Container Cap Containing Cooling Agent Insert

Abstract

A container cap or lid or insert for use in cooling food and beverage containers having a cooling chamber in which are utilized water-activated endothermic cooling agents, a water-activated mixer within the chamber, a simple actuation means for initiating the cooling process, a feature that facilitates the recycling of the spent cooling agents and a method for using the same.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/421,556, filed Dec. 9, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to self-chilling containers and more particularly to self-cooling container caps or lids or inserts having a cooling chamber utilizing water-activated endothermic cooling agents, a water-activated mixer within the chamber, a simple actuation means for initiating the cooling process, a feature that facilitates the recycling of the spent cooling agents and a method for using the same.

2. Description of the Art

Self-cooling containers that utilize water-activated or liquid-activated endothermic cooling agents are known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,003,324 discloses a compartmentalized container for cooling beverages consisting of an outer chamber containing the beverage to be chilled, a two-part inner container holding water and the cooling agent separated by a barrier or membrane and a means for making contact between the cooling agent and the water within the inner compartment to facilitate the cooling effect. Because membranes that separate liquids from cooling agents are often difficult to reliably penetrate or fail to completely empty their contents in a rapid manner, several inventions in the prior art such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,023,587 also disclose techniques for improving penetration and release. In another embodiment, U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,678 discloses an internal mixing device within the compartment holding the liquid and cooling agent to overcome the inadequate mixing of the contents upon activation that is known to be a problem affecting self-cooling containers. Other similar examples are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,350,732, 7,117,684, 6,889,507, 6,351,953, 6,134,894, and 6,103,280.

With respect to the above, it is important for commercial success of any self-chilling container that it can be utilized within the preferred processes for making beverages and food. For example, many beverages must be pasteurized before being sealed in a container so that bacteria growth is eliminated and spoilage of the consumable item is minimized. Beverages such as beer, fruit drinks and the like are pasteurized in the body of the container before the lid is fixed to the container, so any self-chilling embodiment should be compatible with the existing pasteurization processes and not involve addition process steps.

Self-chilling containers should also be manufactured using conventional manufacturer materials and equipment with minimal adaptation. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,678 a container comprised of an outer compartment for holding a beverage and an inner compartment for holding a cooling agent is shown that can be manufactured with conventional can manufacturing technology. Here the container is made by first pre-forming the outer compartment such that it can be used to enclose a beverage during pasteurization and then pre-forming the inner compartment, as an integral part of the can lid or as a separate chamber, inserting the cooling agent into inner the compartment and then inserting the completed inner compartment into the outer compartment. The lid of the sealed container thus has a portal to access the inner compartment containing the cooling agent and a portal to access the beverage, and can be made with conventional lid manufacturing techniques and affixed to the container using conventional technology.

In a similar manner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,812 discloses caps that contain heating agents that can be fixed to the tops of containers to provide a means of heating the contents of the containers. It is thus evident from the prior art that it is advantageous to incorporate a self-chilling device into the caps or lids of containers rather than into the main body of the container in order to be compatible with existing beverage processes and container-manufacturing technology. Such an incorporation, however, must be designed to minimize contact between the cooling agent and the beverage. However, at the present time, none of these prior self-chilling containers, lids or caps have met with commercial success. Self-cooling containers and related cooling devices described in the prior art that utilize endothermic chemical agents are also not intentionally designed to be recyclable or to facilitate the reuse of the spent coolant held within, and thus have a reputation of being a wasteful and non-sustainable product and technology.

In order to be commercially successful, self-chilling containers must embody several attributes in addition to being adaptable to current container manufacturing techniques and processes. It is essential that: the cooling mechanism must be safe, simple, inexpensive and efficient; the actuation technique for initiating the cooling process must be tamper-evident and simple in order to appeal to the consumer; the internal chamber holding the liquid and cooling agent must provide rapid and complete contact and mixing between the liquid and the solid cooling agents; and the device must facilitate and encourage the environmentally safe reuse or recycle of the spent cooling agent. Self-chilling containers, lids and caps shown in the prior art have not had one or more of the above attributes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container equipped with a cap or lid coupled to a self-cooling device and method which can efficiently and safely cool beverages prior to consumption.

It is another object of this invention to provide a cap or lid containing a self-cooling device which can be manufactured along with the other components of a self-cooling container without major alterations in manufacturing machinery or equipment.

It is another object of this invention to employ an endothermic chemical process or reaction with safe and inexpensive materials as a self-contained cooling mechanism.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a cap or lid containing a self-cooling device which can be easily and safely actuated to initiate the cooling process whether or not part or a self-chilling container.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a cap or lid containing a self-cooling device that can facilitate and encourage the environmentally safe reuse or recycle of the spent cooling agent held within.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a cap or lid containing a self-cooling device comprising:

(a) a closure means, typically flat like a lid or shaped to fit over an opening or portal, having dimensions such that the closure means can cover and enclose an outer compartment containing a beverage to be cooled and form the top end of the outer compartment whereby the compartment also has at least one sidewall and a bottom end whereby the sidewall, lid or cap and the bottom end form a first cavity for storing a liquid. Here the lid is coupled to a self-cooling device and is directly and permanently attached to the outer compartment.

(b) a closure means, typically a threaded cap shaped to fit over an opening or portal, having dimensions such that the closure means can cover and enclose an outer compartment containing a beverage to be cooled and form the top end of the outer compartment whereby the compartment also has at least one sidewall and a bottom end whereby the sidewall, cap and the bottom end form a first cavity for storing a liquid. Here the cap is either permanently coupled to a self-cooling device or to a well that can contain the self-cooling device, or can be screwed onto the outer compartment to make contact between the lip of a self-cooling device that lies on top of the first cavity such that a leak-free seal is formed between the cap, the lip of the self-cooling device and the outer compartment. Here the cap is not permanently attached to the outer compartment but can be unscrewed and removed to access the beverage in the first cavity of the outer compartment and also screwed back on to seal off the first cavity when desired.

(c) an openable closure means located on, adjacent to incorporated within the surface of the lid of the outer compartment such that the means can be penetrated or opened or removed to provide access to the liquid stored within as is the case for a beverage can; or alternatively, the cap itself comprises an openable closure means as is the case for a beverage bottle.

(d) a self-cooling device comprising an inner compartment having a smaller diameter and volume than the outer compartment and incorporated into or coupled to the cap or lid forming the top end of the outer compartment such that the inner compartment can be located within the cavity of the outer compartment when the cap or lid containing the inner compartment is affixed to the outer compartment, said inner compartment including: (i) at least one sidewall, a top end and a bottom end, (ii) a second cavity containing a liquid, (iii) a third cavity containing an endothermic cooling agent or composition that will react when contacted with the liquid to absorb heat, (iv) a rupturable membrane or barrier means separating the second and third cavities, (v) a openable closure or tear panel or means attached to the top end that provides tamper-free access to the inner compartment while preventing accidental activation of the cooling mechanism, (vi) a hollow, porous but rigid puncturing means located in its un-activated state within the third cavity and having a sharpened end for rupturing the membrane or barrier separating the second and third cavities, which further comprises a hollow tube of which one end is sharpened to a point and the other end is blunt and having sidewalls punctured by a series of openings or orifices that allow the passage of liquids from the second cavity throughout the contents of the third cavity to promote rapid diffusion and ensure complete and thorough contact between the solid and liquid components or reactants, (vi) a flexible diaphragm attached to or comprising the top end of the inner compartment and accessible through the openable closure or tear panel having an interior-oriented surface and an exterior-oriented surface whereby the interior-oriented surface is affixed to the non-sharpened end of the puncturing means, (vii) a cooling mechanism comprising the compressible diaphragm attached to the puncturing means that is activated by compressing the diaphragm towards the interior of the inner compartment to allow the puncturing means to penetrate the membrane separating the two cavities such that the liquid from the second cavity gains access to the cooling agent in the third cavity and (viii) a static spring mixer consisting of compressed spring held in its compressed state by a solvent-soluble tape or glue where the solvent is typically water located in the third cavity containing the cooling agent adjacent to the interior surface of the flexible diaphragm such that the static spring mixer expands to mix the contents of the second and third cavities upon activation by water.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a self-chilling container as described above that is affixed to the cap or lid containing the self-cooling device may have a layer of insulation is affixed to the interior or the exterior surface of the sidewall of the outer compartment.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a lid containing the self-cooling device as described above that also serves as a covering of the top end of a self-chilling beverage container has an openable closure means on the surface of the lid comprising a rupturable tear panel or pull tab which may be ruptured to provide access to the liquid stored within the first cavity of the outer compartment of a self-chilling container whereby (i) the pull tab has a front end and a bottom end and (ii) the back end of the pull tab is placed adjacent to the rupturable tear panel such that when the front end of the pull tab is pulled away from the lid, the rupturable tear panel ruptures and moves into the first cavity, provide access to the liquid stored within.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the openable closure means that forms a covering of the top end of the outer compartment of a self-chilling container consists of a cap that can be firmly attached to top end of the outer compartment to form a sealed unit comprising: (i) a threaded cap equipped with a female-threaded fitting or other female-threaded means having an exterior surface and an interior surface such that the cap when screwed onto the self-chilling container will create a self-contained unit, (ii) a portal or orifice made through the top surface of the cap of sufficient diameter to allow insertion of a self-cooling device as described herein; (iii) a self-cooling device incorporated into or coupled to the cap through the portal to form a leak-free cap; (iv) a seal or gasket affixed to the interior surface of the cap and forming around the outer circumference of the self-cooling device that can also cover the opening of the outer compartment to create an isolated first cavity within the outer compartment that can contain any enclosed beverage or liquid without leakage or spillage and without any contamination from the environment even when the liquid is pressurized under those pressures typical of a carbonated beverage, and (v) a top end of the outer compartment equipped with a male-threaded fitting or other male threaded means that can mate with the threaded cap when screwed together to form a tight-fitting seal between the cap, the gasket, the top end of the outer compartment and the first cavity of the outer compartment.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a lid or cap as described above is directly and permanently attached to the inner compartment of the self-cooling device which is then in direct contact with the liquid contained within the outer compartment and located within the first cavity of the outer compartment. As shown above, the inner compartment is self-contained without any seals or penetrations between the contents of the inner compartment and the contents of the first cavity of the outer compartment so that contamination of a beverage with cooling agent is virtually eliminated. With respect to the inner compartment of the self-cooling device, the flexible diaphragm is affixed to the top of the inner compartment to create a completely self-contained unit that can be activated by the consumer with no contact between the consumer and contents of the inner compartment. As an additional safety feature, the flexible diaphragm and contact interface with the consumer with respect to activating the cooling mechanism is separated from the pull tab at the top of the container whereby the consumer accesses the beverage. By these features, the self-chilling container is made safe to use.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the surface of the cap or lid is expanded to form a well that can extend into the interior of the first cavity, when the lid or cap is secured to the outer compartment, to displace some of the volume of the first cavity that contains the liquid to be cooled such that a fourth cavity is formed that does not contain any liquid and is open to the environment. The fourth cavity conforms to the shape of the inner compartment of the self-cooling device and is made to hold the inner compartment in place. The inner compartment can be held in place within the well of the lid or cap by a pressure seal attached to the circumference of the bottom end of the sidewall of the inner compartment or by modifying the bottom end of the sidewall to form a male threaded fitting that can be screwed into a female threaded fitting formed as a modification of the top expanded end of the well. In this manner a separate cooling device or insert that comprises the cooling mechanism, the static spring mixer, the cooling agent, the separating barrier and the liquid to activate the cooling agent can all be manufactured separately from the cap or lid and the container holding the beverage to be cooled, and thus the described cooling device can be inserted into and removed from the cap or lid and thus indirectly from a beverage container for ease of use and to promote efficiency with respect to the manufacturing of the lid, cap, container and the device and with respect to the recycling and reuse of the lids, caps, containers and the spent cooling materials.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the sidewall adjacent to the top end of the inner compartment of the self-cooling device as described herein is modified to form a lip or concentric ring that extends outward perpendicular to the vertical axis of the sidewall of the inner compartment. The lip has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a gasket attached to the bottom surface of the lip, and is extended such that the bottom surface of the lip forms a leak-free seal of the first cavity when the modified self-cooling device is placed into the first cavity of the outer compartment and onto the top of the outer compartment of a beverage container and downward pressured is applied to the top surface of the lip. This downward pressure can be applied by screwing on any standard cap or lid that is typically used to seal a beverage or food container which is typically a glass or plastic bottle. In this manner a separate cooling device or insert that comprises the cooling mechanism, the static spring mixer, the cooling agent, the separating barrier and the liquid to activate the cooling agent can all be manufactured and sold separately from the cap or lid and the container holding the beverage to be cooled, and thus the described cooling device can be inserted into and removed from a beverage bottle or other related container having a cap or a lid without the need for a specially modified cap, lid or self-chilling container for ease of use and to reduce the cost of use.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a self-cooling device as described above is affixed with a balloon containing the liquid that is positioned to occupy all of the interior space of the second cavity such that the balloon forms the membrane or barrier that separates the liquid in the second cavity from the cooling agent in the third cavity.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a self-cooling device as described above is modified to allow the hollow, porous and rigid puncturing means to be extended through the flexible diaphragm to the open environment to allow a porous conduit between the cavities of the inner compartment and the environment. In this modification, the puncturing means, which in its unmodified state can be visualized as a hollow tube of which one end is sharpened to a point and the other end is blunt and having sidewalls punctured by a series of openings or orifices that allow the passage of liquids, is connected by its blunt end to a removable plug that is fitted into an orifice located in the center of the flexible diaphragm. The plug can be held in place within the flexible diaphragm by a pressure seal attached to the circumference of the bottom end of the plug or by modifying the bottom end of the plug to form a male threaded fitting that can be screwed into a female threaded fitting formed as a modification of the orifice within the flexible diaphragm. The plugs and the fittings serve as a safety device and minimize the risk of contact between the consumer and the contents of the cooling device when the consumer activates the device. The puncturing means is further modified by forming a raised rib extending around the circumference of the sidewall of the hollow tube below the sharpened area or by forming a threaded means in the same area such that the rib or threaded means connects with the groves of the female fitting within the flexible diaphragm when the puncturing means is extended through the orifice of the diaphragm, thus securing the extended puncturing means in place within the flexible diaphragm such that the contents of the inner compartment will flow through the series of openings within the sidewall of the hollow puncturing means in a predictable and controlled manner and not leak out around the orifice.

According to still another embodiment of the invention, a self-cooling device that is part of a self-chilling container as described above is first activated to chill the liquid or beverage contained within the outer container and after completion of this functionality, the removable plug affixed to the porous hollow tube of the puncturing means is loosened from the orifice in the flexible diaphragm and the puncturing means extended through the orifice and secured in place in the extended position. The spent liquid coolant which may have residual value can now flow through the openings in the sidewall of the puncturing means without spillage. Where the spent liquid coolant has residual value as a fertilizer, which is commonly the case for the most effective, inexpensive and safe-to-use cooling agents, the container equipped with the extended puncturing means can be inserted into the soil or media containing the plants to be fertilized and the liquid fertilizer can then flow through the openings in a slow and controlled way to provide a controlled release of nutrients in a manner designed to enhance plant growth. In this mode, the self-chilling container promotes the reuse and recycling of the spent cooling agent and facilitates the recycling and enhances the residual value of the container and its contents.

The lid or cap containing the self-cooling device when used as part of a self-chilling container disclosed herein thus provides several additional benefits, some of which are detailed below. For example, since self-chilling beverages do not have to be refrigerated to provide a chilled liquid, their use may reduce the cost borne by retailers of beverage containers to store and market the beverage containers at low temperatures. Self-chilling beverage containers may similarly reduce or eliminate the need for vending machines that employ traditional refrigeration methods to store the beverage containers at low temperatures. Notably, as the self-chilling beverage container does not use electricity or refrigerant gas to chill the beverage within the container, the self-chilling beverage container has less adverse impact upon the environment compared to a traditional chilled beverage can. The beverages within self-chilling containers may also be chilled in a significantly shorter amount of time as compared to customary refrigeration methods. When traditional beverage containers are placed in freezers to chill them at a faster rate, the containers often explode upon freezing and expansion of the contents contained within, while a self-chilling container as described herein is not prone to exploding when placed in a freezer or stored in below-freezing temperatures in an unheated warehouse. Lid and caps containing the self-cooling devices are also easier and less costly to manufacture compared to self-chilling containers where the self-cooling device is part of the body of the container instead of the cap or lid. Self-cooling devices that can be used with any standard beverage bottle without modification of the bottle or cap or lid are particularly advantages with respect to cost and ease of use and time to market.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND DRAWINGS

The objects of the present invention and the associated advantages thereof will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a self-chilling beverage container having a lid containing a self-cooling device.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-section through an insulated self-chilling beverage container illustrating the lid attached to the inner compartment of the self-cooling device and coupled to the outer compartment and illustrating: the lid; the first cavity containing the beverage; the second cavity containing the liquid activating material; the third cavity containing the cooling agent; the hollow, porous puncturing means; the static spring mixer; the flexible diaphragm; and the closed tear panel.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-section through an insulated self-chilling beverage container illustrating the lid containing the self-cooling device showing the opening of the access tear panel and illustrating the puncturing means puncturing the rupturable membrane and showing the flow of liquid from the first cavity into the second cavity through the ruptured membrane and through the openings in the puncturing means.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-section through an insulated self-chilling beverage container illustrating the lid containing the self-cooling device showing the expansion of the static spring mixer and subsequent mixing of the contents of the inner compartment.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-section through the lower half of the inner compartment of the self-cooling device attached to the lid of the self-chilling beverage container illustrating: the puncturing means; the compressed static spring mixer; the barrier membrane fixed between the second and the third cavities; the un-activated flexible diaphragm; and the closed tear panel.

FIG. 6 illustrates the compressed static spring mixer held in place by the solvent-activated tape and the expanded static spring mixer.

FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of the cooling mechanism where the puncturing means is permanently affixed to the flexible diaphragm and another embodiment of the cooling mechanism where the puncturing means is affixed to a removable plug inserted into the flexible diaphragm.

FIG. 8 illustrates the fully extended removable plug containing the puncturing means secured within the flexible diaphragm.

FIG. 9 illustrates the self-chilling beverage container equipped with a lid containing the self-cooling device where the fully extended removable plug containing the puncturing means is inserted into soil surrounding plants such that the spent liquid cooling agent can flow from the device into the soil.

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-section through an insulated self-chilling beverage container illustrating the outer compartment with the first cavity containing the beverage and a lid having an expanded bottom surface forming a fourth cavity modified with a female-threaded means in which is inserted the threaded self-cooling device.

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-section through a self-chilling beverage container illustrating the outer compartment with the first cavity containing the beverage and a lid having an expanded bottom surface forming a fourth cavity modified with a female-threaded means, and an illustration of the self-cooling device insert having: the second cavity containing the liquid activating material; the third cavity containing the cooling agent; the hollow, porous puncturing means; the static spring mixer; the flexible diaphragm; and the bottom end of the sidewall modified with a male-threaded means.

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-section through an insulated self-chilling beverage container illustrating the outer compartment with the first cavity containing the beverage and a lid having an expanded bottom surface forming a fourth cavity modified with a female-threaded means in which is inserted the self-cooling device equipped with a pressure seal.

FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-section through a self-chilling beverage container illustrating the outer compartment with the first cavity containing the beverage and a lid having an expanded bottom surface forming a fourth cavity modified with a female-threaded means, and an illustration of the self-cooling device insert having: the second cavity containing the liquid activating material; the third cavity containing the cooling agent; the hollow, porous puncturing means; the static spring mixer; the flexible diaphragm; and the bottom end of the sidewall equipped with a pressure seal.

FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-section through a self-chilling beverage bottle illustrating the threaded cap containing the self-cooling device and illustrating: the first cavity containing the beverage; the second cavity containing the liquid activating material; the third cavity containing the cooling agent; the hollow, porous puncturing means; the static spring mixer; the flexible diaphragm; and the tear panel.

FIG. 15 is a close view of a vertical-cross-section of a typical beverage bottle and threaded cap illustrating self-chilling bottle illustrating a self-cooling device equipped with a lip where said device can be inserted into the beverage bottle to cool the bottle without modification of the bottle or the cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a self-cooling container 5 particularly suited for carbonated soft drinks, fruit drinks, beer and other similar beverages that is equipped with a lid 3 at its top end 11 coupled to a self-cooling device 51. Preferably, the container 5 is a can constructed of conventional materials such as aluminum or other suitable materials and the lid 3 is constructed of materials similar to the can, or a bottle constructed of a plastic material such as polycarbonate as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 with a cap 4 constructed of plastic or other materials. With reference to FIG. 2, the container 5 has an outer compartment 10 having a lid 3, a bottom end 12 and at least one sidewall 13, an optional insulation means 14, an outer compartment 10 that encloses a first cavity 16 that contains a beverage 17 to be cooled, an openable closure means 18 and an inner compartment 19 that contains the liquid activating agent 20, the cooling agent 21, a barrier or rupturable membrane 22 that separates the liquid activating agent 20 from the cooling agent 21, a puncturing means 23 for rupturing the membrane 22 in order to initiate the cooling process, a compressed static spring mixer 24, a flexible diaphragm 25 used to apply force to the puncturing means 23 and an openable closure or tear panel 26 that prevents accidental activation of the cooling mechanism. A close view of the upper half of the inner compartment 19 of the self-cooling device 51 illustrating the puncturing means 23, the compressed static spring mixer 24, the barrier membrane 22 fixed between the second and the third cavities 30 and 31, the un-activated flexible diaphragm 25, and the closed tear panel 26 is shown in FIG. 5.

With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the openable closure means 18 typically consists of a pull tab 6 coupled to the lid 3 of the outer compartment 10 and is generally opened by pulling up on the tab 6 to pivot the tab 6 such that the tab 6 breaks a rupturable tear panel 7 incorporated into the lid 3 attached to the outer compartment 10, allowing access to the beverage 17 contained within the first cavity 16. Typically, the openable closure means 18 is made from the same materials commonly used to manufacture metal cans including steel, aluminum and alloys.

Alternatively and in reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, the openable closure 18 means that forms the top end 11 of the outer compartment 10 of a self-chilling container 5 consists of a cap 4 that can be firmly attached to top end 11 of the outer compartment 10 to form a sealed unit comprising: (i) a threaded cap 4 equipped with a female-threaded fitting or other female-threaded means 53 having an exterior surface 54 and an interior surface 55 such that the cap 4 when screwed onto the self-chilling container 5 will create a self-contained unit, (ii) a portal or orifice 56 made through the top surface of the cap 4 of sufficient diameter to allow insertion of a self-cooling device 51 as described herein; (iii) a self-cooling device 51 incorporated into or coupled to the cap 4 through the portal 55 to form a leak-free cap 4; (iv) a seal or gasket 57 affixed to the interior surface 55 of the cap 4 and forming around the outer circumference of the self-cooling device 51 that can also cover the opening of the outer compartment to create an isolated first cavity 16 within the outer compartment 10 that can contain any enclosed beverage or liquid 17 without leakage or spillage and without any contamination from the environment even when the liquid 17 is pressurized under those pressures typical of a carbonated beverage, and (v) a top end 11 of the outer compartment 10 equipped with a male-threaded fitting or other male threaded means 57 that can mate with the threaded cap 4 when screwed together to form a tight-fitting seal between the cap 4, the gasket 57, the top end 11 of the outer compartment and the first cavity 16 of the outer compartment 10.

With further reference to FIG. 2, the inner compartment 19 of the self-cooling device 51 is positioned adjacent to the top end 11 of the outer compartment 10 and has at least one sidewall 27, a top end 28 and a bottom end 29. The inner compartment 19 also contains a second cavity 30 that contains the liquid activating agent 20 and a third cavity 31 that contains the cooling agent 21. The liquid activating agent 20 in the second cavity 30 can be any suitable liquid which will react with the cooling agent 21 in the third cavity 31 such that the mixture will absorb heat and will typically be water although other inorganic and organic liquids can be used depending upon the selection of the cooling agent 21. The cooling agent 21 can be any material which reacts on contact with the liquid activating agent 20 in the second cavity 30 to absorb heat. This chemical reaction or related dissolution process, known as an endothermic reaction or process, comprises the means by which the mixture of cooling agent 21 and liquid 20 cools the beverage 17 held in the first cavity 16 of the outer compartment 10 by heat transfer through the wall of inner compartment 19 from the beverage 17. To facilitate heat transfer from the beverage 17, the inner compartment 19 should be constructed of a suitable heat transfer material and is preferably made from materials such as steel, aluminum or other metal alloys.

A wide variety of endothermic chemical compounds can be used as cooling agents in this invention and such chemicals are disclosed in the prior art. When the liquid activating agent 20 is water, typical cooling agents 21 include urea, potassium fluoride dihydrate, potassium chloride, potassium bromide, potassium iodide, potassium nitrite, potassium nitrate, potassium thiosulfate pentahydrate, potassium cyanide, potassium cyanate, potassium thiocyanide, sodium perchlorite, sodium perchlorate, sodium perchlorite dihydrate, sodium bromide dihydrate, sodium nitrite, sodium nitrate, sodium acetate trihydrate, sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate, sodium cyanide dihydrate, sodium cyanate, ammonium chloride, ammonium bromide, ammonium iodide, ammonium iodate, ammonium nitrite, ammonium nitrate, ammonium cyanide, ammonium thiocyanide, silver nitrate, rubidium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, ammonium polyphosphate, ammonium pyrophosphate and ammonium metaphosphate. The selection of a cooling agent 21 is based upon performance, cost, toxicity, safety and recyclability, and the preferred cooling agent contains a nitrogen compound, a potassium compound and a phosphorus compound and can be reused as a liquid fertilizer when no longer useful as a coolant. To accomplish this goal, various additives such as surfactants and thicken agents including guar and xanthate gums are added to the cooling agent to improve the performance of the spent coolant as a liquid fertilizer.

With further reference to FIG. 2, the insulation means 14 may be coupled to the interior and exterior surfaces of the sidewall 13 of the outer compartment 10 to insulate the beverage 17 within the first cavity 16 from heat. The insulation means 14 is typically made out of a non-toxic material such as expanded polystyrene especially when it is applied to the interior surface of the sidewall 13 where the material would come in contact with the beverage 17.

The barrier or rupturable membrane 22 shown in FIG. 2 that separates the liquid activating agent 20 from the cooling agent 21 is coupled to the sidewall 27 of the inner compartment 19 and divides an area formed by the sidewall 27 and the top and bottom ends 28 and 29 into a second cavity 30 and third cavity 31. The second cavity 30 and the third cavity 31 can be of different sizes and the rupturable membrane 22 is made out of material that can be punctured by the puncturing means 23, including rubber, elastomers, latex, polychlororprene, films, plastics etc. The rupturable membrane 22 is sufficiently durability to keep the contents of the second cavity 30 from coming into contact with the contents of the third cavity 31 during normal handling.

Alternatively, the rupturable membrane 22 may consist of a balloon containing the liquid 20 that is positioned to occupy all of the interior space of the second cavity 30 such that the balloon forms the membrane or barrier 22 that separates the liquid 20 in the second cavity 30 from the cooling agent 21 in the third cavity 31.

The puncturing means 23 shown in FIG. 2 comprises a hollow, porous but rigid cylindrical tube 32 having a top end 33, a bottom end 34 and at least one sidewall 35. The top end 33 of the tube 32 is sharpened to a point and the bottom end 34 is blunt. The tube 32 has an internal diameter between 0.125 and 0.5 inches and is of sufficient length to be able to extend at least 0.25 inches into the second cavity 30 from the third cavity 31 after having penetrated the rupturable membrane 22 upon activation. At rest the puncturing means 23 is of sufficient length to extend within around 0.25 inches below the rupturable membrane 22. The bottom end 34 of the puncturing means 23 is coupled or attached to the interior surface of the flexible diaphragm 25 by a housing 36 such that the housing 36 orients the puncturing means 23 to move vertically upward towards the rupturable membrane 22 without moving significantly side-to-side. The tube 32 is penetrated by a series of openings or orifices 37 through the sidewall 35 of the tube 32 such that any liquid 20 moving through the hollow core of the tube 32 can be distributed in a uniform manner from the hollow core into the third cavity 31.

As shown in FIG. 3, when force is applied to the flexible diaphragm 25 attached to the puncturing means 23, the puncturing means 23 is driven through the membrane 22 which ruptures and allows the passage of some of the liquid 20 from the second cavity 30 directly into the top of the third cavity 31 and also throughout all parts of the third cavity 31 through the core of the hollow tube 32 and out through the openings 37 in the sidewalls 35 of the tube 32 to promote rapid diffusion and ensure complete and thorough contact between the cooling agents 21 in the third cavity 31 and liquid activation agents 20 in the second cavity 30. During typical use, the consumer first turns the container 5 upside-down so that the liquid 20 in the second cavity 30 will flow by gravity into the third cavity 31.

With respect to the inner compartment 19 of the self-cooling device 51, the flexible diaphragm 25 is affixed to the top of the inner compartment 19 to create a completely self-contained unit that can be activated by the consumer with no contact between the consumer and contents of the inner compartment 19. As an additional safety feature, the flexible diaphragm 25 and contact interface with the consumer with respect to activating the cooling mechanism is completely separated from the pull tab 6 at the top of the container 5 whereby the consumer accesses the beverage 17. By these features, the self-cooling container 5 is made safe to use.

The compressed static spring mixer 24 illustrated in FIG. 2 comprises a compressed spring 38 placed but not permanently attached at the bottom of the third cavity 31 and on top of the interior surface of the flexible diaphragm 25. The compressed spring is held in its compressed state by a solvent-soluble tape or glue 39 whereby the solvent is typically water, and has sufficient tensile strength to be able to spring open and push through into the second cavity 30 from the third cavity 31 while overcoming any resistance presented by remnants of the ruptured membrane 22. A close view of the compressed spring 38 secured with the solvent-activated tape 39 and the uncompressed spring 40 is shown in FIG. 6. The compressed spring 38 is activated into becoming a static mixer when solvent dissolves or loosens the solvent soluble tape 39 that holds the spring 38 in its compressed state. The compressed spring 38 can be made of various materials including steel, aluminum, carbon fiber and plastic such that the material has sufficient tensile strength to be effective as a static mixer when the spring is uncoiled. The water soluble tape or glue 39 is well known to those familiar with the prior art and can be procured from various suppliers such as 3M. Alternatively, if the liquid activating agent 20 is not water, then the tape or glue 39 used to secure the compressed spring 38 must be soluble in the non-aqueous liquid activating agent 20. There are many examples shown in the technical literature of tapes and glues that are soluble in liquids other than water and can be used for this invention in the event that the liquid activating agent 20 is an alcohol, ketone, acetate or hydrocarbon or the like.

As shown in FIG. 4, when liquid loosens or dissolves the tape 39, the spring 38 uncoils with sufficient force to roil the liquid coolant mixture 20 and 21 and improve the contact between clumps of undissolved cooling agent 21 in the third cavity 31 and isolated pockets of liquid activation agent 20 in the second cavity 30. The uncoiled spring 40 is now free to move throughout the inner compartment 19 and when the self-chilling container 5 is shaken up and down after activation of the cooling mechanism and cooling process, the uncoiled spring 40 continues to improve mixing within the inner compartment 19 by moving from the top to the bottom of the inner compartment 19, breaking up any remaining clumps of undissolved material and improving the transfer of heat from the beverage 17 in the first cavity 16 through the sidewall 27 of the inner compartment 19 by creating turbulent mixing forces that promote efficient heat transfer through boundary layers adjacent to the interior and exterior surfaces of the inner compartment 19.

Although other mechanical mixing means are described in the prior art, the static spring mixer 24 described herein is a significant improvement over other such devices because it simple, inexpensive, free of complex and unreliable drivers or rubber bands that may deteriorate and break or other such motive forces and can be easily inserted into the third cavity 31 of the inner compartment 19 during manufacture.

With further reference to FIG. 2, an openable closure or tear panel 26 is shown that prevents accidental activation of the cooling mechanism. This tear panel 26 can be any material which will prevent access to flexible diaphragm 25 until it is desirable to access the flexible diaphragm 25 and activate the cooling mechanism. The tear panel 26 can be an adhesive foil, a plastic cap or the like which can be pealed back, opened, or otherwise removed by the consumer. The tear panel 26 is shown in the opened position in FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 through 5 describe a self-cooling container 5 equipped with a lid 3 containing the self-cooling device 51 whereby the flexible diaphragm 25 is sealed off from the environment. In another embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 7, the flexible diaphragm 25 is modified to allow the puncturing means 23 to be extended through the flexible diaphragm 25 to the open environment to allow a porous conduit between the cavities 30 and 31 of the inner compartment and the environment. In this modification, the puncturing means 23, which in its unmodified state can be visualized as a hollow tube 32 of which the top end 33 is sharpened to a point and the bottom end 34 is blunt and having sidewalls 35 punctured by a series of openings or orifices 37 that allow the passage of liquids 20, is connected by its blunt end 34 to a removable plug 41 that is fitted into an orifice 42 located in the center of the flexible diaphragm 25. The plug 41 can be held in place within the flexible diaphragm 25 by a pressure seal 43 attached to the circumference of the bottom end of the plug 41 or by modifying the bottom end of the plug 41 to form a male threaded fitting 44 that can be screwed into a female-threaded fitting 45 formed as a modification of the orifice 42 within the flexible diaphragm 25. The plug 41 and the fittings 44 and 45 serve as a safety device and minimize the risk of contact between the consumer and the contents of the cooling device when the consumer activates the device.

The puncturing means 23 is further modified by forming a raised rib 46 extending around the circumference of the sidewall of the hollow tube 32 below the sharpened area or by forming a threaded means 46 in the same area such that the rib or threaded means 46 connects with the groves of the female fitting 45 within the flexible diaphragm 25 when the puncturing means 23 is extended through the orifice 42 of the diaphragm 25, thus securing the extended puncturing means 23 in place within the flexible diaphragm 25 such that the contents of the inner compartment 19 will flow through the series of openings 37 within the sidewall 35 of the hollow puncturing means 23 in a predictable and controlled manner and not leak out around the orifice 42.

In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the removable plug 41 affixed to the porous hollow tube 32 of the puncturing means 23 is loosened from the orifice 41 in the flexible diaphragm 25 and the puncturing means 23 extended through the orifice 41 and secured in place in the extended position. The spent liquid coolant 20 and 21 which may have residual value can now flow through the openings 37 in the sidewall 35 of the puncturing means 23 without spillage. Where the spent liquid coolant 20 and 21 has residual value as a fertilizer, which is commonly the case for the most effective, inexpensive and safe-to-use cooling agents 21, the container 5 equipped with the extended puncturing means 23 can be inserted into the soil or media 47 containing the plants 48 to be fertilized and the liquid fertilizer 20 and 21 can then flow through the openings 37 in a slow and controlled way to provide a controlled release of nutrients in a manner designed to enhance plant growth. In this mode, the self-chilling container 5 promotes the reuse and recycling of the spent cooling agent 20 and 21 and facilitates the recycling and enhances the residual value of the container 5 and its contents.

FIG. 2 through 7 describe an embodiment of the invention where the lid 3 as described above is directly and permanently attached to the outer compartment 10 of the self-chilling can 5 and to the inner compartment 19 of the self-cooling device 51, which is then in direct contact with the beverage 17 contained within the outer compartment 10 and located within the first cavity 16 of the outer compartment 10. In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 10 through 13, the surface of the lid 3 is expanded to form a well that can extend into the interior of the first cavity 16, when the lid 3 is secured to the outer compartment 10, to displace some of the volume of the first cavity 16 that contains the liquid 17 to be cooled such that a fourth cavity 15 is formed that does not contain any liquid 17 and is open to the environment. The fourth cavity 15 conforms to the shape of the inner compartment 19 of the self-cooling device 51 and is made to hold the inner compartment 19 in place. The inner compartment 19 can be held in place within the well of the lid 3 by a pressure seal 49 attached to the circumference of the top end 28 of the sidewall 27 of the inner compartment 19 or by modifying the top end 28 of the sidewall 27 to form a male threaded fitting 50 that can be screwed into a female threaded fitting 52 formed as a modification of the top expanded end of the well. In this manner a separate cooling device or insert 51 that comprises the cooling mechanism, the static spring mixer, the cooling agent, the separating barrier and the liquid to activate the cooling agent can all be manufactured separately from the lid 3 and the container 5 holding the beverage to be cooled, and thus the described cooling device 51 can be inserted into and removed from the lid 3 and thus indirectly from a beverage container 5 for ease of use and to promote efficiency with respect to the manufacturing of the lid 3, container 5 and the device 51 and with respect to the recycling and reuse of the lids, caps, containers and the spent cooling materials.

FIG. 15 describes another embodiment of the invention where the sidewall 27 adjacent to the top end 28 of the inner compartment 19 of the self-cooling device 51 as described herein is modified to form a lip 58 or concentric ring that extends outward perpendicular to the vertical axis of the sidewall 27 of the inner compartment 19. The lip 58 has a top surface 59, a bottom surface 60, and a gasket 61 attached to the bottom surface 60 of the lip 58, and is extended such that the bottom surface 60 of the lip 58 forms a leak-free seal of the first cavity 16 when the modified self-cooling device 51 is placed into the first cavity 16 of the outer compartment 10 and onto the top 11 of the outer compartment 10 of a beverage container 62 and downward pressured is applied to the top surface of the lip 58. This downward pressure can be applied by screwing on any standard cap 63 or lid that is typically used to seal a beverage or food container which is typically a glass or plastic bottle 62. In this manner a separate cooling device or insert 51 that comprises the cooling mechanism, the static spring mixer, the cooling agent, the separating barrier and the liquid to activate the cooling agent can all be manufactured and sold separately from the cap or lid 63 and the container holding the beverage to be cooled 62, and thus the described cooling device 51 can be inserted into and removed from a beverage bottle 62 or other related container having a cap or a lid 63 without the need for a specially modified cap 4, lid 3 or self-chilling container 5 for ease of use and to reduce the cost of use.

With respect to the above, the operation of the present self-cooling container 5 equipped with a lid 3 or a cap 4 containing a self-cooling device 51 or the self-cooling device 51 used as an insert is safe and simple. A customer first pulls away the tear panel 26 located at the bottom of the container 5 to gain access to the cooling mechanism, turns the container upside-down, applies pressure to the flexible diaphragm 25 with their finger thereby causing the force to be exerted upon the puncturing means and rupturing the rupturable membrane 22. Once the membrane 22 is ruptured, the liquid 20 from second cavity 30 enters the third cavity 31 and reacts or solubilizes the cooling agent 21 in the third cavity 31 initiating an endothermic reaction that absorbs heat from the beverage and cools the beverage. The liquid 20 from the second cavity 30 also travels to the compressed spring 38 and dissolves the solvent-activated tape 39 and the spring 38 is uncoiled with sufficient force to thoroughly mix the materials in the inner compartment 19 speed up the cooling process. The beverage 17 is consumed through the openable closure means 18 by pulling on the pull tab 6 or unscrewing the bottle cap 4.

Alternatively, the consumer may remove the cap 63 from a standard beverage bottle 62, which typically contains an airspace at the top, select a self-cooling device 51 equipped with a lip 58, activate the cooling mechanism of the device in the same manner as above, insert the self-cooling device 51 into the opening at the top of the beverage container 62, and then tightly attaché the cap 63 and wait for the beverage 17 to cool sufficiently for consumption. The consumer can then remove the cap 63 and the device 51 and consume the beverage 17.

After consuming the beverage 17, the consumer may then recycle the self-chilling container 5 as a unit or as in one embodiment, remove the cooling device 51 from the self-cooling container 5 and recycle the cooling device 51 and the remaining components of the self-cooling container 5 separately. In another preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 9, the consumer may loosen the plug 41 from the flexible diaphragm 25 from either the self-cooling container 5 or the removable cooling device 51 equipped with a removable plug 41 and extend the hollow and porous tube 32 of the puncturing means 23 to a secure position within the orifice 42 of the flexible diaphragm 25. The self-cooling container 5 so affixed can then be inserted into the soil or media 47 to provide a controlled release of nutrients in a manner designed to enhance plant growth, thus facilitating the reuse of the spent coolant.

While the preferred form of the present invention has been shown and described above, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject invention is not limited by the Figures and that the scope of the invention includes modifications, variations and equivalents which fall within the scope the attached claims. Moreover, it should be understood that the individual components of the invention include equivalent embodiments without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Claims

1. A self-cooling container cover for use in cooling food and beverage containers comprising:

a. a closure means, shaped to fit over the opening or portal of a container and to enclose an outer compartment of the container holding the materials to be cooled and forming the top end of the outer compartment such that the sidewall, cover and the bottom end of the compartment form a first cavity for storing the materials to be cooled;

b. an openable closure means located, attached or coupled to the surface of the cover such that the means can be penetrated or opened or removed to provide access to the materials stored within the outer compartment of the container;

c. a self-cooling device comprising an inner compartment having a smaller diameter and volume than the outer compartment and attached or coupled to the cover forming the top end of the outer compartment such that the inner compartment can be located within the cavity of the outer compartment when the cover containing the inner compartment is affixed to the outer compartment, said inner compartment including: (i) at least one sidewall, a top end and a bottom end; (ii) a second cavity containing a liquid; (iii) a third cavity containing an endothermic cooling agent or composition that will react when contacted with the liquid to absorb heat; (iv) a rupturable membrane or barrier means separating the second and third cavities; (v) a openable closure or tear panel or means attached to the top end that provides tamper-free access to the inner compartment while preventing accidental activation of the cooling mechanism; (vi) a hollow, porous but rigid puncturing means located in its un-activated state within the third cavity and having a sharpened end for rupturing the membrane or barrier separating the second and third cavities, which further comprises a hollow tube of which one end is sharpened to a point and the other end is blunt and having sidewalls punctured by a series of openings or orifices that allow the passage of liquids from the second cavity throughout the contents of the third cavity to promote rapid diffusion and ensure complete and thorough contact between the solid and liquid components or reactants; (vi) a flexible diaphragm attached to or comprising the top end of the inner compartment and accessible through the openable closure or tear panel having an interior-oriented surface and an exterior-oriented surface whereby the interior-oriented surface is affixed to the non-sharpened end of the puncturing means; and (vii) a static spring mixer consisting of compressed spring held in its compressed state by a solvent-soluble tape or glue where the solvent is typically water located in the third cavity containing the cooling agent adjacent to the interior surface of the flexible diaphragm such that the static spring mixer expands to mix the contents of the second and third cavities upon activation by water.

2. A cover according to claim 1 whereby the self-cooling device is affixed with a balloon containing the liquid that is positioned to occupy all of the interior space of the second cavity such that the balloon forms the membrane or barrier that separates the liquid in the second cavity from the cooling agent in the third cavity.

3. A cover according to claim 1 whereby the self-cooling device is modified to allow the hollow, porous and rigid puncturing means to be extended through the flexible diaphragm to the open environment to allow a porous conduit between the cavities of the inner compartment and the environment whereby: (i) the puncturing means is connected by its blunt end to a removable plug that is fitted into an orifice located in the center of the flexible diaphragm that is held in place within the flexible diaphragm by a pressure seal attached to the circumference of the bottom end of the plug; and (ii) the puncturing means is equipped with a raised rib extending around the circumference of the sidewall of the hollow tube below the sharpened area that secures the extended puncturing means in place within the flexible diaphragm when the puncturing means is extended through the orifice of the diaphragm such that the contents of the inner compartment will flow through the series of openings within the sidewall of the hollow puncturing means in a predictable and controlled manner and not leak out around the orifice.

4. A cover according to claim 3 whereby the bottom end of the removable plug is modified to form a male threaded fitting that can be screwed into a female threaded fitting formed as a modification of the orifice within the flexible diaphragm.

5. A cover according to claim 3 whereby the rib or threaded means connects with the groves of the female fitting within the flexible diaphragm.

6. A cover according to claim 3 that minimizes the risk of contact between the consumer and the contents of the cooling device when the consumer activates the device.

7. A cover according to claim 1 consisting of a flat lid closure means that is directly and rigidly attached to the outer compartment and to the self-cooling device which is then in direct contact with the material contained within the outer compartment and located within the first cavity of the outer compartment.

8. A cover according to claim 7 whereby the lid has an openable closure means on the surface of the lid comprising a rupturable tear panel or pull tab which may be ruptured to provide access to the material stored within the first cavity of the outer compartment of a self-chilling container whereby (i) the pull tab has a front end and a bottom end and (ii) the back end of the pull tab is placed adjacent to the rupturable tear panel such that when the front end of the pull tab is pulled away from the lid, the rupturable tear panel ruptures and moves into the first cavity, provide access to the material stored within.

9. A cover according to claim 7 that is expanded to form a well that can extend into the interior of the first cavity, when the cover is secured to the outer compartment, to displace some of the volume of the first cavity that contains the material to be cooled such that a fourth cavity is formed that does not contain any material and is open to the environment. The fourth cavity conforms to the shape of the inner compartment of the self-cooling device and is made to hold the inner compartment in place.

10. A cover according to claim 9 whereby the self-cooling device is held in place within the well of the cover by a pressure seal attached to the circumference of the sidewall of the inner compartment.

11. A cover according to claim 9 whereby the self-cooling device is held in place within the well of the cover by modifying the bottom end of the sidewall of the inner compartment of the self-cooling device to form a male threaded fitting that can be screwed into a female threaded fitting formed as a modification of the top expanded end of the well.

12. A cover according to claim 9 whereby the self-cooling device can be manufactured separately from the cover and the container holding the materials to be cooled, and can be inserted into and removed from the cover and thus indirectly from a container for ease of use and to promote efficiency with respect to the manufacturing of the cover, container and the device and with respect to the recycling and reuse of the cover, containers and the spent cooling materials.

13. A cover according to claim 1 consisting of a threaded cap that functions as both a closure means and an openable closure means.

14. A cover according to claim 13 whereby the threaded cap is rigidly attached to the self-cooling device and fitted to outer compartment such that the cap can be screwed onto the top of the outer compartment to seal off the first cavity that contains the contents of the outer compartment and unscrewed and removed to access the materials in the first cavity of the outer compartment when desired.

15. A cover according to claim 13 whereby the sidewall adjacent to the top end of the inner compartment of the self-cooling device is modified to form a lip or concentric ring that extends outward perpendicular to the vertical axis of the sidewall of the inner compartment such that the lip has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a gasket attached to the bottom surface of the lip, and is extended such that the bottom surface of the lip forms a leak-free seal of the first cavity when the modified self-cooling device is placed into the first cavity of the outer compartment and onto the top of the outer compartment of the container and downward pressured is applied to the top surface of the lip when a threaded cap is screwed onto the outer compartment to seal or close off the outer compartment.

16. A cover according to claim 13 whereby the threaded cap can be screwed onto the outer compartment to make contact between the lip of a self-cooling device that lies on top of the first cavity such that a leak-free seal is formed between the cap, the lip of the self-cooling device and the outer compartment whereby the cap is not permanently attached to the outer compartment but can be unscrewed and removed to access the material in the first cavity of the outer compartment and also screwed back on to seal off the first cavity when desired.

17. A cover according to claim 16 whereby the separate cooling device can be manufactured and sold separately from the cover and the container, and the cooling device can be inserted into and removed from a beverage bottle or other related container having a cap or a lid without the need for a specially modified cap, lid or self-chilling container for ease of use and to reduce the cost of use.