Abstract:
A thermally conductive polymeric drinking surface for a beverage container is provided. The thermally conductive polymeric drinking surface may be an insert for a bottle or other covering configured to be formed around the mouth of a drinking container, such as a cup. The high thermal conductivity of the drinking surface contributes to the transfer of the temperature of the contents of the container to the mouth or lips of the consumer by reducing the time and energy consumption of the chilling processes being applied via the beverage or an external cooling mechanism.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to containers, and more particularly relates to a container for cold beverages, having a thermally conductive drinking surface that reduces the temperature gradient between the beverage and the drinking surface that comes into contact with the consumer&#39;s lips or mouth providing a cold feel to the lips or mouth similar to coldness of beverage. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Plastic bottles, glass bottles, aluminum cans and cups made from various materials ranging from paper to plastic to metal, are commonly used as beverage containers. These containers come in a variety of shapes, sizes and configurations. For cold beverages, one advantage of metal based containers, such as aluminum cans, is that the aluminum surface of the can provides the drinker with a cool drinking surface that provides the drinker&#39;s lips or mouth with the cold feeling or sensation of a cold beverage contained therein. What is therefore desired is an improved drinking surface for non-metallic containers that provides a cold drinking sensation similar to that of an aluminum can. It is also desired to provide a container having a drinking surface that has a temperature similar to that of the beverage inside the container to provide the consumer with a cool refreshing drinking sensation when the drinking surface comes into contact with the consumer&#39;s lips or mouth, thereby enhancing the overall beverage drinking experience of the consumer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a thermally conductive polymeric drinking surface for a beverage container. The container may be a bottle, cup or other suitable container. The thermally conductive polymeric drinking surface may be an insert for a bottle or a covering configured to be formed over the mouth of a container. 
     A beverage container according to the invention is characterized by a surface, particularly, a thermally conductive polymeric surface member, that provides a cold temperature similar to that of the cold beverage in the container to the mouth or lips of the consumer. This may be achieved by a container made of a material that has high thermal conductivity and provides a low temperature gradient to reduce the time and energy of the chilling processes being applied to the material via the beverage or an external cooling mechanism, such as a refrigerator or ice bath. 
     In addition, the beverage container has an advantage over conventional non-metallic containers by providing a cold drinking surface similar to that of an aluminum can. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a container in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a container showing a drinking surface in accordance with the invention detached from the container. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a container showing a drinking surface insert in accordance with the invention detached from the container. 
         FIG. 3A  is an expanded partial cross-sectional view taken through the opening of a the drinking surface insert shown in  FIG. 3   
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a container in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4A  is a cross-sectional of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Thermally conductive polymer based materials, particularly polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene based materials have been found to be sufficiently thermally conductive and have the appropriate food and beverage contact requirements that allow them to be used in direct contact with food and beverages, including consumable water. 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail, in which like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views respectively.  FIGS. 1-2  are perspective views, of a container having a cooling surface member in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. As shown, the container may be a bottle  100 , which includes a base  120 , a grip portion  130 , a label portion  140 , a neck  150  and a cooling surface member  170  having a surface opening  160  formed therein. In one embodiment of the invention, shown in  FIG. 3 , the cooling surface member  170  is an insert having an attached cooling anchor section  172  for insertion into an opening  112  in the mouth  112  of bottle and an external section of the cooling surface member  170 ′ extending away from cooling anchor section  172  and over the mouth  112  of the bottle for contact with a consumer&#39;s lips or mouth. 
     The cooling surface member  170  may be formed from any suitable thermally conductive thermoplastic material. Preferably, the thermally conductive thermoplastic material reduces the temperature gradient between the beverage and the cooling surface member to 3 degrees or less. A preferred thermally conductive thermoplastic material has high thermal conductive properties. A preferred modified resin for forming the thermoplastic material may comprises a base polymer of polypropylene, polyester or polyamide (Nylon). It should be understood that the cooling surface member  170  may be formed by any suitable means including molding from a phase changing material, a polymeric material controlled by endothermic reactions, or a plastic or polymeric material that is designed to absorb and/or retain cold temperatures. Preferred thermally conductive thermoplastic materials can be molded into various shapes via conventional injection molding techniques. However, any suitable thermoplastic processing technique may be used, including, but not limited to, extrusion. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cooling surface member  170  is a thermally conductive thermoplastic material having a material thermal conductivity about 1 W/mK to about 1500 W/mK (Watts per meter Kelvin), preferably of from about 1 W/mK to about 200 W/mK, and more preferably of from about 2 W/mK to about 20 W/mK. The preferred thermal diffusivity is from about 0.05 cm 2 /sec to about 0.12 cm 2 /sec, and the preferred density is from about 1.24 g/cc-1.56 g/cc. Accordingly, in one embodiment of the invention, a preferred thermally conductive thermoplastic material would be engineered to provide a material thermal conductivity of from about 2 W/mK to about 20 W/mK (Watts per meter Kelvin) a thermal diffusivity of from about 0.05 cm2/sec to about 0.12 cm2/sec and a density of from about 1.24 g/cc-1.56 g/cc. A preferred thermally conductive thermoplastic material has a hardness range from Shore A 40 to Shore D 80. 
     Now referring again to  FIGS. 1-2 , the bottle  100  may be made out of any suitable material. For example, the bottle may be plastic or glass. In one embodiment the bottle is plastic and formed from a polymer based thermoplastic material. Conventional plastic has a material thermal conductivity of about 0.2 W/mK. A preferred thermoplastic material is PET (polyethylene terephthalate). Other suitable thermoplastic materials include PLA (polylactic acid), polypropylene, bio-based polymeric materials or combinations thereof. In another embodiment the bottle  100  may be a made from silica or other glass forming material. 
     The neck portion  150  also may be of any suitable design. The neck portion  150  may be tapered or have other desired designs or shapes. Preferably, the neck  150  terminates at one end to form the mouth  112  of the bottle  100 . The cooling surface member  170  having a cooling surface opening  160  formed therein is connected to cover the mouth  112  of the bottle  100  and allow fluid communication between the surface opening  160  and the mouth  112  of the bottle. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the cooling surface member  170  is annular in shape and preferably has a substantially ringed shape with a void or opening in the center, which forms the cooling surface opening  160 . However, it should be understood that in accordance with the invention, a cooling surface member may be any desirable shape that can provide an opening therein and be configured to conform to cover a mouth of a bottle or container while allowing fluid communication between said opening and the mouth of the bottle. As such, a cooling surface opening in accordance with the invention also may be of any suitable design or shape. 
     The cooling surface member  170  may be attached to the neck  150  of the bottle  100  by any suitable means. As shown in  FIG. 3 . the cooling surface member  170  is preferably an insert that is fabricated to have a first section for providing an external cooling surface  170 ′ covering the mouth  112  of the bottle and providing a drinking surface for contact with a consumer&#39;s mouth or lips; and a second section for providing a cooling anchor section  172  for insertion into the mouth and neck  150  of the bottle  112 .  FIG. 3A  shows an expanded view of an insertable cooling surface member  170 , having an external cooling surface  170 ′ for covering the mouth  112  of the bottle  100 , a cooling anchor section  172 ′ and the cooling surface opening  160 ′ formed therein. 
     In one embodiment, the cooling anchor section  172  is formed to have an interference fit. In another embodiment, the cooling surface member  170  is attached to a plastic container by crimping the cooling surface member over the top of a flange that can be designed in the container. In yet another embodiment, the cooling surface member  170  may be attached to the neck  150  of a container by integrally forming the cooling surface member  170  to the neck  150  by adhesion or fusion methods. In the case of plastic bottles, the cooling surface member  170  may also include a number of threads (not shown) such that a cap may be positioned thereon so as to close the bottle  100 . 
     In yet another embodiment of the invention, the cooling surface member  170  may be attached to the neck via a designed interference fit or barbs used to create an interference and anchor the cooling surface member  170  inside the neck  150  of a glass bottle. In yet another embodiment, the cooling surface member  170  can fit on a glass bottle, via a designed interference fit by forming the cooling surface member  170  from a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) to create a compression fit and seal. 
     Preferably, the cooling surface member  170  is fabricated separately from the bottle  100  and is inserted into the neck  150  either before or after filling the bottle  100  with the desired beverage. As described previously, the cooling surface member  170  may fit by a designed interference or a simple crimp over the top of a flange designed on a container. However, it is to be understood that various methods of incorporating the cooling surface member into the neck of a bottle or container may be used and still be within the scope of this invention. 
     The cooling surface member  170  may also be designed to maximize the surface area that is in contact with the beverage during drinking, thereby enhancing its ability to reduce the temperature gradient between the beverage and the surface thereby transmitting a colder temperature to the cooling surface opening  160 . Preferably, the surface area of the cooling anchor section  172  of a cooling surface member  170  would generally not be visible to the consumer from the exterior of the bottle  100 , but would sit inside the neck  150  of the bottle  100 . However, for design purposes it is to be understood that the cooling anchor section  172  may be designed to be visible. For example, the cooling anchor section  172  can be formed with threads for attaching a closure, in which case the cooling anchor section  172  would be visible. It should be understood that closures and finishes for the neck  150  can be adjusted to compensate for the height of the neck  150  of the bottle  100  to maintain an effective seal. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cooling surface member  170  is molded in a thermally conductive polymer, and after molding, the component is inserted into the neck  150  of a container or bottle  100 . 
       FIGS. 4 and 4A  show a perspective view and a cross-sectional view respectively, of a container that is preferably a cup  200 . The cup may be disposable or non-disposable and accordingly, may be formed of any suitable material, including, but not limited to, polymeric materials, such as polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) based polyesters and polystyrenes; paper based materials; and non-disposable materials, such as silica, ceramic, glass or the like. 
     Referring now again to  FIGS. 4 and 4A , there is shown a container, having the shape of a cup  200 . The cup  200  has a frusto-conical wall  210 , an opening  260  at the top and a base  220  to form the bottom of the cup. A cooling surface member  270  formed of a thermally conductive thermoplastic material has an anchor section  272  configured to adhere to an upper section of the container  200  and extend to cover at least a portion of the external surface of the mouth of the cup  200 . As shown in  FIG. 4A  the mouth  212  of the cup may be curled or curved. The cooling surface member  270  is fixedly attached to the cup such that an anchor section  272 ′ fits inside the container and a flange portion extending away from the anchor section  272 ′ is formed to extend outside of the container and form a cover surface  270 ′ at least partially around the mouth surface  212  of the cup  200 . 
     The cooling surface member  170  or  270  of the invention forms a new, enhanced drinking surface capable of providing a drinking surface having a temperature similar to that of the beverage that comes into contact with it or the temperature provided by a cooling device. While not wishing to be held to one theory, in practice, it is believed that the cold temperature of the beverage inside of a container having a cooling surface member  170  or  270  of the invention formed thereon, provides thermal energy to the thermally conductive thermoplastic material of the cooling surface member  170  or  270  and lowers the temperature of the cooling surface member  170  or  270  to a temperature closer to that of the beverage which in comparison is lower than the temperature of the container. 
     Alternatively, cold temperature provided by equipment, such as a refrigerator, vending machine, or ice, may also lower the temperature of the cooling surface member  170  or  270 . A cold beverage, such as those dispensed from a vending machine or a refrigerator, is able to lower the temperature of the cooling surface member  170  or  270  to below the temperature of the container and thus when the cooling surface member  170  or  270  is in contact with the consumer&#39;s lips or mouths, the consumer is provided with a cold and refreshing experience that is not be experienced by contact with the surface of the container. 
     Each time a consumer drinks from the bottle, the cooling surface member  170  or  270  is recharged or re-cooled via the cold beverage, which enables the consumer to continue receiving the benefit of a cool drinking surface. The design of this cooling surface member  170  or  270  also provides a comfort edge for the consumer to drink from and is an enhancement over current conventional plastic bottles that have sharper edges and threads protruding in this area. 
     It should be apparent that the foregoing relates only to the preferred embodiments of the present application and that numerous changes and modifications may be made herein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the general sprit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims and equivalents thereof.