Ice Mold Geometry for Non-Diluting Glass Wall Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling solutions for drinks in glasses either require plastic glasses, are not suitable for all glass types, or do not effectively maintain drink temperature without watering down the beverage.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for creating an ice wall lining within a drinking glass using an ice mold that mimics the glass's interior shape, allowing water to freeze in place, maintaining the drink's temperature without using plastic glasses, and accommodating various glass styles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water or freezable liquid is placed in the walls of a drinking apparatus and frozen, then the drink does not water down as ice melts, but the glass must be made from acrylic or plastic material which consumers prefer to avoid
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the cooling function into two separate components: the glass vessel remains intact (real glass), while a removable ice mold creates an ice lining within it. This segmentation allows the glass to maintain its preferred material properties while the ice mold provides the cooling functionality that prevents drink dilution.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice mold acts as an intermediary tool that temporarily transforms the interior surface of any glass into an ice-lined container. This intermediary device enables real glass to function as if it were an ice-lined plastic glass, resolving the contradiction between material preference and cooling effectiveness.
2Temperature
If a large ice ball is placed in the middle of the drink, then cooling is provided, but it is not suitable for many styles of drinks such as martini glass
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing a generic ice ball in the center, the invention creates an ice lining that conforms to the specific local geometry of the glass interior. The ice mold is shaped to match the unique contours of different glass types (martini, rocks, etc.), providing customized cooling contact with the drink throughout the entire glass surface area.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice mold changes the geometric parameters of the cooling interface by adapting its shape to match different glass interiors. This parameter adjustment allows the same basic device to provide effective cooling across multiple drink styles and glass types.
3Manufacturing precision
If an ice mold is designed to fit specific glass types, then effective ice lining is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ice mold is created as a simplified copy or impression of the glass interior shape. Rather than designing complex custom molds for each glass type, the mold captures the essential geometric features needed to form an effective ice lining, reducing design complexity while maintaining fit quality.
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 ice mold effectively keeps drinks cold by forming a frozen lining within real glassware, preventing temperature loss and water dilution, while being adaptable to different glass shapes and materials.
Implementation Method 1
placing the drinking apparatus with the drink mold into a freezer until the water freezes
Data Source
AI summary
An ice mold configured to be placed into a glass or cup such that a side wall void is created between the outer wall of the ice mold and the interior wall of the glass or cup. The exterior shape of the ice mold generally mirrors the interior shape of the cup or glass. Liquid such as water or juice is placed into the glass or cup after the ice mold is inserted, thereby forcing the liquid into the side wall void, following which the combination of the ice mold and glass or cup are frozen. Once the liquid freezes, the ice mold is then removed leaving an ice wall on the interior wall of the glass or cup. The ice mold may feature one or more attachment mechanisms or an outer rim in order to secure the mold to an upper rim of the glass or cup.