Ice melting body and dispenser

Abstract

An ice melting body dispenser includes an elongated pole and a body holder mounted to an end of the pole. The body holder includes a support configured to releasably hold an ice melting body. The support has a forward end over which the ice melting body slides over when leaving the holder; and a retainer configured to engage the ice melting body and inhibit sliding movement of the ice melting body over the forward end.

1 . An ice melting body dispenser, comprising;
 an elongated pole;   a body holder mounted to an end of the pole and configured to hold an ice melting body,
 the body holder comprising: 
 a support configured to releasably hold the ice melting body, the support including a forward end over which the ice melting body slides over when leaving the body holder; and 
 a retainer configured to engage the ice melting body and inhibit sliding movement of the ice melting body over the forward end. 
   
     
     
         2 . The ice melting body dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the support includes at least one support plate configured to support the ice melting body by engaging a lower surface of the ice melting body. 
     
     
         3 . The ice melting body dispenser of  claim 2  wherein the support includes opposed spaced apart side walls. 
     
     
         4 . The ice melting body dispenser of  claim 3  wherein the at least one support plate comprises two support plates, wherein each opposed side wall is joined to one of the two support plates, the support plates being spaced apart from each other forming a slot so as to allow direct access to a lower surface of the ice melting body, the slot being open ended wherein the slot is open to the forward end. 
     
     
         5 . The ice melting body dispenser of  claim 3  wherein the support includes a back surface to inhibit movement of the ice melting body in a direction away from the forward end. 
     
     
         6 . The ice melting body dispenser of  claim 1  wherein a portion of the retainer is displaceable to allow movement of the ice melting body over the forward end. 
     
     
         7 . The ice melting body dispenser of  claim 6  wherein the portion is compliant and deflects with movement of the ice melting body over the forward end. 
     
     
         8 . The ice melting body dispenser of  claim 7  wherein the portion returns to a holding position after the ice melting body is out of the body holder. 
     
     
         9 . The ice melting body dispenser of  claim 8  wherein the portion returns to the holding position due to a spring force. 
     
     
         10 . The ice melting body dispenser of  claim 9  wherein the portion comprises a spring. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The ice melting body dispenser of  claim 3  wherein the retainer is secured at opposite ends to the side walls. 
     
     
         13 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The ice melting body dispenser of  claim 5  wherein the body holder is movably joined to the end of the pole. 
     
     
         17 . The ice melting body dispenser of  claim 16  wherein the body holder slides on the end of the pole. 
     
     
         18 . The ice melting body dispenser of  claim 17  wherein the forward end moves toward and away from the back surface, the back surface configured to engage the ice melting body when the body holder slides in a direction wherein the forward end moves closer to the back surface. 
     
     
         19 . The ice melting body dispenser of  claim 18  wherein the back surface is a surface of the pole. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The ice melting body dispenser of  claim 18  and an elongated member having a first end attached to the body holder and a second end operable by a user, wherein the elongated member slides the body holder on the pole at least in a direction wherein the forward end moves toward the back surface. 
     
     
         22 . The ice melting body dispenser of  claim 21  wherein the elongated member comprises a rope or a wire. 
     
     
         23 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The ice melting body dispenser of  claim 4  and further comprising an ice melting body comprising:
 an ice melting chemical compound comprising at least one of sodium acetates, calcium magnesium acetates, calcium chloride, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, amide, and glycol, the ice melting chemical compound forming an elongated body having first and second major surfaces facing in opposite directions that are defined by planes that are substantially parallel to each other, wherein the first major surface includes a plurality of projections extending in a direction away from the associated plane defining the first major surface, the projections being disposed on the first major surface so as to project at least into the slot. 
 
     
     
         28 . The ice melting body dispenser of  claim 27  wherein the first major surface includes spaced apart elongated projections oriented parallel to an axis of elongation of the ice melting body, where a spacing between the elongated projections are configured to engage lateral edges forming the slot. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A pair of first and second ice melting bodies having identically shaped outer surface, each ice melting body comprising:
 an ice melting chemical compound comprising at least one of calcium chloride, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, amide, sodium acetates, calcium magnesium acetates, and glycol, the ice melting chemical compound forming an elongated body having first and second major surfaces facing in opposite directions that are defined by planes that are substantially parallel to each other, wherein the first major surface includes a plurality of projections extending in a direction away from the associated plane defining the first major surface, and wherein the second major surface includes at least one depression configured to receive the projections such that the projections of the first ice melting body are received in the at least one depression of the second ice melting body when the second ice melting body is placed upon the first ice melting body.   
     
     
         31 - 40 . (canceled)