Abstract:
The present device is a self-contained system to cool a beverage quickly without any external mechanisms or support. The device comprises both the thermal system and a bladder holding a beverage. The device is received by the user, who activates it. A reaction occurs within the vessel, causing the contents of the bladder to rapidly change to a temperature that makes the beverage more enjoyable.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Provisional Patent Application No. U.S. 61/733,961 by Kevin Joseph filed on Dec. 6, 2012. That application is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A common issue with beverages is achieving and maintaining a desired temperature before they are consumed. When beverages are consumed, they are usually at a temperature that is different than their surroundings. If the environment is cold, the beverages are usually served warm. If the environment is hot, then beverages are usually served cold. 
         [0003]    In order to keep a beverage below the outside temperature, there have been several options. One is a thermally insulated container, or cooler, where the beverage is not directly exposed to the environment. Frequently a user gets the beverage cool, and then places it in the cooler until it is to be consumed. The cooler may also have a cooling component, such as a cold pack, to help maintain the temperature in the cooler. This requires advanced preparation on the part of the user, which is not always a viable option. 
         [0004]    Another option is to keep the beverage cooled until the moment it is consumed. This can be accomplished by the use of a refrigeration system, but refrigeration systems need some form of power to keep operating. This option requires some form of infrastructure to be used. 
         [0005]    Related to the use of a refrigeration system is the use of ice to externally cool a beverage to to be added to the beverage when consumed. Ice cannot be used too far away from an ice source as it will melt. Further, the generation of ice typically involves a use of a refrigeration system that was previously discussed. 
         [0006]    These constraints lead to problems. If a person purchases a beverage at a store, it may be too warm if he decides to drink it several hours later. If it is purchased at a public event, then it may be too far removed from the refrigeration source for optimal temperature, or the vendor may be limited in the number of beverages he can carry at once. There is a need for a system that allows a beverage to be purchased that can be cooled on command without the use of an independent cooling system. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The disclosed device  100  comprises a self-contained beverage thermal system. The system may be sold as a complete unit to the consumer. The thermal system only requires a simple physical action to activate, and will bring the temperature of the beverage  420  down to a desired level. The system is designed to be an economical alternative to large scale refrigeration mechanisms. Once the beverage  420  is consumed, the entire system may be discarded without toxic concerns due to the use of materials used in the construction of the device  100 . 
     
    
     
       FIGURES 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  shows the elements of the exemplary embodiment of the disclosed device  100  before they are assembled together, including the vessel  200 , packet  300 , bladder  400 , and thermal element  500 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  shows a cross section of an exemplary embodiment of the device  100  before activation. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows a cross section of an exemplary embodiment of the device  100  as the system is activating. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  shows a cross section of an exemplary embodiment of the device  100  when it is fully activated. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    An exemplary embodiment of the device  100  uses a thermal element  500  (in this case the nitrate based chemical Urea) combined with an activation element  310  (in this case water) to cool the beverage  420  contained in a vessel  200 , which in this case is a bottle. When the activation element  310  mixes with the thermal element  500 , the reaction that creates the combined element  600  that absorbs heat, cooling the beverage  420  in the bladder  400  via an endothermic reaction. While the exemplary embodiment uses a nitrate and water to cause an endothermic reaction, it is understood that any combination of non-toxic chemicals may be used to create an endothermic or exothermic reaction without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed device  100 . 
       Components 
       [0013]    The device  100  involves the use of a vessel  200  with a bladder  400  holding a beverage  420  that is cooled by a user activated thermal system involving two or more elements that together cause an endothermic reaction. While exemplary embodiments will discuss a standard 16 oz. size plastic bottle as a vessel  200 , it is understood that this could work on vessels  200  of any size and shape. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  shows the individual components of the exemplary embodiment of the device  100 , comprising vessel  200  (a disposable bottle) with a thermal system (comprised of an activation element  310  held in a packet  300  and a separate thermal element  500 ) and a bladder  400  capable of holding a beverage  420 . The bladder  400  holds the beverage  420  and allows the user to access the beverage  420  while preventing the thermal system from escaping from the vessel  200  once the device  100  is assembled. 
         [0015]    The vessel  200  should be insulated to keep the cooling effect confined to the vessel  200  interior. This will concentrate the cooling effect inside the vessel  200  and also make sure the vessel  200  does not become so cool as to make grasping the vessel  200  uncomfortable. Additionally, the vessel  200  may be made of transparent, semi-transparent, or partially transparent materials. This may be useful if the thermal system includes a change in color that can indicate the cooling process is occurring, as will be explained below. In the exemplary embodiment, the walls  220  of the vessel  200  may be strong enough to resist longitudinally deformation, but weak enough to allow some lateral deformation by squeezing as needed. The walls  220  may also be of sufficiently elasticity to return to the original shape when the squeezing stops. 
         [0016]    Next is the thermal system. The thermal system in the exemplary embodiment is a system that does not activate until the activation elements  310  and thermal elements  500  are mixed. While the exemplary embodiment uses two elements, it is understood that more elements may be used as needed to create different effects or to utilize different elements. In the exemplary embodiment, the thermal system will contain a thermal element  500  that will react when combined with an activation element  310 . In this case, the thermal element  500  is Urea, and the activation element  310  is water. 
         [0017]    While the exemplary embodiment uses water as an activation element  310 , it may contain any chemical or mineral that causes the thermal reaction to begin when it comes in contact with the thermal element  500 . The thermal reaction created by the activation element  310  mixing with the thermal element  500  will cause the beverage  420  in the bladder  400  to cool. There may be thermal elements  500  surrounding the bladder  400  on all sides to have as much of the thermal element  500  in contact with the bladder  400  as possible to cool the beverage  420 . In the exemplary embodiment, the thermal elements  500  are in pellet form, but may be in any form without departing form the scope of the disclosure. 
         [0018]    Before the thermal system is activated, the thermal element  500  is contained in the vessel  200  outside of the bladder  400  (which will be explained below), with the activation element  310  in a packet  300 . The packet  300  is constructed to allow the activation element  310  to be distributed through the vessel  200  once the packet  300  is ruptured. The packet  300  will be positioned between the bladder  400  and the wall  220 . This packet  300  should be of a shape that allows rupturing when the vessel  200  is squeezed, but not when the vessel  200  receives any other types of force. For example, the packet  300  should be durable to prevent accidental activation, but susceptible to fracturing upon localized pressure application. The packet  300  may be in any shape, including, but not limited to, cylindrical, rectangular prism, or other shapes. In alternative embodiments, the packet  300  may also be designed to be cylindrical and run a majority of the height of the vessel  200 , a toroid and encircle the bladder  400 , or in any other shape provided there is space in the vessel  200 . 
         [0019]    Additional elements may be added to the thermal system as needed. Elements may be added to slow or prolong the endothermic reaction. Elements may also be added to minimize any gaseous buildup caused by the reaction. Elements may also be added to cause the combination of activation element  310  and thermal element  500  to form a viscous material to prevent possible leakage. Any additional elements may be added to the system without deviating from the scope of this device  100 . 
         [0020]    In an additional exemplary embodiment, there may be multiple chambers of thermal element  500  and activation element  310 . This could allow a much cooler beverage  420 , or allow for the system to be used multiple times to make the cooling effect last longer. 
         [0021]    The next major element is a bladder  400 . The bladder  400  will hold the beverage  420  to be cooled by the thermal system. In the exemplary embodiment, the bladder  400  will hold less than the full volume of the vessel  200 . The amount of space taken up by the bladder  400  will be based on a function of the volume needed for the thermal system. It is understood that the less space taken up by the thermal system allows for more space to be occupied by the bladder  400 . In the exemplary embodiment, the bladder  400  will be surrounded by the thermal system on the sides and base, with the bladder aperture  410  coupled to the mouth  210  of the vessel  200 . 
         [0022]    In order to make the most use of the thermal system, the bladder  400  should allow for heat transfer. This may be accomplished by making the bladder  400  thin and/or out of thermally conductive materials. Thermally insulated materials may be used, but they may impede the use of the device  100 . 
       Assembly 
       [0023]    In an exemplary embodiment, the device  100  is assembled in steps. First, the thermal element  500  and the packet  300  are placed inside the vessel  200 . The packet  300  is placed in the vessel  200  in such a manner that it may be ruptured when the vessel  200  is squeezed by the user. The packet  300  is secured to the vessel  200  in a manner that will keep it stationary. In an exemplary embodiment, the packet  300  is oriented above the thermal element  500  to assist in the mixing of the activation element  310  and the thermal element  500  when the packet  300  is ruptured. 
         [0024]    The bladder  400  is then inserted and coupled to the mouth  210  of the vessel  200  by the bladder aperture  410 . This results in the thermal element  500  and packet  300  being confined to the vessel  200  as long as the bladder  400  is intact and in place. In the exemplary embodiment, the bladder  400  is suspended in the middle of the vessel  200 , with the thermal element  500  and the packet  300  on the sides surrounding the bladder  400 . This allows the most thermal element  500  to make contact with the bladder  400  when the device  100  is activated. 
         [0025]    The vessel  200  has a mouth  210  which is the only opening to the interior of the vessel  200 . As a consequence, the only way out of the vessel  200  is through the mouth  210  as well. The bladder  400  is coupled to the vessel  200  is such a manner that there is no way to enter the interior of the vessel  200  outside of the bladder  400 , but still allows the bladder  400  to be filled. As a result, the bladder  400  prevents any of the other contents of the vessel  200  from leaving via the mouth  210 , and any contents entering the vessel  200  must enter the bladder  400 . The resulting bladder  400  is filled with a beverage  420  and ready for use. 
       Operations 
       [0026]      FIG. 3  shows the system as it begins to activate. There are several ways that the thermal system may be activated. In an exemplary embodiment, the packet  300  may be placed against the wall  220  of the vessel  200 . If pressure is applied to the wall  220  of the vessel  200 , the packet  300  will rupture, freeing the activation element  310  to make contact with the thermal element  500 , causing an endothermic reaction generated by the resulting combined element  600  when the thermal element  500  and activation element  310  are mixed. The reaction will lower the temperature of the contents of the bladder  400 , thereby cooling the beverage  320 . The final temperature of the beverage  320  and the time it takes to reach that temperature will depend on the thermal element  500  and activation element  310  used. The final state of the device  100  with the thermal system completely activated is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0027]    In an alternate embodiment, the packet  300  may contain an activation element  310  of a distinct color or an activation agent  310  that causes a distinct color to appear when the combined element  600  is created. When the activation element  310  is released it now flows around the interior of the vessel  200 , causing a color change noticeable if the vessel  200  is transparent. This could be allowed by a transparent vessel  200 , semi-transparent vessel  200 , or an opaque vessel  200  with a transparent “window” to the interior allowing the user to see the color to determine if the device  100  has been activated. This would have the additional advantage of allowing a user to know the thermal system has already been spent. This may also be accomplished by any similar system that could cause a noticeable color change. 
         [0028]    In an alternate embodiment the vessel  200  may also have a thermometer strip on the outside, indicating the internal temperature of the vessel  200 . The indicator may be based on a color change or any other form of temperature activated mechanism. This will allow the user to know when the desired temperature is achieved. 
         [0029]    The previously disclosed embodiment was activated by squeezing the wall  220  of the vessel  200 . In an alternative embodiment, the packet  300  may be placed at the bottom of the vessel  200 . With a vessel  200  that also some longitudinal deformation, depressing the bottom of the vessel  200  may cause the packet  300  to rupture and start the thermal reaction. 
         [0030]    In a further embodiment, the packet  300  may be ruptured by used of some form of rupturing mechanism. The vessel  200  may have a rupturing mechanism that is used when a particular spot on the vessel  200  is depressed. Alternatively, there may be a rupturing mechanism that is linked to the mechanism that covers the mouth  210  of the vessel  200 . When the user removes the cover of the mouth  210  of the vessel  200 , a motion occurs that causes the rupturing mechanism to pierce the packet  300  to break and release the activation element  310  into the vessel  200  to react with the thermal element  500 . 
         [0031]    In a further alternate embodiment, the activation of the thermal system may cause the resulting combination element  600  to form a viscous substance that does not leak. If the vessel  200  were to be punctured, there would be no leak of the combined element  600 . 
       Disposal 
       [0032]    In an exemplary embodiment, the device  100  is made from biodegradable materials, and the thermal element  500  and activation elements  310  are non-toxic. As a result, then the entire device  100  can be disposed of safely. 
       Alternatives 
       [0033]    While these exemplary embodiments have been used to show how to cool a beverage, this could also be adapted to heat a beverage. For example, coffee beverages may be purchased with thermal system that allows a user to enjoy warm coffee as needed. 
         [0034]    In a further exemplary embodiment, this device  100  can be adapted for any bottle, can, or other disposable drink packaging. It can also be used to create other forms of beverage storage, such as containers for multiple drinks (such as boxes for  12  cans of a beverage) or disposable coffee containers used to transport coffee to be poured at a different location. 
         [0035]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered illustrative only of the principles of the device  100 . Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the method to the exact steps and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the method.