GB2396000A

GB2396000A - Insulating ice cream tub holder

Info

Publication number: GB2396000A
Application number: GB0228316A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alexander Ludovic Lindsay
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-12-04
Filing date: 2002-12-04
Publication date: 2004-06-09
Also published as: GB0228316D0

Abstract

An insulating ice cream tub holder of truncated-cone (frusto-conical) shape that allows for a smaller but similarly shaped 1 pint / 500 ml ice cream tub to fit neatly in the wider open top. The holder preferably has an internal base diameter of 75 mm C, with the 15 -18 mm thick walls F set at 94-97 degrees outwards from the base E. The depth of the inside of the holder is preferably 90 mm, which allows for the tub's lid to be taken on and off and for ease of removal of the tub. The holder would ideally be in close contact with the surrounding tub walls and base. The holder is preferably made in a way that will insulate the ice cream in the tub from the ambient air temperature. It may be made from a single piece of thermally insulating material or alternatively, may comprise an inner and outer skin which define a cavity in the walls and base.

Description

a 2396000 COOLER

This invention relates to an ice cream tub cooler.

There is a worldwide market for ice cream sold in similarly-shaped truncated cone form 1 pint/500ml tubs. When these ice creams melt much of the air that was originally in the ice cream is allowed to escape. When refrozen the ice cream becomes much harder than originally designed hence the product loses its original quality. As the tubs are not made with adequate insulating materials there are subsequent problems with the handling and use of the product from the point the customer has removed it from the shop's freezer.

For example:

1. Shopping in warm weather. Once the tubs have been removed from the instore freezers the ice cream immediately starts to thaw. In hot weather, particularly in hotter climates, this can put some people off buying if they are unable to get the ice cream to a freezer at home promptly.

2. After the ice cream tub has been removed for its usual 5-10 minutes softening period at meal times the ice cream will continue to thaw, particularly when being handled for serving.

3. The ice cream tubs are often left out longer than they need to be. By the time the tub has been replaced in the freezer the ice cream may have melted so much that it has lost all the properties that made such a product so desirable in the first place.

4. A tub being passed around may not look particularly attractive, especially when it has been manhandled a number of times.

5. Eating outside in the summer can also ruin the necessary properties of ice cream extremely quickly.

6. Taking one of these types of ice cream away on a picnic without extra, dedicated insulation is rarely an option.

7. Although rare, when a freezer stops working the ice cream is often the first to go off and hence will lose its original qualities fast.

8. All the above problems can cause major health problems.

According to the present invention there is provided an insulating vessel designed specifically for a 1 pintl500ml ice cream tub for use at the table or in transportation. The tubs fits snugly into the truncated-cone shaped cooler that is made from materials and in a way that has effective and proven properties that serves to insulate the temperature of the ice cream in the tub from the ambient air temperature.

The dimensions of the cooler allow 1 pint/500ml truncated-cone shaped type of ice cream tub to fit neatly. All the tubs have an external base diameter of 75mm, with the wall Fit at 94-97 degrees outward from the base. The design allows for the insertion of the tub into the ice cream cooler which is no deeper than 90mm, which, being shorter than the average tub, allows for the tub's lid to be taken on and off, and for ease of removal of the tub. The tub is in close contact with the surrounding tub walls and base.

Cont.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of two examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 on page 1/6 shows, in elevation a cross section of the ice cream cooler. The shaded area "F" represents material that is 15mm thick that serve to hold and insulate the ice cream tub. This may be made from thermally insulating material, for example: polystyrene, Styrofoam, polypropylene, ceramic, marble, stone, wood, cork, glass, acrylic, resin, earthenware or metal.

"E" is the angle of 94-97 degrees from the base outwards to the surrounding wall which allows for all standard tubs to maintain an even and neat fit when inserted.

The vertical height from the outside lip at "A" to the surface is 105mm. The depth of the vessel from the dotted line at "B" to the internal base is 90mm allowing for an ice cream tub's lid to be easily lifted off and fitted back on and the easy removal of a tub.

Figure 2 on page 1/6 shows the ice cream cooler in plan where the diameter of the opening at "B" is 95mm. The overall diameter at "A" is 125mm. The outside base diameter at "D" is 105mm and the inside base diameter at "C" is 75mm.

Figure 3 on page 2/6 shows in perspective, the ice cream cooler.

Figure 4 on page 3/6 shows, in elevation, the second version where the cross section of the ice cream cooler when the area "F" represents a void that serves to insulate the ice cream tub from the ambient air temperature. The thickness of the walls is 18mm and base is 20mm.

"J" shows a raised rim that follows the circumference round the edge of the base.

The vertical height from the outside lip at "H" to the base is 113mm. The depth of the vessel from the dotted line at "L" to the internal base is 90mm allowing for an ice cream tub's lid to be easily lifted off end fitted back on, and the easy removal of a tub.

Figure 5 on page 4/6 shows, in plan, the ice cream cooler where the diameter of the outside top edge at "H" of 127mm, when the gap between "H" and "L" represents a void,.

The diameter of the inside top edge at "L" of 95mm. The diameter of the inside base at "C" is 75mm. The diameter of the outside edge at the base at "M" is 105mm.

Figure 6 on page 5/6 shows, in perspective, the ice cream cooler when "F" represents a void. Figure 7 on page 6/6 shows, in elevation, the two sections of the ice cream cooler when "F" represents a void, when separated. "G" shows the cylindrical inner rim which is bonded to and fitted into the inner rim of the lower section at "K" to complete an air tight seal.

Claims

1. An ice cream cooler of truncated-cone shape with the open top being the wider part to allow the insertion of a similarly-shaped truncated- cone shape I pint/500ml ice cream tub to fit neatly for insulation purposes.

2. An ice cream cooler of truncated-cone shape as claimed in Claim I with an open

top.

3. An ice cream cooler of truncated-cone shape as claimed in any preceding claims with walls I Smm thick.

4. An ice cream cooler of truncated-cone shape as claimed in any preceding claims with an internal base with a diameter of 75mm.

5. An ice cream cooler of truncated-cone shape as claimed in any preceding claims with walls set outwards at an angle of 94-97 degrees to the base.

6. An ice cream cooler of truncated-cone shape as claimed in any preceding claims with an internal depth of 90mm from the open top.

7. An ice cream cooler as claimed in claim 1, which is made of a single piece of thermally insulating material.

8. An ice cream cooler as claimed in claim 1, which comprises walls and a base, each comprising an outer and an inner skin and separated by a cavity.

9. An ice cream cooler of truncated-cone shape as described herein with references to figures 1-6 of the accompanying drawings.