Cup with cooling and liquid preservation system

Abstract

A cup with cooling and liquid preservation system, where a set made up of a water holding container/base (1) holds the coupling of a cylindrical body cup (7) (8) in such a way as to cause the closing of the set through its upper brim (11), while maintaining an open inner space in the mentioned container/base (1). The joined set is then placed in the freezer, and, after unscrewing both parts; a crust of ice (G) around the cylindrical body (8) of the cup (7) is formed, which is then attached to the support (13). Thus a tulip-shape is formed, with its sides surrounded by a block of ice (G), exposed and supported to the lower support (13), allowing the ingestion of liquids like draft beer, and others at a constant cold temperature until the ice (G) melts. The water produced duly drains to the bottom of the support (13).

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Brazilian Application No. PI 0303274-4 filed Aug. 18, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a set made up of a container/base water receiver, to which a cylinder-shaped “glass”, that is, a cup or container, is threaded so as to create, by means of its upper brim, closure of the set while maintaining open internal space in the mentioned container/base.

The set is then placed in the freezer, and, by unscrewing both parts, a crust of ice around the cylindrical body of the cup is formed, which, in turn, is screwed to a support, along with the block of ice.

Thus a cup is formed with its sides surrounded by the ice block, which remains exposed and supported by the lower support, forming a set that visually has the shape of a “tulip” allowing for the ingestion of liquids mainly such as draft beer, and others completely refrigerated until the ice melts. The water produced by the melting of the ice is duly drained to the bottom of the support, without any contact with the beverage or interfering with its flavor.

2. The Prior Art

Draft beer consumers, especially beer customers are aware that these beverages should be consumed at very low temperatures due to the nature of their manufacture.

However, on very hot days or even while in contact of the cup with the consumers' hands, the liquid may warm up, and since ingestion should happen slowly, the beverage ends up losing some of its original flavor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The set under consideration will solve such problems, keeping the beverage totally refrigerated since the cup or container, through the base/container, gets to be involved by ice crust, which is then transferred to the lower base, for consumption.

Hence, up to three cups of draft beer may be consumed while the cup remains adequately refrigerated until the ice crust melts, without direct contact of the consumers' hand with the cup, which is made possible by means of the support, with the water resulting from the melting of ice naturally being stored in the base and later disposed of or re-used, if necessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawing, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the container holding the cup;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the support holding the cup;

FIG. 3 shows a cross section view of the cup being introduced into the container filled with water for screwing in order to create the ice envelope system;

FIG. 4 shows a cross section view of the cup already screwed to the container filled with water for the ice envelope system;

FIG. 5 shows a cross section view of the cup with ice already formed around its body, unscrewed and removed from the container;

FIG. 6 shows a cross section view of the cup already impregnated with ice in its body, being introduced for screwing to the support;

FIG. 7 shows a cross section view of the cup already impregnated by ice in its body, screwed to the support, for consumption of the drink;

FIG. 8 shows a cross section view of the cup, after consumption of the drink. Here, the water resulting from defrosting, was drained to the chamber of the support;

FIG. 9 shows a cross section view of the set: support, lower lid of the support and drinking cup, detached one from the other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with the attached drawings, the cup with cooling and liquid preservation system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention comprises a container 1 convex-shaped, open upper rim 2 with a small clipping 3, said container 1 with gradual funneling 4 until its background wall 5, to which is incorporated an internal pin 6, with threads.

The container 1 is completed by a glass or cup 7 of cylindrical body 8 incorporating a series of vertical friezes 8a slightly spaced among themselves, in radial array, being that the background wall 9 of the referred body 8 possesses material reinforcement, forming a central screwed hollow 10, coincidental to the pin 6.

The body 8 undergoes gentle upper opening, from which an orthogonal brim is projected 11 with external grooves 12.

The cylindrical body 8 of the cup 7 has a considerably smaller diameter in relation to the arched body of the container 1. Whereas, the brim 11 of the same body 8, in turn, has a diameter corresponding to the opening of the upper brim 2 of the container 1.

For the use of the set, the container 1 gets the water; soon afterwards, the hollow 10, gets screws to the pin 6, so as to cause, on the part of the brim 11, total closing to the container set 1/cup 7. The excess of water caused by the entrance of the body 8 into the container 1, will be expelled by the clipping 3 of the upper border of the latter 1.

Thus coupled and closed, the set will be taken to a freezer, so that the water turns solid, forming a crust of ice (G) between the internal wall of the container 1 and the external surface of the body 8 of the cup 7. The longitudinal friezes 8a radially distributed along the body 8 of the glass 7, provoke better adherence and structuring of the block of ice (G).

With the removal from the freezer and unscrewing, the cup 7 with its body 8 surrounded by the layer of ice undergo new coupling, this time to a third part or bottom support 13.

The support 13 has a ring-shaped base 14 threaded, detachable, with a hollow cylindrical body, in the form of a chamber 15, which is closed by an upper wall 16 lowered in relation to the upper rim 17, open, which incorporates ribs aiming at mechanical reinforcement.

The superior wall 16 has a central hole 18 leading to the chamber 15, with a pin projected upwards; at this point, a pin 19 split into two with external thread. The pin 19, in turn, is drained by two smaller holes 20, equally communicating with the chamber 15.

Therefore, taking advantage of the same furrow 10, the cup 7 already with the crust of ice (G) surrounding its body 8, will be screwed to the pin 19. For the diameter previously projected of the upper brim 17 of the support 13, the block of ice (G) will have a lower support point, being properly pressed upward against the inner part of the brim 11 of the body 8 of the cup 7.

This way, the user can fill the cup 7 with draft beer, beer, or other beverages, which, even if poured into the device at a normal temperature, will rapidly get cold due to the crust of surrounding ice (G), with the cooling accelerated by the friezes 8a, which increase considerably the area of body heat transference area 8 to its content.

Holding the support 13, the user should consume the drink little by little and the drink should be kept totally refrigerated also by the crust of ice (G) surrounding the body 8 and by its friezes 8a and, in addition, as a result of the lack of manual contact with the cup 7, but rather of the support 13.

The cup 7 can be filled several times before the ice (G) melts, with the water resulting from the melting process flowing out the central hole 18 without the need for the user to get his hands wet, maintaining total hygiene.

We can also see that the beverage has zero contact with the ice or runoff water, keeping its original flavor during the entire drinking time.

Finally, the water resulting from thawing enters the chamber 15, thanks to the action of the holes 20 for ventilation, and is later disposed of through the unscrewing and removal of the support 13 base 14, or reused if necessary, in a new condensation step.

The above set would preferably be manufactured from molds injected with thermal plastic material.

Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cup with cooling and liquid preservation system comprising a cup-shaped mold (1) with an open upper border (2) with a small opening (3), said container (1) being gradually funneled (4) up to its bottom wall (5), which incorporates an internal pin (6), with threads, the container (1) being completed by a cup (7) with a cylindrical body (8) incorporating a series of vertical friezes (8a) with slight radial spacing between them and the bottom wall (9) of the referred body (8) having material reinforcement, forming a digging central screw (10), coinciding with the pin (6), said body (8) undergoing gentle superior opening, from which an orthogonal brim is projected (11) with external grooves (12), the container (1) and cup (7) being completed by a bottom support (13), the support (13) having a ring-shaped base (14) threaded, detachable, with a hollow cylindrical body, in the form of a chamber (15), which is closed by a superior wall (16) lowered in relation to the superior border (17), open, with ribs, and the superior wall (16) has a central hole (18) leading to the chamber (15), with a pin projected superiorly at that point, (19) split into two with external thread, the pin (19), then, being drained by two smaller holes (20), equally open to the chamber (15).

2. The cup with cooling and liquid preservation system in accordance with claim 1, characterized by the formation of an ice crust (G) around the cup (8), initially coupled to the container (1) with water, after the set has stayed in a freezer; afterwards separating the cup (7) already with an envelope of ice around its body (8); said cup (7) being then coupled to the inferior support (13), and receiving the liquid for consumption.