Abstract:
A self-contained insulated vessel having a storage area defined by an inner wall and an outer wall which are spaced apart and dosed off to define a cavity therebetween. An insulating substance is contained within at least part of the cavity in order to maintain a stored item at a predetermined temperature for an extended period of time or cool a stored item with a temperature higher than the predetermined temperature of the insulating substance. The insulating vessel can include a user engagement interface for shielding a user from at least part of an exterior surface of said vessel.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to a sell-contained vessel and the like, and more particularly, to a vessel for maintaining a stored item at a cool temperature therein. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The need exists for self-contained methods for storing consumable or perishable items. Ice is the most obvious solution; however melted ice leaves an undesirable effect of residual water mixing with the stored items thereby diluting the contents. Further, certain beverages or foods are not customarily served with ice. Standard containers permit excessive heat transfer through the container wall and the stored items rapidly rise to the ambient temperature, leaving the stored item in an undesirable state for consumption or other use. 
         [0003]    Inventors acknowledge that use of an insulating substance is an up and coming solution for cooling stored items. However, products incorporating an insulating substance leave significant room for improvement. For example, other cooling containers are sealed in a location, such that any potential leakage of the insulating substance may interact with the stored item. In instances where the stored item is a consumable, this potential leakage could go undetected until after the consumable is ingested by the user. Further such seals could house bacteria that may seep into the stored item creating potential health risks. 
         [0004]    An additional problem is that a container storing a cold item can be uncomfortable for a user to grip. A few inadequate designs offer to address this issue by attaching a protruding handle to the container, creating a bulky device that is difficult to store and making manufacturing difficult by raising costs for molds, skill to manufacture, and time required. Further, certain containers are needed where handles are not customary, e.g. bowls. 
         [0005]    Alternatively, a user may directly grip a cold container wall, therein causing the user to minimize their hold time due to discomfort thereby making the container less portable. An analogous but opposite situation can occur when body heat from a user&#39;s hand is dissipated to the container, rapidly raising the temperature of the cold item. 
         [0006]    Thus, a need exists for a portable container which cools a stored item or maintains its temperature without the risk of interacting with the item, and being further capable of easy manufactured, comfortable use, and effective storage. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention overcomes the shortcomings associated with old devices and methods, and achieves other advantages not realized by conventional devices and methods. 
         [0008]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages in the known types of cooling containers, an objective of this present invention provides a novel container system construction for facilitating storage of consumables with minimal temperature change over a period of time, wherein the same can be utilized for cooling an item inside a container without a need for any external pieces or contact between the item and an insulating substance. The container can be used to store and maintain the internal temperature for an extended period of an item that is either pre-cooled, susceptible to heating due to the external environment, or desirable at a cooled temperature, including perishables, consumables, medical specimens, etc. 
         [0009]    Described herein is a self-contained insulated vessel having a storage area defined by an inner wall and an outer wall which are spaced apart and closed off to define a cavity therebetween. An insulating substance is contained within at least part of the cavity in order to maintain a stored item at a predetermined temperature for an extended period of time or cool a stored item when its temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature of the insulating substance. In some examples, the vessel may include a user engagement interface for shielding a user from at least part of an exterior surface of said vessel. 
         [0010]    The invention features various embodiments for cooling, wherein the vessel is configured such that the insulting substance substantially surrounds the storage area in entirety. 
         [0011]    The discussed container can be comprised of plastic, metal, glass or any material that is not materially compromised when stored at a low ambient temperature, e.g. in a refrigerator or freezer. 
         [0012]    It is an aspect of the invention to provide a method of insulating a storage area that isolates the insulating substance, thereby diminishing accidental leakage or contamination and eases the production and manufacture process. These and other aspects of the invention are accomplished by sealing the cavity on an exterior surface of the container located in a position providing ease of assembly. 
         [0013]    It is an advantage of the invention to provide a container causing less discomfort to the user, thereby resulting in a longer hold time. These and other advantages of the invention are accomplished by integrating a user engagement interface for the user to grip such as a material layer on at least a portion of the exterior surface. Yet another way of accomplishing user comfort and further slowing heat transfer by double walling the external cavity. So long as the insulating substance is adjacent to the inner wall, the invention will maintain its inherent cooling ability. The user engagement interface has the benefit of further shielding the stored item from external temperatures. 
         [0014]    The present invention can take a number of different shapes with accompanying functional and/or aesthetic benefits. For example, the vessel can be a glass, shot glass, pitcher, cocktail shaker, or bowl. The component parts of the container can be adapted, configured, or customized to meet particular functional or aesthetic needs of particular users or to adapt a lid. One may also contemplate the use of this container as a shell surrounding another container. 
         [0015]    Other independent features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications within the spirit of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. 
         [0016]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways or with various materials. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1A  is a diagrammatic perspective sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1B  is a diagrammatic perspective sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  A depicting an insulating substance. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is an exploded sectional side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1A and 1B . 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic perspective sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention featuring an alternative configuration. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is an exploded sectional side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic perspective sectional view of an alternate exemplary embodiment of the present invention depicting an alternative storage area configuration. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic perspective sectional view of a further alternate exemplary embodiment of the present invention depicting an alternative configuration defining an engagement cavity. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a side sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a diagrammatic perspective view of a still further alternate exemplary embodiment of the present invention including a layer of shielding material. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a diagrammatic perspective view of a still further alternate exemplary embodiment of the present invention including an alternative position of a layer of shielding material. 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a diagrammatic perspective sectional view of a still further alternate exemplary embodiment of the present invention depicting a martini glass configuration featuring a layer of shielding material. 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is a diagrammatic perspective sectional view of a still further alternate exemplary embodiment of the present invention depicting a bowl configuration featuring a layer of shielding material. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    The present invention is directed towards a self-contained insulating vessel and a method of insulating a self-contained vessel utilizing an insulating substance  7  contained within cavity  4  walls of the vessel. With reference to the annexed drawings, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are herein described for indicative purposes and by no means as a limitation. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1A  is a sectional view of an embodiment according to the present invention. The vessel includes a storage area  1  having an inner wall  2  and a lip  3  and an outer wall  5 . A cavity  4  is formed between the inner wall  2  and the outer wall  5  when the upper edge  6  of the outer wall  5  engages with the lip  3 . 
         [0031]      FIGS. 1B and 2  are a sectional view and exploded side view, respectively, of the embodiment of  FIG. 1A  further depicting an insulating substance  7  contained in the cavity  4 . The composition of the insulating substance  7  is not a claimed feature of the present invention. The insulating substance  7  in the present invention can be any non-toxic non-flammable substance that is capable of attaining a lowered temperature. Differing compositions of the insulating substance  7  will have varying properties. Common insulating substance  7   s  are hydroxyethyl cellulose, polymer gel, silica gel, etc. Other exemplary insulating substance  7   s  that are known to those in the art include a mixture of rubbing alcohol or a mixture of sodium chloride, water, and glycol. Some insulating substance  7   s  will change to a solid phase when frozen, others will remain malleable. 
         [0032]    A preferred insulating substance  7  would have a lower freezing point than water, providing for a phase-change of the insulating substance  7  for enhanced absorption of heat over an extended period thereby maintaining a low temperature and a slower rate at which the insulating substance  7  temperature raises to ambient temperature. Freezing points between 32 degrees and 10 degrees Fahrenheit are preferred. 
         [0033]    One skilled in the art may enhance features of the insulating substance  7  with sodium chloride, minerals, water, or other additives. For aesthetic purposes, visual appearance of the insulating substance  7  can be enhanced, for example with dye or other decorations. 
         [0034]    The vessel can be used in one of two primary ways to store an item that is preferred at a predetermined temperature. One use involves storing a pre-cooled item that is to be maintained at a cool temperature for an extended period of time. An embodiment of the present invention achieves this by slowing down the rate at which heat is transferred between the storage area  1  and the ambient. The vessel is first placed in a refrigerator, freezer, or other cooling area for a predetermined period of time to achieve a desired insulating temperature. This cooling period is a user determined variable dependent on the composition of the insulating substance  7 , the ambient temperature, and the desired temperature of the pre-cooled item. For example, a porter style beer may require the vessel to be pre-cooled in a refrigerator while ice cream would require the vessel to be pre-cooled in a freezer for a longer amount of time. After this cooling period, the pre-cooled item is placed in the storage area  1  of the vessel. The insulating substance  7  absorbs heat from the storage area  1  and insulates the pre-cooled item against excessive warming and thereby maintains the temperature by slowing the rate at which the pre-cooled item rises to the ambient temperature. 
         [0035]    A second and similar use involves an item that is preferably served cold, yet has not been pre-cooled. Such use is achieved by placing an item in the storage area  1  of a pre-cooled vessel that has preferably reached a minimum cooling temperature. The item will slowly fall to a desirable temperature due to the adjacent proximity of the storage area  1  to the cavity  4  containing the insulating substance  7 . The temperature of the insulating substance  7  rises slowly to ambient temperature influenced both by the heat the item surrenders to the insulating substance  7  and the heat of the ambient. The item is cooled while keeping the insulating substance  7  in an isolated cavity  4  chemically separated from the item. Therefore, the item will be cooled as the heat from the item is absorbed by the insulating substance  7 , but the insulating substance  7  will not otherwise interfere with the item. Certain embodiments of this invention provide a lip  3  that seals the cavity  4  containing the insulating substance  7  on an external surface of the vessel, thereby eliminating the risk of the insulating substance  7  leaking through the vessel wall into the storage area  1  and retaining the integrity of the stored item. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  2  depict embodiments of the vessel featuring transparent material.  FIGS. 3 through 11  are several exemplary embodiments constructed of either plastic or metal materials. The vessels may be constructed of various and multiple materials. The vessel can be made from any non-porous material that is resistant to deformation and are not compromised when stored in frigid and wet conditions for extended periods of time, including plastic, metal, or glass. The vessel can be enhanced by using any material that minimizes heat exchange from the surroundings to the insulating substance  7 . One possible embodiment of the vessel can feature a storage area  1  comprising material less permeable to heat transfer than the outer wall  5  material. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 3 and 4  are a sectional view and exploded side view, respectively, of an embodiment of the present invention depicting an alternative configuration in which the lip  3  extends downwardly from the exterior of the inner wall  2  such that a gap is created between a portion of the inner wall  2  and the lip  3 . In this embodiment, when the upper edge  6  of the outer wall  5  engages with the lip  3 , the cavity  4  extends above the upper edge  6  of the outer wall  5 . This configuration may be optimal for any composition of insulating substance  7  that expands when its temperature is lowered. 
         [0038]    One skilled in the art will recognize that due to manufacturing and/or design constraints, the storage area  1  may not be completely surrounded by the cavity  4  containing the insulating substance  7 . A cavity  4  substantially filled with the insulating substance  7  is optimal for maximal cooling; however a cavity  4  at least partially filled with insulating substance  7  can provide adequate cooling benefits. Further,  FIGS. 1A through 4  are exemplary embodiments of a preferred configuration for cooling wherein the cavity  4  entirely surrounds the storage area  1 . These non-limiting exemplary embodiments are configured such that the outer wall  5  is spatially separated from the storage area  1  in its entirety.  FIG. 5  is a sectional view of an exemplary alternate configuration in which the storage area  1  is created by the inner wall  2  and a base portion of the outer wall  5  used to stabilize the vessel on a horizontal surface. Therefore the insulating substance  7  does not surround the bottom of the storage area  1  once the cavity  4  is formed between the outer wall  5  and the inner wall  2 . 
         [0039]    Similarly,  FIGS. 1A through 11  depict several embodiments of the invention featuring a configuration in which the lip  3  is located along the upper edge  6  of the inner wall  2 . However, alternate embodiments of the invention may include a configuration featuring an alternative lip  3  placement, wherein the lip  3  may protrude from any generally horizontal surface of the inner wall  2 . 
         [0040]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are a sectional view and exploded side view, respectively, of a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention depicting an alternate configuration wherein an engagement wall  9  is spatially related to the outer wall  5  defining an engagement cavity  10   4  between the engagement wall  9  and the outer wall  5 . The engagement cavity  10   4  is exteriorly adjacent to the cavity  4  containing the insulating substance  7 . Because the user&#39;s hand and the ambient are not directly adjacent to the cavity  4  containing the insulating substance  7 , this exemplary embodiment insulates the insulating substance  7  from heat of the outer wall  5  that could cause the insulating substance  7  to rise in temperature. Additionally, this exemplary embodiment further insulates the storage area  1  and prevents the insulating substance  7  from absorbing heat from a user&#39;s hand alleviating any user discomfort associated with holding a pre-cooled vessel. A user may, otherwise, have to limit their hold time if required to grip a wall containing the insulating substance  7  without this insulating quality. Preferred embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 1A through 5  may, optionally, entail a vessel comprised of material less permeable to transfer of heat from the ambient. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are perspective views of an alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention depicting a shielding material  8  contiguous to the exterior surface of the vessel as a preferred solution to user comfort. Shielding material  8  is defined as any material which possesses a high insulating capability (R-value). In thermal engineering, other important properties of insulating materials are product density (p) and specific heat capacity (c). Materials selected in accord with the objects of this invention as shielding material  8  will be selected to balance these important attributes with other design factors but insulating capacity of the material enables the invention. 
         [0042]    The embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , feature a shielding material  8  wrapping at least a portion of the exterior surface of the vessel and, in use, interposed between the user&#39;s hand and the exterior surface. In preferred embodiments, the shielding material  8  is selected to be resilient, elastic, insulating, and resistant to deformation in cold to freezing and wet conditions. As selected, the shielding material  8  may optionally facilitate comfort and gripping of the container in use. For example, an overmolded insulating handle of a suitable shielding material  8  would meet the objects of the present invention. Other desired characteristics of the shielding material  8  are strength, durability, capable of imprinting for aesthetic purposes. An elastomer layer provides a preferred shielding material  8  due to its elastic properties and its ability to be manipulated for aesthetic customization, such as dying or imprinting. However, the shielding material  8  can comprise of any of a number of versatile materials selected to be capable of shielding a user from a cold surface, including thermoplastic, elastomers, foam resin, thermoset rubber, silicone, treated leather, polyurethane, neoprene, or synthetic polyester and nylon materials. 
         [0043]    While the shielding material  8  is depicted as a solid band, alternate embodiments need only provide partial layering on opposing sides of the vessel placed where a user&#39;s hand might contact the vessel. Interruptions in the shielding material  8  still provide an insulating air gap between the user&#39;s hand and the outer surface. The selection of a pattern for arrangement of the shielding material  8  depends on the vessel type and design selections by a designer. For example,  FIG. 9  depicts an alternate elastomer layer placement wherein the base of the outer surface is at least partially covered for an embodiment in which a user may grip the base portion of the vessel, e.g. an ice cream bowl, a whiskey glass, etc. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 10 and 11  are sectional views of exemplary embodiments of the present invention featuring alternative vessel configurations.  FIG. 11  depicts a vessel shaped as a martini glass in which the outer surface having an outer wall  5  that extends past the base.  FIG. 12  depicts a vessel shaped as a bowl. As shown the vessel opening is annular. Other embodiments may comprise of any other shape, including rectangular, square, oval, etc. 
         [0045]    Yet another embodiment features a vessel adapted for a lid. Such lid may be screwed on, plugged in, snapped on, or otherwise engaged to the vessel through internal or external pressure or fastened to the vessel. 
         [0046]    Combinations of the above listed types of arrangement could be used within a vessel depending on the specific needs and/or requirements for the vessel. The exterior surface of the vessel can be printed or embossed with advertising, marketing, branding logos, etc. 
         [0047]    It is understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described within the scope of the following claims.