U.S. patent application number 11/708186 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-21 for beverage sip cooling system.
Invention is credited to Bradley T. Lodge.
Application Number | 20080196415 11/708186 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39705488 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080196415 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lodge; Bradley T. |
August 21, 2008 |
Beverage sip cooling system
Abstract
A sip cooling system for a personal drinking vessel or container
including a block of thermally conductive material with a cooling
chamber through which drinking liquid flows when the user draws
liquid from a flexible tube connected to the chamber outlet. A
flexible supply tube connected to the chamber inlet has the remote
end immersed in the liquid in the drinking container. A solid state
thermo electric cooling device is attached to the block for, upon
energization from a battery, cools only the liquid passing through
the chamber. In one embodiment, the cooling unit and battery are
contained in a cap fitting over an opening in a personal drinking
container. In another embodiment, the system is connected in line
in a flexible drinking tube connected to a personally carried
supply of drinking liquid.
Inventors: |
Lodge; Bradley T.;
(Brunswick, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FAY SHARPE LLP
1100 SUPERIOR AVENUE, SEVENTH FLOOR
CLEVELAND
OH
44114
US
|
Family ID: |
39705488 |
Appl. No.: |
11/708186 |
Filed: |
February 20, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/3.64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2331/811 20130101;
A45F 3/20 20130101; A45F 2003/166 20130101; F25D 31/002 20130101;
F25D 2331/803 20130101; F25B 21/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/3.64 |
International
Class: |
F25B 21/02 20060101
F25B021/02 |
Claims
1. A beverage cooling cap for a drinking vessel such as a cup,
glass, mug, jar and the like comprising: (a) body structure
including a member formed of material having a relatively high
thermal conductivity with an inlet, an outlet and a cooling passage
therein communicating with the inlet and outlet; (b) an electric
cooling element disposed in heat transferring relationship with the
body structure; (c) a portable source of electrical energy
associated with the body structure for powering the electric
cooling element, wherein upon placement of the cap on the drinking
vessel, upon energization of the cooling element, liquid drawn from
the drinking vessel through the cooling passage is cooled.
2. The cooling cap defined in claim 1, wherein the cooling element
includes a thermoelectric element.
3. The cooling cap defined in claim 1, wherein the body structure,
electrical energy source and cooling element are encased in a
cover.
4. The cooling cap defined in claim 1, further comprising a tube
connected to the inlet for extending into the drinking vessel.
5. The cap defined in claim 1, wherein the portable energy source
comprises a battery.
6. The cap defined in claim 5, further comprising a user actuated
on-off switch.
7. The cap defined in claim 1, wherein the liquid passage has a
tortuous configuration.
8. The cap defined in claim 1, wherein the inlet includes a
flexible tube.
9. The cap defined in claim 1, wherein the electric cooling element
is bonded to the body structure.
10. A beverage cooling cap for a cup, mug, glass, jar, bottle and
like drinking vessel comprising: (a) a casing adapted to fit over
the opening of the drinking vessel, the casing having an inlet for
communicating with liquid in the vessel and an outlet for user with
drawing liquid from the vessel; (b) a beverage cooling unit
disposed in the casing, the cooling unit including (i) a member
formed of material having a relatively high thermal conductivity
and defining a cooling chamber communicating with the said inlet
and outlet, (ii) a thermoelectric element disposed in heat
transferring relationship with the member of high thermal
conductivity; and, (c) a source of electrical power for the
thermoelectric element disposed in the casing.
11. The cap defined in claim 10, wherein the source of electrical
power includes a battery.
12. The cap defined in claim 10, wherein the member of high thermal
conductivity is formed of aluminum material.
13. The cap defined in claim 10, wherein the thermo electric
element is adhesively bonded to the member of high thermal
conductivity.
14. The cap defined in claim 10, wherein the cooling chamber
includes a tortuous passage.
15. The cap defined in claim 10, wherein the casing includes
engagement surfaces thereon configured for engaging corresponding
surfaces on a jar.
16. The cap defined in claim 10, wherein the casing includes
surface operable for sealing over the opening of the drinking
vessel.
17. A beverage cooling cap for a drinking cup, mug, glass, jar and
like drinking vessels comprising: (a) base structure adapted for
placement over the opening of the drinking vessel including a
member with relatively high thermal conductivity defining a cooling
chamber with an inlet and outlet; (b) a solid state cooling element
disposed in heat transferring relationship with the member of high
thermal conductivity; and, (c) a source of electrical power
operably connected for energizing the cooling element and disposed
with the base structure, wherein the inlet receives liquid from the
vessel, the cooling element effects cooling of liquid in the
cooling chamber and the outlet is operable for discharging cooled
liquid for user consumption.
18. The cap defined in claim 17, wherein the source of electrical
power includes a battery.
19. The cap defined in claim 17, wherein the outlet includes a
flexible tube.
20. The cap defined in claim 17, wherein the base structure
includes retaining surfaces operable to engage corresponding
surfaces on the vessel for retaining the cap over the vessel
opening.
21. A portable beverage chiller for use with a personal drinking,
vessel/container comprising: (a) body structure including a member
having a relative high thermal conductivity defining a flow chamber
with an inlet and an outlet; (b) a solid state cooling element
disposed in heat transferring relationship with the member of high
thermal conductivity; (c) a source of electrical power operatively
connected to the cooling element; and, (d) a flexible tube
associated with the inlet and operative for user insertion of an
end thereof in liquid beverage in the vessel/container, wherein,
upon the user drawing liquid beverage through the outlet, the
liquid flows from the vessel/container through the chamber and is
cooled.
22. The chiller defined in claim 21, further comprising means for
attaching the body structure to the vessel/container.
23. The chiller defined in claim 21, wherein the chamber includes a
tortuous path.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present disclosure relates to the cooling of beverages
in portable personal drinking vessels or containers of the type
carried on or about a person for having immediate, on-demand access
to beverages such as water or popular sports drinks. Because the
liquid beverage in the drinking container is carried on or about
the individual, the liquid beverage soon reaches ambient
temperature. Many individuals, however, prefer to drink a chilled
or cooled beverage for quenching thirst, particularly, during
periods of physical exertion where the individual is warm and/or
perspiring. In circumstances where the individual will be in a
location where there is no convenient access to water or other
liquid beverages for prolonged periods of time, it is desirable to
carry a supply of cooled drinking liquid on or about the person of
the individual such as in a canteen or backpack.
[0002] Heretofore, the techniques employed for maintaining a
personally carried supply of drinking liquid cooled overextended
periods of time have employed thermos or vacuum sealed containers
and pre-refrigerators gel filled chill blocks to maintain the
liquid in the drinking container or reservoir chilled over an
extended period of time. However, these have proven to be bulky and
heavy inasmuch as there must be sufficient cooling ability present
to lower the temperature of the entire mass of the drinking liquid
carried by the individual.
[0003] Thus, it has been desired to provide a way or means of
cooling liquid carried in a personal drinking vessel that needs to
provide cooling only when the user is drinking.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0004] The system of the present disclosure enables a user to carry
a personal supply of drinking liquid on or about the person and
draw liquid from the vessel through a drinking tube similar to a
"straw" and have the liquid cooled as it is drawn from the
container. Thus, the cooling required is only that which is
necessary to cool the amount of liquid being drawn from the
container as it is withdrawn. The system of the present disclosure
thus does not require cooling the entire mass of liquid in the
personal drinking container.
[0005] The system of the present disclosure, in one exemplary
embodiment, provides a cap or cover for a personal drinking
container such as a mug or bottle which has a self-contained
electrically energized cooling unit through which the liquid being
withdrawn from the container by the user passes and is cooled as it
passes through the cap. The system employs a chamber with a
tortuous passage for the liquid formed in a member having a
relatively high thermal conductivity; and, a solid state
thermoelectric cooling device which is powered by a source of
electrical energy such as a battery contained in the cap is
attached to the thermally conductive member. The system is thus
relatively small, light in weight, and easily crafted to fit within
a cap or housing which may be placed over the opening of the
drinking container. The system includes a flexible tube for
immersion of one end thereof into the liquid in the drinking
container and a second tube is included extending externally from
the cap through which the user draws liquid for drinking.
[0006] In another exemplary embodiment, the system includes a
relatively small, lightweight chilling unit having a solid state
cooling device which chills liquid passing from an inlet through a
cooling chamber to the outlet. The system is intended for inline
connection having a flexible tube connected to the inlet for
connection to the reservoir of drinking liquid on or about the
person, with another flexible tube connected to the outlet for the
user to draw liquid there through from the cooling chamber. The
system may be conveniently strapped to any article of apparel on
the person or to a backpack or strapped about a part of the
individual's body. A source of electrical energy, such as a
battery, may be contained with the cooling unit or may be carried
on or about the person remotely from the cooling unit and connected
thereto by suitable flexible electrical leads. The personal
drinking liquid sip cooling system disclosed and described herein
thus provides a compact, lightweight and readily available source
of on demand chilling of drinking liquid carried on or about the
person and does not require chilling or cooling of the entire mass
of drinking liquid carried in the container or reservoir, but cools
only the amount of liquid withdrawn as it is withdrawn for
drinking.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of an exemplary embodiment of the
invention employed in a cap for a personal drinking container such
as a bottle or jar;
[0008] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cooling or chilling unit
of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is another exemplary embodiment of the invention
disposed in line in a drinking tube from a personally carried
liquid reservoir carried such as backpack style; and,
[0010] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the cooling unit of FIG. 3
with portion of the cover broken away.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] With reference to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of the sip
cooling system of the present disclosure is illustrated generally
at 10, embodied in the form of a cap or cover 12 adapted for
attachment, as for example by threaded connection or snap-on
connection to a personal liquid drinking container 14 as, for
example, a jar or bottle. The details of the threads or snap
connection are known and have been omitted for the sake of
simplicity of illustration.
[0012] The cap has a dome or cover portion 16 under which is
disposed a sip cooling or chilling unit indicated generally at 18
and a source of electrical energy such as, for example, a battery
20. The cooling or chilling unit 18 includes a solid state cooling
device 22 with electrical leads 24, 26 connected to an electrical
switch 28 which is disposed to have an actuator 30 extending
externally of the dome 16 for convenience actuation by the user.
The switch is also connected to the source of electrical energy
such as battery 20 by electrical leads 32, 34.
[0013] The chilling unit 18 has an outlet with a flexible drinking
tube 36 connected thereto which extends outwardly of dome 16
through an opening therein; and, tube 36 is adapted for personal
use by the user in withdrawing liquid from the jar 14. The chilling
unit 18 has an inlet shown in dashed outline in FIG. 1 and denoted
by reference numeral 38 which has one end of a second tube 40
connected thereto with the opposite end of tube 40 extending
downwardly into the interior of the jar 14 into the drinking liquid
contained therein. Upon the user applying suction to tube 36,
liquid is drawn through tube 40 and through the cooling unit 18 and
tube 36 to the user.
[0014] Although the cap 12 in the embodiment of FIG. 1 is
configured for connection over the opening of a jar or bottle, the
cap may also be configured for merely resting upon the rim of a cup
or mug or glass for cooling the liquid contained therein; and, thus
the user may carry the self powered cap 10 about their person and
upon filling a drinking container with liquid may apply the
chilling system to the drinking liquid on location.
[0015] With reference to FIG. 2, the chilling unit 18 is
illustrated in exploded view and employs a heat transfer member or
block 42 which has a sinuous or tortuous passage 44 formed on the
face thereof, as for example, by machining or molding a groove
therein. One end of the groove has an inlet 46 which communicates
with a cross passage indicated in dashed outline by reference
numeral 48 which communicates with a downwardly extending bore 50
shown in dashed outline in FIG. 2 which is connected to the inlet
tube 38 for supplying liquid to the tortuous passage or cooling
chamber 44. The cooling chamber 44 also has an outlet port 52 at
the end thereof which port communicates with a cross passage 54, 52
which communicates with a riser bore 56 which is adapted for
connection to the user tube 36.
[0016] Passage or chamber 44 is covered by plate 58 which may be
attached to block 42 in any convenient manner, as for example, by
suitable fasteners such as screws 60, it being understood that the
plate 58 is sealed by any suitable expedient, as, for example, a
gasket or curable sealant over passage 44 to prevent liquid
escaping between the cover plate 58 and the block 42.
[0017] The block 42 and the cover plate 58 are formed of material
of a relatively high thermal conductivity, as for example, aluminum
or other suitable thermally conductive material. A solid state
device such as a thermo electric device 62 is attached to the outer
surface of plate 48 as shown in FIG. 2 and has the electric leads
24, 26 extending therefrom for attachment to the switch 28 as
described hereinabove.
[0018] If desired, a second cooling passage (not shown), similar to
passage 44 may be formed on the opposite side of the block 42 and
formed to communicate with the inlet down bore 50 and the outlet
riser bore 56. If such a second passage is formed in the block 42,
a second cover plate 64 is provided similar to plate 58 and a
second solid state cooling device or thermo electric cooler 66 is
attached to the outer face thereof with electrical lead 68, 70
extending therefrom for attachment to switch 28. The plate 64 is
attached to block 42 by suitable fasteners, such as, screws, 72.
The cooling unit 18 is thus a relatively small, lightweight,
compact and easily energizable liquid chiller capable of cooling
liquid passing from inlet port 36 to outlet port 52 with the power
available from a small source such as a battery, for example, one
or more M size batteries.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, another exemplary embodiment of
the sip cooling system of the present disclosure is illustrated for
in line connection and shown generally at 74. The system 74 is
connected with the outlet thereof connected an upper end portion of
a flexible drinking tube 76 which may have a so-called "bite" valve
78 at the remote end of for convenient sipping by the user. Another
lower portion of the tube 76 has one end connected to the inlet of
system 74 and the opposite end connected to a portable, flexible
liquid container such as backpack 80 which contains a flexible
bladder within (not shown) to be filled with liquid and connected
to the tube 76. The backpack arrangement of FIG. 3 permits the
bladder to be filled through a movable fill port which may have a
removable cap 82 or alternatively a one-way valve. In the
arrangement of FIG. 3, the cooling system 74 may be attached to the
shoulder strap 84 of the backpack conveniently by a strap 86 which
may employ quick release interdigitating filaments thereon or any
other expedient, as for example, an elastic band or a simple tie
strap.
[0020] The backpack 80 may contain a side pocket 88 into which the
batteries for the cooling unit 74 are carried and the batteries are
connected to the cooling unit 74 by flexible electrical leads 90,
92.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 4, the cooling unit 74 of FIG. 3 is shown
in enlarged detail with the cover or capsule 100 thereof broken
away to expose the interior. The capsule 100 encloses the cooling
or chilling unit indicated generally at 102 which may be similar to
the unit 18 described with respect to FIG. 2; and unit 102 has a
block 104 with a thermo electric cooling device 106 attached
thereto. The block 102 has its inlet port 108 connected to the
portion of the tube 76 connected to the reservoir; and the outlet
port 110 of the block 104 is connected to the portion of tube 76
having the bite valve 78 thereon. The solid state cooling device or
thermo electric device 106 has the electrical leads 90, 92
extending outwardly through the cover 100. Optionally, if desired,
the unit 74 may contain the source of electrical energy, such as,
for example, a battery 110 shown in dashed outline in FIG. 4. If
the optional battery 110 is contained within the cover 100, the
unit 74 thus becomes self contained and may be carried separately
from a liquid container where the user does not wish to carry the
supply of liquid, but wishes to be able to cool any liquid
available on site for drinking from a drinking container.
[0022] The present disclosure thus describes a compact, small and
lightweight drinking sip cooling system for cooling liquid as it
drawn from a liquid container rather than cool all of the liquid in
the container. The cooling system of the present disclosure may be
either embodied in a form as a cap for an open container such as a
jar or bottle, or may be configured for inline connection in a
flexible drinking tube adaptable for use with any personal liquid
drinking container.
[0023] The exemplary embodiment has been described with reference
to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and
alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the
preceding detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary
embodiment be construed as including all such modifications and
alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended
claims or the equivalents thereof.
* * * * *