Patent Publication Number: US-6655543-B2

Title: Highly adaptable thermal insulator for adapting to an unprecedented range of sizes and shapes of beverage containers

Description:
This patent application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/262,456, filed Jan. 18, 2001. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates in general to beverage insulators, and in particular to a highly conformable beverage container insulator that is capable of readily and accurately adapting to containers over an unprecedented range of container sizes. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Conventional beverage container insulators, commonly referred to as “koozies,” are used to thermally insulate a hot or cold beverage and allow a user to comfortably grasp the container regardless of the temperature of the beverage and container. Such insulators are well known in the art. A few examples of conventional insulators are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,381,922, 5,653,124, and 4,577,474. Although each of these prior art provide good beverage insulation, they are specifically designed to fit beverage containers of a very limited size and shape and, thus, are not adaptable for different sized containers. 
     A few attempts have been made to overcome the adaptability limitations of these conventional insulators. For example, French Patent No. 2633-258-A, discloses an insulator that is very similar to the &#39;922 patent, except that it is formed from a material that is “sufficiently elastic to allow it to adapt to containers of different sizes.” Although this French design probably has a very limited range of adaptability, it consists “(1) of a thick thermal insulating material, and a base (2) of the same material.” Such thick material may be flexible, but is unable to adapt to the shapes and sizes of a wide range of containers. Moreover, the base is sealed to the lower end of the body and greatly reduces the ability of the insulator to adapt at its lower end. 
     Another prior art insulator design is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,895. This insulator is a complicated mechanism comprising an outer shell of resilient polymer, a harness for wrapping around a beverage, and an exterior cloth jacket which is sewn to the harness. In addition, the jacket is provided with a separate closure panel and carrying straps. Furthermore, the closure panel is provided with a stiff fabric retaining shoulder, an apron, and a drawstring at its upper end. Although this design is workable, it is unnecessarily complicated. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,366 discloses a beverage container carrier formed with a sleeve-like casing and a flexible line formed in a loop extending through the casing. This design also has a number of features that significantly limit its adaptability to beverage containers of varying size. This prior art insulator may be saddle-shaped (FIGS.  1 - 2 ), or Coke® bottle shaped (FIGS.  3 - 4 ). The stiff ribbing along the upper convoluted edge of the first embodiment, and the very narrowly tapered neck of the second embodiment greatly limit the ability of insulator to adapt to the upper ends of non-conforming bottles. Moreover, each embodiment (and every other prior art insulator) has a closed lower end (FIG. 6) for supporting the bottom of a container, and is interlaced with a cord  12  extending through a large number of apertures in the body. Thus, a highly conformable beverage container insulator that is capable of readily and accurately adapting to containers over an unprecedented range of container sizes would be desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One embodiment of a highly adaptable beverage container insulator is specifically designed for use with beverage containers having a fluid capacity of approximately one quart to 1.5 liters. Other embodiments of the insulator of the present invention are designed for smaller and larger size ranges of beverage containers. The insulator is tubular with open ends that are formed from two elastic panels. Each panel has straight top and bottom edges with elastic hems. The side edges of each panel are slightly curved to maintain the properties and proper appearance of the insulator. To form the insulator, two of the panels are joined along their side edges to form a tube. 
     The insulator is placed around a beverage container to better insulate the container and maintain the temperature of the beverage located therein. The insulator accommodates significant variation in the size and shape of beverage containers. For example, a smaller version of the insulator is readily adaptable to conform to both a standard twelve ounce soda can and to a ten ounce juice bottle. The panel construction of the insulator allows it to laid flat for easy stowage, and multiple insulators may be stored within a single insulator for better bulk management. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in view of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     So that the manner in which the features, advantages and objects of the invention, as well as others which will become apparent, are attained and can be understood in more detail, more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the appended drawings, which drawings form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only a preferred embodiment of the invention and is therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope as the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of a beverage insulator constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of one of the panels of the beverage insulator of FIG. 1 prior to assembly. 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a beverage insulator constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of one of the panels used to form the beverage insulator of FIG. 3 prior to assembly. 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a third embodiment of a beverage insulator constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of one of the panels used to form the beverage insulator of FIG. 5 prior to assembly. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the beverage insulator of FIG. 5 mounted to a container having a short, wide profile. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates the beverage insulator of FIG. 5 mounted to a container having a tall, thin profile. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a reverse surface of the beverage insulator of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the beverage insulator of FIG. 5 in a stowed position. 
     FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a variety of beverage containers suitable for use with the insulator of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 12 is an isometric view of the beverage containers of FIG. 11 each of which is covered with an insulator of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a large 46 oz. beverage container along side the insulator of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 14 is an isometric view of the 46 oz. beverage container of FIG. 13 covered by the insulator of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 15 is an isometric view of a variety of beverage containers suitable for use with the insulator of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 16 is an isometric view of the beverage containers of FIG. 15 each of which is covered with an insulator of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 17 is an isometric view of a variety of beverage containers suitable for use with the insulator of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 18 is an isometric view of the beverage containers of FIG. 17 each of which is covered with an insulator of FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the present invention is shown as beverage container insulator  11 . Insulator  11  is an improved beverage insulation wrap, which, in conventional terminology, is commonly referred to as a “koozie.” This first embodiment is currently the largest of three sizes of the present invention, and is specifically designed for use with various sized beverage containers having a fluid capacity of approximately one quart to 1.5 liters. For example, comparing FIGS. 11-14, the same insulator  11  may be used interchangeably on quart-size (32 oz.) juice bottles, much larger 46 oz. juice jugs, and almost anything else in between including but not limited to bottle shapes such as square bottles, square bottles with round tops, tall round bottles with narrow, medium, or full necks, short round bottles, and tall narrow bottles. Thus, insulator  11  readily fits, conforms, and contours to each of these beverage containers. 
     Insulator  11  has a generally tubular shape with open, circular, upper and lower ends. Ideally, insulator  11  has no apertures other than its two open ends and, thus, it has no bottom support for a container. Insulator  11  is formed from a plurality (preferably two) of the flat, generally rectangular panels  13  shown in FIG.  2 . In the preferred embodiment, each panel  13  comprises an elastic neoprene material that is approximately 5 to 6.5 mm thick. As will be described in greater detail below, insulator  11  is reversible (see FIG. 9) since each surface  23 ,  25  (FIG. 1) of each panel  13  is covered with a colored or graphically illustrated elastic sheet that is bonded or otherwise permanently joined to the neoprene substrate of panel  13 . 
     In the first embodiment of the present invention, each panel  13  has substantially straight, horizontal top and bottom edges  15 ,  17 , respectively. Each edge  15 ,  17  measures approximately 12.75 cm in width  20  between their respective ends. During use of insulator  11 , panels  13  will have an upright or “vertical orientation,” wherein top and bottom edges  15 ,  17  are oriented “horizontally” at the top and bottom, respectively, of insulator  11 . In this disclosure, the term “horizontal” refers to a direction that is substantially perpendicular to “vertical.” Top and bottom edges  15 ,  17  are parallel and define a substantially consistent, overall vertical dimension or height  21  therebetween for panel  13  of approximately 16.75 cm. 
     Each edge  15 ,  17  is provided with a horizontal, circumscribing, elastic band or hem  19  that has a vertical dimension of approximately 9 mm. In the version shown, hems  19  are formed from an elastic material, but are preferably black in color regardless of the color or illustration emblazoned on the two opposite surfaces  23 ,  25  of panel  13 . Ideally, hem  19  is extends contiguously around both panels  13  (after assembly) with, at most, a single seam that is concealed by the pull tab loop adjacent to and extending from top edge  15 . 
     Each panel  13  also has a pair of side edges  31 ,  33  that extend between top and bottom edges  15 ,  17 . In the version shown, side edges  31 ,  33  are slightly curved or arcuate (ideally, symmetrically convex) and, thus, are not quite parallel to each other. The curvature is due to the maximum width  35  of panel  13  in the horizontal direction being approximately 12.25 cm, as measured between the vertical midpoints of side edges  31 ,  33 . Because the width of top and bottom edges  15 ,  17  is only 11.75 cm, the side edges  31 ,  33  of panel  13  must be skewed to make up the difference of 0.50 cm. The difference in these two horizontal dimensions is an important parameter for maintaining the properties and proper appearance of insulator  11 . 
     To form insulator  11 , two of the panels  13  are bonded and sewn together along their respective side edges  31 ,  33  to form a generally cylindrical shape (FIG.  1 ). Insulator  11  has two open ends: one defined by top edge  15 , and one defined by bottom edge  17 . The dimensions of panels  13  give insulator  11  a slightly smaller diameter its top and bottom edges  15 ,  17  than its cylindrical body in between. In addition, the extra material at hems  19  make top and bottom edges  15 ,  17  slightly less elastic than the remaining unencumbered neoprene of panels  13 . This construction gives insulator  11  the unique ability to conform to both the vertical and horizontal dimensions of a wide range of sizes of beverage containers. Moreover, top and/or bottom edges  15 ,  17  may be rolled down and up, respectively (see right side of FIG.  10 ), to further customize the vertical dimension of insulator  11 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, a second embodiment of the present invention is shown as beverage container insulator  41 . Insulator  41  is virtually identical to insulator  11  in form and function, except that insulator  41  is slightly smaller in size and specifically designed for use with beverage containers having a fluid capacity of approximately 500 to 750 ml. For example, comparing FIGS. 15 and 16, the same insulator  41  may be used interchangeably on bottle shapes such as odd shape bottles, tall round bottles with full, medium, or narrow necks, short round bottles, and tall narrow bottles. Thus, insulator  41  readily fits and contours to each of these beverage containers. 
     Insulator  41  is also ideally formed from two (or more) of the panels  43  (FIG. 4) of neoprene, each having two reversible surfaces  53 ,  55 . Each panel  43  also has horizontal top and bottom edges  45 ,  47 , respectively, measuring approximately 10 cm in width  50 . Top and bottom edges  45 ,  47  have a vertical dimension  51  of approximately 15 cm. Each edge  15 ,  17  is provided with an elastic hem  49  having a vertical dimension of approximately 9 mm. 
     The curved side edges  61 ,  63  of panel  43  extend between top and bottom edges  45 ,  47 . Side edges  61 ,  63  define a maximum width  65  in the horizontal direction of approximately 10.375 cm between their vertical midpoints. The narrow width of top and bottom edges  45 ,  47  skews side edges  61 ,  63  to make up the difference of 0.375 cm. Again, the difference in these two horizontal dimensions is an important parameter for maintaining the properties and proper appearance of insulator  41 . Insulator  41  is formed by sewing two panels  43  together along their side edges  61 ,  63  (FIG.  3 ). The smaller diameters of top and bottom edges  45 ,  47 , and the extra material at hems  49 , give insulator  41  the unique ability to conform to both the vertical and horizontal dimensions of a beverage container. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, a third embodiment of the present invention is shown as beverage container insulator  71 . Insulator  71  is the smallest embodiment and designed for use with a variety of smaller beverage containers having a fluid capacity of approximately 10 to 12 oz. For example, by comparing FIGS. 17 and 18, it is readily apparent that the same insulator  71  may be used interchangeably on bottle shapes such as such as common juice bottles, common carbonated beverage cans, and very round juice bottles. Thus, insulator  71  readily fits and conforms to each of these beverage containers. 
     Insulator  71  comprises two panels  73  (FIG.  6 ), each having two reversible surfaces  83 ,  85 , and horizontal top and bottom edges  75 ,  77 , measuring approximately 10.0 cm in width  80 . Likewise, top and bottom edges  75 ,  77  have a vertical dimension  81  of approximately 10.0 cm. Each edge  15 ,  17  is provided with an elastic hem  79  having a vertical dimension of approximately 9 mm. 
     The curved side edges  91 ,  93  of panel  73  define a maximum width  95  in the horizontal direction of approximately 10.375 cm between their vertical midpoints. The narrow width of top and bottom edges  75 ,  77  skews side edges  91 ,  93  to make up the difference of 0.375 cm. Once again, the difference in these two horizontal dimensions is important for the proper implementation of insulator  71 . Insulator  71  is formed by sewing two or more panels  73  together along side edges  91 ,  93  (FIG.  5 ). The smaller diameters of top and bottom edges  75 ,  77  and hems  79  give insulator  71  the ability to conform to both the vertical and horizontal dimensions of a beverage container. 
     In operation, one of the insulators are placed around a beverage container to better insulate the container and maintain the temperature of the beverage located therein. Each of the three embodiments of the present invention may be used to accommodate significant variation in the size and shape of beverage containers. For example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the smallest embodiment of insulator  71  is readily adaptable to conform to both a standard twelve fluid ounce can  97 , such as those used for soft drinks or beer, and to a ten fluid ounce bottle  99 , such as those used for juices. Even though can  97  is relatively shorter and wider than bottle  99 , which is relatively taller and narrower (e.g., their respective vertical and horizontal dimensions differ significantly), the same insulator  71  conforms to both shapes while maintaining an attractive, streamlined appearance. In particular, the upper edge  75  of insulator  71  is able to expand to the large diameter at the upper end of can  97 , as well as the very narrow neck at the upper end of bottle  99 . An optional pull tab loop provided at the upper end of the insulators assists in the removal of the insulator from the container by pulling one from the other. 
     Each of the insulators of the present invention are also reversible. For example, the outer surfaces of the insulators shown in FIGS. 1,  3 ,  5 ,  7 , and  8  are illustrated with a single solid color, while their inner surface may have a completely different color or illustration, as shown in FIG.  9 . The insulators are simply turned inside out to display their inner surfaces on the exterior of a beverage container. Finally, as shown on the left side of FIG. 10, since each insulator is formed from two flat panels, they are readily collapsed into a flat state along the two vertical, opposed seams of their side edges. 
     The present invention has several advantages including the ability to prevent condensation on the exterior of a chilled beverage. The panel construction of the beverage thermal insulator described above allows it to laid flat for easy storage with minimal space requirements. In addition, multiple insulators may be stored within a single insulator for better bulk management. The insulator fits almost every handheld beverage dispenser or container for the size range it was designed to accommodate. The ability of the insulator to contour to the actual shape of the container also provides the user with a better grip. Design features of the insulator allow it to stretch vertically without compromising fit on the diameter or horizontal dimension of the container. The insulator is also easily mounted to and removed from containers. Unlike prior art designs, the streamlined but thermally efficient design of the present insulator does not prevent a covered container from being placed in conventionally-sized cup holder. In addition, the lower edge of the insulator may be rolled up, if necessary, to adjust a vertical dimension of the tube for a better fit on the container. 
     Symmetry of design allows the insulator to be reversible, giving the user two color and/or graphic design choices to display on the exterior of his or her container. Moreover, the construction of the insulator allows four panels (two sides to each of the two panels) for printing of licensed and/or business promotional art, instead of the one or two panels available with prior art designs. Finally, the ability of insulators constructed in accordance with the present invention to fit on so many types and sizes of containers, convenience of use and storage, and attractive appearance, appeals to a broader range of beverage consumers. 
     While the invention has been shown or described in only some of its forms, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible to various changes without departing from the scope of the invention.