Systems for ice mold assemblies in ice maker appliances

Abstract

A mold assembly is removably mounted to an ice making assembly. The mold assembly includes a frame configured for receipt within a receiving chamber of the ice making assembly, a mold support, and a flexible mold. The flexible mold is positioned proximate the mold support and defines a mold cavity which is configured to receive a liquid. The mold support includes a plurality of holes configured for directing airflow through the mold support and around a bottom of the flexible mold.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mold assembly removably mounted to an ice making assembly, the mold assembly comprising:
 a frame configured for receipt within a receiving chamber of the ice making assembly;   a mold support; and   a flexible mold positioned proximate the mold support and defining a mold cavity configured to receive a liquid,   wherein the mold support comprises a plurality of holes configured for directing airflow through the mold support and around a bottom of the flexible mold.   
     
     
         2 . The mold assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the flexible mold is dome shaped. 
     
     
         3 . The mold assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mold assembly is one of a plurality of distinct mold assemblies each having differently shaped three-dimensional mold cavities, wherein each of the plurality of distinct mold assemblies is configured for receipt within the receiving chamber of the ice making assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The mold assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one lifter configured to contact and deform the flexible mold. 
     
     
         5 . The mold assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one lifter comprises a plurality of lifters joined by a shaft, and wherein the plurality of lifters are provided under the flexible mold and pass vertically through the mold support. 
     
     
         6 . The mold assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mold support comprises an inlet cavity configured to guide the airflow through the plurality of holes of the mold support. 
     
     
         7 . The mold assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the inlet cavity comprises a front wall configured to direct the airflow through the plurality of holes of the mold support. 
     
     
         8 . The mold assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mold support is a plastic mold support. 
     
     
         9 . The mold assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible mold is separated from the mold support at the mold cavity by no less than two millimeters. 
     
     
         10 . The mold assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holes comprises at least two holes per mold cavity. 
     
     
         11 . A mold assembly removably mounted to an ice making assembly, the mold assembly comprising:
 a frame configured for receipt within a receiving chamber of the ice making assembly;   a mold support comprising a plurality of holes;   a flexible mold positioned proximate the mold support and defining a mold cavity configured to receive a liquid; and   at least one lifter configured to contact and deform the flexible mold,   wherein the plurality of holes of the mold support are configured for directing airflow through the mold support and around a bottom of the flexible mold.   
     
     
         12 . The mold assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one lifter comprises a plurality of lifters joined by a shaft, and wherein the plurality of lifters are provided under the flexible mold and pass vertically through the mold support. 
     
     
         13 . The mold assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the bottom of the flexible mold is dome shaped. 
     
     
         14 . The mold assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the mold assembly is one of a plurality of distinct mold assemblies each having differently shaped three-dimensional mold cavities, wherein each of the plurality of distinct mold assemblies is configured for receipt within the receiving chamber of the ice making assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The mold assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the mold support comprises an inlet cavity configured to guide the airflow through the plurality of holes of the mold support. 
     
     
         16 . The mold assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the inlet cavity comprises a front wall configured to direct the airflow through the plurality of holes of the mold support. 
     
     
         17 . The mold assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the mold support is a plastic mold support. 
     
     
         18 . The mold assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible mold is separated from the mold support at the mold cavity by no less than two millimeters. 
     
     
         19 . The mold assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of holes comprises at least two holes per mold cavity.