US20140209621A1

US20140209621A1 - Beverage insulating device

Info

Publication number: US20140209621A1
Application number: US13/952,323
Authority: US
Inventors: Ryan Edward Irish
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-01-29
Filing date: 2013-07-26
Publication date: 2014-07-31
Also published as: USD839058S1

Abstract

A detachable and interchangeable beverage insulation device that may contain a plurality of beverage containers. The beverage insulation device may include a first beverage insulator and at least a second beverage insulator. The plurality of beverage insulators may be substantially hollow and may contain a first and second beverage container. The first and second beverage insulators may be detachable and interchangeable to connect one to another, and to connect accessories.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/758,062, filed Jan. 29, 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a beverage insulating device and, more particularly, to a beverage insulating device that insulates more than one beverage at a time.
A Koozie is a fabric or foam device that is designed to insulate a beverage container. The Koozie is only a single beverage insulated cooler, so the user may only have access to one beverage container at a time. Various types of insulating coolers and holders are currently available on the market; however, the insulating coolers available are neither detachable nor interchangeable and therefore limit access to a single beverage per insulated cooler or holder.
As can be seen, there is a need for a beverage insulating device that may carry and insulate more than one beverage at a time while allowing easy access to each beverage, and providing the user with interchangeable accessories to maximize the beverage coolers efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a beverage insulation device comprises: a plurality of beverage insulators comprising an insulating foam and having a top, a bottom, and a rounded sidewall, wherein the plurality of beverage insulators is substantially hollow forming an opening at the top and forming a top rim portion, wherein the plurality of beverage insulators comprises a first beverage insulator and at least one second beverage insulator, wherein the first beverage insulator comprises a first connecting component at the top rim portion, wherein the second beverage insulator comprises a second connecting component at the bottom, wherein the first connecting component and the second connecting component are releasably attachable.
In another aspect of the present invention, a beverage insulation device comprises: a beverage insulator comprising a stretchable insulating material and having a top, a bottom, and a rounded sidewall, wherein the beverage insulator is substantially hollow forming an opening at the top and forming a top rim portion, wherein the beverage insulator comprises a first attachment component at the bottom and a second attachment component at the top.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention shown in use while in a double container configuration;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention shown in use while in the double container configuration of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective exploded view of the present invention illustrating a coupling method;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective exploded view of the present invention illustrating the coupling method of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a section view of the present invention along line 5-5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top exploded perspective view of the alternate embodiment of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the alternate embodiment of FIG. 6, illustrating the carrier;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a top exploded perspective view of the alternate embodiment FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of the alternate embodiment of FIG. 9, illustrating the end cap;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a top exploded perspective view of the alternate embodiment FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of the alternate embodiment of FIG. 11, illustrating the travel cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a beverage insulation device that may contain a plurality of beverage containers. The beverage insulation device may include a first beverage insulator and at least a second beverage insulator. The first and second beverage insulators may be substantially hollow and may contain a first and a second beverage container. The first and second beverage insulators may be detachable from one another and interchangeable with other accessories.
The present invention may be a detachable double beverage insulated cooler. The present invention may improve upon the single beverage insulated cooler because the present invention may carry and insulate more than one beverage at a time, such as two or more beverages. The present invention also facilitate access to the bottom beverage container due to threaded portions, making the present invention a detachable insulated beverage cooler. The present invention provides a person with at least two beverages which may be either consumed by the user or shared with others. The present invention may keep beverages colder for longer periods of time than current marketed Koozies because the top beverage sits on a cold beverage container that acts as a cooler, and the bottom beverage container is kept cold because it may be surrounded by NBR foam insulation on the bottom and the sidewalls, and a cold beverage is situated on the top of the bottom beverage container.
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 14, the present invention may include a beverage insulation device. The beverage insulation device may include a first beverage insulator 12 and a second beverage insulator 10. The beverage insulators 10, 12 may be made of insulating foam. The beverage insulators 10, 12 may be substantially hollow forming an opening at the top so that a beverage container 26 may fit within the beverage insulators 10, 12. In certain embodiments, the beverage container 26 may be a twelve ounce container. The beverage insulator's 10, 12 opening may have a smaller circumference than the beverage container 16 so that the beverage container may fit snuggly within the beverage insulators 10, 12.
The first beverage insulator 12 of the present invention may include a top, a bottom, and a rounded sidewall 28. The first beverage insulator 12 may be substantially hollow, forming an opening at the top and thereby forming a top rim portion 36. The top rim portion 36 may include a first connecting component, including, but not limited to, a threaded portion, clips, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, or similar connecting components. For example, the top rim portion 36 may be a female threaded insert 14. In certain embodiments, the first beverage insulator 12 may include a closed bottom wall 32 formed at the bottom. The closed bottom wall 32 may include a bottom hole 18, which may be near the center. A beverage container 26 may fit within the substantially hollow first beverage insulator 12.
The second beverage insulator 10 of the present invention may include a top, a bottom, and a rounded sidewall 30. The second beverage insulator 10 may be substantially hollow, forming an opening at the top and thereby forming a top rim portion 36. In certain embodiments, the bottom of the second beverage insulator 10 may include a bottom wall 34 or an opening with a bottom rim portion 38. The bottom rim portion 38 may include a second connecting component, including, but not limited to a threaded portion, clips, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, or any connecting components. For example, the bottom rim portion 38 may be a male threaded insert 16. In certain embodiments, the second beverage insulator 12 may further include a third connecting component, such as a threaded portion, clips, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, or the like, at the top rim portion 36. For example, the top rim portion 36 may be a female threaded portion 14. A beverage container 26 may fit within the substantially hollow second beverage insulator 10.
The first connecting component of the first beverage insulator 12 and the second connecting component of the second beverage insulator 10 may be releasably connectable. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the male threaded insert 16 of the second beverage insulator 10 may be screwed into the female threaded insert 14 of the first beverage insulator 12. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a user may insert a beverage container 26 in the first beverage insulator 12, insert another beverage container 26 in the second beverage insulator 10 and screw the insulators 10, 12 together into one unit.
In certain embodiments, the user may empty the contents from the beverage container located in the second beverage insulator 10; the user may remove the full beverage container out of the first beverage insulator 12; screw the second beverage insulator with the empty beverage container back onto the empty first insulator; push the empty beverage container in the second beverage insulator 10 down to the first beverage insulator using the full beverage container.
The beverage insulation device of the present invention may include a plurality of beverage insulators. As mentioned above, the second beverage insulator 10 may include a female threaded portion 14 at the top rim portion 36; therefore, a third beverage insulator having the same components as the second beverage insulator 10 may be detached, attached, or interchanged to connect to the second beverage insulator 10. A desired amount of the plurality of beverage insulators may be interchanged and connected together.
In certain embodiments, the present invention may include a carrier assembly. The carrier assembly 20 may include a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface may include a strap or handle 22 for carrying purposes. The bottom surface may include at least one carrier connecting component 24. The carrier connecting component 24 may attach to the connecting components on the tops of either the beverage insulators 10, 12. Since the beverage insulators 10, 12 may be detached and interchanged to connect to the carrier assembly 20, multiple beverage insulators 10, 12 may be transported at the same time and kept cold.
In certain embodiments, the present invention may include an end cap 40, which may be a chiller assembly. As illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 11, the end cap 40 may be a detachable and interchangeable accessory that screws onto the bottom of the second beverage insulator 10. Since the beverage insulators 10, 12 may be detached and interchanged to connect with the end cap 40, multiple beverage insulators 10, 12 may be transported at the same time on ice, located within a cavity 42 in the end cap 40; below the beverage insulator(s) 10, 12.
In certain embodiments, the present invention may include a travel cap 44 assembly that is substantially hollow. As illustrated in FIGS. 12 through 14, the travel cap 44 may be a detachable and interchangeable accessory that screws onto the top portion of the first or second beverage insulator 10, 12. Since the beverage insulators 10, 12 may be detached and interchanged to connect to the travel cap 44, multiple beverage insulators 10, 12 may be transported at the same time on ice, located within the travel cap 44; above the beverage insulator(s) 10, 12.
The present invention may contain multiple beverage containers, providing easy access to those beverage containers using the connecting mechanism mentioned above, and the present invention may be detachable and interchangeable with other connecting accessories, allowing the user to share a beverage that is already in a beverage insulator. In certain embodiments, the present invention may further allow for additional attachments and or accessories since the first beverage insulator 10 may include an attachment component on the top, and the second beverage insulator 12 may include an attachment component on the top and bottom. When utilizing the appropriate connecting components, a user may stack one cold beverage container after another or utilize accessories to have ice above or below a beverage container 26.
The present invention may allow for easy insertion and extraction of a beverage container 26 because of the unique design. The present invention may be designed to create less resistance at the top portion of the first beverage insulator and both portions (top and bottom), of the second beverage insulator 12 because of the screw mechanism. The screw mechanism creates a design that reduces the suction that is formed when pushing a beverage container into a beverage insulator 10, 12. The present invention may provide the user with additional grip due to its unique design. Since the present invention design may provide a grip, it may create an optimized location to place the user's hand, making it easier to hold. Further, the present invention may be attached and interchanged with a cooler using the carrier assembly mentioned above.
To assemble the present invention, tubular foam may be manufactured. The ethylene vinyl acetate, nitrile butadiene rubber, neoprene, or any open or closed cell foam may be used to build the tubular foam piece. The foam may be cut to ten centimeters in height and eight and a half centimeters in diameter for the first beverage insulator 12. The second beverage 10 insulator may be cut to thirteen centimeters in height and eight and a half centimeters in diameter. The first beverage insulator 12 may use a small piece, approximately one half of a centimeter in height and six and a half centimeters in diameter and may be used as the bottom wall 32 that the beverage container 26 may be placed on, inside the tubular foam. The thickness of the tubular foam may be one centimeter or between approximately nine and ten millimeters. The diameter of the plastic screw mechanism may be approximately eight and six tenths centimeters, which may allow for an easy insertion of beverage containers. Both of the female parts of the plastic screw adapter mechanism may be one centimeter in height and may be glued to the tubular foam; however, any type of adhesive material may attach the plastic screw mechanism to the inside of the bottom of the beverage insulators and the top the beverage insulators. The finished beverage insulator 10, 12 may weigh approximately a quarter of a pound or four ounces.
The second beverage insulator 12 may include a two centimeter male plastic screw mechanism located on the bottom rim portion to connect with the first insulator. One centimeter of the screw mechanism may be located within the tubular foam to be secured using adhesive, and one centimeter of the screw mechanism may protrude from the bottom rim portion to facilitate the connection. The male plastic mechanism on the second beverage insulator may be about eight and a half centimeters in diameter.
In alternative embodiments, the present invention may be used to transport anything that may fit inside its interior space. The present invention may be used in the medical field to keep fluids hot or cold; for example, some vaccinations must be kept cool and easy to transport. The present invention may be used in any application where being able to stack objects is desired. The present invention may be used as part of a game for stacking and un-stacking objects. The present invention may be used similarly as cones for marking purposes within sports games or practices.
The connecting components, such as the screw mechanisms, may be made of a metal, plastic, foam, ceramic, or anything allowing for such mechanism. For example, the screw mechanisms may be made of polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride or any similar, suitable material. The connecting components may act as an adapter. The foam may be replaced using any type of insulating material. The present invention may be made from aluminum, stainless steel, any type of plastic, wood, any type of metal, glass, acrylic, ceramic, or clay. The plastic screw mechanism may be replaced with anything that connects the two beverage insulators and that allows for detachment. The following may be used within the present invention to ensure that the two beverage insulators are held together: hook and loop fasteners, buttons, zippers, snap buttons, twist-and-snaps, any type of pressure-based mechanism (such as a larger piece of material pushed into a smaller one), any metal fasteners, any plastic fasteners, lengths of rope, or using any material that may be used to wrap around the present invention in a way that it is tight enough to hold the two beverage insulators.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage insulation device comprising:

a plurality of beverage insulators comprising an insulating foam and having a top, a bottom, and a rounded sidewall, wherein the plurality of beverage insulators is substantially hollow forming an opening at the top and forming a top rim portion,

wherein the plurality of beverage insulators comprises a first beverage insulator and at least one second beverage insulator,

wherein the first beverage insulator comprises a first connecting component at the top rim portion,

wherein the second beverage insulator comprises a second connecting component at the bottom,

wherein the first connecting component and the second connecting component are releasably attachable.

2. The beverage insulation device of claim 1, wherein the second beverage container comprises a third connecting component at the top rim portion releasably attachable to a third beverage container comprising the same components as the second beverage container.

3. The beverage insulation device of claim 2, wherein the connecting components comprise threaded portions.

4. The beverage insulation device of claim 1, wherein a circumference of the openings of the plurality of beverage insulators is smaller than a circumference of a twelve ounce beverage container.

5. The beverage insulation device of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the first beverage insulator comprises a closed bottom wall.

6. The beverage insulation device of claim 5, wherein a hole is formed in a surface of the closed bottom wall.

7. The beverage insulation device of claim 1, further comprising an end cap comprising a cavity portion, wherein the end cap is removably attachable to at least one of the plurality of beverage insulators.

8. The beverage insulation device of claim 1, further comprising a travel cap comprising a hollow body wherein the travel cap is removably attachable to at least one of the plurality of beverage insulators.

9. A beverage insulation device comprising:

a beverage insulator comprising a stretchable insulating material and having a top, a bottom, and a rounded sidewall, wherein the beverage insulator is substantially hollow forming an opening at the top and forming a top rim portion,

wherein the beverage insulator comprises a first attachment component at the bottom and a second attachment component at the top rim portion.

10. The beverage insulation device of claim 9, wherein the first attachment component and the second attachment component comprise at least one of a male threaded portion and a female threaded portion.

11. A plurality of beverage insulation devices of claim 9, wherein the plurality of beverage insulation devices are releasably attachable to one another.

12. The beverage insulation device of claim 9, wherein a circumference of the beverage insulator opening is smaller than a circumference of a twelve ounce beverage container.

13. The beverage insulation device of claim 9, wherein the bottom of the beverage insulator comprises a closed bottom wall.

14. The beverage insulation device of claim 13, wherein a hole is formed in a surface of the closed bottom wall.

15. The beverage insulation device of claim 9, wherein the stretchable insulating material is foam.

16. The beverage insulation device of claim 9, further comprising an end cap comprising a cavity portion, wherein the end cap is removably attachable to the beverage insulator.

17. The beverage insulation device of claim 9, further comprising a travel cap comprising a hollow body, wherein the travel cap is removably attachable to the beverage insulator.