Flexible grid for freezing trays

Claim 2

In combination, an elongated freezing tray having an upper flange at each end thereof and a closely fitting deformable grid of molded plastic material removably positioned therein to form with the tray a plurality of ice cube compartments, said grid comprising: a pair of spaced longitudinal partitions extending from end to end of the grid and a plurality of transverse partitions defining two outer longitudinal rows of ice cube compartments and a center longitudinal row of ice cube compartments, each of said longitudinal partitions including lobed wall segments extending between adjacent pairs of transverse partitions shaped such that each is a section of a cylinder, said wall segments having their convex surfaces facing toward each other, and handle means attached at each end of said grid allowing an operator to grip said grip thereby so as to flex said grid upon its removal from the tray whereby said lobed longitudinal wall segments facilitate the release of ice cubes from said grid.

Claim 3

In combination, an elongated freezing tray having an upper flange at each end thereof and a closely fitting deformable grid of molded plastic material removably positioned therein to form with the tray a plurality of ice cube compartments, said grid comprising: a pair of spaced longitudinal partitions extending from end to end of the grid and a plurality of transverse partitions defining two outer longitudinal rows of ice cube compartments and a center longitudinal row of ice cube compartments, each of said longitudinal partitions including lobed wall segments extending between adjacent pairs of transverse partitions shaped such that each is a section of a cylinder with equal radius, said wall segments having their convex surfaces facing toward each other, said longitudinal partitions having at each end thereof paired upwardly directed fin-like extensions, and handle means attached at each end of said grid in the form of transverse palm pads bridging the upper ends of each pair of fin-like extensions such that said palm pads extend outwardly over the end flanges of the tray allowing said palm pads to be gripped by an operator in cooperation with the tray end flanges during a primary ice cube release operation to release said grid from the tray and said palm pads serving as finger gripping handles for removing said grid from the tray and allowing an operator to flex said grid during a secondary ice cube release operation whereby said lobed wall segments facilitate the release of the ice cubes from said grid.

Claim 4

In combination, an elongated freezing tray having an upper flange at each end thereof and a closely fitting deformable grid of molded plastic material removably positioned therein to form with the tray a plurality of ice cube compartments, said grid comprising: a pair of spaced longitudinal partitions extending from end to end of the grid and a plurality of transverse partitions defining two outer longitudinal rows of ice cube compartments and a center longitudinal row of ice cube compartments, each of said longitudinal partitions including lobed wall segments extending between adjacent pairs of transverse partitions shaped such that each is a section of a cylinder with equal radius, said wall segments having their convex surfaces facing toward each other, said longitudinal partitions having at each end thereof paired upwardly directed fin-like extensions, and handle means attached at each end of said grid in the form of transverse palm pads bridging the upper ends of each pair of fin-like extensions such that said palm pads extend outwardly over the end flanges of the tray allowing said palm pads to be gripped by an operator in cooperation with the tray end flanges during a primary ice cube release operation to release said grid from the tray and said palm pads serving as finger gripping handles for removing said grid from the tray and allowing an operator to flex said grid during a secondary ice cube release operation whereby said lobed wall segments facilitate the release of the ice cubes from said grid.

Claim 5

In combination, an elongated freezing tray having an upper flange at each end and closely fitting deformable grid of molded plastic material removably positioned therein to form with the tray rows of ice cube compartments, said grid comprising: a pair of spaced longitudinal partitions extending from end to end of the grid and a plurality of transverse partitions defining two outer longitudinal rows of open sided ice cube compartments and a center longitudinal row having a plurality of four sided ice cube compartments, each of said longitudinal partitions including intermediate lobed wall segments extending between adjacent pairs of transverse partitions shaped such that each is a section of a cylinder with equal radius, said lobed wall segments having their convex surfaces facinG toward each other, said transverse partitions including intermediate lobed wall segments extending between said longitudinal partitions, said plurality of transverse partitions totaling an uneven number so as to be equally spaced on either side of a center planar transverse partition located on the symmetrical transverse axis of said grid, said intermediate transverse wall segments formed such that each is a section of a cylinder and directed toward the symmetrical transverse axis of said grid such that said transverse wall segments on one side of the symmetrical axis are disposed in paired, mirror opposite relation to the transverse wall segments on the other side of the axis, and handle means attached to each end of said grid allowing an operator to flex said grid upon its removal from the tray whereby said lobed longitudinal and transverse wall segments facilitate the release of the ice cubes from said grid.

Claim 6

In combination, an elongated freezing tray having an upper flange at each end and closely fitting deformable grid of molded plastic material removably positioned therein to form with the tray rows of ice cube compartments, said grid comprising: a pair of spaced longitudinal partitions extending from end to end of the grid and a plurality of transverse partitions defining two outer longitudinal rows of open sided ice cube compartments and a center longitudinal row having a plurality of four sided ice cube compartments, each of said longitudinal partitions including intermediate lobed wall segments extending between adjacent pairs of transverse partitions shaped such that each is a section of a cylinder with equal radius, said lobed wall segments having their convex surfaces facinG toward each other, said transverse partitions including intermediate lobed wall segments extending between said longitudinal partitions, said plurality of transverse partitions totaling an uneven number so as to be equally spaced on either side of a center planar transverse partition located on the symmetrical transverse axis of said grid, said intermediate transverse wall segments formed such that each is a section of a cylinder and directed toward the symmetrical transverse axis of said grid such that said transverse wall segments on one side of the symmetrical axis are disposed in paired, mirror opposite relation to the transverse wall segments on the other side of the axis, and handle means attached to each end of said grid allowing an operator to flex said grid upon its removal from the tray whereby said lobed longitudinal and transverse wall segments facilitate the release of the ice cubes from said grid.

Claim 7

In combination, an elongated freezing tray having an upper flange at each end and closely fitting deformable grid of molded plastic material removably positioned therein to form with the tray rows of ice cube compartments, said grid comprising: a pair of spaced longitudinal partitions extending from end to end of the grid and a plurality of transverse partitions defining two outer longitudinal rows of open sided ice cube compartments and a center longitudinal row having a plurality of four sided ice cube compartments, each of said longitudinal partitions including intermediate lobed wall segments extending between adjacent pairs of transverse partitions shaped such that each is a section of a cylinder with equal radius, said lobed wall segments having their convex surfaces facing toward each other, said transverse partitions including intermediate lobed wall segments extending between said longitudinal partitions, said intermediate transverse wall segments formed such that each is a section of a cylinder and directed toward the symmetrical transverse axis of said grid such that said transverse wall segments on one side of the symmetrical transverse axis of said grid are disposed in paired, mirror opposite relation to the transverse wall segments on the other side of the axis, said longitudinal partitions having at each end thereof paired upwardly directed fin-like extensions, handle means attached to each end of said grid in the form of transverse palm pads bridging the upper ends of each pair of fin-like extensions, said palm pads being T-shaped in cross section providing a horizontal plate and a vertical stem whereby said stem extends downwardly for contact with said tray end flanges allowing said palm pads to be gripped by an operator in cooperation with the tray end flanges during a primary ice release operation and said palm pads serving as finger gripping handles for removing said grip from said tray and allowing an operator to flex said grid in a secondary ice cube release operation whereby said lobed wall segments facilitate the release of the ice cubes from said grid.

Claim 8

In combination, an elongated freezing tray having an upper flange at each end and closely fitting deformable grid of molded plastic material removably positioned therein to form with the tray rows of ice cube compartments, said grid comprising: a pair of spaced longitudinal partitions extending from end to end of the grid and a plurality of transverse partitions defining two outer longitudinal rows of open sided ice cube compartments and a center longitudinal row having a plurality of four sided ice cube compartments, each of said longitudinal partitions including intermediate lobed wall segments extending between adjacent pairs of transverse partitions shaped such that each is a section of a cylinder with equal radius, said lobed wall segments having their convex surfaces facing toward each other, said transverse partitions including intermediate lobed wall segments extending between said longitudinal partitions, said intermediate transverse wall segments formed such that each is a section of a cylinder and directed toward the symmetrical transverse axis of said grid such that said transverse wall segments on one side of the symmetrical transverse axis of said grid are disposed in paired, mirror opposite relation to the transverse wall segments on the other side of the axis, said longitudinal partitions having at each end thereof paired upwardly directed fin-like extensions, handle means attached to each end of said grid in the form of transverse palm pads bridging the upper ends of each pair of fin-like extensions, said palm pads being T-shaped in cross section providing a horizontal plate and a vertical stem whereby said stem extends downwardly for contact with said tray end flanges allowing said palm pads to be gripped by an operator in cooperation with the tray end flanges during a primary ice release operation and said palm pads serving as finger gripping handles for removing said grip from said tray and allowing an operator to flex said grid in a secondary ice cube release operation whereby said lobed wall segments facilitate the release of the ice cubes from said grid.

Claim 9

The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said longitudinal partition fin-like extensions have stepped fillet portions for supporting an overlying tray in vertical nested relation above the grid of the underlying tray thereby providing a horizontal air circulation space between the nested trays.

Claim 10

The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein the curvature offset distance of said longitudinal and transverse wall segments are substantially equal.