Segmented ice forming container

Abstract

Embodiments relate to methods and containers for forming ice units. Embodiments relate to a container for forming ice units, the container including an elongated, enclosed body portion for receiving fluid. The body portion including an exterior wall defining an interior volume; one or more compartments along the length of the body, one or more constricted sections along the length of the body and separating compartments; a first end; and a second end opposite the first end, wherein at least one of the first and second ends are in fluid communication with at least one of the compartments.

1 . A container for forming ice units, the container comprising:
 an elongated, enclosed body portion for receiving fluid, the body portion comprising an exterior wall defining an interior volume;   one or more compartments along the length of the body, one or more constricted sections along the length of the body and separating compartments a first end; and   a second end opposite the first end, wherein at least one of the first and second ends are in fluid communication with at least one of the compartments.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  further including one or more compartments comprising a separated, enclosed volume portion allowing for one or more individual ice units to be formed along the length of the body. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising at least one of the constricted sections creating a stress concentration in at least a portion of a formed ice unit block, enabling the ice unit block to be fractured into individual ice units under applied pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising at least one constricted section communicating with at least one compartment and adapted to move at least one ice unit between adjacent compartments and/or first or second end. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the exterior wall includes at least one or more load transition members coupling more than one constricted section extending along at least a portion of container in a longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1  further including one or more load transition members coupling two or more constricted sections and/or compartments, thereby simultaneously distributing an applied load to the two or more constricted sections and/or compartments. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the compartments or constricted sections includes a fin, protrusion, or groove adapted to release a created vacuum during the dispensing process. 
     
     
         8 . A non-rigid container for forming ice units, the container comprising:
 an elongated, enclosed body portion for receiving a fluid, the body portion comprising an exterior wall defining an interior volume;   a plurality of compartments in fluid communication, each compartment having a selected maximum internal perimeter and unexpanded or closed maximum internal cross-sectional area;   a plurality of constricted sections, each constricted section having a selected minimum internal perimeter and unexpanded or closed minimum internal cross-sectional area;   an open end in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of compartments; and   a closed end opposite the open end in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of compartments.   
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8  wherein at least one of the constricted sections has a selected internal perimeter P CONS  and unexpanded or closed internal cross-sectional area A CONS, CLOSED  and at least one of the compartments has a selected internal perimeter P COMP  and unexpanded or closed internal cross-sectional area A COMP,CLOSED  where P CONS  and P COMP  are in a sized relationship such that:
   P CONS ≧P COMP  
 
 
       and A COMP,CLOSED  and A CONS,CLOSED  are in a sized relationship, such that:
   A COMP,CLOSED >A CONS,CLOSED    
 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 8  further including at least one load transition member coupling more than one compartment and one constricted section extending along at least a portion of the container in a longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         11 . A method of forming and dispensing ice units using a container, the container comprising:
 an elongated body portion for receiving a fluid, the body portion comprising:
 an exterior wall defining an interior volume;
 a plurality of compartments in fluid communication, each compartment having selected maximum internal perimeter and unexpanded maximum internal cross-sectional area; 
 a plurality of constricted sections, each constricted section having a selected minimum internal perimeter and unexpanded minimum internal cross-sectional area; 
 
 an open end in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of compartments; and 
 a closed end opposite the open end in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of compartments; 
   the method comprising:
 applying a pressure to the exterior wall and/or load transition member resulting in the synchronous expansion of the plurality of compartments and the constricted sections; 
 flowing a liquid into at least one of the plurality of compartments; 
 removing the pressure from the exterior wall resulting in synchronous contraction of the plurality of compartments and the constricted sections; and 
 sealing the closed end. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising removing excess fluid from the container. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising cooling the container thus creating a continuous ice formation within the container
 the ice formation following the internal contour of the container.   
     
     
         14 . The method of claim  132  comprising bending the container in at least one of a convex or concave fashion at least one time thereby fracturing the ice formation into individual ice units. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising applying a pressure to the exterior wall resulting in deformation of at least one of the compartments and/or constricted sections enabling ice units to be dispensed individually. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising releasing a created vacuum during dispensing the ice units using at least one fin, protrusion, or groove formed in at least one of the compartments and/or constricted sections. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein at least one of the constricted sections is adapted to move between an unexpanded or closed position and an expanded or open position, the at least one constricted section having a selected unexpanded or closed minimum internal cross-sectional area A CONS,CLOSED  and an expanded or open minimum internal cross-sectional area A CONS,OPEN , where the at least one constricted section moves between A CONS,CLOSED  and A CONS,OPEN ;
 represented by:
   A CONS,CLOSED ≧A CONS,OPEN  
 
 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein at least one of the compartments is adapted to move between an unexpanded or closed position and an expanded or open position, the at least one compartment having a selected unexpanded or closed maximum internal cross-sectional area A COMP,CLOSED  and an expanded or open minimum internal cross-sectional area A COMP,OPEN , where the at least one constricted section moves between A COMP, CLOSED  and A COMP,OPEN ;
 represented by:
   A COMP,CLOSED ≧A COMP,OPEN  
 
 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising moving the compartment between an unexpanded or closed position and an expanded or open position facilitates movement of formed ice units through the elongated body. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising moving the compartment between an unexpanded or closed position and an expanded or open position releases a created vacuum during dispensing of the ice units.