Abstract:
A container assembly includes a container including an interior space for holding a substance. A heating element is supported by the container for heating the substance in the interior space. A power source including a manually operated hand crank generator is mountable on the container and connectable to the heating element for energizing the heating element to heat the substance in the interior space.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This present application is a non-provisional of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/940,564, filed Feb. 17, 2014, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates generally to insulated beverage containers and more particularly to an insulated beverage container capable of melting snow. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Hypothermia occurs when core body falls temperature below 95 degrees Fahrenheit affecting brain activity, breathing, and heart rate. Hypothermia can kill an unprotected person quickly. In fact, the majority of winter weather deaths in the US are due to overexposure to the cold climate. In the last ten years, over 17,000 deaths in the US were associated with exposure to excessive natural cold. 
         [0004]    Being in a car during a winter snow storm can temporarily help to protect you from the elements. However, when a car engine is running, carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless toxic gas, is produced. Although this gas typically exits the car through the exhaust pipe, the exhaust pipe can become blocked with drifting snow, which can result in the carbon monoxide backing up into the cabin of the car. Exposure to carbon monoxide can cause headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, and confusion and can kill you in as little as ten to fifteen minutes. Although you can protect yourself from such poisoning by cracking a window open, this in turn lets cold air into the cabin of the car, increasing the risk of hypothermia. In addition, engine operation is dependent on the amount of gas in the tank and thus cannot be run indefinitely. Even though one can run the heater off the car&#39;s battery if the engine is not running, it will drain the battery and often faster in colder weather. 
         [0005]    Staying warm, however, is not the only thing to be concerned about when caught in a winter snow storm. One must also stay hydrated because dehydration can be fatal in about three days. Although snow is often in abundance in a winter storm, it is not a good source of drinking water since eating un-melted snow will lower your body temperature and bring on hypothermia faster. Winter snow storms tend to catch people off guard or unprepared. Regrettably, passengers often do not have the proper emergency aid items, such as water, with them when they need them. As a result, there is a need for a device for melting snow into drinkable water in such circumstances. 
         [0006]    Although coils for heating beverages have been around some time, they have several disadvantages, making them undesirable in a winter storm situation. First and foremost, they require an electrical power source for usage, which may be limited or unavailable. Also, they are extremely dangerous to handle given that maximum temperatures can exceed 212° Fahrenheit. In addition, these devices are made to be used with liquids and not considered safe for use with snow or non-liquid materials. Contamination can also be an issue if the coil is not kept clean or is improperly stored. Portability is also an issue since the heating coil and the cup in which the beverage is heated are sold separately. 
         [0007]    Insulated tumblers for storing hot or cold beverages, such as those made by Tervis® or Camelbak®, have been available for some time. These tumblers, however, are designed only to maintain the temperature of the beverage that is being stored in it; they do not cool or heat the beverage, let alone change a substance from one state to another. In fact, their ability to maintain the temperature is sub optimal as the ambient temperature eventually cools hot beverages or warms cold beverages stored in these types of tumblers over time. 
         [0008]    Insulated travel mugs that plug into a USB port or a cigarette lighter adapter have more recently been developed to warm beverages while on the go. However, they can only be used when plugged into a car, making them of no use if one is away from one&#39;s vehicle. In addition, they can quickly drain a car&#39;s battery if plugged in when the engine is off. 
         [0009]    Of course, one could melt snow using one&#39;s own body heat, such as by placing a scoop of snow in one&#39;s hands. However, continued direct exposure to the snow can cause hypothermia to set in faster. Moreover, simply placing a container filled with snow in a warm location (i.e., between your legs) is impractical given the length of time it would take to melt the snow in this manner. 
         [0010]    There is therefore a need for a compact, portable and reusable device for melting snow into drinking water to prevent dehydration and hypothermia when stuck in a winter snow storm. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    In one aspect, a container assembly generally comprises a container including an interior space for holding a substance. A heating element is supported by the container for heating the substance in the interior space. A power source including a manually operated hand crank generator is mountable on the container and connectable to the heating element for energizing the heating element to heat the substance in the interior space. 
         [0012]    In another aspect, a container assembly kit generally comprises a container having an interior space for holding a substance. A heating element is supported by the container for heating the substance in the interior space. A power source is disposed in the interior space and removable from the interior space for mounting on an exterior surface of the container. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The following drawings illustrate some particular embodiments of the present invention and therefore do not limit the scope of the invention. The drawings are not to scale (unless so stated) and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description. Some embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like numerals denote like elements. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a snow melting device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment with portions broken away to show internal detail. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a vertical sectional view of the embodiment of the snow melting device of  FIG. 1  taken along line  2 - 2 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  is an end view of an embodiment of a power source of the device. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3B  is a side view of another embodiment of a power source of the device. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the snow melting device with portions broken away showing components of the device in an interior space of the device. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    The following detailed description is exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides some practical illustrations for implementing some embodiments of the present invention. Examples of constructions, materials, dimensions, and manufacturing processes are provided for selected elements, and all other elements employ that which is known to those of ordinary skill in the field of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many of the noted examples have a variety of suitable alternatives. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a snow melting device  10 . The device  10  comprises of a double walled hollow container  12 , a removably coupled lid  14  and a power source  16  removably attached to the container. As further shown in  FIG. 2 , the walls of the container  12  define an inner receptacle  18  disposed within an outer receptacle  20 . The inner receptacle  18  defines a space  26  within the container  12  in which to receive snow. The inner receptacle  18  and the outer receptacle  20  are constructed (such as by blow molding) to form the unitary double-walled container  12  having a leak-proof insulating chamber  22  between an outer surface  15  of circumferential wall  19  of inner receptacle  18  and an inner surface  17  of circumferential wall  21  of outer receptacle  20 . With such a configuration, the inner receptacle  18  is thermally insulated from the cold temperatures of the ambient atmosphere. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , inner receptacle  18  and outer receptacle  20  include generally cylindrical sidewalls  19  and  21 , respectively, and bottom walls  24  and  28 , respectively. Bottom wall  28  is preferably configured such that the container  12  can be free-standing, and outer receptacle  20  and bottom wall  28  are preferably sized and shaped to fit within the cup holder of a car. A top wall  23  defines a rim of the container  12  and extends circumferentially around the top of the container between circumferential walls  19  and  21 . The top wall  23 , circumferential walls  19 ,  21 , and bottom walls  24 ,  28  isolate the insulating chamber  22  from the space  26  in the inner receptacle  18  and the surrounding environment. While container  12  can vary in shape and size, it is preferably sized to accommodate at least 10 fluid ounces and preferably compact so as to fit within the glove compartment of a car when not in use. 
         [0022]    The outer receptacle  20  can be made from a variety of non-heat conducting material, and the inner receptacle  18  can be made from a variety of heat-conducting materials. Illustrative, non-exclusive examples of the type of material from which the outer receptacle  20  can be formed include plastic, polycarbonate, or stainless steel. Illustrative, non-exclusive examples of the type of material from which the inner receptacle  18  can be formed include stainless steel and aluminum. The lid  14  can be made of a variety of materials. While it need not be made of the same material as the inner receptacle  18  and/or outer receptacle  20 , for aesthetic reasons it may be made of the same material as the outer receptacle  20 . Illustrative, non-exclusive examples of the type of material from which the lid  14  can be made include plastic, polycarbonate, or stainless steel. 
         [0023]    The lid  14  and outer receptacle  20  of the container  12  are configured to permit selective and non-destructive removal and replacement of the lid  14  on the container  12 . With such a configuration, the lid  14  can be removed from the container  12  to allow the snow to be placed in the space  26  of the inner receptacle  18 , secured to the outer receptacle  20  when the snow is being melted, and removed when a user wishes to dispense the melted snow (i.e., water) contained therein. When secured to the container  12 , lid  14  covers the container  12  to not only restrict the melted snow from exiting the container  12 , but to also keep the heat generated from the melting process within the container, as well as prevent the cold temperature from the ambient atmosphere from cooling the snow. The lid  14  and outer receptacle  20  may be constructed in a manner such that the lid  14  can be coupled to and uncoupled from the container  12  in any number of known ways, such as through the use of threads (i.e., twist-top arrangement), or through snap-fit, friction fit or clasp arrangements. 
         [0024]    The lid  14  may also include a dispensing mechanism (not shown) which allows the melted snow to be dispensed for drinking without removal of the lid  14 . In addition, the lid  14  can be constructed of a size and shape to allow it to be used to gather snow and fill the device without the need to touch the snow with one&#39;s hands or gloves. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the insulating chamber  22  includes a heating element  30  helically wound and evenly distributed therein. The heating element  30  is preferably wound and evenly distributed within the insulating chamber from a base of the container  12  to a top of container to provide for even heat distribution throughout space  26  in the container. As shown in  FIG. 1 , one end of the heating element  30  is electrically connected to the power source  16 . As previously mentioned, the insulating chamber  22  is constructed such that it is sealed off from the inner receptacle  18  so none of the snow or resulting melted snow leaks into the chamber  22  from the inner receptacle  18 . 
         [0026]    The heating element  30  can be made of any electrically conductive material, such as resistance wire, which heats up as current flows through the wire. To prevent dehydration, a person needs to drink more water than he or she loses in a day. Given the average urine output for adults is about 50 ounces a day, and given snow melts at approximately 335 Joules/gram, the voltage of the power source  16  and the resistance of heating element  30  are preferably selected so as to generate the heat necessary to melt at least 30 grams of snow per use. 
         [0027]    The details of one exemplary embodiment of the power source  16  of  FIG. 1  will now be discussed. The power source  16  may be a manually operated hand crank generator having an outer housing  40  connected to the circumferential wall  21  of outer receptacle  20 , and a crank arm  42  which when in an operating position as shown in  FIG. 1  is rotatable 360°. Although the connection between the housing  40  and the circumferential wall  21  may be permanent, the circumferential wall  21  of the outer receptacle  20  and the housing  40  are preferably configured to permit selective and non-destructive connection and disconnection of the housing  40  to the container  12 . For example, the circumferential wall  21  of the outer receptacle  20  may have a first connector (not shown) and the housing  40  of the power source  16  may have a second connector (not shown) for connecting and disconnecting the power source  16  to and from the container  12 , respectively. With this configuration, the power source  16  can be removed from the container  12  and stored in the space  26  when not in use. The housing  40  may also include a recessed area (not shown) in the shape of the crank arm  42  for receiving the crank arm  42  when it is in its resting position. 
         [0028]    The hand crank generator  16  includes a generator  50  housed within the housing  40  for converting the mechanical energy created by turning the crank arm  42  into electrical energy. An output  52  of the generator  50  is electrically connected to the heating element  30  and delivers power to the heating element when the crank arm  42  is rotated. The hand crank generator  16  is capable of generating at least six volts of power and preferably twelve volts of power. With a twelve volt configuration, it would take a user approximately five minutes of cranking the crank arm  42  to melt 100 grams of snow. 
         [0029]    In yet another embodiment of the power source  16 , the housing  40  may include a receptacle or compartment  53  ( FIG. 3B ) for receiving batteries so that the device  10  can be battery-operated. With such an embodiment, the housing  40  includes an ON/OFF switch (not shown) electrically connected to the batteries for turning the device  10  on and off. 
         [0030]    In another embodiment of the power source  16 , the housing  40  may include a female USB port  54  ( FIG. 3A ) for connecting the container  12  to either a male USB port of the vehicle, or to the cigarette lighter of the vehicle through a male USB-cigarette lighter adapter (not shown), such as the Power Jolt car chargers for micro/mini USB devices made by Griffin Technology. In such a configuration, the device  10  includes a male-to-male USB cord (not shown) which can be stored in the space  26  when the device  10  is not in use. The male-to-male USB cord may also be simply removed from the space  26  when the device  10  is in use and powered by batteries or via the hand crank generator. 
         [0031]    The location of the female USB  54  port may be positioned at any suitable location on the housing  40  of the power source  16 . In yet a further embodiment, one end of the heating element  30  may include a female USB port (not shown) housed within the chamber  22  but which abuts the outer wall of the outer receptacle  20 . In this configuration, container  12  can be plugged into either a male USB port of the vehicle, or to the cigarette lighter of the vehicle through a male USB-cigarette lighter adapter (not shown), such as the Power Jolt car chargers for micro/mini USB devices made by Griffin Technology, via the male-to-male USB cord, thereby eliminating the need for a hand crank generator. 
         [0032]    As described herein, the device  10  can be powered from three different sources of power; namely manually through the hand crank generator, with batteries, or via the car&#39;s battery. It can also be appreciated that both the battery-operated and the USB/cigarette lighter versions of the power source  16  can significantly reduce the time required to melt the snow. 
         [0033]    In the illustrated embodiment, the power source  16  is shown attached to the container  12  near a base of the container. The power source  16  may be positioned at any suitable location on the container  12  so that a user can hold the container  12  in one hand while rotating the crank arm  42  of the hand crank generator with the other hand. In one embodiment, the power source  16  is positioned near the base of the container  12  as shown in  FIG. 1 . In another embodiment (not shown), the housing  40  of the power source  16  may be hingedly connected to the container  12  and cylindrically shaped like the container  12  and of a diameter such that it can pivoted to the bottom wall  28  of the outer receptacle  20  to form a base of the container  12  when a user is finished cranking the crank arm  42  so that the container  12  can fit in a cup holder with the power source attached to the container. In this embodiment, the base of the container  12  and/or the housing  40  include mechanism(s) for securing the power source  16  to the base of the container  12 . In addition, a portion of the output  52  of the generator may be housed in a retractable cord (not shown) allowing the power source  16  to pivot. In another embodiment (not shown), the power source  16  is positioned toward the upper part of the container  12  so that when in use, the base of the container  12  can fit in a car&#39;s cup holder with the power source attached to the container. 
         [0034]    The power source  16  is sized so as to be able to house the necessary parts (i.e., gears, generator, etc.) to produce at least 6 volts of power and preferably 12 volts. 
         [0035]    In operation, a user places snow in the space  26 , either through the use of the lid  14  or with his or her hands. Once filled, the user secures the lid  14  to the top of the container  12  and turns the crank arm  42  of the hand crank generator  16  to generate a current in the heating element  30 . As the user cranks the crank arm  42 , the snow is heated and begins to melt into drinking water. In addition, cranking the crank arm  42  further warms the body of the user and help stave off hypothermia. Once all the snow has melted, the user can remove the lid  14  and begin drinking the water. With the battery-operated embodiment, the user simply turns the ON-OFF switch to the ON position to activate the device  10 , and then to the OFF position to turn the device  10  off. With the car-operated embodiments, the user simply connects the device  10  to the female USB port or the cigarette lighter of the vehicle (through the USB-cigarette lighter adapter) to turn it on, and then unplugs it when the snow has melted into drinking water. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the device  10  is preferably self-contained such that instructions  60  on use and the amount of water required to keep a person adequately hydrated to avoid dehydration, as well as all the parts necessary to operate it in its different power modes (i.e., power source  16 , male-to-male USB cord  62 , and USB-cigarette lighter adapter  64 ) can be stored within the space  26  when not in use. 
         [0037]    Although the invention has been described as a snow melting device, the manually operated (i.e., hand crank generator) embodiment of the invention has applicability outside the winter storm setting. Specifically, one need only attend an outdoor sporting event when outdoor temperatures start to dip to appreciate the need for a container that not only provides insulation for a hot beverage, but also maintains the temperature of the beverage contained therein over time without the need for being close to an electrical power source. With this embodiment, the container  12  may include a temperature indicator  66  ( FIG. 4 ) to communicate the temperature of the beverage contained therein so a user knows when it has achieved the desired temperature. 
         [0038]    Thus, embodiments of the invention are disclosed. Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain disclosed embodiments, the disclosed embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation and other embodiments of the invention are possible. One skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes, adaptations, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
         [0039]    Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. 
         [0040]    When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiments(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the”, and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. 
         [0041]    In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. 
         [0042]    As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.