GB2317220A

GB2317220A - Portable drinking container

Info

Publication number: GB2317220A
Application number: GB9619264A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Joseph Richmond
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-09-14
Filing date: 1996-09-14
Publication date: 1998-03-18
Also published as: GB9619264D0

Abstract

A self contained individual cooled drinks container system which comprises; a freezable core (3), within which a liquid coolant is contained. The freezable core (3), is designed so as to be incorporated within a drinks container (1), for example a bottle. The freezable core is pre-frozen and the remainder of the internal volume of the bottle or container (5) can be used to contain the cooled liquid drink. The core may be corrugated to accommodate expansion of the liquid coolant. The liquid coolant may be water which can be added by the user via a small screw cap opening (4).

Description

SELF CONTAINED INDIVIDUAL COOLED DRINKS CONTAINER SYSTEM The invention relates to cooled drinks container systems.

Cooled drinks container systems are well known and in common use; for example, to contain cooled drinks when attending, for example outdoor sporting events etc.

A typical cooled drinks container system comprises an insulated box, within which, cooled drinks, (for example in separate bottles), are placed. together with separate liquid containers which are pre-frozen, for example in an ice making compartment of a refrigerator. The effect is that as the pre-frozen containers cool, the ambient temperature within the insulated container is lowered, which temporarily prevents or delays the temperature of the cooled drinks within from rising.

A problem with this type of system is that the insulated boxes are usually large and difficult to store and carry. In addition, if only a small quantity of cooled bottles are required, the large unoccupied air space within the container reduces the cooling efficiency.

Another means of transporting cooled drinks is by means of a vacuum flask. Vacuum flasks are generally either made of glass and therefore fragile, or stainless steel, which tends to be expensive. Moreover, a cooled liquid within a vacuum flask will start to absorb heat immediately if the ambient temperature outside the flask is greater than the temperature of the cooled liquid within, all be it at a slow rate.

The present invention overcomes these and other problems and provides a simple and inexpensive self contained individual cooled drinks container system.

The invention is characterized in that it is included within individual bottles or containers intended for use as cooled drinks containers.

The invention comprises a freezable core within which a coolant liquid is contained. The freezable core is designed so as to be incorporated within a drinks container, for example a bottle. The freezable core is pre-frozen and the remainder of the internal volume of the bottle or container can be used to contain the cooled liquid drink.

In a preferred embodiment the freezable core is contained within the drinks container in one or several central locations during manufacture. The liquid contained within the freezable core can be a non expanding liquid such as alcohol, or water, in which case the design of the core is such that expansion of the water during freezing is accommodated.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows, in exposed cross-section, a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows an alternative core configuration of a first embodiment of the invention.

Figures 3 and 3a show an example of a second embodiment of the invention which is designed to utilize water within the internal core and which incorporates a means for accommodating the expansion of the water during freezing.

Turning now to the figures it can be seen in exposed cross-section a main container 1, (in this instance a bottle constructed of a low cost plastic material such as polyethylene). The bottle 1 is sealed by means of a screw cap, (not depicted), at location 2. An inner core container 3 is provided which contains a liquid, for example one which does not appreciably expand at a temperature below 0 degrees Celsius. The core container 3 can be incorporated during manufacture and permanently sealed by a plug at location 4.

In use, the bottle 1 is placed within, for example, the ice making compartment of a refrigerator, or freezer cabinet. The liquid content of the core 3 is then frozen. When required, the bottle can be removed from the ice making compartment and a cooled drink added, which occupies the space 5 between the core 3 and the outer wall of the bottle 1 and the bottle sealed. The effect is that when the bottle is subsequently taken into an environment with a higher temperature, as the cooled liquid drink absorbs heat from the outside environment, the central core 3 absorbs heat from the cooled drink and the cooled temperature is substantially maintained for a long period.

Unlike the aforementioned vacuum flasks, the temperature of the cooled drink tends to lower when introduced into a bottle containing the pre-frozen core of the invention.

Figure 2 depicts an alternative configuration of the inner core. As can be seen the cylinder shaped inner core 3 depicted in figure 1 has been replaced by two separate hollow circular cores. It will be immediately apparent that an infinite number of configurations of the inner core are possible without departing from the underlying principles of the invention.

In a preferred embodiment the liquid within the inner core is water which can be added by the user via a second opening, for example a second small screw cap fitted under the base of the bottle at location 4.

An advantage being that the coolant water can be emptied to make carrying the bottles easier once the drink has been consumed. In addition, the manufacture of the invention without a coolant liquid contained within will tend to be easier and less expensive.

Figure 3 depicts an embodiment of the invention which utilizes a liquid which expands when frozen. for example water, as the liquid or part of the liquid within core container 3. A problem with using water as the core container liquid is that water expands quite considerably during freezing and could therefore split core container 3. As can be seen the design of core container is such that it can accommodate the expansion of the water as it freezes.

Figure 3a depicts figure 3 but with the core container frozen and having accommodated the expansion of the water. Another means of accommodating the expansion is for the core container to be of a very flexible material. Alternatively the core container can be of a sufficiently robust construction such that if a small amount of air is left within the core container during filling, that air can be compressed as the water expands during freezing to accommodate the expansion of the water. The type of design illustrated in figures 3 and 3a can of course be used with non expanding liquids, where the corrugated shape provides a larger cooling surface area.

In a further aspect, the design of the core container can have a novelty feature. For example, it can take the form of a cartoon or other character and be seen through the clear plastic wall of the main casing of the bottle or container 1.

It will be readily apparent that numerous other modifications and adaptions can be made to the system illustrated in the accompanying drawings without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The application is intended to embrace all such modifications and alterations.

Claims

Claim 1. A self contained individual cooled drinks container system which comprises; a freezable core 3, within which a coolant liquid is contained; the freezable core 3, is designed so as to be incorporated within a drinks container 1, for example a bottle.
Claim 2. Claim one where the coolant liquid is a liquid which does not appreciably expand at temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius.
Claim 3. Claim one where the coolant liquid is water, or partly water.
Claim 4. Claim three where the core 3, is designed to accommodate the expansion associated with, for example water, as it freezes.
Claim 5. The invention substantially as described in the application, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Claim 5. Claim one where the central core 3, takes the form of a cartoon or other novelty character.

Claim
6. The invention substantially as described in the application, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claim 1. A self contained individual cooled drinks container system which comprises; a freezable core 3, within which a coolant liquid is contained; the freezable core 3, is designed so as to be incorporated within a drinks container 1, for example a bottle and takes the form of a cartoon or other novelty character.

Claim 2. Claim one where the coolant liquid is a liquid which does not appreciably expand at temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius.

Claim 3. Claim one where the coolant liquid is water, or partly water.

Claim 4. Claim one where the core 3, is designed to accommodate the expansion associated with, for example water, as it freezes.