Abstract:
The present invention provides an improved ice tray that forms narrow ice pieces that easily fit through the opening of portable beverage containers such as standard cans, bottles, and cartons, thereby saving the costs and energy associated with refrigeration. The ice tray has one or more narrow cavities for receiving water. A protrusion in the cavity produces a notch in the ice so that the ice may be broken into smaller pieces and conveniently dropped into the beverage containers. Multiple ice trays may be stacked on top of each other.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for making ice, and, more particularly, to an improved ice tray to be used for making ice pieces which are configured so as to easily fit into the opening of an individual beverage container. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Previous ice trays have been devised and utilized for the purpose of making ice pieces which easily fit into drinking cups or glasses. These traditional ice pieces are too large to fit into the opening of individual beverage containers such as cans, bottles, and cartons as such containers have a narrower mouth than typical drinking cups. However, consumers are more frequently drinking out of individually packaged beverage containers and demand that their beverages are chilled. 
     It may be difficult to refrigerate such containers. These containers are oftentimes not stored in a refrigerator due to energy concerns. Refrigeration requires a great deal of energy and therefore can be costly. To save costs and energy, stores may not keep beverage containers in a refrigerator. 
     Also, these individually packaged beverages may not be chilled in a refrigerator due to a shortage of space in commercial or domestic refrigerators, or the lack of space for a sufficient number of refrigerators. Since consumer demand is for beverages that are chilled, the inability to chill beverages may result in a loss of profits and business. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a more cost-effective, energy-efficient, and space saving means for chilling beverages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the invention addresses this need by providing an ice tray to be used to make ice pieces that easily fit into the mouth of a beverage container, such as a bottle, can, or carton commonly used for soda, juice, or other beverage. 
     The present invention provides an ice tray comprising a top surface and at least one cavity in the top surface for receiving water to be frozen and formed into an ice piece wherein the cavity has at least one dimension, such as the diameter, less than about 0.75 inches so as to allow the ice piece to be inserted into the opening of a beverage container. Alternatively, the defined cavity has at least two transverse dimensions, such as the width and the depth, which are less than 0.75 inches. 
     The present invention also provides an ice tray comprising an uneven top surface defining at least one cavity in the top surface having at least two dimensions less than about 0.75 inches; a protrusion extending upward from the bottom of the cavity for forming a notch in the ice piece where the ice piece can easily be broken; and a plurality of support feet which extend from the bottom surface of the ice tray which facilitates stacking multiple trays. 
     Thus, the present invention provides an ice tray that can be used to make ice pieces having dimensions which fit into the mouth of a beverage container thereby also providing a means for saving energy by decreasing the need for refrigeration space for beverages. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention in which like elements are labeled similarly and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ice tray of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of an ice tray; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an ice tray; 
     FIG. 4 is an end view of an ice tray; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of an ice tray; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of a cavity of an ice tray; 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of a cavity of an ice tray filled with ice; 
     FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a cavity of an ice tray; 
     FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional end view along a support foot of an ice tray; and 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view along a cavity of an ice tray. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The ice tray of the present invention is discussed herein with reference to a preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ice tray of the present invention. FIG. 2 is top view of the ice tray, and FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the ice tray. The ice tray generally includes a single body of material comprising an uneven top surface  10  that may be configured and dimensioned to define at least one cavity  12  extending beneath the top surface  10 . 
     The top surface  10  may have an elevated rim  14  to prevent spillage of water when filling the ice tray. FIG. 4 shows an end view of the ice tray, and FIG. 5 shows a side view of the ice tray. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the top surface  10  may also have downwardly angled edges  16  along the outside edge of the rim  14  to act as a lip for ease of lifting. 
     The top surface  10  may have a plurality of raised ridges  18  between and parallel to the cavities  12  to facilitate stacking of two or more ice trays. 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of a cavity  12  of an ice tray; FIG. 7 is a top view of a cavity  12  of an ice tray filled with ice; and FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a cavity  12  of an ice tray. The cavities  12  receive water or other liquid to be frozen and formed into one or more ice pieces. Preferably, there are 1 to 50 or more cavities  12 , and most preferably five cavities  12 . The cavities  12  may be parallel to each other, or in any other desired configuration. The cavities generally are dimensioned to define an ice piece that can be inserted into the opening and through the mouth of a beverage container. The cavities  12  may have any dimensions, but preferably, at least two transverse dimensions are less than 1.0 inch so as to allow the ice piece to be inserted into the opening and through the mouth of a beverage container. Preferably, the transverse dimensions are the width, depth, or both, and are more preferably less than 0.75 inches and most preferably 0.6 inches. Preferably, the length of the cavity is about 1 inch to about 8 inches, and preferably about 6 inches. 
     The cavity  12  may contain a protrusion  20  extending from the bottom of the cavity  12  into the cavity  12  itself as shown in FIG.  6 . The protrusion  20  may generally be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cavity  12 , and the height of such protrusion  20  will generally be less than the depth of the cavity  12 . There may be one or more protrusions  20  in the cavity  12 . Preferably, there is one protrusion  20  generally in the middle of the cavity  12 . The presence of the protrusion  20  will cause a notch to be formed in the ice piece. The notch is advantageously designed to enable breaking the ice piece into smaller pieces. 
     The cavity  12  may have arcuate-shaped ends  22  that are tapered inward from the top surface  10  to allow for easy removal of the ice pieces. The walls  24  of the cavity  12  may be rounded to form a semi or half cylindroid or half-cylindrical shape. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 show two narrow support feet  26  extending outward from the bottom of the ice tray and perpendicular to the length of the cavities  12 . The support feet  26  allow for level resting on a flat surface. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional end view along a support foot  26  of an ice tray. The support feet  26  have a plurality of shift-limiting notches  28  which are generally aligned with the ridges  18  on the top surface  10 . The shift-limiting notches  28  may be slight hemispherical indentations between each cavity  12  which are aligned with the ridges  18  on the top surface  10  of the ice tray. The shift-limiting notches  28  conveniently interlock with the ridge  18  on the top surface  10  when multiple ice trays are stacked on top of each other. In particular, the shift-limiting notches  28  rest on top of the ridges  18  of another tray. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view along a cavity  12  of an ice tray, and shows a cross-section of two support feet  26 . The ice tray of the present invention may have more than two support feet  26  in any suitable configuration that allows the ice tray to be balanced on a surface and stacked on top of another ice tray. 
     The ice tray may be manufactured out of any non-toxic plastic, rubber, aluminum, or other suitable material. Preferably, the ice tray is made from high-density polyethylene. The material may be formed into the shape of the ice tray by the process of injection molding, blow molding, rotational molding, vacuum forming, stamping, or any other process known in the art. The preferred process is injection molding. 
     The ice tray functions by pouring water or any other desired liquid into the cavities  12  of the tray, and placing the tray in a freezer or otherwise subjecting the tray containing the liquid to a temperature at or below the freezing point of the liquid. Once the liquid in the tray freezes, the ice may be released from the tray by placing one hand on opposite corners or sides of the tray and gently twisting the tray. The tray may also be inverted for ease in removing the ice pieces. The ice may also be removed by placing a fingernail or other object under one end of the ice piece and prying the ice loose from the tray. The ice may then be broken where the ice has a notch due to the protrusion  20  in the cavity  12 . The user may then drop the pieces of ice into the mouth of a beverage container to chill a beverage. As the ice pieces melt, the user may add more ice pieces to keep the beverage chilled. 
     By utilizing the claimed invention, retailers of everyday refreshment drinks may maintain a very limited quantity of high priced cold drinks and a higher quantity of low priced room-temperature drinks which may be quickly chilled by utilizing the ice tray of the present invention to chill the drink on demand. This type of “just in time” inventorying of cold drinks will result in substantial energy savings for the retailer which may be passed on to the consumer. Additionally, many retailers cannot afford the expense of sizable refrigerators for cold drinks. The present invention enables those retailers to offer chilled drinks at a fraction of the cost.