Ice shaving machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11859889-B2
Application number	US-201916459594-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2019
Priority date	Jun 29, 2018
Publication date	Jan 2, 2024
Grant date	Jan 2, 2024

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for preparing shaved ice confections. A device for conditioning ice includes a base housing comprising at least one upstanding sidewall defining an interior space and an upper surface with respect to the at least one upstanding sidewall. The device includes a motor disposed within the interior space of the base housing. The devices includes a sidewall disposed within the upper surface of the base housing defining an opening for receiving a drive shaft therethrough, wherein the drive shaft is mechanically connected to the motor and a blade assembly. The device includes a venting channel disposed in the at least one upstanding sidewall of the base housing for releasing heat emitted by the motor. The device includes a control mechanism for activating and deactivating the motor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular device for conditioning ice, comprising:
a base housing comprising at least one upstanding sidewall defining an interior space and an upper surface with respect to the at least one upstanding sidewall;
a first ice conditioning portion;
a second ice conditioning portion;
an attachment mechanism located on each of the first ice conditioning portion and the second ice conditioning portion;
a motor disposed within the interior space of the base housing;
a drive shaft;
a blade assembly comprising a blade and a paddle wheel;
a wall disposed within the upper surface of the base housing defining an opening for receiving the drive shaft therethrough, wherein the drive shaft is mechanically connected to the motor and the blade assembly;
wherein when the motor is actuated the paddle wheel of the blade assembly rotates within the first ice conditioning portion or within the second ice conditioning portion; and
wherein the base housing comprises one or more attachment structures that correspond to the attachment mechanism of the first ice conditioning portion and the second ice conditioning portion, such that the base housing is used with either of the first ice conditioning portion or the second ice conditioning portion.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first ice conditioning portion is configured to receive a block of ice and comprises:
an ice conditioning housing for receiving the block of ice;
the blade assembly, comprising:
the blade;
the paddle wheel, wherein the paddle wheel is mechanically connected to the motor;
wherein the paddle wheel comprises a plurality of paddles;
wherein the blade is attached to the paddle wheel such that the blade rotates with the paddle wheel when the motor is activated; and

a spout assembly.

3. The device of claim 2 , further comprising an arm for pressing the block of ice on to the blade, wherein the blade is substantially normal with respect to the arm.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second ice conditioning portion is configured to receive a plurality of ice cubes and comprises:
an ice conditioning housing for receiving the plurality of ice cubes and feeding the plurality of ice cubes into the blade assembly;
the blade assembly, comprising:
the blade;
the paddle wheel, wherein the paddle wheel is mechanically connected to the motor for spinning the plurality of ice cubes and feeding the plurality of ice cubes through the blade, the paddle wheel comprising a groove for receiving the blade;
wherein the blade is disposed in the groove of the paddle wheel; and

a spout assembly.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the paddle wheel is constructed of a single piece of polycarbonate that is sufficiently rigid to feed the plurality of ice cubes through the blade when the motor is activated.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the blade is formed in a circular shape and comprises a plurality of notches for cutting the plurality of ice cubes, and wherein the diameter of the blade is smaller than the diameter of the paddle wheel.

7. The device of claim 5 , wherein the paddle wheel comprises a plurality of paddles pointing upward relative to the base housing, wherein the paddles spin within an interior space defined by the blade when the motor is activated, and wherein the paddles are constructed of polycarbonate and are sufficiently rigid to push the plurality of ice cubes through a plurality of notches of the blade.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the base housing is injection molded such that the base housing is formed of a single piece of material.

9. The device of claim 8 , further comprising a channel disposed in a bottom wall of the base housing forming a handle for carrying the device.

10. The device of claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of feet attached to a bottom wall of the base housing, the plurality of feet forming a portion of the single piece of material of the base housing.

11. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a lid, wherein the lid is hinged to the first ice conditioning portion or the second ice conditioning portion;
a lid magnet attached to the lid; and
an ice receptacle magnet attached to the first ice conditioning portion or the second ice conditioning portion;
wherein the lid magnet and the ice receptacle magnet are configured to mate to close the lid on the first ice conditioning portion or the second ice conditioning portion.

12. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a magnet attached to an interior space of the base housing, the magnet configured to mate with a corresponding magnet on the first ice conditioning portion or the second ice conditioning portion to secure the first ice conditioning portion or the second ice conditioning portion to the base housing.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first ice conditioning portion or the second ice conditioning portion comprises:
an ice conditioning housing configured to mate with the base housing; and
a venting channel disposed in a wall of the base housing for releasing heat emitted by the motor.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first ice conditioning portion or the second ice conditioning portion further comprises a control mechanism for activating and deactivating the motor, and a failsafe such that the motor is activated only when a lid of the first ice conditioning portion or the second ice conditioning portion is closed.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the blade assembly further comprises:
an opening formed in the paddle wheel for receiving the drive shaft of the motor;
a plurality of paddles secured to the paddle wheel;
a groove disposed within an upper surface of the paddle wheel, the groove configured to receive the blade; and
wherein the blade is formed into a substantially circular orientation and is disposed within the groove of the paddle wheel;
wherein the motor causes the paddle wheel to spin while the blade remains stationary.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the blade assembly further comprises:
a plurality of ice collectors attached to the paddle wheel for pushing conditioned ice out through a spout assembly, wherein the plurality of ice collectors are substantially parallel relative to the plurality of paddles; and
a spout assembly channel, wherein the conditioned ice exits the paddle wheel through the spout assembly channel to be emitted from the device.

17. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an ice shaper for shaping conditioned ice emitted from the device.

18. The device of claim 1 , wherein the paddle wheel comprises an ice breaker for breaking ice into intended cube sizes to be conditioned by the blade assembly.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the ice breaking mechanism is attached to a substantially flat surface of the paddle wheel, and wherein an underside of the paddle wheel comprises an opening configured for receiving the drive shaft of the motor.

20. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a venting channel disposed in the at least one upstanding sidewall of the base housing for releasing heat emitted by the motor.

21. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first ice conditioning portion is replaceable with the second ice conditioning portion, and the second ice conditioning portion is replaceable with the first ice conditioning portion.

Assignees

• Snowie LLC

Inventors

• Rupp Carl A

Classifications

• F25C5/12 Primary

  Ice-shaving machines · CPC title

• A23G9/045

  of slush-ice, e.g. semi-frozen beverage · CPC title

• A23G9/225 Primary

  Ice-cream freezing and storing cabinets · CPC title