Cooling device

Abstract

This invention relates to a cooling device 10, 40 insertable into a container 402 to cool the contents 404 thereof, which cooling device 10, 40 includes at least one cooling body 12 defining a cavity in which a coolant can be stored and having coupling means 22 for releasably coupling the body 12 to an elongate rigid support element 24 having complementary coupling means 26 and by which the at least one cooling body 12 can be removable inserted into a said container 402. The invention extends to a kit 100 which includes a plurality of cooling devices 10, 40 and support means 102 for supporting the plurality of cooling devices 10, 40 in spaced relationship.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

THIS INVENTION relates to a cooling device. More particularly, it relates to a beverage cooling device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a cooling device, insertable into a container to cool the contents thereof, which cooling device includes at least one cooling body defining a cavity in which a coolant can be stored and having coupling means for releasably coupling the body to an article having complementary coupling means.

Preferably, the cooling body is configured to be coupled to a rigid support element and/or another like cooling body.

The cooling device may include an elongate rigid support element, having complementary coupling means for coupling the support element to the at least one cooling body at or near one end of the support element, and providing means by which the at least one cooling body can be removably inserted into and retained at a low level within a said container, typically below the surface of a beverage/other contents contained therein and a stirrer for stirring the contents of said container.

The cooling device may include a plurality of cooling bodies for coupling to one another and/or to the support element.

The coupling means and complementary coupling means may be provided by complementary coupling formations defined on the or each cooling body and/or the support element. In one embodiment, the or each cooling body defines a peripheral groove configured for snap-fitting engagement with a complementary coupling formation defined on the support element.

The at least one cooling body may be in the form of a hollow sphere. Naturally, however, the at least one cooling body may take other shapes. A cavity of the at least one cooling body may be at least partly filled with a coolant, such as for example, water or a freezable gel coolant, which is susceptible to cooling to a temperature below that of said contents of a container to be cooled.

The at least one cooling body may be of a synthetic plastics material.

The support element may have a tubular body which defines a reservoir in which a coolant can be stored. The tubular body may have closed ends, the reservoir being at least partly filled with a coolant. The tubular body may instead have a closed end and a spaced open end defining an inlet in flow communication with the reservoir via which coolant can be introduced into the reservoir. The support element may then include a stopper by which the open end of the tubular body can be sealingly closed. The stopper element may resemble the cooling body in form, eg. may be spherical.

In still another embodiment, the support element may include a thin hollow tube to provide a straw by which, in the case of a beverage, the contents of the container may be consumed.

In yet another embodiment, the support element may have a solid body.

The support element may include mounting means for removably mounting the support element on a container, the contents of which are to be cooled. The mounting means may include a mounting arm which extends from the support element at or near an end thereof remote from the or each cooling body and which is removably receivable over a side wall of said container, the contents of which are to be cooled, the container typically being upwardly open.

The support element may be of a synthetic plastics material.

The support element may have a height of between about 8 cm and about 14 cm.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit which includes

• • a plurality of cooling devices as hereinbefore described; and
  • support means for supporting the plurality of cooling devices in spaced relationship.

The support means may include a body defining a plurality of cooling body receiving formations in which cooling body of each cooling device is removably receivable. More particularly, the body may provide a tray defining a plurality of recesses providing cooling body receiving formations for receiving a plurality of cooling bodies removably therein. Instead, or in addition, the support means may include a body defining at least one support element receiving formation for receiving a support element of each cooling device thereon or therein.

The body may define at least one handle formation for gripping and carrying by a user. In one embodiment, a plurality of recesses are defined in the handle formation at angularly spaced positions, each recess providing a support element receiving formation.

The kit may include a plurality of cooling devices of varied sizes, the cooling devices of different sizes having support elements of differing lengths, thereby to suit the cooling devices to use in different lengths of containers, typically in the form of glasses.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a cooling device in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of another cooling device in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional view of still another cooling device in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 4 shows a three-dimensional view of a kit in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a cooling device in accordance with the invention.

The cooling device 10 includes a generally spherical cooling body 12 comprised of a central main body portion 14 and opposed end cap portions 16 coupled to the central main body portion 14. Each end cap portion 16 has a dimple 18 defined centrally therein and three elliptical recesses 20 defined at equi-spaced positions around the dimple 18. A central circumferential groove 22 is defined in the central portion 14. The cooling body 12 is hollow and is at least partly filled with a coolant, typically water or so-called ‘Freezing Gel’ freezable gel coolant, which can be cooled to a temperature below that of the contents of a container to be cooled. The end cap portions 16 are typically heat-sealed to the central portion 14 thereby to seal the coolant gel within a cavity (not shown) defined in the cooling body 12.

The cooling device 10 includes also a rigid elongate solid cylindrical support element 24. The support element 24 has a circlip-type coupling formation 26 defined at one end 28 thereof. The coupling formation 26 provides a retaining ring which is configured to be snag fittingly receivable in the groove 22 defined in the central portion 14 of the cooling body 12 thereby to couple the cooling body 12 to the support element 24. In the embodiment of FIG. 2 of the drawings, the support element 24 has a tubular body having closed ends 28, 36 and defines a reservoir 400 which is at least partly filled with coolant. Instead, the tubular body may have a closed end 28 and a spaced open end 36 which defines an inlet in flow communication with the reservoir 400 via which coolant can be introduced into the reservoir 400. The support element 24 then includes a stopper (typically provided by the boot 38 described below) by which the end 36 of the tubular body can be sealingly closed. In still another embodiment, the support element 24 includes a thin hollow tube 500 to provide a straw by which the beverage contents of a container may be consumed.

The support element 24 further includes mounting means, generally indicated by reference numeral 32, for removably mounting the support element 24 on a glass 402, containing a beverage 404 which is to be cooled. The mounting means 32 is provided by an arm 34 which extends from the support element 24 at its end 36 opposed to its end 28. It will be appreciated that the arm 34 is removably receivable over a side wall 406 of the glass 402. A boot 38 of a cushioning material, typically rubber, for buffering an end of the arm 34 which contacts the side wall 46 of a glass 402 in use, is mounted at the free end of the arm 34. The boot 38 is moreover typically of a material having a high coefficient of friction such that it enhances retention of the arm 34, and thereby the support element 24, on the glass 402.

It is to be appreciated that the support element 24 may come in various lengths. In one embodiment the support element 24 has a length/height of about 10 cm. In another embodiment, intended for use in a shorter glass, the support element 24 has a length/height of about 14 cm.

The cooling body 12 and support element 24 are typically of a synthetic plastics material.

In use, when it is desired to cool a beverage in a container, such as a glass, the cooling device 10 is pre-cooled, for example by placing the cooling body 12 and/or support element 24 in a freezer compartment, to a temperature below that of the beverage 404 to be cooled. The pre-cooled cooling body 12 and support element 24 are then removed from the freezer and coupled together. The cooling body 12 and support element 24 are thereafter inserted into the beverage 404 within the container/glass 402. It will be appreciated that the support element 24 and cooling body 12 may instead be coupled together prior to precooling thereof. The support element 24 thus provides means by which the cooling body 12 can be removably inserted into the beverage container 402 as well as a stirrer for stirring the beverage 404. Further the support element 24 itself serves to cool the beverage 404 to a degree.

In FIG. 3 of the drawings, reference numeral 40 refers generally to another cooling device in accordance with the invention and, unless otherwise indicated, same reference numerals used above designate similar parts. In this embodiment, the cooling body 12 comprises a truncated spherical main body portion 42 and a complementary truncated spherical hollow end cap portion 44, coupled to the main body portion 42 and having a circular dimple 46 defined centrally therein and four elliptical apertures 48 defined at equi-spaced positions around the dimple 46. It will be appreciated that beverage to be cooled may pass through the apertures 48 into contact with a truncated portion 50 of the main body portion 42, in which the coolant is sealed.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4 of the drawings, in which reference numeral 100 refers generally to a kit in accordance with the invention and, unless otherwise indicated, the same reference numerals used above designate similar parts. The kit 100 includes support means including a body defining a circular tray 102, for supporting a plurality of cooling devices 10 in spaced relationship. To this end, the tray 102 defines eight circumferentially spaced roughly hemispherical recesses 104, in each of which a cooling body 12 of a cooling device 10 is receivable, each recess 104 thus providing a seat for a cooling body 12. A rod-shaped handle 106 extends centrally upwardly from the tray 104, terminating in a disc-shaped lug 108. An axially outwardly extending annular bracket formation 110 is defined at a position along the length of the handle 106. The bracket formation 110 defines eight angularly spaced roughly semicircular cut-outs 112 in an outer periphery 114 thereof, in each of which an arm 34 extending from a support element 24 of a cooling device 10 is receivable, thereby to support the support element 24 of each cooling device 10, a cooling body 12 of which is supported on the tray 102. It will be appreciated that the cooling devices 10 of the kit may be of different sizes, I.e. have support elements 24 of different lengths such that they are suited to use in different lengths of glasses. In the case of a kit 100, the tray 104 containing the cooling devices 10 may be placed in a freezer compartment for cooling of the plurality of cooling devices 10 supported therein simultaneously.

The Applicant believes that the cooling device 10 will provide an effective means of cooling a beverage, or other contents of a container, without resulting in dilution of the beverage as is the case with the use of conventional ice cubes. It is believed that the cooling device 10 will provide an aesthetically appealing means of cooling a beverage that is furthermore re-usable and therefore cost-efficient

Claims

1. A cooling device, insertable into a container to cool the contents thereof, which cooling device includes

at least one cooling body defining a cavity in which a coolant can be stored and having coupling means for releasably coupling the body to an article having complementary coupling means.

2. A cooling device as claimed in claim 1, which includes an elongate rigid support element having complementary coupling means, for coupling the support element to the at least one cooling body, at or near one end of the support element and providing means by which the at least one cooling body can be removably inserted into a said container.

3. A cooling device as claimed in claim 2, in which the coupling means and complementary coupling means are provided by complementary coupling formations defined on the at least one cooling body and the support element.

4. A cooling device as claimed in claim 3, in which the at least one cooling body defines a peripheral groove configured for snap-fitting engagement with a complementary coupling formation defined on the support element.

5. A cooling device as claimed in claim 2, in which the at least one cooling body is in the form of a sphere.

6. A cooling device as claimed in claim 2, in which the cavity of the at least one cooling body is at least partly filled with a coolant which is susceptible to cooling to a temperature below that of said contents of a container to be cooled.

7. A cooling device as claimed in claim 2, in which the at least one cooling body is of a synthetic plastics material.

8. A cooling device as claimed in claim 2, in which the support element has a tubular body which defines a reservoir in which a coolant can be stored.

9. A cooling device as claimed in claim 8, in which the tubular body has closed ends, the reservoir being at least partly filled with a coolant.

10. A cooling device as claimed in claim 8, in which the tubular body has a closed end and a spaced open end defining an inlet in flow communication with the reservoir via which coolant can be introduced into the reservoir.

11. A cooling device as claimed in claim 10, in which the support element includes a stopper by which the open end of the tubular body can be sealingly closed.

12. A cooling device as claimed in claim 2, in which the support element includes a hollow tube to provide a straw by which said contents of a container may be consumed.

13. A cooling device as claimed in claim 2, in which the support element has a solid body.

14. A cooling device as claimed in claim 2, in which the support element includes mounting means for removably mounting the support element on said container, the contents of which are to be cooled.

15. A cooling device as claimed in claim 14, in which the mounting means includes a mounting arm which extends from the support element at or near an end thereof remote from the at least one cooling body and which is removably receivable over a side wall of said container, the contents of which are to be cooled.

16. A cooling device as claimed in claim 2, in which the support element is of a synthetic plastics material.

17. A cooling device as claimed in claim 2, in which the support element has a height of between 8 cm and 14 cm.

18. A kit which includes

a plurality of cooling devices, each cooling device including at least one cooling body defining a cavity in which a coolant can be stored and having coupling means for releasably coupling the body to an article having complementary coupling means; and

support means for supporting the plurality of cooling devices in spaced relationship.

19. A kit as claimed in claim 18, in which the support means includes a body defining a plurality of cooling body receiving formations in which a cooling body of each cooling device is removably receivable.

20. A kit as claimed in claim 19, in which the body provides a tray defining a plurality of recesses providing cooling body receiving formations for receiving a plurality of cooling bodies removably therein.

21. A kit as claimed in claim 18, in which the support means includes a body defining at least one support element receiving formation for receiving a support element of each cooling device thereon or therein.

22. A kit as claimed in claim 21, in which the body defines at least one handle formation for gripping and carrying by a user, a plurality of recesses being defined in the handle formation at angularly spaced positions, each recess providing a support element receiving formation.

23. A kit as claimed in claim 18, which includes a plurality of cooling devices of varied sizes, the cooling devices of different sizes having support elements of differing lengths.