Abstract:
Improved ice luge trays and methods for use and assembly thereof. The ice luge trays include a trough and a lid that fits above the trough. The trough, with the lid disposed thereon, is configured to be filled with water and placed in a freezer to form an ice block. The lid includes features that forms a channel extending along or through the ice block. The tray is mounted on a support structure to enable a beverage to be chilled as it flows down the channel under gravity, and delivered to a drinking vessel or directly into the mouth of a user.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/602,198, filed Feb. 23, 2012, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to chilled beverage dispensing and, more particularly, to apparatus, systems, and methods relating to ice luges for chilled beverage dispensing. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Ice luges are commonly used at celebrations, parties, and other events to provide an entertaining way to rapidly chill and dispense beverages to guests. Typically, an ice luge consists of one or more large blocks of ice including one or more channels carved or otherwise formed within the ice block(s) in various different patterns or configurations. The ice block(s) is configured or positioned such that a liquid entering the input flows through the channels under gravity, ultimately exiting an output of the ice block(s). In use, a serving of a desired beverage is poured into the input, while the user places his/her mouth adjacent the output, awaiting the travel of the beverage through the channels and, ultimately, into the user&#39;s mouth. As the beverage travels through the channels formed within the ice block(s), the beverage is chilled such that, by the time the beverage reaches the output, it is sufficiently chilled for consumption. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present disclosure relates to apparatus, systems, and methods relating to ice luges for chilled beverage dispensing. 
         [0007]    In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a modular ice luge system and methods of use and assembly thereof are provided. The system generally includes at least one ice luge tray and a support frame for engaging and retaining the ice luge tray in a desired configuration. 
         [0008]    In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, ice luge trays and methods for the use and assembly thereof are provided. The ice luge trays include a trough and a lid that fits about the trough. The trough, with the lid disposed thereon, is configured to be filled with water and placed in a freezer to form an ice block within the trough that has a channel extending therethrough. 
         [0009]    In embodiments, the ice luge trays include features configured to inhibit movement of the ice block within the trough. 
         [0010]    In embodiments, the lid is configured to snap-fit into engagement with the trough. 
         [0011]    In embodiments, spouts are releasably engageable with the ice luge trays for sanitary purposes and to regulate the flow of beverage therethrough. 
         [0012]    In embodiments, dispensing members are provided for collecting melted ice runoff in an idle configuration and for facilitating the dispensement of beverage from the ice luge tray to the user in a use configuration. 
         [0013]    In embodiments, the ice luge trays include features to facilitate engagement with the support frame, spouts, and/or dispensing members configured for use therewith. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Various illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the drawing, wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a front, perspective view of an ice luge system provided in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a first side, perspective view of the ice luge system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a second side, perspective view of the ice luge system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a rear, perspective view of the ice luge system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a front, perspective view of an ice luge tray configured for use with the ice luge system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a front, perspective view of the ice luge tray of  FIG. 5  including a cover engaged thereon; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a front, perspective view of the cover of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a front, perspective view of another embodiment of an ice luge tray configured for use with the ice luge system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a front, perspective view of yet another embodiment of an ice lige tray configured for use with the ice luge system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a front, perspective view of a spout configured for use with the ice luge system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11A  is a top, perspective view of a dispensing member configured for use with the ice luge system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 11B  is a side, perspective view of the dispensing member of  FIG. 11A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , an ice luge system  10  provided in accordance with the present disclosure is shown generally including a support frame  100 , a plurality of ice luge trays  200  each configured to retain an ice block therein, a plurality of spouts  300 , and one or more dispensing members  400 . Support frame  100  is configured for supporting the ice luge trays  200  in various different configurations and includes a base  110  having a plurality of supports  120  extending therefrom. Base  110  and supports  120  may be formed from any suitable material including wood, metal, plastic, etc. Each support  120  is configured to support an ice luge tray  200 . More specifically, base  110  includes a plurality of engagement members  112 , e.g., male engagement features, disposed at various positions about base  110  that are configured for insertion into supports  120  to releasably engage supports  120  to base  110  at one end thereof in any suitable fashion, e.g., in friction-fit, snap-fit, or other suitable engagement. The other end of each support  120  is configured for insertion into an engagement member  210 , e.g., a female engagement feature, of an ice luge tray  200  to releasably engage the ice luge tray  200  to the support  120 , e.g., in friction-fit, snap-fit, or other suitable engagement. Engagement members  210  may further be configured to pivotably engage ice luge trays  200  about supports  120  such that ice luge trays  200  may be angled at a desired pitch relative to supports  120  to permit the beverage to flow through the channels defined within the ice blocks at a desired flow rate. Although shown with a plurality of ice luge trays, it is contemplated that a system may be configured with a single tray. 
         [0028]    With continued reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , engagement members  112  of base  110  may be arranged about base  110  in any suitable number and/or configuration. Further, supports  120  may be provided in various different lengths and/or configurations, e.g., straight, angled, or curved configurations, such that supports  120  may be selectively engaged to base  110  to achieve a desired configuration. That is, although ice luge system  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1-4  in one particular configuration wherein ice luge system  10  includes two pairs of cascading ice luge trays  200 , it is envisioned that any suitable number and/or configuration of ice luge trays  200  and supports  120  may be provided so long as a beverage poured into an upper ice luge tray  200  is permitted to flow under gravity through the channel(s) of the ice block(s) of one or more of ice luge trays  200  and, ultimately, into one or more of the dispensing members  400  (or directly into a user&#39;s mouth or suitable beverage container). 
         [0029]    Turning now to  FIGS. 5-7 , in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-4 , an exemplary ice luge tray  200  is shown defining a generally trapezoidal configuration (although other outer configurations are contemplated) having a substantially flat bottom  222 , first and second angled side walls  224 ,  226 , a rear wall  228 , and a front wall  230  that cooperate to define a trough  220 . The trough  220  of the ice luge tray  200  (defined by the bottom  222 , side walls  224 ,  226 , rear wall  228 , and front wall  230 ) is configured to be filled with water (or other suitable liquid) and placed in a freezer to allow the water to freeze to form a generally trapezoidal ice block contained within the trough  220  of the ice luge tray  200 . Accordingly, it is envisioned that ice luge tray  200  be dimensioned and configured such that at least one ice luge tray  200  fits comfortably within a standard freezer. Also, it is contemplated that suitable freezable jells enclosed in an outer casing may also be used. These jells may be used multiple times. This permits use of the luge without diluting the beverage to be consumed. 
         [0030]    The ice luge tray  200  is formed from any suitable material capable of withstanding temperatures typically encountered in a standard freezer and suitable for retaining beverages to be consumed, e.g., plastics, metal, composites, etc. or combinations thereof. The ice luge tray  200  may further include a plurality of protrusions  240  extending upwardly from the bottom  222  of the ice luge tray  200  and into the trough  220 . Protrusions  240  are configured such that, once the ice block is formed within the trough  220  and about the protrusions  240 , the protrusions  240  retain the ice block in position within the ice luge tray  200  and inhibit sliding or shifting of the ice block as the ice block begins to melt. 
         [0031]    A semi-cylindrical cut-out  250  is defined within front wall  230  of ice luge tray  200 , the importance of which will be described below. Other configurations of the cut-out  250  are also contemplated. Each ice luge tray  200 , as mentioned above, also includes an engagement member  210  ( FIG. 4 ) defined on an outer surface of the bottom  222  that releasably engages the ice luge tray  200  to one of the supports  120  ( FIGS. 1-4 ). 
         [0032]    With reference in particular to  FIGS. 6-7 , ice luge tray  200  includes a lid  260  configured for positioning about the open top portion of trough  220  of ice luge tray  200  to define a channel extending through the ice block as the water is frozen to form the ice block. That is, the lid  260  includes a generally cylindrical body  262  configured to extend at least partially into the interior of trough  220  prior to filling the trough  220  with water such that a semi-cylindrical channel is formed within the ice block once the water is frozen to from the ice block. Other configurations are also contemplated, e.g., the body  262  may define curved, angled, or other shape-configurations to thereby define correspondingly configured channels within the ice block. Further, the body  262  may be configured such that at least a portion of the body  262  is fully submergible within the water filling the trough  220  such that, upon formation of the ice block, a tunnel (rather than a channel) is formed through the ice block. In fact, multiple different lids  260  configured for use with ice luge tray  200  may be provided such that the user may select a desired lid  260  corresponding to a desired configuration of the channel(s) and/or tunnel(s) to be formed within the ice block. Regardless of the particular configuration of the lid  260 , the body  262  of the lid  260 , which defines the channel(s) and/or tunnel(s) obviates the need to chisel, blow torch, or otherwise form the channel within the ice block after the ice block has already been formed and allows for the formation of precise and/or complex features. 
         [0033]    Lid  260  further includes a plurality of arms  264  extending laterally outwardly from either side thereof. Each arm  264  defines a slot  265  (or other suitable engagement feature) at the free end thereof that is configured for engagement, e.g., snap-fit engagement, about the adjacent side walls  224 ,  226  of ice luge tray  200  to maintain the lid  260  in position. Likewise, a rear portion  266  of body  262  of lid  260  defines a slot  267  for engaging rear wall  228  of ice luge tray  200 . Body  262  of lid  260  further includes a neck portion  268  that extends therefrom for sealing engagement with cut-out  250  defined within the ice luge tray  200 . Neck portion  268  and cut-out  250  cooperate to define an exit port formed in the ice block of the ice luge tray  200  that is disposed in communication with the channel defined through the ice block. 
         [0034]    The configuration of lid  260  also permits multiple ice luge trays  200  to be stacked on top of one another in a freezer to facilitate simultaneous formation of multiple ice blocks within the several ice luge trays  200 . 
         [0035]    Turning now to  FIGS. 8-9 , in conjunction with  FIG. 5 , various different configurations of ice luge trays  800 ,  900  similar to ice luge tray  200  are shown. As can be appreciated, although only a linear ice luge tray  200 , a serpentine-shaped ice luge tray  800 , and a zig-zagged ice luge tray  900  are shown, it is contemplated that ice luge trays may be provided in any desirable configuration. 
         [0036]    With reference now to  FIGS. 1-4  and  10 , once the ice blocks are formed within the ice luge trays  200 , the ice luge trays  200  can be assembled as described above to achieve a desired configuration. The cut-outs  250  defined within the front walls  230  of the troughs  220 , which define the exit port, are positioned to permit beverage to flow through the channel formed within the ice block of the ice luge tray  200 , out the exit port, and into the channel of the next ice luge tray  200  under gravity. As such, front walls  230  may define funnel-like configurations for directing the beverage as it exits the ice luge tray  200 . 
         [0037]    With continued reference to  FIGS. 1-4  and  10 , spouts  300  may also be provided for releasable engagement, e.g., snap-fit engagement, within the cut-out  250  defined within the front wall  230  of each ice luge tray  200 , e.g., in releasable, snap-fit engagement therewith. Spouts  300  each define a generally conical configuration including a lumen  310  extending therethrough that is configured to communicate with the exit port of the ice luge tray  200  to permit passage of the beverage therethrough. The interchangability of the spouts  300  allow each user to have an individual spout  300 , thus allowing the user to press his/her mouths and lips up against the spout  300  to surround the lumen  310  for drinking the beverage while reducing the risk of spreading germs and disease. Spouts  300  also eliminate the unpleasantness of pressing ones lips directly against the ice. The spouts  300  may be further configured to redirect, regulate, or refine the flow of the liquid therethrough to facilitate drinking while minimizing spillage. 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIGS. 11A-11B , in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-4 , dispensing members  400  are also provided for use with ice luge system  10 . Each dispensing member  400  defines a generally cylindrical-shaped configuration including an internal cavity  410 , an upper opening  420  adapted to receive the beverage from the ice luge tray  200 , and an exit spout  430  for dispensing the beverage from the internal cavity  410  to a user. 
         [0039]    The dispensing member  400  is configured to be suspended from an ice luge tray  200  adjacent the front end thereof, e.g., via a connecting member  440  releasably engagable with clips  280  at one end thereof and pivotably coupled to dispensing member  400  at the other end thereof. That is, dispensing member  400  is pivotably couplable to the connecting member  440  and, thus ice luge tray  200 . More specifically, the dispensing member  400  is pivotable relative to the connecting member  440  and, thus, ice luge tray  200  between an idle, or rear-tilting configuration ( FIG. 11A ), and a use, or forward-tilting configuration ( FIG. 11B ). The dispensing member  400  is bi-stable, e.g., the dispensing member  400  may be pivoted to and retained, without external bias, in both the idle and use configurations. In the idle configuration, the dispensing member  400  is disposed in rear-tilting position relative to the ice luge tray  200  such that, as the ice blocks melt, the resultant water flows through the channels and ultimately through the upper opening  420  of the dispensing member  400  and into the rear portion of internal cavity  410  of dispensing member  400  (under gravity). In other words, in the idle configuration, dispensing member  400  serves as a runoff receptacle, inhibiting the runoff from spilling onto adjacent furniture or the floor. Alternatively, rather than retaining the fluid in the rear portion of the internal cavity  410 , dispensing member  400  may include a rear exit port (not shown) configured to permit the run off to exit the internal cavity via the rear exit port (not shown) and be collected in a waste receptacle (not shown). 
         [0040]    In the forward-tilting or use configuration, on the other hand, when beverage flows through the channels of the ice luge trays  300 , through the spouts  300 , into the upper opening  420 , and into the dispensing member  400 , the beverage is directed, under gravity, out the exit spout  430  into the awaiting user&#39;s mouth (or other suitable beverage container). The exit spout  430  may be releasably coupled to the dispensing member  400  in similar fashion, and for similar purposes, as spouts  300  ( FIG. 10 ) described above, or may be the same as the spouts  300  ( FIG. 10 ) described above, to permit further interchangeability and reduce component count. 
         [0041]    From the foregoing and with reference to the figure drawing, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain modifications can also be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the same. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments.