Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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AWUSTABLE REFRIGERATABLE
BEVERAGE WRAP AROUND HOLDER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a refrigeratable beverage
wrap around holder, and more particularly to a refrigeratable
beverage wrap around holder constructed with a patched network
of reusable refrigerant, such as ~Blue Ice", surrounded by a
layer of neoprene rubber, commonly used as an insulating
material in wet suits. The reusable refrigerant is comprised
of water in a gelatenous state. This gelatenous state is
produced by adding a viscosity increasing agent, a
methylcellulose composition, to the water. Attached to one
end of the interior surface of the neoprene rubber and to the
opposite end of the exterior surface of the neoprene rubber is
a strip of hoo~ and loop fastener, such as "Velcro", used as a
fastener. The Velcro is then used to fasten the holder around
canned or bottled beverages of various sizes. Once
circumferentially enclosing the beverage container, the
invention maintains the beverage at the proper chilled
temperature and, in some situations, further chills the
beverage.
A considerable number of canned and bottled
beverages are intended to be consumed in a chilled state and
are more readily enjoyed by the consumer public when consumed
in such a chilled state. While these beverages are often
bought chilled, many are bought while at room temperature and
must be chilled by the consumer prior to consumption. The
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chilling of the beverage is most often accomplished by storing
the canned or bottle beverage in a refrigerator or ice filled
chest until the beverage reaches the desired temperature.
This is particularly true for such beverages as soft drinks,
beer, wine and juice.
Modern refrigerators are generally kept at a
temperature above that considered ideal for the consumption of
many of these beverages. Lower temperatures can be achieved
by utilizing a household freezer or an ice filled chest. The
freezer method proves to be impracticable due to the
possibility of a beverage freezing and rupturing the beverage
container during extended storage time in the freezer. The
ice filled chest also proves impracticable because of a
continuous need of additional ice in the chest. A direct
result of these problems is that many beverages are consumed
at less than ideal temperatures.
The problem is compounded by the fact that many of
these beverages are consumed outdoors during the warmer months
of the year. In order to compensate for the absorption of
heat by the beverage from the environment, many of these
beverages are transferred into containers filled with ice.
While this retards heat absorption by the beverage, the
melting ice dilutes the beverage and alters the taste. In
some beverages, soft drinks, this has been acceptable.- In
others, beer, it has not.
To eliminate the diluting of the beverage while
attempting to maintain a chilled temperature, prior art
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discloses the development of the insulating beverage container
holder. Such insulating holders are generally constructed of
a foam material such as foamed polystyrene or other open or
closed cell foam materials. The beverage holder's
configuration is generally that of a cup capable of receiving
the beverage and its container centrally inside. Common
variations on the insulative cup include those with a plastic
ring located on the top of the insulative cup allowing the
beverage container to be placed inside creating a dead air
space therearound. Another variation is a soft foam
insulating cup having an inside diameter slightly less than
the beverage container's, thus providing direct contact
between the insulat~ve cup and the beverage container. A
third variation of the beverage insulator holder is one which
wraps circumferentially around the beverage container and
connects to itself by means of some common fastener. This
variation is often called the wrap around holder.
Several limitations exist with the prior art. The
beverage container must be chilled prior to being placed
inside any of the insulative holders. Upon being removed from
its refrigerated environment, the beverage and beverage
container can only increase in temperature. Thus, the
insulative holder only compensates for the high thermal
conductivity of the beverage container by slowing down this
inevitable warming trend.
Next in the evocation of the insulative beverage
holder came the refrigeratable beverage holder. Prior art has
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provided refrigeratable beverage holders in various
embodiments. Early embodiments were heavy, expensive and
cumbersome. One such embodiment is the mug-~haped device
shown and described in U.S. Patent No. 3,302,428 issued on
February 7, 1977. U.S. Patent No. 4,163,374 issued on August
7, 1979, shows and describes a refrigeratable beverage
container holder that overcomes the awkwardness and weight
problems of the previously mentioned patent. ~owever, it too
has limitations and presents additional problems.
One limitation of the aforementioned prior art is
its inability to adjust and accept beverage containers of any
considerably varying size. A second limitation of the prior
art is the amount of storage space it requires. The usable
area inside of today's refrigerator is limited. This being
the case, the rigid stand-up design of the prior art, being
substantially larger in diameter than the beverage container
itself, proves to be bulky and excessively space consuming
during refrigerated storaqe. If more than one prior art
beverage holder is to be stored, ready for use, in the
refrigerator, the problem concerning storage space becomes
increasingly aggravated.
The adjustable, refrigeratable, wrap around beverage
container holder of the present invention overcomes the
limitations and problems of the prior art refrigeratable
beverage holders. While overcoming these problems and
limitations, the present invention maintains the chilled
condition of the beverage and, in some situations, actually
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chills the beverage before and during consumption. The
present invention overcomes the limitations of prior art
refrigeratable beverage holders by providing the means within
a refrigeratable insulated beverage container holder to adjust
and accept beverage containers of substantially varying size
while being capable of occupying minimal space during
refrigerated storage. In addition, the present invention is
also capable of utilizing the high thermal conductivity
characteristic of the modern beverage container to maintain
the beverage at its chilled temperature for as long a time
period as possible. When a beverage container received into
the present invention is at a temperature greater than that o~
the present invention, the present invention functions as a
heat sink and chills the beverage.
Additional benefits and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to
which this invention relates from the subsequent description
of the preferred emb~diments and the appended claims, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an adjustable
refrigeratable beverage container holder (hereinafter the
holder) which includes a number of individual packets of
reusable refrigerant for cooling and maintaining a beverage
below ambient temperatures when the beverage container is
placed within the invention. In particular, the improvement
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comprises reusable refrigerant, such as water in a gelatenous
suspension, disposed within individual plastic containers or
packets. The reusable refrigerant is of the type which forms
a solid state at temperatures at or below freezing and viscous
fluid state at temperatures above freezing. In so doing, it
is possible to use the latent heat of fusion of the reusable
refrigerant to effectively absorb heat from a beverage and
beverage container received within the holder.
The improvement comprises a holder of the type
including a wrap around outer belt of insulative material.
The belt is comprised of an insulative foam material with
common fastener attached to a portion of one end and a portion
of the opposite end. Such a fastener allows the belt to
circumferentially engage various diameter beverage containers
by connecting and overlapping the belt's ends. In particular,
the holder includes strips of the hook and loop fastener
"Velcro", as a common fastener, attached to the inside surface
of one end of the belt and to the outside surface of the
belt's opposite end. The belt is a layer of the insulative
material commonly used in wet suits, neoprene rubber. A layer
of closed cell nylon is laminated to the outside surface of
the neoprene rubber for visual enhancement of the product.
A further aspect of the invention is a heat
absorbing means consisting of individually disposed freezable
masses of reusable refrigerant. The reusable refrigerant
consists of water in a gelatenous state. The gelatenous state
is produced by the addition of a viscosity increasing agent to
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the water. Cornstarch or a methylcellulose composition is
used as the viscosity increasing agent. The reusable
refrigerant is packaged in individual plastic containers or
packets of a generally pillow shape. Once filled with an
ample amount of reusable refrigerant, the packets are
thermally sealed to prohi~it the relatively viscous reusable
refrigerant from leaking out of the packet. Various
alternative methods can be employed to seal the reusable
refrigerant in the packets, including pressure and adhesive
sealing.
Extending from each end of the packet is a flange
region having a length about equal to the width of the packet.
The flange regions enable the packet to be attached to the
inside surface of the belt. The individual packets are
positioned at periodic intervals throughout the length of the
belt in such a manner as to allow the flange regions of the
packets to be attached to the lengthwise edges of the belt.
The attachment can be accomplished by various methods. Use of
an adhesive, such as ethyl cranoacrylate, is particularly
desirable because of the adhesive's durability, water
resistance and workability with the numerous construction
materials.
Positioning the individual packets of reusable
refrigerant as such, the invention is capable of flat
refrigerator or freezer storage. The flat position enables
the invention to conserve storage space in the limited
confines of a home refrigerator or freezer. While in the flat
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storage position, the reusable refrigerant is allowed to
freeze. If freezer space considerations do not allow for
freezer storage of the invention, the reusable refrigerant is
alternatively allowed to cool to a temperature near freezing.
Once frozen, the periodic positioning of the
individual containers permits the holder to be readily bent at
positions between the containers to thereby enable the holder
to adjust from a flat storage position, e~en with the
refrigerant now frozen solid, to a generally annular shape
and to circumferentially enclose various diameter and shaped
beverage containers. Once in contact with the walls of the
beverage container, the frozen refrigerant acts as a heat sink
for the beverage and thereby cools or maintains the chilled
temperature of the beverage.
Still another aspect of the invention includes a
rectangular strip of neoprene rubber attached along the
interior surface of each lengthwise edge of the belt, but
somewhat shorter in length. One end of each rectangular strip
is affixed to the interior surface of the end of the belt
having the common fastener attached to its outside surface.
The opposite end of each rectangular strip is attached to the
inside surface of the opposite end of the belt, at a position
recessed from that area occupied by the common fastener also
there attached.
The rectangular strips further secure the individual
containers by attaching to the extended flange regions of the
containers of reusable refrigerant. The flange regions are
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thus positioned within the space between the adjacent
lengthwise edges of the outer belt and inner rectangular
strips of neoprene rubber.
Laminated to the interior surface of the rectangular
strips is a rectangular strip of closed cell nylon, having
dimensions corresponding to the rectangular strip of neoprene
rubber, for visual enhancement of the product. When a
beverage container is centrally received into the holder, the
rectangular strip of neoprene rubber circumferentially engages
the upper and lower portions of the exterior wall of the
beverage container.
Once in contact with the beverage container, the
rectangular strips of neoprene rubber create a gasket-like
barrier for insulating the containers of frozen refrigerant
and the exterior wall of the beverage container from the
ambient temperature. Thus, the rectangular strips assist the
frozen refrigerant in chilling the beverage and retarding the
absorption of heat by the beverage.
Further objects, features and advantages of the
invention will become apparent from a consideration of the
following description and the appended claims when taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DES~RIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable
refrigeratable beverage container holder, constructed in
accordance with the principles of the present invention,
circumferentially engaging a beverage container;
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Figure 2 is a partially cut away perspective view of
an adjustable refrigeratable beverage container holder
constructed in accordance with the principles of the present
invention;
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along lines
3-3 in Figure 1 of a ad~ustable refrigeratable beverage
container holder, constructed in accordance with the
principles of the present invention, circumferentially
engaging a beverage container; and
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken along lines
4-4 in Figure 2 of an adjustable refrigeratable beverage
container holder constructed in accordance with the principles
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DR~WINGS
~ eferring first to Figure 1, shown is a perspective
view of adjustable refrigeratable beverage container holder lO
(hereinafter holder 10) constructed in accordance with the
principles of the present invention. Holder 10 is formed with
outer belt 12 being made of a hiqhly insulative material, such
as neoprene rubber. Attached along the lengthwise edges of
the interior surface 18 of belt 12 is upper rectangular strip
15 and lower rectangular strip 14, also composed of the highly
insulative material neoprene rubber. Strips of hook and loop
fastener 16, a common fastener, are attached along interior
surface 18 of one end of belt 12 and along exterior surface 20
of the opposite end of belt 12. Beverage container 22 is
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circumferentially enclosed by wrapping holder 10 around
beverage container 22 and connecting hook and loop fastener
16. The inner diameter of holder 10, created by the
connecting of hook and loop fastener 16 and caused by holder
10 taking a generally annular shape, will about equal the
diameter of beverage container 22. Upper rectangular strip 15
and lower rectangular strip 14 will circumferentially engage
the exterior wall of beverage container 22 and create an
insulative barrier between the surrounding conditions and the
body of beverage container 22.
Referring now to Figure 2, holder 10 is shown in a
partially cut away perspective view while being disengaged
from beverage container 22. This is also the flat freezer or
refrigerator storage position of holder 10. Strips of hook
and loop fastener 16 are attached to the interior surface 18
of one end of belt 12 and to exterior surface 20 of the
opposite end of belt 12.
The heat-absorbing means in holder 10 is comprised
of a reusable refrigerant 40 disposed within a number of
individual thin walled containers 26. Thin walled containers
26 are consecutively positioned along interior surface 18 of
belt 12 so as to circumferentially enclcse beverage container
22 when holder 10 is in a generally annular shape, as shown in
Figures 1 and 3. Five thin walled containers 26 are shown in
Figures 1 and 3, however, less than five, and six or more can
also be used.
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Open areas 34 are located between each thin walled
container 26. Open areas 34 permit holder 10 to be formed i~
a generally annular shape and adjust to various diameter
beverage containers when reusable refrigerant 40 has been
frozen during flat storage in some type of freezer. Thin
walled containers 26 are generally pillow-shaped and
constructed from plastic sheeting being thermally sealed along
the edges. The thermal seals are to prevent the leakage of
reusable refrigerant 40. Other methods, including adhesive
and pressure sealing, could alternatively be used.
Extending in a lengthwise direction from each
thermally sealed end of thin walled container 26 are flange
regions 28. Flange regions 28 enable thin walled container 26
to be attached between interior surface 18 of belt 12 and
rectangular strips ~4 and 15. Ends 32 and 33 of rectangular
strips 14 and 15 are attached to interior surface 18 of belt
12, at the end where a strip of hook and loop fastener 16 is
attached to exterior surface 20 of belt 12. Rectangular
strips 14 and 15 are attached to interior surface 18 along the
corresponding lengthwise edges of belt 12. Rectangular strips
14 and 15 assist in securing flange regions 28 to interior
surface 18 of belt 12. Remaining end 36 of rectangular strip
14 and remaining end 37 of rectangular strip 15 are attached
to interior surface 18 of belt 12 at a position parallel to,
but recessed from, the end of belt 12 where hook and loop
fastener 16 is attached to interior surface 18 of belt 12.
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Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view take along
lines 3-3 in Figure 1 of holder 10 circumferentially engaging
beverage container 22. Reusable refrigerant 40 is disposed
within each thin walled container 26 (each only shown twice
for clarity). Reusable refrigerant 40 is water, chemically
treated with a viscosity increasing agent of cornstarch or of
a methylcellulose composition to form a gelatenous state.
Thin walled containers 26 are positioned along inner surface
18 of belt 12 so as to circumferentially enclose and come in
contact with exterior wall 42 of beverage container 22. Open
areas 34 between thin walled containers 26 permit holder 10 to
be readily bent at open areas 34 and to form a generally
annular shape when reusable refrigerant 40 is frozen while
holder 10 is stored in the flat position. When the beverage
and beverage container 22 are received into holder 10 at a
temperature higher than that of reusable refrigerant 40,
reusable refrigerant 40 functions as a heat sink and absorbs
heat from the beverage through beverage container 22 and thin
walled container 26 thereby maintaining the beverage at a
chilled condition or chilling the beverage. End 32 and end 36
of rectangular strip 14, and corresponding ends 33 and 37 of
rectangular strip 15, meet when the circumference of beverage
container 22 and the length of rectangular strip 14 are about
equal. Hook and loop fastener 16 overlaps and attached to
itself 44 and secures holder 10 to beverage container 22.
Holder 10 is also held securely to beverage container 22 by
the coefficient of frictions between that part of thin walled
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container 26 and that part of rectangular strips 14 and 15
that are in contact with exterior wall 42 of beverage
container 22.
Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view along lines
4-4 of Figure 2 of holder 10. Thin walled container 26 is
attached to belt 12 through the use of adhesives, or some
other attachment means, along flange regions 28. Flange
regions 28 are further secured by the overlapping and
attachment of rectangular strips 14 and 15 to the
corresponding lengthwise edges of belt 12. The attachment of
rectangular strips 14 and 15 is also accomplished through the
use of adhesives or other attachment means. Reusable
refrigerant 40 is dispensed within the body cavity of thin
walled container 26.
While the above description constitutes the
preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be
appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification,
variation and change without departing from the proper scope
and fair meaning of the accompanying claims.
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