Sealed water-filled container with ice cube features

Abstract

A fluid-filled container having a tray with a number of recesses. The tray has an upper rim, and the receptacles contain a freezable fluid. A closure element is removably sealed to the rim to contain the fluid. The closure element may be a flexible film, and the seal may be tamper evident and non-reseal able. Seals may be provided among the recesses to segregate some recess from the others.

1 . A fluid-filled container comprising: 
 a container portion defining a plurality of receptacles;    the receptacles containing a freezable fluid; and    a closure element removably sealed to the container portion to enclose the fluid.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the container portion is a transparent plastic.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the receptacles have a shape in the form of distinct indicia.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the container portion is a foldable tray, with a hinge line having a first plurality of the receptacles on one side of the hinge line, and a second plurality of the receptacles on one side of the hinge line.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 4  wherein the container portion is operable to be folded to a folded position in which a first film portion associated with the first plurality of receptacles overlays a second film portion associated with the second plurality of receptacles, such that the film is protected when the container portion is in the folded position.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the closure element is a flexible sheet.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the freezable fluid is water that has been processed to provide clear ice when frozen.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the freezable fluid is water that has undergone a process selected from the group of processes including degassing, vacuum treatment, heating, and filtering.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1  wherein in fluid includes an ingredient selected from the group of ingredients including flavorants, colorants, and aromatic ingredients.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the closure element is removably sealed at an intermediate location sealably segregating at least one of the receptacles from at least an other of the receptacles, such that the at least one of the receptacles may be unsealed and accessed without disturbing the seal of the other of the receptacles.  
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the closure element defines an upper plane.  
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 12  wherein the receptacles all extend in a common direction away from the upper plane.  
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the closure element is non-resealable.  
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the closure element is tamper evident.  
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the element is sealed to segregate each of the receptacles.  
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the container portion is free of undercuts, such that it readily releases frozen fluid from the receptacles after the film is removed.  
   
   
       17 . A fluid-filled container comprising: 
 a container body defining a plurality of compartments each containing a fluid;    a seal element enclosing the compartments; and    each of the compartments being substantially separate from the other compartments, such that when frozen, the frozen body formed in each compartment is readily separated from that of the other compartments.    
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 17  wherein the seal element is a planar sheet.  
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 17  wherein the compartments occupy a common plane.  
   
   
       20 . A method of providing ice to consumers comprising the steps: 
 at a first location providing a multitude of trays, each defining a plurality of receptacles;    filling the receptacles with a fluid;    sealably enclosing the fluid in the receptacles;    distributing the trays to a plurality of recipients;    after distributing the trays, freezing the trays; and    after freezing the trays, serving the frozen fluid from one of the trays to a consumer.