Ice Formation and Storage Device

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ice formation device that can be used to form and store ice and ice cubes. The ice formation device includes an outer bucket, a cylinder, and a lid. The cylinder is sized to snugly fit within the outer bucket to form a water tight seal with the outer bucket. The outer bucket has channels and pockets that are filled with water when the cylinder is inserted into the outer bucket, and the water is frozen to form ice/ice cubes. The cylinder can be re-inserted into the outer bucket after ice is formed and stored in the outer bucket, to allow for subsequent ice formation when the outer bucket contains ice cubes that have been released from the outer bucket's channels and pockets. The ice formation device can also be used as an ice bucket for chilling a bottle or other items that can be placed inside the cylinder once ice has been formed between the cylinder and the outer bucket.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An ice formation and storage device comprising an outer bucket and a cylinder,
 wherein the cylinder is configured to insert into the outer bucket and form a water tight seal with the outer bucket; and   the outer bucket has channels that hold water for the formation of ice.   
     
     
         2 . The ice formation and storage device of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid configured to seal across the top of the outer bucket. 
     
     
         3 . The ice formation and storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the lid forms an air tight seal across the top of the outer bucket. 
     
     
         4 . The ice formation and storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer bucket has an interior groove across its interior floor, the groove configured to accept the cylinder's bottom edge to form a water tight seal. 
     
     
         5 . The ice formation and storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder has one or more handles to facilitate insertion and removal of the cylinder relative to the outer bucket. 
     
     
         6 . The ice formation and storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the device has an interior, upper channel formed between an inserted cylinder and the upper bucket, wherein the upper channel is configured to receive water used to fill the channels and pockets of the outer bucket. 
     
     
         7 . The ice formation and storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer bucket has an upper, raised block having a channel in it;
 wherein the channel is connected to other channels in the outer bucket and configured to allow air to escape as the channels and pockets of the outer bucket are filled with water when the cylinder is inserted into the outer bucket.   
     
     
         8 . The ice formation and storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer bucket is formed from a flexible and collapsible material that allows the outer bucket to be compressed so as to release ice formed in the channels and buckets of the outer bucket. 
     
     
         9 . The ice formation and storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer bucket is formed from a thermoplastic rubber. 
     
     
         10 . The ice formation and storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer bucket is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic rubber, silicone, and polyethylene. 
     
     
         12 . The ice formation device of  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic rubber, silicone, and polyethylene. 
     
     
         13 . The ice formation device of  claim 2 , wherein the lid is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic rubber, silicone, and polyethylene. 
     
     
         14 . The ice formation and storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer bucket has a cylindrical configuration including:
 a flat bottom portion having an interior, circular groove configured to receive a bottom edge of the cylinder to form a water-tight seal between the groove and bottom edge of the cylinder;   an upper, cylindrical portion having alternating flat, curved panels; channels, and pockets;   wherein the flat, curved panels form an interior cylindrical wall configured to fit against an exterior wall of the cylinder to form a water-tight seal between the flat, curved panels and the exterior wall of the cylinder;   wherein the channels and pockets protrude exterior relative to the interior wall of the cylinder, to form openings that seal against the exterior wall of the cylinder to form water-holding compartments;   wherein the channels and pockets alternate such that each pocket of the outer bucket is connected to another pocket via three or more channels, whereby each channel connects between two pockets;   wherein each of the pockets has a greater volume than each of the channels;   wherein each flat, curved panel is surrounded by alternating channels and pockets;   wherein the top of the outer bucket cylindrical configuration has an upper, open channel configured to receive water that is poured into the upper, open channel when the cylinder is fully inserted into the outer bucket; and   wherein each of the upper most pockets of the outer bucket is connected to the upper, open channel by a single upper most channel that vertically connects from the pocket to the upper, open channel and forms an opening to the upper, open channel through which water can flow from the upper, open channel into the water-tight channels and pockets formed between the outer bucket and the fully inserted cylinder.   
     
     
         15 . The ice formation device of  claim 14 , wherein the outer bucket cylindrical configuration further contains an upper, raised block having a channel in it;
 wherein the channel is connected to other channels in the outer bucket and configured to allow air to escape as the channels and pockets of the outer bucket are filled with water when the cylinder is inserted into the outer bucket.   
     
     
         16 . The ice formation device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the outer bucket and cylinder is formed from bisphenol A-free material. 
     
     
         17 . The ice formation device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the lid is formed from bisphenol A-free material. 
     
     
         18 . An ice bucket comprising an outer bucket, and an inner cylinder;
 wherein the inner cylinder is configured to slide into and form a water-tight seal with the outer bucket; and   wherein the outer bucket has channels and pockets that hold ice against the cylinder.   
     
     
         19 . The ice bucket of  claim 18 , wherein the outer bucket has as an interior groove across a bottom of the outer bucket; the interior groove configured to engage a bottom edge of the inner cylinder to form a water-tight seal across the bottom of the outer bucket and inner cylinder. 
     
     
         20 . The ice bucket of  claim 19 , wherein the ice bucket further comprises a lid configured to seal across the outer bucket and cylinder when the cylinder is fully inserted into the outer bucket.