Static molds – Container-type molding device – Plural article forming mold – or molds with community feature
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-29
2001-03-06
Mackey, James P. (Department: 1722)
Static molds
Container-type molding device
Plural article forming mold, or molds with community feature
C221S001000, C221S091000, C249S119000, CD15S090000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196518
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates to trays for making, storing, and dispensing ice cubes.
2. Description Of The Background Art
Ice cubes are a modern convenience that many people use and enjoy. Cold drinks and ice packs are just two of the more common uses of ice cubes.
Ice cubes are commonly made by using ice cube trays which are made of a relatively thin plastic or other suitable materials and which commonly have, traditionally, two parallel rows of depressions. The depressions are filled with liquid, typically water, so as to produce individual cubes. The finished ice cubes are commonly left in the trays until they are dispensed from the tray for use by the consumer.
Typically, ice cube trays do not include a cover over the top surface of the tray. A number of drawbacks exist with such uncovered ice cube trays. Absent a cover, the ice cubes may take on undesirable odors, flavors, or colors from exposure to the environment within a freezer. An uncovered tray may also acquire foreign matter within or on the ice cubes. In addition, uncovered trays are not easily stacked. Functionally, it is difficult to dispense ice cubes in a one-at-a-time fashion from traditional ice cube trays. Typically, more than the desired number of ice cubes will fall from the tray when the tray is inverted.
Previously, a few ice cube trays have included covers. However, known covered ice cube trays still have a number of drawbacks. For example, such covered ice cube trays still do not optimally address problems experienced in dispensing ice cubes one-at-a-time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the above and other deficiencies exhibited by existing ice cube trays.
According to a first aspect of the invention, an ice cube tray for preparing, storing and dispensing ice cubes is provided which includes: a tray body having a plurality of ice cube compartments, the plurality of compartments being arranged in an array along a longitudinal axis of the tray body; a removable tray cover slidably engaged with the tray body and which uncovers the ice cube compartments as it slides upon the tray body; the tray cover including a leading edge that is configured to correspond to the array of compartments so that the ice cube compartments are uncovered one-at-a-time as the cover is slid along the tray body. The configuration of the leading edge of the tray cover thus permits ice cubes to be dispensed one-at-a-time.
In a preferred embodiment, the tray body includes engagement members comprising rails formed at opposite sides of the tray body and the cover includes channels into which the rails can be received.
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2182454 (1939-12-01), Sherman
patent: 2503693 (1950-04-01), Van Lennep
patent: 2932386 (1960-04-01), Ushkow
patent: 2961850 (1960-11-01), Tupper
patent: 2980248 (1961-04-01), Embring
patent: 3374982 (1968-03-01), Sallade
patent: 3480251 (1969-11-01), Pietrzak
patent: 3844525 (1974-10-01), Parmett
patent: 4366941 (1983-01-01), Harris
patent: 4372526 (1983-02-01), Daenen et al.
patent: 4967995 (1990-11-01), Burgess
patent: 5044600 (1991-09-01), Shannon
patent: 5188744 (1993-02-01), Silverman
patent: 5196127 (1993-03-01), Solell
patent: 5393032 (1995-02-01), Cederroth
Bitonto Anthony Di
Garrido-Lecca Hernán J.
Stowell Davin
Mackey James P.
Shaw Seyfarth
World Kitchen, Inc.
LandOfFree
Ice cube having a slidable cover does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Ice cube having a slidable cover, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Ice cube having a slidable cover will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2459005