Patent Abstract:
An ice sculpture is formed using a temporary mold that has been formed of plastic or rubber like material. Liquid, such as water, is poured into the temporary mold and the liquid-containing temporary mold is then frozen to form the desired shape. The temporary mold is then broken away from the desired shape and is discarded. An area which accommodates an electric light can be included in the desired shape.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the general art of static molds, and to the particular field of molding processes using static molds. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Many people enjoy displaying theme-related items. These items can be related to a holiday, such as Christmas, or a party theme. The items range from statues to candles and food items. 
     Ice sculptures are popular forms of this type of display item. Ice sculptures are often displayed at parties to enhance the theme of the party. Ice sculptures can be expensive to form and thus there are only limited variations of ice sculptures available. Birds and the like are common examples of ice sculptures that are available. However, these sculptures may not be relevant to certain themes. In some instances, a theme may be dictated or influenced by the ice sculptures that are available to the planners. In other instances, the ice sculpture is so generic that it adds little or nothing to the overall theme. Holiday themes are particularly susceptible to this drawback. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a method of forming sculptures, such as ice sculptures, which is easy and inexpensive. 
     PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a main object of the present invention to provide a method of forming sculptures which is easy and inexpensive. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of forming sculptures, such as ice sculptures, which is easy and inexpensive. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These, and other, objects are achieved by a method that includes providing a re-usable metal form and forming temporary plastic or rubber like molds in the metal mold. Freezable liquid, such as water, is placed in the temporary mold and then frozen. Once the liquid is frozen, the temporary mold is broken away from the frozen liquid and is discarded. An electric light can be placed in the form defined when the liquid freezes for display purposes. 
     The temporary molds are easy to use and are inexpensive. Thus numerous different molds can be supplied whereby various themes can be supported. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ice sculpture formed in accordance with the method embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an insert that is used to house a light in the ice sculpture shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a light that can be used in conjunction with the ice sculpture shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the method steps embodying the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 , it can be understood that a FIG. 10, such as a Santa Claus figure, formed according to the method of the present invention, includes a base  12  having a top surface  14 , a bottom surface  16  and a side wall  18 . A concave indentation  20  is defined in bottom surface  16  for a purpose that will be understood from the following disclosure. The remainder of the bottom  16  of the base  12  is planar so the base  12  can rest on a supporting surface. A desired FIG. 22 is supported on the top surface  14  of the base  12  and extends upwardly therefrom. The desired FIG. 14 includes detailed features, such as a beard  24 , shoes  26 , or the like. 
     Desired FIG. 10 is formed of ice, and thus water is poured into a mold to make desired FIG. 10. A funnel  30  is indicated in FIG. 1 to show how the liquid is poured into a mold. Funnel  30  is located in a temporary mold formed according to the teaching of the present invention. The funnel  30  provides a volume into which water can move during a freezing process. Other freezable fluids, such as gels, can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     An insert  40  is shown in FIG.  2 . Insert  40  includes a dome-shaped cover  42  and an annular base  44  having a top surface  46  and a bottom surface  48 . The dome shaped cover  42  is accommodated in concave indentation  20  with top surface  46  of the base abutting the bottom surface  16  of the base  12 . An annular cutout can surround indentation  20  so base  44  will be received in the base  12  and bottom surface  48  will be planar with bottom surface  16  of the base  12 . This will add stability to the overall desired figure. 
     An electric light unit  50  is shown in FIG.  3  and includes a light bulb  52  that is secured to a base  54  with a dome-shaped cover  56  there over. Base  54  includes circuitry to electrically connect bulb  52  to a suitable power source via cable  58 . Dome  56  is sized and shaped to be snugly accommodated in dome-shaped cover  42  of insert  40  whereby the electric light bulb  52  will direct light upwardly into the desired figure. The circuitry in base  54  can include timers, and the like as well as circuitry that permits the light to flash on and off. Such circuitry is known to those skilled in the art and thus will not be discussed. 
     The figure for display is formed according to the following method. The method of the present invention comprises providing a metal mold having an interior surface having a desired shape in step  200 . The metal mold will have an interior surface that is shaped to correspond to the desired outer surface of the figure, such as a negative of the outer surface shown in FIG. 1. A funnel shape is defined in the metal mold in step.  202 ; a base portion corresponding to base  12  is defined in the metal mold in step  204 . A concave area corresponding to concave indentation  20  is defined in the base portion of the metal mold in step  206 . A solid resin is melted into a viscous liquid in step  208  and the viscous liquid is poured into the metal mold in step  210 . The viscous liquid is pressurized in the metal mold in step  212 , and is heated in the metal mold in step  214 . Once the liquid is at the desired consistency, the heated and pressurized viscous liquid in the metal mold is allowed to cool and harden into a solid form having a funnel therein and having an appearance corresponding to the interior surface of the metal mold in step  216 . The solid form is a plastic or rubberlike mold and has an interior surface that is a negative of the outer surface shown in FIG.  1 . The metal mold can be re-used whereas the plastic or rubberlike mold is a temporary mold. The temporary mold is sold to a customer while a manufacturer retains the metal mold. 
     The solid form is removed from the metal mold in step  218 . When a figure is desired, the solid form is filled with freezable liquid via the funnel in step  220 . The freezable liquid in the solid form is then frozen and forms into a desired product having an outer appearance corresponding to the appearance of the solid form in step  222 . The freezable liquid is, allowed to expand into the funnel during the freezing step in step  224 . The solid form is then broken in step  226  and the desired product is removed from the broken form in step  228 . The broken form is discarded in step  230 . 
     An electric light is placed in the desired product in step  232  and the desired product is displayed in step  234 . The electric light in the desired product is illuminated in step  236 . 
     The desired product can be the Santa Claus figure shown in FIG. 1, and the base portion of the mold will define the base shown for the figure. The concave area defined in the base portion will accommodate the insert shown in FIG.  2  and the electric light shown in FIG. 3 will be accommodated in the insert in the base of the figure. This will allow light to shine up through the figure thereby enhancing the display. Various colors of light can be used to further enhance the display as well as flashing lights. The freezable liquid used is generally water, but other gels can be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     It is also noted that the exact details of the metal mold and the exact details of the temporary mold are not provided because those skilled in the molding art will understand what type of mold is required and its details based on the teaching of the present disclosure. 
     It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5