Artisan Ice System, Method and Apparatus

Abstract

In a system for production of artisan ice, a freezer receives an artisan ice production unit comprising a water bath, a mold bottom and a mold top. The mold bottom and top define a mold that is partially immersed in the water bath when the water bath and mold are engaged and filled with water. The water bath may be heated by a heat source to control freezing of the water in the mold. The water bath, and mold top define lips above the level of water in the mold to prevent leakage of water from the mold and water bath. The mold bottoms may be stacked when the mold bottoms contain artisan ice portions for compact storage of the artisan ice portions.

Description

I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA. Field of the Invention[0001]The Invention is a system for commercial production and storage of artisan ice, as defined below, and a method for the production and storage of artisan ice. The Invention also is an apparatus for production of artisan ice.B. Statement of the Related Art[0002]‘Clear ice’ is water ice that is substantially free of trapped gas bubbles or suspended particulate matter. As a result, clear ice is substantially transparent. In clear ice production, water freezes in a single direction. Freezing the water in a single direction allows gas bubbles and suspended particulate matter that are forced from solution during freezing to move ahead of the advancing ice so that the gas bubbles and particulate matter are not trapped by the ice.[0003]Conventional clear ice production may utilize a cascade of water over the face of the freezing ice to wash gas bubbles and particulate matter from the ice. This technology can produce clear ice cubes...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a method for producing clear ice using a water bath and a mold. The water bath acts as a heat reservoir to control the rate of freezing of the water in the mold, preventing damage to the ice. The mold can be removed and the ice can be stored in a compact way. The technical effect of this method is the ability to produce high-quality, clear ice consistent with the production of clear ice.

Problems solved by technology

This technology can produce clear ice cubes of up to 1.25 inches on a side, which is a limitation of the water-cascade technology.

Conventional clear ice production systems are not flexible as to the size or shape of the clear ice produced.

When used to chill a beverage in a drinking glass, the large size and relatively small surface area of a portion of artisan ice results in longer life, slower melting and less dilution of the beverage than is the case for smaller pieces of conventional clear ice.

The problem of commercial production of artisan ice has not been solved using the conventional technologies of the water cascade or mechanical mixing.

This process of hand shaping each individual portion of artisan ice is labor and energy intensive and hence expensive and not suitable for a commercial environment.

Damage to the artisan ice after it is created also is important to the commercial production of artisan ice.

Artisan ice portions that are cracked or chipped are considered undesirable by patrons.

The consumer systems present issues of timing and storage of the artisan ice.

Otherwise, the shaped clear ice will freeze to the molds and be difficult to remove.

The storage issue is that if two portions of ice are placed in contact with each other, the two portions of ice will tend to freeze together.

The prior art does not teach the apparatus, system and method of the Invention.

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