Block ice shaver with tension arm and shaping device

• US 10,378,807 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2015
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SNOWIE LLC
• Original Assignee: SNOWIE LLC
• Inventors: Rupp, Carl A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick, Anthony D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jolly, Onekki P
• Application Number:
  US14/668,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20150267955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,602 Days
• Field of Search: 241 36, 241 375, 241 92, 241134, 241297, 241298, 241DIG 17
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/02 Apparatus for disintegrating, removing or harvesting ice
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/12 Ice-shaving machines

Abstract

The disclosure extends to devices, systems and methods for producing a shaved ice product using shaved ice confection machines and processes. The disclosure also extends to a tension arm and a shaping device used in conjunction with shaved ice confection machines and processes to produce more consistent shaved ice output with a potential increase in machine life.

Claims

1. An ice shaving machine, comprising:

a safety cover comprising an interior facing surface and an exterior facing surface;

an ice block feeder;

a mechanical drive mechanism;

a blade assembly mechanically connected to said mechanical drive mechanism comprising a blade configured to rotate relative to a block of ice when said mechanical drive mechanism is activated; and

an ice block guide that extends outward from the interior facing surface of the safety cover;

wherein the ice block guide is configured to contact the block of ice while the block of ice is being shaved.

2. The ice shaving machine of claim 1, wherein the ice block guide comprises an edge;

wherein the edge of the ice block guide is configured to contact the block of ice, thereby placing a compressive force on the block of ice;

wherein the edge is oriented parallel to the block of ice during shaving, such that the block of ice travels along said edge while being shaved.

3. The ice shaving machine of claim 1, wherein the ice block guide is a tensioning arm;

wherein the machine further comprises a tensioning mechanism for adjusting a force that the tensioning arm exerts on the ice block, wherein the tensioning mechanism contacts a surface of the tensioning arm.

4. The ice shaving machine of claim 3, wherein the tensioning mechanism comprises a threaded member and a crank handle that is configured to drive the threaded member.

5. The ice shaving machine of claim 4, wherein the crank is hand operated.

6. The ice shaving machine of claim 4, wherein the crank is driven by an electric motor.

7. The ice shaving machine of claim 3, wherein the tensioning mechanism automatically adjusts relative to a size of the block of ice.

8. The ice shaving machine of claim 1, wherein the ice block guide is removably attached with fasteners.

9. The ice shaving machine of claim 8, wherein the fasteners are removable without tools.

10. The ice shaving machine of claim 1, wherein the ice block guide is substantially rigid and made of unitary construction and material.

11. The ice shaving machine of claim 1, wherein the ice block guide is made from a polymer material.

12. The ice shaving machine of claim 1, wherein the ice block guide comprises a blade portion that comprises an edge that is shaped to optimally contact the block of ice.

13. The ice shaving machine of claim 12, wherein the blade portion comprises a rounded profile.

14. The ice shaving machine of claim 12, wherein the blade portion comprises a sharpened edge.

15. The ice shaving machine of claim 1, wherein the blade of the blade assembly comprises a plurality of openings and a plurality of cutting surfaces adjacent to said openings for allowing ice shavings to pass therethrough, wherein said cutting surfaces and said openings are arranged on surface of said blade, and wherein said blade further comprises a plurality of attachment points;

and

a blade holder configured to detachably retain said blade at the plurality of attachment points, wherein said blade holder has a plurality of arms that radiate from a center hub;

a control mechanism for activating and deactivating said mechanical drive mechanism.

16. The ice shaving machine of claim 15, wherein said plurality of arms comprise a pass through portion and a blade attachment portion.

17. The ice shaving machine of claim 16, wherein said center hub is configured to mechanically couple with a drive motor, wherein said center hub portion comprises a blade support for interacting with said blade.

18. The ice shaving machine of claim 1, wherein the machine further comprises a shaping device.

19. The ice shaving machine of claim 18, wherein the machine further comprises a spout assembly comprising a spout and an outer shell fitting over and around said blade.

20. The ice shaving machine of claim 19, wherein the shaping device comprises a body having an inner surface that is sized and shaped to produce a shaved ice product having a predetermined shape, such that the configuration of the inner surface of the body determines a corresponding size and shape of the shaved ice product.

21. The ice shaving machine of claim 20, wherein the machine further comprises a mechanism for detachably attaching the shaping device to the spout, wherein the mechanism comprises a connector that is configured and dimensioned for communicating with a portion of said ice shaving machine;

and

a chute that is configured to correspond with the spout of the ice shaving machine thereby allowing shaved ice to pass into the body of the shaping device.

22. The ice shaving machine of claim 21, wherein the connector is a magnet that is in magnetic communication with a metallic portion of the ice shaving machine.

23. The ice shaving machine of claim 21, wherein the connector is a first magnet that is in magnetic communication with a second magnet that is connected to the ice shaving machine.

24. The ice shaving machine of claim 23, wherein the first magnet is attached to the chute and the second magnet is attached to the spout assembly, such that the first and second magnets together hold the shaping device in location with respect to the spout assembly.

25. The ice shaving machine of claim 23, wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are configured so as to align the spout of the ice shaving machine with the chute of the shaping device.

26. The ice shaving machine of claim 20, wherein the body of the shaping device is domed shaped, such that the resulting shaved ice product is correspondingly domed shaped.

27. The ice shaving machine of claim 20, wherein the body comprises a textured inner surface, such that the resulting shaved ice product comprises a corresponding texture.

28. The ice shaving machine of claim 18, wherein the shaping device is manufactured from a polymeric material.

29. The ice shaving machine of claim 21, wherein the connector is mechanically attachable to a portion of the ice shaving machine.

30. The ice shaving machine of claim 29, wherein the connector is chosen from a group of a lip that attaches to a corresponding flange, a bolted assembly, a hook and loop fastener, a screw, a latch, a threaded metal insert, and a press fit connection that attaches the shaping device to a portion of the ice shaving machine.

31. The ice shaving machine of claim 15, wherein the blade is attached to the blade holder and is placed under tension.

32. The ice shaving machine of claim 31, wherein each of the plurality of arms of the blade holder comprises an attachment structure that corresponds with an attachment point of the blade, wherein a radial measurement from a center of rotation of the blade holder to said attachment structure of each of said arms is less than a radial measurement from a center of rotation of the blade to said attachment point of said blade, thereby causing said blade to be placed in tension when said blade is assembled to said blade holder.

33. The ice shaving machine of claim 32, wherein the center hub comprises a blade support that mechanically communicates and interacts with said blade to control the amount of flex of said blade as a load is placed on said blade.

34. The ice shaving machine of claim 1, wherein said blade is flexible.

35. The ice shaving machine of claim 19, wherein said spout assembly further comprises a flap that is flexible and pliable, such that the flap is wrapable around at least a portion of a container and wherein the flap operates as a chute to direct shaved ice into the container.

36. The ice shaving machine of claim 1, wherein the machine further comprises a cabinet that is made of a plastic material and has a drip pan with a drain.

37. The ice shaving machine of claim 1, wherein the machine further comprises a cabinet and wherein said mechanical drive mechanism is a drive motor located within the cabinet.

38. The ice shaving machine of claim 37, wherein said drive motor further comprises an electric motor and a gear box.

39. The ice shaving machine of claim 15, wherein said control mechanism further comprises a switch device.

40. The ice shaving machine of claim 15, wherein said control mechanism further comprises a foot pedal switch.

41. The ice shaving machine of claim 1, wherein the machine further comprises a cabinet and wherein the ice block feeder is attached to the cabinet and comprises a drive shaft that operates to actuate said ice block feeder into contact with the block of ice, thereby forcing the block of ice into contact with the blade.

42. The ice shaving machine of claim 41, wherein said ice block feeder comprises dual driving arms.

43. The ice shaving machine of claim 41, wherein said ice block feeder comprises a single driving arm.

44. The ice shaving machine of claim 1, wherein the safety cover comprises a lid that is movably fastened to said safety cover, wherein the safety cover further comprises a safety switch to shut off the operation of the machine when the said lid is raised.

45. The ice shaving machine of claim 1, wherein the ice block guide is connected or attached to a lid of the safety cover.

46. The ice shaving machine of claim 1, wherein the ice block guide places a biasing force laterally to the block of ice so that said block of ice is consistently fed into the blade.