Pack for producing ice portions in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator

Abstract

The invention relates to a pack consisting of two rubber-elastic mold halves (1), a number of convex sections (3) being molded in each mold half. The convex sections are congruent to one another when the two mold halves lie one over the other and together form a respective cavity for receiving water. The mold halves lie flatly against each other outside of the convex sections (3). The peripheral edges (12) of the mold halves can be closed in a water-tight manner by means of a peripheral tongue-and-groove connection, wherein the tongue sealingly fits into the groove (4). On one side, the two mold halves form tabs (6) which protrude away from said side. The two tabs on the mold halves lie congruently one over the other when the mold halves lie one over the other and when the mold halves are closed along the edge thereof. By pressing on both sides from the outside in a direction parallel to the edge from which the tabs protrude, the tabs can be spread apart in order to form a filling opening to fill the pack.

Description

Pack for producing ice cream portions in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator

[0001] This invention relates to a package for producing ice cream portions in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator, wherein in particular spherical ice cream portions can be produced.

[0002] Conventional ice cube packs of this type often have the following disadvantages: Many are only made of one piece, meaning they form trays with open tops and compartments inside them that are then filled with water. The tray is then placed in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator. This makes it easy to spill water, which often happens. The resulting ice portions are usually cubes, but never relatively large spheres. Two-piece packs are also available. These usually do not produce spherical ice portions and only produce relatively small ice cubes or ice pieces. They are also not always easy to handle. Removing the ice pieces from the mold is often difficult. The best shape for an ice portion to chill a drink, however, would be a sphere, due to its minimal surface area in relation to its volume.This is when the melting of the volume takes the longest and ice balls in a drink also look visually attractive.

[0003] Against this background, the present invention aims to provide an improved package for producing ice cream portions, which, in particular, allows for the production of spherical ice cream portions, is easy to handle, and reliably prevents water spillage when placing the package in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator. Furthermore, the finished ice cream portions should be easy to demold from this package.

[0004] This problem is solved by a package for producing ice cream portions in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator, consisting of two rubber-elastic mold halves, wherein in each mold half a number of bulges are formed, which lie congruently on top of each other when the two mold halves are placed on top of each other and can be tightly connected by means of rubber-elastic, snap-in snap fasteners and eyelets, to form a hollow space each for the absorption of water, while outside the bulges the mold halves lie flat against each other, and wherein the peripheral edge of one mold half can be sealed watertight with the peripheral edge of the other mold half, in that these edge regions form a peripheral tongue and groove connection, which can be pressed together by manually placing the two mold halves on top of each other through elastic deformation of the groove by pressing in the tongue,and that the two mold halves each form a tab on one side projecting away from this side of the mold half, whereby the tabs on the two mold halves lie congruently on top of each other along their edges when the mold halves are placed on top of each other and closed and can be spread open to form a filling opening by pressure from both sides from the outside in a direction parallel to the edge from which they project.

[0005] An example version of this package is presented using the figures and in the following description it is described in detail using these figures and its function is explained. It shows: Figure 1 : The first half of the pack in a perspective top view; Figure 2: The second half of the pack seen in a perspective top view, i.e. the other outside of the pack; Figure 3: The first half of the pack seen in a perspective top view of the inside; Figure 4: The second half of the pack seen in a perspective top view of the inside; Figure 5: A tongue and groove joint shown in a cross section.

[0006] The pack is used to produce ice cream portions in the refrigerator, i.e. in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator or in any other freezer compartment or freezer where sub-zero temperatures prevail. It consists of two rubber-elastic mold halves 1, 2, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 in a perspective view from the outside, with each mold half 1, 2 having a number of bulges 3 formed therein. When the two mold halves 1, 2 are placed on top of each other, these bulges lie congruently on top of each other and together form a cavity for holding water, while outside the bulges 3, the mold halves 1, 2 lie flat against each other. In the example shown, the pack forms a matrix of 3 x 3 arranged bulges 3. Other shapes can also be selected, for example with 4 x 4 or 5 x 5 bulges, etc.The two mold halves 1, 2 are preferably made as a whole and in one piece from two-component silicone, by casting or injection molding. The circumferential edge 12 of one mold half 1 can be sealed watertight with the circumferential edge 13 of the other mold half 2. For this purpose, the edge regions of the two halves 1, 2 form a circumferential tongue and groove connection, which can be pressed into one another by placing the two mold halves 1, 2 on top of one another and by manually elastically deforming the groove. On one side of each of the mold halves 1, 2, a tab 6, 7 protrudes from this side of the mold half 1, 2, or these tabs 6, 7 are molded in one piece from the respective mold half 1, 2. These two tabs 6, 7 of the mold halves 1, 2 come to lie congruently on top of each other along their edge when the mold halves 1, 2 are placed on top of each other and closed and can be pushed against each other and in a direction parallel to the edge from which they come by pressure from both sides from the outside. protrude, as shown with two arrows, and are spread out to form a filling opening. The bulges 3 are hemispherical in shape here and ribs 8 extend between their outer sides, which serve to reinforce and stiffen the two mold halves 1, 2 in their direction of travel. On both sides of the lobes 6, 7, outward-projecting ears 14, 15 can be seen. In one case, in Figure 1, these ears 14 form eyelets 10 for receiving a press fastener on the other mold half 2. In the other case, in Figure 2, these ears 15 are seen from the back. On their other side, press fasteners are formed which are not visible here. Four bulges 3 closest to one another are arranged in such a way that their zeniths form the corners 23 of a square 24, as shown in Figure 2.And in the center of each of these four squares there is an eyelet 10, into each of which a snap fastener 9 is molded at the same position on the counterpart of the other mold half 2. By pressing the total of six snap fasteners 9 into the corresponding eyelets 10, which are opposite one another when the mold halves are placed on top of one another, a snug connection between the two mold halves 1, 2 is achieved, so that the flat intermediate areas 20 lie snugly against one another. The snap fasteners 9 snap into the elastic eyelets 10 and hold the two mold halves 1, 2 firmly together, so that they do not bulge away from each other even when filled with water. The central hemispherical bulge here forms a snap fastener 16 on its outside. By pressing on this snap fastener, the ice cream ball formed in the mold can later be removed from the mold more easily.

[0007] Figure 3 shows the mold half 1 from the other side, i.e., from the inner side, in perspective. The two ears 14 on either side of the tab 6 can be seen, each forming an eyelet 10. The bulges 3 are shown here from their inner, hollow side. The outer peripheral edge 12 of the mold half 1 forms a groove 4 that runs along the entire edge 12 of the mold. The eyelets 10 can also be seen in the center of each of the four closest bulges 3.

[0008] Figure 4 shows the other mold half 2, also viewed from the inside in perspective. The two ears 15 on either side of the flap 7 can be seen, each forming a snap fastener 9. The bulges 3 are also shown here viewed from their inner, hollow side. The outer peripheral edge 13 The mold half 1 forms a spring 5 that runs along the entire edge 13 of the mold. This spring 5 fits practically form-fittingly into the groove 4 on the mold half 1. When the spring 5 is pressed into the groove 4, it forces this groove 4 to expand slightly. One can also see the snap fasteners 9 in the center of each of the four nearest protrusions 3.

[0009] When the two mold halves 1, 2 are placed on top of each other with their inner sides facing each other, they rest snugly on top of each other, which is why the flat areas 19, 20 between the bulges 3 serve. The bulges 3 in mold half 1 are each bordered by a channel 21, and the bulges 3 in mold half 2 are each bordered by an annular bead 22, which fits positively into the channel 21 around the opposite bulge 3. When the mold halves 1, 2 are pressed snugly against each other, the annular beads 22 press into the channels 21 and two opposite bulges 3 each form watertight hollow spheres.

[0010] Figure 5 shows a cross-section of the groove 4 and the associated tongue 5 in a variant. To ensure that the tongue-and-groove connection is reliably watertight, the tongue 5 can, for example, form a circular or angular bead 17 at its outer end, which extends along the tongue 5 and is thicker than the web 18 otherwise formed by the tongue 5. The groove 4 then has an identical cross-section to this tongue 5 with the bead 17 thickened at the top, so that the tongue 5 fits positively into the groove 4 and its bead 17 engages slightly behind the groove 4 on both sides. To press the tongue 5 into the groove 4, the latter must be elastically expanded, after which it elastically closes around the pressed-in tongue 5 and ensures watertightness.

[0011] How is this package handled? First, the two mold halves 1, 2 are placed on top of each other with their inner sides facing each other and then pressed together by hand. The surrounding edge 12, 13 is sealed watertight by locally pressing the spring 5 into the groove 4, with the exception of the area near the tabs 6, 7. The snap fasteners 9 between the bulges 3 are pressed into the opposite eyelets 10 so that they snap into place. The resulting waterproof bag is then grasped by the tabs 6, 7. With one hand, place your thumb on one end of the two overlapping tabs 6, 7, and your index or middle finger on the other, opposite end of the overlapping tabs 6, 7. Then, press your thumb and index or middle finger together slightly, causing the two tabs 6, 7 to bulge out on the outside and spread open to form a filling opening. Water is now filled through this filling opening, ideally by holding the filling opening under the faucet of a kitchen sink. When the bag overflows, press the snap fasteners 9 on either side of the tabs 6, 7 into the corresponding eyelets 10 of the other half of the mold, and then lay the bag or pack flat on the flat floor of the kitchen sink. Now, with one hand, press down on the pack lying flat on the sink floor.This forces the water between the flat areas 19, 20 through the filling opening until these areas rest flush against each other, while the hollow spheres remain fully filled with water. In a final filling step, the tongue and groove joint in the area of ​​the tabs 6, 7 is sealed watertight by pressing them together.

[0012] The watertight package can now be placed in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator or other freezing chamber until the water inside has frozen. Once this has happened, the package can be removed from the freezer compartment or freezing chamber. To open it and demold the formed ice cream balls, grasp the package by the two tabs 6, 7 and pull it apart, which causes the two mold halves 1, 2 to separate and breaks the circumferential tongue and groove connection. The ice cream balls fall out or remain stuck to a hollow hemisphere of the mold. By pressing on the outside of the mold, in particular on the push button 16 in the central bulge, the ice cream balls can be easily demolded one after the other and are then available for cooling drinks. Index 1 first half of the pack 2 second half of the pack 3 bulges in the pack-mold halves 4 grooves 5 spring 6 lobes on half 2 7 lobes on half 1 8 ribs to stiffen the halves 1 , 2 9 push button 10 eyelet to snap fastener 9 11 Flat areas on the two halves 1 , 2 12 Edge of mold half 1 13 Edge of mold half 2 14 ears on mold half 1 15 ears on mold half 2 16 push button 17 bulge on the spring 5 18 Bridge of spring 5 19 Flat areas inside the mold half 1 20 Flat areas inside the mold half 2 21 channels around the edge of the hollow hemispheres of mold half 1 22 ring beads around the edge of the hollow hemispheres of mold half 2 23 corners of a square 24 square (virtual)

Claims

Patent claims 1. A package for producing ice cream portions in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator, comprising two rubber-elastic mold halves (1, 2), wherein in each mold half (1, 2) a number of bulges (3) are formed, which lie congruently on top of each other when the two mold halves (1, 2) are placed on top of each other and can be tightly connected by means of rubber-elastic, snap-in snap fasteners (9) and eyelets (10), in order to form a hollow space each for the absorption of water, while outside the bulges (3) the mold halves (1, 2) lie flat on top of each other, and wherein the peripheral edge (12) of one mold half (1) can be sealed watertight with the peripheral edge (13) of the other mold half (2), in that these edge regions form a peripheral tongue-and-groove connection, which is formed by placing the two mold halves on top of each other (1, 2) can be pressed into each other manually by elastic deformation of the groove (4) by pressing in the spring (5), and that the two mold halves (1,2) on each side, form a tab (6, 7) projecting away from this side of the mold half, wherein the tabs (6, 7) on the two mold halves (1, 2) lie congruently on one another along their edges when the mold halves (1, 2) are placed on top of one another and closed, and can be spread open to form a filling opening by pressure from both sides from the outside in a direction parallel to the edge from which they project.

2. Pack for producing ice cream portions in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the tongue (5) and groove (4) each have a cross-section such that the tongue (5) fits positively into the groove (4).

3. Pack for producing ice cream portions in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tongue (5) is thickened at the upper edge region to a bead (17) and the groove (4) has a cross-section with the same contour as the spring (5), so that the spring (5) when inserted into the groove (4) with its thickened bead (17) in the inner shape of the groove (4) engages behind these shoulders on both sides.

4. Pack for producing ice cream portions in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rubber-elastic mold halves (1, 2) of the pack consist of a Two-component silicone made by casting or injection molding.

5. Pack for producing ice cream portions in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bulges (3) in the two rubber-elastic mold halves (1, 2) each form a hemisphere, so that with the two mold halves (1, 2) with their respective matching hemispheres each one can enclose a ball of water to produce spherical ice cream portions.

6. Pack for producing ice cream portions in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bulges (3) in the two rubber-elastic halves (1, 2) are connected to ribs (8) running perpendicular to the flat areas to stiffen the mold.

7. Pack for producing ice cream portions in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two mold halves (1, 2) each form a tab (6, 7) on one side projecting away from the side of the mold half (1, 2), wherein the two tabs (6, 7) of the mold halves (1, 2) lie congruently on one another along their edges when the mold halves (1, 2) are placed on top of one another and closed, and can be spread open to form a filling opening by pressure from both sides in a direction parallel to the edge from which they project.

8. Pack for producing ice cream portions in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two mold halves (1, 2) each form a matrix of 3 x 3, 4 x 4 or 5 x 5 arranged bulges (3).

9. Pack for producing ice cream portions in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two mold halves (1, 2) are connected on their inside at the edge of their bulges (3) to Form a channel (21) in each mold half (1) and form an annular bead (22) on the edge of its bulges (3) on the opposite mold half (2), wherein the annular bead (22) and the channel (21) fit together in a form-fitting manner.

10. Pack for producing ice cream portions in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two mold halves (1, 2) outside their edge region and seen parallel to the edge on both sides next to the tabs (6, 7) for forming an elastic filling opening each form an ear protruding from the edge region, wherein the ears on the first mold half (1) each form an eyelet (10) and those on the other mold half (2) form matching snap fasteners (9), so that when the two mold halves (1, 2) are placed on top of each other, an elastically locking snap fastener connection can be created from each snap fastener (9) and its associated eyelet (10).

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