Ice cube producing unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ice cube trays with lids are complex to use, require separate handling of lids, do not seal water inside, and are not designed for individual sealing of ice cube compartments, leading to issues with ice formation and removal.

Innovation Solution

A handheld ice cube producing unit with a lid that automatically seals individual ice cube compartments, allowing for easy filling and freezing without the need for manual alignment, and a mechanism for dispensing ice cubes one at a time using a spiral dispenser.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If ice cube trays with lids are designed to enable stacking, then storage efficiency is improved, but the ability to seal water inside the unit is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestacking capabilityVSAvoidsealing effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lid is divided into multiple independent flexible seals, each corresponding to a specific ice cube compartment. This segmentation allows the lid to maintain sealing effectiveness for individual compartments while still enabling stacking capability, as each seal can independently adapt to the tray surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lid incorporates flexible seals made of elastomeric material that can deform to conform to the tray surface and create effective seals. This flexibility allows the lid to maintain reliable sealing while accommodating the stacking configuration, resolving the contradiction between stacking capability and sealing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Ease of repair

If lids are handled separately from the tray, then ease of cleaning is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecleanabilityVSAvoidhandling complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lid and tray are combined into a single integrated unit where the flexible seals are permanently attached to the tray body. This merging eliminates the need for separate handling of lids and trays, reducing operational complexity while maintaining cleanability through the seamless design that prevents water accumulation in gaps between separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If manual alignment of lid and tray is required, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidoperational simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible seals automatically self-align with the ice cube compartments when the lid is placed on the tray. The elastomeric material deforms to conform to the compartment shapes and dividers, eliminating the need for manual alignment. This self-aligning mechanism maintains manufacturing precision while dramatically improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The lid utilizes the physical property of elastomeric material flexibility to change its shape and adapt to the tray configuration. This parameter change (from rigid to flexible state) allows automatic alignment without manual intervention, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Device complexity

If ice cube compartments are not individually sealed, then device complexity is reduced, but harmful factors increase due to ice bridging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing structure complexityVSAvoidice bridging

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lid incorporates individual flexible seals for each ice cube compartment, creating separate sealed chambers. This segmentation prevents ice bridging between adjacent compartments by providing independent sealing for each cube, eliminating the harmful effect while maintaining relatively simple device structure through the use of continuous flexible material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution provides a user-friendly, efficient method for producing and dispensing ice cubes, ensuring individual compartment sealing and easy ice removal without ice bridging, allowing for flexible positioning in the freezer and easy operation.

Implementation Method 1

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

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 2

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

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFreezing: Freezing

Data Source

PatentUS10753666B2Ice cube producing unit

Publication Date: 2020.08.25 ICEBREAKER INT APS

AI summary

An ice cube producing unit including an ice cube tray having at least two ice cube compartments, a lid which is suitable for being mounted on the tray to seal water or other liquid inside the at least two ice cube compartments. The ice cube producing unit further includes a displacing arrangement connecting the tray and the lid and having two positions: a first position 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 compartment inside the compartment and a second position 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.