Double-ended container

Abstract

A double-ended container includes an inner portion and an outer wall. The inner portion includes an inner wall in a closed form that encloses a central axis, an inner opening at a first end of the inner wall and an end cap integrally formed with the inner wall at a second end of the inner wall. The outer wall is in a closed form that encloses the inner portion and is integrally formed with the inner wall at a first end of the outer wall. The outer wall has an outer opening on a second end of the outer wall.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to containers to hold liquids. In particular, the invention relates to a double-ended containers to hold liquids at a constant temperature.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] A Dewer flask is known to include an inner container and an outer container. The liquid whose temperature is to be controlled is disposed in the inner container. The space between the inner and outer containers is filled with a cold liquid, e.g., liquid nitrogen. In this way, the liquid whose temperature is to be controlled is kept at the temperature of the cold liquid.

[0005] However, in a case of a beverage container to keep the beverage, the inner container of a Dewer flask would be hard to drink from without spilling the cold liquid that fills the space between the inner and outer containers. What is needed is that the cold liquid be kept in the inner container (and sealed therein) and the beverage to be kept cold is filled in the space between the inner and outer containers. In fact, what is needed is a double-ended container where the beverage to be kept cold is filled in the space between inner and outer containers and the inner container is separately filled with the cold liquid from an end of the double-ended container that is opposite to the end where the beverage to be kept cold is filled in the space between the inner and outer containers. This would provide an advantage for keeping certain beverages cool without dilution by the melting of ice cubes. For example, beer and white wine may be kept cold and the ice cubes in the inner container would not dilute the beer or white wine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The invention improves the state of the art by providing a container to influence the temperature of a contained liquid.

[0007] This and other improvements are realized in a double-ended container that includes an inner portion and an outer wall. The inner portion includes an inner wall in a closed form that encloses a central axis, an inner opening at a first end of the inner wall and an end cap integrally formed with the inner wall at a second end of the inner wall. The outer wall is in a closed form that encloses the inner portion and is integrally formed with the inner wall at a first end of the outer wall. The outer wall has an outer opening on a second end of the outer wall.

[0008] Other related improvements are realized in a method that includes filling an inner portion of a double-ended container with a cold or hot solid and a heat transferring liquid. The inner portion includes an inner wall in a closed form that encloses a central axis, an inner opening at a first end of the inner wall and an end cap integrally formed with the inner wall at a second end of the inner wall. The double-ended container further includes an outer wall in a closed form that encloses the inner portion and is integrally formed with the inner wall at a first end of the outer wall. The outer wall has an outer opening on a second end of the outer wall. The method further includes sealing the inner opening with a stopper to hold a liquid in the volume defined within the inner wall, the end cap and the stopper, inverting the double-ended container, and filling the outer opening with a liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] The invention will be described in detail in the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the following figures wherein.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a double-ended container according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the double-ended container of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] In an embodiment of the invention depicted in FIG. 1, a double-ended container 1 includes an inner portion and an outer wall 10. FIG. 2 depicts a sectional view through line 2-2' of FIG. 1. The inner portion of container 1 includes an inner wall 12 in a closed form that encloses a central axis Z, an inner opening 14 at a first end 13 of the inner wall and an end cap 16 integrally formed with the inner wall at a second end 15 of the inner wall. The outer wall 10 is in a closed form that encloses the inner portion and is integrally formed with the inner wall 12 at a first end 17 of the outer wall. The outer wall 10 forms an outer opening 18 at a second end 19 of the outer wall.

[0013] In another embodiment of the invention, a method includes filling an inner portion of the double-ended container 1 (FIGS. 1 and 2) with a cold or hot solid and a heat transferring liquid and then sealing the inner opening 14 with a stopper 40 as discussed below to hold a liquid in the volume defined within the inner wall 12, the end cap 16 and the stopper 40. The method further includes inverting double-ended container 1 and filling the outer opening 18 with a liquid.

[0014] In another example of the invention, the cold or hot solid is a cold solid, ice for example, and the heat transferring liquid is water. Note that the inner wall 12 that encloses the axis Z may not necessarily have a circular cross-section. In fact, since many ice makers make cubes of ice, the cross-section of inner walls 12 may be formed of in an approximately square cross-section to better pack ice in the inner portion.

[0015] In a representative use, the liquid to be cooled may a human consumable drink such as beer, wine or any non-alcoholic beverage including but not limited to milk, water, fruit juices and various forms of soft drinks.

[0016] Tests have shown that when the outside temperature is 85 degrees F. and 12 ounces of cold beer at 38 degrees F. is poured into a conventional beer glass, the temperature of the beer rises to 47 degrees F. in 10 minutes, 52 degrees F. in 20 minutes and 59 degrees F. in 30 minutes. However, with the double-ended container described herein using a polycarbonate material, tests have shown that when the inner container is filled with ice and water, the outside temperature is 85 degrees F. and 12 ounces of cold beer at 38 degrees F. is poured into the double-ended container, the temperature of the beer rises to 41 degrees F. in 20 minutes and 43 degrees F. in 30 minutes, still cold enough to drink enjoyably.

[0017] In various other embodiments, the cold or hot solid may be replaced with any other type of cold or hot solid such as an ice substitute that uses various phase change materials contained in a container conforming to the shaped of the inner portion. The heat transferring liquid may be replaced with liquids other than water, for example alcohol or organic solvents.

[0018] As another example of any of the containers described herein, the second end 15 of the inner wall 12 is axially spaced along the central Z axis from the first end 13 of the inner wall in a plus Z direction that is opposite to the minus Z direction in which the first end 17 of the outer wall 10 is axially spaced along the central Z axis from the second end 19 of the outer wall.

[0019] As another example of any of the containers described herein, the inner portion and the outer wall 10 are integrally molded in one piece in a material that includes any of polycarbonate, acrylic, polystyrene, SAN (styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer), ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer) and glass.

[0020] As another example of any of the containers described herein, the double-ended container 1 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) also includes a stabilizer 30 in a closed form that encloses the inner portion and is integrally formed with the inner wall at a first end 32 of the stabilizer. The stabilizer has a stabilizer opening on a second end 34 of the stabilizer. The second end 15 of the inner wall 12 is axially spaced along the central Z axis from the first end 13 of the inner wall in a plus Z direction that is opposite to the minus Z direction in which the second end 34 of the stabilizer 30 is axially spaced along the central Z axis from the first end 32 of the stabilizer.

[0021] As another example of any of the containers described herein, the double-ended container 1 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) also includes a stopper 40 that is capable of sealing the inner opening 14 to contain a liquid in a volume defined within the inner wall 12, the end cap 16 and the stopper 40. The stopper may be made of any resilient material capable of sealing.

[0022] Having described preferred embodiments of a novel double-ended container (which are intended to be illustrative and not limiting), it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments of the invention disclosed which are within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0023] Having thus described the invention with the details and particularity required by the patent laws, what is claimed and desired protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A double-ended container comprising: an inner portion that includes an inner wall in a closed form that encloses a central axis, an inner opening at a first end of the inner wall and an end cap integrally formed with the inner wall at a second end of the inner wall; and an outer wall in a closed form that encloses the inner portion and is integrally formed with the inner wall at a first end of the outer wall, the outer wall having an outer opening on a second end of the outer wall.

2. A double-ended container according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the inner wall is axially spaced from the first end of the inner wall in a direction that is opposite to the direction in which the first end of the outer wall is axially spaced from the second end of the outer wall.

3. A double-ended container according to claim 1, wherein the inner portion and the outer wall are integrally molded in one piece in a material that includes one of polycarbonate, acrylic, polystyrene, SAN, ABS and glass.

4. A double-ended container according to claim 1, wherein the inner portion and the outer wall are integrally molded in one piece in polycarbonate.

5. A double-ended container according to claim 1, further comprising: a stabilizer in a closed form that encloses the inner portion and is integrally formed with the inner wall at a first end of the stabilizer, the stabilizer having a stabilizer opening on a second end of the stabilizer, wherein the second end of the inner wall is axially spaced from the first end of the inner wall in a direction that is opposite to the direction in which the second end of the stabilizer is axially spaced from the first end of the stabilizer.

6. A double-ended container according to claim 1, further comprising a stopper that is capable of sealing the inner opening to contain a liquid in a volume defined within the inner wall, the end cap and the stopper.

7. A method comprising: filling an inner portion of a double-ended container with a cold or hot solid and a heat transferring liquid, the inner portion including an inner wall in a closed form that encloses a central axis, an inner opening at a first end of the inner wall and an end cap integrally formed with the inner wall at a second end of the inner wall, the double-ended container further including an outer wall in a closed form that encloses the inner portion and is integrally formed with the inner wall at a first end of the outer wall, the outer wall having an outer opening on a second end of the outer wall; sealing the inner opening with a stopper to hold a liquid in the volume defined within the inner wall, the end cap and the stopper; inverting the double-ended container; and filling the outer opening with a liquid.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein: the cold or hot solid is ice, and the heat transferring liquid is water.