Liquid Polymer Crystal-Filled Beverage Cooler

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling receptacle for maintaining the cool temperature of a beverage comprising: a body portion, where said body portion conforms to a cylindrical shape and includes a thin wall surrounding an opening, where said opening provides a means for the placement of a beverage container; a base, said base encloses one end of the body portion; and a mechanism of producing a cooling effect to sustain the temperature of the beverage. In one particular embodiment, the mechanism to produce a cooling effect includes liquid polymer crystals embedded in the base and wall. A drainage hole may be provided within the base. The liquid polymer crystals in the base and the wall activate upon the hydrated condensation of the beverage container to form a gel-like consistency and create a cooling effect to sustain the temperature of the beverage.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a beverage container for a can or bottled beverage to maintain a cool temperature for the beverage.

2. Description of Related Art

Beverages are enjoyed in cans and bottles on a regular basis. Cooling containers or receptacles have been developed to enclose the beverage. The cooling receptacle helps to maintain a cool temperature of the beverage as it is being consumed. The beverage containers or receptacles principally provide a covering of the beverage container to reduce the thermal conductivity and consequently reduce the speed at which the beverage warms in ambient conditions. Without such a cooling container or receptacle, the beverage heats more up rapidly especially in a warm environment. Many times individuals enjoy cool beverages outdoors directly from cans or bottles when attending sporting events, picnics or other outdoor activities that may encourage the consumption cooled beverages in cans or bottles.

In addition to insulating the cool beverage, the cooling receptacles also provide insulation between the user's hand and the outer surface of the beverage container. This insulation helps the user to handle even the coldest beverages and reduce any thermal conductivity between the user's hand and the beverage container. Some of the beverage container receptacles of the prior art include U.S. Pat. No. 3,995,445 which discloses a cooling receptacle for individual beverage containers which comprises a double-walled cylinder open at the top and closed at its base. The base is hollow and contains a high-density granular material. Another example of a beverage container is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,645 which discloses a beverage container cooler that comprises an outer container and an inner container co-axially mounted within the outer container for receiving a single beverage container such as a beverage containing can in a sleeve like fashion.

Although numerous designs have been created in the prior art further development is necessary to provide a beverage container or receptacle of sufficient material that helps to provide a better means to maintain a cool beverage while consuming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cooling receptacle for maintaining the cool temperature of a beverage comprising: a body portion, where said body portion conforms to a cylindrical shape and includes a thin wall surrounding an opening, where said opening provides a means for the placement of a beverage container; a base, said base encloses one end of the body portion;

and a means of producing a cooling effect to sustain the temperature of the beverage. In one particular embodiment, the means to produce a cooling effect includes liquid polymer crystals embedded in the base and wall. A drainage hole may be provided within the base. The liquid polymer crystals in the base and the wall activate upon the hydrated condensation of the beverage container to form a gel-like consistency and create a cooling effect to sustain the temperature of the beverage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A depicts a polymer crystal-filled container according to the present invention.

FIG. 1B depicts a top view of the polymer crystal receptacle according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a cooling receptacle for a canned or bottled beverage to maintain the relative coolness of the beverage over a period of time. The use of a cooling receptacle according to the present invention allows individuals to enjoy a cool beverage for an extended period of time even in a warm environment so that the beverage may be enjoyed in a cool state. The cooling receptacle according to the present invention is a cylindrical device that provides sleeve like insulation for the beverage. The present invention includes material infused with liquid polymer crystals. The liquid polymer crystals are embedded in the lining of the receptacle and activated by the condensation emitted from the beverage container. The reaction creates a chill like consistency that produces an evaporated cooling effect, which sustains the cooling temperature of the beverage over a period of time.

FIG. 1A depicts a polymer crystal cooling Receptacle 10 according to the present invention. The cooling Receptacle 10 includes cylindrical-shaped device with a body Portion 14 and a thin Wall 12 surrounding an Opening 13. The Opening 13 provides the means for the placement of a can or bottle beverage. The Wall 12 of the cooling Receptacle 10 includes liquid polymer crystals throughout the inner lining thereof. The liquid polymer crystals are embedded in the Wall 12 and produce a cooling effect to sustain the temperature of the beverage.

FIG. 1B depicts a top view of the cooling Receptacle 10 according to the present invention. The top view provides a depiction of the Base 17 of the cooling receptacle which includes a drainage Hole 15. The Base 17 of the cooling receptacle is also filled with liquid polymer crystals embedded within the Base 17. The liquid polymer crystals in the Base 17 and the Wall 12 activate upon the hydrated condensation of the beverage to form a gel-like consistency and create a cooling effect to sustain the temperature of the beverage.

The beverage receptacle according to the present invention utilizes the latest technology to retain the coolness of the beverage over extended period of time. The liquid polymer crystals throughout the Wall 12 and Base 17 of the cooling Receptacle 10 enables the user to enjoy a cool beverage over a extended period of time and in one exemplary embodiment the beverage may stay cool up to 12 hours. Use of the liquid polymer crystals throughout the wall and base of the receptacle therefore provides one of the most effective means of maintaining a cool beverage and provides a far superior cooling receptacle as known in the prior art. The instant invention has been shown and described in what it considers to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made there from within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A cooling receptacle for maintaining the cool temperature of a beverage comprising:

a. a body portion, where said body portion conforms to a cylindrical shape and includes a thin wall surrounding an opening, where said opening provides a means for the placement of a beverage container;

b. a plurality of liquid polymer crystals embedded in the wall, said crystals capable of producing a cooling effect to sustain the temperature of the beverage; and

c. a base, said base encloses one end of the body portion; and

d. a plurality of liquid polymer crystals embedded in the base, said crystals capable of producing a cooling effect to sustain the temperature of the beverage.

2. The cooling receptacle according to claim 1, further including a drainage hole within the base.

3. The cooling receptacle according to claim 1, where the liquid polymer crystals in the base and the wall activate upon the hydrated condensation of the beverage container to form a gel-like consistency and create a cooling effect to sustain the temperature of the beverage.

4. A cooling receptacle for maintaining the cool temperature of a beverage comprising:

a. a body portion, where said body portion conforms to a cylindrical shape and includes a thin wall surrounding an opening, where said opening provides a means for the placement of a beverage container;

b. a base, said base encloses one end of the body portion; and

c. a means of producing a cooling effect to sustain the temperature of the beverage.

5. The cooling receptacle according to claim 4, where said means to produce a cooling effect includes liquid polymer crystals embedded in the base and wall.

6. The cooling receptacle according to claim 4, further including a drainage hole within the base.

7. The cooling receptacle according to claim 5, where the liquid polymer crystals in the base and the wall activate upon the hydrated condensation of the beverage container to form a gel-like consistency and create a cooling effect to sustain the temperature of the beverage.