Ice Cube Tray With Bi-Stable Opening for Easy Cube Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice cube trays with lids are complex to use, have lids that need separate handling, and do not effectively seal water inside the unit, leading to issues with ice cube formation and removal.
Innovation Solution
A handheld ice cube producing unit with a novel displacing mechanism using bi-stable elements that connects the tray and lid, allowing for a simple, robust, and cost-effective design with fewer moving parts, enabling easy operation and efficient ice cube removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prior art ice cube trays with lids are used, then stacking and odor prevention are enabled, but the lids need separate handling and do not seal water properly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the lid and tray into a single integrated unit where the lid is permanently attached to the tray, eliminating the need for separate handling of lids and trays. This merging resolves the contradiction by ensuring proper sealing (improving reliability) while simplifying operation (improving ease of operation), as users no longer need to handle lids separately.
2Ease of operation
If complex displacing mechanisms are used, then ice cube removal is enabled, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a bi-stable mechanism that automatically transitions between closed and open states without requiring complex mechanical parts or manual intervention. The mechanism serves itself by utilizing the natural bi-stable properties of the material to enable ice cube removal, thereby reducing device complexity and manufacturing cost while maintaining ease of operation.
3Productivity
If traditional ice cube trays are used, then ice cube formation is achieved, but ice cube removal is difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamic bi-stable mechanism that allows the tray to automatically transition between closed (for formation) and open (for removal) states. This dynamic capability enables rapid ice cube removal by simply actuating the bi-stable mechanism, thereby improving productivity while maintaining operational simplicity through the automatic state transitions.
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
The unit provides a straightforward and affordable solution for forming and removing ice cubes with a displacing mechanism that allows for uniform ice expansion and easy ice cube ejection, improving user experience and manufacturing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The displacing mechanism comprises a bi-stable element arranged between the lid and the tray, the bi-stable element having a first stable state when the tray and the lid are in the closed position and a second stable state when the tray and lid are in the open position
Implementation Method 2
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
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~8
Figure 9~12
AI summary
An ice cube producing unit (1) comprising a first tray (4) formed as an ice cube tray having at least two ice cube compartments (5), a second tray (2) (4) also formed as an ice cube tray having at least two ice cube compartments (3,5), a displacing mechanism (6, 8, 10) connecting the first and second trays (4,2). The displacing mechanism having two positions: a closed position where the first and second trays (4, 2) are pressed together to define at least two common ice cube compartments (3, 5) and an open position where the second tray (2) is held in a position where it is separated from the first tray (4) so that ice cubes (13) formed in the at least two common ice cube compartments can leave the at least two common ice cube compartments. The displacing mechanism comprises a first bi-stable element (8, 10) arranged between the first and second trays (4,2), said first bi-stable element having a first stable state when the first and second trays are in the closed position and a second stable state when the first and second trays are in the open position. In this way, a simple construction is provided which is easy to use and has a simple displacing mechanism.