AU2012100504A4 - An Insulating Assembly for Containers - Google Patents

Abstract

An insulating sleeve for a container, the insulating sleeve including at least one sidewall and a base wall, the base wall including a shaped frangible portion separable from the base wall if required to form an opening in the base wall. Figure 11 Figure 12

Description

TITLE: AN INSULATING ASSEMBLY FOR CONTAINERS TECHNICAL FIELD 100011 The present invention relates to insulating devices used for containers to maintain temperature of the material in the container, whether hot or cold. BACKGROUND ART [00021 Beverages, such as beer or pre-mixed drinks, are typically consumed directly from a can or a bottle. Such beverages are often chilled meaning that the user's hand holding the drink not only gets cold, but also warms the beverage. The reverse is also true when a beverage is hot or warm; a user's hand cools the beverage and can be uncomfortably hot holding a poorly insulated container. These effects are often undesirable. 100031 In an attempt to overcome some of these problems, beverage holders, particularly for beer, are well known. A can or bottle (for example, a 'stubby') are inserted into the holder and the holder insulates the beverage from the drinker's hand. This has the generally desirable effect of keeping the drink cooler for longer, and the drinker's hand warmer. 100041 Such holders are typically a sleeve with or without a base, made of neoprene or wetsuit material, which due to its inherent insulating and stretching abilities allows different sized and shaped cans or bottles such as those illustrated in Figure 1, to be held insulated in a standard sized cooler. 100051 Although often called a "cooler", the sleeve is also capable of functioning as an insulator to maintain a hot or warm drink in that condition and to prevent or minimise heat transfer to the user's hand. [00061 Typically, in most circumstances, the sleeve is as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 in that the sleeve extends only part of the way over the height of the container leaving an upper portion, sometimes up to half of the height of the container still exposed. [0007] Attempts have been made to address this problem by providing a taller sleeve which tapers at an upper region and a zipper or similar closure to secure the taller sleeve to the container. These taller sleeves also have issues not least of which is the difficulty in inserting and removing the container from the sleeve. These taller sleeves also still leave an upper portion of the container exposed.

4 [0008] It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this 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. SUMMARY OF INVENTION 10009] The present invention is directed to an insulating assembly for containers, which may at least partially overcome at least one of the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice. [0010] With the foregoing in view, the present invention in one form, resides broadly in an insulating assembly for a container, the assembly including a first insulating sleeve, at least one second insulating sleeve, at least one of the first or second insulating sleeve having a base wall partially closing one end of the sleeve, the base wall having an opening therein, one sleeve receiving a bottom section of the container and the sleeve with the opening in the base wall used in an inverted condition relative to the one sleeve to receive an upper section of the container with a portion of the container extending through the opening in the base wall. 10011] In an alternative embodiment, the present invention resides in an insulating sleeve for a container, the insulating sleeve including at least one sidewall and a base wall, the base wall including a shaped frangible portion separable from the base wall if required to form an opening in the base wall. [00121 The insulating sleeve will preferably be adapted to insulate against either or both of hot or cold. 10013] Any material can be used but a preferred material is neoprene or a similar rubberised foam material. The dimensions of the sleeve or material used are not essential to the invention but will be chosen according to the application to which the sleeve or material is to be put. 10014] The insulating sleeve will normally be substantially circular in cross-sectional shape when viewed from the top or bottom although it may be any shape. [00151 The insulating sleeve will normally be open at one end and the other end will normally be at least partially closed by the base wall. [0016] The base wall may be formed integrally with the remainder of the sleeve or may be formed separately and attached to the sidewall, once the sidewall has been formed into the preferred tubular shape. [0017] Any method of attachment can be used but stitching and/or adhesive are preferred. 10018] The sidewall is preferably substantially continuous. A single sidewall will normally be provided. The sidewall will normally be formed from a rectangular blank of material with opposite ends joined or attached together to form a tube. Again, any method of joining or attachment of the ends can be used but stitching and/or adhesive are preferred. [00191 The frangible portion can be any shape but will normally be circular. The frangible portion will normally be formed in the base wall by providing peripheral perforations through or partially through the base wall in the desired shape. [00201 Although the frangible portion may be any size, it is preferred that it be approximately 30 mm in outer diameter. [00211 The frangible portion will typically be manually removable from the base wall. However, it is also preferred that the frangible portion be attached securely enough to the base wall to require determined removal, typically through worrying the frangible portion free. [0022] An optional cap may be provided. The cap will preferably be a smaller sleeve which is similar in all respects to the insulated sleeve except for dimension. Again, the cap will preferably have a substantially continuous sidewall in a tubular configuration and a top wall closing one end thereof. 100231 The cap will normally be used in an inverted configuration that is, with the top wall uppermost. [00241 In use, the cap will be used to cover any portion of the container that is exposed through the base wall of the inverted sleeve. [00251 The insulated sleeves will preferably be sized to cover the container. More than two sleeves may be used plus the cap or only two plus the cap. The sleeves will normally be provided in a variety of heights and diameters to be applied to any size container. Different sized sleeves may be used on the same container depending upon the shape of the container. [00261 The sleeve may be provided with the optional cap associated therewith. For example, when sold, the top wall of the cap may be the frangible portion of the base wall of the sleeve such that removal of the frangible portion forms the opening in the base wall and frees the 4 cap for use. [00271 Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention. [00281 The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [00291 Various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which: [00301 Figure 1 is a front view of a variety of drink container sizes and shapes. [00311 Figure 2 is an illustration of a "stubbie" or beer bottle with the corresponding conventional cooler device. [00321 Figure 3 is an illustration of two different sized "stubbies" or beer bottles with the corresponding conventional cooler device fitted. [00331 Figure 4 is a view from below of the insulating sleeve of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 100341 Figure 5 is a view from below of the insulating sleeve illustrated in Figure 4 with the frangible portion partially removed. [00351 Figure 6 is an isometric view of an insulating sleeve illustrated in Figure 5, inverted. [0036] Figure 7 is an isometric view of the insulating sleeve illustrated in Figure 6 showing removal of the frangible portion. [00371 Figure 8 is an isometric view of an optional cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0038] Figure 9 is an isometric view of a bottle prior to insertion into the insulated sleeve of the preferred embodiment. 100391 Figure 10 is an isometric view of a bottle after insertion into an insulated sleeve of the preferred embodiment on a lower end of the bottle.

100401 Figure 1I is an isometric view of the configuration illustrated in Figure 10 and showing the insertion of an upper end of the bottle into a second insulated sleeve of the preferred embodiment. 100411 Figure 12 is an isometric view of a bottle with two insulated sleeves of the preferred embodiment surrounding the bottle prior to the optional cap illustrated in Figure 8 being applied. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 100421 According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, an insulating assembly for a container is provided. [0043] According to the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated Figures 4 to 12, insulating assembly includes a first insulating sleeve 10 and a second insulating sleeve 11. Both insulating sleeves 10, 11 have a base wall 12 partially closing one end of the sleeve. The base wall 12 of the upper insulating sleeve has an opening 13 therein. The first sleeve 10 receives a bottom section of the container 14 and the second upper sleeve 11 with the opening 13 in the base wall 12 is used in an inverted condition relative to the first sleeve 10 to receive an upper section of the container 14 with a portion of the neck 15 of the container 14 extending through the opening 13 in the base wall 12. [0044] The insulating sleeves are both formed in the same way as illustrated in Figures 4 to 7 having a sidewall and a base wall 12, with the base wall 12 including a shaped frangible portion 16 separable from the base wall 12 when required to form an opening 13 in the base wall 12. 100451 The material used in the preferred embodiment is neoprene. [00461 The insulating sleeve is substantially circular in cross-sectional shape when viewed from the top or bottom. [00471 The base wall is generally formed separately and attached to the sidewall, once the sidewall has been formed into the preferred tubular shape. Any method of attachment can be used but stitching and/or adhesive are preferred. [00481 The frangible portion 16 illustrated is circular and is formed in the base wall 12 by providing peripheral perforations through or partially through the base wall 12 in the desired shape.

0 100491 The frangible portion 16 is manually removable from the base wall 12. 100501 An optional cap 17 illustrated in Figure 8 may be provided. The cap 17 is a smaller sleeve which is similar in all respects to the insulated sleeve except for dimension. The cap 17 has a substantially continuous sidewall in a tubular configuration and a top wall closing one end thereof. [00511 The cap will normally be used in an inverted configuration that is, with the top wall uppermost over the exposed portion of the container through the base wall of the inverted sleeve. [00521 As illustrated in Figure 12, the insulated sleeves are sized to cover or contain the container 14. 100531 In the present specification and claims (if any), the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers. [00541 Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations. [00551 In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims (5)

1. An insulating assembly for a container, the assembly including a first insulating sleeve, at least one second insulating sleeve, at least one of the first or second insulating sleeve having a base wall partially closing one end of the sleeve, the base wall having an opening therein, one sleeve receiving a bottom section of the container and the sleeve with the opening in the base wall used in an inverted condition relative to the one sleeve to receive an upper section of the contained with a portion of the container extending through the opening in the base wall.

2. An insulating sleeve for a container, the insulating sleeve including at least one sidewall and a base wall, the base wall including a shaped frangible portion separable from the base wall if required to form an opening in the base wall.

3. An insulating sleeve for a container as claimed in claim 2 wherein the frangible portion is formed in the base wall by providing peripheral perforations through or partially through the base wall in the desired shape.

4. An insulating sleeve for a container as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the frangible portion manually removable from the base wall.

5. An insulating assembly for a container as claimed in claim 1 further including a cap having a substantially continuous sidewall in a tubular configuration and a top wall closing one end thereof, the cap provided to cover the portion of the container extending through the opening in the base wall.