Transportable ice maker

• US 20030150228A1
• Filed: 02/03/2003
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bill Sanders & Associates, LLC
• Original Assignee: William T. Sanders
• Inventors: Sanders, William T.
• Granted Patent: US 6,622,506 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/243
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/00 Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy F25B30/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 1/00 Producing ice F25C3/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/20 Distributing ice
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 19/003 with respect to movable containers

Abstract

A portable ice making unit including a housing adapted for stacking with cargo containers for land or sea transport. The housing is also capable of being to be attached to the bed of an over land transporter. The ice making unit may be 100% self contained requiring no on site water or electric power. The ice making unit may dispense ice on call or on cash demand.

Claims

1. An ice making unit comprising:

a housing adapted to engage and be secured with a mobile land carrier, a sea carrier and a cargo container for transport, said housing having an enclosed area and an open area;

said open area containing a remote condenser, a generator and a fuel supply for said generator;

said enclosed area containing an ice machine, an ice dispensing unit and a water tank for supplying water to said ice machine;

wherein,

said ice making unit may be transported to an area having no electric and water supply and activated to produce ice at said area.

2. The ice making unit of claim 1 wherein said ice dispensing unit is connected with an opening in a side of said enclosed area, said ice dispensing unit being capable of delivering ice through said opening.

3. The ice making unit of claim 2 wherein said ice dispensing unit includes a panel having an ice chute, a bag dispenser, support tray and an activating device

4. The ice making unit of claim 3 wherein said support tray is located approximately two feet beneath said dispenser for accommodating an ice cooler and an ice bag.

5. The ice making unit of claim 3 wherein said bag dispenser includes a dispenser for supporting one of a roll of bags and a package of bags.

6. The ice making unit of claim 1 including a coin operated control for controlling actuation of said ice dispenser.

7. The ice making unit of claim 1 wherein said housing is 20′

or 40′

in length and about 8′

in width and height.

8. A portable ice making unit capable for transport by ground carriers and sea carriers comprising:

a metal housing of generally rectangular shape, said housing having longitudinal and vertical support members interengaged to form a truss capable of supporting a multiple of its weight, panels engaging with a portion of said truss forming a floor along the length of said housing and an enclosed compartment along a portion of said length, wire grating engaging with the remainder of said truss forming an open compartment at one end thereof;

a locking unit arranged at each corner of said housing, said locking units being capable of securing said housing with cargo containers with said ground carriers and with said sea carriers in single and stacked profile for transport

said enclosed compartment containing an ice machine and an ice dispenser, said ice dispenser engaging with an opening in an adjacent of said panels;

said open compartment containing a remote condenser connected with said ice machine;

whereby,

said portable ice making unit may be transported to a desired location and activated to produce ice.

9. The portable ice making unit of claim 8 wherein said enclosed compartment includes a water supply, a water pump and an electric control panel allowing said ice making unit to provide its own water supply.

10. The portable ice making unit of claim 8 wherein said open compartment includes a generator and a fuel supply, wherein said ice making unit may provide electric power.

11. The portable ice making unit of claim 8 wherein said ice making unit includes a water filtering unit.

12. The portable ice making unit of claim 8 wherein said ice dispenser includes a chute, said chute passing through said opening for guiding said ice when dispensed from said ice dispenser.

13. The portable ice making unit of claim 8 including an actuator, said actuator comprising a money changing and receiving unit and a start button for activating said ice dispenser to dispense ice.

14. The portable ice making unit of claim 8 wherein said housing is constructed to be 20 or 40 feet in length.

15. The portable ice making unit of claim 8 wherein said ice making machine produces ice cubes.

16. The portable ice making unit of claim 8 including removable panels secured with said grating enclosing said open compartment during transport.

17. The portable ice making unit of claim 8 including an air conditioning unit for controlling the air temperature within said enclosed compartment.

18. The portable ice making unit of claim 8 including a dispensing panel overlaying said opening and connected with said ice dispenser, said dispensing panel including a display front, an ice delivery chute, a bag dispenser and a shelf arranged below said dispenser.

19. The portable ice making unit of claim 8 including an activating switch arrange on said side panel adjacent said opening, said activating switch being operative to control said ice making unit to deliver ice through said opening.

20. The portable ice making unit of claim 8 wherein said ice making unit may be activated to make ice in position on said mobile carrier and in position off said mobile carrier.

22. The panel of claim 20 wherein said delivery chute is arranged in a recess below said display front.

23. The panel of claim 20 including a bag dispenser in said dispensing panel for supplying bags for said ice.

21. A dispensing panel for connecting with an ice dispenser comprising;

a display front;

an ice delivery chute beneath said display front adapted to receive ice from said ice dispenser,

a shelf arranged approximately two feet beneath said delivery chute, said shelf being capable of supporting an ice chest; and

an activating unit, including a money receptacle and changer, for activating said ice dispenser to deliver ice to said delivery chute.