Ice luge apparatus, systems, and methods for chilled beverage dispensing

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.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to chilled beverage dispensing and, more particularly, to apparatus, systems, and methods relating to ice luges for chilled beverage dispensing.

2. Description of Related Art

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'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

The present disclosure relates to apparatus, systems, and methods relating to ice luges for chilled beverage dispensing.

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.

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.

In embodiments, the ice luge trays include features configured to inhibit movement of the ice block within the trough.

In embodiments, the lid is configured to snap-fit into engagement with the trough.

In embodiments, spouts are releasably engageable with the ice luge trays for sanitary purposes and to regulate the flow of beverage therethrough.

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.

In embodiments, the ice luge trays include features to facilitate engagement with the support frame, spouts, and/or dispensing members configured for use therewith.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS. 1-4, an ice luge system10provided in accordance with the present disclosure is shown generally including a support frame100, a plurality of ice luge trays200each configured to retain an ice block therein, a plurality of spouts300, and one or more dispensing members400. Support frame100is configured for supporting the ice luge trays200in various different configurations and includes a base110having a plurality of supports120extending therefrom. Base110and supports120may be formed from any suitable material including wood, metal, plastic, etc. Each support120is configured to support an ice luge tray200. More specifically, base110includes a plurality of engagement members112, e.g., male engagement features, disposed at various positions about base110that are configured for insertion into supports120to releasably engage supports120to base110at one end thereof in any suitable fashion, e.g., in friction-fit, snap-fit, or other suitable engagement. The other end of each support120is configured for insertion into an engagement member210, e.g., a female engagement feature, of an ice luge tray200to releasably engage the ice luge tray200to the support120, e.g., in friction-fit, snap-fit, or other suitable engagement. Engagement members210may further be configured to pivotably engage ice luge trays200about supports120such that ice luge trays200may be angled at a desired pitch relative to supports120to 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.

With continued reference toFIGS. 1-4, engagement members112of base110may be arranged about base110in any suitable number and/or configuration. Further, supports120may be provided in various different lengths and/or configurations, e.g., straight, angled, or curved configurations, such that supports120may be selectively engaged to base110to achieve a desired configuration. That is, although ice luge system10is shown inFIGS. 1-4in one particular configuration wherein ice luge system10includes two pairs of cascading ice luge trays200, it is envisioned that any suitable number and/or configuration of ice luge trays200and supports120may be provided so long as a beverage poured into an upper ice luge tray200is permitted to flow under gravity through the channel(s) of the ice block(s) of one or more of ice luge trays200and, ultimately, into one or more of the dispensing members400(or directly into a user's mouth or suitable beverage container).

Turning now toFIGS. 5-7, in conjunction withFIGS. 1-4, an exemplary ice luge tray200is shown defining a generally trapezoidal configuration (although other outer configurations are contemplated) having a substantially flat bottom222, first and second angled side walls224,226, a rear wall228, and a front wall230that cooperate to define a trough220. The trough220of the ice luge tray200(defined by the bottom222, side walls224,226, rear wall228, and front wall230) 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 trough220of the ice luge tray200. Accordingly, it is envisioned that ice luge tray200be dimensioned and configured such that at least one ice luge tray200fits 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.

The ice luge tray200is 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 tray200may further include a plurality of protrusions240extending upwardly from the bottom222of the ice luge tray200and into the trough220. Protrusions240are configured such that, once the ice block is formed within the trough220and about the protrusions240, the protrusions240retain the ice block in position within the ice luge tray200and inhibit sliding or shifting of the ice block as the ice block begins to melt.

A semi-cylindrical cut-out250is defined within front wall230of ice luge tray200, the importance of which will be described below. Other configurations of the cut-out250are also contemplated. Each ice luge tray200, as mentioned above, also includes an engagement member210(FIG. 4) defined on an outer surface of the bottom222that releasably engages the ice luge tray200to one of the supports120(FIGS. 1-4).

With reference in particular toFIGS. 6-7, ice luge tray200includes a lid260configured for positioning about the open top portion of trough220of ice luge tray200to define a channel extending through the ice block as the water is frozen to form the ice block. That is, the lid260includes a generally cylindrical body262configured to extend at least partially into the interior of trough220prior to filling the trough220with 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 body262may define curved, angled, or other shape-configurations to thereby define correspondingly configured channels within the ice block. Further, the body262may be configured such that at least a portion of the body262is fully submergible within the water filling the trough220such that, upon formation of the ice block, a tunnel (rather than a channel) is formed through the ice block. In fact, multiple different lids260configured for use with ice luge tray200may be provided such that the user may select a desired lid260corresponding 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 lid260, the body262of the lid260, 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.

Lid260further includes a plurality of arms264extending laterally outwardly from either side thereof. Each arm264defines a slot265(or other suitable engagement feature) at the free end thereof that is configured for engagement, e.g., snap-fit engagement, about the adjacent side walls224,226of ice luge tray200to maintain the lid260in position. Likewise, a rear portion266of body262of lid260defines a slot267for engaging rear wall228of ice luge tray200. Body262of lid260further includes a neck portion268that extends therefrom for sealing engagement with cut-out250defined within the ice luge tray200. Neck portion268and cut-out250cooperate to define an exit port formed in the ice block of the ice luge tray200that is disposed in communication with the channel defined through the ice block.

The configuration of lid260also permits multiple ice luge trays200to be stacked on top of one another in a freezer to facilitate simultaneous formation of multiple ice blocks within the several ice luge trays200.

Turning now toFIGS. 8-9, in conjunction withFIG. 5, various different configurations of ice luge trays800,900similar to ice luge tray200are shown. As can be appreciated, although only a linear ice luge tray200, a serpentine-shaped ice luge tray800, and a zig-zagged ice luge tray900are shown, it is contemplated that ice luge trays may be provided in any desirable configuration.

With reference now toFIGS. 1-4and10, once the ice blocks are formed within the ice luge trays200, the ice luge trays200can be assembled as described above to achieve a desired configuration. The cut-outs250defined within the front walls230of the troughs220, which define the exit port, are positioned to permit beverage to flow through the channel formed within the ice block of the ice luge tray200, out the exit port, and into the channel of the next ice luge tray200under gravity. As such, front walls230may define funnel-like configurations for directing the beverage as it exits the ice luge tray200.

With continued reference toFIGS. 1-4and10, spouts300may also be provided for releasable engagement, e.g., snap-fit engagement, within the cut-out250defined within the front wall230of each ice luge tray200, e.g., in releasable, snap-fit engagement therewith. Spouts300each define a generally conical configuration including a lumen310extending therethrough that is configured to communicate with the exit port of the ice luge tray200to permit passage of the beverage therethrough. The interchangability of the spouts300allow each user to have an individual spout300, thus allowing the user to press his/her mouths and lips up against the spout300to surround the lumen310for drinking the beverage while reducing the risk of spreading germs and disease. Spouts300also eliminate the unpleasantness of pressing ones lips directly against the ice. The spouts300may be further configured to redirect, regulate, or refine the flow of the liquid therethrough to facilitate drinking while minimizing spillage.

As shown inFIGS. 11A-11B, in conjunction withFIGS. 1-4, dispensing members400are also provided for use with ice luge system10. Each dispensing member400defines a generally cylindrical-shaped configuration including an internal cavity410, an upper opening420adapted to receive the beverage from the ice luge tray200, and an exit spout430for dispensing the beverage from the internal cavity410to a user.

The dispensing member400is configured to be suspended from an ice luge tray200adjacent the front end thereof, e.g., via a connecting member440releasably engagable with clips280at one end thereof and pivotably coupled to dispensing member400at the other end thereof. That is, dispensing member400is pivotably couplable to the connecting member440and, thus ice luge tray200. More specifically, the dispensing member400is pivotable relative to the connecting member440and, thus, ice luge tray200between an idle, or rear-tilting configuration (FIG. 11A), and a use, or forward-tilting configuration (FIG. 11B). The dispensing member400is bi-stable, e.g., the dispensing member400may be pivoted to and retained, without external bias, in both the idle and use configurations. In the idle configuration, the dispensing member400is disposed in rear-tilting position relative to the ice luge tray200such that, as the ice blocks melt, the resultant water flows through the channels and ultimately through the upper opening420of the dispensing member400and into the rear portion of internal cavity410of dispensing member400(under gravity). In other words, in the idle configuration, dispensing member400serves 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 cavity410, dispensing member400may 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).

In the forward-tilting or use configuration, on the other hand, when beverage flows through the channels of the ice luge trays300, through the spouts300, into the upper opening420, and into the dispensing member400, the beverage is directed, under gravity, out the exit spout430into the awaiting user's mouth (or other suitable beverage container). The exit spout430may be releasably coupled to the dispensing member400in similar fashion, and for similar purposes, as spouts300(FIG. 10) described above, or may be the same as the spouts300(FIG. 10) described above, to permit further interchangeability and reduce component count.

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.