Abstract:
A portable cooling system for maintaining a beverage container at an internal temperature dissimilar to that of the temperature of its external surroundings comprising of a substantially circular shaped storage compartments with a hingly attached lid. The portable cooling system further includes a flexible temperature sleeve positioned in the interior volume of the storage compartment during use. The temperature sleeve contains a plurality of ribs being configure to have an internal chamber filled with temperature controlling substance.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates a portable cooling system, more specifically but not by way of limitation, a portable cooling system designed to reduce and then maintain a temperature differential of a beverage can that has been inserted into the system and its external surroundings.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Individuals engage in numerous activities where transportation of beverages is desired. During transportation and upon arrival, maintaining a desired temperature for the beverage is normally accomplished by utilizing a conventional cooler.  
         [0003]     Transporting conventional coolers when only a single beverage is desired to be transported is not practical as conventional coolers can be large and difficult to transport. For example, many workers transport a meal to be consumed while at work. A typical way of transporting a meal and drink is a plastic or paper bag. Many facilities do not offer refrigerators to store the drinks or access to such devices is inconvenient. As it is usually several hours before the meal and drink are consumed, many consider it desirable to maintain a cool temperature for the beverage. Utilizing a conventional cooler for such an activity is not practical as only one beverage is desired to be transported.  
         [0004]     Another problem exists is that conventional coolers require ice to be deposited therein to make and keep the contents cold. As the ice melts, it requires that it be removed from the cooler.  
         [0005]     Another example of current devices that are used to transport beverages in small quantities is a conventional thermos. Typically, a desired beverage is poured into the thermos along with ice and the device is then closed for transportation. A problem with this method is that after a period of time the ice melts and dilutes the beverage contained in the conventional thermos. Additionally, the thermos must be cleaned between uses.  
         [0006]     Accordingly, there is a need for a portable cooling system that is designed to cool and maintain the lowered temperature of beverages in the original containers, such as but not limited to an aluminum can, that is compact and easily transported, prevents the dilution of the beverage by utilizing an external temperature control sleeve that surrounds the beverage container, and does not need to be cleaned after every use.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable cooling system for a single beverage container that can isolate and maintain the temperature of the single beverage container from the external ambient temperature and be easily transported by an individual. The portable cooling system has a cooling and insulating device capable of cooling and maintaining a temperature of a single beverage container and the contents therein and thermally isolate the container and contents from its external surroundings. The system includes a removable temperature control sleeve that is positioned interposed an insulation layer and the beverage container.  
         [0008]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portable cooling system for a single beverage container that is compact and lightweight for easy transportation.  
         [0009]     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a portable cooling system for a single beverage container that has a lid releasably secured thereto in order to completely encase the beverage container thereby maintaining a sanitary environment for the beverage container and providing further internal climate control.  
         [0010]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable cooling system for a single beverage container that has a device that allows the system to be releasably secured to a belt worn by an individual for ease of transportation.  
         [0011]     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the temperature control sleeve; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with a beverage container inserted therein. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     Referring now to the drawings, wherein various elements depicted are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in particular  FIG. 1  through  3 , there is illustrated the components of a preferred embodiment of a portable cooling system constructed according to the principles of the present invention.  
         [0017]     The first component of the system is the storage compartment  100 . The storage compartment  100  is generally annular in shape and hollow to allow receipt therein of a beverage container  5 . The storage compartment  100  has a wall  10  and a bottom  20  configured to define an interior volume of the storage compartment  100  and an opening  25  at the top of the storage compartment. Proximate to the opening  25  is the upper peripheral edge  40 . For storage compartment  100 , good results have been achieved with measurements designed to accommodate a conventional beverage containers, such as but not limited to twelve ounce aluminum beverage container, or plastic, disposable beverage bottles.  
         [0018]     The wall  10  and the bottom  20  are constructed of an insulating material such as but not limited to foam. Although good results have been achieved with a wall  10  that is one-quarter of an inch in thickness, it is understood that the thickness of wall  10  will depend on the type of insulating material used and the desired performance of such.  
         [0019]     Although it is illustrated in the preferred embodiment that one wall  10  and a bottom  20  are used to construct the main body  25  of the storage compartment  100 , it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that a plurality of walls configured with a bottom could be used to construct a storage compartment  100  in order to achieve the function suggested herein.  
         [0020]     The wall  10  has an exterior surface  35  that is substantially disposed thereon. The exterior surface  35  is constructed of nylon. The exterior surface  35  of nylon prevents. degradation of the foam wall  10  and provides a suitable surface for an individual to grip the storage compartment  100 . The exterior surface  35  is mounted to the wall by conventional chemical methods. Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous materials could be used in place of and/or in conjunction with nylon to construct the exterior surface  35  to achieve the desired function suggested herein.  
         [0021]     The wall  10  has an interior liner  60  that is substantially disposed about the interior volume of the storage compartment  100 . The interior liner  60  serves to provide additional insulation for a beverage container to be disposed therein. The interior liner  60  is constructed of a liquid impermeable material to prevent any condensation from propagating into the foam wall  10 . Good results have been achieved in the construct of the interior liner  60  with conventional materials such as the reflective waterproof materials used in standard soft-sided ice chest.  
         [0022]     Proximate to the opening  25  and hingly connected to the exterior surface  35  of the wall  10  is the lid  50 . The lid  50  is designed to be releasably secured to the main body  25  of the storage compartment  100 . The lid  50  is generally annular in shape and integrally formed with a top  65  and an upper wall  55  to form an interior volume and is of a particular diameter to allow the lid  50  to mate securely with the main body  25  of the storage compartment  100 . The top  65  and upper wall  55  are constructed of an insulating material such as but not limited to foam. Good results have been achieved with an upper wall  55  that is three-quarters of an inch in thickness, however it is contemplated that the thickness will depend on the type of insulation and desired performance.  
         [0023]     Substantially disposed about the exterior of the lid is the exterior surface  35 . The lid  50  has a lower peripheral edge  75  that has circumferentially disposed thereon a zipper  80 . The zipper  80  is a conventional zipper that consists of two interlocking halves with the opposing half of the zipper  80  mounted along the upper peripheral edge  40 . The zipper  80  functions to releasably secure the lid  50  in its first position to the main body  25  thereby encapsulating the beverage container  5  in the storage compartment  100 . Once releasably secured with the zipper  80 , the beverage container  5  is protected from any debris and is completely surround by insulating material allowing the storage compartment  100  to maintain and isolate the temperature of beverage container  5  and its contents to that the external surroundings.  
         [0024]     Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous different types of attachment mechanisms could be used in place of and/or in conjunction with the zipper  80  to achieve the desired functionality as suggested herein.  
         [0025]     One half of an attachment mechanism  90  is positioned opposite the zipper  80  and secured to the exterior surface  35  of the lid  50 . The opposing half of the attachment mechanism  90  is secured to the exterior surface  35  of the main body  25  of the storage compartment  100  proximate to and beneath the upper peripheral edge  40 . The opposing halves of the attachment mechanism  90  function to releasably secure the lid  50  into its second position, which allows access to the beverage container  5  contained within the storage compartment  100 .  
         [0026]     The attachment mechanism  90  is constructed of conventional hook/loop fasteners and is secured by suitable chemical or mechanical methods such as but not limited to stitching or chemical adhesion. Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous different materials or devices could be used in place of and/or in conjunction with the hook/loop fasteners to achieve the functionality suggested herein of the attachment mechanism  90 . More specifically but not by way of limitation conventional snaps could be used to secure the lid  50  in the lid&#39;s  50  second position to the main body  25 .  
         [0027]     A belt clip  95  is mounted contiguous to the exterior surface  35  of the main body  25  and configured in a generally perpendicular manner. The belt clip  95  functions to allow an individual using the portable cooling system to temporarily fasten the storage compartment  100  to their belt or other location for ease of transportation. The belt clip  95  is made of conventional material such as but not limited to a resilient metal. The belt clip  95  is mounted to the exterior surface  35  of the main body  25  by known chemical or mechanical methods such as but not limited to chemical adhesion or mechanical rivets. Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous different types of materials could be used in place of and/or in conjunction with metal to achieve the functionality as suggested herein of the belt clip  95 .  
         [0028]     Now referring specifically to  FIG. 2 , there is illustrated the second component of the portable cooling system, the temperature sleeve  115 . The temperature sleeve  115  is comprised of a membrane  130  having a first end  120  and a second end  122 . The membrane  130  is configured in a substantially planar manner and is constructed of a flexible liquid impermeable material such as but not limited to plastic. The length of temperature sleeve  115  can be varied depending upon the desired container to be cooled. Good results have been achieved in making the length of temperature sleeve  115  such that the opening of the container of to be cooled can be readily accessible by the consumer. For example, if a soda in a typical can is to be cooled, the desired length of temperature sleeve  115  would be such that a user could easily consume the soda in the container from its opening and not have the temperature sleeve  115  interfere with the consumption of the soda.  
         [0029]     Superposed on one side of the membrane  130  is a plurality of temperature ribs  110 . The temperature ribs  110  are comprised of three walls  130  that are integrally formed with the membrane  130  to form an internal chamber  135 . The internal chamber  135  has substantially disposed therein a suitable liquid or gel that has general properties of slow temperature dissipation and absorption.  
         [0030]     Upon changing the temperature of the temperature sleeve  115  by introduction for a sustained period of time into a freezer or other device, the material within the internal chamber  135  will reach or approach the operating temperature of the freezer or device and be able to maintain that temperature for an extended period of time once removed from the freezer or other device and placed into the storage compartment  100 . The material disposed within the internal chamber  135  of the temperature ribs  110  not only helps to maintain a temperature the interior volume of the storage compartment  100  but will also cool the temperature of the interior volume and contents there if, when inserted, the contents are at a temperature different than that of the temperature sleeve  115 . If for example, a can of soda at room temperature is inserted into the portable cooling system and the temperature sleeve  115  has been substantially chilled in a freezer, temperature sleeve  115  will cool off the contents of the can of soda, and once cooled help maintain the cooled temperature.  
         [0031]     The temperature ribs  110  are integrally formed with the membrane  130  and are formed with the membrane  130  to create a plurality of notches  125 . The notches  125  allow the temperature sleeve  115  to be configured in circular manner whereby the first end  120  and the second end  122  are adjacent to one another and then placed inside the storage compartment  100  interposed to the beverage container and wall  10 . The beverage container  5  biases the temperature sleeve  115  against the interior lining  60 . The temperature ribs  110  are adjacent to the beverage container  5  upon placement into the storage compartment  100  as the temperature sleeve  115  encircles the beverage container  5 .  
         [0032]     Those skilled in the art will recognize that the temperature sleeve  115  could be utilized to maintain a temperature in the storage compartment  100  that is either cooler or warmer than that of its external surroundings. It is contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention that the size of the storage compartment  100  could be manufactured to accommodate numerous different sizes and types of beverage containers. More specifically but not by way of limitation, the storage compartment  100  could be configured to accept therein bottles or larger cans. It is further contemplated within the scope of the invention that the storage compartment  100  could be manufactured in a plurality of colors and patterns.  
         [0033]     Referring in particular to the drawings submitted herewith, in particular  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; a description of the operation of the portable cooling system is as follows. In use, a user would place the temperature sleeve  115  in a device such as a freezer for a sufficient time to allow the material in the internal chamber  135  to reach a temperature similar to its environment. Once the temperature has been reached, the temperature sleeve  115  is removed from the device and is configured by the user to a generally circular shape by placing the first end  120  and the second end  122  of the membrane  130  adjacent to each other.  
         [0034]     The lid  50  is placed in its second position and secured with the attachment mechanism  90  to allow access to the internal volume of the storage compartment  100 . The temperature sleeve  115  is then placed into the storage compartment  100  adjacent to the interior lining  60  with the temperature ribs  110  facing inward. The user then places the desired beverage container  5  in the storage compartment  100  adjacent to the temperature sleeve  115 . The user then secures the lid  50  in its first position with the zipper  80 . This closes the portable cooling system and increases the efficiency of the system in maintaining a temperature of the internal volume of the storage compartment  100  dissimilar to that of the external environment.  
         [0035]     The user may then use the belt clip  95  to aid in transportation of the portable cooling system to the desired location. Once ready to use, the user will release the lid  50  from the storage compartment  100  by releasing the zipper  80  and securing the lid  50  into its second position. The user then consumes the desired amount of beverage contained in the beverage container  5  and returns the lid  50  to its first position. This process is repeated as desired until the beverage is consumed.  
         [0036]     In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.