U.S. patent application number 11/891014 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-20 for insulated retainer having thermometer for beverage container.
Invention is credited to Christopher G. Rowen.
Application Number | 20080283538 11/891014 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40026468 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080283538 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rowen; Christopher G. |
November 20, 2008 |
Insulated retainer having thermometer for beverage container
Abstract
A retainer for a beverage container formed of a flexible,
stretchable material and having a temperature sensing means
attached to a tapered wall thereof. The retainer is capable of
being turned inside out without damage thereto.
Inventors: |
Rowen; Christopher G.;
(Rockport, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Paul J. Cook
115 Pine Street
Manchester
MA
01944
US
|
Family ID: |
40026468 |
Appl. No.: |
11/891014 |
Filed: |
August 9, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11803096 |
May 14, 2007 |
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11891014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/739 ;
374/150 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01K 11/165 20130101;
B65D 81/3876 20130101; G01K 2207/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/739 ;
374/150 |
International
Class: |
B65D 81/38 20060101
B65D081/38 |
Claims
1. A thermally insulating retainer for a beverage container formed
from a flexible, stretchable material which comprises: a body
formed of a tapered wall having a top opening and a bottom opening,
said wall capable of being turned inside out while avoiding damage
to said wall, and a temperature sensing means secured to said
wall.
2. The thermally insulating retainer of claim 1 wherein said
temperature sensing means is directly sewn on said wall.
3. The thermally insulating retainer of claim 1 wherein said
temperature sensing means is retained on said wall by a second
retainer sewn on said wall.
4. The thermally insulating retainer of claim 3 wherein said second
retainer includes a slot.
5. The thermally insulating retainer of any one of claims 1, 2, 3
or 4 wherein said temperature sensing means includes thermally
sensitive liquid crystal displays.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application
Ser. No. 11/803,096, filed May 14, 2007.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to an insulated retainer having a
thermometer for a beverage container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Beverages housed in cans or bottles are widely consumed, as
cold beverages or as hot beverages. Exemplary beverages include
soft drinks, juice, cpffee. tea. beer, wine and liquor. Some
societies prefer their beverage to be warm. In any event, there is
a need for providing the consumer of the beverage with information
regarding beverage temperature prior to consuming the beverage.
[0004] In addition, consumers prefer that their beverage maintain
their desired temperature over the time the beverage in the
container is completely consumed.
[0005] At the present time, a wide variety of temperature
insulation retainers for retaining a beverage container include
fixed retainers and flexible retainers. Included in such retainers
are collapsible retainers which, when the beverage container is
removed therefrom can be compressed and carried in a pocket. This
permits the retainer user to utilize it as the consumer travels
over time.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,196 discloses a retainer for a beverage
carton such as for juice or milk. The retainer can include a
thermometer that measures the temperature for the beverage in the
carton. In order to view the thermometer, the retainer must be
transparent. No collapsible beverage containers are disclosed.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,373 discloses a temperature indicator
for a beverage container. The temperature indicator can be applied
directly to the container or can be positioned frictionally into
the wall of an insulating retainer that retains the beverage
container. The wall of the beverage retainer must be sufficiently
inflexible as to retain the thermometer in place by friction
forces. No collapsible beverage retainers are disclosed.
[0008] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a collapsible
insulating beverage retainer with a means for measuring
temperature, such as a thermometer in a beverage container. Such a
retainer would provide the beverage consumer with desired
temperature information and ease of portability. In addition, such
a retainer would provide ease of securing the temperature sensing
means to the retainer by first securing it to an outside surface of
the retainer thereby providing easy access to the retainer surface
to which it is secured. The retainer then could be turned inside
out so that the temperature sensing means would be adjacent to or
in contact with the beverage container during use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In accordance with this invention, a retainer formed of a
thermal insulating material for a beverage container is provided.
The retainer includes a temperature sensing means, such as a
thermometer which is positioned on the retainer at a position such
that it can measure the temperature on the outside surface of the
beverage container. The retainer has a top wall surface surrounding
an open top surface and a bottom wall surface surrounding an open
bottom such that it can be turned inside out when desired. The wall
tapers from the open top toward the open bottom. This permits the
temperature sensing means to be initially secured to an easily
accessible outside surface of the retainer. The retainer then can
be turned inside out so that the secured temperature sensing means
is positioned on a newly formed inside surface of the retainer
adjacent to or in contact with the beverage container positioned in
the retainer. The temperature sensing means is attached
peripherally by stitching it directly to the retainer or stitching
a web to the retainer which holds the temperature sensing means on
the retainer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side view of a retainer of this invention having
a temperature sensing means attached thereto.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view taken along line
2-2 of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternative retainer of this
invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional view taken along line
4-4 of FIG. 3.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a side view of an alternative retainer of this
invention.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a partial cross sectional view taken along line
6-6 of FIG. 5.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a side view of the retainer of this invention
having a temperature sensing means attached thereto after being
turned inside out.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the retainer of this
invention.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the retainer of FIG.
8.
[0019] FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the wall of the
retainer of FIG. 9 taken along line 10-10.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
[0020] The retainer of this invention having a temperature sensing
means attached thereto is configured to retain a beverage container
having a tapered wall such as a hot beverage container for coffee
or tea. The retainer is formed of a material and is configured so
that it can be turned inside out prior to use. The temperature
sensing means is secured to a wall of the retainer such as by
stitching. The temperature sensing means can be directly attached
to the retainer or can be held in place by a retaining wall that is
directly attached, such as by stitching to the retainer. The
temperature sensing means, such as a conventional liquid crystal
temperature indicating material is preferably positioned adjacent
to or in contact with the beverage container. When the temperature
sensing means initially is attached to or retained in an outside
surface of the retainer, it is preferred to turn the retainer
inside out to thereby position the temperature sensing means as
close as possible to the beverage container so as to provide more
accurate temperature measurement. When the temperature sensing
means is in position to be viewed by the user, and a retaining web
is interposed between the user and the temperature sensing means,
the retaining web must be transparent, or at worse, translucent to
permit the user to view the temperature sensing means. For ease of
producing the retainer of this invention, it is preferred to secure
the temperature sensing means to an initial outside surface of the
retainer and then turning the retainer inside out. Although more
difficult, it is possible to secure the temperature sensing means
to an initial inner surface of the retainer.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the retainer 10 comprises a
tapered wall 12, having a top edge 14 and a bottom edge 16. The
wall 12 is formed of single ply or multi ply flexible and/or
expandable thermally insulating material. The openings surrounded
by edges 14 and 16 permit the retainer 10 to be compressed
relatively flat so that it can be carried in a pocket. The
temperature sensing means 18 includes liquid crystal displays (LCD)
20 that light up by being temperature activated and can show any
indicia such as a number or a word display indicative of the
temperature. The group of LCDs 20 can display a series of
temperatures indicative of the degree of coolness or warmth of the
beverage container. The temperature sensing means 18 is secured to
the wall 12 by retaining wall 22 and stitching 23. After the
stitching 23 has been completed, the wall 12 is turned inside out
so that the temperature sensing means 18 is closer to the beverage
container 24. (FIG. 7).
[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the temperature sensing means 18 is
positioned against the wall 12 by retaining wall 22. When retaining
wall 22 is finally positioned on the outside surface of wall 12, it
must be transparent or translucent to permit viewing of the LCDs
20. When the LCDs 20 are finally positioned against opening 26 on
an outside surface of wall 12, the retaining wall 22 need not be
transparent or translucent to permit viewing the LCDs 20 by the
user.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the retainer 30 comprises a wall
12 having a temperature sensing means 18 that includes liquid
crystal displays (LCD) 20. The temperature sensing means 20 is
secured directly to wall 12 by stitching 28. After the stitching 28
has been completed, the retainer 30 is turned inside out so that
the temperature sensing means 18 is closer to the beverage
container 24. (FIG. 7)
[0024] As shown in FIG. 4, the temperature sensing means 18 is
stitched directly to the wall 12.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the retainer 32 comprises a wall
12, having a temperature sensing means 18 including liquid crystal
displays (LCD) 20. The temperature sensing means 20 is secured to
wall 12 by retaining wall 27 and stitching 31. Due to slots 33, the
wall need not be turned inside out since the temperature sensing
means 20 is initially closer to the beverage container.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 6, the temperature sensing means 18 is
positioned against the wall 12 by retaining wall 27. The slot 33
permits direct air convection between a beverage container within
wall 12 and temperature sensing means 18.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 7, in use, a beverage container 24 fits
into wall 12 against temperature sensing means 18.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the beverage container section
10 is formed by stitching 34 to form openings 36 and 38.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 10, the wall 12 can comprise a three ply
structure wherein the outer plies 37 and 39 are formed of a
stretchable, flexible fabric and the inner ply 41 comprises a
thermally insulating foam.
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