Insulated Ice Cube Tray Assembly for Clear Directional Freezing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for forming clear ice cubes that are free of impurities and air bubbles do not provide ease of use and consistent formation.
Innovation Solution
An ice cube tray assembly comprising an insulating box, a lower chamber, and an upper chamber, where the upper chamber freezes from the top downward, pushing impurities into the lower chamber, and the design allows for easy separation and reassembly, producing clear and transparent ice cubes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If water is directionally frozen to push impurities out, then ice clarity is improved, but ease of use and consistent formation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The ice cube tray is divided into multiple compartments, each capable of independently forming clear ice cubes through directional freezing. This segmentation allows consistent formation across multiple cubes while maintaining the clarity benefit of directional freezing.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray design incorporates preliminary structural features such as insulation layers and specific chamber configurations that are pre-built into the tray. These preliminary actions ensure that when water is added and frozen, the directional freezing process automatically occurs without requiring user intervention, thus maintaining ease of use while achieving ice clarity.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex freezing structures are used to achieve clear ice, then ice clarity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tray incorporates insulation materials specifically in strategic locations such as the base and between compartments, rather than uniformly throughout. This local application of insulation achieves the directional freezing effect and ice clarity while minimizing overall device complexity and material usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray design features nested structures where insulation layers are integrated within the tray walls, and compartments are arranged in space-efficient configurations. This nesting approach achieves complex freezing functionality without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 cube tray assembly effectively produces clear and transparent ice cubes by freezing from the top downward, ensuring impurities are removed, and allows for easy use and consistent formation with the ability to reuse the tray.
Implementation Method 1
the upper chamber freezes from the top downward, pushing impurities into the lower chamber
Implementation Method 2
an insulating box, a lower chamber and an upper chamber. The insulating box has a base and an upstanding structure
Data Source
AI summary
An ice cube tray assembly having an insulating box, a lower chamber and an upper chamber. The insulating box having a base and an upstanding structure, with a cavity. A top surface has an inner and outer perimeter, with the inner perimeter defining the opening of the cavity. The lower chamber includes an upper deck portion and container structure depending therefrom. The upper chamber includes a top wall and an inner container structure depending from the top wall. The upper and lower chambers are positioned in sealing engagement.