Container assembly, support structure and methods

Abstract

A container assembly comprises a V-shaped container having a V-shaped cross-section and being formed from freezer-safe material, and a support base having a V-shaped groove sized to received and cooperate with the container thereby to support the container during filling with freezable liquid. Also disclosed is a freezer container support structure comprising two or more plates and at least two spaced support members. The support members are adapted to engage the plates in spaced locations along the support members, to maintain one or more freezer containers between the plates during freezing of a freezable liquid contained in each said freezer container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A freezer container support structure comprising:
 two or more plates being formed from freezer-safe material; and   a support member extending over a perimeter of the plates, the support member to compress a freezer container between the plates during freezing of a freezable liquid contained in the freezer container.   
     
     
         2 . The freezer container support structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plates includes a raised peripheral lip. 
     
     
         3 . The freezer container support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the support member maintains the plates in register. 
     
     
         4 . The freezer container support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the plates each have a substantially quadrilateral shape. 
     
     
         5 . The freezer container support structure of  claim 1 , wherein a number of plates and freezer containers within the support structure is adjustable. 
     
     
         6 . The freezer container support structure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the freezer container, which includes one or more indicia corresponding with one or more corresponding indicia positionable on an outside of a freezer compartment, thereby to identify freezable liquid contained in the freezer containers without opening the freezer compartment.   
     
     
         7 . The freezer container support structure of  claim 6 , wherein the corresponding indicia include one or more of:
 a color located on the outside of the freezer compartment matching a corresponding color on the one or more freezer containers;   a magnet located on the outside of the freezer compartment with indicia matching that on the one or more freezer containers; or   a pair of characters located on the outside of the freezer compartment with characters matching that on the one or more freezer containers.   
     
     
         8 . A method for storing freezable liquid for future selective access, comprising: 
 dispensing the freezable liquid into one or more freezer containers;   associating the one or more freezer containers with:
 one or more indicia locatable in a freezer compartment, the one or more indicia:
 identifying the one or more freezer containers; and 
 corresponding to one or more corresponding indicia located on the outside of the freezer compartment, wherein the one or more corresponding indicia identify one or more of: 
 a storage period for the freezable liquid; 
 a date on which the freezable liquid was produced; or 
 a selected volume of the freezable liquid; and 
 
   positioning the one or more freezer containers in the freezer compartment; and   sealing the freezer compartment.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , the freezer containers each having a V-shaped cross-section, wherein positioning the one or more freezer containers in the freezer compartment includes:
 receiving a freezer container within a V-shaped groove of a corresponding support base, the freezer containers and support base each being formed from freezer-safe material.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein positioning the freezer containers in the freezer compartment includes:
 positioning a freezer container between two plates of a freezer container support structure; and   compressing the freezer containers between the plates using two or more support members in spaced locations on a perimeter of the plates, the freezer containers, plates, and support members each being formed from freezer-safe material.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 adding a further plate to the freezer container support structure in spaced relation to one of the two plates; and   positioning another freezer container between the further plate and the one of the two plates of the freezer container support structure.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the corresponding indicia include one or more of:
 a color located on the outside of the freezer compartment matching a corresponding color on the one or more freezer containers;   a magnet located on the outside of the freezer compartment with indicia matching that on the one or more freezer containers; or   a pair of characters located on the outside of the freezer compartment with characters matching that on the one or more freezer containers.   
     
     
         13 . A container assembly for containing freezable liquid, the container assembly comprising:
 a V-shaped container having a V-shaped cross-section and being formed from freezer-safe material; and   a support base being shaped to receive and cooperate with the container thereby to support the container during filling with freezable liquid.   
     
     
         14 . The container assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the support base includes a V-shaped groove sized and shaped to receive the V-shaped container. 
     
     
         15 . The container assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the support base is formed from freezer-safe material, and wherein the container is to be received in the groove during freezing of freezable liquid contained in the container. 
     
     
         16 . The container assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the container, when received in the groove, is slidable longitudinally along the groove to remove the container from the support base. 
     
     
         17 . The container assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the container comprises:
 a body; and   a removable lid to form a liquid-tight seal with the body when in a closed condition.   
     
     
         18 . The container assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the support base includes one or more laterally extending fins that increase an external surface area of the support base for thermal transfer. 
     
     
         19 . The container assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the container includes one or more indicia corresponding with one or more corresponding indicia positionable on an outside of a freezer compartment, thereby to identify freezable liquid contained in the container without opening the freezer compartment. 
     
     
         20 . The container assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the corresponding indicia include one or more of:
 a color located on the outside of the freezer compartment matching a corresponding color on the one or more freezer containers;   a magnet located on the outside of the freezer compartment with indicia matching that on the one or more freezer containers; or   a pair of characters located on the outside of the freezer compartment with characters matching that on the one or more freezer containers.