초록 ▼

An apparatus for forming a frozen liquid product into a predetermined shape, such as a spherical or ball-shape, includes a body (or “housing”) comprising first and second sections relatively disposable into an open or closed orientation, through connection by an attachment assembly. A securing struc

An apparatus for forming a frozen liquid product into a predetermined shape, such as a spherical or ball-shape, includes a body (or “housing”) comprising first and second sections relatively disposable into an open or closed orientation, through connection by an attachment assembly. A securing structure is associated with the attachment assembly and operative to maintain the first and second sections in the closed orientation concurrently to the securing structure being disposed in fluid sealing disposition to a hollow interior of the body. A single use connector removably connects the securing structure into the fluid sealing relation as it maintains the first and second sections in the closed orientation.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for forming a frozen liquid product into a predetermined shape, said apparatus comprising: a housing including a first section and a second section relatively disposable into an open orientation and a closed orientation,an attachment assembly formed on said housing and structured to

1. An apparatus for forming a frozen liquid product into a predetermined shape, said apparatus comprising: a housing including a first section and a second section relatively disposable into an open orientation and a closed orientation,an attachment assembly formed on said housing and structured to removably connect said first and second sections into said closed orientation,a securing structure disposable into and out of fluid sealing relation with an interior of said housing, at least when said first and second sections are in said closed orientation,said securing structure is cooperatively structured with said attachment assembly to maintain said first and second sections in said closed orientation,said securing structure includes at least one securing member disposed into engagement with at least a portion of said attachment assembly and concurrently into said fluid sealing relation with said interior of said housing,at least one port formed in said housing in fluid communication with said interior of said housing; said at least one securing member disposed in said fluid sealing relation to said at least one port, at least when said first and second sections are in said closed orientation,a single use connecting structure disposed and structured to removably connect said at least one securing member in said fluid sealing relation to said at least one port,said closed orientation comprising said first and second sections disposed to collectively retain liquid within said interior of said housing before, during and after a freezing process, andsaid open orientation comprising sufficient separation of said first and second sections to facilitate removal of the frozen liquid product from said housing in the predetermined shape. 2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said single use connecting structure further disposed and structured to removably and destructively connect said at least one securing member in said fluid sealing relation to said at least one port. 3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second sections comprises a substantially commonly dimensioned, hemispherical configuration collectively defining a substantially spherical configuration of said housing interior, said housing interior substantially corresponding to the predetermined shape of the frozen liquid product, when said first and second sections are in said closed orientation. 4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein each of said hemispherical first and second sections comprises an open end, said attachment assembly disposed substantially adjacent a peripheral portion of each of said open ends. 5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said securing structure is disposed in locking engagement with said attachment assembly and in interconnecting relation between said peripheral portions of said first and second sections. 6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 further comprising a single use connector removably and destructively connecting said securing structure in said locking engagement with said attachment assembly and in said fluid sealing relation with said housing interior. 7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising at least one fill opening formed in said housing in fluid communication with said housing interior; a closure disposable into fluid sealing relation to said at least one fill opening. 8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a marking structure disposed in said housing and structured to form a correspondingly configured, observable mark on an exterior of said frozen liquid product. 9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said marking structure comprises an at least partially open interior and an outwardly protruding disposition relative to an exterior surface of said housing, said open interior dimensioned and configured to contain liquid therein during the freezing process, said correspondingly configured mark protruding outwardly from an exterior of the frozen liquid product and being at least partially defined by frozen liquid within said open interior. 10. An apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein at least a portion of said marking structure extends inwardly from an interior surface of said housing interior into substantially embedded relation to exterior surface of the frozen liquid product. 11. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a base secured to an exterior of said housing, said base disposed and structured to maintain said housing in a substantially stable, upright orientation. 12. An apparatus for forming a frozen liquid product into a predetermined shape, said apparatus comprising: a housing including a first section and a second section relatively disposable into an open orientation and a closed orientation,said closed orientation comprising said housing having a hollow interior configured to substantially correspond to the predetermined shape of the frozen liquid product,an attachment assembly formed on said housing and structured to removably connect said first and second sections in said closed orientation,said securing structure includes at least one securing member disposed into engagement with at least a portion of said attachment assembly and concurrently into a fluid sealing relation with said hollow interior of said housing,at least one port formed in said housing in fluid communication with said hollow interior of said housing; said at least one securing member disposed in fluid sealing relation to said at least one port, at least when said first and second sections are in said closed orientation,a single use connecting structure disposed and structured to removably connect said at least one securing member in said fluid sealing relation to said at least one port,a securing structure cooperatively disposed and structured with said attachment assembly to maintain said first and second sections in said closed orientation,said closed orientation comprising said first and second sections collectively disposed in retaining relation to liquid within said hollow interior of said housing, at least before, during and after a freezing process, andsaid open orientation comprising a sufficient separation of said first and second sections, at least along said attachment assembly, to facilitate removal of the frozen liquid product from said hollow interior of said housing in the predetermined shape. 13. An apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said securing structure is removably disposable into fluid sealing relation with said hollow interior at least when said first and second sections are in said closed orientation. 14. An apparatus as recited in claim 13 further comprising a single use connector disposed and structured to removably connect said securing structure in said fluid sealing relation with said hollow interior. 15. An apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said at least one port formed in said housing fluid communication between an exterior and interior of said housing. 16. An apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said securing structure is disposed in removable, locking engagement with said attachment assembly. 17. An apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said single use connecting structure disposed and structured to removably and destructively connect said securing structure in said fluid sealing relation to said at least one port and concurrently in said removable, locking engagement with said attachment assembly. 18. An apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein each of said first and second sections comprises a substantially commonly dimensioned, hemispherical configuration collectively defining a substantially spherical configuration of said housing interior and the predetermined shape of the frozen liquid product, when said first and second sections are in said closed orientation. 19. An apparatus as recited in claim 12 further comprising a gripping structure formed on both of said first and second sections, each of said gripping structures including a generally non-smooth portion protruding outwardly from a remainder of the exterior surface of the first and second sections, substantially adjacent a periphery of and open end thereof.