 
         [0022]    The removal of the ice structure may occur in a variety of ways. First, the warm water may flow directly into the mold cavity  40  which melts the ice structure a small amount in order to break any mechanical ice bonds formed between the ice structure and the mold  10  to release the ice structure. This method can cause dents or other dimpling in the ice structure and is generally not preferred. Additionally, the warm water may be injected from the manifold inlet  62  into at least one manifold  54  which is disposed within a body portion of the first mold portion  20 . These manifolds  54  are warmed by incoming water, or another thermal fluid, which ultimately warms the mold and breaks the bond between the ice structure and the plastic mold  20  and allows the ice structure to be released into the storage container. Moreover, the first mold portion  20  may include a manifold water jacket  56  which substantially surrounds the entire concave depression  28  of the first mold portion  20 . Warm water, or another like warming medium, may be injected or otherwise released into this manifold water jacket  56  to warm the mold  10  and allow the bonds to break between the ice structure and the mold  10 . 
         [0023]    The first mold portion  20  of the mold  10  may further include an ejector pin mechanism  46  which extends from the top surface  22  of the first mold portion  20  and into the mold cavity  40 . When the ice structure is ready to be removed from the mold  10 , the ejector pin  46  is moved to an extended position within the mold cavity  40  and then applies a force on the formed ice structure to help release the ice structure and break the bond between the ice structure and the mold  10 . The formed ice structures are then stored in a storage container where they are kept until they are dispensed or otherwise retrieved by the user. 
         [0024]    Other variations and modifications can be made to the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present disclosure. These concepts, and those mentioned earlier, are intended to be covered by the following claims unless the claims by their language expressly state otherwise.