Patent Publication Number: US-2005126209-A1

Title: Beverage bottle cooling method and apparatus with assembly for holding ice and water

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims priority from co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/382,526, filed on Mar. 7, 2003, which claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/298,613, filed on Nov. 19, 2002, which claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/066,656, filed on Feb. 6, 2002, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,621 on Jul. 8, 2003, which claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/983,107, filed on Oct. 23, 2001, now abandoned. This application also claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/528,921, filed on Dec. 11, 2003. Each of the above applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to the field of beverage coolers, and in particular, to a beverage cooling method and apparatus with an assembly for holding ice and water.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Commercial beverages, such as soda, juice, fruit drinks, sports drinks, water, etc., are often sold in bottles made of PET. A typical beverage aisle of a grocery store or refrigerator of a convenience store is often full of a wide variety of bottled beverage products that come in all shapes and sizes. While most aluminum cans are sold in 12 ounce sizes, most PET bottles are sold in larger sizes, ranging from ½ liter to 3 liters, including the popular 20 ounce, 64 ounce and 2 liter sizes.  
      The development of larger PET bottle sizes has meant that the consumer receives more beverage per container. But with more beverage in each container, additional cooling is needed to keep the beverage cool, i.e., for a longer period of time. For example, when there is 20 ounces in a bottle, it will take longer to finish the beverage, or more beverage will be left over. In either case, when the weather is warm, or on a hot sunny day, exposure to high temperatures can result in the beverage becoming warmer quickly, without any means of keeping the beverage cold. Two liter and other larger sizes are susceptible to the same results, such as during an outdoor picnic, or other function, where no refrigerator is available to keep the beverage cold.  
      In the past, resort has been made to using ice chests, but there are disadvantages to doing so. For example, because PET bottles are often large, larger ice chests are typically needed, in which case they can be cumbersome to use. Moreover, it is burdensome to use an ice chest if only a single serving bottle needs to be kept cold. Also, when two liter or other larger bottle sizes are involved, it is often impractical to keep them in ice chests while the beverage is being served.  
      Many individuals choose to pour beverages into other containers, such as cups, mugs, sports bottles, thermal jugs and bottles, etc., with ice directly in the beverage to keep it cold. The disadvantage of this, however, is that as ice melts, the beverage can become diluted. Also, because ice is often made with unfiltered tap water, impurities can be introduced into the beverage. Carbonation can also dissipate quickly. The containers also have to be washed after each use.  
      Archaic attempts have been made in the past, such as in the days when refrigerators were not available. For example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 81,814; 592,781 and 303,815, wine bottle coolers, such as with diaphragms and springs to hold bottles in place are shown, but these designs were not compact, not easy to manufacture, nor suitable for bottles with twist off lids, since the bottles were free to rotate. In later years, as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,998,072, 4,281,520, 5,555,746 and 5,904,267, containers with various compartments, sleeves and packs filled with refrigerants were developed, but these required the refrigerant to be frozen and refrozen after each use, and therefore, were not convenient to use. Various types of insulated containers were also developed, which helped to maintain the temperature of the beverage, with no ability to make the beverage any colder.  
      What is needed, therefore, is a new and improved apparatus and method for keeping beverages cold, which overcomes the disadvantages of previous cooling apparatuses and methods.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for cooling beverages in bottles and/or keeping beverage bottles cold. The present invention generally comprises a cooler for containing ice and water adapted to have the beverage bottle positioned therein, wherein regular ice cubes, such as from a conventional dispenser, can be stored and sealed within the space between the cooler and bottle, to keep the beverage in the bottle cool.  
      The cooler is preferably adapted to securely hold a particular beverage bottle, such as a PET bottle having a certain size and shape. The cooler is preferably sized and shaped so that a particular bottle can be held inside, with a sealed compartment surrounding the bottle, wherein regular ice cubes can be stored and sealed within the compartment to substantially surround the bottle. This way, ice can be maintained in direct contact with the bottle, and the beverage can be maintained at a reduced temperature, without diluting or introducing contaminants into the beverage. The beverage can also easily be poured, served and consumed without having to take the bottle out of the ice.  
      The cooler is preferably comprised of two sections that can be tightened and sealed together, i.e., an upper cap and a lower container. In the preferred embodiment, the container is preferably configured much like a mug with a handle, and adapted so that the bottle can be supported in a substantially fixed location inside the container, with the neck of the bottle extending from the top of the container. The cap is adapted to fit on top of the container, but unlike previous caps, this cap has an opening through which the neck of the bottle can be extended. The cap also preferably has a sealing member on the inside thereof, adapted so that when the bottle is placed in the container, and the neck is extended through the opening, the cap can be tightened onto the container, with the sealing member pressed against the shoulder of the bottle, which helps to seal the space between the cooler and bottle.  
      The sealing member is preferably located on the inside of the cap and extended around the opening so that it can be pressed against the shoulder of the bottle. It is preferably made of a resilient material that can apply pressure against the bottle to create a waterproof seal. In one embodiment, the sealing member is permanently bonded or fused to the cap using a direct molding method.  
      The container preferably has one or more supports on the inside thereof to provide vertical and lateral support for the bottle. This way, when the cap is tightened onto the container, the bottle is held in a substantially fixed location, which, in the preferred embodiment, is between the sealing member and support.  
      In one embodiment, three or more supports are provided and extended inward as indentations on the inside of the container to provide a support system for self-centering the bottle and maintaining the bottle in a substantially fixed location in the container. In one aspect, at least one support is adapted to fit within a groove or indentation located on the bottom of the bottle, to prevent the bottle from rotating inside the container.  
      The container, including the support(s), is preferably integrally formed with substantially uniform wall thickness, which can be made by conventional molding methods. One preferred goal of the present invention is to substantially minimize the surface area contact between the container and bottle, on one hand, and substantially maximize the surface area contact between the ice and bottle, on the other hand, and the above construction preferably helps to accomplish this goal.  
      The present invention contemplates that the bottom section of the container can be made relatively narrow, so that it can fit in conventional cup-holders, such as found in cars, golf carts, chairs, etc. This bottom section creates additional space in which ice particles can be stored, such as underneath the bottle, in direct contact with the bottle. The supports are preferably extended inward as indentations on the wall of the container, so that the bottle can be elevated above the floor, enabling the bottom section to be narrow enough to fit cup-holders designed to hold the bottle. The area of the container just above the bottom section is preferably sloped, which helps displace ice upward as the bottle is inserted into the container.  
      The cap and container are preferably threaded and capable of being tightened and sealed together. They are preferably adapted so that the cap can be sealed onto the container at the same time that the sealing member is sealed onto the bottle, i.e., the container is adapted so that the cap and container, and cap and bottle, are sealed at the same time, i.e., with the cap in the same position relative to the container.  
      Another aspect of the present invention is that the cooler can be specifically made to accommodate a certain type of beverage bottle, while not accommodating other beverage bottles, such as those having different sizes and shapes. PET bottles often come in a variety of different sizes and shapes, even with bottles having the same volume. Nevertheless, another aspect of the present invention is that a single cooler can be designed to fit more than one bottle type, such as bottles with slightly different sizes and shapes, which can be accomplished by locating and configuring the sealing member in a manner that achieves a watertight seal, despite differences in size and shape. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a section view of the first embodiment;  
       FIG. 3  is a section view of the first embodiment showing a PET bottle inside;  
       FIG. 4  shows the bottom of a typical PET bottle with five grooves;  
       FIG. 5  is a section view of the cap of the first embodiment;  
       FIG. 6  is a horizontal section view of a second embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 7  shows section A-A from  FIG. 6  of the second embodiment;  
       FIG. 8  shows section B-B from  FIG. 6  of the second embodiment;  
       FIG. 9  shows ice being displaced by the bottle inside the container;  
       FIG. 10  is a side view of a third embodiment with the cap on;  
       FIG. 11  is a section view of the third embodiment container showing a bottle inside;  
       FIG. 12  is a side view of the third embodiment container from opposite the handle;  
       FIG. 13  is a side view of the third embodiment container from the handle side;  
       FIG. 14   a  is a horizontal section view of the third embodiment taken along section E-E shown in  FIG. 15 ;  
       FIG. 14   b  is a horizontal section view of the third embodiment taken along section F-F shown in  FIG. 15 ;  
       FIG. 15  is a schematic of the third embodiment showing the locations of horizontal sections E-E and F-F;  
       FIG. 16  is a section view of the third embodiment container with a bottle inside taken along section C-C shown in  FIGS. 14   a  and  14   b;    
       FIG. 17  is a section view of the third embodiment taken along section D-D shown in  FIG. 14   a;    
       FIG. 18  is a section view of the cap of the third embodiment;  
       FIG. 19  is a perspective section view of the cap of the third embodiment without the sealing member; and  
       FIG. 20  is a perspective view showing the resilient member of the third embodiment by itself separated from the cap. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Several embodiments of the invention are described and shown.  
       FIGS. 1-3  show a first embodiment of the present invention  1  having a container  5  and cap  3  designed to be connected and sealed together. As seen in  FIGS. 2-3 , container  5  is preferably an open-top container having a handle  7  and an internal space  9  formed by a wall  12 , much like a large mug, wherein an opening on the top  11  enables a bottle  13 , such as a commercial PET bottle, to be inserted therein. Container  5  preferably has extended on the inside thereof a plurality of supports  4 ,  6 , such as extending inward from wall  12 , which are adapted to provide lateral and vertical support to bottle  13 . This way, bottle  13  can be inserted into container  5 , and supported by supports  4 ,  6 , in a substantially fixed location, wherein spaces  15 ,  17 , shown in  FIG. 3 , can be formed between bottle  13  and wall  12  of container  5  for storing ice and water therein.  
      All or a portion of wall  12  can be cylindrical or any shape that allows spaces  15  and  17  of sufficient sizes to be formed. Preferably, the distance between wall  12  and bottle  13  allows conventional size ice particles to be distributed and stored therein. Ice particles from standard ice dispensers are typically less than about one inch thick, and therefore, it is contemplated that the distance between bottle  13  and wall  12 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , can be about one inch, although virtually any dimension or distance that serves the intended purposes can be used. While it is desirable to provide sufficient spaces  15  and  17  for storing the ice, it is also desirable for container  5  to be compact, and therefore, the present invention contemplates that these factors should be taken into consideration when forming container  5  based on bottle  13 .  
      Container  5  preferably has a lower section  2  that is narrowed, such as below supports  4 ,  6 , such that it can fit into conventional cup-holders, i.e., that are designed to hold bottle  13 . Space  17  is preferably formed inside lower section  2 , below bottle  13 , to allow additional ice to be stored in container  5 , i.e., in contact with a lower end  49  of bottle  13 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 9 , located immediately above lower section  2 , there is preferably a surface or section  52  that is sloped or angled upward and outward. This configuration preferably helps distribute and displace ice in container  5  upward as bottle  13  is inserted down into container  5 . That is, after ice is added into container  5 , some of the ice particles can interfere with the insertion of bottle  13 , by becoming trapped inside lower section  2 , which can prevent bottle  13  from being inserted all the way down onto supports  4 ,  6 . Preferably, the distance between sloped section  52  and the lower surface of bottle  13  is predetermined to help ensure that ice particles can be distributed and/or displaced up, away from lower section  2 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , when bottle  13  is inserted into container  5 . In addition, or alternatively, water can be added into container  5 , or the cooler can be held sideways, to help distribute and displace ice away from lower section  2 , and avoid trapping too much ice under bottle  13 , and allow bottle  13  to be properly positioned on supports  4 ,  6 .  
      Various supports for supporting bottle  13  in relation to container  5  are contemplated. Supports  4 ,  6  preferably keep bottle  13  in a relatively fixed position inside container  5 , so that when cap  3  and container  5  are tightened together, bottle  13  is held in a substantially fixed location, such as between sealing member  25  and supports  4 ,  6 , i.e., with sealing member  25  pressed tightly against bottle  13 , to form a substantial water-tight seal.  
      Cap  3  and container  5  are preferably adapted and designed to hold a particular bottle  13 , which requires the shapes, sizes and locations of both supports  4 ,  6  and sealing member  25 , and the distance between them, to be coordinated and determined. With bottle  13  held in this manner, cap  3  and container  5  are preferably sealed together at the same time sealing member  25  is sealed against bottle  13 , to enable spaces  15  and  17  to be substantially sealed thereby.  
      At least three supports  4 ,  6  are preferably provided to create a support system to hold the lower end of bottle  13  inside container  5 , wherein each support is preferably adapted to engage a particular surface of bottle  13 . For example, in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 , four supports are shown, —three supports  4  for engaging the lower exterior surface  49  of bottle  13 , and one slightly raised support  6  for engaging one of the five grooves  45  located on the underside of bottle  13 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 4 , the bottom  49  of a typical PET bottle  13  has multiple grooves  45 , i.e., most have  5  grooves, to provide rigidity and support thereto. By forming at least one of the supports  6  to fit inside one of the grooves  45 , bottle  13  can be substantially prevented from rotating inside container  5 . That is, by holding bottle  13  between sealing member  25  and supports  4 ,  6 , raised support  6 , which fits into one of the grooves  45 , can help prevent bottle  13  from rotating inside container  5 . This way, the twist-off lid  47  of bottle  13  can easily be opened and closed, without bottle  13  spinning inside container  5 . The embodiment shown has one raised support  6 , but more of the supports, including all of them, can be adapted to fit into grooves  45 .  
      Cap  3  will now be discussed. Cap  3  preferably has a central opening  19 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , through which neck  21  of bottle  13  can extend. Cap  3  preferably has at least one sealing member  25 , such as a resilient sealing ring  23 , extended on the inside and substantially around opening  19 . When cap  3  is secured to container  5 , with neck  21  extended through opening  19 , sealing member  25  is preferably adapted to be pressed and sealed against the shoulder of bottle  13 , to substantially seal bottle  13  inside container  5 .  
      Sealing member  25  preferably has an engaging surface, which can have virtually any cross-sectional configuration, i.e., that performs in the intended manner. For example, it can have ribs, blades, or semi-circular cross-section, as shown in  FIG. 5 , which can help promote water-tightness, even against unevenly shaped bottles. In this embodiment, shown in  FIG. 5 , sealing member  25  is preferably formed with an extended flange  27 , that fits above an upper edge  29  of cap  3 , so that it can be snapped into opening  19  and held therein. A raised projection  31  is preferably provided on cap  3  that mates with groove  33 , that helps support sealing member  25 , and that provides a pinching effect thereto.  
      Sealing member  25  can be made of resilient material, such as rubber, silicon, polypropylene, urethane, polyethylene, or like material, etc. The preferred material is Santoprene® or Neo-prene®.  
      The present invention contemplates that sealing member  25  can be configured and/or made thick enough, so that a degree of tolerance can be provided at the point where sealing member  25  engages bottle  13 . That is, even if bottle  13  is not made to exact dimensions, it is nevertheless contemplated that enough sealing capability can be applied via sealing member  25 , i.e., by virtue of its resiliency, thickness and configuration, against bottle  13  to prevent leaking. Although one type of sealing member  25  is shown, it can be seen that a variety of different types of sealing members, including those shown in  FIGS. 18-20 , are possible.  
      Cap  3  and container  5  are preferably threaded to enable them to be tightened and sealed together. For example, cap  3  preferably has threads  35  extending along the inside for engaging threads  37  extending along the outside of container  5 . Cap  3  is preferably adapted to be sealed against an upper edge or landing  43  of container  5 . For example, an interference fit can be created between upper edge  43  and groove  41  formed by extension  39  on cap  3 . Groove  41  can be adapted to enable a seal to be made even if upper edge  43  is not fitted all the way into groove  41 . Alternatively, a separate gasket, as will be discussed, can be provided to seal cap  3  onto container  5 .  
       FIGS. 6-9  show an additional embodiment that can be manufactured by a conventional molding method, such as blow molding, at a relatively low cost. This embodiment comprises a container  55 , preferably molded from a single integral piece of moldable material, having substantially uniform wall thickness, including wall  61 , and supports  57  and  59 . Container  55  preferably has a handle  65 , threads  67 , wall  61 , an opening  71 , a narrow upper section with threads  67 , an intermediate section, a narrow lower section  63 , etc., wherein a similar cap  3  can be used to hold bottle  13 .  
      Supports  57 ,  59  on container  55 , which are adapted to provide vertical and lateral support to bottle  13 , are preferably formed as indentations on wall  61 , i.e., above the floor, although not necessarily so. The wall thickness at supports  57 ,  59  preferably ensures that bottle  13  is supported at the appropriate height, i.e., relative to cap  3  and container  55 . By looking at  FIG. 7 , it can be seen that a thicker wall  61  at support  59  will result in raising bottle  13  higher relative to container  55 , while a thinner wall  61  at support  59  will result in lowering bottle  13  relative to container  55 .  
      Three supports, including one support  57  and two supports  59 , are preferably provided, wherein supports  59  are adapted to fit into two of the five grooves  45  located on the bottom of bottle  13 . Supports  59 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , are preferably positioned on opposing sides, and adapted so that they fit into two opposing grooves  45 . Supports  59  are specifically adapted to fit into grooves  45 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , such that when bottle  13  is inserted into container  55 , bottle  13  is prevented from rotating. Support  57 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , is preferably adapted to engage an exterior surface of the bottom  49  of bottle  13 , wherein support  57  is preferably shelf-like in configuration.  
      Based on the above, supports  57  and  59  (two) preferably form a triangulated support system for supporting bottle  13  in the predetermined location. Supports  57  and  59  are preferably provided with sloped surfaces capable of engaging bottle  13  to help to self-center bottle  13  and align bottle  13  in an upright position.  
      The triangulated support system preferably accommodates supports  57 ,  59  being symmetrically oriented relative to a parting line, shown as B-B in  FIG. 6 , which is advantageous from a molding standpoint. Supports  59  are preferably on opposing sides of parting line B-B, while support  57  preferably extends through the parting line and perpendicularly thereto. This preferably enables the mold halves that are used to make container  55  to be easily separated, which makes releasing container  55  from the mold easier. An appropriate draft can be provided on supports  57  and  59  (draft not shown on support  57 ), which enables the mold halves to be released with little or no friction. Handle  65  can be molded along parting line B-B, wherein support  57  can be formed underneath handle  65 , as shown in  FIG. 8 .  
      The third embodiment  100 , shown in  FIGS. 10-20 , comprises a container  102  and a separate cap  130 . This embodiment comprises an alternate configuration, similar to the previous embodiments, but represents the best mode. The design shown is intended to fit a single serving PET bottle  120 , such as a  20  ounce bottle, although the design can be adapted to fit virtually any size or shape of PET bottle.  
      Container  102  is preferably in the shape of a mug, with a mug-like handle  106  extended on one side. It preferably comprises a wall  110  that forms an interior space  111  around bottle  120 , and space  113  below bottle  120 , with an opening  112  at the top for inserting the ice and bottle  120  inside. An upper section  114  is preferably narrowed to enable a relatively small cap  130  to be used, and has exterior threads  108 . An intermediate section  115  preferably extends substantially around the mid-section of container  102 , is preferably larger in diameter than upper section  114 , and preferably holds most of the ice around bottle  120 . A lower section  116  is preferably narrowed to fit standard cup-holders as shown. A sloped section  109  is preferably extended between intermediate section  115  and lower sections  116 .  
      Like container  55 , this container  102  is preferably adapted to be molded at relatively low costs. Container  102  is preferably adapted to be molded from an integral piece of moldable material, such as plastic, having substantially uniform wall thickness, and is preferably produced by blow molding.  
      Supports  122 ,  124 ,  126  are preferably molded as indentations on wall  110 , as shown in  FIGS. 10-17 , to provide support for bottle  120 . Two of the supports  122 ,  124 , are preferably positioned and oriented as shown in  FIGS. 14   a  and  14   b , and adapted so that they fit into two of the five grooves  45  on the bottom of bottle  120 , as discussed previously, to prevent bottle  120  from rotating. The third support  126  is preferably extended below handle  106 , and is preferably shelf-like in configuration, to provide support for a lower exterior surface of bottle  120 .  
      All three supports  122 ,  124 ,  126  preferably form a triangular support system, to self-center bottle  120  and maintain it in a substantially fixed and upright position inside container  102 . The drawings shown in  FIGS. 10-17  reflect a preferred configuration for container  102 , taking into account several factors. For example, supports  122 ,  124  are not only adapted to fit grooves  45  located on bottle  120 , but also have, in plan view, a substantially triangular configuration, as shown in  FIGS. 14   a  and  14   b.  This configuration is the preferred shape for fitting the distal tips of supports  122 ,  124  into grooves  45  on bottle  120 . This helps support bottle  120  properly, and prevents bottle  120  from rotating, and also helps to pin-point the location of bottle  120  in a substantially fixed and consistent location inside container  102 . An upper sloped or angled surface  127  on supports  122 ,  124  for engaging bottle  120  can be provided to help self-center bottle  120 , and align bottle  120  in an upright position. Support  126 , which forms the third prong in the triangulated support system, can also be sloped, as shown. The aesthetics of supports  122 ,  124  have also been taken into account.  
      Supports  122 ,  124  are preferably symmetrically oriented on opposing sides relative to a parting line D-D, which is a central vertical plane, shown in  FIG. 14   a , while support  126  preferably extends through the parting line. Supports  122 ,  124 ,  126 , preferably have predetermined angles and/or drafts to allow the mold halves to be easily separated after container  102  is formed. In this respect, walls a and b, shown in  FIGS. 14   a  and  14   b,  on opposing sides of supports  122 ,  124 , are preferably angled with a draft relative to plane D-D, to allow the mold halves to be separated in a direction perpendicular to plane D-D. Likewise, support  126  is preferably extended and oriented substantially perpendicular to plane D-D, and preferably has a draft. This configuration enables the mold halves that are used to make container  102  to be easily separated, i.e., in a direction perpendicular to the parting plane D-D, which makes releasing container  102  after molding easier. At the same time, supports  122 ,  124 ,  126  are preferably oriented so that they line up with grooves  45  of bottle  120 , as shown previously in  FIG. 6 . While other orientations and positions are contemplated, this has been found to be a preferred way to obtain the advantages discussed above.  
      To keep production costs low, it is desirable to keep the wall thickness of container  102  as thin as possible, but also rigid enough to ensure that bottle  120  can be supported in the predetermined location. The thickness of wall  110  at supports  122 ,  124 ,  126 , and the configuration and location thereof, must carefully be determined so that the height of bottle  120  in container  102  relative to cap  130  and sealing member  134 , is at a substantially predetermined height sufficient to achieve a watertight seal between sealing member  134  and bottle  120 .  
      The design of container  102  should take into consideration the factors discussed above in connection with determining how large or compact container  102  should be, in view of the size and shape of bottle  120 . For example, wall  110  of container  102  is preferably adapted to form appropriate spaces  111  and  113 , between bottle  120  and wall  110 , as well as under bottle  120 , to enable a sufficient amount of ice to be stored therein. Sloped or angled section  109  is preferably provided at a predetermined distance from the lower surface of bottle  120 , as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 17 , to allow ice to be distributed and displaced, as previously shown in  FIG. 9 , and help prevent too much ice from being trapped inside lower section  116 . This way, bottle  120  is not prevented from being inserted down onto supports  122 ,  124 ,  126 .  
      An indicator line  103 , as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 13 , as well as line  51  shown in  FIG. 2 , is preferably provided to indicate how much ice should be placed in container  102  before bottle  120  is inserted. In this embodiment, neck  114  on container  102  is relatively narrow, so once bottle  120  is inserted, not enough room is available around neck  121  of bottle  120  to add ice into container  102 , i.e., ice must be added into container  102  before bottle  120  is inserted. Indicator  103  lets the user know how much ice should be added before bottle  120  is inserted, such that when bottle  120  is inserted, ice in container  102  can properly be distributed around bottle  120 . This not only helps ensure that the proper amount of ice is used to substantially surround bottle  120 , i.e., for optimum cooling, but also helps to prevent too much ice from being trapped inside lower section  116 , which can otherwise prevent bottle  120  from being inserted all the way down onto supports  122 ,  124 ,  126 . Of course, other embodiments, such as containers having necks  114  that are not narrowed, are within the scope of the invention, wherein in such case, bottle  120  can be inserted first, and then ice added later, wherein no indicator  103  would be necessary.  
      The design of supports  122 ,  124 ,  126  is preferably coordinated with the design of cap  130  and sealing member  134 , to enable the fit between sealing member  134  and bottle  120 , and between cap  130  and container  102 , to be substantially watertight, so that the ice and water within spaces  111  and  113  can be substantially sealed thereby.  
      Like previous cap  3 , cap  130  preferably has a central opening  132 , as shown in  FIG. 18 , through which neck  121  of bottle  120  can extend. Cap  130  preferably has at least one sealing member  134  secured to and extended on the inside of cap  130 , and substantially around opening  132 . When cap  130  is placed on container  102 , with neck  121  extended through opening  132 , as shown in  FIG. 17 , sealing member  134  is preferably adapted to press and seal against the shoulder of bottle  120 .  
      Cap  130  is preferably adapted with threads  136  extending around the internal surface thereof, as shown in  FIG. 18 . These threads  136  are designed to engage threads  108  on container  102  to enable cap  130  and container  102  to be tightened and fastened together. Grips  131  can also be provided on cap  130 .  
      To enhance the seal between cap  130  and container  102 , a separate sealing gasket  138  can be provided to seal cap  130  against a top landing  140  of container  102 . In the preferred embodiment, both sealing member  134  and gasket  138  are preferably formed and molded at the same time, as part of the same resilient member  135 , shown in  FIG. 20 .  FIG. 20  shows a perspective view of resilient member  135 , which includes both sealing member  134  and gasket  138 , formed as a single integral piece.  FIG. 18  shows how resilient member  135 , including sealing member  134  and gasket  138 , is secured to the underside of cap  130 .  
      Preferably, both sealing member  134  and gasket  138  can be formed in a single production step, using an over-mold, insert mold, or two-shot method, etc., which bonds resilient member  135  directly onto the inside of cap  130 . The material used to make resilient member  135  is preferably a rubber-like material that is compatible with the material from which cap  130  is made, to allow the two surfaces to be bonded or fused together. For example, if cap  130  is made from polypropylene, resilient member  135  is preferably made from a polypropylene-containing material, such as Santoprene®, so that after cap  130  is formed, resilient material can be injected (using a mold) directly against the inside of cap  130 , wherein heat from the resilient material can cause the polypropylene in resilient member  135  to bond directly to the polypropylene of cap  130 , thereby forming resilient member  135  directly on cap  130 . This bonding between resilient member  135  and cap  130  is typically as strong as or stronger than the resilient material itself, and therefore, is substantially permanent. Other compatible materials, such as those discussed above, are also contemplated.  
      As shown in  FIG. 20 , multiple spoke-like members  142  are preferably extended between sealing member  134  and gasket  138 , wherein the spoke-like members  142  not only connect sealing member  134  to gasket  138 , but also form the remains of channels formed on the molds that enabled the resilient material to flow from sealing member  134  to gasket  138 , or vice verse, during production. That is, from a production standpoint, it is desirable to form both sealing member  134  and gasket  138  in the same production step. Therefore, in the preferred method, the molds are preferably adapted to allow the resilient material to flow from a first cavity, which forms sealing member  134 , through the channels, which forms spoke-like members  142 , to a second cavity, which forms gasket  138 , although it could also flow in the reverse direction. Four spoke-like members  142  are shown, to enable the resilient material to flow properly, although any number of spoke-like members  142  can be provided. Spoke-like members  142  are bonded or fused directly to cap  130 , but are otherwise non-functional.  
      Preferably, resilient member  135 , including sealing member  134  and gasket  138 , is made of relatively low friction material, such that both sealing surfaces can slide relatively easily in relation to both shoulder of bottle  120  and upper landing  140  of container  102 , respectively, to allow cap  130  to be easily tightened and removed. The resilient material used to make resilient member  135  also preferably has relatively high flow characteristics, to allow the material to flow into rib formations, if any, that exist on the sealing surfaces, which need to be filled properly during production.  
       FIG. 19  shows an underside perspective cross-section view of cap  130  before resilient member  135  has been molded thereto. It shows two series of projections  144 ,  146  extending in a ring-like fashion along the inside of cap  130  corresponding to the locations where sealing member  134  and gasket  138 , respectively, are formed. These projections  144 ,  146  preferably provide extra surface area contact between cap  130  and resilient member  135  for improved bonding. Preferably, notches  148  are placed on projections  144  and  146  to further increase surface area contact, as well as help increase torque resistance between cap  130  and resilient member  135 . Projections  144 ,  146  preferably allow sealing member  134  and gasket  138  to be pinched against the opposing sealing surfaces, as cap  130  is tightened onto container  102 , which helps to ensure that a substantially tight seal is provided by causing sealing member  134  and gasket  138  to be pressed tightly against their respective sealing surfaces.  FIG. 18  shows the details of cap  130  and how sealing member  134  and gasket  138  are formed on the underside of cap  130 , with projections  144 ,  146  extending into sealing member  134  and gasket  138 , respectively.  
       FIG. 18  shows one preferred cross-sectional shape of sealing member  134 , with multiple ribs or blades  137  that can be extended down and inward, such as into opening  132 , to engage the shoulder of bottle  120 . This configuration preferably enables sealing member  134  to have resilient properties, i.e., by virtue of its configuration, and not solely by virtue of material characteristics, wherein the stiffness or firmness of the resilient material can be increased, if necessary, to reduce friction, without sacrificing its resilient properties.  
      The configuration of sealing member  134 , and its location relative to bottle  120 , is significant in ensuring that a watertight seal can be achieved.  FIG. 18 , in this respect, shows two possible PET bottle shoulder configurations, which are superimposed over each other, one represented by straight dashed lines  150 , and the other represented by curved dashed lines  152 . In this example, the two PET bottles  150 ,  152  are assumed to have similar bottom ends, so that both bottles can be supported in substantially the same fixed location inside container  102 . With either bottle fixed, it can be seen that the shoulder of each bottle is different, i.e., one has a straight steep shoulder  150 , while the other has a shallow curved shoulder  152 .  
      An effort has been made to design a single cooler  100  to fit both PET bottles  150 ,  152 , even if they are different. To do this, the “seal point,” which is the location where sealing member  134  presses against bottle  120 , is pre-determined so that sealing member  134  can be sealed against both bottles,  150  and  152 . It can be seen that the seal point is located at or close to where the two sets of dashed lines intersect. This way, a single sealing member  134  can be adapted to ensure that a watertight seal can be achieved, despite different bottles being used.  
      During the design phase, the intersection of the two sets of dashed lines can be determined by using three dimensional models of the bottles, such as using digital scanning, and superimposing them to determine the intersection. It can be seen that if sealing member  134  is located too high or too low, or in the wrong location, sealing member  134  would have difficulty sealing against both bottles. By configuring and locating sealing member  134  substantially where dashed lines  150 ,  152  intersect, sealing member  134  preferably seals against either bottle  150  or  152 .  
       FIG. 18  shows a cross-section of lower sealing gasket  138 , which preferably has multiple ribs  154  thereon. Although ribs are not necessary, ribs  154  help to provide more resilience and tolerance, i.e., they allow for more “squish room,” by virtue of their configuration. Again, this is advantageous so that stiffer or firmer materials, which have lower friction properties, can be used to make resilient member  135 , i.e., without sacrificing the beneficial characteristics of a resilient, more forgiving, sealing surface.  
      Sealing gasket  138  is preferably formed with a stepped portion  156 , located on cap  130 , which forms the outer diameter of sealing gasket  138 . This helps enable sealing gasket  138  to be formed by injection molding, directly onto the inside of cap  130 , without interference from threads  136 .  
      The location of sealing member  134  and gasket  138 , as well as the height and configuration of their sealing surfaces, including ribs  137 ,  154 , etc., are preferably designed and coordinated in association with the particular bottle or bottles that have been selected to fit the cooler, i.e., to achieve a watertight seal. A goal of the present invention is to coordinate the design of supports  122 ,  124 ,  126 , along with cap  130 , sealing member  134  and sealing gasket  138 , so that the sealing surfaces engage and seal against their respective surfaces, i.e., sealing member  134  seals against bottle  120 , and gasket  138  seals against landing  140  of container  102 , at the same time, with bottle  120  in the same fixed location.  
      In use, regular ice, such as chopped, cubed, crushed, etc., is preferably placed inside container  5 ,  55  or  102 . Indicator  51  or  103  is preferably provided to indicate how much ice should be placed therein. Next, bottle  13  or  120  is pushed down into the ice, which causes some of the ice to be displaced, as shown in  FIG. 9 , and climb up the sides of the bottle. The sloped section  52  or  109 , above lower section  2 ,  63  or  116 , preferably causes ice to be displaced and distributed upward as bottle  13  or  120  is pushed downward. Water can be added to container  5 ,  55  or  102 , or container  5 ,  55  or  102  can be held sideways, to make it easier for the ice to be displaced and distributed around bottle  13  or  120 , while inserting the bottle, without trapping too much ice under bottle  13  or  120 .  
      Next, bottle  13  or  120  is preferably inserted until it is properly seated and rests on supports  4 ,  6 , or  57 ,  59 , or  122 ,  124 ,  126 . Cap  3  or  130  can then be placed over bottle  13  or  120 , with neck  21  or  121  extended through opening  19  or  132 , and then tightened onto container  5 ,  55  or  102 , which causes sealing member  25  or  134  to be pressed and sealed against the shoulder of bottle  13  or  120 , while at the same time, the connection between cap  3  or  130  and container  5 ,  55  or  102  can also be sealed. Ice and/or water within spaces  15 ,  17 , or  60 , or  111 ,  113 , can be stored and sealed, substantially surrounding bottle  13  or  120 , to help keep the beverage cool. This prevents water from leaking out, and enables the beverage to be poured and consumed directly from bottle  13  or  120 , without having to remove bottle  13  or  120  from the ice.  
      Each main piece, including caps  3 ,  130 , and containers  5 ,  55 ,  102 , is preferably made from a moldable plastic, such as polyethylene, HDPE, polypropylene, PET, etc., although any conventional material, such as stainless steel, glass, ceramic, etc., can also be used. Sealing member  134  and gasket  138  can be made of a resilient rubber-like material, such as TPE, silicon, polypropylene, polyethylene, urethane, etc., but is preferably made of a material that is found in cap  130 , so that the two can be bonded together, as discussed. While for insulation purposes, containers  5 ,  55 ,  102  can be made of materials that conduct heat poorly, or with double wall construction, they can simply be made of a relatively thick plastic. The thickness preferably provides rigidity and a sufficient level of insulating properties thereto. Caps  3  and  130  can be injection molded, although containers  55  and  102  are preferably blow-molded. Blow-molding not only allows supports  57 ,  59 , and supports  122 ,  124 ,  126 , to be indented, but necks  37  and  114  to be narrow relative to an intermediate section thereof. Container  5  can be made by any suitable method.  
      Other steps preferably involved in making caps  3 ,  130  and containers  5 ,  55  and  102  are measuring and/or scanning the bottle to obtain precise dimensions. This enables the coolers to be adapted to a particular bottle, so that the bottle can be held in a substantially fixed location. The present invention also contemplates that bottles can be custom made to fit the container, i.e., with surfaces that engage the sealing member and supports, if desired. Textures, grips and/or indentations can also be provided on the pieces for improved grip. The containers can have a side handle, as shown, although a strap or other type of handle, or indented grips, can also be used. One or both pieces can be made of transparent or translucent materials so that the contents can be seen from outside.  
      In one aspect of the present invention, the present cooling device can be made to accommodate a certain type of beverage bottle, whereas, other beverage bottles having different sizes and shapes can specifically be excluded. On the other hand, the present invention contemplates that a single cooler can be adapted to fit different bottles, by determining the intersection of their shoulder profiles, and adjusting the location and configuration of the sealing member, relative to the supports, to accommodate the different sizes and shapes of the bottles.  
      The above discussion illustrates some of the embodiments and features of the present invention. Each embodiment has been shown with certain features or lack of features. Nevertheless, it should be understood that any embodiment shown could also have a feature or lack a feature shown in another embodiment, i.e., the features are intended to be interchangeable between embodiments. It should also be understood that other embodiments and features, such as those not specifically disclosed herein, which may perform in the intended manner, are also within the scope of the present invention.