US3736767A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic icemaker including reversible mold cavities
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1972-03-06
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Granted: 1973-06-05
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Expires: 1992-03-06
Abstract
Abstract An icemaker comprising a rotatable member including oppositely facing receptacles having a common wall formed in part by a flexible and reversible wall portion defining a mold cavity in which a charge of water is frozen to form an ice piece. When the mold member is inverted and a charge of water introduced into the then upwardly facing receptacle, a previously formed ice piece is heat released from the mold cavity and the added charge of water causes the flexible wall portion to turn inside out to form a mold cavity for receiving the charge.
Inventors
- 👤 R Lukes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:17
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23G; A23G9/00; A23G9/04; A23G9/22; A23G9/221; F; F25; F25C; F25C1/00; F25C1/22; F25C1/24; F25C2305/00; F25C2305/022; F25C2305/0221
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
An icemaker comprising: a rotatable member including oppositely facing receptacles having a common bottom wall; said wall including flexible and reversible wall portions forming a plurality of hemispherical mold cavities in said bottom wall when either of said receptacles is in an upwardly facing position; water supply means; means for rotating said mold member from a first position in which one of said receptacles is in an upwardly facing position to a second position in which ice pieces formed in said cavities can be gravitationally discharged; means for introducing a charge of water into the other of said receptacles in said second mold position; each of said receptacles confining said charge of water in contact with the inverted mold cavities for heat releasing the ice pieces therefrom; said wall portions defining said cavities being sufficiently flexible to reverse during discharge of ice pieces to form mold cavities for receiving said charge of water for the subsequent formation of ice pieces in the reversed cavities.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
An icemaker comprising: a rotatable member including oppositely facing receptacles having a common bottom wall; said wall including flexible and reversible wall portions forming a plurality of hemispherical mold cavities in said bottom wall when either of said receptacles is in an upwardly facing position; water supply means; means for rotating said mold member from a first position in which one of said receptacles is in an upwardly facing position to a second position in which ice pieces formed in said cavities can be gravitationally discharged; means for introducing a charge of water into the other of said receptacles in said second mold position; each of said receptacles confining said charge of water in contact with the inverted mold cavities for heat releasing the ice pieces therefrom; said wall portions defining said cavities being sufficiently flexible to reverse during discharge of ice pieces to form mold cavities for receiving said charge of water for the subsequent formation of ice pieces in the reversed cavities.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3390543A
Cited
US3449921A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-04 | 1976-12-04 | 1977-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-04 | 1980-12-04 | 1981-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-04 | 1984-12-04 | 1985-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |