U.S. patent application number 11/162016 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-08 for insulator for a beverage container.
Invention is credited to Griselda Tavares.
Application Number | 20070051736 11/162016 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37829110 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070051736 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tavares; Griselda |
March 8, 2007 |
Insulator for a Beverage Container
Abstract
A disposable insulator that can be wrapped around a chilled
beverage container, or is capable of receiving and holding therein
the chilled beverage container, for preventing the hands from
becoming chilled includes a flexible, deformable,
rectangular-shaped plastic member sized to encompass the beverage
container and the plastic member having air-filled chambers
dispersed therethrough so that the coldness of the chilled beverage
container cannot be reach or be conducted to the hands. The
insulator conforms to the various shapes of beverage containers,
cans, cups and bottles, and can be cup-shaped so that the beverage
container is able to be placed within the cup-shaped insulator.
Inventors: |
Tavares; Griselda; (Alameda,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE INVENTORS NETWORK, INC.
332 ACADEMY STREET
CARNEGIE
PA
15106
US
|
Family ID: |
37829110 |
Appl. No.: |
11/162016 |
Filed: |
August 25, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/737 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/3881 20130101;
B65D 81/3893 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/737 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/00 20060101
B65D025/00 |
Claims
1. An insulator for a chilled beverage container, comprising: an
elongated, rectangular-shaped member having: a pair of opposed
outer surfaces; a pair of inner surfaces that are encased by the
outer surfaces and face each other; a plurality of air-filled
cavities formed between and bounded by the inner surfaces, the
air-filled cavities distributed throughout the length of the
rectangular-shaped member; a pair of oppositely disposed end
portions; and the rectangular-shaped member capable of being fully
wrapped around the beverage container so that the end portions
overlap each other and the air-filled cavities provide an
insulative capability so that a hand of an individual does not
become chilled when gripping the rectangular-shaped member for
holding and drinking from the beverage container.
2. An insulative device for a chilled beverage container,
comprising: a unitary beverage holding member that includes a
cylindrical cup-shaped portion, a floor, and a hollow so that the
beverage container can be received within the hollow of the
cup-shaped portion and supported by the floor; a plurality of
air-filled cavities distributed throughout the cup-shaped portion
and the floor with the air-filled cavities providing an insulative
capability; and the unitary beverage holding member capable of
receiving and holding the beverage container within the hollow of
the cup-shaped portion so that a hand of an individual does not
become chilled when the unitary beverage holding member is gripped
by the individual's hand for holding and drinking from the chilled
beverage container.
Description
DESCRIPTION
[0001] The present invention pertains to insulators for containers,
and more specifically pertains to a one-time use, flexible
insulator for wrapping about chilled beverage containers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Devices and methods to insulate beverage containers that are
carried about or transported are widely known and used in various
settings that range from public events, venues and activities like
athletic events, concerts, parades, and shopping to more personal
settings like the morning and evening work commute or transporting
children to their activities. Whether the liquid within the
beverage container is hot or cold, such liquid needs insulated from
the hands that hold the beverage container for reasons of both
safety and convenience. Thus, hot coffee or chocolate common at
fall football and soccer games, for example, is best held in
insulative drink cups and containers that prevent one's hands from
being burned while holding the cup or container. Specially designed
insulative coffee mugs often accompany one's morning commute, and
such mugs keep the coffee hot while at the same time allowing one
to handle the mug without burning one's hands. On the other hand,
there are occasions where it is desirable to have available cold or
chilled liquid beverage containers. Such chilled beverage
containers are especially desirable for outdoor summer activities
like baseball games, concerts, and swimming activities. Yet even on
sultry summer days, holding such chilled beverage containers for
brief or extended periods of time can be uncomfortable, and,
therefore some means to insulate the chilled beverage container
from the individual's hands is desired. This is especially the case
as many of these chilled beverage containers are chilled pop cans
that are dispensed from vending machines and industrial-type
coolers. Thus, the prior art discloses a wide variety of hot and
cold insulative devices and methods.
[0003] The Johnson et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,176)
discloses a beverage cooler that includes a cup into which a
cylindrical insert having circumferentially disposed pouches filled
with a coolant fluid to keep the beverage in the cup cooler for a
longer period of time is disposed. A cover is placed over the open
top of the cup to keep the beverage within the cup.
[0004] The Long et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,670) discloses a
dual hot-cold maintenance container that includes a cylindrical
insulator sleeve for disposition within a cup, and an inner
receptacle having external baffles with the receptacle fitting
within the sleeve so that thermal gel with hot and cold retention
capabilities can circulate between the sleeve and the
receptacle.
[0005] The Schirmer patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,324) discloses a
micro-bubble laminate that includes a heated thermoplastic film
that is drawn through the perforations on a substrate thereby
forming bubbles that are trapped by attaching a second
thermoplastic layer to the thermoplastic film.
[0006] The Kamin et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,671) discloses
insulation sheeting that includes opposed layers of sheeting having
cavities therebetween with the cavities filled with liquid, and
reflective particles dispersed throughout the liquid in each
cavity.
[0007] The Mitchell patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,551 B1) discloses
an envelope for maintaining items such as drugs at an acceptable
temperature for long durations and includes inner and outer
envelopes forming a pouch and having cells interspersed throughout
the envelopes with the cells being filled with a frozen liquid for
keeping the item stored within the pouch at the desired
temperature.
[0008] Nonetheless, despite the ingenuity of the above devices,
there remains a need for an insulator that is lightweight,
adaptable to various items, and is disposable after the liquid in
the container has been consumed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention comprehends a lightweight insulator
that is wrapped around a cold or chilled beverage container, such
as a cup, can or bottle, for preventing one's hands from becoming
chilled while holding the cold beverage container. The insulator is
a disposable item intended for one-time use and then is to be
discarded.
[0010] The insulator includes in a preferred embodiment a flexible,
rectangular-shaped plastic member having opposed exterior surfaces
that enclose therebetween a plurality of spaced-apart air-filled
cavities. The plastic member can be wrapped around the beverage
container, or, in an alternative embodiment, the insulator can be
cup-shaped for placement therein of the chilled beverage container.
The air-filled cavities provide the primary insulative capability
for preventing conductance of the chill and coldness of the
beverage container to the individual's hands.
[0011] It is an objective of the present invention to provide an
insulator that can be wrapped around and conforms to the exterior
surface of various types of chilled liquid containers such as cups,
cans, bottles and holders.
[0012] It is another objective of the present invention to provide
an insulator for chilled liquid containers that is lightweight and
flexible and does not hinder the ability of the individual to hold
the container.
[0013] It is yet another objective of the present invention to
provide an insulator for a chilled liquid container that eliminates
cold hands from holding an otherwise chilled or frozen beverage can
or container.
[0014] It is still yet another objective of the present invention
to provide an insulator for a chilled liquid container that can be
easily and quickly wrapped around the container and then discarded
after use.
[0015] Still yet another objective of the present invention is to
provide an insulator for a chilled liquid container that eliminates
the need to wrap napkins or paper towels around the container for
holding the container while walking in a mall or along a
sidewalk.
[0016] A still further objective of the present invention is to
provide an insulator for a chilled liquid container that can be
sold at any store, establishment or venue where cold or chilled
beverages are sold.
[0017] These and other objects, features, and advantages will
become apparent to one skilled in the art upon a perusal of the
following detailed description read in conjunction with the
accompanying drawing figures and appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the insulator of the present
invention illustrating the wrapping of the insulator about a
beverage container;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the insulator of the present
invention illustrating the insulator having a cup shape to
accommodate a substantial portion of the beverage container;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a sectioned elevational view taken along lines 3-3
of FIG. 1 illustrating the contiguous disposition of the insulator
about the exterior surface of the beverage container;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a sectioned elevational view of the insulator
first shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the air-filled chambers
sandwiched between the layers of the insulator; and
[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the insulator first shown in
FIG. 1 illustrating the overlapping of the opposed end portions of
the insulator for completing encompassing the beverage
container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] Illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 is lightweight insulator 10 for
preventing one's hands from becoming chilled while holding a
beverage container that has been chilled or maintained in a cold
state. Such beverage containers can include frozen beverage
containers or chilled soda cans dispensed from a vending machine.
The beverage containers can also include containers maintained in a
chilled, cold or frozen state and which are found in supermarket
freezers and coolers. In providing an insulative device 10 that can
be wrapped about the beverage container thereby preventing the
hands from becoming chilled while holding such beverage containers,
the consumption of the liquid held within the beverage container is
made more enjoyable. The beverage container 12 of shown in FIGS. 1,
2 and 4 is a representative container, as the insulative device 10
of the present invention can be used with a variety of beverage
containers, cups, cans and bottles. The beverage container 12 of
FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 includes a top or upper end 14 with an opening 16
formed thereon, a cylindrical body surface 18, and a bottom 20.
[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the insulative device 10 for
preventing one's hands from becoming chilled while holding and
gripping the chilled beverage container 12 includes an elongated,
rectangular-shaped member 22 that has a sufficient length to wrap
around and fully encompass the beverage container 12. The
elongated, rectangular-shaped member 22 is lightweight and flexible
for wrapping around and conforming to the external shape of the
beverage container 12, and is preferably of a durable plastic
composition. The rectangular-shaped member 22 includes opposed
exterior or outer surfaces 24 and a pair of inner surfaces 26 that
oppose each other. In addition, the rectangular-shaped member 22
includes opposed end portions 28 that will partially overlap each
other, as shown in FIG. 5, when the device 10 is wrapped about the
beverage container 12. The outer surfaces 24 and the inner surfaces
26 are commensurate in size and shape.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, encased or sandwiched between the
inner surfaces 26 are a plurality of spaced-apart cavities or
chambers 30. The cavities or chambers 30 are distributed throughout
the length of the rectangular-shaped member 22, and are preferably
filled with air for providing the device 10 with both insulative
and cushioning capabilities. The air-filled chambers 30 may
slightly bulge out toward one of the exterior surfaces 24 as
illustrated in FIG. 4. The air-filled cavities 30 prevent the
conductance of cold to the individual's hand when the individual
holds the container 12 with the device 10 wrapped about the
container 12. The air-filled cavities 30 also slightly cushion and
comfort the grip of the hand against the device 10 by allowing the
device 10 to slightly deform to accommodate the individual's
hand--and especially the palm and fingers.
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative design in the insulative
device in so far as the device 32 of FIG. 2 includes a unitary
beverage holding member having a cup shape with a floor 34 so that
the beverage container 32 can be received within the hollow 36 of
the cup-shaped portion 38 of the device and supported on upon the
floor 34. The device 32 of FIG. 2 includes spaced-apart air-filled
cavities 30 dispersed or distributed throughout the cup-shaped
portion 38 and the floor 34. It should be noted that for reasons of
convenience and cost, the device 10 and 32 of FIGS. 1-5 is designed
for one-time use and then discarded.
[0027] While several preferred embodiments of the invention have
been shown and described, numerous modifications, alterations and
variations are possible and practicable to those skilled in the art
without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of
the appended claims.
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