Refrigerator with ice maker having a torsional release mechanism

Abstract

A refrigerator has an ice maker. The ice maker has: a longitudinal axis; and a rotatable, stretchable ice cube tray with an upper face defining a plane offset from the longitudinal axis with openings for ice cubes, a fixed lateral end, and a rotatable lateral end, the upper face being parallel to the longitudinal axis, the offset being at least a depth of an ice cube. Ice cubes are released when a torsional force exerted on the rotatable lateral end twists the stretchable tray.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprises:
 an ice maker having   a longitudinal axis; and   a rotatable, stretchable ice cube tray having an upper face defining a plane offset from the longitudinal axis with openings for ice cubes, a fixed lateral end and a rotatable lateral end, the upper face being parallel to the longitudinal axis, the offset being at least a depth of an ice cube,   wherein ice cubes in the tray are released when a torsional force exerted on the rotatable lateral end twists the stretchable tray.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  wherein the stretchable ice cube tray is flexible. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2  wherein the flexible tray is made of rubber-type material or elastic plastic material. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  wherein the tray includes a plurality of ice cube molds. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4  wherein the ice cube mold has a pyramidal shape. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 4  wherein the ice cube mold has a non-pyramidal shape. 
     
     
         7 . A refrigerator comprises:
 an ice maker having   a longitudinal axis; and   a rotatable, stretchable ice cube tray having an upper face defining a plane offset from the longitudinal axis with openings for ice cubes, a fixed lateral end and a rotatable lateral end, the upper face being parallel to the longitudinal axis, the offset being at least a depth of an ice cube, the tray is made of rubber-type material or elastic plastic material and includes a plurality of ice cube molds, and the ice cube mold have a pyramidal shape or a non-pyramidal shape,   wherein ice cubes in the tray are released when a torsional force exerted on the rotatable lateral end twists and deforms the stretchable tray.