Abstract: An ice maker includes an upper assembly having an upper tray that defines upper portions of a plurality of ice making chambers. The ice maker also includes a lower assembly that is located vertically below the upper assembly and configured rotate relative to the upper assembly. The lower assembly includes a lower tray that defines lower portions of the plurality of ice making chambers, and a lower support that is configured to receive the lower tray and restrict an outward expansion of the lower portions of the plurality of ice making chambers. The lower tray includes a lower tray body configured to hold a first volume of water, and a circumferential wall that extends upward from the lower tray body and is configured to hold a second volume of water above the first volume of water.

Abstract: A refrigerator has an ice maker. The ice maker has a longitudinal axis; a rotatable, stretchable ice cube tray having an upper face defining a plane offset from the longitudinal axis with openings for ice cubes and a bottom surface, and the upper face and the bottom surface being parallel to the longitudinal axis, the offset being at least a depth of an ice cube; and an axially mounted, rotatable cam with a convex surface, the cam is coaxial with the longitudinal axis and positioned between the longitudinal axis and the bottom surface of the tray, so that the convex surface is engageable with the bottom surface of the tray. Ice cubes are released by rotation of the cam as the convex surface outwardly flexes the tray.

Abstract: An ice making machine has a framework-shaped frame which encloses an ice making tray and a drive unit and a fixing portion which fixes the frame to an inner wall surface in a freezing compartment. The frame includes a first frame portion and a second frame portion opposed to each other in an X-axis direction and a third frame portion and a fourth frame portion opposed to each other in a Y-axis direction. The fixing portion protrudes upward from the third frame portion. The third frame portion contacts the inner wall surface when the frame is fixed to the freezing compartment. The fourth frame portion includes a plate portion which extends in the X-axis direction with a thickness direction directed to the Y-axis direction and connects the first frame portion and the second frame portion to each other and a plurality of ribs provided on the plate portion.

Abstract: Methods of operating an ice maker with an exposed refrigerant tube. The method includes providing a water stream to an ice formation cell of an ice formation tray. A refrigerant tube freezes a portion of the water stream in order to make an ice piece layer. An ejector pries the ice piece layer away from the ice formation cell. The ejector is configured to rotate about an axis.

Abstract: An ice cube tray assembly having an insulating box, a lower chamber and an upper chamber. The insulating box having a base and an upstanding structure, with a cavity. A top surface has an inner and outer perimeter, with the inner perimeter defining the opening of the cavity. The lower chamber includes an upper deck portion and container structure depending therefrom. The upper chamber includes a top wall and an inner container structure depending from the top wall. The upper and lower chambers are positioned in sealing engagement.

Abstract: An ice maker includes an ice tray configured to receive water, where the ice tray includes a plurality of partition ribs that partition an inner space of the ice tray into a plurality of cells, an ejector that is configured to rotate relative to the ice tray, that is configured to cause rotation of ice pieces in a rotation direction relative to the ice tray, and that is configured to discharge the ice pieces from the ice tray, and a motor configured to drive the ejector to rotate in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction. The ice tray further includes a protrusion portion that is located at each cell, that protrudes from a lower surface of each cell, and that extends along the lower surface of each cell in a direction corresponding to the rotation direction of the ice pieces relative to the ice tray.

Abstract: An icemaker unit and a refrigerator having the same. A drainage duct is provided to the icemaker unit, including a longitudinally inclined structure, a laterally inclined structure, and drainage holes to enhance drainage of the water. An upper part of the drainage duct is formed of a high heat-conductivity material and a lower part of the drainage duct of a low heat-conductivity material.

Abstract: An ice making apparatus for an appliance comprising an ice making tray having at least one specialty feature chosen from the group consisting of: a convex bottom surface, a ledge disposed about a perimeter of the at least one ice compartment and proximate a bottom portion of the at least one ice compartment, at least one thread extending from one corner of the at least one ice compartment to another corner of the at least one ice compartment, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A mosaic-style art kit is provided. The art kit includes a frame, modeling material, and a guide sheet. The frame includes a peripheral surface operably configured to overlie the guide sheet, and a mosaic-style internal structure having partitions forming cavities for receiving and retaining the modeling material. A front side of the frame is placed on the guide sheet such that the mosaic-style internal structure is aligned with a design on the guide sheet. The design thereby instructs a color of modeling material to be inserted into each cavity of the internal structure. The modeling material is inserted accordingly, and the frame and guide sheet are separated to produce a mosaic-style art product.

Abstract: A combination ice cube tray and ice cube lifter includes a tray having a plurality of openings and a lifting device. The tray has one or more recesses, each of which has a bottom wall and side walls that extend upwardly from and contiguously around the bottom wall for forming one or more ice cubes therein. The lifting device has a base portion and a top member. The base portion includes one or more cradles configured to seat within the one or more recesses of the tray to seat against the bottom wall of each of the one or more recesses of the tray. Each of the one or more cradles is coupled to an upstanding member. The top member couples to the upstanding members. A method for lifting ice cubes from a tray is also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques for use in ice maker systems are disclosed. In one example, an ice tray apparatus includes an ice mold body formed substantially of a metal material, and a holder for holding the ice mold body, the holder including a rotation-stopping feature formed thereon. The ice tray assembly may be used in an ice maker system mounted in a storage compartment of a refrigerator appliance.

Abstract: A portable, lightweight ice cube tray and cover for releasing and dispensing ice cubes in a controlled manner includes a flexible plastic ice cube tray having equally spaced compartments for freezing water into ice cubes and a flexible cover joined to the ice cube tray with the cover including a chute through which the ice cubes can be dispensed into a cup or container whereupon flexing or twisting the conjoined cover and tray causes the dislodgement and release of the ice cubes and removing the cap and tilting the ice cube tray and cover allows the ice cubes to pass through the chute in a controlled manner for deposition in a cup or container.

Abstract: A system includes one or more compacting wall retraction mechanisms for retracting one or more compacting walls of a compactable lightweight concrete block mold having at least two compacting walls. The compacting wall retraction mechanism(s) facilitate release of a compacted lightweight concrete block from the compactable lightweight concrete block mold. The system can include a mold feed conveyor, and a table for receiving the compactable lightweight concrete block mold from the mold feed conveyor. The system can include one or more tube extraction and re-insertion mechanisms for extracting or inserting tubes of a compactable mold. The system can include one or more end wall lock release mechanisms for releasing end walls to remove a molded block from the mold. Mold assembly and disassembly can be controlled by an electronic or computerized controller.

Abstract: A system includes one or more compacting wall retraction mechanisms for retracting one or more compacting walls of a compactable lightweight concrete block mold having at least two compacting walls. The compacting wall retraction mechanism(s) facilitate release of a compacted lightweight concrete block from the compactable lightweight concrete block mold. The system can include a mold feed conveyor, and a table for receiving the compactable lightweight concrete block mold from the mold feed conveyor. The system can include one or more tube extraction and re-insertion mechanisms for extracting or inserting tubes of a compactable mold. The system can include one or more end wall lock release mechanisms for releasing end walls to remove a molded block from the mold. Mold assembly and disassembly can be controlled by an electronic or computerized controller.

Abstract: A compactable mold comprises a main mold frame structure and plural wall structures including two end wall structures and two side wall structures. The plural wall structures define a mold cavity for forming a block from a mixture introduced into the mold cavity. At least two of the plural wall structures are movable wall structures for compacting the mixture. A described compactable mold has end walls and side walls that are shaped for forming tongue and groove features on a compacted block, and the end walls and side walls are movable such that a formed block can be released easily from the mold. A described compactable mold comprises at least one tube attached to at least one of the compacting wall structures. The compacting wall structures are operable to compact the mixture by moving toward the center of the mold cavity while the at least one tube remains stationary.

Abstract: A system includes one or more compacting wall retraction mechanisms for retracting one or more compacting walls of a compactable lightweight concrete block mold having at least two compacting walls. The compacting wall retraction mechanism(s) facilitate release of a compacted lightweight concrete block from the compactable lightweight concrete block mold. The system can include a mold feed conveyor, and a table for receiving the compactable lightweight concrete block mold from the mold feed conveyor. The system can include one or more tube extraction and re-insertion mechanisms for extracting or inserting tubes of a compactable mold. The system can include one or more end wall lock release mechanisms for releasing end walls to remove a molded block from the mold. Mold assembly and disassembly can be controlled by an electronic or computerized controller.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and a mold for improving the release of a molded ophthalmic device from a mold. The method comprises the steps of: providing a first mold half and second mold half each having opposing top surfaces at least one of which has been hollowed out to define a cavity for forming said ophthalmic device and at least said first mold half further defining a boundary for a release element, said boundary is part of said cavity, said release element comprising a ramped surface, said cavity having a corresponding ramped surface, and said release element having its widest part near the top surface of said at least said first mold half that defines said release element therein. The mold of this invention has a hollowed-out portion as part of the cavity to provide a release element to the molded ophthalmic device.

Abstract: An ice-making device includes a case, an ice tray having a plurality of ice cubes and being rotatably installed clockwise and counterclockwise in the case, and a rotation stopping unit provided at the case and the ice tray to limit a rotation of an ice tray if the ice tray is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise within a predetermined angle in a state that the ice tray is poised horizontally. Since the ice tray can be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise according to a user's selection, the pieces of ice can be easily from the ice tray, ensuring that the user can separate the pieces of ice more conveniently.

Abstract: A cover for an ice cube tray includes a top portion for covering the top of an ice cube tray and sidewalls joined to the top portion which permits the top portion to be raised to a position at which the top position is spaced above the tray top. The cover also includes flanges joined to the sidewalls for limiting the distance that the top portion can be raised above the tray top. Once the cover raised to its spaced, or elevated, position and the tray and cover are inverted and canted to an inclined condition, the top portion and sidewalls provide a chute for accepting ice cubes dropped from the tray and for directing the dropped ice cubes off the lower end of the cover.

Abstract: A repetitive ice block or cube maker in which chilled water flows over a vertical evaporator to form ice blocks within ice freezing pockets of designated shape. The ice blocks are positively released by concurrently heating the evaporator while inducing a designated vibration in the evaporator. The vibration may be of sonic or ultrasonic frequency. A breather vacuum breaker vent may be provided in the bottom of each ice pocket. Each ice block is released with a minimum of heat being developed while heating the evaporator.