Temperature Controlled Beverage Caddy
A temperature controlled beverage caddy may be configured for organizing, transporting and serving a plurality of beverage containers containing a plurality of beverages to a customer. The caddy may include a base tray holding the plurality of beverage containers containing the plurality of beverages, a temperature pack placed within the base tray, a cover attached to the temperature pack by way of a spacer and/or a plurality of markers positioned on a top surface of the base tray to identify the plurality of beverages. The base tray, the temperature pack and the cover may be arranged in a way to provide a unified structure to the caddy so as to allow the customer to easily access the plurality of beverages in a temperature controlled condition. The unified structure allows the caddy to be easily organized, stored and carried by a user.
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This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/741,468 filed on Jul. 20, 2012, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/743,703 filed on Sep. 8, 2012, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUNDBeverage flights usually include various types and quantities of beverages that are offered at restaurants, bars, nightclubs, parties, etc. A customer may order a beverage flight in order to taste different varieties of a beverage. For example, a customer at a restaurant may order a beer flight in order to taste a sampling of the various type of beer that the restaurant has to offer. Beverage caddies may be used to provide the beverage flight and offer an enhanced drinking experience to the customer since they simultaneously serve multiple beverage containers. However, conventional beverage caddies have considerable drawbacks. For example, conventional beverage caddies do not have the facility to maintain the beverage in a chilled or warmed condition. Additionally, conventional beverage caddies do not adequately provide identification for each beverage located on the beverage caddy. Furthermore, conventional beverage caddies do not include a cover for protecting the beverage glasses and are difficult to transport, clean and store.
The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items or features.
This disclosure describes, in part, a temperature controlled beverage caddy designed for organizing, transporting and serving a plurality of beverage containers to a customer. Furthermore, the temperature controlled beverage caddy is designed to maintain the plurality of beverages at a desired temperature (i.e., keep cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot).
The temperature controlled beverage caddy may comprise a base tray for holding a plurality of beverage containers. In one implementation, the base tray may be configured to hold one or more temperature packs (i.e., cold or hot pack) within the base tray to maintain the temperature of the plurality of beverage containers. In some implementations, the base tray may be configured to hold ice in order to maintain the plurality of beverages in a chilled condition. In addition, in some implementations, the caddy may comprise a detachable caddy cover coupled to the one or more temperature packs or base tray by way of a spacer. The caddy cover may be configured to hold food and/or protect the plurality of beverages from temperature loss due to the sun and/or precipitation.
Furthermore, in some implementations, the base tray may comprise a plurality of markers corresponding to each of the plurality of beverages on the caddy and positioned on a top surface of the base tray for identification of the beverage and/or beverage information. In some implementations, the plurality markers for displaying beverage information may be placed in a slot in front of each of the plurality of beverage containers so that the customer can easily identify each beverage.
In some implementations, the base tray, the one or more temperature packs and the caddy cover are arranged in a way to provide a unified structure to the temperature controlled beverage caddy so as to allow the customer to easily access the plurality of beverage containers held in a temperature controlled condition.
In some implementations, the base tray comprises a single temperature pack having a plurality of recessed areas that correspond with recessed areas on the base tray for securing the plurality of beverage containers containing the plurality of beverages. The temperature pack may also separate the plurality of beverage containers held within the base tray. In some implementations, the temperature pack includes a recessed hole for locking into a stub of the base tray to firmly hold the temperature pack in place. In some implementations, the temperature pack includes a central attachment point for joining the spacer and, in some implementations, the caddy cover.
In another implementation, the base tray comprises a plurality of temperature packs where each of the plurality of temperature packs are configured to hold a beverage container. In some implementation, each of the plurality of temperature packs may be individually removed from the base tray. In this implementation, the plurality of temperature packs forms a recessed hole at the center of the base tray for locking into a stub of the base tray to firmly hold the plurality of beverage containers while allowing attachment of the caddy cover to the base tray.
In some implementations, the caddy cover may be configured to attach to the base tray by way of the spacer. The spacer may act as an extension to couple the caddy cover to the base tray.
In some implementations, the base tray and/or the caddy cover may be configured with multiple locations for the placement of one or more decals and/or stickers (e.g., advertisement decals, product descriptions, etc.).
In some implementations, the temperature controlled beverage caddy may be assembled in the following manner. Initially, the one or more temperature packs are placed within the base tray. As mentioned above, the plurality of beverage containers may be then held between the plurality of recessed areas of the temperature pack and the base tray. The base tray provides support for the bottom of the plurality of beverage containers. The caddy cover is then attached to the spacer and the spacer is locked into the stub of the base tray through the recessed hole of the one or more temperature packs. The stub receives the spacer extending from the caddy cover which may hold the one or more temperature packs in position. In some implementations, the caddy cover is configured to removably fasten to the spacer in order to firmly hold the caddy cover in an upright position.
The implementations of a temperature controlled beverage caddy described in this disclosure provide an easy-to-use beverage holder that serves the plurality of beverage containers simultaneously to the customer. Further, each caddy would provide an enhanced drinking experience to the customer by maintaining the temperature of each beverage contained in the caddy while also allowing the customer to easily identify information associated with each of the plurality of beverages. Additionally, the unified structure of the caddy allows the caddy to be easily organized, stored and carried by a user.
The temperature controlled beverage caddy may be implemented in many ways. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description. Example implementations are provided below with reference to the figures.
Example Temperature Controlled Beverage Caddy with Unified Temperature Pack
As illustrated in
The temperature pack 110 is adaptable to maintain the plurality of beverage 108(1)-(5) in a desired condition. Temperature pack 110 (and any other temperature pack described below) may include one or more thermal elements to maintain a desired temperature. The thermal element may be reusable or single use. In some implementations, the thermal element may be a liquid or gel comprising at least one of water, alcohol, coated silica, hydroxyethyl cellulose, sodium acetate, calcium chloride, magnesium sulfate, and/or other salts. In one implementation, the temperature pack may be designed to store in the freezer thus freezing the thermal element while not in use and when placed on the caddy may maintain the plurality of beverages 108(1)-(5) in a chilled condition (i.e., at or below 55° F.). However, in another implementation, the temperature pack may be warmed by running it through the microwave or placing it in boiling water, etc. thus heating the thermal element within the temperature pack. In such an implementation, the temperature pack may maintain the plurality of beverages 108(1)-(5) in a warmed condition (i.e., near or above 155° F.). The temperature pack 110 separates the plurality of beverage containers 106(1)-(5) held within the base tray 102.
The cover 104 acts as a covering for the plurality of beverage container 106(1)-(5). In some implementations, the cover 104 may provide a location for the placement of food items. For example, cover 104 is shown as a substantially flat disc which could hold a pizza, for example. In other implementations, the cover 104 may be configured with a flange or lip located around the edge of the cover. In yet other implementations, the cover 104 may be configured as described in any of the other implementations describe below.
The plurality of markers 114(1)-(5) may be located to correspond to each of the beverage containers 106(1)-(5) held within the base tray 102. Each of the plurality of marker 114(1)-(5) may be adaptable to display information beverage within the corresponding beverage container. In some implementations, each of the plurality of markers 114(1)-(5) may include an area on which the information of the types of beverage can be written. In other implementations, each of the plurality of markers 114(1)-(5) could be pre-printed with beverage information. In yet another implementation, each of the plurality of markers 114(1)-(5) may include a machine/device recognizable code (e.g., a bar code or a Quick Response Code (“QR code”)). In some implementations, a user may scan the code with a device to obtain information about the corresponding beverage. Markers 114(1)-(5) are illustrated as comprising a shape similar to a poker chip (i.e., circular); however, each of the plurality of markers may comprise any number of other shapes (i.e., square, triangle, octagon, or the like). Markers 114(1)-(5) may indentify the name of the beverage, the origin of the beverage, characteristic about the beverage, or the like. As shown in
The base tray 102 and cover 104 may include multiple locations for applying multiple decals, sticker or the like. For example, an advertising decal may be place at location 116 on base tray 102. Furthermore, base tray 102, cover 104 and spacer 112 may be composed of machine washable, durable, food-grade plastic (i.e., polyethylene terephthalate, high density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polycarbonate). In some implementations, the base tray may comprise two or more wheels, bearings, or other hardware which would allow the caddy to spin on its y-axis. This may allow a user to access each of the plurality of beverage container within the caddy without lifting the caddy or substantially repositioning the user's body.
As illustrated in
In some implementations, each of a plurality of markers 218(1)-(N) may be place in slot 220(1)-(N) on base tray 210.
Caddy with Storable Cover
Caddy with Taller Temperature Pack and without a Base Tray
Caddy with Individual, Removable Temperature Packs
In some implementations, each temperature pack 1602(1)-(4) may have a recessed area or cavity configured to hold a beverage container 1606(1)-(4). Also, each temperature pack 1602(1)-(4) may also contain a thermal element that may maintain a beverage within the beverage container 1606(1)-(4) at or near a desired temperature. In some implementations, the thermal element of each temperature pack 1602(1)-(4) may be configured to maintain the beverage within the beverage containers at different temperatures (e.g., one hot beverage, two cold beverages, and one room temperature beverage). Temperature packs 1602(1)-(4) and the thermal elements therein may be implemented in any other manner as described above.
As illustrated in
In some implementations, caddy 1600 may be implemented with a spacer, a cover and/or a plurality of markers as described above.
ConclusionAlthough the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as exemplary forms of implementing the claims.
Claims
1. A beverage caddy comprising:
- a base tray comprising: a temperature pack, the temperature pack comprising a thermal element configured to maintain a temperature of a plurality of beverage containers; and a cover configured to attach to the temperature pack by a spacer; and
- a plurality of markers on the base tray each marker including identifying information associated with one or more beverages in the plurality of beverage containers.
2. The beverage caddy as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of beverage containers that the temperature pack is configured to hold comprises at least one of: a glass, a mug, a bottle or a can.
3. The beverage caddy as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of beverage containers contains a different beverage.
4. The beverage caddy as recited in claim 1, wherein the temperature pack is configured to maintain the plurality of beverage containers in a cool state or a warm state.
5. The beverage caddy as recited in claim 1, wherein the cover is removably attached to the temperature pack and includes a food placement platform.
6. The beverage caddy as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of markers comprises a device recognizable code.
7. An apparatus for maintaining a plurality of beverages near a desired temperature, the apparatus comprising:
- a temperature pack comprising: a thermal element configured to maintain a temperature of multiple beverage containers; and a plurality of recessed areas, each recessed area for holding one of the multiple beverage containers;
- a base tray for holding the temperature pack; and
- one or more markers positioned on the base tray in front of each of the plurality of recessed areas in the temperature pack and configured to identify one or more features of each the plurality of beverages within the multiple beverage containers.
8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, the temperature pack is further configured to maintain each of the plurality of beverages in a cool or warm state.
9. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the plurality of recessed areas on temperature pack are further configured to correspond to a recessed area on the base tray.
10. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the base tray further comprises a central stub configured to hold the temperature pack in position.
11. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the one or more markers comprises one or more discs each having a different imprinted quick response (QR) code that corresponds to information about each of the plurality of beverages within the multiple beverage containers.
12. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, further comprising:
- a removable spacer coupled to a central protuberance of the temperature pack; and
- a removable cover coupled to a top surface of the spacer.
13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the removable cover provides a food placement area and shade for the multiple beverage containers within the temperature pack.
14. A temperature controlled caddy comprising:
- a temperature pack configured to maintain a plurality of beverage containers at or near an initial temperature;
- a spacer having a first end and a second end, wherein he first end is removably coupled to the temperature pack; and
- a cover configured to removably couple to and store in the second end of the spacer.
15. The temperature controlled caddy as recited in claim 14, wherein the initial temperature of the plurality of beverages is at or below 55° F. or at or above 155° F.
16. The temperature controlled caddy as recited in claim 14, wherein the plurality of beverage containers comprises at least one of: one or more glasses, one or more mugs, one or more bottles or one or more cans
17. The temperature controlled caddy as recited in claim 14, the cover further comprises:
- a central portion;
- a plurality of protrusions extending from the central portion; and
- a plurality of spring mechanisms configured to hold the plurality of protrusions in a position relative to the central portion.
18. The temperature controlled caddy as recited in claim 14, further comprising a base tray configured to hold the temperature pack and comprising a plurality of wheels for spinning the caddy.
19. The temperature controlled caddy as recited in claim 14, further comprising a plurality of markers, wherein each of the plurality of markers corresponds to each of the plurality of beverage containers and identifies one or more characteristics of a beverage within each of the plurality of beverage containers.
20. The temperature controlled caddy as recited in claim 19, wherein the plurality of markers comprises a quick response (QR) code.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 19, 2013
Publication Date: Jan 23, 2014
Applicant:
Inventors: Charles Michael Noble, JR. (Spokane, WA), Christopher Matthew Noble (Spokane, WA)
Application Number: 13/946,787
International Classification: B65D 81/18 (20060101);