Abstract:
A beverage container insulating sleeve for insulating a user&#39;s hand from a cold or hot beverage container while maintaining the serving temperature of the beverage. The material of the sleeve comprises insulating polyethylene foam. The sleeve is a low cost, lightweight, ergonomic, solution for consumers, advertisers, and anyone who sells hot or cold bottled beverages. The sleeve is further conformable to various beverage container styles and shapes due to a plurality of vertical slits formed therein.

Description:
[0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of the provisional patent application filed on Jul. 30, 2002, assigned application No. 60/399,965 and entitled, “Insulating Beverage Container Sleeve.” 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention is directed generally to a sleeve for a container, and more specifically, to an insulating sleeve for a beverage container.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Numerous varieties of thermal insulating sleeves are available for insulating beverage containers, such as cans and bottles for soft drinks and beer. These sleeves slide over the container to provide an insulating exterior surface, insulating the beverage container from ambient temperature and thus slowing the rate of heat flow between the ambient environment and the beverage and its container. These sleeves are available in an assortment of sizes for use with various container types, including but not limited to paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum beverage containers. Use of an insulating sleeve is advised for both hot and cold beverages.  
           [0004]    Typically, the insulating sleeve is made from polyethylene foam, a material known for its thermal insulating properties. Tests conducted on beverages packaged in glass bottles prove the beneficial effects of the insulating sleeve. Two bottles where chilled and the temperature of the liquid contained therein was measured, one bottle having an insulating beverage sleeve and the other without. As expected, the liquid in the sleeve-insulated bottle retained a lower temperature for a considerably longer period than the uninsulated container. Temperature maintenance is important for maximum enjoyment of the beverage, whether it be a hot or a cold beverage.  
           [0005]    Prior art sleeve insulators include foam and neoprene “koozies.” Although suitable for insulating the beverage and its container, neither is intended to be disposable due to their relatively high manufacturing cost. The sleeves are typically purchased as a stand-alone item and must be transported by the consumer for use wherever cold or hot beverages are served. Since the prior art sleeves include a bottom surface, they are not easily folded nor collapsed, resulting in a somewhat bulky product that is not convenient to carry in a purse or pocket. The prior art sleeves are sized for a specific beverage container (e.g., beverage can, 12 ounce bottle) as they are designed and constructed for specific beverage containers and thus not conformable to other beverage containers.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    An insulating sleeve for a beverage container having a sidewall, comprises an expansible sleeve comprising first and second opposingly oriented openings and a passageway therebetween, wherein the sleeve defines a plurality of slits therein. A band region is disposed proximate the first opening, wherein the band region is substantially non-expansible. The beverage container is received within the passageway through the second opening, expanding the plurality of slits into an open position such that the sleeve conforms to the sidewalls of the container.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    The foregoing and other features of the present invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different figures and text. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 illustrates an insulating sleeve constructed according to the teachings of the present invention wrapped around a beverage container.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a close-up of a region of the sleeve of FIG. 1.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 illustrates the sleeve of Figure in a collapsed state.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is a top inside view of the sleeve of FIG. 1.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is a cut away view of the sleeve of FIG. 1.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the sleeve of the present invention wrapped around variously styled beverage containers.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]    Before describing in detail the particular beverage container sleeve in accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that the present invention resides in a novel and non-obvious combination of elements. Accordingly, the elements have been represented by conventional elements in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein.  
         [0015]    Most bars and restaurants chill beverages such as beer, specialty liquor drinks, bottled water, etc., either by placing said items in a refrigerated cooler or in a tub filled with ice. When a customer wraps her hand around the beverage container, it is typically very cold. Further, the temperature differential between the container and ambient, causes liquid to condense (referred to as sweating) on the container&#39;s external surface. Once in the ambient atmosphere, the beverage temperature warms and eventually reaches the ambient temperature. Over many years of observation, the inventors have observed consumers wrapping beverage napkins around these cold containers to soak up the condensation and to maintain a comfortable hand temperature by shielding their hand from the cold container.  
         [0016]    A sleeve constructed according to the present invention insulates the user&#39;s hand from the cold temperature of the container and the liquid it contains. The consumer thus maintains a dry hand as the sleeve reduces the container sweating (due to the decreased temperature differential between the container and the ambient environment) and absorbs any condensation that does form on the container. Use of the napkin or other absorbing material is avoided and the consumer instead is presented with a comfortable, ergonomic and safe gripping surface for the container. Further, the sleeve insulates the beverage container from the ambient atmosphere, significantly lengthening the time interval for the beverage to reach the ambient temperature.  
         [0017]    As illustrated in FIG. 1, an insulating sleeve  10  is wrapped about a bottle  12 , which is representative of the various types and styles of beverage containers suitable for use with the insulating sleeve  10 . An advertisement or other suitable message can be printed on the sleeve  10 , as indicated by a reference character  14 . Note that the sleeve  10  does not provide an insulating surface on the bottom of the bottle  12 . However, this is not believed to be a disadvantageous, as the bottle&#39;s bottom surface is insulated by the surface on which the bottle  12  is resting and container sweating from the bottom surface is not problematic for the user.  
         [0018]    In one embodiment the sleeve  10  is constructed from an insulating polyethylene foam material. In another embodiment the polyethylene material is about ⅛ inch thick. The polyethylene foam has a relatively high coefficient of friction, thus providing a secure gripping surface for the user and a good friction fit to the container.  
         [0019]    In another embodiment of the invention, a thicker material can be used to form the sleeve  10  to provide additional insulating capacity. In still another embodiment, other known types of insulating foam can be used to form the sleeve  10 . Advantageously these foams are environmentally friendly.  
         [0020]    The sleeve  10  further comprises a plurality of substantially vertical incisions or slits  20  formed through the thickness of the sleeve material. FIG. 2 is a close-up view of a region  26  of the sleeve  10 , illustrating the slits  20  in a closed position. The slits  20  can be positioned in various patterns relative to each other; the FIG. 2 embodiment illustrates the slits  20  in a staggered vertical pattern wherein a second row  22  of slits  20  is staggered between the slits  20  of a first row  24 . The slits  20  permit the sleeve  10  to be expanded to the diameter of the beverage container, such as the bottle  12 , with which it is to be slidably engaged. Further, the sleeve  10  is conformable to any size and shape beverage container by expansion of the slits  20 . Thus a sleeve constructed according to the teachings of the present invention provides a “one size fits all” benefit. In different embodiments, the slits  20  are disposed along the entire sleeve length or disposed in only a portion of the sleeve length.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of the region  26 , showing the slits  20  in an expanded or open position, as the sleeve  10  expands to wrap around any size or shape of beverage container. The slits  20  are shown in an open state in FIG. 1 where the sleeve  10  is wrapped around the bottle  12 . Thus expansion of the slits  20  into the open state allow the sleeve  10  to conform to any container shape or size.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 shows the sleeve  10  in a flat or collapsed state. To fit the sleeve  10  around a bottle or other beverage container, opposing edges  30  and  32  are compressed in a direction toward each other to form the sleeve  10  into a generally tubular shape. In FIG. 4, the slits  20  are in a generally closed state. In one embodiment, in the closed state the sleeve  10  is about six inches long by about three inches wide. The sleeve  10  can be expanded into a tubular shape having a circumference of about 13 inches. The length and open state diameter of the sleeve  10  can be selected depending on the size, height and shape of the beverage container with which it is to be used.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is an inside top view of the sleeve  10  in an expanded state, illustrating the open slits  20  and the generally tubular shape of the sleeve  10 , but without the bottle  12 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is a cut-away inside view of the sleeve  10 , illustrating the slits  20  in an expanded or open state.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 illustrates the sleeve  10  in position about a soda beverage container  40 .  
         [0026]    In addition to a tubular or substantially cylindrical shape, the sleeve  10  can is capable of expanding to conform to a frustoconical (i.e., a truncated circular cone) shaped container, such as a beverage container  50  illustrated in FIG. 8.  
         [0027]    The sleeve  10  constructed according to the teachings of the present invention is considerably smaller, thinner, lighter and more compact than the prior art sleeves. Additionally, the sleeve  10  is disposable due to its relatively low manufacturing cost. One market segment where the benefits of the sleeve  10  are especially advantageous is the bar, restaurant, and hotel industry. Customers typically do not carry a prior art foam or neoprene “koozie” into a bar or restaurant because transporting the “koozie” is inconvenient and impractical. The sleeve  10 , on the other hand, can be provided by a bar, restaurant, hotel, coffee stand, convenience store, etc. because it is far less expensive than competing products and is disposable. A customer may use the sleeve  10  while at the establishment and discard it before leaving. Alternatively, the user may keep the sleeve  10  for future reuse or as a memorabilia item. Given its collapsibility and minimum storage requirements, the sleeve  10  can easily be carried by a user. Thus the user will continue to be exposed to the advertising logo or message during each use.  
         [0028]    In one embodiment the sleeve  10  further comprises a substantially non-expansible band or collar region  55  in which no slits are formed. See FIGS.  4 - 6 . Typically, the sleeve is slidably engaged over the container top, and slid down over the container sidewalls until a sleeve lower edge  58  reaches the bottom of the container. See FIG. 1. In this position, the band region  55  prevents further downward motion of the sleeve  10  as the band constricts about a neck  59  of the container  12 . Note that the band  55  is absent in the FIG. 8 embodiment.  
         [0029]    Because of its thermal properties, the sleeve  10  can also be used as an insulating thermal wrap for containers of hot liquids, such as a cup of coffee, providing the same insulating features as when in use with cold beverage containers. In one embodiment, when the beverage container has an open mouth, the sleeve  10  slidably engages the hot beverage container at a bottom surface, as to engage from the top may result in spillage of the beverage. In fact, any open container can be slidably engaged with the sleeve  10  from the bottom. In one embodiment of a sleeve constructed according to the teachings of the present invention for slidable engagement from the bottom of a beverage container, the band  55  is not included.  
         [0030]    Typically, the logo  14  is printed in up to four colors, offering an attractive and eye-catching advertising space. The ability to print at this high quality gives the sleeve  10  a beautiful look and is of great benefit to advertisers and consumers alike. The relatively low cost of the sleeve  10  provides affordable logo advertising space for both major and minor beverage manufacturers. The sleeve  10  can either be given away or sold at a minimal price by the advertiser. The low cost also allows advertisers to give sleeves to bar/restaurant patrons, such as, as a promotional give away item.  
         [0031]    The sleeve  10  can also be used to cover the advertising logo on a beverage container. For example, if a bar patron is consuming brand X&#39;s beverage and brand Y is giving away or selling sleeves with their logo, a consumer will put the brand Y sleeve over the brand X container. The container is no longer a brand X container, but rather it has been transformed to a brand Y container with the addition of the sleeve  10 . This transformation produces major advantages for advertisers.  
         [0032]    In one embodiment, the sleeve  10  can be formed from material of various colors, providing additional variety and selection.  
         [0033]    In the beverage manufacturing industry, a sleeve  10  can be included in a six pack or twelve pack of bottles or aluminum cans, printed with the manufacturer&#39;s logo or advertising message. The sleeve  10  can also be sold as a stand-alone item, such as in convenience stores or offered at beverage distribution machines.  
         [0034]    One process for manufacturing the sleeve  10  includes printing the logo  14  on a film laminate that is then attached to the polyethylene foam. The foam, in the form of rolled material, is cut into individual strips and the slits formed also by cutting action. Individual sleeve blanks are perforated and the opposing edges of the blank are joined, typically by heat treating, to form the closed sleeve. Individual sleeves are separated from the roll at the perforations.  
         [0035]    While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalent elements may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention further includes any combination of the elements from the various embodiments set forth herein. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation to the teachings of the present invention without departing from its essential scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.