Abstract:
An insulated holder with an integral electronic temperature gauge that is intended for use with beverage containers such as glasses, cans or bottles is herein disclosed. A digital readout and pushbutton are provided on the side of the holder. When the pushbutton is pressed, the display exhibits an array of colors and/or text indicating the temperature of the drink. Temperature sensing is provided by a thermocouple located on the inside surface of the insulating container. A user replaceable battery provides a power supply thereto the holder.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/137,748, filed Aug. 4, 2008, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a insulated beverage sleeve and, more specifically, to beverage container comprising a thermal insulating sleeve, a temperature sensor and a temperature display and providing a means of holding and keeping cold a common beverage container while indicating the temperature of the same. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many people enjoy nothing more on a hot day than partaking in their favorite ice cold prepackaged beverage refreshments. Whatever one&#39;s taste, such drinks are usually consumed via a glass, bottle or can. To keep these drinks cold, many people resort to the use of insulated beverage holders, made of foam, that slip over the drink container. These holders have become widely used as a convenient method of insulating the cold drink from the warmer ambient temperature and the drinker&#39;s warm hand, thus keeping the drink cold longer. They also provide a comfortable alternative to gripping a cold and often wet drink container. However, after enough time, unfortunately any drink will become warm giving rise to the displeasure of unsuspecting consumers drinking warm and unappealing beverages. While these holders slow the warming of beverages, they lack any means of indicating to the consumer the temperature of the beverage. 
     Various attempts have been made to provide a means of indicating the present temperature of a beverage container. Examples of these attempts can be seen by reference to several U.S. patents. U.S. Pat. No. 2,319,101, issued in the name of Anderson, describes a bottle construction with temperature indicator having a thermometer built into a side wall of the bottle. The side wall of the Anderson bottle is constructed to uniformly vary in thickness to the point of location of the thermometer. U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,373, issued in the name of Hutchinson, describes a thermochromatic indicator for beverage containers. The Hutchinson indicator provides a temperature sensing assembly in the form of a thermometer and a temperature scale that is attachable to a beverage container. U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,207, issued in the name of Hartmann, describes a beverage temperature notification device. The Hartmann device comprises a thermosensor which is held in place by a sleeve to determine the temperature of the beverage. The thermosensor is coupled to a temperature indicator which signals to a user when the beverage has reached a desired temperature. 
     Additionally, ornamental designs for temperature measuring containers exist, particularly, U.S. Pat. No. D 343,129. However, none of these designs are similar to the present invention. 
     While these attempts fulfill their respective, particular objectives, each suffers from one (1) or more deficiencies or disadvantages. Typically temperature sensors placed on the beverage containers can be influenced by the ambient temperature as much as temperature of the container. Additionally, while the sensors may provide indication of present beverage temperature they do nothing to slow the warming of the beverage. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which the temperature of a cold beverage container can be readily determined while insulating the beverage from the ambient warm conditions without the disadvantages as described above. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing references, the inventor recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and observed that there is a need for a cold beverage container holder that can be used with various types of containers which insulates the beverage from warmer ambient conditions and provides a means of sensing and indicating the present temperature of the beverage in a simple, durable, and user friendly manner. Thus, the object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned disadvantages and provide for this need. 
     To achieve the above objectives, it is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage container insulating device with temperature indicating means which provides an insulated holder for use with beverage containers with an integral electronic temperature gauge, a digital display, and a pushbutton activation means. 
     Another object of the beverage container insulating device is to provide a device wherein the beverage holding means includes a cylindrical sleeve having side walls and a bottom portion made of durable, thermally insulating material into which a common cold beverage container can be easily inserted and removed. The sleeve provides a thermal barrier from warm ambient conditions to the cold beverage container and for an internal enclosure which houses the temperature sensing and display mechanisms. 
     Yet still another object of the beverage container insulating device is to provide a device wherein the principal temperature gauge includes an electronic thermistor encapsulated within an amount of thermal potting compound. The temperature gauge is housed with an internal enclosure positioned to be in direct contact with the outer wall of the beverage container. 
     Yet still another object of the beverage container insulating device is to provide a device wherein the digital display provides a simple and easy to read visual indication of the present temperature of the beverage. The temperature input signal is processed by a microcontroller and a display drive provides an output signal to the digital display. 
     Yet still another object of the beverage container insulating device is to provide a device wherein the digital display functions are simply controlled by the use of a user-engaged activation switch. 
     As an alternative, an object of the beverage container insulating device is to provide a device wherein the sleeve is designed to hold specific types of beverage containers such as bottles. In this embodiment the sleeve includes a tapered collar and an access system which provides thermal insulation to an upper portion of the beverage bottle. 
     Yet still another object of the beverage container insulating device is to provide a method of utilizing the device that provides a unique means of quickly assessing the temperature of a beverage prior to the surprise of drinking a warm beverage. 
     Further objects and advantages of the beverage container insulating device will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental view of a beverage container insulating device with temperature indicating means  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of a beverage container insulating device with temperature indicating means  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3   a  is a cut-away perspective view of the beverage container insulating device with temperature indicating means  10 ; according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3   b  is a section view of the beverage container insulating device with temperature indicating means  10  taken along line A-A therein  FIG. 3   a , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an electric block diagram depicting the major electrical components as used in the beverage container insulating device with temperature indicating means  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternate beverage container insulating device  12 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 beverage container insulating device with temperature 
               
               
                   
                 indicating means 
               
               
                 12 
                 alternate beverage container insulating device 
               
               
                 14 
                 beverage container 
               
               
                 15 
                 cylindrical sleeve 
               
               
                 16 
                 bottle sleeve 
               
               
                 20 
                 cylinder bottom 
               
               
                 25 
                 top opening 
               
               
                 30 
                 exterior face 
               
               
                 35 
                 digital display 
               
               
                 40 
                 activation switch 
               
               
                 45 
                 alternate exterior face 
               
               
                 50 
                 tapered collar 
               
               
                 55 
                 access system 
               
               
                 60 
                 internal enclosure 
               
               
                 65 
                 internal surface 
               
               
                 70 
                 battery access cover 
               
               
                 75 
                 battery 
               
               
                 80 
                 circuit board 
               
               
                 85 
                 thermistor 
               
               
                 87 
                 electrical wiring 
               
               
                 90 
                 thermal potting compound 
               
               
                 95 
                 microcontroller 
               
               
                 100 
                 display driver 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 4  and alternately within  FIG. 5 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a beverage container insulating device with temperature indicating means (herein described as the “device”)  10 , which provides for an insulated holder for use with beverage containers  14  such as, but not limited to: glasses, cans, bottles, or the like with an added feature of an integral electronic temperature gauge, digital display, and pushbutton activation. The device  10  indicates the temperature of the beverage container  14  and beverage therein to a potential beverage drinker. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of the device  10  and  FIG. 2 , a bottom perspective of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The device  10  is comprised of a cylindrical sleeve  15  made of an insulating material. Said insulating material is preferably fabricated from a closed-cell foam, although other insulating systems such as conventional foam, STYROFOAM®, plastic, wood, or even air can be used with equal effectiveness. A cylindrical bottom  20  is insulated as well, thereby securing the beverage container  14  therein said device  10 . The diameter and length of the device  10  are appropriate dimensions to correspond thereto conventional beverage containers  14 . Said beverage container  14  is inserted thereinto a top opening  25  and is secured in place by a friction fitting means. Said beverage container  14  is removed by simply holding the cylindrical sleeve  15  and pulling the beverage container  14  out thereto disengage the beverage container  14  from the device  10 . The insulating properties of both the cylinder bottom  20  and top opening  25  will serve to isolate the beverage container  14  and its contained beverage from ambient air, as well as the hands of a drinker, thus keeping the beverage colder for a longer period of time than a beverage container  14  used without the device  10 . 
     An exterior face  30  of the cylindrical sleeve  15  comprises a digital display  35  and an activation switch  40  (also see  FIG. 4 ), thereby providing the drinker with a numerical temperature reading and a digit operated commencement means, respectively. The digital display  35  is preferably comprised of a recessed rectangular liquid crystal display (LCD), yet other digital displaying means may be provided without limiting the functions of the device  10 . Said digital display  35  displays the approximate temperature of the contained beverage container  14  whenever the activation switch  40  is depressed and held in for a predetermined amount of time. Said digital display  35  provides a numerical Fahrenheit, a numerical Celsius, or in a written text that provides indication of the temperature quality. Such written text can be an approximation of temperature such as “COLD”, “COOL”, “ROOM TEMP.”, “WARM”, or “HOT”. Furthermore, the digital display  35  may also be of the humorous variety such as “PERFECT”, “COOL”, “STILL COOL”, “GETTING WARM” or “GRAB ANOTHER” should the use of the device  10  be intended primarily for beer. Such notations could scroll across the window as necessary. Finally, the remainder of the surface of the exterior face  30  is available for indicia such as, but not limited to: advertising purposes, logos, promotional materials, decorative patterns, or the like. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3   a , a cut-away perspective view of the device  10  and  FIG. 3   b , a section view of the device  10  taken along line A-A therein  FIG. 3   a , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. A recessed plastic-type rectangular internal enclosure  60  is provided thereon an internal surface  65  of the cylindrical sleeve  15 , thereby providing a securing means to the internal electrical components. Within said internal enclosure  60  are a battery access cover  70 , a battery  75 , a circuit board  80 , a thermistor  85 , electrical wiring  87 , and thermal potting compound  90 . A battery access cover  70  houses a battery  75 , and preferably comprises a “coin style” battery  75  thereto allow said battery  75  to fit within the confines of the internal enclosure  60 . Functionality and operation of the battery  75  will be described in greater detail below. A circuit board  80  which houses various converting circuits, a microcontroller  95 , a display driver  100  (also see  FIG. 4 ), and the like is provided therewithin the internal enclosure  60  as well. The circuit board  80  interfaces with the digital display  35  and the activation switch  40  through conventional internal electrical wiring  87 . A conventional thermistor  85  is located on the rear of the internal enclosure  60  where it is encapsulated therein a conventional thermal potting compound  90 , thereby obtaining corresponding readings directly from the exterior surface of the beverage container  14  as shown in  FIG. 1 . These variations are interpreted by the components on the circuit board  80  for display upon the digital display  35  when activated by the activation switch  40 . These components will be described in greater detail herein below. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , an electric block diagram depicting the major electrical components as used in the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. Power from the battery  75  is routed through the activation switch  40  and fed to both a microcontroller  95  and a display driver  100  therewith conventional electrical wiring  87  of an appropriate gauge. The activation switch  40  is of a normally open; spring-return type design that closes the circuit when pressed. Other switching devices may be utilized such as, but not limited to: a toggle switch, a selector switch, or the like without limiting the functions of the device  10 . The microcontroller  95  receives the temperature signal from the thermistor  85 . The microcontroller  95  comprises a programmable intelligent computer (PIC) microcontroller, a basic stamp module, or similar type device which can receive and store operating sequences based upon a specific range of inputs. The output of the microcontroller  95  comprises a representative temperature, or a specific string of signals based upon range of input signals. The microcontroller  95  would also be calibrated with an appropriate multiple and offset to produce the necessary range of outputs as provided by the thermistor  85 . Finally, the microcontroller  95  can also be pre-programmed to respond in Celsius, Fahrenheit, or virtually any other response level desired. The respective output from the microcontroller  95  is directed to the display driver  100  such that an appropriate graphical response is produced on the digital display  35 . The operation of the device  10  is preferably occurs for periods of years before the battery  75  requires replacement due to the relatively low cycle time of use versus non-use. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 5 , a perspective view of an alternate beverage container insulating device  12 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. This alternate beverage container insulating device  12  is similar in materials, components, and functionality to the preferred embodiment  10  as disclosed in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , but is designed specifically to hold cold beverage bottles in lieu of cold cans or glasses. To aid in that regard, the alternate beverage container insulating device  12  is equipped with a tapered collar  50  which will follow the tapered neck of a beverage container  14  commonly associated with beer, soda, fruit juice, iced tea, energy drink, or the like. As before, the bottle would be held in place via a friction fit. To aid in insertion and removal of the bottle, an access system  55  is provided. Said access system  55  is preferably a conventional zipper means, yet other methods of access such as, but not limited to: snaps, hook-and-loop fasteners, or the like may be utilized and as such, should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the present alternate beverage container insulating device  12 . Said access system  55  would be opened when inserting or removing a bottle and would remain in its closed state at all other times. As described in  FIG. 1 , the insulating properties of the alternate beverage container insulating device  12  would serve to isolate the glass bottle and its contained beverage from ambient air, as well as the hands of the drinker, thus keeping the beverage colder for a longer period of time. Also, the digital display  35  and the activation switch  40  are provided on an alternative exterior face  45 . The digital display  35  and the activation switch  40  function in a substantially similar manner as described in  FIG. 1 . Additionally, the remainder of the surface of the alternate exterior face  45  may be available for advertising purposes, logos, promotional materials, or simply decorative pattern work. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. It is envisioned that the beverage container insulating device with temperature indicating means  10  would be manufactured and installed in general accordance with  FIGS. 1 , through  4  and alternately within  FIG. 5 . 
     The method of utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the device  10 ; inserting the appropriate beverage container  14  thereinside in a manner similar to that of conventional insulated beverage sleeves; during consumption of the contained beverage, activating the activation switch  40  to obtain a relative reading via the thermistor  80  of the temperature of said beverage; observing the indicated temperature on the digital display  35 , thereby saving the drinker the time and effort of placing the beverage to their lips to determine the temperature; drinking the beverage in a normal manner enabling the temperature determination to continue until said beverage is completely consumed; removing, replacing or refilling with another beverage container  14  if desired in a cyclical manner; and, benefiting from avoidance of the somewhat unpleasant effect of tasting certain warm beverages such as beer or soda, which is considered by many to be repulsive, thereby utilization of the device  10 . 
     The method of utilizing the alternate beverage container insulating device  12  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the alternate beverage container insulating device  12 ; unfastening the access system  55 ; inserting the appropriate beverage container  14  thereinside in a manner similar to that of conventional insulated beverage sleeves; fastening the access system  55 ; during consumption of the contained beverage, activating the activation switch  40  to obtain a relative reading via the thermistor  80  of the temperature of said beverage; observing the indicated temperature on the digital display  35 , thereby saving the drinker the time and effort of placing the beverage to their lips to determine the temperature; drinking the beverage in a normal manner enabling the temperature determination to continue until said beverage is completely consumed; unfastening the access system  55 , removing, replacing or refilling with another beverage container  14  if desired in a cyclical manner; and, benefiting from avoidance of the somewhat unpleasant effect of tasting certain warm beverages such as beer or soda, which is considered by many to be repulsive, thereby utilization of the alternate beverage container insulating device  12   
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.