ICE BUCKET

Abstract: An ice bucket 10 has a removable tray 12 on which ice cubes, or the like, are supported. The tray 12 is provided with apertures 14 through which water melting from the ice cubes can flow into a collection compartment 18 below the tray. The tray 12 is supported in spaced relation to a base of the bucket by an annular wall 30 or legs (16). The tray 12 may also have upwardly extending sides 26 to form a double-walled construction with the bucket 10.

Description: TITLE: CONTAINER The present invention relates to a container for delaying the melting of a solid material, such as ice and is concerned particularly, but not exclusively, with an ice bucket. Ice buckets of the type with which this invention is particularly concerned, are used to store ice, ready for use, in alcoholic drinks for example. Known ice buckets operate on the basis of insulating ice contained in the bucket from the surrounding environment and accordingly a typical known bucket is of double wall construction, sometimes with insulating material between the walls other than air. One disadvantage of such known ice buckets is that their double wall construction makes them comparatively expensive to manufacture. Another disadvantage is that as some of the ice melts, the remaining ice stands in melted water which not only makes the ice difficult to deal with but also hastens the melting of the remaining ice. In accordance with the broadest aspect of the present invention there is provided a container for keeping ice in a solid state, the container comprising a tray. disposed within the container in spaced relationship to the container base, the tray being of such a construction as to support solid ice but to permit the passage of water into a water collection compartment below said tray. Preferably, the tray is of a foraminous, particularly perforated, construction. Alternatively, the tray may be in the form of a grid but any arrangement or material which permits the passage of water therethrough may be used. The tray may be fixed to the walls or to the base of the container or alternatively may be removably mounted within the container to facilitate cleaning for example. Where the tray is removably mounted, conveniently it may be held in spaced relationship with the base of the container by a plurality of legs located either on the base of the tray or on the base of the container. Alternatively however, the tray may be seated upon an annular rim or a series of angularly disposed projections spaced around the inside of the container. Both the container and the tray may be constructed Of any convenient material such as metal. A material having a low heat conductivity is preferred and desirably both components are moulded from plastics material. The container may have any desired external shape but is conveniently in the general form of a hollow cylinder. In any event, the outside of the container may include advertising or other decorative material. If desired, the container may be provided with a lid which may be hinged to the container or be separate from it. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the container is of double wall construction but the invention is not limited in this regard. Conveniently however the water collection compartment has a capacity of one fifth that of the total capacity of the container, the invention not being limited in this respect. The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an ice bucket in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a plan view of the removable foraminous (or perforated) tray illustrated in position in the ice bucket shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of an ice bucket in accordance with a second, preferred, embodiment of the invention; The ice bucket shown in Figure 1 is designated 10 and is in the general form of an open cylinder having a slightly outwardly tapered side wall. The bucket is injection moulded from plastics material. A tray 12 is removably mounted in the bucket in spaced relation to the base of the bucket. The tray has a plurality of through bores 14 in its carrying surface and is spaced from the bucket base by a plurality of legs 16, two of which may be seen in Figure 1. When the tray is in position, as viewed in Figure 1, a water collection compartment 18 is formed in the base of the bucket under the tray which compartment has a capacity of about one fifth of the volume of the bucket. In use, the tray is placed in position within the container as may be seen in Figure 1. Ice,preferably in the form of cubes or blocks 20,is then placed on the tray ready for use as and when it may be required. As the ice blocks begin to melt, the water thus formed 22 drains through the bores 14 into the water collection compartment 18. In this way the ice blocks 20 are kept free from contact with melted ice water. Since the water does not contact the cubes it cannot, as hitherto, conduct heat to the cubes and thus cause further melting. In practice, it has been found that ice may be kept in a single walled ice bucket in accordance with the invention for at least the same time as in a known double-walled bucket. The ice bucket shown in Figure 3 is designated 10 and is in the general form of an open topped cuboid having slightly outwardly tapered side walls. At least one of the side walls of the bucket has a smooth exterior surface 24 so as to provide for the display of advertising or other decorative material. The bucket is injection moulded from plastics material. A tray 12 having upwardly extending sides 26 is mounted in the bucket in spaced relation to the base and side of the bucket. The tray has a plurality of tapered apertures 28 in its carrying surface and is spaced from the base of the bucket by an annular wall 30 which is of foraminous construction, for example with apertures 32. Alternatively, the tray may be spaced from the base of the bucket by a plurality of legs as shown in Figure 1. The tray is spaced from the sides of the bucket by a peripheral rim 34 around the top of the upwardly extended sides of the tray. When the tray is in position, as viewed in Figure 3, a water collection compartment 18 is formed in the base of the bucket under the tray, which compartment has a capacity of about one fifth of the volume of the bucket. A space 36 is formed between the sides of the bucket and the upwardly extending sides of the tray so as to provide an insulating layer of air. In use, the tray 12 is inserted into position within the container as may be seen in Figure 3. Ice, preferably in the form of cubes or blocks, 20 is then placed on the tray ready for use as and when it may be required. As the ice blocks begin to melt the water thus formed 22 drains through the tapered apertures into the compartment 18. In this way the ice blocks are kept free from melted water. Since theater does not contact the ice blocks it cannot, as hitherto, conduct heat to the blocks and thus cause further or accelerated melting. Additionally, the provision of the space 36 and the air contained therein reduces the conduct of heat to the ice within the bucket by reason of the insulating effect of the air. In practice, it has been found that ice may be kept in an ice bucket as shown in Figure 3 in accordance with the invention for at least the same time as in a known sealed double-walled ice bucket and also provides for up to 20 per cent greater storage capacity than conventional sealed double-walled ice buckets of similar exterior dimensions.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A container for delaying the melting of a solid material (20), characterised in that a tray (12) is disposed within the container (10) in spaced relation to the base thereof, the tray (12) being of such a construction as to permit the passage of the melted solid (22) to a collection compartment (18) below the tray (12). 2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tray (12) is removable from the container (10). 3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the tray (12) is supported in spaced relation to the base of the container (10) by an annular wall (30). 4. A container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the annular wall (30) is of a foraminous construction. 5. A container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the tray (12) is supported in spaced relation to the base of the container (10) by a plurality of legs (16). 6. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a surface of the tray (12) which supports the solid material (20) in use is of a foraminous construction. 7. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tray (12) has upwardly extending sides (26). 8. A container as claimed in claim 7, wherein there is a rim (34) around the top of the upwardly extending sides (26) of the tray (12). 9. A. container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least part (24) of the exterior surface of the container (10) is smooth to facilitate the display of advertising or other decorative material.

Inventors: JONES-FENLEIGH, EDWARD JAMES
Applicants: INVICTA PLASTICS LIMITED
Application year: 1983
Main classification: A47G23
IPC codes: A47G23, F25C5