US2990981A - Ice bridge for a pitcher - Google Patents

Description

July 4, 1961 A. J. SCHMITTv ETAL ICE BRIDGE FOR A PITCHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 14, 1958 FIG.

ZNVENTORS ARTHUR J. ScHMITT BY Roarsm' O.LOCKMAN ATTORNEY July 4, 1961 A. J. SCHMITT ETAL 2,990,981 ICE BRIDGE FOR A PITCHER Filed Nov. 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZNVENTORS ARTHUR. J. ScHMrrT BY ROBERT o. LOCKMAN 'iwronnsv United States Patent 2,990,981 ICE BRIDGE FOR A PITCHER Arthur J. Schmitt and Robert O. Lockman, West Bend, Wis., assignors to West Bend Aluminum Co., West Bend, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Nov. 14, 1958, Ser. No. 773,931 1 Claim. (Cl. 222-564) This invention relates to ice pitchers and particularly to improvements in an ice bridge for an ice pitcher.

Prior ice bridges have been plagued with the problem of ice accumulating thereat which blocks and clogs the flow causing an erratic and uneven stream from the pitcher.

It is the object of this invention, therefore, to provide an ice bridge which not only restricts the flow of ice from the pitcher but, in addition, acts to deflect the ice from the pouring lip to thereby insure a smooth even flow at all times.

This object is attained by an ice bridge which has a downwardly extending portion on the underside thereof which forms a wedge having upwardly sloping sides which serve to direct the ice outwardly to either side of the pouring lip when liquid is poured from the pitcher.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out in, or be apparent from the specification and claim, as will obvious modifications of the single embodiment shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of an ice pitcher embodying the invention with portions of the pitcher and ice bridge broken away;

FIG. 2. is a fragmentary view in front elevation of the pitcher shown in FIG. 1 with part of the pitcher broken away; and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the pitcher shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the ice pitcher comprises a container 10 having an open top 12, a handle 14 and an ice bridge 16 mounted on the top of the container as shown. The various parts of the ice pitcher in the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings and described hereinafter are made of stainless steel. However, it should be understood that the parts may be made from any number of suitable materials such as aluminum, plastic, glass, etc.

A pouring lip 18 is formed in the upper edge of open top 12 opposite handle 14 to facilitate pouring liquids therefrom. Ice bridge 16 (which as shown is dished slightly upwardly) is mounted across pouring lip 18 and sealed to the edge of top opening 12 on either side of the lip by welding or other suitable means. Bridge 16 is spaced slightly from lip 18 and is cut out as at 20 to pro vide an opening 22 through which liquid can be poured from the pitcher while retaining all but the very smallest pieces of ice therein.

To prevent ice from clogging in opening 22, bridge 16 is deformed as shown to form a downwardly extending wedge 24 having upwardly and outwardly sloping sides 26, 26 which serve to deflect the pieces of ice outwardly to either side of lip 18 when liquid is poured from the pitcher. Thus, the ice bridge 16 not only restricts the flow of ice from the pitcher but at the same time keeps the pouring lip free of ice to thereby insure a smooth and uniform flow therefrom.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claim.

We claim:

In 'an ice pitcher, a container having a top opening and a pouring lip formed in the edge of said top opening, an ice bridge for said pouring lip mounted across said top opening and sealed to the edge thereof on either side of said pouring lip, said ice bridge spaced inwardly from said pouring lip a suflicient distance to permit liquid to be poured from said container over said pouring lip but spaced close enough to said lip to prevent ice pieces of any appreciable size from passing said pouring lip, said bridge spaced inwardly from the edge of said opening opposite said lip a sufiicient distance to permit filling said pitcher with liquid and ice, said ice bridge having a V-shaped depression formed therein extending horizontally inwardly from said lip toward the vertical axis of said container to deflect ice to either side of said pouring lip and thereby prevent ice from blocking flow over said lip when liquid is poured from said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 207,910 Smith Sept. 10, 1878 684,069 Knorr Oct. 8, 1901 2,803,375 Meshberg Aug. 20, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 794,5'18 France Dec. 12, 1935

Images