Method and device for producing ice having a harvest-facilitating shape

• US 8,336,327 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2004
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.), Nidec Motor Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Inventors: Cole, Ronald E., Tremblay, Dennis D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABDUR RAHIM, AZIM
• Application Number:
  US10/895,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20060016209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,079 Days
• Field of Search: 623/53, 623/44
• US Class Current: 62/353
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 1/04 by using stationary moulds
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 1/246 Moulds with separate grid structure
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2305/024 Rotating rake
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2400/10 Refrigerator units
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/02 Apparatus for disintegrating, removing or harvesting ice

Abstract

An icemaker assembly includes an ice tray having at least one ice forming compartment. The ice forming compartment includes (i) a first planar lateral side surface, (ii) a second planar lateral side surface, and (iii) an arcuate bottom surface between the first lateral side surface and the second lateral side surface. The first planar surface and the second planar surface are positioned relative to each other so that (i) the first planar lateral side surface is spaced apart from the second planar lateral side surface at a downstream end of the ice forming compartment by a distance D1 relative to the ejection path of movement, (ii) the first planar lateral side surface is spaced apart from the second planar lateral side surface at an upstream end of the ice forming compartment by a distance D2 relative to the ejection path of movement, and (iii) D2 is greater than D1.

Claims

1. An icemaker assembly, comprising:

an ice tray having at least one ice forming compartment that defines a space;

an ice ejector having at least one ejector member; and

a motor having an output shaft coupled to said ice ejector, wherein rotation of said output shaft causes said at least one ejector member to advance into said space whereby ice located in said space is urged in an ejection path of movement out of said at least one ice forming compartment,

wherein said at least one ice forming compartment includes (i) a first planar lateral side surface, (ii) a second planar lateral side surface, and (iii) an arcuate bottom surface interposed between said first lateral side surface and said second lateral side surface, and

wherein said first planar lateral side surface and said second planar lateral side surface are positioned relative to each other so that (i) said first planar lateral side surface is spaced apart from said second planar lateral side surface at a downstream end of said at least one ice forming compartment by a distance D1 relative to said ejection path of movement, (ii) said first planar lateral side surface is spaced apart from said second planar lateral side surface at an upstream end of said at least one ice forming compartment by a distance D2 relative to said ejection path of movement, and (iii) D2 is greater than D1.

2. The icemaker assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said icemaker assembly has a plurality of ice forming compartments that includes said at least one ice forming compartment and additional ice forming compartments, and

said additional ice forming compartments each possesses the same physical configuration as said at least one ice forming compartment.

3. The icemaker assembly of claim 2, wherein said plurality of ice forming compartments includes seven ice forming compartments.

4. The icemaker assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said ice tray includes a first partition member and a second partition member,

said space is interposed between said first partition member and a second partition member.

5. The icemaker assembly of claim 4, wherein:

said first partition member defines said first planar lateral side surface,

said second partition member defines said second planar lateral side surface, and

said space is interposed between said first planar lateral side surface and said second planar lateral side surface.

6. The icemaker assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said ice tray includes a partition member and an end wall,

said space is interposed between said partition member and said end wall.

7. The icemaker assembly of claim 6, wherein:

said end wall has a bearing surface defined therein, and

a shaft of said ice ejector is positioned in contact with said bearing surface.

8. The icemaker assembly of claim 6, wherein:

said partition member defines said first planar lateral side surface,

said end wall defines said second planar lateral side surface, and

said space is interposed between said first planar lateral side surface and said second planar lateral side surface.

9. The icemaker assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said ice ejector further includes a shaft, and

said at least one ejector member is secured to said shaft.

10. An icemaker assembly, comprising:

an ice tray having at least one ice forming compartment that defines a space; and

an ice ejector having at least one ejector member configured to be received in said at least one ice forming compartment and to advance into said space to enable ice located in said space to be urged in an ejection path of movement out of said at least one ice forming compartment,

wherein said at least one ice forming compartment is defined by (i) a first partition member, (ii) a second partition member, and (iii) a floor,

wherein said space is (i) interposed between said first partition member and said second partition member, and (ii) positioned above said floor, and

wherein said first partition member and said second partition member are positioned relative to each other so that (i) said first partition member is spaced apart from said second partition member at a downstream end of said at least one ice forming compartment by a distance D1 relative to said ejection path of movement, (ii) said first partition member is spaced apart from said second partition member at an upstream end of said at least one ice forming compartment by a distance D2 relative to said ejection path of movement, and (iii) D2 is greater than D1.

11. The icemaker assembly of claim 10, wherein

said first partition member defines a first planar lateral side surface,

said second partition member defines a second planar lateral side surface, and

said space is interposed between said first planar lateral side surface and said second planar lateral side surface.

12. The icemaker assembly of claim 10, wherein:

said ice ejector further includes a shaft, and

said at least one ejector member is secured to said shaft.

13. The icemaker assembly of claim 12, wherein:

said ice tray includes an end wall that has a bearing surface defined therein, and

said shaft of said ice ejector is positioned in contact with said bearing surface.

14. The icemaker assembly of claim 10, wherein:

said icemaker assembly has a plurality of ice forming compartments that includes said at least one ice forming compartment and additional ice forming compartments, and

said additional ice forming compartments each possesses the same physical configuration as said at least one ice forming compartment.

15. The icemaker assembly of claim 14, wherein said plurality of ice forming compartments includes seven ice forming compartments.

16. The icemaker assembly of claim 10, wherein said ice ejector further has (i) a central shaft to which said at least one ejector member is secured, and (ii) a motor having an output shaft coupled to said ejector shaft.