FOAM CAN INSULATOR WITH COUNTER

Abstract

A foam can insulator with a mechanical or electronic counter can track how many beverages a user has consumed. The foam can insulator can include a counter on the exterior thereof to display the number of cans or bottles that have been placed into the foam can insulator. The foam can insulator can help prevent users from, for example, operating a motor vehicle when they may be legally impaired. The foam can insulator can also help users keep hydrated by reminding the user exactly how many beverages they have consumed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/681,047, filed Aug. 8, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to can insulators and, more particularly, to a foam can insulator with a mechanical or electrical counter to track how many drinks he or she has consumed.

Many drinkers of alcoholic beverages are unaware of exactly how many drinks they have consumed. Therefore, they can become legally impaired or intoxicated. Many times, how a person may feel, or think they may feel, is substituted for a true and accurate count of exactly how many drinks they have consumed.

Similarly, athletes or workers that work in warm environments may become dehydrated while working out or simply working. Many times, such people may open a water bottle and sip on it throughout the day, but may not realize how much water, sports beverage, or the like, they have actually consumed. Many times, a person can become dehydrated with little warning. Such people may think they have actually consumed more liquid than they actually have.

As can be seen, there is a need for a device to accurately track how many beverages a person has consumed, either for limiting intake, as may be the case of alcoholic beverages, or assuring proper intake, as may be the case with getting proper hydration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a counting insulator for a beverage container comprises a foam insulator having an opening adapted to receive the beverage container therein; a sensor switch detecting the insertion of the beverage container into the foam insulator; and a counter disposed on an exterior of the foam insulator, the counter receiving a signal from the sensor switch that increases the counter by a count of one when the beverage container is inserted into the foam insulator.

In another aspect of the present invention, a counting insulator for a beverage container comprises a foam insulator having an opening adapted to receive the beverage container therein; a sensor switch detecting the insertion of the beverage container into the foam insulator; a digital counter disposed on an exterior of the foam insulator, the counter receiving a signal from the sensor switch that increases the counter by a count of one when the beverage container is inserted into the foam insulator; and a reset switch resetting the counter to zero when activated.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foam can insulator with a counter, in use by a user drinking a beverage, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the foam can insulator of FIG. 1, in use holding a canned beverage;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, illustrating insertion of a can in the foam can insulator;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the foam can insulator of FIG. 2, illustrating an additional can inserted therein, thereby increasing the counter; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating how the foam can insulator of FIG. 1 can counts cans that are consumed during use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a foam can insulator with a mechanical or electronic counter that can track how many beverages a user has consumed. The foam can insulator can include a counter on the exterior thereof to display the number of cans or bottles that have been placed into the foam can insulator. The foam can insulator can help prevent users from, for example, operating a motor vehicle when they may be legally impaired. The foam can insulator can also help users keep hydrated by reminding the user exactly how many beverages they have consumed.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 6, a foam insulator 10 can be designed to hold a beverage container 18, such as a can. While the Figures show the foam insulator 10 holding a canned beverage, the foam insulator 10 can be designed to hold a glass bottle, a plastic bottle or any similar beverage container. The beverage container 18 can be an alcoholic beverage, a hydration beverage, or just about any beverage that a user 20 would like to keep insulated and keep track of how many are consumed.

An exterior of the foam insulator 10 can include a counter, such as a digital counter 12. The counter can be designed to display a number that indicates the number of beverage containers 18 that have been placed into the foam insulator 10. In some embodiments, the counter can display two digits 14 to track the number of beverage container 18 placed into the foam insulator 10.

A reset button 22 can be used to reset the counter 12 to zero to start tracking the number of beverage containers 18 placed into the foam insulator 10. Typically, the reset button 22 is disposed near the counter 12. In some embodiments, the reset button 22 can be recessed to prevent inadvertent depression of the reset button 22.

A sensor switch 16 can be disposed inside the foam insulator 10. The sensor switch 16 can detect when a beverage container 18 is placed inside the foam insulator 10. The sensor switch 16 can communicate with the counter 12 and advance the digits 14 to indicate that a (or another) beverage container 18 has been disposed inside the foam insulator 10. The sensor switch 16 can be a mechanical switch, a pressure switch, an optical switch, or the like.

In some embodiments, the sensor switch 16 can be a mechanical device that advances a mechanical counter. In other embodiments, the sensor switch 16 can be an electronic switch that advances a digital counter, for example. In this embodiment, power for the electronic switch can be provided by a battery (not shown), solar power, or the like.

The foam insulator 10 can be made from conventional insulation-type foam material, usually from about ¼ to about ½ inch thick, typically about ⅜ inch thick. The foam insulator 10 may have a hole in the bottom portion thereof to, for example, allow condensation to escape.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A counting insulator for a beverage container, comprising:

a foam insulator having an opening adapted to receive the beverage container therein;

a sensor switch detecting the insertion of the beverage container into the foam insulator; and

a counter disposed on an exterior of the foam insulator, the counter receiving a signal from the sensor switch that increases the counter by a count of one when the beverage container is inserted into the foam insulator.

2. The counting insulator of claim 1, wherein the beverage container is a can.

3. The counting insulator of claim 1, wherein the counter is a digital counter.

4. The counting insulator of claim 3, wherein the digital counter includes two digits.

5. The counting insulator of claim 1, wherein the sensor switch is an electronic switch sending an electronic signal to the counter to increase the counter by a count of one when the beverage container is inserted into the foam insulator.

6. The counting insulator of claim 1, further comprising a reset switch resetting the counter to zero when activated.

7. A counting insulator for a beverage container, comprising:

a foam insulator having an opening adapted to receive the beverage container therein;

a sensor switch detecting the insertion of the beverage container into the foam insulator;

a digital counter disposed on an exterior of the foam insulator, the counter receiving a signal from the sensor switch that increases the counter by a count of one when the beverage container is inserted into the foam insulator; and

a reset switch resetting the counter to zero when activated.

8. The counting insulator of claim 7, wherein the beverage container is a can.

9. The counting insulator of claim 7, wherein the digital counter includes two digits.

10. The counting insulator of claim 7, wherein the sensor switch is an electronic switch sending an electronic signal to the counter to increase the counter by a count of one when the beverage container is inserted into the foam insulator.