Method for creating ice structures

• US 10,663,204 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2019
• Issued: 05/26/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Youngstrom
• Original Assignee: James Youngstrom
• Inventors: Youngstrom, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US16/667,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20200132354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 210 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B28B 1/007 by freezing the material
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 1/04 by using stationary moulds
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 1/22 Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2300/00 Special arrangements or features for producing, working or handling ice
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2303/00 Special arrangements or features for producing ice or snow for winter sports or similar recreational purposes, e.g. for sporting installations; Special arrangements or features for producing artificial snow
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 3/00 Processes or apparatus specially adapted for producing ice or snow for winter sports or similar recreational purposes, e.g. for sporting installations; Producing artificial snow
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/00 Working or handling ice F25C3/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/14 Apparatus for shaping or finishing ice pieces, e.g. ice presses

Abstract

A method for building an ice structure includes making a plurality of ice logs and attaching the ice logs together to form a support structure. The support structure may be two or more stories high and may be constructed by freezing the ice logs together.

Claims

1. A method of building an ice structure, the method comprising:

selecting at least one sleeve, the at least one sleeve including a first sleeve which has an initial cross-sectional shape and is sufficiently flexible that the cross-sectional shape of the sleeve changes from the initial cross-sectional shape as the sleeve is filled with water;

filling at least part of the first sleeve with water and freezing the water to make at least one first ice log;

creating at least one second ice log by either at least partially filling a second sleeve with water and freezing the water, or by cutting the at least one first ice log into two or more pieces; and

attaching a plurality of ice logs together to form a structure.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises cutting the at least one first ice log into a plurality of ice logs while still in the first sleeve.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first sleeve is filled while lying on the ground so that the first sleeve is substantially horizontal while being filled.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises shaping the first sleeve along a length thereof into a desired shape while the first sleeve contains water, but prior to freezing the water.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises selecting at least one second sleeve having a diameter different than the first sleeve, and forming a second ice log having a diameter which is different than a diameter of the at least one first ice log.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes leaving an air pocket between the top of the water and the first sleeve while the water freezes so as to leave a generally flat surface extending along the length of the frozen at least one first ice log.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises attaching a plurality of ice logs which are disposed generally vertically to a plurality of ice logs which are disposed generally horizontally to thereby form a staircase.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising forming at least one arcuate ice log.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising using arcuate ice logs to form a tunnel.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes forming at least one ice log which is generally oval-shaped.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises forming a plurality of ice logs which have a substantially consistent cross-sectional shape and a flattened surface along a length thereof.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises making an ice log using a sleeve which is sufficiently rigid to hold a three-dimensional, nonlinear shape while being filled with water.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises forming a plurality of second logs and cutting a plurality of holes in the at least one first ice log and inserting the plurality of second logs into the holes.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes forming the at least one first ice log with a flat upper surface when the at least one first ice log is laying on the ground, and wherein creating at least one second ice log includes forming a plurality of second ice logs, each having a flat end, and disposing the plurality of second ice logs generally vertically so that the flat ends are disposed on the flat upper surface of the at least one first ice log.

15. A method for forming structural components of an ice structure,

the method comprising:

selecting a sleeve;

laying the sleeve on a generally horizontal surface;

at least partially filling the sleeve with water such that the shape of the sleeve changes as the sleeve is being filled with the water; and

freezing the water to form a first ice log.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the method includes tying a knot in one end of the sleeve prior to filling the sleeve with water.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the method includes forming a plurality of holes in the first ice log;

and wherein the method further includes forming a plurality of second ice logs by either cutting the first ice log or filling one or more additional sleeves with water and freezing the water, each of the second ice logs having a first end; and

disposing the first ends of the plurality of second ice logs in the plurality of holes and applying at least one binder chosen from slush and water to the plurality of holes.

18. A method for forming structural components of an ice structure, the method comprising:

selecting a sleeve;

tying off one end of the sleeve;

at least partially filling the sleeve with water;

tying off a second end of the sleeve after at least partially filling the sleeve with water; and

freezing the water to form a structural ice log.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the method comprises shaping the sleeve after it has been filled with water.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the method comprises cutting the ice log into a plurality of pieces while it remains in the sleeve.