ICE CUBE PRODUCTION UNIT

Description

[0001] The current specification relates to an ice cube producing unit comprising an ice cube tray having at least one ice cube compartment and a lid which is suitable for being mounted on the tray to seal water or other liquid inside said at least one ice cube compartment.

[0002] By ice cube producing unit is meant a unit into which water or other liquid can be filled after which it is placed in a freezer and the water or other liquid freezes. Inside the unit, at least one ice cube compartment is arranged in which the ice freezes into an ice cube. By ice cube is meant any 3D geometric shape formed of ice. In other words, ice cubes do not have to be right angled cubes, but could be hearts, stars, spheres, etc...

[0003] The ice cube producing unit according to the invention is a handheld unit. In the context of the invention, a "handheld" unit should be understood as a unit which is portable and which can be operated by hand. More specifically, a handheld ice cube dispensing unit according to the first invention should be able to be placed in a typical household freezer. It should furthermore be possible to remove the unit from the freezer so that it can be manually operated by a user, after which it can be placed back into the freezer.Description of related art

[0004] Ice cube trays with lids are well known in the art. For example: US5188744A, US2613512A, US5196127A and US4967995A. However prior art systems are either complex to use, have lids which need to be handled separately from the tray and / or do not seal the water inside the unit.

[0005] Furthermore, most of the ice cube trays with lids which are available in the art, are designed to enable stacking of ice cube trays on top of each other. They are not designed to seal water / liquid inside the unit. This is for example the case for EP2530413 which discloses an ice cube producing unit with a tray and a housing around the tray to seal the ice cubes inside the tray. However, the housing has a space above the tray, to allow the ice cubes to leave the tray after freezing, whereby the contents of the ice cube compartments are not sealed inside the ice cube compartments.

[0006] In some cases, ice cube trays are provided with hinged lids, for example GB2405689, US2014 / 167321 and DE10135206. In the case of the first two devices, the lid is provided with a normal hinge and the lid can rotate freely about the hinge. The hinge as such has no stable positions. In the last device, the hinge, in one embodiment, is provided with a biasing mechanism, for example a spring arrangement, which can bias the lid into an open position. In this case the hinge has a single stable position.Summary of the invention

[0007] It is therefore a first aspect of the invention to provide an ice cube producing unit which is better than the prior art solutions.

[0008] This aspect is provided by the invention according to claim 1. Additional advantageous features are described in the dependent claims.

[0009] In the claims, it is stated that the lid is "held in a position". According to the current specification this should be understood such that the unit itself holds the lid in the specified position. It is not necessary for a user to manually hold the lid in the specified position.

[0010] It should be noted that in the claims the phrase "individually sealed" is used to describe how the ice cube compartments are sealed. According to this specification this should be understood as meaning that one ice cube compartment should be individually sealed with respect to an adjacent ice cube compartment. The lid should therefore seal up against a divider between adjacent ice cube compartments. It should however, be noted that air / water channels located in the divider to allow water flow between adjacent ice cube compartments should be allowed. The limitation should be in that when the ice cube tray is sealed by the lid, the ice cube tray can be arranged in any position in a freezer without enough ice forming in the area between adjacent ice cubes which would make it difficult to break adjacent ice cubes away from each other in the unit. While the person skilled in the art should understand this definition, some more precise definitions are provided here which might be used if necessary. One definition is that the cross sectional area of the air / water channels in the side wall should be less than 20% of the total surface area of the side wall of the ice cube compartment in which the air / water channels are located. Another definition is that the cross sectional area of the air / water channels in the side wall should be less than 15% of the total surface area of the side wall of the ice cube compartment in which the air / water channels are located. Additional definitions with less than 10% and less 5% could also be used.

[0011] It should also be noted that the claims also use the term "housing". The term housing should be understood as an element which joins the lid, the tray and the displacing arrangement. The housing in one embodiment is enclosed so that the tray, the lid and the displacing mechanism are all arranged within the housing. However, in another embodiment, the housing is open and only provides a way of connecting the different elements. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the housing is directly fastened to the displacing arrangement, while the tray and the lid are directly fastened to the displacing arrangement with no direct connection to the housing. However within the scope of the current specification, the housing in this situation still joins the lid, the tray and the displacing arrangement.Brief description of the drawings

[0012] In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to embodiments shown by the enclosed figures. It should be emphasized that the embodiments shown are used for example purposes only and should not be used to limit the scope of the invention. It should be noted that the figures also disclose examples of alternative devices. Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a first example, not according to the invention and present for illustrative purposes only, of an ice cube producing unit in a closed position. Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the ice cube producing unit of figure 1 in a filling position. Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the ice cube producing unit of figure 1 in a dispensing position. Fig. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the ice cube producing unit of figure 1. Fig. 5 shows an exploded perspective view of the ice cube producing unit of figure 1 where some of the components have been removed to simplify the drawing. Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the ice cube producing unit of figure 1 in a closed position where some of the components have been removed to simplify the drawing. Fig. 7 shows a cross section view of the ice cube producing unit of figure 1 in a closed position. Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of the ice cube producing unit of figure 1 in a filling position where some of the components have been removed to simplify the drawing. Fig. 9 shows a cross section view of the ice cube producing unit of figure 1 in a filling position. Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of the ice cube producing unit of figure 1 in a dispensing position where some of the components have been hidden to simplify the drawing. Fig. 11 shows a cross section view of the ice cube producing unit of figure 1 in a dispensing position. Fig. 12 shows an exploded perspective detail view of the ice cube tray component with tray lid of the ice cube producing unit of figure 1. Figure 13 shows a perspective view of the flexible sheet of figure 12 from a different viewing angle. Fig. 14 shows a front view of the ice cube tray of the ice cube producing unit of figure 1. Fig. 15 shows a schematic view of the tray and tray lid with sealing ribs of the ice cube producing unit of figure 1. Fig. 16 shows a close up cross section view of the filling opening in a closed position according to the detail view XVI defined in figure 7. Fig. 17 shows a close up cross section view of the filling opening in an open position according to the detail view XVII defined in figure 9. Fig. 18-20 show different perspective views of the filling arrangement of the ice cube producing unit of figure 1. Fig. 21 show a schematic cross section view of an ice cube compartment, not according to the invention and present for illustrative purposes only, with a lid having ice cube holding means. Figure 22 shows a schematic cross section view of an embodiment of an ice cube producing unit according to the invention. Detailed description of the embodiments

[0013] Figures 1-20 show different views of one example, not according to the invention and present for illustrative purposes only, of an ice cube producing / dispensing unit in different stages of operation. The ice cube producing unit of figures 1-20 has a number of unique features which will be described in detail below. It should be obvious to the person skilled in the art that the different features do not all have to be used together. Other devices could be developed which make use of one or more separate features disclosed below. The scope of protection of the current application is to be determined by the claims of the current application.

[0014] The example of the ice cube producing unit 1 shown in the figures comprises a housing 2, a lid 3, a dispenser 4, two ice cube trays 5a, 5b, two tray lids 6a, 6b for the ice cube trays and an activation mechanism. The activation mechanism will be described in more detail below.

[0015] Figure 1 shows the unit in a closed position. In this position, the ice cube trays 5a, 5b are sealed by the tray lids 6a, 6b and no water / ice can get into the trays or leave the trays.

[0016] Figure 2 shows the unit in a filling position. In this position, the lid 3 has been turned 90 degrees to reveal filling openings 71, 72 (figure 18) in the top of the unit. In this position, water can be poured into the unit until it is full. Details of how the filling process works is provided below.

[0017] After filling the unit completely, the lid 3 can be turned 90 degrees back again to put the unit into its closed position (figure 1). The unit is then completely sealed and no water can then leave the unit. The unit can then be placed in a freezer in any position without water running out of the device. Once the unit is in the freezer, the water is allowed to freeze in the individual compartments of the ice cube tray.

[0018] Figure 3 shows the device in a "dispensing" position. In this position, the lid 3 has been rotated a number of times thereby activating the opening mechanism. As the lid is rotated, the ice cube trays 5a,5b are displaced outwards, thereby separating them from their respective tray lids 6a,6b. Once the ice cube trays have been moved out enough, the ice cubes are released and they fall down in the interior of the unit. Further details of the opening mechanism are provided below.

[0019] In the current example, further rotation of the lid activates the dispenser which dispenses one ice cube at a time out through the bottom of the unit.

[0020] The operation is similar to a pepper mill. Further details of the dispenser are provided below.

[0021] Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the unit where all the different components can be seen. In figure 5 the left most tray with its associated tray lid, the foremost housing panel and the foremost panel of the dispenser have been removed to make understanding the mechanism easier.

[0022] Figures 6 and 7 show the unit in its closed position, figures 8 and 9 show the unit in its filling position and figures 10 and 11 show the unit in its dispensing position.

[0023] The unit, in more detail comprises (see figure 4), a first side housing panel 11, a second side housing panel 12, a top housing piece 13, a lid 3, a first dispenser panel 21, a second dispenser panel 22, a spiral element 23, a dispenser clutch element 24, a first tray 5a, a first tray lid 6a, a second tray 5b, a second tray lid 6a, a first guide plate 31, a second guide plate 32, a lid clutch element 33, a hexagonal drive axle 34, a bushing 35, a sliding nut 36 and a screw drive axle 37. The interaction between these elements will be described below.

[0024] It should be noted that in the current example, the first and second tray lids 6a,6b are made up of a flexible sheet element 50 and a frame element 51. The flexible sheet element is fastened to the frame element as will be described in more detail later on. The flexible sheet element is shown separated from the frame element in the figures for the sake of illustration, however in the actual device, the two elements would be fastened together to form a single unit.

[0025] During assembly, the sliding nut 36 is fastened to an upper recess 52 in the frame element 51 of the second tray lid 6b. The sliding nut is prevented from rotating or displacing with respect to the frame element. Furthermore, the bushing 35 is placed in a second recess 53 in the frame element of the second tray lid 6b. The bushing 35 is allowed to rotate with respect to the frame element of the lid, but is not allowed to displace with respect to the lid. This is due to the two flanges 45 on either side of the bushing 35 which sandwich a portion of the frame element. The opposite frame element of the tray lid 6a is then placed adjacent the frame element of the second tray lid 6b thereby sandwiching the sliding nut and the bushing inside the two tray lids. The two lids are each formed with a snap mechanism 54 which enable the two lids to snap together, thereby ensuring that the bushing 35 and the sliding nut 36 do not fall out of their recesses.

[0026] The frame elements of the lids also have vertically extending flanges 55 on either side of the tray lid. These flanges 55 are arranged in a vertical slot 40 arranged in the guide plates 31, 32. Snap elements 56 arranged parallel to the flanges 55 are arranged to snap onto the slot 40 in the guide plate 31,32 to hold the glide plates and the lids together. In this way, when the lids are displaced, then the guide plates are also displaced in the same direction and the same amount.

[0027] From figure 4, it can also be seen that the guide plates have an elongated protrusion 41 around the periphery of the slot 40. This protrusion fits into a slot 14 in the first and second housing plates 11,12. The slot 14 in the housing plates is longer than the protrusion 41 in the guide plates which allows the lids + guideplates assembly to slide up and down in the housing along the slot 14. It should be noted that other examples could also be provided. For example, in one solution, instead of having an elongated protrusion 41 which fits into a slot, the guide plate 31,32 could be formed with a limited number of pins which fit into the slot 14 in the housing. In this way, any water trapped in the slot would be easily able to drain away. If there was some water trapped during freezing, the pins would easily break the ice.

[0028] In order to control the movement of the tray lid + guide plate assembly, the screw drive axle 37 is provided with an external thread which engages with an internal thread on the sliding nut 36. As the screw drive axle is rotated, the sliding nut is forced to displace up or down with respect to the screw drive axle depending on the direction of rotation of the screw drive axle. The upper portion 38 screw drive axle is snapped into an opening 15 in the housing top portion 13. The housing top portion is fastened to the first and second housing panels 12,13. Due to the arrangement of the top portion of the screw drive axle, the screw drive axle cannot displace with respect to the housing panels and the housing top, it can only rotate. As it rotates, it will therefore force the lid+guide plate assembly to displace up or down with respect to the housing. A drive axle (not shown) below the lid 3 engages with the top portion of the screw drive axle 37, so that when the lid is rotated, the screw drive axle is also rotated. Therefore, by rotating the top lid 3, the lid+guide plate assembly is displaced with respect to the housing.

[0029] The ice cube trays 5a, 5b are each provided with three guide pins 61 on either side of the ice cube tray. The guide pins 61 are arranged in guide slots 42 in the guide plates and in guide slots 16 in the housing panels. The guide slots in the housing panels have a vertical portion 17 in towards the centre of the housing panels and a horizontal portion 18 which goes from the centre of the housing panels toward the outer periphery of the housing panels. The guide slots 42 on the guide plates 31, 32 are in general arranged at an angle to the vertical. In the current embodiment, the angle is around 40 degrees.

[0030] The ice cube trays 5a,5b start in a position pressed tightly up against their respective tray lids 6a,6b. The guide pins 61 of the trays are in the upper portion of the vertical portion of the guide slots 17 in the housing panels and in the innermost position in the guide slots 42 in the guide plates 31,32. As the tray lid + guide plate assembly is pushed downwardly by rotating the lid 3, the guide pins are also pushed downwardly in the vertical portion 17 of the guide slots 16 in the housing panels while remaining stationary with respect to the slots in the guide plates. Once the guide pins reach the horizontal portion, the guide pins will start to move outwardly due to the angle of the guide slots in the guide plates. While the lid + guide plate assembly moves down, the ice cube trays move horizontally outwards. When the lid + guide plate assembly reaches the bottom of its travel, the external thread of the screw drive axle 37 releases the sliding nut and the lid + guide plate assembly stops moving downwards and the ice cube trays stop moving outwards.

[0031] When it is desired to retract the ice cube trays, the lid is rotated in the opposite direction thereby pulling the sliding nut upwards again and the motion of the trays and guide pins is reversed.

[0032] Once the tray lid + guide plate assembly reaches its lower most position, the lowermost portion of the bushing 35 which is formed as a clutch element 33 engages with a complementary clutch element 24 formed on the spiral 23. Since the screw drive axle 37 is no longer in engagement with the sliding nut, the screw drive axle is able to turn freely without any more displacement of the tray lid + guide plate assembly. The hexagonal drive axle 34 is fixed to one end of the screw drive axle and rotates together with the screw drive axle. The bushing 35 is arranged with an internal recess which matches the hex axles shape while still allowing the bushing to slide along the hex axle. In this way, as the lid + guide plate assembly is displaced downwardly, the bushing slides along the hex axle, but rotates together with the hex axle. Therefore, when the bottom of the bushing engages with the clutch element of the spiral, rotation of the lid will cause rotation of the spiral. The function of the spiral will be described in more detail later on.

[0033] Figures 10 and 11 shows the dispensing position in more details. As can be seen especially from figure 11, the ice cube trays have been displaced outwardly so that they are completely disconnected from the lids. The ice cubes are now free to fall down into the open area between the ice cube trays and the tray lids. In effect there are two separate compartments of ice cubes, one on either side of the tray lid assembly at the centre of the unit. The dispenser arrangement on the bottom of the device can be described as a unit having four openings, two openings 90,91 at the top and two openings 92,93 at the bottom. In effect, the two openings at the bottom are joined into one opening, however, one can imagine two separate openings.

[0034] In the position shown in figure 11, an ice cube will fall down through the left most opening 90 and land on the bottom portion of the spiral 23a. Likewise an ice cube will fall down through the right most opening 91 and land on the top portion of the spiral 23b. The spiral will prevent the ice cubes from falling out of the dispenser. As the spiral turns, the ice cube on the left and the ice cube on the right will slowly displace downwardly. When the end of the spiral is reached on the left hand opening, the ice cube on the left side will fall through the bottom opening 92 on the left side. Further rotation of the spiral will then allow the ice cube on the right to fall through the bottom opening 93 on the right side. This cycle can be repeated by further turning of the spiral.

[0035] In this example, this effect is provided by having a spiral. However, a similar effect could be provided by two cover elements displaced apart from each other. In a first position, one cover plate covers the bottom opening while a second cover plate does not cover the top opening. In this position, an ice cube can fall through the upper opening and land on the lower cover plate. Rotating the cover plates then covers the upper opening while opening the lower opening. The ice cube can then fall out through the lower opening. Further rotation closes the bottom opening and opens the upper opening. This can be repeated as many times as desired.

[0036] While a spiral does not as such have a distinct upper and lower cover plate, in effect the top portion of the spiral acts as an upper cover plate and the lower portion of the spiral acts as a lower cover plate for the sake of this specification. Furthermore, the spiral could be formed with a smooth ramp as shown in the figures, or it can be provided with a stepped ramp if so desired.

[0037] Figures 12-15 show some different detail views of the ice cube trays 5 and the tray lids 6. As was mentioned previously, the tray lids 6 are in the current example made up of a frame element 51 and a flexible sheet element 50. In the current example, the frame element is made via an injection moulding process in plastic and the flexible sheet element is co-injected directly onto the frame element with a rubber material. In this way, the tray lids are formed as a single component in a single production process.

[0038] On the tray facing side of the flexible sheet element 50, sealing lips 57 are formed. Figure 15 shows a schematic view of the sealing lips to better illustrate how they work. The sealing lips extend a short distance into the ice cube compartment along the upper edge of the ice cube compartment. The sealing lips have two purposes. A first purpose is to provide a better seal which can absorb a certain amount of extension of the flexible sheet element when the ice in the compartment expands without the water in the ice cube flowing over the edges of the ice cube compartment. In order to improve sealing effect of the sealing lips ridges or extra flaps could be formed on the outer sides of the sealing lips so that a better seal is provided between the sealing lips and the inner surface of the ice cube compartment.

[0039] A second purpose is to help pull the ice cube out of the ice cube compartment when the tray is pulled away from the tray lid. When the ice freezes in the ice cube compartment, the ice will freeze around the slightly inwardly sloping sealing lips. When the tray is pulled away from the tray lid, the sealing lips will try to hold on to the ice cube, thereby pulling it out of the tray. When the sealing lips pass the upper edge of the tray, then they flex outwardly thereby releasing the ice cube.

[0040] Depending on how hard the sealing lips should grip the ice cube, the sealing lips could be formed in different shapes and sizes. It can also be seen that due to the motion of the trays and lids, as the trays go straight out, the tray lids go down. Therefore in the case where the ice cubes are held onto the lid via the sealing lips, the downward motion of the tray lids with respect to the trays will force the trays into contact with the ice cubes, thereby rotating the ice cubes and forcing them to fall away from the tray lids.

[0041] As can also be seen especially from figure 12 and 14, the ice cube tray 5, has a number of channels 58,59 in the dividers 60 between adjacent ice cube compartments. Furthermore, it can be seen that the dividers between the A small channel 58 is provided at the top end of the divider and a larger channel 59 is provided at the lower end of the divider. Due to the sloping divider, as water is poured into the ice cube tray via the filling opening 64, water will flow on one side of the ice cube tray through the larger opening 59 while air will be able to leave through the smaller channels at the upper end of the dividers. In this way, the water flow will be arranged on the right side of the tray while air flow will be arranged on the left side of the tray. Due to the separation of the air flow and water flow to the left and right sides respectively, air bubbles in the water flow will be avoided, thereby allowing a faster and easier filling of the ice cube tray.

[0042] It can also be noted that the frame element 51 is arranged with an outer frame 51a which presses the flexible sheet against the outer periphery of the ice cube tray. Furthermore, the frame element 51 is arranged with dividers 51b which press the flexible sheet against the upper edge of the dividers of the ice cube compartments. In this way, a tight seal is provided between the flexible sheet and the upper edge of the ice cube tray. Furthermore, it can be seen that the frame element is hollow between the outer frame and the dividers. In this way, as the water in the ice cube compartments freezes, the flexible sheet will be allowed to extend into the hollow between the outer frame and the dividers.

[0043] As mentioned previously, in order to fill the unit with water, the unit can be put into a filling position by rotating the lid 90 degrees. Likewise, it was mentioned that by rotating the lid back 90 degrees, the unit can be sealed to prevent water from running out of the unit. The closed position can be seen best in the cross section of figure 7 and in the detail view of figure 16. Likewise the filling position can best be seen in figure 9 and the detail view of figure 17. Further details of the filling arrangement can be seen in figures 18-20.

[0044] In general, the top housing part 13, is provided with two filling openings 71,72 and two air vent openings 73,74. One set of filling opening 71 and air vent opening 73 is associated with a filling opening 62 and an air vent opening 63 on the first tray 5a and the second set of filling opening 72 and air vent opening 74 is associated with a filling opening 64 and an air vent opening 65 of the second tray 5b. Water can then be poured into the unit via the filling openings and air vents out through the air vent openings.

[0045] A sealing element 75,76,77,78 associated with each opening in the top housing part 13 is provided which can be inserted into the respective opening of the tray. When the unit is in its filling position, the sealing elements are retracted as shown in figure 17. The water flow is shown by the arrow with the label W. When the unit is in its closed position, the sealing elements are pressed down into the openings in the trays, thereby sealing the openings in the trays. See figure 16.

[0046] It should be noted that in the closed position of the sealing elements, the sealing element is arranged such that it fills the majority of the filling opening. In this way, when the ice cube is to be removed from the tray, there is no portion of the ice cube which sticks out of the tray such that it cannot be removed from the tray. While a small portion of the ice cube in this example sticks into the filling opening, this portion of the ice cube is still located on the inside of the outermost edge 79 of the filling opening due to the taper on the side wall of the ice cube compartment.

[0047] It should also be noted that in the current example, two o-rings (not shown) are provided on the sealing element, one on the bottom portion in the recess provided for this purpose and one on the upper portion, again in the recess provided for this purpose. It can be seen that in the closed position, both o-rings are in engagement with the opening. In contrast in the filling position, the lower o-ring is free from engagement while the upper o-ring is still in engagement with the opening. In this way, water poured into the filling opening is directed into the tray and not into the internal mechanism of the unit.

[0048] It should be noted that by rotating the lid 90 degrees, the screw drive axle 37 causes the trays and the tray lids to displace downwardly enough to disengage the sealing elements from the filling and venting openings.

[0049] Figure 2 shows another schematic example, not according to the invention and present for illustrative purposes only, of an ice cube tray 5 with a lid 50,51. As with the previous example, the lid is made up of a frame element 51 and a flexible sheet element 50. And as with the previous example, sealing lips 100 are provided on the bottom side of the lid. As with the previous example, the sealing lips 100 act both as sealing lips and as ice cube holding means whereby the ice cube is positively engaged with the sealing lips of the lid so that when the lid is pulled away from the ice cube tray, the ice cube will want to follow the lid. In this example, the sealing lips 100 are formed with protrusions on the inner side of the sealing lip to more positively engage the ice cube. The sealing lips can be formed in many different ways. For example, by making the sealing lips very flexible, as soon as the ice cube is pulled just slightly out of the tray, then the sealing lips will disengage the ice cube and the cube will be free of the lid. By making the sealing lips stiffer and / or with more positive engagement means, then the ice cube will be more difficult to separate from the lid. In general, the sealing lips can be arranged as flexible sealing elements which are arranged to positively engage an upper surface of an ice cube formed in the ice cube compartment. In this case, the sealing function and the holding function are combined in one element.

[0050] However, it could also be possible to arrange the holding elements away from the edge of the ice cube compartments without any sealing lips at all. For example, small engagement elements, for example small flexible barbs, could be arranged at the centre of each ice cube compartment. Or one could imagine sealing lips with no holding function. For example, if the sealing lips had no positive engagement with the ice cube, then pulling the lid away from the tray would just pull the sealing lips out of engagement with the ice cube.

[0051] Figure 22 shows an embodiment of an ice cube producing unit according to the current invention. This is a much simpler embodiment than shown previously. In this case the unit comprises an ice cube tray 120 and a lid 121. The lid and the ice cube tray are joined by a flexible rubber element 122 which is bendable about its upper edge 123 and its lower edge 124. The flexible rubber element is formed as a bi-stable element having the two positions shown in figure 22a. When it is in its lower position, the lid is sealed against the tray and when it is in its upper position, the lid is away from the tray. The ice cubes can then be shaken out of the tray and out of the opening 126. In this embodiment, the displacing arrangement can be understood as the flexible rubber element 122 and its edges 123,124. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the "housing" could be understood as the combination of the lid, the flexible rubber element and the ice cube tray.

[0052] In another embodiment, not shown, magnets could be used to hold the position of the lid in its first and second position respectively. In the first position, the magnets could hold the lid against the tray to seal the contents of the tray. In the second position, magnets placed on an outer position of a suitable housing could hold the lid away from the tray so that the ice cubes can be removed.

[0053] It is to be noted that the figures and the above description have shown the example embodiment in a simple and schematic manner. Many specific mechanical details have not been shown / described in detail since the person skilled in the art should be familiar with these details and they would just unnecessarily complicate this description. For example, the different processes used to manufacture the components have not been discussed here since the person skilled in the art will be able to provide suitable processes. Furthermore, specific materials used have not been described in detail, since many different types of suitable materials will be known to the person skilled in the art. Also, additional details are shown in the figures which are clear to the person skilled in the art. Many of these features have not been described in detail in the specification, but these details also form a part of the disclosure of this application. Furthermore, in the above specification, most often water is used as the liquid which is frozen. However, the person skilled in the art should understand that other liquids besides water could also be used in the unit.

Claims

1. A handheld ice cube producing unit (120,121) comprising a. an ice cube tray (120) having at least two ice cube compartments, b. a lid (121) which is suitable for being mounted on the tray to seal water or other liquid inside said at least two ice cube compartments, c. a displacing arrangement (122,123,124) connecting the tray and the lid and having two positions: i. a first position where the displacing arrangement connects the lid and the tray and where the lid is held in a position where it abuts the ice cube tray to seal the contents of the at least two ice cube compartments inside the compartments and ii. a second position where the displacing arrangement connects the lid and the tray and where the lid is held in a position where it is separated from the tray so that ice cubes formed in the tray can leave the tray d. characterized in that said displacing arrangement (122,123,124) comprises a bi-stable element (122,123,124) where the first and second positions are the two bi-stable positions.

2. An ice cube producing unit (120,121) according to claim 1, characterized in that said lid (121) and said ice cube tray (120) are arranged so that in the first position, each of said at least two ice cube compartments is individually sealed.

3. An ice cube producing unit (120,121) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said unit further comprises a housing (120,121,122,123,124) which engages the tray (120), the lid (121), and the displacing arrangement (122,123,124).

4. An ice cube producing unit according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the displacing arrangement is arranged to displace the lid in a direction with respect to the tray which has a vector component which is perpendicular to the plane of the lid for at least a portion of the motion of the lid.

5. An ice cube producing unit according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the displacing arrangement is arranged to displace the lid in a direction with respect to the tray which has a vector component which is parallel to the plane of the lid for at least a portion of the motion of the lid.

6. An ice cube producing unit (1) according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the lid (6) is arranged with ice cube holding means (57) which enhance the hold between the lid and a frozen ice cube formed in the tray (5).

7. An ice cube producing unit (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the ice cube holding means (57) are flexible sealing elements arranged around the periphery of the upper edge of the ice cube compartment.