METHOD FOR CREATING ICE STRUCTURES

• US 20200132354A1
• Filed: 10/29/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Youngstrom
• Original Assignee: James Youngstrom
• Inventors: Youngstrom, James
• Granted Patent: US 10,663,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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;

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

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

2. The method according to claim 1, where in the method comprises cutting the at least one ice log into a plurality of ice logs.

3. The method according to claim 2, where in the at least one ice log is cut into a plurality of ice logs while still in the sleeve.

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

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes disposing the plurality of ice logs generally vertically and wherein the method further includes attaching the plurality of ice logs to a second plurality of ice logs which extend generally horizontally.

7. The method according to claim 6, where in 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 at least one arcuate ice log.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising using the 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 diameter along a length thereof.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises using a sleeve which is generally rigid to form the at least one ice log.

13. The method according to claim 12, where in the method comprises using the generally rigid sleeve to form an ice log having a three-dimensional, nonlinear shape.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes disposing the plurality of ice logs generally vertically and wherein the method further comprises spraying water to form icicles on an outside surface of the plurality of ice logs.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes disposing the plurality of ice logs in close proximity to each other and wherein the method further includes applying at least one binder chosen from snow, slush and water.

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

selecting a sleeve;

at least partially filling the sleeve with water; and

freezing the water to form an ice log.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method includes tying off one end of the sleeve prior to filling the sleeve with water.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the method includes tying off a second end of the sleeve after filling the sleeve with water.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method comprises shaping the sleeve after it has been filled with water.

18. The method according to claim 14 wherein the method comprises cutting the ice log into a plurality of pieces while it remains in the sleeve.