AU2005318940B2 - A beverage container holder - Google Patents

Description

WO 2006/066329 PCTiAU20051001930 1 A BEVERAGE CONTAINER HOLDER Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to beverage container holders for holding beverage containers such as bottles and cans.

Brief Discussion of the Prior Art Beverages are sometimes consumed directly from bottles and cans. When a person consumes a beverage directly from a beverage container such as a bottle or can they will sometimes hold the beverage container in a type of beverage container holder which is commonly referred to in Australia as a stubby cooler. Stubby coolers are typically made from materials such as polystyrene or neoprene rubber which have thermal insulating properties. Holding a beverage container such as a bottle or can in a stubby cooler thermally insulates the beverage container so that the contents of the beverage container remains cooler for longer. Any reference herein to a "stubby cooler" is to be interpreted as being a reference to a beverage container holder of the aforementioned type.

A typical stubby cooler is made from neoprene rubber and includes a sleeve and a wall which covers a lower opening of the sleeve. The sleeve is adapted to fit over a beverage container such as a can or a bottle such that the sleeve extends around the beverage container.

Stubby coolers often have information such as logos, pictures, or text messages printed on the exterior surfaces thereof for the purpose of promoting products, ideas and organisations which are associated in some way with the printed information. Such stubby coolers are often used in hotels and at social functions for promotional purposes.

Because stubby coolers are often used for promotional purposes, it would be desirable to have a stubby cooler which is able to attract more attention than existing stubby coolers so that information such as a company logo which is printed on the cooler may receive more exposure.

Summary of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least ameliorate, WO 2006/066329 PCT/AU20051001930 2 one or more of the deficiencies of the prior art mentioned above, or to provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying illustrations, wherein, by way of illustration and example, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

According to a broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a stubby cooler for holding a beverage container. The stubby cooler comprises a sleeve for receiving the beverage container, and at least one light source for emitting light, wherein the light emitted by the light source is visible on the exterior of the stubby cooler.

The light emitted by each of the light sources may draw attention to information which is displayed on an exterior surface of the stubby cooler such as a logo, advertisement, picture, or text. The stubby cooler is therefore particularly suitable for use as a promotional item for promoting products, organisations, ideas, or other subject matter which is associated with the information displayed on the exterior surface of the stubby cooler.

The stubby cooler may be suitable for holding any type of beverage container such as, for example, a can or a bottle.

The stubby cooler may be fabricated from any suitable material or combination of materials such as polystyrene, plastic, or neoprene rubber.

In a particular preferred form, the sleeve of the stubby cooler is cylindrical.

A lower end of the sleeve is preferably substantially blocked by a wall which is secured relative to the sleeve. The wall preferably includes a drainage opening so that fluid is able to be drained out of the stubby cooler through the drainage opening.

Each of the light sources is preferably secured to the sleeve.

Each of the light sources may be any suitable type of light source. For example, each of the light sources may be a light bulb, a light emitting diode, an electroluminescent wire, or a fibre optic cable. However, it is preferred that each of the light sources is a light emitting diode.

If the stubby cooler includes a plurality of light sources it is preferred that each light source is able to emit a different coloured light to each of the other light WO 2006/066329 PCT/AU20051001930 3 sources.

The light sources are preferably powered by at least one battery. In a particular preferred form, the light sources are powered by a pair of 1.5 Volt batteries which are connected in series to provide an output of 3 Volts.

Preferably, the stubby cooler also includes a switch which is operable to connect each of the light sources to an electrical power supply so that light is emitted by each of the light sources when they are connected to the power supply. The switch preferably includes a push-button for operating the switch.

The stubby cooler also preferably includes a flashing circuit for flashing at least one of the light sources when the light sources are connected to the power supply.

In a preferred form, the batteries, the switch and the flashing circuit are mounted on a printed circuit board which is connected to the light sources by a plurality of wires.

Brief Description of the Illustrations In order that the invention may be more fully understood and put into practice, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying illustrations, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a stubby cooler according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the stubby cooler depicted in figure 1; Figure 3 is a top view of the stubby cooler illustrated in figure 1 which depicts a circuit board of the cooler when the circuit board is detached from a sleeve of the cooler; Figure 4 depicts the interior of the stubby cooler illustrated in figure 1 when viewed through an upper opening of the cooler; Figure 5 is a front view of a stubby cooler according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention which includes a picture of a stylised face on an exterior surface thereof; Figure 6 depicts the stubby cooler illustrated in figure 5 when light sources of the cooler are illuminated; WO 2006/066329 PCT/AU20051001930 4 Figure 7 depicts an interior surface of an outer layer of neoprene rubber which forms part of the sleeve member of the stubby cooler illustrated in figure Figure 8 depicts how the outer layer illustrated in figure 7 is secured to an inner layer of neoprene rubber which also forms part of the sleeve of the stubby cooler illustrated in figure Figure 9 illustrates the assembly of the sleeve of the stubby cooler depicted in figure 5 after the inner and outer layers thereof have been secured together; and Figure 10 is a top view of the stubby cooler depicted in figure Detailed Description of the Illustrations A stubby cooler 20 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted in figures 1 to 4 of the illustrations.

The stubby cooler 20 includes a hollow cylindrical sleeve 21 and a circular wall 22. A lower end opening 23 of the sleeve 21 is substantially blocked by the circular wall 22 which is fixed to an interior surface 24 of the sleeve 21 with a suitable adhesive such as, for example, a suitable glue.

The sleeve 21 is formed from a rectangular strip of neoprene rubber whose ends are sown together along a seam 25 to thereby form the hollow cylindrical sleeve 21.

The circular wall 22 is also made from neoprene rubber, and the edge thereof is fixed to the interior surface 24 of the sleeve 21 so that the lower end opening 23 of the sleeve 21 is thereby substantially blocked by the wall 22. The wall 22 includes a small drainage opening 26.

The dimensions of the sleeve 21 and the elasticity of the neoprene rubber from which the sleeve 21 and the wall 22 are made are such that the sleeve 21 is able to receive and extend around a beverage container such as a bottle or can.

An exterior surface 27 of the sleeve 21 has information 28 printed thereon.

The information 28 is in the form of a logo which includes the word "WATERHOLE" with the letters of the word spaced apart from each other at regular intervals.

A respective light emitting diode (LED) 29 is located between the letters: "W and and and and and and of the word "WATERHOLE" which forms part of the logo printed on the exterior surface 27 of WO 2006/066329 PCT/AU20051001930 the sleeve 21. Each diode 29 is received by a respective opening in the sleeve 21 and is secured relative to the sleeve 21 such that each diode 29 is visible on the exterior surface 27 of the sleeve 21. Each diode 29 is able to emit a different coloured light to each of the other diodes 29.

The stubby cooler 20 also includes an elongate circuit board 30 having a switch 31 which is operated by a push-button 32 and a pair of 1.5 Volt batteries 33 secured thereto. The batteries 33 are connected in series to provide a 3 Volt power supply. The switch 31 and batteries 33 are connected to each other and to the diodes 29 by wires 34 to form an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit also includes flashing circuitry 35 so that when the push-button 32 of the switch 31 is operated to close the switch 31 the diodes 29 continuously flash in a sequential manner such that the diode 29 between the letters and flashes first followed by the diode 29 between the letters and and so on. The flashing diodes 29 draw attention to the stubby cooler 20 and, more particularly, to the information 28 on the exterior surface 27 of the stubby cooler 20. The diodes 29 cease flashing if the push-button 32 of the switch 31 is operated to open the switch 31.

The circuit board 30 is located in an elongate recess 36 in the interior of the sleeve 21 and is secured to the sleeve 21 such that the push-button 32 of the switch 31 faces towards the exterior of the sleeve 21 and is located adjacent an upper opening 37 of the sleeve 21. This enables the push-button 32 of the switch 31 to be operated by pressing against the exterior surface 27 of the sleeve 21 at a location thereon which coincides with the location of the push-button 32. Operating instructions and an indicator 38 which indicates the location of the push-button 32 are printed on the exterior surface 27 of the sleeve 21.

The stubby cooler 20 is able to insulate the contents of the beverage container which is held by the stubby cooler A stubby cooler 50 according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted in figure 5. For convenience, features of the stubby cooler 50 which are similar to features of the stubby cooler 20 are referenced using the same reference numbers.

Similarly to the stubby cooler 20, the stubby cooler 50 includes a sleeve 21 and a wall 22 which are both made from neoprene rubber. The sleeve 21 of stubby WO 2006/066329 PCT/AU20051001930 6 cooler 50 also includes an interior surface 24, seam 25, exterior surface 27, and information 28 which is printed on the exterior surface 27.

Information 28 is in the form of a stylised smiling face in a circle. The smiling face includes a pair of eyes 51, a nose 52, and a mouth 53.

Similarly to the stubby cooler 20, a plurality of light emitting diodes 29 are fixed to the sleeve 21 of the stubby cooler 50 such that the diodes 29 are visible on the exterior surface 27 of the sleeve 21. Figure 6 depicts the diodes 29 in an illuminated state. It can be seen from figure 6 that a respective diode 29 is located coincident with each eye 51 and the nose 52, and five diodes 29 are located along the mouth 53.

Figure 7 depicts an inner surface 54 of an outer layer 55 of the sleeve 21 of the stubby cooler 50. The outer surface of the outer layer 55 which is not visible in figure 7 forms the exterior surface 27 of the sleeve 21. The diodes 29 are fixed to the outer layer 55 and each diode 29 is inserted into a respective opening in the outer layer 55 from the inner surface 54 thereof so that the diodes 29 are visible on the exterior surface 27 of the sleeve 21.

A circuit board 30 of the stubby cooler 50 includes a push-button operated switch 31 and a pair of 1.5 Volt batteries 33. The batteries 33 are connected in series to form a 3 Volt power source. The circuit board 30 is fixed to the inner surface 54 of the outer layer 55. The switch 31 and batteries 33 are connected to each other and to the diodes 29 by wires 34 to form an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit also includes flashing circuitry (not depicted) so that when the push-button of switch 31 is operated to close the switch 31 the diodes 29 continuously flash. The flashing diodes 29 draw attention to the stubby cooler 50 and, more particularly, to the information 28 on the exterior surface 27 of the stubby cooler 50. The diodes 29 cease flashing if the push-button of the switch 31 is operated to open the switch 31.

Once the circuitry including the diodes 29, circuit board 30, and wires 34 has been secured relative to the outer layer 55 of neoprene rubber, an inner layer 56 of neoprene rubber is fixed to the inner surface 54 of the outer layer 55 with glue as depicted in figure 8. Both the outer layer 55 and the inner layer 56 have a thickness of 2.5 mm.

After the inner layer 56 has been glued to the outer layer 55, the ends of the resultant multi-layer sheet of neoprene rubber are glued together as depicted in figure WO 2006/066329 PCT/AU20051001930 7 9 to formn the seam 25 of the cylindrical sleeve 21 of the stubby cooler 50. The edge of the circular wall 22 is then glued to the interior surface 24 of the sleeve 21 adjacent a lower end opening 23 thereof. A plan view of the stubby cooler 50 is depicted in figure Throughout the specification and the claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to apply the inclusion of the stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Throughout the specification and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the term "substantially" or "about" will be understood to not be limited to the value for the range qualified by the terms.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications to the invention described herein will be apparent without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The variations and modifications as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, that reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

Claims (12)

1. A stubby cooler for holding a beverage container, the stubby cooler comprising a sleeve for receiving and thermally insulating the beverage container, and at least one light source for emitting light, wherein the light emitted by the light source is visible on the exterior of the stubby cooler, and wherein the stubby cooler is adapted to be held in the hand of a user while the user consumes a beverage from the beverage container held by the stubby cooler.

2. The stubby cooler of claim 1, wherein the sleeve of the stubby cooler is cylindrical.

3. The stubby cooler of claim 1, wherein each of the light sources is secured to the sleeve.

4. The stubby cooler of claim 2, wherein a lower end of the sleeve is substantially blocked by a wall.

The stubby cooler of claim 4, wherein the wall includes a drainage opening.

6. The stubby cooler of claim 1, wherein each of the light sources is a light bulb, a light emitting diode, an electroluminescent wire, or a fibre optic cable.

7. The stubby cooler of claim 1, wherein each of the light sources is able to emit a different coloured light to each of the other light sources.

8. The stubby cooler of claim 1, wherein the light sources are powered by at least one battery.

9. The stubby cooler of claim 1, wherein the stubby cooler also comprises a switch which is operable to connect each of the light sources to an electrical power supply so that light is emitted by each of the light sources when they are connected to the power supply.

10. The stubby cooler of claim 9, wherein the switch includes a push-button for operating the switch.

11.. The stubby cooler of claim 1, wherein the stubby cooler also comprises a flashing circuit for flashing at least one of the light sources.

12. The stubby cooler of claim 1, wherein information is displayed on an exterior surface of the sleeve, and wherein light emitted by the light sources is able to draw attention to the information. AMENDED 8HEET