Apparatus For Making Clear Ice

Abstract

The present invention provides a clear ice barrier device used with a container and an ice mold that has a plurality of openings for making clear ice. The clear ice barrier device comprises a body member to be received within a container featuring a plurality of support members that hold the body member at a desired position within the container, with a plurality of holes in the body member arranged to permit flow of water from the ice mold to the container.

1 . A clear ice barrier device used with an ice mold having a plurality of ice mold openings for making clear ice comprising:
 a container;   a body member to be received within the container, wherein the body member is a single flat plate that includes a first surface and a second surface;   a plurality of support members attached to the body member, the support members holding the body member at a position within the container, wherein at least one bottom edge of the support member is attached to a floor of the container ; and   a rectangular array of holes within the body member,   the rectangular array of holes forming a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns,   each hole extending from the first surface to the second surface of the body member, the second surface faces in a direction opposite of the direction in which the first surface faces,   the holes being arranged such that the body member permits water to flow from the first surface to the second surface.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The clear ice barrier device of  claim 1 , wherein the body member and the support members are formed from a rigid material. 
     
     
         4 . The clear ice barrier device of  claim 1 , wherein the support members are arranged to hold the body member at a height above the floor of the container to permit water contained under the body member. 
     
     
         5 . The clear ice barrier device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holes are concentric with the plurality of ice mold openings of the ice mold placed atop the body member. 
     
     
         6 . The clear ice barrier device of  claim 1 , wherein the support members include panels attached to sides of the body member, wherein the panels are sized so that edges of the panels near corners of the body member are left free and unattached to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The clear ice barrier device of  claim 1 , wherein the body member is a rectangular box made of plastic material. 
     
     
         8 . A clear ice barrier device used with an ice mold having a plurality of ice mold openings for making clear ice comprising:
 a container;   a body member to be received within the & container, the body member having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the body member is a rectangular box made of plastic material;   a plurality of support members attached to the body member, the support members holding the body member at a position within the container, wherein at least one bottom edge of the support members is attached to a floor of the container; and,   a rectangular array of holes within the body member,   the rectangular array of holes forming a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns,   each hole extending from the first surface to the second surface of the body member, the second surface faces in a direction opposite of the direction in which the first surface faces,   wherein, for each of the rows and the columns, all holes in the row and the column are arranged in a straight line,   the holes being arranged such that the body member permits water to flow from the first surface to the second surface.   
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The clear ice barrier device of  claim 8 , wherein the body member and the support members are formed from a rigid material. 
     
     
         11 . The clear ice barrier device of  claim 8 , wherein the support members are arranged to hold the body member at a height above the floor of the container to permit water contained under the body member. 
     
     
         12 . The clear ice barrier device of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of holes are concentric with the plurality of ice mold openings of the ice mold placed atop the body member. 
     
     
         13 . The clear ice barrier device of  claim 8 , wherein the support members include panels attached to sides of the body member, wherein the panels are sized so that edges of the panels near corners of the body member are left free and unattached to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The clear ice barrier device of  claim 8 , wherein the body member and the ice mold are the same size. 
     
     
         15 . A clear ice barrier device used with an ice mold having a plurality of ice mold openings for making clear ice comprising:
 a container;   a body member to be received within the container, the body member having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the body member is a rectangular box made of plastic material, wherein the wherein the rectangular box has four sides and four corners, a bottom side and an open top side;   a plurality of support members attached to top edges defining the open top side, the support members are sized so that edges of the support members near corners of the body member are left free and unattached to each other, the support members holding the body member at a position within the container, wherein at least one bottom edge of the support members is attached to a floor of the container; and   a rectangular array of holes within the body member,   the rectangular array of holes forming a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, the rectangular array of holes includes at least ten holes,   each hole extending from the first surface to the second surface of the body member, the second surface faces in a direction opposite of the direction in which the first surface faces,   wherein, for each of the rows and the columns, all holes in the row and the column are arranged in a straight line,   wherein the plurality of holes are concentric with the plurality of ice mold openings of the ice mold, the holes being arranged such that the body member permits water to flow from the first surface to the second surface.   
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The clear ice barrier device of  claim 15 , wherein the body member and the support members are formed from a rigid material. 
     
     
         18 . The clear ice barrier device of  claim 15 , wherein the support members are arranged to hold the body member at a height above the floor of the container to permit water contained under the body member. 
     
     
         19 . The clear ice barrier device of  claim 15 , wherein the support members include panels. 
     
     
         20 . The clear ice barrier device of  claim 15 , wherein the body member and the ice mold are the same size.