Sleeve-Molded Ice Block Mold Unit for Straw Access and Even Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice-making devices produce solid ice blocks that can obstruct straws and cause uneven cooling and noise when used in beverages, as they pile up and melt quickly, leading to an inferior user experience.
Innovation Solution
A mold unit and assembly that produce sleeve-molded ice blocks with a ring-shaped design, featuring a through hole for easy straw insertion and even cooling, along with a mold box for efficient ice production and storage, utilizing a silicone structure for durability and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If solid ice blocks are used in beverages, then cooling effect is provided, but straws are blocked and cannot reach the bottom of the cup
Solution Approach 1:
The ice block is segmented into a hollow cylindrical structure with a through-hole running vertically through its center. This segmentation creates a clear passage for straw insertion while maintaining the outer cylindrical shape that fits within the cup, resolving the contradiction between providing cooling and enabling straw access.
2Temperature
If solid ice blocks are piled up in a cup, then cooling is provided, but noise is generated when the cup is shaken
Solution Approach 1:
The ice block adopts a cylindrical shape with rounded surfaces instead of sharp edges or irregular forms. This curved geometry reduces impact forces during shaking and minimizes collision noise while maintaining effective cooling surface area contact with the beverage.
3Temperature
If solid ice blocks are piled up in a cup, then cooling is provided, but the cup is not evenly cooled from top to bottom
Solution Approach 1:
The ice block transitions from a solid compact form to a hollow cylindrical structure with a vertical through-hole. This dimensional change creates internal pathways that allow cold to distribute more uniformly throughout the beverage volume, improving temperature distribution from top to bottom while maintaining overall cooling efficiency.
4Productivity
If conventional ice lattices are used, then ice blocks can be produced, but the ice blocks have a solid structure that causes obstruction and uneven cooling
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of producing solid ice blocks as conventionally done, the invention inverts the approach by creating hollow cylindrical ice blocks with through-holes. This inversion maintains the productivity of ice block production while fundamentally changing the internal structure to eliminate obstruction issues and improve cooling uniformity.
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 sleeve-molded ice blocks reduce noise and obstruction, allow for even cooling from top to bottom, and maintain beverages at a lower temperature for longer periods, enhancing the overall user experience.
Implementation Method 1
The ice lattice mold is configured to hold water and is then placed in a freezing device to freeze the water in the ice lattice mold into ice blocks
Data Source
AI summary
A mold unit for preparing a sleeve-molded ice block is provided. The mold unit includes: an outer wall, configured as a ring-shaped enclosure to define an outer peripheral shape of the sleeve-molded ice block; an inner wall, configured as an inner column to define a through hole in the sleeve-molded ice block; a bottom wall, disposed between a bottom of the outer wall and a bottom of the inner wall and configured to define a bottom shape of the sleeve-molded ice block; an opening, disposed at a top of a ring-shaped space defined by the outer wall, the inner wall, and the bottom wall, wherein, liquid for preparing the sleeve-molded ice block is capable of being added through the opening.