Multi-cavity ice making assembly

Abstract

An ice making assembly for a refrigerated appliance includes a mold body including an upper mold and a lower mold coupled to the upper mold, the mold body defining a cavity for the formation of an ice shape; a mold frame at least partially surrounding the mold body, the first upper mold piece and the second upper mold piece being coupled together via the mold frame; an ejector positioned adjacent to the mold body, the ejector being rotatable together with the mold body and the mold frame between a first position and a second position; and a motor for rotating the mold body, the mold frame, and the ejector between the first position and the second position.

1 . An ice making assembly for a refrigerated appliance, the ice making assembly defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the ice making assembly comprising:
 a flexible mold body comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the mold body defining a plurality of cavities for the formation of ice shapes, wherein the upper portion defines:
 a plurality of apertures into which water is supplied; and 
 a joint extending along the lateral direction between the plurality of apertures, wherein the joint is closed when the upper portion is in a neutral position; 
   a mold frame at least partially surrounding the mold body, wherein the mold body is coupled together via the mold frame;   an ejector positioned adjacent to the mold body, the ejector being rotatable together with the mold body and the mold frame between a first position and a second position, wherein the ejector deflects the lower portion toward the upper portion, and wherein the upper portion is separated along the joint between the plurality of apertures to define a single aperture when in the second position; and   a motor for rotating the mold body, the mold frame, and the ejector between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The ice making assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion comprises a first upper mold piece and a second upper mold piece coupled to the first upper mold piece. 
     
     
         4 . The ice making assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first upper mold piece and the second upper mold piece are coupled to each other at a first end of the mold body and a second end of the mold body, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The ice making assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mold frame comprises:
 a first support brace provided at a first end of the mold frame, the first support brace defining a first groove; and   a second support brace provided at a second end of the mold frame, the second support brace defining a second groove.   
     
     
         6 . The ice making assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the upper portion comprises:
 a first tab selectively received within the first groove; and   a second tab selectively received within the second groove.   
     
     
         7 . The ice making assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a first fastener penetrating through the first support brace and the first tab; and   a second fastener penetrating through the second support brace and the second tab.   
     
     
         8 . The ice making assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cavities of the mold body defines a first ice shape volume and a second ice shape volume, the first and second ice shape volumes connected by a central channel. 
     
     
         9 . The ice making assembly of  claim 8 , wherein liquid water is supplied to the first ice shape volume of the mold body and flows into the second ice shape volume of the mold body via the central channel. 
     
     
         10 . The ice making assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the ejector comprises:
 a first plunger contacting an exterior surface of the lower portion adjacent to the first ice shape volume;   a second plunger contacting the exterior surface of the lower portion adjacent to the second ice shape volume; and   an axle bar connecting the first plunger to the second plunger.   
     
     
         11 . The ice making assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a cam in mechanical communication with the ejector, the cam defining an arcuate path along which a first end of the ejector moves when rotating between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         12 . The ice making assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first limit switch for stopping rotation of the mold frame and the ejector when the mold frame is moved into the first position; and   a second limit switch for stopping rotation of the mold frame and the ejector when the mold frame is moved into the second position.   
     
     
         13 . The ice making assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of heat exchanging fins in thermal communication with the lower portion, the plurality of heat exchanging fins being attached to the mold frame.   
     
     
         14 . A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the refrigerator appliance comprising:
 a cabinet comprising a freezer chamber; and   an ice making assembly provided within the freezing chamber, the ice making assembly comprising:
 a flexible mold body comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the mold body defining a plurality of cavities for the formation of ice shapes, wherein the upper portion defines:
 a plurality of apertures into which water is supplied; and 
 a joint extending along the lateral direction between the plurality of apertures, wherein the joint is closed when the upper portion is in a neutral position; 
 
 a mold frame at least partially surrounding the mold body, wherein the mold body is coupled together via the mold frame; 
 an ejector positioned adjacent to the mold body, the ejector being rotatable together with the mold body and the mold frame between a first position and a second position, wherein the ejector deflects the lower portion toward the upper portion, wherein the upper portion is separated between the plurality of apertures to define a single aperture when in the second position, and wherein the ejector comprises:
 a pair of plungers provided in constant contact with the lower portion of the mold body at each of the first position and the second position; and 
 
 a motor for rotating the mold body, the mold frame, and the ejector between the first position and the second position. 
   
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the upper portion comprises a first upper mold piece and a second upper mold piece coupled to the first upper mold piece. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the first upper mold piece and the second upper mold piece are coupled to each other at a first end of the mold body and a second end of the mold body, respectively. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the mold frame comprises:
 a first support brace provided at a first end of the mold frame, the first support brace defining a first groove; and   a second support brace provided at a second end of the mold frame, the second support brace defining a second groove.   
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the upper portion comprises:
 a first tab selectively received within the first groove; and   a second tab selectively received within the second groove.   
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of cavities of the mold body defines a first ice shape volume and a second ice shape volume, the first and second ice shape volumes connected by a central channel.