Apparatus for making stylized ice cubes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ice cube trays lack the ability to produce stylized ice cubes with surface reliefs or depressions, limiting creativity and customization in ice shapes.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus featuring a tray with recesses and interchangeable inserts that can be made of flexible materials like silicone rubber, allowing for the creation of ice cubes with surface reliefs or depressions by using inserts with complementary shapes that snap into place, ensuring complete filling and easy release.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional ice cube trays are used, then simple geometric shapes (spheres or cubes) can be produced, but the ability to create stylized ice cubes with surface reliefs or depressions is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice shape customizationVSAvoidtray structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ice cube tray is divided into two functional segments: a base tray structure and interchangeable inserts. The inserts can be removed and replaced to change the ice cube shape, allowing the same tray to produce multiple stylized shapes without increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base tray structure serves multiple functions by accommodating different inserts. Each insert transforms the universal tray into a specialized mold for a specific ice cube shape, enabling one device to perform multiple styling functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If rigid mold materials are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but complete filling of recesses and easy release of ice cubes becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice cube releaseVSAvoidmold structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The inserts are made from flexible silicone rubber material that provides enough flexibility to allow ice cubes to be easily released from the mold cavities, while maintaining sufficient structural integrity during the freezing process. The flexibility enables the mold to deform slightly during demolding without damaging the ice cube shape.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Adaptability or versatility

If simple tray designs are used, then manufacturing is easy, but the ability to produce ice cubes with surface reliefs or depressions is absent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface feature creationVSAvoidinsert production

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The inserts are created as negative copies of the desired ice cube surface features. By molding the inserts with the opposite relief patterns, the final ice cubes naturally acquire the desired surface reliefs or depressions when frozen in the mold cavities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the production of stylized ice cubes with customizable surface features such as letters, numbers, or logos, enhancing aesthetic appeal and versatility beyond traditional shapes.

Implementation Method 1

the insert being made of a flexible material such as silicone rubber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

water being introduced into the thus formed spherical cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFreezing: Freezing

Data Source

PatentUS12553651B2Apparatus for making stylized ice cubes

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 HAYS DAVID

AI summary

An ice molding apparatus which has a cell or space formed by a peripheral wall and a bottom wall, a recess being formed in the bottom wall. There is an insert which is selectively, releasably receivable in the recess. The insert has a top surface which includes a formation which can be either projecting or receiving.