Ice mold for making ice straws

Abstract

An ice mold for forming hollow, elongated ice structures intended to be used as drinking straws.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mold for forming a straw-shaped ice structure, comprising:
 an outer tube;   an inner tube disposed within the outer tube, the inner tube having an opened proximal end portion, and an opened distal end portion, the outer and inner tubes defining an elongated channel therebetween, the elongated channel having an opened distal end portion and a closed proximal end portion such that the elongated channel is configured to hold a freezable liquid therein, wherein the inner tube defines a passageway therethrough to allow for a flow of water to pass from the proximal end portion of the inner tube to the distal end portion of the inner tube to facilitate thawing of ice formed in the elongated channel from the freezable liquid; and   a base configured to be coupled to at least one of a proximal end portion of the outer tube or the proximal end portion of the inner tube to support the outer and inner tubes in a vertical, upright orientation, wherein the base defines a cavity configured to facilitate passage of the flow of water into the proximal end portion of the inner tube.   
     
     
         2 . The mold according to  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end portion of the inner tube is integrally formed with or coupled to the proximal end portion of the outer tube such that the proximal end portion of the inner tube and the proximal end portion of the outer tube cooperatively form the closed proximal end portion of the elongated channel. 
     
     
         3 . The mold according to  claim 1 , wherein the base defines a central opening therethrough configured to provide fluid communication between the cavity of the base and the passageway of the inner tube when the base is coupled to the outer tube. 
     
     
         4 . The mold according to  claim 3 , wherein the base extends radially outward relative to the outer tube and defines a plurality of apertures therethrough, wherein the base is configured to facilitate passage of the flow of water through the central opening of the base into the passageway of the inner tube and through the plurality of apertures of the base toward an outer surface of the outer tube to transfer heat away from the inner and outer tubes. 
     
     
         5 . The mold according to  claim 1 , wherein the base has a frustoconical shape or is generally funnel-shaped. 
     
     
         6 . The mold according to  claim 4 , wherein the cavity of the base is in fluid communication with the plurality of apertures and the central opening. 
     
     
         7 . The mold according to  claim 1 , further comprising a stopper positioned within the proximal end portion of the elongated channel and forming a fluid-tight seal between the proximal end portion of the outer tube and the proximal end portion of the inner tube, wherein the stopper defines a central channel therethrough having the proximal end portion of the inner tube positioned therein, wherein the stopper and the base are monolithically formed with one another. 
     
     
         8 . The mold according to  claim 7 , wherein the stopper has an outermost surface that is positioned radially inward of an outermost surface of the proximal end portion of the outer tube. 
     
     
         9 . The mold according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer and inner tubes are fabricated from at least one of stainless steel or aluminum, and the elongated channel has a length from about 3 inches to about 12 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The mold according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner tube is concentrically disposed within the outer tube. 
     
     
         11 . A mold for forming ice straws, comprising:
 a hollow, outer tube having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; and   an inner tube having an opened proximal end portion integrally formed with or coupled to the proximal end portion of the outer tube, the outer and inner tubes defining an elongated channel therebetween, the elongated channel having an opened distal end portion and a closed proximal end portion such that the elongated channel is configured to hold a freezable liquid therein, the inner tube defining a passageway therethrough to allow for a flow of water to pass from the proximal end portion of the inner tube to a distal end portion of the inner tube to facilitate thawing of an ice straw formed in the elongated channel from the freezable liquid, wherein the proximal end portion of the outer tube and the proximal end portion of the inner tube collectively form the closed proximal end portion of the elongated channel.   
     
     
         12 . The mold according to  claim 11 , further comprising a base configured to be coupled to at least one of the proximal end portion of the outer tube or the proximal end portion of the inner tube to support the outer and inner tubes in a vertical, upright orientation. 
     
     
         13 . The mold according to  claim 12 , wherein the base defines a cavity therein and a central opening therein, the central opening fluidly coupling the cavity of the base with the passageway of the inner tube. 
     
     
         14 . The mold according to  claim 13 , wherein the base extends radially outward relative to the outer tube and defines a plurality of apertures therethrough, the plurality of apertures being circumferentially spaced from one another about the outer tube. 
     
     
         15 . The mold according to  claim 14 , wherein the cavity of the base is configured to facilitate passage of the flow of water through the central opening of the base into the passageway of the inner tube and facilitate the passage of the flow of water through the plurality of apertures toward an outer surface of the outer tube to simultaneously transfer heat away from the inner and outer tubes. 
     
     
         16 . The mold according to  claim 11 , wherein the proximal end portion of the outer tube and the proximal end portion of the inner tube are integrally formed with one another. 
     
     
         17 . A method of making a straw-shaped ice structure, the method comprising:
 filling an elongated channel with a freezable liquid, the elongated channel being defined between an outer tube and an inner tube that is concentrically disposed within the outer tube;   freezing the freezable liquid while the freezable liquid is within the elongated channel whereby the freezable liquid forms a straw-shaped ice structure;   flowing water along an outer surface of the outer tube and through a passageway defined through the inner tube thereby thawing an outer surface and an inner surface of the straw-shaped ice structure; and   sliding the straw-shaped ice structure out of an opened end of the elongated channel.