Insulated beverage holder
An insulated beverage holder for keeping beverages originally at temperatures above or below ambient at their original temperatures, while preventing discomfort to a user holding the beverage. In various embodiments, the insulted beverage holder comprises a plurality of insulating layers. An inner layer is designed to conform to a beverage holder. An outer layer is designed to provide a suitable gripping surface and to provide wear resistance and protection for a beverage container. In some instances intermediate layers can be present to improve the insulating qualities of the beverage holder.
This application is related to co-pending U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled, “Tire Shaped Beverage Holder,” filed on even date herewith.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to insulated containers in general and particularly to a beverage holder that employs a plurality of insulated layers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMany beverage holders have been employed to retain a heated or cooled beverage at a desired temperature different from room temperature, and to protect the hand of a person from discomfort or thermal injury sustained by holding a vessel containing the heated or cooled beverage. However, many such beverage holders are lacking in that they do little or nothing to provide a comfortable grip or to protect the beverage container itself.
There is a need for a beverage holder that will maintain a beverage at a desired temperature different from room or ambient temperature while providing a comfortable surface for a user to hold and while protecting the beverage container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one aspect, the invention relates to an insulated beverage holder. The insulated beverage holder comprises a first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material having an axis of rotation, an external surface and an internal cavity defined therein, the internal cavity having an opening at a first end of the first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material, the first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material configured to engage a surface of a beverage container; and a second substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material having an axis of rotation, an internal surface in registry with the external surface of the first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material, the second substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material having an opening at a first end thereof, the second substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material having an external surface comprising a smooth slip-resistant surface comprising a low wear material. At least one of the first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material and the second substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material has a circular layer of insulating material aligned in a substantially perpendicular orientation to the axis of rotation of the substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material, the circular layer of insulating material closing off a second end of the substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material. When the beverage container contains a beverage at a temperature different from ambient temperature, the insulated beverage holder retards a flow of thermal energy between the beverage and an extremity of a person holding the insulated beverage holder.
In one embodiment the insulated beverage holder further comprises at least a third substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material situated adjacent at least one of the first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material and the second substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material.
In another aspect, the invention features an insulated beverage holder. The insulated beverage holder comprises a first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material having an axis of rotation, an external surface and an internal cavity defined therein, the internal cavity having an opening at a first end of the first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material, the first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material configured to engage a surface of a beverage container; and a second substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material having an axis of rotation, an internal surface in registry with the external surface of the first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material, the second substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material having an opening at a first end thereof, the second substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material having an external surface comprising a slip-resistant surface having interstices defined therein comprising a wear resistant material. At least one of the first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material and the second substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material has a circular layer of insulating material aligned in a substantially perpendicular orientation to the axis of rotation of the substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material, the circular layer of insulating material closing off a second end of the substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material. When the beverage container contains a beverage at a temperature different from ambient temperature, the insulated beverage holder retards a flow of thermal energy between the beverage and an extremity of a person holding the insulated beverage holder.
In some embodiments, the interstices defined in the slip-resistant surface are periodic interstices.
In some embodiments, the insulated beverage holder further comprises at least a third substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material situated adjacent at least one of the first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material and the second substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material.
The foregoing and other objects, aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and from the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe objects and features of the invention can be better understood with reference to the drawings described below, and the claims. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views.
The invention, in one embodiment is an insulated beverage holder that comprises two layers of insulating material, each layer being substantially in the form of a right circular cylinder having a rotation axis and at least one open end. An inner layer of insulating material is configured to hold in close registry a beverage container, such as a soda can or a beer can, or a bottle of water or juice. The inner layer is typically a soft, pliable material having a cavity that can accommodate beverage containers of different sizes, in particular having different diameters. In some embodiments, the inner layer is a pliable foam material made from plastic or rubber. In the embodiments described, the beverage container is filled with a cold beverage, such as chilled water, cold soda or beer, cold juice, or iced coffee. In other embodiments, the container is filled with a hot liquid, such as hot coffee or tea. In general, the insulated beverage holder is useful with regard to its insulating properties when the beverage in the beverage container is at a temperature different from room or ambient temperature.
The second layer of the insulated beverage holder is configured to hold the inner insulated layer in close registry, such that an inner surface of the outer layer is in registry with an outer surface of the inner layer. The outer layer comprises a material that is a thermal insulator, such as a plastic or rubber. The outer layer comprises a material that provides a selected one of a smooth slip-resistant surface comprising a low wear material and a slip-resistant surface having periodic interstices defined therein comprising a wear resistant material. For example, the smooth slip resistant surface comprising a low wear material is a smooth surface made from the type of soft rubber used in the manufacture of tires called “slicks” that are employed in drag racing. As an example, a slip-resistant surface having periodic interstices defined therein comprising a wear resistant material is a surface made out of the type of rubber used in treaded tire manufacture, such as in treaded racing tires, treaded off road motorcycle tires, and treaded all-terrain tires, which have a periodic pattern of grooves and/or a periodic array of protuberances. In the case of the smooth slip resistant surface, the material of construction comprises a material that provides a surface that can be described as “sticky” or having a high coefficient of friction per unit area. In contradistinction, the slip resistant surface having periodic interstices comprises a material that provides friction by virtue of the uneven nature of the surface. In this second example, friction is generated when the hand (or other extremity) of a user of the insulated beverage holder contacts the slip resistant surface and adapts to the irregular surface profile of the slip resistant surface. The inner and outer cylindrical layers cooperate to provide protection for a beverage container held in the insulated beverage holder, for example by cushioning the beverage container with the softer inner cylindrical layer, and by protecting the beverage container from being impacted by hard objects with the wear resistant or low wear outer layer.
In some embodiments, at least one of the inner and outer layers of insulated material are closed at one end by a circular layer of insulating material aligned in a substantially perpendicular orientation to the axis of rotation of the inner or outer layer of insulating material. One end of each layer is left open so that the beverage container can be inserted and removed from the insulated beverage holder by translating the beverage container relative to the insulated beverage holder along a rotation axis of the insulated beverage holder. As an example, a user can slide a cold can of soda or beer into the insulated beverage holder, and can then open the can and drink the contents thereof.
In some embodiments, the insulated beverage holder comprises at least a third substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material situated adjacent at least one of said first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material and said second substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material, for example to improve the insulating qualities of the beverage holder. In some instances, the third layer is situated in an intermediate position between the first and second layers. The third layer may, for example, provide an improved physical surface or chemical composition for bonding the exterior surface of the first cylindrical layer to one side thereof, and the interior surface of the second cylindrical layer to a second side thereof. Those of ordinary skill will recognize that more than three layers of insulating material can also be employed.
While the present invention has been explained with reference to the structure disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth and this invention is intended to cover any modifications and changes as may come within the scope and spirit of the following claims.
Claims
1. An insulated beverage holder, comprising:
- a first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material having an axis of rotation, an external surface and an internal cavity defined therein, said internal cavity having an opening at a first end of said first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material, said first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material configured to engage a surface of a beverage container; and
- a second substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material having an axis of rotation, an internal surface in registry with said external surface of said first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material, said second substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material having an opening at a first end thereof, said second substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material having an external surface comprising a smooth slip-resistant surface comprising a low wear material;
- at least one of said first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material and said second substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material having a circular layer of insulating material aligned in a substantially perpendicular orientation to the axis of rotation of said substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material, said circular layer of insulating material closing off a second end of said substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material;
- whereby, when said beverage container contains a beverage at a temperature different from ambient temperature, said insulated beverage holder retards a flow of thermal energy between said beverage and an extremity of a person holding said insulated beverage holder.
2. The insulated beverage holder of claim 1, further comprising at least a third substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material situated adjacent at least one of said first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material and said second substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material.
3. An insulated beverage holder, comprising:
- a first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material having an axis of rotation, an external surface and an internal cavity defined therein, said internal cavity having an opening at a first end of said first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material, said first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material configured to engage a surface of a beverage container; and
- a second substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material having an axis of rotation, an internal surface in registry with said external surface of said first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material, said second substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material having an opening at a first end thereof, said second substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material having an external surface comprising a slip-resistant surface having interstices defined therein comprising a wear resistant material;
- at least one of said first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material and said second substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material having a circular layer of insulating material aligned in a substantially perpendicular orientation to the axis of rotation of said substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material, said circular layer of insulating material closing off a second end of said substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material;
- whereby, when said beverage container contains a beverage at a temperature different from ambient temperature, said insulated beverage holder retards a flow of thermal energy between said beverage and an extremity of a person holding said insulated beverage holder.
4. The insulated beverage holder of claim 3, wherein said interstices defined in said slip-resistant surface are periodic interstices.
5. The insulated beverage holder of claim 3, further comprising at least a third substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material situated adjacent at least one of said first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material and said second substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 29, 2004
Publication Date: Jun 29, 2006
Inventor: Terrance Essel (East Syracuse, NY)
Application Number: 11/025,237
International Classification: B65D 25/00 (20060101);