Patents by Inventor Alistair MacAlister

Alistair MacAlister has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7914166
    Abstract: An ice sculpture display platform is disclosed that includes integrated water collection and self-powered illumination, thereby enabling display of arbitrarily shaped ice sculptures without requiring a water collection tray or connection to a power outlet. A display surface with drainage holes is supported on or above a water collection bowl, preferably forming a water-tight seal therewith. Battery-powered lights, such as incandescent or LED lights, are attached to the display surface and/or the water collection bowl, and illuminate the ice sculpture from the rim of the bowl, the rim of the platform, and/or from beneath the platform. Lights that illuminate from beneath can be impervious to water and/or sealed within a water-tight enclosure. A portion of the display platform can be transparent, allowing penetration of light originating from below. Batteries can be in water-tight enclosures, and can be in the bowl, under the rim, or under the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Inventor: Alistair MacAlister
  • Publication number: 20100276567
    Abstract: A reusable, two-sided ice sculpture mold is disclosed that includes two halves made of a semi-rigid material such as plastic that resists deformation during freezing but provides sufficient flexibility to allow the mold to be separated from a finished ice sculpture by a slight flexing of the mold halves. A leak resistant seal is formed between the rims of the two halves by including a sealing gasket between the rims and by holding the rims firmly together using flip-lock fasteners that are located around the rims and are able to apply a substantially uniform sealing force. Preferred embodiments include an open base for filling and/or a gasket groove in the rim of one of the halves. The claimed mold is inexpensive to manufacture and includes only three parts that are easily separated and cleaned between uses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventor: Alistair MacAlister
  • Publication number: 20100277893
    Abstract: An ice sculpture display platform is disclosed that includes integrated water collection and self-powered illumination, thereby enabling display of arbitrarily shaped ice sculptures without requiring a water collection tray or connection to a power outlet. A display surface with drainage holes is supported on or above a water collection bowl, preferably forming a water-tight seal therewith. Battery-powered lights, such as incandescent or LED lights, are attached to the display surface and/or the water collection bowl, and illuminate the ice sculpture from the rim of the bowl, the rim of the platform, and/or from beneath the platform. Lights that illuminate from beneath can be impervious to water and/or sealed within a water-tight enclosure. A portion of the display platform can be transparent, allowing penetration of light originating from below. Batteries can be in water-tight enclosures, and can be in the bowl, under the rim, or under the platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventor: Alistair MacAlister