Abstract:
A beverage container insulator which is substantially tubular and resiliently engages a beverage container has an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper end, and a lower end, the inner surface of the sleeve is configured to permit the sleeve to engage the outer peripheral surface of beverage container with the outer surface being composed of foam and the inner surface being composed of a lamination to permit a user to conveniently slide a beverage container therein.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to the field of beverage containers and pertains more particularly to methods and an article of manufacture for insulating beverage containers such as bottles and cans.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Most beverage producers distribute their products through either bottles or cans. Bottles and cans are the principal receptacles for soda, beer, filtered water, wine, and so on. While bottles and cans provide an effective means for distribution, many problems inhere with their usage. Some of the problems are: heat insulation, breakage of receptacles, condensation, discomforture to the hand and slippage.  
         [0003]     Perhaps the main problem with both bottles and cans is heat loss from the beverage receptacle. Most people prefer beverages such as beer, soda, or water to be substantially chilled below room temperature. However, the typical materials used to produce bottles and cans such as aluminum, plastic and glass are poor insulators of heat. Thus, after only a few minutes removed from a refrigerator, ambient room temperature quickly transfers heat into the beverage. This subsequent rise in temperature of the beverage results in a less desirable product.  
         [0004]     Another problem associated with most bottles and cans is the breakage of the receptacles. Many bottles today are very susceptible to breakage. When broken, shards of glass produce a significant threat of danger. In addition, breakage of a bottle can leave a huge mess which must be cleaned up quickly. Moreover, aluminum cans are also susceptible to breakage, albeit to a lesser degree.  
         [0005]     Another inconvenience often associated with both bottles and cans alike is the “sweating” or condensation which forms upon the exterior surface of the receptacle. This condensation leaves unsightly puddles on the table which may cause damage if the table is composed of wood. The condensation also creates a safety hazard should the receptacle slip from one&#39;s hand.  
         [0006]     Still another common problem often associated with most bottles and cans is discomforture to one&#39;s hand. Although most people enjoy their beverages at very low temperatures, it may be very uncomfortable to handle with the naked hand.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,273 is a disposable insulated container with a drinking cup invertly placed on top of the container. The container and cup are made of rigid foam. One has to take out the top inverted cup in order to pour out liquid by which is bothersome. And if one holds the top inverted cup to lift the container it might accidentally fall down.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,891 is a reusable insulated container. There is a top and bottom edge of the foam sleeve which encumbers its manufacturing. There is a rigid plastic liner which is imposed in the sleeve to accept a container of liquid. This embodiment is flawed because it allows for an air gap which is not good for insulation.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,883 is a disposable insulated container. A paper cup is spray coated with foamable synthetic resin and is printed and goes to heating in foaming process. The printed area will foam up to cover the outside surface of the cup to give insulation. The foamed surface will be uneven because some parts are foamed whereas some other parts are not. Hence, the shape of the cup can be distorted by the foaming process.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,182 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,193,098 are both double-walled insulation containers possessing an air gap between the walls. The outside sleeve member can be easily loosened from the inner container member because there is no grip among the two members and the attached portion of the two wall members is so small.  
         [0011]     Therefore, what is clearly needed in the art is a heat insulating sleeve which effectively insulates the beverage, prevents condensation from forming around the outside surface of the receptacle, prevents breakage of the receptacles, and provides for a more comfortable surface for handling the receptacle.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     In an embodiment of the present invention an article of manufacture and method for its manufacture is provided, comprising a beverage container insulator which is substantially tubular having an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper end, and a lower end. The inner surface of the sleeve is configured to permit the sleeve to engage outer peripheral surface of beverage container with the outer surface being composed of foam and the inner surface being composed of a lamination to permit a user to conveniently slide a beverage container therein.  
         [0013]     In one embodiment the beverage container insulator also possesses a shrink film layer circumferentially engaging outer periphery of sleeve while permitting indicia to be printed thereon.  
         [0014]     In some embodiments, the foam may be made from polyethylene. In other embodiments, the beverage container insulator has an upper end of the sleeve which is tapered to substantially conform to an outside surface of a bottle. Also, in other embodiments, some beverage container insulators may be a truncated version for use with cans, while in others a longer fuller version is primarily used with bottles.  
         [0015]     Many embodiments may have indicia imprinted on the beverage container insulator. For instance, in some embodiments, the foam may be imprinted with indicia. Whereas in others, the indicia will be imprinted on the shrink film layer. In many instances, this shrink film layer is comprised from polyvinyl chloride.  
         [0016]     One exemplary method of the present invention for the manufacture of the beverage container insulator comprises the steps of: 1). passing a sheet of two foam layers sandwiching a lamination layer having an upper side and a lower side through a seaming apparatus and 2). passing the sheet of two foam layers sandwiching a lamination layer and having an upper side and a lower side through a cutting apparatus. One more optional step further comprises a step of passing the sheet of two foam layers sandwiching a lamination layer having an upper side and a lower side through a print station apparatus. Another optional step further comprises the step of affixing shrink film to the outer surface of the beverage container insulator. When shrink film is used, the indicia will be printed thereon, instead of the foam layer.  
         [0017]     In some cases, this print station apparatus is a silk screen printer. And in other cases, the cutting apparatus is a die cutter. The seaming apparatus, in many embodiments is a heat welding apparatus.  
         [0018]     Another method for assembly of beverage container insulator is herein included. The method comprises the steps of: 1.) Sliding beverage container into beverage container insulator, 2.) Sliding shrink film around beverage container insulator, and 3.) Applying heat to shrink film such that shrink film creates an interference fit between beverage container insulator and the beverage container. And in some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of printing indicia upon the shrink film. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES  
       [0019]      FIG. 1   a  illustrates an isometric view of a beverage container housed inside of a beverage container insulator.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1   b  illustrates a side perspective view of a beverage container insulator.  
         [0021]      FIG. 1   c  illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a beverage container insulator with shrink film layer.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1   d  illustrates an isometric view of two alternative exemplary embodiments of a beverage container insulator.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2   a  illustrates a plan view of a cross section of a beverage container insulator.  
         [0024]      FIG. 2   b  illustrates an isometric view of a beverage container insulator.  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  illustrates a diagram of an exemplary method for manufacturing a beverage container insulator.  
         [0026]      FIG. 4   a  illustrates an elevation cross sectional view of beverage container insulator.  
         [0027]      FIG. 4   b  illustrates an elevation cross sectional view of beverage container insulator.  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram for a method for assembly of a beverage container insulator on a beverage container.  
         [0029]      FIG. 6   a  illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary beverage container insulator which is flattened.  
         [0030]      FIG. 6   b  illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary beverage container insulator which is flattened. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]     According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a unique article of manufacture and method for manufacture of the same is used to enable users to hold and insulate beverage containers using a foam sleeve. The article of manufacture and method for its manufacture and assembly is described in enabling detail below by exemplary embodiments of the invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 1   a  is an illustration of an article of manufacture according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this example, sleeve  100  is engaged upon a beverage container  101  circumferentially.  FIG. 1   b  illustrates that sleeve  100  is substantially tubular with opens ends on both top and bottom. The bottom end  102  has a circumference closely approximating the greatest outer circumference of the beverage receptacle  101 . Top end  103  has a circumference sized to fit circumference on upper region of the beverage container  101 . It must be noted that the sleeve  100  is custom tailored to the beverage container  101  it is to be used upon.  FIG. 1   c  further illustrates sleeve  100  with shrink film layer  203 . Hereinafter, the sleeve  100  and shrink film layer  203  shall be referred to as the “Finished Sleeve”  110 .  FIG. 1   a  also illustrates the possibility of printing indicia  104  upon sleeve  100 . And  FIG. 1   c  illustrates the possibility of using sleeve  100  with cans as well as bottles.  
         [0033]      FIG. 1   d  is illustrative of other alternative embodiments of sleeve  100 . Sleeve  100  may embody a short, or truncated form  100 ′ where only a portion of the beverage container  101  is covered. And in the alternative, sleeve  100  may embody a longer sleeve  100 ″. Longer sleeve  100 ″ covers substantially more surface area than truncated form  100 ′.  
         [0034]      FIG. 2   a  illustrates a top of a beverage container  101  with sleeve  100  along with shrink film layer  203 . Finished sleeve  110  is comprised of a lamination  201 , foam  202  and optionally a shrink film layer  203 . Shrink film layer  203  is used for creating a more secure interference fit with beverage container  101  as well as for providing an expedient surface for printing indicia  104 . The advantage to printing on shrink film layer  203  is that one may use a variegated array of colors to print indicia  104  thereon. Foam  202 , on the other hand does not provide an equally ideal surface for printing such indicia  104 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 2   b  illustrates seam  111  which is formed by heating the lamination layer  201 . When heated, the polyethylene laminated film melts to form a strong seal which enables foam  202  to shape up as a double seam sided envelope which will form a sleeve when opened. Seam  111  is located on opposite sides of the sleeve  100 . Also, another advantage of the lamination layer  201  is that the smooth surface is conducive for sliding sleeve  100  easily and with minimal friction onto a beverage container  101 .  
         [0036]     In a preferred embodiment, lamination  201  is made from polyethylene. Again, it is not specifically required that polyethylene be used for use as lamination  201 . One advantage of using polyethylene is that it creates a low coefficient of friction between the beverage container  101  and the sleeve  100 . Other materials abound which may also equally serve the same function and utility as polyethylene. As such, the use of polyethylene to compose lamination  201  is not meant to be construed as a limitation to the present invention.  
         [0037]     Foam  202  in one preferred embodiment is made from polyethylene. One advantage of using low density polyethylene foam is that it possesses very good insulation properties. Hence, when used with a beverage container  101 , low density polyethylene foam will maintain the temperature of the beverage for a longer period of time. Another advantage of low density polyethylene foam is that it is very strong and durable. Low density polyethylene foam also has high tensile strength which makes it very resistant to tearing.  
         [0038]     Shrink film layer  203  is made from polyvinyl chloride. Polyvinyl chloride is particularly useful for printing an assorted variety of colors for marketing purposes and other useful information. However, it is not specifically required that polyvinyl chloride be used for the shrink film  203 . For example, in some cases shrink film layer  203  may be comprised of polyolefin material. Other materials abound which may serve the same function and utility as polyvinyl chloride. As such, use of polyvinyl chloride is not meant to be a limitation in present invention.  
         [0039]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of a preferred method for manufacturing the sleeve  100 .  FIG. 3  shows an assembly line of stock comprising two long continuous sheets of foam  202  sandwiching a lamination  201 . Stock is moved in direction  302  to move stock to station one  303  via means of rollers  304 . Station one  303  is an apparatus for printing information onto foam  202 . Station one  303  in a preferred embodiment is a silk screen printing plate. However, it is not specifically required that a silk screen printing plate be used for printing information and images onto foam  202 . Other equally expedient printing machines may be used for this function. In addition, station one  303  is optional when no printing on foam  202  is necessary. For instance, where polyvinyl shrink film  203  is used, most of all of the information or images which need to be printed upon sleeve  100  will be done on the shrink film  203  and not the foam  202  itself.  
         [0040]     After stock has passed station one  303  (if it is used), stock is passed on to station two  305 . Station two  305  is a heat seamer which welds a seam to the stock to melt the lamination layer  201 . Consequently, a one-piece member is produced which will not require additional assembly by the user. There is no particular preferred apparatus for applying heat to create a seam for this purpose. There abound many equally useful machines which may be useful in this regard. In addition, a silicone rubber surfaced bed  308  is optionally used in conjunction with station two  305 .  
         [0041]     However, it is not specifically required that the seaming process be accomplished only through means of heat-welding. In alternative preferred methods, the seaming process may be accomplished by means of glue or sewing. Both processes of gluing and sewing for purposes of seaming are well known in to one skilled in the art and will not herein be described.  
         [0042]     After stock has passed station two  305  it is passed to station three  306 . Station three  306  is an apparatus for cutting the stock to create the sleeve  100 . In a preferred embodiment, a die cutter is used. However, it is not specifically required that a die cutter be used for this purpose. There may be other equally useful machines which may accomplish the same function.  
         [0043]     When cutting the foam  202 , the diameter of the sleeve  100  is adapted to and is determined by the specific volume size and the orientation of the beverage container  101  such that it is sized to fit the beverage container  101  to which it is to be applied. The stock is cut in such a way to leave approximately 2 millimeters less circumference around the beverage container  101  to be engaged. This smaller space allows for sleeve  100  to be engaged-upon beverage container  101  in order to avoid the presence of an air gap between the sleeve  100  and the beverage container  101 . Hence, this will result in increased insulation of the beverage.  
         [0044]     In order to create an interference fit between the sleeve  100  and the beverage container  101 , shrink film  203  is wrapped around sleeve  100  and is heated. When heat is applied to shrink film  203 , the shrink film  203  creates a tighter fit around the sleeve  100  by narrowing the circumference of the sleeve  100  to create a moderate interference fit. This step is further detailed.  
         [0045]      FIG. 4   a  is an elevation cross sectional view which shows how the shrink film layer  203  is to be used in conjunction with the beverage container insulator. In  FIG. 4   a , shrink film  203  is placed around the sleeve  100 .  FIG. 4   b  illustrates shrink film  203  after it has been sufficiently heated and fully engaged and fitted with sleeve  100 . This process is detailed further below.  
         [0046]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of a method for assembling the sleeve  100  upon the beverage container  101 . In step one  500 , the beverage container  101  is manufactured by standard procedures and is thereafter filled with the attendant beverage.  
         [0047]     In step two  501 , the sleeve  100  is slided onto the beverage container  101  until the lower aperture of the sleeve  100  rests into position.  
         [0048]     In step three  502 , polyvinyl chloride shrink film  203  is placed around the sleeve  100 . Although this step is optional, it is useful for marketing purposes because it creates an ideal surface for printing a variegated array of colors. In addition, the shrink film  203  also creates an interference fit between sleeve  100  and beverage containers  101  when the shrink film  203  is heated. After placing shrink film  203  upon sleeve  100 , hot air is applied to the shrink film  203 . The resulting shrinkage of the shrink film  203  narrows the circumference of the sleeve  100  creating an interference fit with the beverage container  101 .  
         [0049]      FIG. 6   a  is an isometric view illustrating the collapsibility of the sleeve  100 . This characteristic of the sleeve  100  enables it to be laid flat for easy storage with minimal space requirements. In addition,  FIG. 6   b  illustrates that numerous sleeves  100  may be stored within a single package for better bulk management.  
         [0050]     Other features not mentioned in the specification, but known to one skilled in the art may be integrated as well without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. There are, for example a wide variety of materials which may be used, there are many changes which may be made in dimensions and so forth to accommodate various needs and there may be decorative effects (colors, shapes) that may well be used, all within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The apparatus and methods of the present invention should therefore be afforded the broadest scope under examination. It will also be apparent to the skilled artisan that there are numerous variations that may be made in embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. As such, the invention taught herein by specific examples is limited only by the claims which follow.