Abstract:
A sleeve or a wrapper is used to keep liquid contained in a container, such as a glass or bottle or can, cool. The sleeve contains materials that generate light when activated and chemicals that absorb heat when combined. The light is generated in an upper portion of the sleeve while heat is absorbed in a lower portion of the sleeve. The sleeve can be re-used by storing the sleeve in a refrigerator or freezer after the initial use which does not require such pre-cooling.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the general art of containers, and to the particular field of wrappers for liquid containers. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Many people consume liquid during various activities. Some of this liquid is for refreshment, and some of the liquid is necessary re-hydration during various activities. Often, consuming liquid is most enjoyable if the liquid is cold, or at least cooler than ambient temperature. 
     Accordingly, the art contains many examples of coolers and devices intended to maintain a liquid cool for extended periods of time even if that liquid is exposed to high temperature environments. 
     Some of these examples include wrappers or sleeves that are cooled in a refrigerator or freezer and then wrapped around a container. These sleeves work well, but have several drawbacks. As soon as the sleeve is removed from a freezer or from a refrigerator, it begins to warm up to ambient conditions. Thus, even if the sleeve is not immediately needed, its cooling ability immediately begins to degrade. Thus, some of the sleeve effectiveness is lost before it may actually be needed. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a sleeve or a wrap that is used to cool liquid in a container that will not begin to function until required. 
     Still further, if a sleeve must be chilled, pre-planning is required. That is, if someone wants to use a sleeve or a wrap to chill his or her drink, that person must plan ahead and place such a sleeve or wrap in a refrigerator or freezer so the sleeve or wrap is ready when desired. Such pre-planning may not always occur or be convenient. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a sleeve or a wrap that is used to cool liquid in a container that does not have to be pre-chilled prior to use. 
     Still further, such devices are often used when drinks are being consumed by a multiplicity of different people, such as at a party or the like. In such cases, people often leave their drink on a table or the like and forget it. If a plurality of people leave their drinks on a table, the drinks often become confused with each other. That is, one person does not know which is his or her drink. This generally results in a person simply getting a new drink. This can be wasteful and inconvenient. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a sleeve or a wrap that is used to cool liquid in a container that can be used to identify a particular drink and distinguish that drink from others. 
     To be most economical, a device such as a container wrapper should be re-usable. In this manner, the cost per use for the device will be reduced and will make the device attractive as well as versatile. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a sleeve or a wrap that is used to cool liquid in a container that can be re-used. 
     PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a main object of the present invention to provide a sleeve or wrapper for beverage containers for liquid that is versatile and cost effective. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a sleeve or a wrap, that is used to cool liquid in a container, that will not begin to function until required. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a sleeve or a wrap, that is used to cool liquid in a container, that does not have to be pre-chilled prior to use. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a sleeve or a wrap, that is used to cool liquid in a container, that can be used to identify a particular drink and distinguish that drink from others. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a sleeve or a wrap, that is used to cool liquid in a container, that can be re-used. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These, and other, objects are achieved by a wrapper for a liquid container which comprises a body which is shaped and sized to hold a liquid container, such as a drink glass or a can or a bottle therein and which includes a bottom on which the bottom of the liquid container will rest when the wrapper is in use. An upper portion of the body has substances stored therein that are activated to produce light when combined. Substances are stored in a lower portion of the body that absorb heat when combined. The upper portion contains one or more first frangible capsules containing a first substance that produces light when mixed with the second substance surrounding the one or more first frangible capsules. Similarly, the lower portion contains one or more second frangible capsules containing a third substance that causes an endothermic reaction when mixed with the fourth substance surrounding the one or more second frangible capsules. 
     The sleeve or wrap embodying the present invention can thus be activated when needed so no pre-planning is required and can also be reused so it is economical. The sleeve or wrap also can be used to distinguish one drink from another as well as to display logos or other advertising indicia or to simply produce a pleasing aesthetic effect, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the device. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sleeve for a container embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the sleeve for a container taken in cross-section along line  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective, split view of the sleeve for a container showing a first optional insulating layer, a second optional insulating layer, and capsules containing various substances for carrying out the functions of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a wrapper or sleeve  10  for use with a liquid container (not shown), such as a drink glass, a bottle, or a can. Sleeve  10  comprises a cylindrical body  12  which is open at one end to slidably receive the liquid container. Body  12  is encased in a covering mechanism  13  having an inner surface  14  and an outer surface  16 . The covering mechanism  13  is constructed of translucent or transparent material, which can be plastic, or other suitable material. A thickness dimension  17  extends between the inner surface  14  and the outer surface  16 . Body  12  includes a first end  18 , a second end  20 , and an axial dimension  22 , which extends between the first end  18  and the second end  20 . A bottom  24  is located at the second end  20  and is constructed of plastic, or other suitable material, to support a liquid container associated with the sleeve  10 . 
     An upper portion  26  of the body  12  is located adjacent to the first end  18  of the body  12  and extends from adjacent to and spaced from the first end  18  in the direction of the axial dimension  22  of the body  12  toward the second end  20  of the body  12 . The upper portion  26  has a first boundary  28  adjacent to the first end  18  and a second boundary  30  spaced apart from the first boundary  28  in the direction of the axial dimension  22  of the body  12 . The inner surface of the upper portion  26  of the body  12  may be covered by a first optional insulating layer  32 , as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     One or more first frangible capsules  34  is embedded in only the upper portion  26  of the body  12 . Each first frangible capsule  34  includes a frangible wall  36 . Each first frangible capsule  34  is filled with a first substance  38 . A second substance  40  surrounds the first frangible capsule  34  and extends throughout the upper portion  26  of the body  12 . The first substance  38  and the second substance  40  are selected such that a chemiluminescent, or light-generating, reaction is produced when the first substance  38  and second substance  40  come in contact with each other, such as when the sleeve  10  is squeezed such that the frangible wall  36  of the one or more first frangible capsules  34  is ruptured. For example, the first substance  38  contained in the one or more first frangible capsules  34  may comprise hydrogen peroxide dissolved in phthalic ester, whereas the second substance  40  surrounding the one or more first frangible capsules  34  and extending throughout the upper portion  26  of the body  12  may comprise phenyl oxalate ester and fluorescent dye. It is to be understood that the first substance  38  and second substance  40  may comprise other suitable substances, the combination of which produces a light-generating reaction when activated as described herein. 
     Once the chemiluminescent reaction begins, the upper portion  26  of the sleeve  10  glows. Any printed material, such as logos or indicia  42 , or the like, on or in the upper portion  26  of the body  12 , as indicated in FIG. 3, will be visible. If either the chemiluminescent reaction produces a colored light or the covering mechanism  13  is constructed of colored material, or both, then the effect can be varied. A person can thus easily identify his or her drink from among a plurality of drinks by the color or light generated by the chemiluminescent reaction. The translucency or transparency material of the covering mechanism  13  will enhance this effect. 
     A lower portion  46  of the body  12  is located adjacent to the second end  20  of the body  12  and extends from adjacent to and spaced from the second end  20  in the direction of the axial dimension  22  of the body  12  toward the first end  18  of the body  12 . The lower portion  46  has a third boundary  48  adjacent to the second end  20  and a fourth boundary  50  spaced apart from the first boundary  40  in the direction of the axial dimension  22  of the body  12 . If desired, lower portion  46  of the body  12  may be covered by a second optional insulating layer  52 , as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     One or more second frangible capsules  60  is embedded in only the lower portion  46  of the body  12 . Each second frangible capsule  60  includes a frangible wall  62 . Each second frangible capsule  60  is filled with a third substance  64 . A fourth substance  66  surrounds the one or more second frangible capsules  60  and extends throughout the lower portion  46  of the body  12 . The third substance  64  and the fourth substance  66  are selected such that an endothermic, or heat-absorbing, reaction occurs when the third substance  64  and fourth substance  66  come in contact with each other, such as when the sleeve  10  is squeezed such that the wall  62  of the one or more second frangible capsules  60  is ruptured. For example, the third substance  64  contained in the one or more second frangible capsules  60  may comprise water, whereas the fourth substance  66  surrounding the one or more second frangible capsules  60  and extending throughout the lower portion  46  of the body  12  may comprise ammonium nitrate. It is to be understood that the third substance  64  and fourth substance  66  may comprise other suitable substances, the combination of which produces an endothermic, or heat-absorbing, reaction. 
     The frangible wall  62  of the second frangible capsule  60  is ruptured by squeezing the body  12  of the sleeve  10 . Once the third substance  64  and the fourth substance  66  are combined by rupturing the wall  62 , not only do these substances  64 ,  66  produce an endothermic, heat-absorbing reaction, the substances  64 ,  66  produce a substance that can be subsequently frozen once the body  12  reaches ambient temperature. Thus, the sleeve  10  can be re-used after the initial use by simply placing the sleeve  10  in a cool location, such as a freezer or the like. In other words, the initial use of the sleeve  10  need not be pre-planned. 
     It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.