U.S. patent application number 12/172315 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-14 for beverage cooling device and method of use thereof.
Invention is credited to David Fedell.
Application Number | 20100005828 12/172315 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41503902 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100005828 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fedell; David |
January 14, 2010 |
Beverage Cooling Device and Method of Use Thereof
Abstract
One embodiment of a disposable/reusable beverage cooling device
adapted for use with an insulated beverage holder, may be comprised
of an enclosure and a refrigerant. One enclosure may be comprised
of a generally flexible and substantially leak-proof reusable,
recyclable or biodegradable material having a shape adapted to be
received by a beverage insulator cavity. The enclosure may
generally surround the refrigerant material, which may be comprised
of a generally non-toxic environmentally friendly and/or
biodegradable gelatinous material. Upon placing one or more cold
beverage cooling devices into the beverage insulator cavity, a
beverage container may be placed into the cavity proximal the
cooling device. The cooling device may be adapted to keep the
beverage and beverage container in the insulator at a lower
temperature for a longer period.
Inventors: |
Fedell; David; (Northglenn,
CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Leyendecker & Lemire, LLC
C/O PORTFOLIO IP, P.O. BOX 52050
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402
US
|
Family ID: |
41503902 |
Appl. No.: |
12/172315 |
Filed: |
July 14, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/457.4 ;
220/592.16; 62/62 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2331/809 20130101;
F25D 2331/805 20130101; F25D 3/08 20130101; F25D 31/007 20130101;
F25D 2331/803 20130101; F25D 2303/0845 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/457.4 ; 62/62;
220/592.16 |
International
Class: |
F25D 3/08 20060101
F25D003/08; F25D 25/00 20060101 F25D025/00; B65D 81/38 20060101
B65D081/38 |
Claims
1) A beverage cooling device comprising, an enclosure having a
shape adapted to be received within a cavity of a cylindrical
beverage insulator, the enclosure comprising top and bottom sheets
of a flexible polymeric material, the sheets being fused to each
other at their respective circumferential edges, the enclosure
having a first volume when the enclosure is fully expanded; and a
non-toxic refrigerant material wholly contained and sealed within
the enclosure, the refrigerant material adapted to freeze or form a
gelatinous solution when placed in a typical household freezer, the
refrigerant material contained within the enclosure comprising a
second volume when frozen.
2) The device of claim 1 wherein, the top and bottom sheets
comprise a bioplastic; and the refrigerant material comprises a
biodegradable gel having a freezing temperature no greater than 32
degrees Fahrenheit.
3) The device of claim 2, wherein: the bioplastic comprises at
least one of a plastarch or polylactide; and the biodegradable gel
comprises at least one of a complex carbohydrate, a propenamide
polymer, and a paraben-based preservative.
4) The device of claim 1, wherein the first volume is significantly
greater than the second volume.
5) The device of claim 4, wherein the second volume is no more than
75% of the first volume, and the device is adapted to generally
conform to the shape of a bottom end of a beverage container upon
receiving the beverage container.
6) The device of claim 5, wherein the device is substantially
circular having a diameter of about 6.5 cm; and the top and bottom
sheets each being about 0.015'' thick.
7) The device of claim 6 wherein the device contains generally
about 20 grams of refrigerant material.
8) A method of cooling a beverage container using the beverage
cooling device of claim 1, the method comprising: placing the
device in the cavity of the beverage insulator; and inserting a
beverage container in the beverage insulator cavity on top of the
beverage cooling device.
9) A method of using a beverage cooling device of claim 1
comprising, substantially freezing a first beverage cooling device;
placing the first beverage cooling device into the cavity of the
cylindrical beverage insulator; inserting a beverage container
contain a beverage therein into the beverage insulator cavity on
top of the first beverage cooling device; consuming at least a
portion of the beverage; removing the beverage container from the
cavity; removing the first beverage cooling device from the cavity;
disposing of the first beverage cooling device; and placing a
second beverage cooling device into a cavity of the cylindrical
beverage insulator; and re-inserting the beverage container into
the cavity on top of the second beverage cooling device.
10) The method of claim 9 wherein, said substantially freezing a
first beverage cooling device comprises creating a substantially
rigid beverage cooling device.
11) The method of claim 9 wherein the first beverage cooling device
is biodegradable and said disposing of the first beverage cooling
device facilitates one of aerobic and anaerobic degradation of a
beverage cooling device enclosure and refrigerant material.
12) A combination comprising, a beverage container having a bottom
end; a generally first disposable beverage cooling device
comprising, a flexible enclosure comprising a flexible second sheet
adapted to receive the beverage container bottom end; at least 20
grams of refrigerant material; and a beverage insulator adapted to
receive the first disposable beverage cooling device.
13) The combination of claim 12, wherein, the generally flexible
enclosure is further adapted to receive the beverage container
bottom end by changing from a first shape to a second shape.
14) The combination of claim 12 wherein the cooling device further
includes indicia provided thereon.
15) The combination of claim 14, wherein, the indicia comprises at
least one of a graphic display and a word on an outer enclosure
surface.
16) The combination of claim 12 wherein the beverage insulator
comprises an automotive cup holder.
17) A combination comprising a cylindrical beverage insulator
having a bottom end, a flexible cooling device and a beverage
container with a beverage therein with: the flexible cooling device
being generally cylindrical and having a diameter proximate an
inside diameter of a cavity of the beverage insulator, the cooling
device comprising, (i) top and bottom sheets of a flexible
polymeric material, each having a thickness of about 0.010-0.025'',
and (ii) at least 20 cc of a water-based refrigerant material
wherein the top and bottom sheets are fused together proximate
their respective circumferential edges to form an enclosure, the
enclosure having a potential fully expanded volume of at least 26
cc and containing the refrigerant material; the beverage insulator
substantially comprising a polymeric foam material; and the
beverage container comprising one of an aluminum can, a plastic
bottle and a glass bottle and having a bottom side; wherein the
cooling device is positioned in the cavity on top of the beverage
insulator's bottom end and beverage container is also positioned in
the cavity with its bottom side in direct contact with the cooling
device.
18) The combination of claim 17, wherein the top and bottom sheets
comprise a bioplastic.
19) The combination of claim 18, wherein any additive to the
water-based refrigerant material are biodegradable.
19) The combination of claim 17, wherein the top sheet is conformed
to the bottom side of the beverage container and the bottom sheet
is conformed to the bottom end of the beverage insulator.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention generally relates to beverage cooling
devices.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Beverages are often consumed in the outdoors. Especially in
the summer, persons enjoy drinking various liquids in an attempt to
cool themselves due to the excessive heat or otherwise. When
drinking beverages outdoors in the summer, the surface of the
beverage container may develop excessive condensation. Furthermore,
the temperature of the liquid may increase rapidly when the ambient
temperature is much greater than the temperature of the beverage.
Therefore, oftentimes when a person chooses to enjoy an outdoor
summertime (and sometimes and indoor or winter) beverage, that
person may use a beverage insulator.
[0003] Beverage insulators serve multiple purposes. While beverage
insulators typically provide users with an increased ability to
keep the beverage at a lower temperature for a longer period of
time, beverage insulators may also be used to increase a person's
grip on the beverage container as well as provide a display device
for advertisers or others. In order to provide a person with the
ability to more easily grip a beverage container sweating
condensation while also provide the ability to keep the beverage
cooler than it would be without the insulator, beverage insulators
are typically comprised of materials with a higher coefficient of
friction than the beverage container while having insulating
properties.
[0004] For example, many beverage insulators (often refered to as
koozie.TM. or coozie coolers) are comprised of Styrofoam, Neoprene,
or other polymeric materials. Beverage insulator materials are
typically adapted to keep the beverage at a lower temperature than
the beverage would otherwise be at without the insulator, yet not
be so thick that it decreases a user's ability to adequately grip
the container. Different polymeric materials have the ability to
insulate the beverage container at a relatively low thickness. Many
of these beverage insulators are "sleeve" or "sheath" type devices
that the beverage container may slide into or fit within.
Therefore, the condensation which may occur on the beverage
container will be kept within the inner portion of the sleeve,
leaving the outer sleeve typically dry, allowing for increased
grippage.
[0005] Although beverage insulators may ensure increased grippage
for a user, their ability to keep a beverage at a lower temperature
is oftentimes limited. For example, many insulators are fairly thin
so that a user with small hands may be able grip the beverage once
it is generally enclosed by the insulator, or for other reasons.
Thinning the insulator to increase grippage decreases insulation.
Furthermore, Styrofoam and other polymers used as beverage
insulators can not protect the beverage from the heat during
extremely hot days. Therefore, oftentimes beverage insulators,
which may also be referred to as cozies, coozys, koozies, or other
similar terms, may not be able to adequately perform the function
they are supposed to perform. Prior art devices adapted to fit
within beverage insulators to keep the beverage cold are deficient
due to (i) their inability to keep a beverage cool, (ii) their lack
of usability across multiple beverage containers, and (iii) that
they are not environmentally safe, and (iv) they are not adapted to
be used as a disposable or recyclable device.
SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a top view of a disposable beverage cooler
according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 a side view of a disposable beverage cooler according
to one embodiment of the invention.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a disposable beverage
cooler according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0009] FIG. 4A is a side view of a portion of a beverage container
and a disposable beverage cooler having a smaller volume forming to
the shape of the beverage container bottom end according to one
embodiment of the invention.
[0010] FIG. 4B is a side view of a portion of a beverage container
and a disposable beverage cooler in a second shape having a larger
volume forming to the shape of the beverage container bottom end
according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0011] FIG. 4C is a side view of a portion of a beverage container
and a disposable beverage cooler in a second shape forming to the
shape of a bottom end of a beverage container according to one
embodiment of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 4D is a side view of a portion of a beverage container
and a frozen disposable beverage cooler in a first shape according
to one embodiment of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 5 is an exploded isometric view of a beverage
insulator, a disposable beverage cooler, and a beverage container
according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of an insulated dispenser
adapted to hold a plurality of beverage coolers according to one
embodiment of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a vertically orientated
dispenser adapted to hold a plurality of beverage coolers in a
freezer and permit easy access to a cooler according to one
embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Embodiments of an environmentally-safe disposable and
adaptable beverage cooler that has the ability to keep beverage
containers with diversely shaped bottom ends cool while they are
contained within coozie or beverage insulator is described herein.
The cooling device (or cooler) is adapted to fit within a beverage
insulator sandwiched between the bottom thereof and the bottom end
of an associated beverage container. Certain variations, after use,
may be disposed of without adverse environmental effect. For
example, some variations of a disposable beverage cooling device
can be comprised of a biodegradable flexible enclosure generally
surrounding a biodegradable gelatinous coolant material, also
referred to as a refrigerant.
[0017] Embodiments of the beverage cooler are adapted to cool a
beverage placed within the insulator or at least enable the
beverage to better maintain a lower more desirable temperature. The
enclosure typically comprises a thin sheets of flexible polymeric
material that sandwich and contain the refrigerant. The slight
thickness of the enclosure itself facilitates the transfer of heat
to occur between the coolant material and the beverage container.
Furthermore, the interior volume of the enclosure is configured to
receive and hold a sufficient amount of coolant material to either
cool the beverage contained in an associated insulator or at least
slow the rate at which the beverage temperature increases when
exposed to higher temperature ambient conditions. For example, on
very warm days, a variation of a beverage cooler having a larger
enclosure volume may be used rather than another variation of the
beverage cooler with a smaller volume that is more suited for use
on cooler days. By allowing coolers having differing volumes to be
easily interchanged, users may adapt to the environmental
conditions of the day to better keep their beverage enclosed
beverages at an optimal temperature.
[0018] A beverage cooler is typically placed within the beverage
insulator when its refrigerant is in a frozen state or highly
cooled state. A beverage cooler is frozen or chilled to a suitable
temperature by subjecting it to extremely cold temperatures for a
suitable period of time. Most often this can be achieved by placing
the cooler in a freezer. With embodiments utilizing an at least
partially gelatinous coolant material, the coolant material may
remain at least partially malleable or become more malleable as it
temperature increases, allowing the cooler by way of its flexible
enclosure to contact a greater percentage of the bottom surface of
a beverage container. Advantageously, embodiments and variations of
the beverage cooler utilizing the gelatinous refrigerant or coolant
in combination with a flexible enclosure facilitates the cooler to
mold or form itself to the shape of the bottom surface of beverage
containers of differing configurations thereby increasing its
contact area with the bottom side of the beverage container.
[0019] Embodiments of the beverage cooler may be used to either
cool an otherwise temperate beverage, or it may be used to maintain
a previously chilled beverage at a suitably chilled temperature.
When the temperature of the coolant and the enclosure increases to
about the same temperature of an associated beverage container and
beverage, the beverage cooler is typically no longer capable of
cooling or helping to maintain the temperature of the beverage.
Some embodiments of the beverage cooler may be configured to be
refrozen and reused later while other embodiments are designed to
be disposed of. In the case of biodegradable variants, the
enclosure and the coolant material is typically biodegradable and
as such the cooler may be disposed of by placing it in the trash
without concerns that the materials will have an adverse impact on
the environment.
[0020] In one method, to dispose of the beverage cooler, the
beverage container is first removed from the beverage insulator.
Upon removing the beverage container, the beverage cooler is
removed from the insulator. This may be done through gravity, by
rotating the beverage insulator in a vertical manner, or
upside-down, to allow the cooler to fall out of the insulator
cavity. Upon removal of the beverage cooler, the cooler is placed
in a trash receptacle or recycling bin and begin its biodegradable
process. A new chilled or frozen cozie cooler may be placed into
the beverage insulator by vertically rotating the beverage
insulator to a position wherein the cavity is upwardly positioned,
and then dropping a cooler into the cavity. A bottom side of the
cooler is typically placed against the bottom side of the beverage
insulator in the interior of the cavity, allowing the beverage
cooler's top side to be in contact with the bottom end of an
associated beverage container that is received into the associated
beverage insulator. The flexible nature of the enclosure and the
refrigerant causes the cooler to mold itself to the container's
bottom and increase the contact surface area therewith.
[0021] Various embodiments of the beverage cooler were tested using
twelve ounce aluminum cans of beer and soft drinks in combination
with suitable beverage insulators by placing a suitably chilled or
frozen cooler in the beverage insulator and placing the beverage on
top of the cooler. The temperatures of the beverages were
monitored. On average when exposed to similar environmental
conditions, the temperature of a beverage contained in a beverage
insulator with a beverage cooler was five degrees Fahrenheit cooler
after one half of an hour when compared to a similar beverage
contained in a beverage insulator without the cooler.
[0022] The coolers which are typically round or circular to match
the configuration of the bottom of a typical beverage insulator and
beverage container can be stored in tubular dispensers. For
instance, a vertically orientated dispenser can be placed in a
freezer that is configured to dispense stacked frozen/chilled
coolers from a bottom end through a slot while having an open top
end whereby a user can place used or warm coolers for re-chilling.
Another tubular dispenser is insulated and includes insulated top
and/or bottom ends caps that permit a user to transport a stack of
coolers for use at a picnic or other function remote from a
freezer. The insulated dispenser assists in maintaining the coolers
in a suitably chilled state for extended periods of time. The
insulated cooler can be transported by itself or placed in a
suitable chest cooler that would typically contain ice and chilled
beverages.
Terminology:
[0023] The terms and phrases as indicated in quotation marks (" ")
in this section are intended to have the meaning ascribed to them
in this Terminology section applied to them throughout this
document, including in the claims, unless clearly indicated
otherwise in context. Further, as applicable, the stated
definitions are to apply, regardless of the word or phrase's case,
tense or any singular or plural variations of the defined word or
phrase.
[0024] The term "or" as used in this specification and the appended
claims is not meant to be exclusive rather the term is inclusive
meaning "either or both".
[0025] References in the specification to "one embodiment", "an
embodiment", "a preferred embodiment", "an alternative embodiment",
"a variation", "one variation", and similar phrases mean that a
particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in
connection with the embodiment is included in at least an
embodiment of the invention. The appearances of phrases like "in
one embodiment", "in an embodiment", or "in a variation" in various
places in the specification are not necessarily all meant to refer
to the same embodiment or variation.
[0026] The term "couple", "coupled", "coupling", or any variation
thereof, as used in this specification and the appended claims
refers to either an indirect or direct connection between the
identified elements, components or objects. Often, the manner of
the coupling will be related specifically to the manner in which
the two coupled elements interact. Specifically, this term may be
used to define two elements joined by a bolted fastener, a latch, a
hook, or any other reasonably readily removable fastening
device.
[0027] The term "integrate" or "integrated" as used in this
specification and the appended claims refers to a blending,
uniting, or incorporation of the identified elements, components or
objects into a unified whole.
[0028] Directional and/or relationary terms such as, but not
limited to, left, right, nadir, apex, top, bottom, vertical,
horizontal, back, front and lateral are relative to each other.
These terms are dependent on the specific orientation of an
applicable element or article, and are used accordingly to aid in
the description of the various embodiments and are not necessarily
intended to be construed as limiting.
[0029] As applicable, the terms "about" or "generally" as used
herein unless otherwise indicated means a margin of .+-.20%. Also,
as applicable, the term "substantially" as used herein unless
otherwise indicated means a margin of .+-.10%. It is to be
appreciated that not all uses of the above terms are quantifiable
such that the referenced ranges can be applied.
[0030] The term "bioplastic", and any variation used herein does
not refer to a single class of polymers, but rather to a family of
products which can vary considerably but are generally
characterized as plastics that biodegrade over time especially such
as when subject to landfill conditions. One type of bioplastic may
be based on renewable resources such as, but not limited to hemp
oil, soybean oil and corn starch. Another type of bioplastics may
be comprised of biodegradable degradable polymers which meet
scientifically recognized criteria for biodegradability and
compostability.
One Embodiment of a Disposable Beverage Cooling Device
[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, one embodiment of a
disposable beverage cooling device 10 comprises a coolant material
substantially contained within a cavity 18 and surrounded by an
enclosure 12. The coolant material is also be referred to as
refrigerant herein. Furthermore, the coolant material is typically
gelatinous but may not be in other variations. The enclosure is
typically comprised of a flexible, or form-fitting a polymeric
sheet material. In some variations the polymeric sheet material
comprises a bioplastic. The coolant can be biodegradable as well.
Accordingly, wherein the cooling device (or cooler) comprises
biogradable materials it can be disposed of using traditional means
without undue concern over its effect on landfills and the
environment.
[0032] By using a bioplastic material as the enclosure material,
microorganisms can metabolize the enclosure upon disposal.
Alternatively with other types of bioplastics, the enclosure
degrades naturally when exposed to certain environmental
conditions, such as but not limited to ultraviolet radiation. A
device which biodegrades typically produces an inert material upon
breakdown that is less harmful to the environment than devices not
having a bioplastic enclosure. Natural polymers that can be
incorporated into a bioplastic include (i) natural rubber, also
known as polyisoprene; (ii) starch and cellulose based polymers,
which are both made from glucose; and (iii) proteins based
polymers. Embodiments of an enclosure may also be comprised of
bioplastic or non-bioplastic polymers such as polypropylene, vinyl
polymers, synthetic polymers such as nylon and synthetic rubber,
and thermoplastic polymers such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
[0033] Variations of the cooler enclosure 12 may be comprised of a
bioplastics that include a plastarch or a polylactide as a
constituent thereof. A plastarch material is comprised of
cornstarch, among other biodegradable materials. A polylactide is
comprised of a thermoplastic derived from renewable resources such
as, but not limited to corn starch or sugarcanes. An enclosure may
also be comprised of a material which degrades from a polymeric
structure into compounds like CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2O.
[0034] In variations, the enclosure may also be comprised of a
polymeric material that does not easily degrade or is more
resistant to degradation. The enclosures made from non-degradable
materials are typically more durable and as such adapted to be used
multiple times in potentially adverse conditions. For example, the
enclosures can be comprised of a polyurethane, polypropylene or
polyethylene. Coolers made using non-bioplastic enclosures can
nonetheless be environmentally friendly especially if the
particular material used for the enclosure is recyclable such as
would be the case with thermoplastics such as polyethylene and
polypropylene.
[0035] For example, PVC or a nylon sheet material may be used as
the enclosure material. Such an enclosure may be semi-reusable,
meaning it can be reused reliably a specified number of times, such
as, but not limited to, about six. It may also be
re-usable/disposable, which means it may also be disposed of after
it is used.
[0036] Preferably, the coolant or refrigerant 16 used in the
various embodiments of the cooler is environmentally friendly, such
as but not limited to water or a water-based gelatinous compound.
To maximize the effectiveness of the coolant, it is desirable to
utilize a material that does not freeze into an immovable solid
such as ice but rather an at least partially gelatinous material
that can conform to the bottom of a beverage container. This is
often accomplished by placing additives in water. Preferably, the
additives are environmentally friendly such that they can be
disposed of without undue concern of their effect on the
environment. For instance, in some variations the coolant can
comprise a gel with biodegradable or environmentally friendly
constituants.
[0037] One biodegradable gel is comprised of at least one complex
carbohydrate, and has a high degree of carboxyl substitution and is
cross-linked with an organic material. Furthermore, the gel can be
comprised of propenamide polymers, a paraben-based preservative, or
water. One gel can even be comprised of saline and may have a
freezing temperature no greater than 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The gel
is preferably non-toxic.
[0038] One aspect of biogradability or degradability of an
enclosure 12 is the thickness 14 of the sheet material from which
it is comprised. Furthermore, thickness is a factor in determining
the rate or level of heat exchange between the coolant 16 and any
proximally located beverage container 40. In order to maximize heat
transfer and biodegradability, while providing maximum durability
and flexibility, the preferred thickness of the sheet material is
from about 0.005 inches to 0.015 inches thick. A more preferred
thickness is about 0.0075 inches to 0.0125 inches thick. And a most
preferred thickness can be about 0.008 inches to 0.01 inches thick.
Of course, the actual thickness of any enclosure sheet material
will to some extent depend on the modulus of the sheet material as
well as the material's tensile and puncture strength
characteristics.
[0039] One embodiment of the cooler includes a sealed outer edge
26. The sealed outer edge 26, which joins to pieces of sheet
material proximate their perimeters, typically forms the exterior
edge of the enclosure cavity 18. Sealing two or more sheets
togethor typically entails a heating process wherein a first
enclosure sheet 13 is fused to a second enclosure sheet 11 by
increasing the temperature of the enclosure material to a
temperature where the material is in a liquid or near-liquid form,
pressing the edge of the embodiment together, and then cooling. The
thickness 15 of the enclosure at these sealed outer edges 26 is
typically about double the thickness of an individual sheet.
Coolant is placed within the cavity during the cooling stage or
prior to the edge being sealed or at some point therebetween. For
instance, the two sheets can be fused together over much of their
circumference leaving a small unsealed section wherein the coolant
can be injected. After injection, a second fusing operation is
commenced to seal the final section.
[0040] In at least one embodiment of the cooler 10, the top and
bottom sides and surfaces 13&11 are adapted to conform to those
corresponding surfaces in which they come in contact. As best shown
in FIGS. 4A through 4C, the top surface sheet 13 conforms to the
generally concave bottom side 20 of a typical beverage container 40
while the bottom surface sheet 11 conforms to the bottom side of a
beverage insulator or a flat table top surface. The sheets
typically have generally smooth outer surfaces which maximizes the
contact area with the beverage can bottom to increase heat transfer
characteristics.
[0041] To facilitate the capability of the cooler to conform to the
surfaces of the beverage container and the beverage insulator
respectively, the gel may only partially fill the potential cavity
volume 16 as is demonstratively illustrated in FIG. 3. It is to be
appreciated, however, that the remaining unfilled portion 18 of the
total potential cavity volume is not as is shown filled with air or
some other substance. Rather, the sheets would bend and fold to
reduce the actual volume of the cavity to that of the coolant. It
is these bends and folds or other deformation of the sheet, which
may or may not be readily perceivable, that permit the device to
conform to external surfaces. For example, the volume formed by an
enclosure is fully inflated without causing the sheets to
significantly elastically deform may be about 30 cc; whereas, the
volume of refrigerant placed in the enclosure may only be 20 cc. As
such, the entire cooler unit will remain flexible permitting the
cooler to mold to the bottom configuration of a beverage
container.
[0042] Enclosure cavities 18 wherein the entire potential cavity
volume 16 is filled with coolant are also contemplated. In a cooler
embodiment in which the potential cavity volume is fully filled and
the top and bottom sheets are effectively tensioned, the top sheet
of the cooler may not fully conform to the bottom of the beverage
container 20 and the bottom sheet 11 may not conform to the
associated bottom side of the insulated beverage holder or table
top as best shown in FIG. 4D. This design may not cool the beverage
in the container as quickly and as thoroughly as a cooler in
contact with a greater portion of the surface area on the beverage
container's bottom end as a result of the reduced contact area
between the cooler and the beverage container.
[0043] As best seen in FIG. 1, the beverage cooler is generally
circular in shape. In cross section of the beverage cooler is
generally disk shaped having convex top and bottom sides as best
shown in FIG. 2. The outer-diameter 22 of a typical embodiment
intended for use with typical 12 ounce aluminum cans is about 6.5
cm with the inner-diameter 24 being about 6.0 cm. This size allows
the cooler to easily slide into a beverage insulator as most
beverage insulators 30 have a generally cylindrical cavity 32 with
a diameter of about 7.0 cm, as shown in FIG. 5.
[0044] Furthermore, beverage containers 40 are typically comprised
of a circular bottom end 42. Therefore, a generally circular cooler
is typically best adapted to fit within the insulator cavity 32 and
provide the best cooling potential of the beverage container as it
would likely contact the greatest surface area on the
similarly-shaped beverage container bottom end 42. However,
non-circular cooler embodiments are also contemplated such as, but
not limited to, rectangular shaped coolers and coolers that
represent an outline of a particular image or symbol, for example,
a heart, a football or a four leaf clover. Embodiments may be
adapted to cool different sized beverage containers, such as, but
not limited to, 8, 12 and 20 ounce containers in glass, plastic,
aluminum and other suitable materials. Furthermore, an
advertisement be imprinted or otherwise placed on the first sheet
13, second sheet 11, or both. In addition to use with coozie-type
beverage insulators, variations of the coolers can be used with
other devices adapted to hold beverage containers such as
automobile cup holders.
[0045] The coolers can be sold in any suitable manner typically in
quantity either prefrozen or not. It is contemplated that coolers,
which in quantity are very economical to produce, could be sold
pre-frozen in bulk, such as in a large bag available in the ice
chests found at most supermarkets that are typically used to hold
ice for bulk sale. In other variations the coolers could be sold
prepackaged in dispensers such as the ones described herein.
One Method of Using a Beverage Cooling Device:
[0046] Referring generally to FIG. 5, a user places a frozen or
chilled beverage cooler into a beverage insulator cavity 32 until
it rests on its bottom side against the bottom surface of the
beverage insulator (or coozie).Next, a suitably sized beverage
container is inserted into the cavity, on top of the cooler until
the bottom 42 of the beverage container rests firmly up against the
cooler.
[0047] Prior to inserting the cooler 10 into the cavity 32, the
cooler is frozen or chilled to a temperature below ambient and
typically below the freezing point of water. The cooler is
subjected to a temperature lower than the freezing temperature of
the associated refrigerant material for a sufficient period of
time. For example, wherein the refrigerant material is a
biodegradable gel comprised of water or saline, among other
ingredients, the cooler may be placed into a freezer, or may be
placed into a chest cooler having ice, in order to substantially
bring the temperature of the gel to a freezing level. Such a
decrease in temperature may in at least some variations result in a
cooler that is generally stiff and rigid.
[0048] As the cooler including a gelatinous coolant begins to warm
up, the coolant becomes more malleable and allowing the cooler to
reshape itself and conform to a larger area of the beverage
container's bottom end. For example, as best shown in FIGS. 4A
through 4C, as the coolant softens, the beverage container begins
to sink into the cooler. Accordingly, the cooler top sheet 13 may
change from being generally flat or slightly convex and take on a
much more convex shape to fill the concave the bottom end 42 of a
beverage container 40.
[0049] As time passes and heat energy is transferred from the
beverage container 40 to the cooler 10, the temperature of the
cooler will increase until it can no longer effectively cool the
beverage or minimize the beverage's rate of temperature increase.
At or near when the temperature of the beverage cooler is about the
temperature of the beverage or the beverage container 40, a user
can remove the original beverage cooler from the beverage insulator
replace it with a new, frozen cooler. The removed original cooler,
may either be discarded or placed back in a freezer or chest cooler
for re-freezing and eventual re-use. If the cooler 10 is of the
biodegradable variety, the biodegradation process will typically
begin at or shortly after the cooler is discarded.
Cooler Dispensors:
[0050] The shape and configuration of the coolers as described and
illustrated herein are amenable to being neatly stacked in a
tubular dispenser such as the examples illustrated in FIGS. 6
&7.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 6, an insulated tubular dispenser 100 is
illustrated. The dispenser comprises an insulated tubular body 102
that is typically comprised of spaced inner and outer plastic
sleeves with an insulating material spanning the space between the
sleeves. The insulating material can comprise foam or an air space.
In some variations, the space between the two sleeves can be
evacuated creating a vacuum space. End caps 104 &106 are
provided to cover the ends of the sleeve. They can be secured by
any suitable means including mating threads 112 & 114 and
friction fit. Both end caps are typically configured to be
removable although in some variations the cap on one end me be
fixedly secured to the body such as be fusion bonding or adhesive
bonding.
[0052] As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 6, an open end of
the body is partially closed by a semicircular plate 108. The plate
may be integrally molded with the inner or outer sleeves of the
body 102 or it may be attached to the body at a later point of the
manufacturing process. Nevertheless, the plate acts to prevent
coolers 10 stacked in the sleeve from easily falling out of the
sleeve when the associated end cap 106 is removed. Simply, to
remove a cooler from the sleeve, a user must slide it laterally
outwardly before pulling it away from the dispenser.
[0053] Since the variation of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 6
is insulated, it allows a user to transport frozen or chilled
coolers away from a freezer for use, such as at a picnic. The
dispenser can be transported by itself or it can be carried in an
ice chest such as might be utilized to carry food and/or
beverages.
[0054] A second type of dispenser 200 for use in a freezer is
illustrated in FIG. 7. This dispenser is designed to be vertically
disposed in a freezer. Like the previous dispenser, it comprises a
cylindrical tubular body 202. Unlike the previous dispenser it has
an open upper end 204 into which warm/melted coolers can be
deposited.
[0055] The bottom end 208 of the body is substantially closed so
that the coolers will not fall out of the dispenser when the
dispenser is properly vertically orientated. However, a
semi-circular slot 206 is provided that is bounded by the bottom
end 208 through which a user can remove a cooler from the dispenser
by sliding the cooler laterally. A second opening 210 generally
opposite the slot is also typically provided through which a user
may stick his/her finger to push or slide the bottommost cooler
through the slot 206.
[0056] The dispenser of FIG. 7 is typically comprised of a plastic
material and can include additional hardware and/or molded in
protrusions to facilitate the mounting of the dispenser to the
inside of a freezer. Alternatively, the unit can rest upright on a
shelf in a freezer.
[0057] While the dispensers above are described as being comprised
of plastic, it is appreciated that paper-based variations have been
contemplated as well. For instance, the coolers could be sold in
containers that serve both as packaging and as a dispenser.
Alternative Embodiments
[0058] The embodiments of the beverage cooler and methods of use as
illustrated in the accompanying figures and described above are
merely exemplary and are not meant to limit the scope of the
invention. It is to be appreciated that numerous variations to the
invention have been contemplated as would be obvious to one of
ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of this disclosure.
[0059] One potential alternative embodiment may include a device
having a shape adapted to receive a bottom end 42 of a beverage
container. For example, one or more cooling devices 10 may be
placed in a device which forms the enclosure 12 and freezes the
coolant 16 to a shape adapted to receive the bottom end of an
aluminum can or a disposable or recyclable water bottle.
Embodiments are considered which may be pre-shaped to a specific
design.
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