WO2007074495A1

WO2007074495A1 - The thermal cooling container

Info

Publication number: WO2007074495A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000875
Authority: WO
Inventors: Davide Trevisiol; Antonio Pelloso
Original assignee: Davide Trevisiol; Antonio Pelloso
Priority date: 2005-12-28
Filing date: 2006-12-27
Publication date: 2007-07-05
Also published as: EP2059735A1

Abstract

The thermal bottle container (1) , in which the ideal temperature is achieved by- two crescents (4) containing a cooling liquid (5) , (previously cooled to a very low temperature) , enclosing the bottle and bringing its contents to an ideal temperature; either higher or lower than the original one.

Description

THE THERMAL COOLING CONTAINER

This invention consists of a thermal cooling container, to be used particularly during meals, for bottles containing various beverages (wine and others).

In fact, one already knows of the common ice-bucket with no thermal protection, or containers with cooling systems based on endothermic reactions which cause cooling of the surrounding environment, with particular effects to the beverage inside the container.

Containers, or more commonly, ice-buckets of this type may produce two alternative effects: either the temperature of the beverage gradually rises because the cooling capacity inside the bucket decreases, or, the temperature remains unaltered, set in a standardized way not fitting the requirements of the beverage or the consumer.

The problem of making a container using simple and traditional cooling proceedings, is solved by this invention. It's able to bring beverage temperature to a level recommended by its producer and/ or expected by the consumer whilst maintaining that ideal temperature without variation, throughout the whole tasting

period.

In other words, the chief aim of this invention is to make an aesthetically pleasing "ice-bucket", able to bring drinks to a temperature of between 18°C and 0°C and to maintain the set temperature during the entire tasting period.

This objective has been reached by using two thermal protectors. On reaching the required temperature, by means of contact of the two crescents, containing a cooling liquid that has previously been brought to a low temperature, the thermal protectors interpose between the bottle and the crescents creating a thermal barrier, maintaining a constant temperature.

Characteristics, advantages and operative steps of this invention may be clarified by the detailed description of a typical ice-bucket, illustrated by the enclosed diagrams shown in axial section and with a view from above.

Part 1 of the diagram shows the container which can be made using various materials.

Inside the container (1) there are two semi-spherical mechanical parts, called crescents (4). Inside the crescents there is a cooling liquid (5) which has been previously brought to a temperature of -18°C, using a traditional cooling system.

At the basis of the container (1) can be found a rotating disc (2) creating the mechanical movement of the thermal protector and the inner crescents, together with the thermometer(7) which constantly measures the liquid in the bottle's (0) temperature inside the bucket.

The two crescents(4) containing a cooling liquid(5) are set in motion by a motor(6) which operates electrically with an ordinary 12w battery. The motor is placed under the rotating disc which causes the crescents to move on a mobile track(3) drawing them to, or releasing their grip of the bottle, according to the thermometer at the bottle base and controlled by the external thermostat (8)

The mechanism of drawing to, and releasing of the crescents can be either mechanical or manual(3), the following rotation of the thermal protector (9) causing the thermal insulation is repeated every time the temperature of the liquid inside the bottle (obtained by the thermometer(7)) increases or decreases according to the pre-set temperature of the external thermostat.(8) In order to guarantee the best efficiency for the beverage's ideal temperature conservation, the two crescents(4)( between which the bottle is set) have been made of a material with good thermal conductivity. The thermal protector is made of plastic or similar material to increase the maximum thermal insulation.

To obtain the optimal cooling of the drink inside the container(O) the steps are as follows:

1) The bottle is inserted inside the bucket(l) on the rotation disc and exactly on the thermometer(2) between the two crescents(4) that are wide open at this point.

2) The thermometer takes the liquid's temperature, triggering an electronic impulse to the external thermostat(8). This sets the motor under the rotating disc into motion causing the closing or releasing of the crescents around the bottle. The two crescents having been previously cooled, bring the drink temperature to the level indicated by the external thermostat.

3) At the desired temperature, the crescents(4), set in motion by the motor, will release the bottle and close around it each time the drink's temperature varies, leaving space for the thermal protectors (9) by rotating on themselves, creating in every respect a thermal barrier between the crescents and the bottle.

4) The whole process is achieved in a decidedly shorter time than an ordinary refrigerator .

This invention brilliantly solves the problem of keeping drinks inside bottles at an ideal level, always constant during its tasting, without atmospheric alterations and those traditionally caused by ordinary cooling systems e.g. ice.

All this is achieved thanks to mechanical components considered completely safe from a hygienic and safety point of view. It is also aesthetically pleasing, as the whole mechanics of the crescent and the thermal protector take place inside the container, without being externally visable.

Another important advantage consists in the fact that all of the components can be easily obtained on the Italian market at low cost.

Claims

1) The thermal beverage container, is characterised by two liquid cooling crescents of appropriate material, that draw towards the bottle, thus, cooling down the beverage to the desired temperature.

2) The thermal container, as stated previously, may be composed of two thermal protectors of different material, providing that it is insulating; which, rotating on themselves, create a thermal insulation around the bottle that keeps the temperature at a constant level.

3) The thermal container as claimed above, is given the ideal temperature by an easily adjustable generic thermostat placed externally on the bucket , indicating the selected temperature, while the thermometer at the base of the bottle constantly measures the temperature of the liquid contained in it.

4) The crescents and thermal protectors of the thermal container, as claimed above, can be both manual or electrical.

5) The thermal container as previously claimed, if motion is regulated by a motor placed at the base of the bucket , the crescents will move along a track and the thermal protectors clockwise, thanks to an incoming impulse from the exterior thermostat.