Patent Publication Number: US-6209849-B1

Title: Ice cube tray

Description:
The present invention relates to ice cube trays, and more particularly to a device of this nature for use on moving vehicles, such as sailboats and the like. 
     Various forms of ice cube trays and like devices have been devised over the years. The typical tray comprises an elongated unit with a number of receptacles into which water is disposed, and the tray is placed in a freezer compartment of a refrigerator or other form of cooling device wherein the water freezes into ice cubes. Other devices of this nature include fully enclosed plastic containers which are partially filled with water, placed in the refrigerator, and once the water has frozen individual cubes can be shaken loose from the container. 
     These and similar types of devices serve their purpose well. However, in the case of a vehicle which moves, such as a sailboat, power boat and the like, an added problem exists; namely, the likelihood of water sloshing from an ice cube tray as the boat tips or rocks, and this also hampers freezing because of movement of the vehicle. Needless to say, if the water slouches from the tray it results in water in and around the freezing compartment and ultimately freezes, possibly causing the tray to stick, and other similar problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the concepts of the present invention, an ice cube tray device comprises a plurality of individual receptacles which are attachable to and detachable from a holding member such that the receptacles are each capped to prevent water or other liquids from sloshing therefrom in the event of movement prior to freezing of the liquid. Preferably, the containers are small plastic containers the tops of which fit within caps, much like containers for dispensing pharmaceutical pills and capsules. The caps are attached to the underside of a planar holder member in a suitable manner such as by fasteners or an adhesive, or formed integral with the planar member. In this way, one or more of the containers are supplied with water or other liquid to be frozen, and then reattached to the caps, and the device placed in a freezer compartment. When it is desired to use an ice cube or ice cubes, one or more of the containers are detached from the caps, and the resulting ice cubes are popped into the glass or other receptacle holding the liquid to be cooled. The containers can be any size, but typically they are selected to be of a size which holds one to several ounces of liquid. The holder preferably has a peripheral lip at the top to facilitate stacking of several of the ice cube trays, and has a rib or ridge to add rigidity. 
     The ability to detach one container to provide ice for one drink, for example, is particularly convenient and advantageous. Thus, individual molded cubes or solid cylinders of ice can be provided. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a new form of ice cube tray device. 
     Another object in the present invention is to provide an ice cube tray device having a plurality of containers individually detachable from a holder and wherein each container is essentially sealed into a cap on or in the underside of the holder, and each container is individually detachable for dispensing a single ice cube. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     These and other objects and features of the present invention will become better understood through consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 a  is a side elevational view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, 
     FIG. 1 b  is an end view thereof, 
     FIG. 1 c  is a bottom view (looking up with from the bottom of FIG. 1 a ), 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view, 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of an individual container, and 
     FIG. 4 is a partial end view of the device with the containers removed. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Turning now to the drawings, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The same includes a top or holder member  10 , a plurality of caps  12  fixed to the underside thereof, and a plurality of container&#39;s  14  which are detachably connectable with the caps  12 . The top member  10  preferably is formed of plastic, and may be clear or colored. A ridge or rib  15  extends perpendicularly upward from the top of member  10  to add rigidity thereto. It is disposed in the center and runs the length of member  10 . In this location it does not interfere with stacking of several trays because it will fit in between rows of containers on the next higher tray. 
     An upstanding lip  16  preferably is provided primarily to allow one of the units of FIGS. 1 and 2 to be stacked one on top of the other, and help contain any liquid that may drip from an upper ice tray unit onto a lower one. Also, preferably four holes  18  are provided on either side of the ridge  15  to allow any such dripping liquid to go downward and flow off of the top member  10  so as to keep stacking trays from being frozen together. 
     The caps  12  are either formed integrally with top member  10  or are secured in any suitable manner to the underside of the top member  10 , such as by a suitable adhesive, heat staking or rivets (not shown). The containers  14  include an upper flange  20  which snaps into a cap  12  in the same manner a plastic pill bottle snaps into its cap. The caps include a lower lip  22  forming a circular cavity  24  into which the flange  20  fits. The containers  14  are frustoconical and have a smaller diameter at the bottom  14   a  than at the top  14   b  (note FIG. 3) to provide a “draft” to facilitate removal of the frozen liquid from the container  14 . 
     The ice tray device of the present invention can be rectangular as shown or can have other shapes. Although ten caps and containers are shown and form a very suitable arrangement, different numbers can be provided. Also, the size of the containers  14  can be any desired size to provide the size ice cube desired. In the exemplary embodiment as shown, the containers hold approximately two ounces of liquid and are approximately 1⅝ inches in diameter and 2¼ inches high. In the event the caps  12  are secured to the member  10  by rivets such as illustrated in phantom at  28  in FIG. 2, it is desired to provide a circular washer  24  on the underside of the cap  12  as seen in FIG. 2 to provide rigidity so as to minimize the chance of the cap  12  being pulled off of the underside of the member  10  when a receptacle  14  is repeatedly removed or detached from its cap. 
     Although the components have been discussed as formed from suitable plastic material, it will be appreciated that the containers can be plastic or metal, as can the member  10 . It is still preferable that the caps  12  be of a somewhat resilient material such as plastic or rubber so that the containers  14  can be easily snapped into and removed from the caps  12 ; however, threaded caps and containers  14  could be provided if desired. 
     Preferably, the caps  12  are formed as an integral part of the bottom of the holder  10  by molding all of the caps and the holder as one piece. 
     The member  10  can slide into a suitable holder (not shown) for holding the edges  16   a  and  16   c  of the member rather than the bottoms of the containers  14  being disposed on a bottom of a freezer compartment. 
     While embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, and all such modifications and equivalents are intended to be covered.