Blade for shaving ice

• US 10,555,546 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2015
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SNOWIE LLC
• Original Assignee: SNOWIE LLC
• Inventors: Rupp, Carl A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Self, Shelley M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bapthelus, Smith Oberto
• Application Number:
  US14/729,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20150342218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• Field of Search: 241191, 2411012, 241DIG 17, 62342, 62345, 62346, 62354
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/045 of slush-ice, e.g. semi-frozen beverage
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/28 for portioning or dispensing
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 18/2216 Discharge means
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 18/2291 Feed chute arrangements

Abstract

The disclosure extends and relates to devices, systems and methods for shaving ice with an improved blade to produce a powdery snow-like textured confection.

Claims

1. A system for shaving ice comprising:

a cabinet;

a hopper attached to said cabinet;

a drive motor disposed within said cabinet;

a stationary arcuate blade fixed relative to said cabinet, the blade comprising a plurality of slots adjacent to a plurality of corresponding teeth, wherein at least one of the plurality of corresponding teeth are offset relative to the plurality of corresponding teeth and offset relative to a centerline of the arcuate blade, wherein the centerline of the arcuate blade intersects each of the plurality of slots along an arc of the arcuate blade;

a control mechanism for activating and deactivating said drive motor;

a spout configured for dispensing conditioned ice; and

a scraper mechanically connected to said drive motor, such that when said drive motor is activated, the scraper rotates and scrapes ice against said arcuate blade thereby conditioning the ice.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of teeth are offset relative to each other.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of teeth are offset in an alternating pattern.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a lid configured for covering a hopper portion.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the lid has a transparent portion.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a flexible shaping flap that is attached near the spout.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the scraper further comprises a plurality of paddles for moving ice into the blade.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the arcuate blade has an arc angle that is selected from a range of about 10 degrees to about 360 degrees.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the arcuate blade has an arc angle that is selected from the range of about 20 degrees to 90 degrees.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the arcuate blade is a band blade.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the arcuate blade is disposed within the cabinet and between the hopper and the spout.

12. A scraper assembly for conditioning ice comprising:

a stationary arcuate blade comprising a plurality of slots adjacent to a plurality of corresponding teeth, wherein at least one of the plurality of corresponding teeth are offset relative to the plurality of corresponding teeth and offset relative to a centerline of the arcuate blade is parallel to an arc of the arcuate blade and, wherein the centerline of the arcuate blade intersects each of the plurality of slots;

a scraper configured to rotate relative to said arcuate blade, such that when said scraper is activated the scraper rotates and scrapes ice against said arcuate blade thereby conditioning the ice.

13. The scraper assembly of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of teeth are offset relative to each other.

14. The scraper assembly of claim 12, wherein the plurality of teeth are offset in an alternating pattern.

15. The scraper assembly of claim 14, wherein the alternating pattern repeats along the arcuate blade length.

16. The scraper assembly of claim 12, wherein the scraper comprises a paddle for moving ice into the blade.

17. The scraper assembly of claim 16, wherein the paddle is radially placed on the scraper.

18. The scraper assembly of claim 12, wherein the scraper further comprises a plurality of paddles for moving ice into the blade.

19. The scraper assembly of claim 12, wherein the arcuate blade has an arc angle that is selected from a range of about 10 degrees to about 360 degrees.

20. The scraper assembly of claim 19, wherein the arcuate blade has an arc angle that is selected from the range of about 20 degrees to 90 degrees.

21. The scraper assembly of claim 12, wherein the arcuate blade is a band blade.