Refrigeration – Means producing shaped or modified congealed product – With product receiving and storing means
Reexamination Certificate
2003-03-27
2004-07-20
Tapolcai, William E. (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Means producing shaped or modified congealed product
With product receiving and storing means
C062S422000, C062S459000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06763674
ABSTRACT:
FIELD
The present invention relates to beverage cooling arts. It finds particular application in conjunction with commercial-type open system ice bins and open system loose auxiliary beverage cooling plates or like devices, and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that the present invention is also amenable to other like applications.
BACKGROUND
Commercially, some vendors employ open ice bin systems for the cooling of beverages (i.e., soft drinks and the like). Often, beverage cooling in such an environment is accomplished by placing a separate loose auxiliary cooling device in an open ice bin and covering it with otherwise potable ice. This can result in the contamination of the potable ice from contact with the auxiliary cooling device and its supporting connections. Consequently, the otherwise potable ice may be changed into “non-potable ice” in accordance with some health codes and deemed not fit for human consumption. This can be disadvantageous insomuch as commercial beverage vendors would like to manually serve ice to their customers out of the same open ice bin. In other words, the current practice of placing the separate loose auxiliary cooling device inside an open ice bin with sufficient ice storage capacity to provide cooling to the auxiliary cooling device and storage for potable ice can be disadvantageous to the extent that it renders the otherwise potable ice unfit for human consumption because ice in direct contact with the auxiliary cooling device and/or supporting connections is considered contaminated by some health code standards.
One option is to have separate distinct open ice bins for the potable ice and the auxiliary cooling device. This is often times inefficient and burdensome on the vendor insomuch as it would mean that the vendor is purchasing and/or maintaining separate dedicated pieces of equipment, presuming space for the same is even available.
Smaller ice pans are sometimes filled with the potable ice and placed in the open ice bin. The customers are served ice out of this smaller ice pan. The rest of the open ice bin, containing the auxiliary cooling device, can then be filled with non-potable ice. This technique essentially divides the ice bin into two distinct ice storage areas, i.e., inside the pan and outside the pan. Accordingly, the potable ice inside the pan remains separate and distinct from the non-potable ice outside the pan, which is in direct contact with the auxiliary cooling device. However, oftentimes, the space restraints of the ice bin do not allow the smaller ice pans to be inserted therein. Further, even if the smaller ice pan does fit, the vendor is still burdened with having to maintain two distinct stores of ice with reduced capacity, which in turn is burdensome to the vendor.
Another solution is to use a cooling device which is sealed from or otherwise outside the ice receiving cavity of the ice bin. However, such a solution does not easily or readily retrofit with respect to existing equipment or open ice bins. Accordingly, use of sealed cooling devices commonly involves the purchase of all new equipment, which can be financially burdensome and foregoes the opportunity to take advantage of existing open system equipment. Sealed cooling devices also tend to be more difficult to service insomuch as they are sealed and often integrated with the ice bin, hence they are typically less accessible than separate loose auxiliary cooling devices. For example, such an ice bin unit with the cooling device sealed in below the surface of the interior ice storage cavity can be costly, and the auxiliary cooling devices may not be readily accessible for cleaning, inspection and/or servicing purposes.
The present invention contemplates a new and improved perforated ice bin insert, which maintains a manual, open system operation utilizing existing open system equipment and overcomes the above-referenced problems and others.
SUMMARY
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an ice bin insert is provided for a manual service open ice bin having an ice holding cavity. The insert separates a single store of ice pieces into separate stashes and includes a divider dimension to be received within the ice holding cavity of the ice bin, and support members attached to the divider. The support members hold the divider at a desired position within the ice holding cavity of the ice bin. A plurality of perforations are formed in the divider. The perforations are arranged such that the divider permits ice pieces to flow from a first side thereof to a second side thereof while inhibiting retrieval of ice pieces on the second side from the first side.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the divider and said support members are formed from a substantially rigid material, the support members including at least one wall having a shape which substantially conforms to a contour of an ice bin wall that defines the ice holding cavity of the ice bin.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the divider and support members are formed from a substantially planar unitary sheet of material having a plurality of bends therein which define the divider and support members.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the divider includes a substantially planar first section.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the support members are arranged to hold the divider at a height above a floor of the ice holding cavity of the ice bin. The height is sufficient to permit an auxiliary cooling device and a layer of ice pieces surrounding the same to be arranged between the divider and the floor of the ice holding cavity of the ice bin.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the support members are arranged to hold the first section substantially parallel to the floor of the ice holding cavity of the ice bin.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the divider includes a substantially planar second section arranged between the first section and at least one of the support members, the second section being sloped relative to the first section.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the support members includes substantially planar first and second walls connected to the divider, each of the first and second walls being connected to respective opposing ends of the divider.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the walls are substantially normal to the first section of the divider.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the walls do not permit ice pieces to flow therethrough.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the ice bin insert further includes a channel formed at an end of the first wall opposite the divider. The channel is arranged to receive therein a lip of the ice bin, the lip defining at least a portion of an opening for the ice holding cavity of the ice bin.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the ice bin insert further includes a substantially planar connecting plate formed at an end of the second wall opposite the divider, the connecting plate being arranged for engagement with at least a portion of the ice bin so that the insert is supported therefrom.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the connecting plate is substantially normal to the second wall and arranged so as to rest upon a portion of the ice bin.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the connecting plate includes at least one opening therein for passing through connections to an auxiliary cooling device situated under the insert in the ice holding cavity of the ice bin.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the connecting plate includes holes therein through which fasteners pass to fasten the insert to the ice bin.
In accordance with another aspect of th
Cold Core, Ltd.
Fay Sharpe Fagan Minnich & McKee LLP
Tapolcai William E.
LandOfFree
Perforated ice bin insert does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Perforated ice bin insert, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Perforated ice bin insert will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3202811