Patent Publication Number: US-2020275793-A1

Title: Insulated capsule for canned liquid

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 62/813,143 that was filed on Mar. 3, 2019, and which is fully incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to containers, and more specifically to beverage can holders and can containers. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     While engaging in physical or athletic activity such as rafting, kayaking, climbing, and many other sports, participants often desire to carry canned beverages with them for easy access to a consumable fluid. There is a high likelihood, however, that during the activity an open beverage can will be spilled, or be exposed to river, lake, or ocean water, or to some other environmental or organic contaminant. This is because existing containers for enclosing an entire beverage can are designed primarily for purposes of insulating the can to preserve the temperature of the beverage within the can, or to provide a means for the consumer to easily grasp the can enclosure when consuming the beverage. They are not designed for sealing opened cans during rigorous movement, and are thus not suitable for use by consumers engaged in the sporting activities described above. 
     What is needed is a portable container for a canned liquid that provides a highly reliable environmental seal for the can after the can has been opened, and that is ergonomically designed to be reopened and resealed indefinitely. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a container or capsule for a canned beverage that prevents foreign materials such as liquids, micro-organisms, and environmental contaminants from entering the capsule and an opened canned beverage contained therein while a user is participating in the aforesaid activities. The usage of the invention, however, is not limited to water sport enthusiasts, and may also apply to activities such as hiking, snow sports, and camping, among many others. 
     In one embodiment, a capsule assembly for a can containing liquid according to the present invention includes a lower shell with a first locking detent mechanism and first modular attachment threads, and an upper shell with a second locking detent mechanism and second modular attachment threads. The second modular attachment threads are configured to engage the first modular attachment threads. The second locking detent mechanism is configured to interlock with the first locking detent mechanism only when the first modular attachment threads and the second modular attachment threads are fully engaged. The upper shell and the lower shell are configured to enclose the can when the first modular attachment threads and the second modular attachment threads are fully engaged. The assembly may also include a shell gasket configured for sealing between the lower shell and the upper shell. The assembly may also include a can gasket disposed within the upper shell and configured for sealing between the upper shell and an upper surface of the enclosed can. The assembly includes a lid configured for removable attachment to the upper shell, and may also include a lid gasket disposed within the lid and configured for sealing between the lid and an upper surface of the enclosed can. In more elaborate embodiments of the invention, the removably attachable lid includes a lid screw, a latch screw, a snap latch, and a latch ring. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. Component parts shown in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, and may be exaggerated to better illustrate the important features of the invention. Dimensions shown are exemplary only. In the drawings, like reference numerals may designate like parts throughout the different views, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of one embodiment according to the invention of an insulated capsule assembly for canned liquid. 
         FIG. 2  is an opposite side exploded view of the insulated capsule assembly of  FIG. 1 , showing an additional spacer for enlarging the volume of the capsule. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of another embodiment according to the invention of an insulated capsule assembly for canned liquid, configured with a high flow upper shell. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a modular apparatus, or capsule assembly, that encapsulates a metal canned beverage to provide an insulated and waterproof environment for the canned beverage while at the same time allowing a consumer to easily access the beverage for consumption. The capsule assembly, when fully assembled and enclosing a canned beverage, prevents foreign materials such as liquids, micro-organisms, and environmental contaminants from entering the capsule and the canned beverage contained therein while a user is participating in the activities such as water sports, hiking, snow sports, and camping, among many others. 
       FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of one embodiment according to the invention of an insulated capsule assembly  10  for canned liquid. The capsule assembly  10  includes a lower shell  11 , an upper shell  13 , a shell gasket  15 , a can gasket  17 , a lid gasket  19 , and a lid  21 . The lower shell  11  has a locking detent mechanism at its top end that includes modular attachment threads  23 . The upper shell  13  is also configured with a locking detent mechanism that includes complementary modular attachment threads  24  (hidden in  FIG. 1 ) that complementary because they are configured to sealingly engage the modular attachment threads  23 . The shell gasket  15  provides a water-tight seal between the lower shell  11  and the upper shell  13  when the modular attachment threads  23  are fully engaged to the modular attachment threads  24 . The can gasket  17  provides a tight seal between the lid gasket  19  and the top of a beverage can enclosed within the assembly  10 . Lid  21  is configured to cover the top end of assembly  10  by maintaining a clamping force that holds the lid gasket  19  firmly against the can gasket  17  and the top of the enclosed beverage can. The clamping force is made possible by a clamping mechanism formed by the interconnection of the lid  21 , lid screw  25 , latch screw  27 , snap latch  29 , and latch ring  31 . 
     The lower shell  11  and the upper shell  13  each have a specific geometry configured to encapsulate standardized production metal canned beverages, including, but not limited to, 12 oz (355 mL), 2.24″ (57.5 mm) OD and 12 oz (355 mL), 2.6″ (66.0 mm) OD, metal can sizes. The lower shell  11  attaches to the upper shell  13  by means of an ergonomically designed “thread-and-detent” mechanism, i.e. the modular attachment threads  23  and  24 , as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 . This thread-and-detent mechanism is considered ergonomic because it requires only one twist of the wrist to fully engage or fully disengage the upper shell  13  from the lower shell  11 . The thread-and-detent mechanism is sized in such a way that the upper shell  13  presses vertically against the lower shell  11  to create a seal at the can gasket  17  when the upper shell  13  and the lower shell  11  are in the locked (or fully engaged) position. 
       FIG. 2  shows an opposite side exploded view of the insulated capsule assembly  10  to illustrate a spacer  32  that can be optionally installed on the capsule assembly to enlarge its volume. Installation of the spacer  32  can be made possible by means of the same thread-and-detent mechanism employed for ergonomic attachment of the upper and lower shells in  FIG. 1 . For example, the thread-and-detent mechanism of the present invention can also be used as a means of attaching a 16 oz spacer in between the lower shell  11  and the upper shell  13 , which allows the invention to encapsulate a standard production 16 oz metal canned beverage. As shown in  FIG. 2 , spacer  32  is configured to engage both the lower shell  11  and the upper shell  13  by means of complementary modular attachment threads  33  and  34 . Modular attachment threads  33  are configured to engage with modular attachment threads  23 , an modular attachment threads  34  are configured to engage with modular attachment threads  24 . Each of these engagements achieve the same thread-and-detent mechanism achieved by the engagement of threads  23  and  24  in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of another embodiment according to the invention of an insulated capsule assembly  30  for canned liquid. Capsule assembly  30  uses the thread-and-detent mechanism as described in prior embodiments as a means of attaching a high flow upper shell  36  to a lower shell  11 , to allow the capsule assembly  30  to provide a greater flow rate of liquid out of the capsule than either of the embodiments shown in  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 2 . High flow upper shell  36  is configured with a top port  37  having a diameter selected for a desired flow rate. 
     The lid  21  comprises lid gasket  19 , lid screw  25 , latch screw  27 , snap latch  29 , and latch ring  31 . The lid  21  works in combination with the can gasket  17  that is housed within the topmost portion of the upper shell  13  to perform various functions that are explained below. 
     The lid gasket  19  creates an air tight seal with the can gasket  17  to prevent liquid from entering the assembled capsule  10  or  30 , and from entering the canned beverage contained inside the assembled capsule, when the lid  21  is latched closed. The air tight seal that is created between the lid gasket  19  and the can gasket  17  also prevents liquid in the canned beverage from spilling or leaking outside of the assembled capsule. When the lid  21  is latched closed, the air tight seal created between the lid gasket  19  and the can gasket  17  also prevents carbonation from escaping from the canned beverage while the canned beverage is under pressure within the assembled capsule  10  or  30 . 
     The can gasket  17  prevents liquid from a canned beverage contained within the assembled capsule  10  or  30  from spilling within the assembled capsule. The can gasket  17  has a specific geometry that is configured to mate with the geometry of the top surface of standardized production metal can sizes, e.g., 12 oz (355 mL), 2.24″ (57.5 mm) OD, 12 oz (355 mL), 2.6″ (66.0 mm) OD, and 16 oz (473 mL), 2.6″ (66.0 mm) OD, metal cans. The shell gasket  15  prevents water or other liquids from entering the assembled capsule at the modular attachment point and provides a greater insulating factor for the assembled capsule. The lid  21  may also be configured with a means  39  for attaching a carabiner, hook, rope, thread, cable, string, or any other attachment device to allow the assembled capsule  10  or  30  to be attached to gear or other objects. The snap latch  29  may attach to the upper shell  13  by means of an annular friction fit, e.g. to a holding bracket  41 . 
     Each component of the invention may be made in various ways depending on the material used to make each component. The upper and lower shells  11 ,  13  can be stamped from sheet metal, rolled into shape, and then welded for purposes of creating double walled, vacuum insulation. The upper and lower shells  11 ,  13  can be injection molded out of a food-and-drink safe polymer. The upper and lower shells  11 ,  13  can be composed of a combination of materials. For instance, the upper and lower shells  11 ,  13  can be overmolded with a light density foam used as the outside aesthetic surface, while the inner portion of the upper and lower shells  11 ,  13 , including the threads and detent mechanism, would remain injection molded out of a food-and-drink safe polymer. This method of construction will serve three purposes: (1) creating a soft, ergonomic feel for the user; (2) allowing the assembled capsule to float; and (3) creating better insulation properties for holding a beverage at temperature. The spacer  32  may be made in the same manner and with the same materials as the upper and lower shells  11 ,  13 . The lid  21  and the snap latch  29  may be injection molded out of a food-and-drink safe polymer. The shell gasket  15 , can gasket  17 , and lid gasket  19  may be molded out of synthetic rubber compounds or silicone which are food/drink safe. The latch ring  31  may be made of a metal material and may also assist in opening the lid  21 . 
     Exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in an illustrative style. Accordingly, the terminology employed throughout should be read in a non-limiting manner. Although minor modifications to the teachings herein will occur to those well versed in the art, it shall be understood that what is intended to be circumscribed within the scope of the patent warranted hereon are all such embodiments that reasonably fall within the scope of the advancement to the art hereby contributed, and that that scope shall not be restricted, except in light of the appended claims and their equivalents.