Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CONTAINER CHILLING APPARATUS
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S.
Provisional
Application No. 61/824,879, filed on May 17, 2013, U.S. Provisional
Application No.
61/849,415 filed on January 28, 2013, and U.S. Provisional Application No.
61/742,991 filed
on August 24, 2012, each of which is incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to apparatus for chilling the contents
of containers
and to methods for chilling contents of containers.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Consumers often prefer to consume a beverage at a certain
temperature. For
example, many consumers prefer to drink cold soda and beer. As these beverages
warm, the
beverage becomes less enjoyable. A beverage that is initially cold will
eventually warm
when removed from a refrigerated or cold environment such as, for example, a
refrigerator,
freezer, ice chest, or cooler. Ice can be added to beverages in open
containers, but melting
ice dilutes the intended flavor. Furthermore, some beverage containers, such
as bottles and
cans, do not have openings big enough for most types of ice cubes, resulting
in a race against
time to finish a cold beverage on a warm day. Insulated beverage container
sleeves may
reduce contact of the beverage container with the air or a user's hand, but
serve only to slow
the rising temperature of the beverage. Most coasters do little to delay
beverage warming.
[0004] Thus, improved apparatus and methods are desired to keep container
contents
such as beverages cold while a beverage is being consumed.
SUMMARY
[0005] Chilled cooling apparatus in which the top is contoured to conform
to the bottom
of a container to be cooled and where the width of the apparatus is equal to
or less than the
outer diameter of a container are disclosed. The apparatus can be used in
conjunction with an
insulating elastic band or sleeve to retain the apparatus and the container.
[0006] In a first aspect, apparatus for cooling a container is provided,
comprising: a base
comprising a top, a bottom, a sidewall, and at least one internal volume,
wherein: a shape of
the top is configured to conform to a shape of a bottom of a container; and
the sidewall is
characterized by an outer diameter that is substantially the same as or less
than an outer
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diameter of the container; a chilling agent contained within the at least one
internal volume;
and a band configured to retain the base and the container.
[0007] In a second aspect, methods for cooling a container are provided,
comprising:
providing an apparatus comprising a base comprising a top, a bottom, a
sidewall, and at least
one internal volume, wherein: a shape of the top is configured to conform to a
shape of a
bottom of a container; and the sidewall is characterized by an outer diameter
that is
substantially the same as or less than an outer diameter of the container; a
chilling agent
contained within the at least one internal volume; and a band configured to
retain the base
and the container; contacting a beverage container against the top of the
base; and retaining
the beverage container and the base with the band.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIGS. IA-1D show top, side, bottom, and perspective views,
respectively, of
certain embodiments of an apparatus provided by the present disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of certain embodiments of a base
provided
by the present disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 3A shows a cross-sectional view of a container, base, and
sleeve or band
provided by the present disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional view of a container resting on
certain
embodiments of a appartus provided by the present disclosure.
[0012] FIGS. 4A-4C show top, side, and perspective views of certain
embodiments of a
retaining band provided by the present disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 5A shows a cross-sectional view of a container and a base
retained by a
retaining band according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 5B shows a cross-sectional view of a container and a base
according to
certain embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0015] FIGS. 6A-6C show side, cross-sectional, and perspective views of a
beverage
container for use with a chilling apparatus according to certain embodiments
of the present
disclosure.
[0016] FIGS. 7A-7G show cross-sectional views of various embodiments of a
base
provided by the present disclosure.
[0017] Reference is now made to certain embodiments of methods and
apparatus for
chilling the contents of containers. The disclosed embodiments are not
intended to be limiting
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of the claims. To the contrary, the claims are intended to cover all
alternatives, modifications,
and equivalents.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Apparatus provided by the present disclosure can be used to chill
the contents of a
container such as a beverage within a beverage container.
[0019] The apparatus includes a base having a top, a bottom, and a
sidewall. Overall, the
apparatus has the shape of a puck. The sidewall has a diameter that can be
substantially the
same as or smaller than the outer diameter of the container to be chilled. For
example, when
the container is a soda or beer can, the sidewall has a diameter of about 2.5
inches or less.
Having substantially the same diameter means that when a container is resting
on the base,
the sidewall and the outer diameter of the container are flush and the outer
diameter of the
sidewall is not greater than that of the container such that the container can
rest within the
outer diameter of the sidewall and/or be retained by features incorporated
within the sidewall
that fixedly engage the container.
[0020] The top of the base is configured to efficiently chill the container
when contacting
the base of the container. For example certain beverage containers such as
soda and beer cans
have a concave surface at the bottom. Thus, for use with these containers, a
base will have a
convex surface that substantially conforms to the convex bottom surface of the
can. In
general, the top of a base will have a shape that is configured to mate with
the shape of the
bottom of the container to be chilled. Mating of the top surface of a base to
the bottom
surface of the container is intended to facilitate thermal transfer between
the two.
[0021] A base can also include one or more internal volumes. The internal
volumes may
be unfilled, that is filled with air, an insulating material, or a chilling
agent. In certain
embodiments, a base includes at least one internal volume at the top, such as
directly beneath
and adjacent a convex surface. Other internal volumes may be used for
providing insulation
at the bottom of the base and/or adjacent the sidewalls. Insulating volumes
may contain air
or an insulation material such as a foam. The size, location, and contents of
the volumes
within the base can be selected to insulate the chilling agent from the
environment and to
facilitate thermal transfer between the chilling agent and the contents of the
container. One or
more of the internal volumes are filled with a chilling agent.
[0022] The top of a base may be any appropriate shape such as concave,
convex, flat or
textured and are designed to mate with the bottom of a container to be chilled
to facilitate
thermal transfer between the chilling agent and the contents of the container.
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[0023] In certain embodiments, the bottom of the base may be any
appropriate shape such
as, for example, substantially flat. In certain embodiments, a based may
include additional
features and/or materials that can further serve to insulate the base. For
example, a base may
include a plurality of standoffs or bumps disposed on the bottom such that the
base is stable
and that contact of the base with an underlying surface is reduced or
minimized. In certain
embodiments, a base may include an insulating layer such as a foam or an
elastomer that
provides additional insulation and can prevent the base from moving or
slipping on an
underlying surface. In certain embodiments, the insulating layer is made from
a material that
insulates the base from ambient air or an underlying surface. The insulating
layer may be
applied to the bottom and/or sidewalls of a base.
[0024] The base may be made out of any appropriate material or combination
of
materials. For example, a base may be made from a thermoplastic. The base may
include
materials such as a metal that facilitates thermal transfer or portions of the
base may include
thermally conductive thermoplastic material. In certain embodiments, a base
can be injection
molded as a single part. Any suitable thermoplastic material may be used. The
base may be
made from a combination of materials having different thermal transfer
characteristics. For
example, at the top of the base it is desirable that thermal transfer be
efficient in order to cool
the contents of a container. Thus, the top of the base may be made of a
material or a
combination of materials that have good thermal transfer properties and that
facilitate cooling
of the container contents. Conversely, it may be desirable to insulate the
bottom and the
sidewalls of the base to minimize thermal transfer to the ambient environment,
to a user's
hand, or to an underlying surface. Thus, the bottom and sidewalls of the base
may be made
from a material or combination of materials having poor thermal transfer
properties and that
facilitates insulation of the base and sidewalls.
[0025] In certain embodiments, a base may include multiple materials. For
example, the
top of a base may include one or more materials that facilitate thermal
transfer and the
materials forming the sidewalls and/or the bottom may comprise one or more
materials that
serve to insulate the chilling agent within the base. For example, a thin
metal may be
positioned and insert molded at the top of the base. Alternatively, the top of
the base may
include a thermally conductive thermoplastic comprising a thermally conductive
filler with
other parts of the base being fabricated using a thermoplastic without a
thermally conductive
filler. Similarly, the sidewalls and/or the bottom of the base could be made
using a foamed
thermoplastic to improve insulation.
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[0026] Thermal transfer properties of features of the base may also be
modified after the
base is formed. For example, a metal foil or other metal surface may be
affixed or bonded to
the top surface to improve thermal transfer properties. In addition or as an
alternative, a
thermally conductive layer such as a thermally conductive elastomeric layer
could be affixed
to the top of the base to both improve thermal transfer and to facilitate
mating between the
top of the base and the bottom surface of the container to be chilled. A layer
on the upper
surface or top of the base may have metal features extending through the top
of the base and
into the chilling agent to improve thermal transfer from the chilling agent to
the top surface of
the base.
[0027] The thickness of the walls of a base may also be selected to
optimize the ability of
the apparatus to chill a container. For example, the thickness of the wall at
the top may be
thin to improve thermal transfer, whereas the thickness of the material at the
sidewalls and
the bottom may be thicker to insulate the chilling agent and also to provide
physical integrity
to the apparatus.
[0028] Bases provided by the present disclosure can be made, for example,
by injection
molding, blow molding, or other suitable plastic molding method. Thermally
conductive
and/or non-conductive elements and/or features can be included using insert
molding.
Chilling agent can be injected into an internal volume and the hole filled,
for example, with
an adhesive or a plug. Layers of thermally conductive or thermally non-
conductive material
may be applied to one or more of the outer surfaces of the base to modify the
thermal transfer
properties of the base.
[0029] One or more internal volumes within the base may be filled with a
chilling agent.
In certain embodiments, the based comprises an internal volume directly below
and adjacent
the convex surface toward the top of the base. The chilling agent may be
selected from a
composition or material that has a freezing point less than or substantially
the same as that of
water. For example, the chilling agent may have a temperature when fully
chilled of 0 C or
less, -10 C or less, or -20 C or less. The chilling agent can be frozen, for
example, by
storing the base with the chilling agent in a refrigerator or contacting the
base with ice such
as in an ice chest. In certain embodiments, a chilling agent is selected from
a refrigerant gel.
[0030] Views of certain embodiments of a base provided by the present
disclosure are
shown in FIGS. IA-1D. FIGS. IA-1D show top, side, bottom, and perspective
views of
certain embodiments a base useful, for example, to chill the contents of a
beverage container.
A base includes sidewall 101 having a diameter 104, an upper or top surface
including a
convex portion 102 and a radial depression 103. The base is characterized by a
diameter 104
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and includes bottom 106. In certain embodiments the height 105 of sidewall 101
can be from
about 0.25 inches to about 2.00 inches, from about 0.25 inches to about 1.00
inches, from
about 0.35 inches to about 0.65 inches, and in certain embodiments, about 0.5
inches. The
height of the sidewall and hence the height of the base can be selected to
optimize the amount
of chilling agent used for a particular use and optimize convenience, comfort,
and/or ease of
use. For example, although a large base can be desirable to retain a large
amount of chilling
agent, it can also be desirable that the base not be too heavy and be
comfortable when held by
hand. Convenience, comfort, and handling ability can be particularly important
for portable
uses such as when used to chill a beverage container. In contrast, for
stationary applications,
a base could be larger and heavier. Such applications include, for example,
chilling a pitcher
or a bowl containing food.
[0031] The thickness of the base can be selected to provide a suitable
volume to retain an
appropriate amount of chilling agent and appropriate for a particular
application. For
example, in applications in which the base is attached to a can and hand-held,
the base should
not be too heavy or cumbersome. The radial recess 103, if necessary, is
configured to accept
the bottom of a container. For example, the recess shown in FIG. lA and FIG.
ID is
configured to accept the bottom of a soda can or a beer can. The radial recess
or other shape
can be configured to mate with or match the corresponding surfaces of other
containers.
[0032] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the base shown in FIGS. IA-
1D. FIG. 2
shows sidewall 201, convex top surface 202, radial recession 203, bottom
surface 206, and
internal volume 207. In certain embodiments, internal volume 207 may be filled
with a
chilling agent. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the base includes a single
internal
volume that is completely filled with a chilling agent. The thick ness of the
walls shown in
FIG. 2 may be any suitable thickness to ensure mechanical stability, to
provide thermal
insulation where appropriate, and to facilitate thermal transfer where
appropriate. For
example, to enhance insulation, the sidewall and bottom may be relatively
thicker than the
thickness of the top surface, which is configured to be in contact with the
container to be
cooled. A thinner top surface wall can facilitate thermal transfer from the
chilling agent to
the container and to the container contents. As shown in FIG. 2, the top of
the sidewall
extends to the bottom of the recess 203 with an outwardly beveled surface. The
recess and
outwardly beveled surface is configured to mate with the bottom surfaces of a
container such
that a container can rest freely on the upper surfaces of the base.
[0033] Examples of various embodiments of a base are shown in FIGS. 7A-7G.
FIG.
7A shows a base with standoffs 701, which serve to separate the bottom of the
base from an
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underlying surface. Standoffs 701 are configured so that the container and
base are stable
when resting on a surface. A base may include, for example, 3 standoffs, 4
standoffs or more
than four standoffs that have a suitable shape for providing stability. FIG.
7B shows a base
with a sidewall and the bottom wall 703 that are thicker than the thickness of
the top wall
702. FIG. 7C shows a base having a bottom that is concave toward the center
704 and has
flat surfaces 704 toward the sidewalls. The shape of the bottom surface shown
in FIG. 7C is
configured to minimize contact of the base with an underlying surface and
thereby reduce
thermal transfer with the underlying surface. FIG. 7D shows a base having a
metal insert
706 on the top convex surface to facilitate thermal transfer between the
chilling agent and the
contents of a container. FIG. 7E shows a base having a layer of insulating
material 707 on
the bottom surface. Insulating material 707 may be, for example, an elastomer
or cork, and is
intended to reduce thermal transfer between the chilling agent contained
within the base and
an underlying surface. FIG. 7F shows a base with at least two internal
volumes. Internal
volume 708 contains a chilling agent and is situated toward the top convex
surface of the base
to facilitate thermal transfer to the container. Internal volume 709 is
situated toward the
sidewalls and the bottom and is configured to insulate the sidewall and the
bottom from the
environment. Internal volume 709 may be filled with air, foam, or other
material that
improves thermal insulation. Internal volumes 708 and/or 709 may include
reinforcement
features to enhance the mechanical stability of the base. FIG. 7G shows a base
having at
least two internal volumes 710 and 711. In FIG. 7G internal volume 710 is
filled with a
chilling agent and is situated toward the top of the base including both the
central convex
surface and the top of the sidewall. Internal volume 711 is situated at the
bottom of the base
and is configured to insulate the chilling agent from the bottom of the base.
The
embodiments shown in FIGS. 7A-7G may be used in any suitable combination and
may
include other features as appropriate.
[0034] FIG.
3A shows a perspective view of a container, in this case, a soda can or beer
can, positioned above a base and a sleeve. As shown in the figure, the top
surface of the base
301 is configured to accept the bottom of the container 302 such that the top
surface of the
base can mate with the bottom surface of the container 302. As shown in FIG.
3B, when
assembled, the bottom of the container mates with the top surface of the base.
Also as shown
in FIG. 3B, in this embodiment, the outer diameter of the sidewall of the base
is substantially
the same as the outer diameter of the container, such that when assembled, the
outer surface
of the sidewall is substantially flush with the outer surface of the
container. Also, as is
apparent form FIG. 3B, the container and the base are not fixedly connected.
In other words,
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the base does not include features that serve to fixedly retain the container
and base as a
single unit. The container can be freely disengaged from the base. In this
embodiment, the
chilling base functions similar to a coaster in that the container rests on
the base. Also, in the
embodiments shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the base 301 and the beverage container
302 are
held in contact by band 303, which fits around the sidewall of the base and
the outer diameter
of the beverage container. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, band 303 extends at
least part of
the length of the container, effectively forming a sleeve around the beverage
container. The
sleeve or band can be configured to insulate the beverage can from the ambient
environment
and from a user's hand, as well as to retain the top of the base against the
bottom of the can.
In certain embodiments, the band or sleeve may be made from a thermally
insulating
material.
[0035] In certain embodiments, it is desirable that a container be fixedly
attached to a
base such that the container and base function as a single unit. For example,
people drinking
a beverage often stand and walk around while drinking a beverage. It is
therefore useful to
chill a beverage while the user is mobile and holding the beverage container.
[0036] To address these and other needs, in certain embodiments, a
container may be
fixedly attached to a base using a band. A band is configured to retain a
container and a base.
An example of a band is illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4C, which show top, side, and
perspective
views, respectively, of certain embodiments of a band. In certain embodiments,
a band is
dimensioned to hold a container against a base. In certain embodiments, a band
is elastic such
that it can be stretched around the sidewall of a base and the outer wall of a
container. In
certain embodiments, a band has a height from about 0.5 inches to about 2
inches, from about
0.75 inches to about 1.25 inches, and in certain embodiments, is about 1 inch.
In other
embodiments, it can be desirable to insulate the beverage container from a
user's hand, and
accordingly a band may extend a certain length of the beverage container. In
certain
embodiments, a band is formed from a thermoplastic elastomer. In certain
embodiments, the
band is made from a thermally insulating material, and can function to
thermally insulate the
chilling base and to insulate a user's hand from the chilling base and at
least partially from
the cold beverage.
[0037] FIGS. 5A and 5B show cross-sectional views, respectively, of a
container 501 and
base 502 held together with a band 503. As shown in these figures, the height
of the band
spans the thickness of the base and extends beyond the base to capture secure
the bottom
portion of the container. The band provides a compressive force against the
sidewall of the
base and the outer surface of the container. Thus, in certain embodiments, an
apparatus for
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chilling a beverage includes a base and a band configured to retain the base
and a container.
The band, the container, and the base, can be disassembled. The base and the
band can be
reused. The dimension and the elasticity of the band may be selected such that
a user can
assemble the band against the sidewall of the base and holding the apparatus
in one hand
using a twisting motion secure a container against the base with the other
hand. Disassembly
can be accomplished by using a twisting motion to release the container from
the elastic
band.
[0038] Apparatus disclosed herein may be used in several applications such
as for
chilling a container and/or chilling a beverage container. A base may be used
similar to an
ice pack to chill the interior or contents of a container. For chilling a
beverage container, a
beverage may be placed on top of the base and used as a coaster. The base
chills the
beverage when the beverage is placed on top of the base. A beverage container
may also be
chilled by retaining the base and the beverage container using a band. In this
application, the
beverage container is continuously chilled while the person drinking the
beverage is holding
the beverage with the attached chilling base. In another application, such as
in a lunch box,
the chilling base may be attached to a beverage container with a band and
placed in the lunch
box to cool both the interior of the lunch box as well as directly keeping the
beverage cold.
[0039] While the embodiments disclosed herein have focused on use with cans
and more
specifically beverage cans such as soda and beer cans, it can be appreciated
that the apparatus
disclosed herein can be adapted for use with other containers. For example,
beverages are
available in boxes, plastic bottles, and glass bottles. For each container
configuration, a based
can be configured in an appropriate shape to facilitate chilling. Similarly, a
band may be
shaped to facilitate retention of the base and the container.
[0040] For example, FIGS. 6A-6C show a container for use with a chilling
base. Certain
beverages may not come pre-packaged in a can, may be provided in a large
container that is
not easily held by a user, or may be provided in a container that does not
have good thermal
transfer properties such as in a plastic bottle. In such circumstances it can
be desirable to
transfer the beverage to a container having good thermal transfer properties
and that is
configured to mate with a base provided by the present disclosure. The
container may be
formed from a material having good thermal transfer properties such as metal,
glass, or other
suitable material. An example is shown in FIGS. 6A-6C, which shows a container
having a
sidewall 601 and a bottom surface 602, where the bottom surface has a concave
surface and
is configured to mate with a base provided by the present disclosure. In
certain
embodiments, a container may comprise a base formed from a material having
good thermal
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transfer properties and sidewalls having poor thermal transfer properties. In
certain
embodiments, the sidewalls, the base, or both the sidewalls and the base, of a
container may
include one or more internal volumes that are configured to provide insulation
or are
configured to contain a chilling agent. In such embodiments, the beverage can
be cooled by
both the detachable base as well as the chilling agent contained within the
sidewalls and/or
base of the container. It can be appreciated that the sidewalls of the
container may have other
shapes. As for other embodiments, a base and container may be held in contact
with an
elastic band or an at least partially elastic sleeve.
[0041] Other embodiments may be used to chill contents of containers that
are primarily
stationary. For example, a chilling apparatus may be configured to retain and
chill the
contents of a pitcher or a bowl. In other embodiments, a chilling apparatus
may be
configured to retain and chill food within a container such as salads. In such
embodiments in
which size a weight are not as limiting as in portable beverage container
uses, the sidewalls
of the apparatus may be configured to be wider than those of the container
such that the
container fits at least partially within the chilling apparatus. Containers
and chilling
apparatus may be designed to work in combination.
EXAMPLE
[0042] Embodiments provided by the present disclosure are further
illustrated by
reference to the following example. It will be apparent to those skilled in
the art that many
modifications, both to materials, and methods, may be practiced without
departing from the
scope of the disclosure.
Example 1
[0043] A standard 12 fl-oz beverage can retained by a band against a
chilling apparatus
having a sidewall height of about 0.5 inches and a similar beverage can
without the chilling
apparatus were left at room temperature for about 20 minutes. The temperature
of the
contents of the beverage can with the chilling apparatus was about 10 F
cooler than the
temperature of the contents of the beverage without the chilling apparatus.
[0044] Finally, it should be noted that there are alternative ways of
implementing the
embodiments disclosed herein. Accordingly, the present embodiments are to be
considered as
illustrative and not restrictive. Furthermore, the claims are not to be
limited to the details
given herein, and are entitled their full scope and equivalents thereof
