U.S. patent application number 09/982551 was filed with the patent office on 2003-04-17 for cooling container suitable for cooling a beverage.
Invention is credited to Tanaka, Nobuyoshi.
Application Number | 20030070447 09/982551 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25529285 |
Filed Date | 2003-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030070447 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tanaka, Nobuyoshi |
April 17, 2003 |
Cooling container suitable for cooling a beverage
Abstract
A cooling container suitable for cooling a beverage is provided.
Inside of the container with an opened upper end and a closed
bottom is divided by a partition element made of a material such as
a perforated plate into at least two parts for receiving water and
ice and for receiving an object to be cooled. An appropriate amount
of ice blocks and cold water are put in one of the parts, and only
the cold water is allowed to flow into the other part through the
partition element. The object to be cooled such as canned beer or
bottled wine is cooled or cool-kept by inserting it into the part
of the cold water. The position of the object to be cooled received
is stably retained by the partition element 20 so that the handling
of the object to be cooled is conveniently made.
Inventors: |
Tanaka, Nobuyoshi;
(Kawachinagano-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
J. C. Patents
4 Venture, Suite 250
Irvine
CA
92618
US
|
Family ID: |
25529285 |
Appl. No.: |
09/982551 |
Filed: |
October 15, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/457.4 ;
62/459; 62/463; 62/464 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2303/081 20130101;
F25D 2331/804 20130101; F25D 3/08 20130101; F25D 2331/805 20130101;
F25D 2303/0821 20130101; F25D 2331/809 20130101; F25D 2331/803
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/457.4 ;
62/463; 62/464; 62/459 |
International
Class: |
F25D 003/08; F25D
003/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cooling container suitable for cooling a beverage, in which
the container for receiving ice and water is divided into at least
two parts by a partition element, and a through-connection portion
is formed at the partition element itself or at an end portion of
the partition element for allowing only fluid to pass through
between the parts, so as not to obstruct an object to be cooled
received in one of the parts by the ice received in the other
part.
2. The cooling container suitable for cooling a beverage according
to claim 1, wherein the partition element is provided with an
elastic member that contacts with the object to be cooled received
in one of the parts in the container so that the position of the
object is retained.
3. The cooling container suitable for cooling a beverage according
to claim 1 or 2, wherein the partition element has a hollow
cylinder form or a cup form and is received in the container and
the object to be cooled is received in the partition element in a
way such that the object to be cooled can be put in and taken
out.
4. The cooling container suitable for cooling a beverage according
to claim 3, wherein a support strip element for positioning and
retaining the partition element in the container is provided
between the container and the partition element having a hollow
cylinder form or a cup form.
5. The cooling container suitable for cooling a beverage according
to claim 3 or 4, wherein the partition element having a hollow
cylinder form or a cup form is stretchable in an axial direction of
the cylinder.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a cooling container that
makes it easy to handle a beverage such as canned beer or bottled
wine cooled with ice.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A commonly used cooling container suitable for easily
cooling an alcoholic beverage such as beer, wine or sake at parties
in the open air or in hotels or for keeping pre-chilled canned
beer, bottled wine or the like in cool conditions has been such
that an appropriate amount of ice blocks are received in an icebox
of heat insulation material with an opened upper end and a closed
bottom. Then, an object to be cooled in a solid form such as canned
beer or bottled wine is plunged into the ice blocks. Ice blocks
received in an icebox are smaller ice pieces produced by an ice
machine or cracked ice of irregular shapes prepared by cracking
larger ice blocks with an ice pick.
[0005] An icebox is a rectangular box having an opened upper end
and a closed bottom or a lidded box having a lid of heat insulation
material installed at the opened upper end of the box. Further, an
icebox for cooling or cool-keeping a single piece of an object to
be cooled in a solid form such as bottled wine is a portable type
icebox with a small volume that receives the single piece of an
object to be cooled and a small amount of ice blocks for cooling
the object to be cooled. In this case, the single piece of an
object to be cooled in a solid form is plunged into the ice blocks
in the icebox while being made to shove the ice blocks apart, and
the object to be cooled is cooled by ice blocks and cold water
melted from the ice blocks. Also, an object to be cooled in a solid
form, such as canned beer, which has been sufficiently cooled can
be kept cool by plunging it into the ice blocks in the icebox.
[0006] However, when an object to be cooled in a solid form such as
canned beer, bottled beer or bottled wine is plunged by hand into
the ice blocks received in the icebox, the ice blocks obstruct such
action, making it difficult to push down the object into a
sufficient depth in the ice blocks. Therefore, the object to be
cooled is left being shallowly plunged into the ice blocks, which
may results in a poor cooling or poor cool-keeping effect for the
object to be cooled. The shapes of cans and bottles of beverages
such as canned beer and bottled wine are generally slender.
Therefore, when an object to be cooled of such a slender shape is
released from hands at right above the icebox after having been
plunged into the ice blocks, the object to be cooled becomes a
condition in which it easily topples in the icebox, because a lower
portion of the object to be cooled is in fluid ice blocks and cold
water. Therefore, handling of an object to be cooled such as
unfinished opened canned beer or bottled wine has needed attention,
because there is worry that such an object to be cooled of a
slender shape topples in the icebox. If it topples, the content of
the object to be cooled flows out or the cold water flows into the
object to be cooled.
[0007] Further, in case where an icebox receiving a single piece of
an object to be cooled of a slender shape is placed on the ground
or on a table, when the object to be cooled of a slender shape
topples in the icebox, the object applies load to an upper end
portion of the icebox. Then, because of the movement of the center
of gravity, the icebox itself becomes to easily topple on the
ground or on the table. Therefore, handling of the icebox itself
has also needed attention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In view of the foregoing, an object of the invention is to
provide a cooling container that hardly topples even when an object
to be cooled of a slender shape is received in it for cooling or
cool-keeping purposes, and the object to be cooled is conveniently
handled with the cooling container.
[0009] Means to achieve the object of the invention is
characterized by dividing inside a container for receiving ice and
water into at least two parts with a partition and forming the
partition itself or at an end portion of the partition a
through-connection portion that allows only fluid to pass through
between the parts. Accordingly, with the container, an object to be
cooled received in one of the parts is not obstructed by ice
received in the other part (invention in claim 1).
[0010] Here, the container may be a box with an opened upper end
and a closed bottom having a hollow cylinder form of a
cross-sectional shape such as a round or a polygon. An
open-and-close type lid or a detachable type lid may be attached to
the opened upper end. For such a container, an existing icebox of
hard or soft insulation material suitable for cooling a beverage
may be used. The partition element for dividing inside the
container is an element of a hollow cylinder form of a round or
polygonal cross-sectional shape having openings at both ends, a cup
form in a stable form having an opened upper end and a closed
bottom, folding-screen-like foldable flat plates or a curved plate,
all of which are thin and made of material such as stainless steel,
aluminum or plastic. Material used for the partition element is a
perforated plate such as a meshed or punched plate having small
perforations (through-connection portion) through which only the
water out from the ice and water (ice blocks and cold water) passes
or it is a plate element formed with clearance (through-connection
portion) through which only water out from the ice and water
passes. Volume that is suitable for a part of the container, formed
by being divided by the partition, which receives an object to be
cooled is such that it receives a single piece of canned beer,
bottled beer, bottled wine, a soft bag containing a beverage or the
like leaving a little clearance. However, it is not always a single
piece of object to be cooled that is received in the one part of
the container. Further, at least one of two parts inside the
container divided by the partition is a part for receiving ice and
water, and the other part is a part for receiving an object to be
cooled. Not ice, but only cold water flows through the partition
element into the part for receiving an object to be cooled from the
part for storing ice and water. Therefore, putting and taking an
object to be cooled into and out from the part for receiving an
object to be cooled is facilitated without being obstructed by ice
blocks, so that handling of the object to be cooled becomes
easier.
[0011] In this invention, an elastic member contacting with an
object to be cooled received in one part of a container to retain
its position may be provided (invention of claim 2). The elastic
member in this case is an annular element of sponge, urethane
rubber, thin soft resin material or a plurality of small pieces in
a form obtainable by dividing the annular element. The elastic
member contacts with an object to be cooled received in one part in
the container to stabilize a position of the object to be cooled.
Thus the elastic member prevents the object to be cooled from
tilting and toppling in the container, and it also serves to scrape
off water on an outside periphery of the object to be cooled when
the object is pulled out from the container.
[0012] Further, the partition element may have a hollow cylinder
form of any cross-sectional shape or a cup form and may be received
in the container. In this configuration, the object to be cooled is
received in the partition element in a way such that the object to
be cooled can be put in and taken out of the partition element
(invention of claim 3). In this case, the partition element having
a hollow cylinder form or a cup form may be fixed to the bottom of
the container so that the partition element is unitized with the
container or may be detachably installed to the container with
hangers, screws or other similar means. When detachably installed,
washing and cleaning work of the container and the partition
element become easier.
[0013] Further, support strip elements for positioning and
retaining the partition element in the container may be provided
between the container and the partition element having a hollow
cylinder form or a cup form (invention of claim 4). The support
strip elements may be several of fine wires or plates of soft or
hard material and may be fixed to or detachably installed at a
plurality of portions between the container and the partition
element so that the partition element received in the container is
reinforced.
[0014] Further, the partition element having a hollow cylinder form
of any cross-sectional shape or a cup form car be stretchable in an
axial direction of the cylinder (invention of claim 5). The
partition element of a stretchable structure may be formed in a
bellows type or in a telescopic rod type. Telescopic movement of
the partition element having a hollow cylinder form or a cup form
is adjusted corresponding to overall lengths of a plurality of
kinds of objects to be cooled having different overall lengths.
This length adjustment function makes it possible to cool a
plurality of kinds of objects to be cooled having different overall
lengths in a most appropriate manner depending on the kind of an
object to be cooled, so that a cooling container having increased
flexibility of use can be provided.
[0015] The nature, principle, and utility of the invention will
become more apparent from the following detailed description when
read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like
parts are designated by like reference numerals or characters.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] In the accompanying drawings:
[0017] FIG. 1A is a side view of a cooling container, including a
partial cross section, showing a first embodiment of the invention,
and FIG. 1B is a plan view of the cooling container in FIG. 1A;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a cooling container showing a
second embodiment of the invention;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a cooling container showing a third
embodiment of the invention;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a cooling container showing a
fourth embodiment of the invention;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a side view of a cooling container, including a
partial cross section, showing a fifth embodiment of the
invention;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a side view of a cooling container, including a
partial cross section, showing a sixth embodiment of the
invention;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a side view of a cooling container, including a
partial cross section, showing a seventh embodiment of the
invention;
[0024] FIG. 8A is a side view of a cooling container, including a
partial cross section, showing an eighth embodiment of the
invention, and FIG. 8B is a plan view of the container in FIG.
8A;
[0025] FIG. 9A is a side view of a cooling container, including a
partial cross section, showing a ninth embodiment of the invention,
and FIG. 9B is a side view showing an example of alternative use of
the container in FIG. 9A;
[0026] FIG. 10A is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a cooling
container showing a tenth embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 10B
is a plan view of the partition element in FIG. 10A;
[0027] FIG. 11A is a perspective view of a cooling container
showing an eleventh embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 11B is a
plan view of the partition element in FIG. 11A;
[0028] FIG. 12A is a plan view of a cooling container showing a
twelfth embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 12B is a perspective
view of the partition element in FIG. 12A; and
[0029] FIG. 13A is a plan view of a cooling container showing a
thirteenth embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 13B is a
perspective view of the partition element in FIG. 13A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be
described in detail below with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0031] A cooling container suitable for cooling a beverage
according to a first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1(A) and (B) is for
cooling a single piece of an object 1 to be cooled such as canned
beer or bottled wine. The cooling container has a container 10 and
a partition element 20 that divides the interior of the container
10 into two parts of m and n. The container 10 is a box of a round
cross-sectional shape having an opened upper end and a closed
bottom and formed with insulation material such as stainless steel.
The partition element 20 is of a hollow cylinder form of a round
cross-sectional shape of a perforated plate, made of aluminum or
stainless steel, received in the container 10 and has a portion 21
of a hollow cylinder form with opened upper end. The partition
element 20 has through-connection portions 22 through which only
cold water out of the ice and water flows, and the
through-connection portions 22 are, for example, a large number of
small perforations crosswise formed on the portion 21 of a hollow
cylinder form. Besides a punched metal plate shown in FIG. 1, a
meshed stainless steel is also effective for the partition element
20. Both the container 10 and the partition element 20 are
constituted by hard material, the partition element 20 of a hollow
cylinder form of a round cross-sectional shape is received in a
center portion of the container 10 in its inside, and the part m
for receiving ice and water (ice blocks and cold water) is formed
between an inside periphery of the container 10 and an outside
periphery of the partition element 20. An appropriate amount of ice
blocks 31 is received in the part m. The ice blocks 31 are
small-sized ice pieces of a regular shape produced by an ice
machine or similar means or cracked ice of irregular shapes. Each
of the through-connection portions 22 that are small perforations
at the partition element 20, is set to a size through which the ice
blocks 31 can not pass, so that only cold water or cold air in the
part m passes through the through-connection portions 22 to flow
into the part n within the partition element 20. The part n in the
partition element 20 is a part having volume that receives the
object 1 to be cooled.
[0032] The partition element 20 is an element having a hollow
cylinder form of a round cross-sectional shape with an inside
diameter and height suitable for receiving a single piece of the
object 1 to be cooled in a solid form such as canned beer. The
object 1 to be cooled shown in FIG. 1A is a canned beer. An inside
diameter of the partition element 20 is set to a dimension several
centimeter larger than that of an outside diameter of the beer can,
and a lower portion of the piece of the canned beer is inserted
into the partition element 20. A lower end of the partition element
20 is detachably placed on a center of a bottom face of the
container 10. An upper end of the partition element 20 placed in
the container 10 and an upper end of the container 10 are about the
same height, and support strip elements 51 are detachably installed
at a plurality of positions apart from each other on both an opened
upper end portion 23 of the partition element 20 and an opened
upper end portion 13 of the container 10 for connecting both the
opened upper end portions 13 and 23. The support strip elements 51
support the opened upper end portion 23 of the partition element 20
in the container 10, preventing the partition element 20 from
tilting and toppling at a bottom of the container 10. In FIG. 1B,
the support strip elements 51 are provided at two positions with
spacing of 180 degrees in the part m of a hollow cylinder form of a
round cross-sectional shape. However, the support strip elements 51
are preferably provided at three positions with spacing of 120
degrees or at four positions with spacing of 90 degrees so that the
partition element 20 is more stably supported. Further, the support
strip elements 51 are installed with a fitting-in structure on the
container 10 and the partition element 20 as shown in FIG. 1, and
they can also be installed with means such as screws or clips
provided at both ends of the support strip elements.
[0033] The container 10 receiving the partition element 20 is
placed on a substantially horizontal place, for example, on a table
2, an appropriate amount of the ice blocks 31 or the ice blocks 31
and an appropriate amount of water are put into the part m in the
container 10. The ice blocks 31 disperse in a lower portion of the
part m, and cold water 32 cooled by the ice blocks 31 flows through
clearance (through-connection portion) provided between an lower
portion of the partition element 20 and the bottom face of the
container 10. The cold water 32 also flows through the
through-connection portions 22 of the small perforations at the
portion 21 of a hollow cylinder form into the part n in the
partition element 20 and collects there. At the same time, cold air
from the part m, or the part outside the part n, flows into the
part n in the partition element 20 to collect there. When, in this
condition, canned beer as the object 1 to be cooled is inserted
through the opened upper end portion 23 of the cylindrical
partition element 20, the object 1 to be cooled is placed on the
bottom face of the container 10 with its lower portion being
immersed in the cold water 32 in the partition element 20. In this
case, an upper portion of the object 1 to be cooled projects out of
the opened upper end portion 23 of the partition element 20.
Further, when the cold water 32 in the partition element 20 is at a
higher level or when the object 1 to be cooled is an unfinished
canned beer that is light in weight, the object 1 to be cooled
lifts up from the bottom of the container with effect of buoyancy
exerted by the cold water 32 as the dash-dotted lines in FIG. 1A
show.
[0034] Such insertion of the object 1 to be cooled into the part n
in the partition element 20 is simple and easy work to only immerse
a lower portion of the object 1 to be cooled in the cold water 32.
Further, when the object 1 to be cooled having been inserted into
the partition element 20 is released from hands, the object 1 to be
cooled stands on the bottom of the container 10 or slightly lifts
up by buoyancy exerted by the cold water 32. At this time, a
substantially intermediate portion of the object 1 to be cooled
approaches the opened upper end portion 23 of the partition element
20, so that the position of the standing object 1 to be cooled is
always stably retained by the opened upper end portion 23. The
object 1 to be cooled inserted in the partition element 20 and
retained in its position is cooled by the cold water 32 and cold
air in the partition element 20. Further, when the object 1 to be
cooled is a pre-chilled object directly taken out from a
refrigerator, it is kept cool by the cold water 32 and cold air in
the partition element 20. Such a method of cooling and cool-keeping
of the object 1 to be cooled by the cold water 32 and cold air does
not excessively cool the object to be cooled, so that the method is
suitable for a cooling container for beer or wine.
[0035] Further, an outside periphery of the object 1 to be cooled
placed to stand in the partition element 20 approaches an internal
periphery of the cylindrical partition element 20. Therefore, even
if the object 1 to be cooled starts to tilt for toppling, a part of
its outside periphery contacts with a part of the opened upper end
portion 23 of the partition element 20 when it slightly tilts, so
that the object 1 to be cooled is prevented from further tilting.
It means that there is no worry of toppling of the object 1 to be
cooled stood in the partition element 20, so that handling of the
object 1 to be cooled becomes easier. Because the object 1 to be
cooled does not topple in the partition element 20, there is little
movement of the center of gravity of the container 10. Therefore,
there is no worry of tilting and toppling of the container 10 on
the table 2 even if an area for placing the container 10 on the
table 2 is small. Thus, handling convenience of a cooling container
suitable for cooling a beverage is enhanced.
[0036] The partition element 20 may be fixed to and unitized with
the bottom of the container 10. However, it is preferable that the
partition element 20 is detachably installed at the bottom of the
container 10 for easier washing and cleaning of both inside and
outside of the container. Further, the support strip elements 51
are not required when fixing the partition element 20 to the bottom
of the container 10 or temporarily detachably fixing the partition
element 20 to the bottom of the container 10 as embodiments in
FIGS. 6 and 7, because there is less worry of tilting and toppling
of the partition element 20.
[0037] A second embodiment in FIG. 2 and a third embodiment in FIG.
3 show alternative examples of the shapes of the container 10 and
the cylindrical partition element 20.
[0038] In the second embodiment in FIG. 2, the partition element 20
having a portion 21 of a hollow cylinder form of a substantially
square shape is received in the container 10 of a round
cross-sectional shape. In this case, when the outside periphery of
the object 1 to be cooled of a round cross-sectional shape contacts
with two adjoining inside wall faces of the portion 21 of a hollow
cylinder form of a substantially square shape, the object 1 to be
cooled is supported at the two points on the two adjoining inside
wall faces without rolling sideways. Therefore, the position of the
object 1 to be cooled stood in the partition element 20 is stable.
Further, a broad breadth portion m-1 and a narrow breadth portion
m-2 are formed in the part m between the portion 21 of a hollow
cylinder form of a substantially square cross-sectional shape and
the container 10 of a round cross-sectional shape. Therefore, the
size of ice to be put in the part m can be selected from a wide
range of sizes. That is, when there are ice blocks such as cracked
ice pieces that are large-sized and cannot be received in the part
m having a certain breadth in the cooling container suitable for
cooling a beverage shown in FIG. 1, the large-sized ice blocks can
be received in the broad breadth portion m-1. Thus, ice can be
selected from a wide range of sizes.
[0039] In a third embodiment in FIG. 3, the partition element 20
having the portion 21 of a hollow cylinder form of a round
cross-sectional shape is received in the container 10 of a
substantially rectangular shape. In this case as well, a broad
breadth portion m-3 and a narrow breadth portion m-4 are formed in
the part m, so that ice to be put into the part m can be, selected
from a wide range of sizes.
[0040] In a fourth embodiment in FIG. 4, the partition element 20
is suspended to be received in the container 10. In this case, the
partition element 20 is of a cup form having an opened upper end
and a closed bottom formed with a perforated plate, and a bottom
portion 24 is constituted by a perforated plate of a reverse cone
shape. Suspension arms 52 extend in a radial pattern from a
plurality of positions of the opened upper end portion 23 of the
partition element 20. Tip portions of the suspension arms 52 are
detachably placed on an opened upper end portion 13 of the
container 10, and the partition element 20 is retained at a center
of the container 10 in its inside. In the embodiment in FIG. 4,
the-partition element 20 may be plunged and inserted into the ice
blocks 31 after an appropriate amount of the ice blocks 31 is put
in the container 10. Because the bottom of the partition element 20
is of a reverse cone shape, the partition element 20 can be easily
plunged into the ice blocks 31. Further, the suspension arms 52
also serve as support strip elements for preventing the partition
element 20 from tilting and toppling in the container 10.
[0041] In a fifth embodiment in FIG. 5, the partition element 20 is
received in the container 10 by detachably hanging on a side wall
of the container 10 a handle 53 of a hook shape fixed to one part
on the outside periphery of the partition element 20. The partition
element 20 in this case is preferably of a hollow cylinder form of
any cross-sectional shape with opened upper and lower ends or of a
cup form with an opened upper end and a closed bottom.
[0042] In a sixth embodiment in FIG. 6, the partition element 20 is
detachably fixed to the bottom of the container 10. Elastic catch
strips 14 are fixed to a plurality of positions on the bottom face
of the container 10, and catch holes 25 into which the catch strips
14 are fitted by being elastically deformed are provided at a lower
portion of the cylindrical portion 21 of the partition element 20.
When the lower portion of the partition element 20 is pushed in
along the catch strips 14 into the container 10, the catch strips
14 are outwardly elastically deformed to be caught in the catch
holes 25, so that the partition element 20 is temporarily fixed to
the center portion of the bottom face of the container 10. This
temporary fixing prevents the partition element 20 from tilting and
toppling. When the partition element 20 is pulled toward right
above of the container 10, the catch strips 14 are released from
the catch holes 25 and the partition element 20 is taken out. By
making the partition element 20 and the container 10 detachable
from each other, washing and cleaning of the partition element 20
and the container 10 are facilitated.
[0043] In a seventh embodiment in FIG. 7, a magnetic plate 15 such
as a steel plate is fixed to the bottom of the container 10, a
magnet 16 of a thin plate shape is fixed to an undersurface of the
partition element 20 of a cup form having a bottom, and the
partition element 20 is temporarily detachably fixed to the bottom
of the container 10 by magnetic attraction. What is convenient in
this case is that an installation position of the partition element
20 at the bottom of the container 10 is movable sideways. Further,
the magnetic plate 15 is not needed when the bottom face itself of
the container 10 is constituted by magnetic material, so that the
partition plate 20 is conveniently fixed to any part of the bottom
face.
[0044] In an eighth embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A and 8E, an elastic
member 41 supporting the object 1 to be cooled by contacting with
its outside periphery is installed on the opened upper end portion
23 of the partition element 20. The elastic member 41 is, for
example, of annular urethane rubber, sponge or soft resin. An
outer-side portion 41a of a circular shape is fixed to the opened
upper end portion 23 of the partition element 20 and an inner-side
portion 41b of a circular shape inwardly projects from the opened
upper end portion 23. An inside diameter of the inner-side portion
41b of the elastic member 41 is set similar to or a slightly
smaller than an outside diameter of the object 1 to be cooled. The
circular inner-side portion 41b is divided into a plurality of
portions by incisions 42 formed in radial directions at a plurality
of places at equal intervals so that it easily plastically deforms
when contacted with the object 1 to be cooled.
[0045] When inserting the object 1 to be cooled such as canned beer
into the part n in the partition element 20, the inner-side portion
41b of the elastic member 41 elastically deforms by being slid with
the object 1 to be cooled to elastically supports the outside
periphery of the object 1 to be cooled. The support by the elastic
member 41 eliminates worry of tilting and toppling of the object 1
to be cooled, because the movement of the object 1 to be cooled in
the partition element 20 is prevented. Further, even if the object
1 to be cooled tries to lift up by being driven by buoyancy exerted
by the cold water in the partition element 20, lifting up is
prevented by the support of the elastic member 41. As a result, it
becomes possible that the object 1 to be cooled is immersed to a
desired depth in the cold water in the partition element 20, so
that it is always effectively cooled or kept cool. Further, when
pulling up the object 1 to be cooled from the partition element 20,
the elastic member 41 serves as a squeegee to scrape out water on
the outside periphery of the object 1. Then, the object 1 to be
cooled that is pulled out can be more conveniently handled.
[0046] In a ninth embodiment in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the cylindrical
portion 21 of the partition element 20 can be stretchable in an
axial direction. For example, the cylindrical portion 21 is
constituted in such a way that a lower cylindrical portion 21a with
an opened upper end and a closed bottom, an intermediate
cylindrical portion 21b with opened upper and lower ends, and an
upper cylindrical portion 21c with opened upper and lower ends are
connected to each other in a form of a telescopic rod. An outside
periphery of the intermediate cylindrical portion 21b is axially
slidably connected to an inside periphery of the lower cylindrical
portion 21a with a largest diameter, and an outside periphery of
the upper cylindrical portion 21c with a smallest diameter is
axially slidably connected to an inside periphery of the
intermediate cylindrical portion 21b. Formed between the lower
cylindrical portion 21a and the intermediate cylindrical portion
21b is lock means (not shown) that retains the intermediate
cylindrical portion 21b at a position of any height relative to the
lower cylindrical portion 21a. Similar lock means is formed also
between the intermediate cylindrical portion 21b and the upper
cylindrical portion 21c. The lock means can be, for example,
tapered faces that frictionally couple the inside and outside of
the partition elements or pinning means using small perforations
(or the through-connection portions 22) of the partition element
20, a perforated plate, as pinning holes.
[0047] FIG. 9A shows the partition element 20 of which cylindrical
portion 21 is extended to its maximum length for a maximum height
of the partition element 20. Bottled beer or bottled wine as the
object 1 to be cooled having a long overall length is preferably
inserted into the part n in the partition element 20. The object 1
to be cooled indicated with the dash-dotted lines in FIG. 9A is a
wine bottle, which tilts and topples more easily by a degree
corresponding to its elongated overall length. However, even with
such a wine bottle, tilting and toppling is securely prevented by
making higher the height of the cylindrical portion 21 of the
partition element 20. FIG. 9B shows the partition element 20 in
which the upper cylindrical portion 21c is pushed in into the
intermediate cylindrical portion 21b for a lower height of the
cylindrical portion 21. In this case, the object 1 to be cooled is
preferably a canned beer or the like of which overall length is
shorter than that of a wine bottle. By making the height of the
partition element 20 variably adjustable, the height of the
partition element 20 is suitably adaptable to each of a plurality
of kinds of objects to be cooled having a variety of overall
lengths, from short to long, so that a cooling container having
excellent flexibility of use is provided.
[0048] The container 10 in a tenth embodiment shown in FIGS. 10A
and 10B is constituted by foldable, flexible insulation material,
and the partition element 20 of hard material is received in the
container 10 which is flexible. The flexible insulation material
constituting the container 10 is insulation material used for
existing containers such as foldable soft cooler packs, and it is,
for example, plastic foam sheet itself or a waterproof insulation
material prepared by thermally molding a thin polyvinyl chloride
film on the entire surface of the plastic foam sheet to unitize
them together. The flexible container 10 becomes a stable box shape
when the ice blocks 31 or the cold water 32 is put into the part m
between the container 10 and the partition element 20. Handles 17
are installed at an outside periphery of the opened upper end
portion 13 for improved portability of the flexible container 10 or
easier draining of the cold water or ice from the container 10.
[0049] Further, as shown in FIG. 10B, in this embodiment the
partition element 20 is composed of the cylindrical portion 21 of a
hard material and a bottom plate 26 integrally formed at a lower
end of the cylindrical portion 21. The bottom plate 26 has a round
shape and is made of a hard material. The bottom plate 26 has a
larger diameter than that of the cylindrical portion 21. The bottom
plate 26 having a round shape has the same shape as that of the
bottom face of the container 10. When the hard bottom plate 26 is
placed at the bottom of the container 10, the position of the
flexible container 10 is more stable and it can he handled
easier.
[0050] An eleventh embodiment is shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B. A
cover element 18 of an open-and-close type is connected to a part
of the opened upper end portion 13 of the container 10 having a
substantially rectangular shape, and a water absorbent sheet 19
such as urethane sponge or the like is adhered to one of the
surfaces of the cover element 18. FIG. 11A shows a state when the
cover element 18 is opened toward an outside periphery of the
container 10, in which case the water absorbent sheet 19 positions
at a lower-side face of the cover element 18. FIG. 11B shows a
state when the cover element 18 is closed to cover a part of the
opened upper end portion 13 of the container 10, in which case the
water absorbent sheet 19 positions at an upper-side face of the
cover element 18. When the cover element 18 is of a flat shape and
is closed to cover a part of the opened upper end portion 13 of the
container 10, both end portions of the cover element 18 are
detachably connected to the opened upper end portion 13 by, for
example, fasteners 61. Thus, the position of the cover element 18
becomes stable. In the case when the object 1 to be cooled is
cooled or cool-kept in the state shown in FIG. 11B and there is
water on the outside periphery of the object 1 to be cooled when it
is taken out from the partition element 20, the water is absorbed
and removed by the water absorbent sheet 19 by making an lower end
of the object 1 to be cooled slightly touch the water absorbent
sheet 19 on the cover element 18. The cover element 18 reinforces a
part of the opened upper end portion of the container 10 when the
container 10 is constituted with flexible insulation material.
[0051] In a twelfth embodiment shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the
container 10 of a rectangular shape receives at one of its corner
portions the partition element 20 of a foldable type. The partition
element 20 shown in FIG. 12A is constituted in a hollow cylinder
form of a rectangular cross-sectional shape with four perforated
plates serving as partition plates of 27a, 27b, 27c, and 27d. As
FIG. 12B shows, the two partition plates 27a and 27b are connected
by a hinge 27e, and the remaining two partition plates 27c and 27d
are connected by a hinge 27f. The partition element 20 is disposed
to be received at a corner of the container 10 of a rectangular
shape so as to be positioned along adjoining inside wall faces
containing the corner, with the two partition plates 27c and 27d
being opened at 90 degrees. The remaining two partition plates 27a
and 27b opened at an angle of 90 degrees are disposed and received
at the bottom of the container 10 opposing to the opened partition
plate 27c and 27d. Thus, the partition element 20 of a hollow
cylinder form of a rectangular cross-sectional shape is formed. The
partition element 20 described above may be installed on the bottom
of the container 10 at a fixed portion or at any portion when
movably installed. With the container 10 constituted by a foldable
flexible insulation material, the partition element 20 can also be
folded when the container 10 is folded, and the entire cooling
container becomes more compact and convenient to carry.
[0052] In a thirteenth embodiment in FIGS. 13A and 13B, a single
piece of the flexible partition element 20 forms the two parts m
and n by using a corner portion in the container 10 of a
rectangular shape. The single piece of the partition element 20 is
a flexible mesh as shown in FIG. 13B, bent at approximately 90
degrees with a curve at one corner and received in a standing state
at a corner portion of the container 10. An object to be cooled is
received in the part n surrounded by the corner portion of the
container 10 and the partition element 20. When the container 10 is
not in use for cooling of an object to be cooled or when it is
folded away, the flexible partition element 20 may be bent in a
curve along adjoining inside wall faces containing one corner of
the container 10 as shown by dash-dotted lines in FIG. 13A. Thus,
the cooling container 10 can be made compact, portable and
convenient to carry.
[0053] In a cooling container according to the invention, ice and
water are put at least in one of two parts in the container divided
by a partition element, and an object to be cooled is received in
the other part in which ice is not put in. Therefore, an object to
be cooled such as canned beer or bottled wine can be conveniently
inserted in the container without being obstructed by the ice.
Further, movement such as tilting or rolling of the object to be
cooled is prevented by the partition element, so that a
commercially highly value-added cooling container, with which an
object to be cooled is easily handled, can be provided.
[0054] Further, by providing an elastic member that contacts with
and retains the position of an object to be cooled received in one
part of the container, tilting and toppling in the container of the
object to be cooled is prevented. Also, water on an outside
periphery of the object to be cooled is scraped out by the elastic
member when taking out the object to be cooled from the container.
Therefore, handling of an object to be cooled inside and outside
the container becomes more convenient.
[0055] Further, by making the partition element in a hollow
cylinder form of any cross-sectional shape or in a cup form, a
cooling container with high added-value for practical use can be
provided. Such a partition element described above receives in
stable conditions an object to be cooled having a cylinder shape of
a round cross-section such as canned beer, canned juice or bottled
wine.
[0056] Further, by reinforcing the partition element in the
container by support strip elements provided between the container
and the partition element having a hollow cylinder form or a cup
form, the position of the object to be cooled is further
stabilized. Therefore, even an object to be cooled is a slender,
heavy object such as a bottle, it can be cooled in a stable
position. Thus, reliability of the container is improved.
[0057] Further, because the partition element of a hollow cylinder
form or of a cup form is designed to be stretchable in an axial
direction of the partition element, the height of the partition
element of a hollow cylinder form or of a cup form is adjustable
and can be adapted for a plurality of kinds of objects to be cooled
having a variety of heights such as canned beer and bottled wine.
Therefore, a cooling container that can be effectively used for
different kinds of objects to be cooled and has excellent
flexibility of use can be provided.
[0058] While there has been described what are at present
considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be
understood that various modifications may be made thereto, and it
is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications
as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *