US2313394A - Ice cube tray - Google Patents

Description

Patented Mar. 9, 1943 ICE CUBE TRAY George C. Norris, Swissvale, Pa.

1 claim.

This invention relates to a tray for use in forming ice cubes, one of the objects being toprovide a tray so constructed as to expedite freezing of water to form the cubes and also to more readily release the cubes from the tray.

Another object is to provide acne-piece cellular tray utilizing hollow partitions open at the bottom and having outlets at their tops whereby,l

cold air can circulate freely through-the partitions during the freezing operation, thereby transmitting a freezing temperature to all sides of each cell containing water to be frozen.l

A still further object is to provide a tray .the partitions of which can be used for conducting a heated liquid to all walls of the cells to quickly release theformed cubes for gravitation from the tray when inverted.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of the tray.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3 3, Figure 1.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, i designates the iiat bottom of the tray having slightly diverging side walls 2 and end walls 3 upstanding therefrom. Between these walls are upwardly tapered hollow partitions 4 and 4' extending to the walls and open at their bottoms. Any desired number of these partitions can be used and they can be arranged to form one or more rows of cells 5 each open at the top and having upwardly diverging walls as shown. At suitable points portions of the tops of the partitions can be removed to form slots or openings 6. The partitions open into each other at their points of crossing.

to which it is joined. It is also joined to the Application February zs`, 1941, serial No. 381,111

(o1 cs2-108.5)

In forming the tray with one row of cells 5, the bottom can be made of one strip with deep depressions constituting transverse partitions 4 and with upturned ends constituting the end walls 3. The sides 2 can then be applied and soldered or otherwise joined to the sides of the bottom and end walls and to the ends of the partitions. If the tray is formed of two rows of cells the partition 4 is shaped and then interposed between and at right angles to the partitions 4 bottoms I and to the end walls 3. 'This arrangement is shown clearly in Figure 1.

In practice the cells 5 are illled with water and placed in a freezing unit. Cold air will circulate between all of the cells as well as along the walls 2 and 3 so that the freezing action will thus be expedited. To remove the formed cubes the tray is inverted and hot water directed into the partitions from which it will drain through openings 6. Thus all walls of al1 cells will be heated simultaneously and the cubes will be quickly released.

While the tray can be constructed of assembled parts, as described, it can also be cast or pressed from suitable materials if preferred.

What is claimed is:

An ice cube tray including laterally spaced plates having deep transverse' corrugations providing walls of separate rows of spaced cells, the ends of the plates being extended upwardly t0 form end walls of the tray, there being openings in the top portions of the corrugations, a channeled plate interposed between and connecting the corrugated plates to form the inner sides of the rows of cells, there being slots in the. sides of the channeled plate opening beneath the apertured top portions of the corrugations, and continuous side plates secured to and extending along the outer sides of the corrugated plates to form the outer walls of the cells and to close the outer ends of the spaces between the cells.

GEORGE C. NoRRrs.l

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