U.S. patent application number 12/103331 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-15 for beverage insulator including integrated opener.
Invention is credited to Matthew K. Kuntz.
Application Number | 20090255941 12/103331 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41163149 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090255941 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kuntz; Matthew K. |
October 15, 2009 |
BEVERAGE INSULATOR INCLUDING INTEGRATED OPENER
Abstract
A beverage insulator comprising a top thermally insulating
portion for receiving a beverage container therein, a bottom
supportive portion attached to the thermally insulating portion,
and at least one beverage container opener integrated in the bottom
supportive portion, wherein the at least one opener is recessed
from a bottom surface of the supportive portion.
Inventors: |
Kuntz; Matthew K.;
(Tequesta, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ADAMS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW, P.A.
Suite 2350 Charlotte Plaza, 201 South College Street
CHARLOTTE
NC
28244
US
|
Family ID: |
41163149 |
Appl. No.: |
12/103331 |
Filed: |
April 15, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/592.17 ;
220/739 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 23/0885 20130101;
B65D 81/3879 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/592.17 ;
220/739 |
International
Class: |
B65D 81/38 20060101
B65D081/38; B65D 81/00 20060101 B65D081/00 |
Claims
1. A beverage insulator, comprising: a thermally insulating portion
for receiving a beverage container therein; a bottom supportive
portion attached to the thermally insulating portion; and at least
one beverage container opener integrated in the bottom supportive
portion.
2. The beverage insulator according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one beverage container opener is recessed within a bottom
surface defined by the bottom supportive portion.
3. The beverage insulator according to claim 1, wherein the bottom
supportive portion defines a gripping surface.
4. The beverage insulator according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one beverage container opener includes a pry-type opener.
5. The beverage insulator according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one beverage container opener includes a twist off-type
opener.
6. The beverage insulator according to claim 1, wherein the
thermally insulating portion is made from at least one of rubber,
neoprene and foam.
7. The beverage insulator according to claim 1, wherein the bottom
supportive portion is made from plastic.
8. The beverage insulator according to claim 1, further comprising
a means for opening and closing the thermally insulating portion to
insert and remove the beverage container.
9. A beverage insulator for thermally insulating a beverage
container, comprising: a flexible thermally insulating portion for
receiving the beverage container therein; a hardened supportive
portion attached to the thermally insulating portion for providing
a supportive base for the beverage insulator; and at least one
beverage container opener integrated within the hardened supportive
portion and recessed from a bottom surface defined by the bottom
supportive portion.
10. The beverage insulator according to claim 9, wherein the bottom
supportive portion defines a gripping surface.
11. The beverage insulator according to claim 9, wherein the at
least one beverage container opener includes a pry-type opener.
12. The beverage insulator according to claim 9, wherein the at
least one beverage container opener includes a twist off-type
opener.
13. The beverage insulator according to claim 9, wherein the
flexible thermally insulating portion is made from at least one of
rubber, neoprene and foam.
14. The beverage insulator according to claim 9, wherein the bottom
supportive portion is made from plastic.
15. The beverage insulator according to claim 9, further comprising
a means for opening and closing the thermally insulating portion to
insert and remove the beverage container.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of
beverage insulators, and more specifically, to a beverage insulator
including an insulating portion and a hardened supporting base
including at least one integrated beverage container opener.
[0003] 2. Background of the Invention
[0004] Beverage insulators, often referred to as "coolies" and
"coozies," are commonly used to insulate a beverage from the
temperature of the surrounding environment, such as to keep a
beverage hot or cold. Beverage insulators may also function to
protect the hand of a holder from hot temperatures, and to provide
a comfortable gripping surface for holding a beverage for a
prolonged period of time. Further, beverage insulators are commonly
used to display advertising, such as company and sports team
logos.
[0005] To provide the insulating function, beverage insulators are
typically made from poor conductors of heat, such as rubber,
neoprene or foam. Conventional can insulators typically include a
tubular portion of material cut to length and an attached bottom
made from the same material. The top of the can insulator remains
open to insert the can therein and allow access to the spout. The
insulator is typically maintained on the can through a tight
interference fit. Bottle insulators may have a similar design, but
are also made from one or more pieces of neoprene sewn together in
order to define neck and base portions. The shape of the insulator
and the elasticity of the neoprene material allow the insulator to
stretch and conform to the contour of the bottle.
[0006] An example of a bottle insulator is described in U.S. Pat.
No. 6,550,271. The bottle insulator includes a sewn neoprene jacket
having a zipper for opening and closing the jacket to insert the
bottle. The bottle insulator further includes a carrying strap and
a detachable, conventional bottle opener. Several disadvantages of
the insulator include the lack of a supporting base, thus relying
on the neoprene material to support the bottle in the upright
position when set on a supporting surface, and the fact that the
opener is a conventional opener detachably fastened about the
zipper, thus leading to design complexity and the possibility of
separating the loose the opener from the insulator and not having
the opener when needed.
[0007] Accordingly, what is desired is a beverage insulator for
thermally insulating a bottle, can or other container that provides
an insulating function, a supportive base and an integrated opener
that cannot be removed from the insulator. Further, what is desired
is a beverage insulator including at least one integrated opener
positioned out of the way of the gripping and recessed from the
bottom of the insulator to avoid contact with a table or other
supporting surface of the beverage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In one aspect, the present invention provides a beverage
insulator for thermally insulating a beverage container including,
but not limited to, a bottle or a can.
[0009] In another aspect, the present invention provide a beverage
insulator including an upper insulating portion for providing an
insulating function, and an attached lower hardened portion for
providing a supportive base.
[0010] In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a
beverage insulator including a supportive base with at least one
integrated container opener.
[0011] To achieve the foregoing and other aspects and advantages,
and in accordance with the purposes of the invention as embodied
and broadly described herein, the present invention provides
various embodiments of a beverage insulator including an insulating
portion and a hardened base having at least one integrated opener
therein.
[0012] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a beverage
insulator including an upper insulating portion made from an
insulating material that covers all or a portion of a bottle
inserted therein. The beverage insulator further includes a
hardened lower portion attached to the upper portion that functions
as a supporting base and includes at least one opener defined,
molded or supported therein. The opener is operable for removing
the cap of a bottle, and may include one or both of a pry opener
and a twist-off opener.
[0013] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part
will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that
description or recognized by practicing the invention as described
herein. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description present various
embodiments of the invention, and are intended to provide an
overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of
the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are
included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and
are incorporated in and constitute a part of this
specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention are better understood when the following detailed
description of the invention is read with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of beverage insulator including
a hardened supporting base in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a beverage insulator
including a hardened supporting base in accordance with another
embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of a hardened supporting
base including an integrated pry-type opener; and
[0018] FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of a hardened supporting
base including integrated pry-type and twist-off type openers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The present invention will now be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. However, the
invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the representative embodiments set forth
herein. The exemplary embodiments are provided so that this
disclosure will be both thorough and complete, and will fully
convey the scope of the invention and enable one of ordinary skill
in the art to make, use and practice the invention. Like reference
numbers refer to like elements throughout the various drawings.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of an insulator for
thermally insulating a conventional bottle 10 is shown at 12. The
bottle includes a cap 14 such as, but not limited to, a pry-off
type cap or a twist-off type cap. As shown, the insulator 12
substantially covers the base portion of the bottle 10. The
insulator 12 includes a top insulating portion 16 made from a poor
conductor of heat including, but not limited to, rubber, foam or
neoprene. The top portion 16 of the insulator is attached to a
supportive bottom portion 18 in any known manner including, but not
limited to, adhesive, one or more fasteners or sewn. The bottom
portion 18 may be made from polyethylene, other plastics or like
rigid materials. The bottom portion 18 is "hardened" to provide a
rigid surface or base for supporting the container in the upright
position. The bottom portion 18 has a thickness suitable for
molding or maintaining at least one container opener therein, as
described in more detail below. Although a bottle is shown as the
beverage container, the insulator 12 is also suitable for thermally
insulating a can, such as a 12 oz. beverage container. The
insulator 12 is preferably maintained on the bottle through an
interference fit.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 2, another embodiment of an insulator 12
is shown, again including a top insulating portion 16 and an
attached, supportive bottom portion 18. The top insulating portion
16 is made from neoprene or like material that provides an
insulating function and is elastic to substantially conform to the
shape of the bottle. The insulator may further include a zipper 20
or other means for opening and closing the insulator to insert and
remove the bottle. As shown, the insulating portion 16 covers the
surface of the bottle up to the removable cap. To provide the
greatest insulating function, insulating portion 16 may also cover
the bottom of the bottle 10, and the hardened bottom portion 18 may
be attached to the bottom of the insulating portion 16.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 3, a perspective end view of the bottom
supportive portion 18 of the insulator 12 is shown. The bottom
portion 18 includes at least one conventional integrated opener 22
defined, molded or maintained therein that is recessed from the
bottom surface 24 of the bottom portion 18. The opener 22 is
recessed so that it does not contact a table or other supporting
surface of the beverage container when the container is set down.
Thus, the opener cannot damage the supporting surface or interfere
with the supporting function of the bottom portion 18. The
integrated opener 22 is not removable from the base and thus cannot
be separated from the insulator. The integrated opener may be
positioned in any location within the bottom portion 18. The bottom
portion 18 may optionally define a gripping surface 26 around the
perimeter of the base for gripping the insulator to use opener 22.
The opener shown FIG. 3 is a conventional pry-type opener for
removing a bottle cap, however, the opener may include any type
opener having any shape, and is not limited to the opener shown.
The opener 22 may be recessed to any depth within the bottom
portion 18.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 4, a perspective end view of another
embodiment of a bottom supportive portion 18 of the insulator 12 is
shown. The bottom portion 18 includes first and second integrated
openers 22 and 30, which are defined, molded or maintained within
the bottom portion and recessed from the bottom surface 24. The
first opener 22 is the conventional pry-type opener shown in FIG.
3, and the second opener 28 is a conventional twist-off type opener
defining a bottle cap-shaped recess. The openers may be positioned
anywhere within the bottom portion. The bottom portion may include
additional opener types to provide greater versatility. As in the
previous embodiment, the bottom portion 18 may optionally define a
gripping surface.
[0024] Openers may be made from metal for longevity and may be
maintained within a mold during a conventional molding process.
Openers may also be inserted and secured subsequent to a molding
process. Metals may include stainless steel to prevent rusting. The
insulator may be used as a supporting surface for indicia, such as
advertising and sports team logos, among other indicia.
[0025] While the present invention has been described with
reference to specific embodiments, it is envisioned that other
embodiments may perform similar functions without departing from
the spirit and scope of the present invention.
* * * * *