Ice shaver

• US 6,527,212 B2
• Filed: 06/03/1999
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SNOWIE LLC
• Original Assignee: Carl A. Rupp
• Inventors: Rupp, Carl A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, William
• Application Number:
  US09/325,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20020053616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 241/86.1, 241/88.1, 241/91, 241/93, 241/273.3, 241/293, 241/DIG.17
• US Class Current: 241/293
• 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: F25C 5/12 Ice-shaving machines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 241/17 Ice crushers

Abstract

An ice shaver machine that includes a hopper for receiving ice, a blade and scraper for drawing the received ice across the blade, thereby producing thin, snow-like ice shavings or flakes, which are scraped to a spout, which, in turn, is provided for delivering the ice shavings to a container. The spout is shaped so as to be used to create a domed-like snow ball shape on the top surface of the shaved ice in the cup container. Also provided, in one preferred embodiment of this invention, is a flavoring delivery system that permits the user to select a flavoring for addition to the ice shavings, thereby producing a light ice confection. Additionally, this invention provides a flap feature to enhance the placement of the shaved ice into a cup container and off of the user'"'"'s hands. This invention specifically addresses the need to produce the ice shavings quickly and reliably without undue complexity, in an easy to clean cabinet and mechanism. In one alternative embodiment of this invention, both hand and foot controls are provided to permit easy control of the machine. Also, provided in this invention is a new improved ice blade design, which provides a wide selection of cutting edge shapes to permit the user to select the qualities of resulting ice.

Claims

1. A blade and a spout system for an ice shaving and dispensing machine, comprising:

(A) an inner surface for receiving ice;

(B) an outer surface;

(C) a scraper having a paddle and a shaft head for receiving a drive shaft, wherein said scraper brings the received ice in contact with said inner surface of said blade;

(D) a cutting slot, punched into and through said outer surface to said inner surface, to provide a cutting edge on said interior surface of said blade, and wherein said cutting slot further comprises an upwardly bent edge which is adapted to come into contact with the received ice; and

(E) a spout for receiving shaved ice from said cutting slot of said blade, wherein said spout is shaped to form a domed rounded top on the dispensed shaved ice.

2. A blade and a spout system for an ice shaving and dispensing machine, as recited in claim 1, wherein said blade is composed of stainless steel.

3. A blade and a spout system for an ice shaving and dispensing machine, as recited in claim 1, wherein said cutting slot is selected from the group consisting of:

straight slots, bent chevron edges, curved edges, circular cutting edges, curved slots, and oval slots.

4. A blade and a spout system for an ice shaving and dispensing machine, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of cutting slots.

5. A blade and spout system for an ice shaving and dispensing machine, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a flap attached to said spout adapted to wrap about a cup.