U.S. patent application number 13/195123 was filed with the patent office on 2013-02-07 for thermal metal growler.
The applicant listed for this patent is Travis R. Rosbach. Invention is credited to Travis R. Rosbach.
Application Number | 20130032564 13/195123 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47626306 |
Filed Date | 2013-02-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130032564 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rosbach; Travis R. |
February 7, 2013 |
Thermal Metal Growler
Abstract
A container comprising an inner bottle and an outer bottle each
preferably made of stainless steel. The bottles nested and each
having a neck portion and connected at their necks so as to
minimize thermal conductivity between the inner bottle and outer
bottle and to form an air tight enclosed vacuum between the inner
bottle and outer bottle. Preferably the outer bottle has a volume
of between 102% and 130% of the inner bottle and the inner bottle
has a volume of between 26 and 80 ounces. The container can be
sealed and reused to permit efficient use as a growler for
beer.
Inventors: |
Rosbach; Travis R.; (Bend,
OR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Rosbach; Travis R. |
Bend |
OR |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
47626306 |
Appl. No.: |
13/195123 |
Filed: |
August 1, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/12.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/3841 20130101;
A47G 19/2288 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/12.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 23/02 20060101
B65D023/02 |
Claims
1. A container comprising: an inner bottle and an outer bottle made
of metal each having a neck portion; with said neck portion of said
inner bottle connected to said neck portion of said outer bottle so
as to minimize thermal conductivity between said inner bottle and
said outer bottle and form an air tight enclosed space between said
inner bottle and said outer bottle; a means of removably capping or
sealing said inner bottle; wherein said outer bottle has a volume
of between 102% and 130% of said inner bottle.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein said enclosed space between
said inner and outer bottle is a vacuum.
3. The container of claim 1 wherein said inner bottle and said
outer bottle are made of stainless steel.
4. The container of claim 1 wherein said inner bottle is filled
with beer.
5. The container of claim 1 wherein said inner metal bottle has a
volume of between 26 and 80 ounces.
6. The container of claim 1 wherein said inner metal bottle has a
volume of between 32 and 74 ounces.
7. The container of claim 1 wherein said inner metal bottle has a
volume of between 38 and 68 ounces.
8. The container of claim 1 wherein said inner metal bottle has a
volume of between 44 and 62 ounces.
9. The container of claim 1 wherein said inner metal bottle has a
volume of between 50 and 56 ounces.
10. The container of claim 1 wherein said outer bottle has a volume
of less than 126% of the inner bottle.
11. The container of claim 1 wherein said outer bottle has a volume
of less than 122% of the inner bottle.
12. The container of claim 1 wherein said outer bottle has a volume
of less than 118% of the inner bottle.
13. The container of claim 1 wherein said outer bottle has a volume
of less than 114% of the inner bottle.
14. The container of claim 1 wherein said outer bottle has a volume
of less than 110% of the inner bottle.
15. The container of claim 1 wherein said outer bottle has a volume
of less than 106% of the inner bottle.
16. A container comprising: an inner bottle and an outer bottle
made of metal each having a neck portion; with said neck portion of
said inner bottle connected to said neck portion of said outer
bottle so as to minimize thermal conductivity between said inner
bottle and said outer bottle to form an air tight enclosed space
between said inner bottle and said outer bottle; wherein said
enclosed space is a vacuum; a means of irremovably capping or
sealing said inner bottle; wherein said inner metal bottle has a
volume of between 26 and 80 ounces; wherein said outer bottle has a
volume of between 102% and 130% of said inner bottle.
17. A container comprising: an inner bottle and an outer bottle
made of metal each having a neck portion; with said neck portion of
said inner bottle connected to said neck portion of said outer
bottle so as to minimize thermal conductivity between said inner
bottle and said outer bottle to form an air tight enclosed space
between said inner bottle and said outer bottle; wherein said
enclosed space is a vacuum; a means of irremovably capping or
sealing said inner bottle; wherein said outer bottle has a volume
of between 102% and 130% of said inner bottle; and wherein said
inner bottle is filled with beer.
18. The container of claim 17 wherein said inner metal bottle has a
volume of between 26 and 80 ounces.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to thermal metal containers
principally for use in the purchase of beer from a brewery or pub
off of a tap, such containers commonly known as growlers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In the beer trade there is a modern resurgence of smaller
craft breweries and a growing appreciation of small batch beers.
Many of these breweries have very limited bottling or no bottling,
selling much of their production by the keg or on site through brew
pubs. While this is an economical way to produce beer for sale
through pubs and restaurants, individuals are rarely capable of
managing a 5 or more gallon keg purchase to enjoy these craft beers
in their home or in remote locations such as when participating in
outdoor activities such as camping or rafting.
[0003] Similarly, it is common to find many beers available on tap
in a pub that are not available in a grocery store, and many
customers find the taste of beer from a keg to be superior to that
of beer from a bottle. However, the costs of and complications of
maintaining kegged beer for personal consumption can be
prohibitive, much less the costs and complications of keeping a
wide selection of beers available in kegs for personal
consumption.
[0004] A traditional method of purchasing beer, predating bottling,
was to employ the growler, which was often a large can or bottle.
In modern times growlers are generally made of glass and larger
than traditional large beer 22 oz "bomber" bottles or even the 750
milliliter, 25 oz. "fifth," though they can be of any useful size.
They are resealable to permit re-use and the preservation of the
carbonation in beer after being dispensed from a keg. Any
resealable larger bottle might be referred to as a growler.
[0005] In traditional use a patron would bring a growler into the
pub or brewery for filling and later personal or remote
consumption. As craft breweries have expanded, this old style
method of buying beer in customer supplied large glass bottled has
returned.
[0006] A problem with traditional and common growlers is that the
glass material is fragile and provides only limited thermal
protection, requiring the beer in such a growler to be carefully
handled and quickly refrigerated after purchase. This is further
aggravated in that many craft beers are thermally sensitive and
alive with active yeasts. While a pasteurized bottle of common beer
might suffer nominally by being briefly warmed in transit and then
re-cooled for consumption, this is not the case with many craft
beers whose flavor can be irretrievably damaged through thermal
shock.
[0007] While thermal bottles are well known, the common thermal
bottle is bulky, has a glass inner bottle and provides a less than
adequate volume, often less than 22 oz, focusing on maximum thermal
retention to keep hot liquids, such as coffee, at maximum
temperature for extended periods of time. Larger thermal vessels
designed for non-industrial liquids are not designed to be air
tight to allow for the preservation of the beer's carbonation. As
well, the prior art, being either made entirely of glass, or with a
glass inner bottle was fragile and was not suitable for use in a
rugged environment such as when camping or whitewater rafting.
[0008] Prior art such as U.S. Pat. No. 672,025 to Walsh et al.,
failed to provide sufficient thermal insulation, using added ice
for cooling, failed to provide a sealing or capping that would
retain the carbonation in beer, and was bulky with a notable
volumetric differential between the inner and the outer container
walls.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,583 to Kelley et al., provides for
thermally insulating a traditional fragile glass growler, is bulky,
and essentially a thermal external sleeve adapted for enclosing a
traditional glass growler. U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,583 to Kelley et al.
also fails to provide the utility of a singular container which is
spatially efficient with thermal properties that may be sealed to
preserve the temperature and carbonation of beer.
[0010] Traditional thermal bottles focus on higher degrees of
insulation and lower volumes than are needed for growlers. Prior
thermal bottles teach generally to this relatively bulky,
excessively insulated type bottle that is innately inappropriate
for use in the storage or transport of beer. Thermal bottles, such
as U.S. Pat. No. 3,331,522 to Bridges and U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,123
to Komeda et al., are relatively bulky for the volume of liquid
they can contain and have a large volumetric differential between
an outer bottle and inner bottle (estimated to be 140% or greater)
and are adapted to be of a size that is generally smaller than
would be useful to serve as a growler, focusing on the utility of
keeping smaller volumes of liquids such as coffee at high
temperatures.
[0011] In light of the prior art, a need exists for an all metal
thermal bottle that is economical, resealable, providing more
thermal protection than a glass bottle without being breakable. As
well the market is in need of such a bottle that made efficient use
of space, recognizing the need for moderate thermal protection
without being bulky.
SUMMARY
[0012] It is a principal object of the present invention to provide
for a metal thermal bottle adapted for use with beer with the
thermal properties of keeping chilled liquids cold, preserving
carbonation and being of a proper size for use as a growler.
[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide for a
spatially efficient container without excessive differentials
between and inner bottle and an outer bottle such that appropriate
volumes of liquid might be transported without unnecessary
bulk.
[0014] According to the present invention there is provided an
inner bottle and an outer bottle, preferably both made of stainless
steel. The inner and outer bottles being nested and joined together
at their necks to create a vacuum space between the inner and outer
bottles and nominal inter-bottle contact or conductivity.
[0015] A resealable cap is fitted to the nested bottles, such as
with a threaded cap, sealing the contents of the inner bottle such
that beer or other carbonated liquid can be retained without losing
its carbonation.
[0016] The bottle as a whole is useful for the purchase and storage
of liquids such as beer purchased from a brewery or pub, poured off
a tap into the bottle, sealed and then later consumed either at
home, or elsewhere.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The above description and other objects, advantages, and
features of the present embodiment will be more fully understood
and appreciated by reference to the specification and accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a side cutaway view of the preferred embodiment of
the invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the upper portion of the
preferred embodiment of the invention with the cap in place.
[0020] FIG. 2a is a side plan view of the upper portion of the
preferred embodiment of the invention without the cap in place.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the
invention with the cap in place.
[0022] FIG. 3a is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of
the invention without the cap in place.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the preferred embodiment of
the invention.
DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0024] FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the present
invention in cutaway. Depicted is the inner bottle 10, which has a
neck portion 12, the outer bottle 20 with an outer bottle neck
portion 22. The inner bottle neck portion 12 and the outer bottle
neck portion 22, connected together at a point 30 to minimize
conductivity between the inner 10 and outer bottles 20 and being
sealed so as to permit a vacuum between the two bottles 32.
[0025] A means for resealably closing the inner bottle is provided,
with the preferred method being the placement of external threads
36 around the perimeter of the outer bottle neck 22, and fitting to
those threads 36 a sealing threaded cap 34. While this is the
preferred embodiment, providing a high degree of utility and
economy, other methods may similarly be used, including snap caps,
flip caps and other means of allowing the bottle to be filled and
sealed to preserve the carbonation of the inner bottle.
[0026] Contained within the bottle is a carbonated liquid, such as
beer 38.
[0027] In the preferred embodiment the volume of the inner bottle
is between 28 and 80 ounces to be useful as a growler in for the
purchase, storage and transportation of beer off a tap. An inner
bottle volume of approximately 64 oz. is a highly desirable size
for use with beer, though the use of a highly spatially efficient
thermal metal bottle for storage and consumption of beer may be of
any size.
[0028] In the preferred embodiment the vacuum space 32 between the
inner bottle 10 and the outer bottle 20 is nominal and mainly to
preserve the separation of the two bottles. Preferably the outer
bottle 20 has a volume of not more than 130% of the inner bottle 10
to promote efficiency. In an optimal design, the outer bottle 20 is
approximately 115% the volume of the inner bottle 10 for a
container of 60 to 70 ounces, with greater volume efficiencies for
larger sizes and generally lesser efficiencies for smaller
sizes.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the container essentially depicting
the outer bottle 20, with the sealing cap 34 in place. FIG. 2a
depicts the outer bottle 20, without a cap in place.
[0030] While any number of suitable metals might be used, in the
preferred embodiment both the inner bottle 10 and the outer bottle
20 are made of type 304 stainless steel. The sealing cap 34 may be
made of any number of suitable materials, including metal, hard
rubber, ceramics or plastics.
[0031] Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined
not by the embodiment illustrated, but by the appended claims and
their legal equivalents.
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