Patent Abstract:
A self-cooling container having an independent cooling chamber in which are utilized water-activated endothermic cooling agents, a water-activated mixer within the chamber, a simple actuation means for initiating the cooling process, a feature that facilitates the recycling of the spent cooling agents and a method for using the same.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claim priority to U.S. Patent Application 61/421,072, filed Dec. 8, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates generally to self-cooling containers and more particularly to self-cooling containers having an independent cooling chamber utilizing water-activated endothermic cooling agents, a water-activated mixer within the chamber, a simple actuation means for initiating the cooling process, a feature that facilitates the recycling of the spent cooling agents and a method for using the same. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Art 
         [0005]    Self-cooling containers that utilize water-activated or liquid-activated endothermic cooling agents are known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,003,324 discloses a compartmentalized container for cooling beverages consisting of an outer chamber containing the beverage to be chilled, a two-part inner container holding water and the cooling agent separated by a barrier or membrane and a means for making contact between the cooling agent and the water within the inner compartment to facilitate the cooling effect. Because membranes that separate liquids from cooling agents are often difficult to reliably penetrate or fail to completely empty their contents in a rapid manner, several inventions in the prior art such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,023,587 also disclose techniques for improving penetration and release. In another embodiment, U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,678 discloses an internal mixing device within the compartment holding the liquid and cooling agent to overcome the inadequate mixing of the contents upon activation that is known to be a problem affecting self-cooling containers. Other similar examples are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,350,732, 7,117,684, 6,889,507, 6,351,953, 6,134,894, and 6,103,280. However, at the present time, none of these prior self-cooling containers have met with commercial success. Self-cooling containers described in the prior art that utilize endothermic chemical agents are also not intentionally designed to be recyclable or to facilitate the reuse of the spent coolant held within, and thus have a reputation of being a wasteful and non-sustainable product and technology. 
         [0006]    Self-cooling containers must embody several attributes in order to be commercially successful. A container must be adaptable to current container manufacturing techniques and processes; the cooling mechanism must be safe, simple, inexpensive and efficient; the actuation technique for initiating the cooling process must be tamper-evident and simple in order to appeal to the consumer; the internal chamber holding the liquid and cooling agent must provide rapid and complete contact and mixing between the liquid and the solid cooling agents; and the device must facilitate and encourage the environmentally safe reuse or recycle of the spent cooling agent. Self-cooling containers shown in the prior art have not accomplished one or more of the above criteria. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a self-cooling container and method which can efficiently and safely cool beverages prior to consumption. 
         [0008]    It is another object of this invention to provide a self-cooling container which can manufactured without major alterations in manufacturing machinery or equipment. 
         [0009]    It is another object of this invention to employ an endothermic chemical process or reaction with safe and inexpensive materials as a self-contained cooling mechanism. 
         [0010]    It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a self-cooling container which can be easily and safely actuated to initiate the cooling process. 
         [0011]    Still a further object of this invention is to provide a self-cooling container that can facilitate and encourage the environmentally safe reuse or recycle of the spent cooling agent held within. 
         [0012]    Accordingly, the present invention provides a self-cooling container comprising: 
         [0013]    (a) an outer compartment containing a beverage to be cooled, having at least one sidewall, a top end and a bottom end whereby the sidewall, top end and the bottom end form a first cavity for storing a liquid. 
         [0014]    (b) an openable closure means located on, adjacent to incorporated within the surface of the top end of the outer compartment such that the means can be penetrated or opened or removed to provide access to the liquid stored within. 
         [0015]    (c) an inner compartment having a smaller diameter and volume than the outer compartment and located within the cavity of the outer compartment adjacent to the bottom end of the outer compartment, said inner compartment including: (i) at least one sidewall, a top end and a bottom end, (ii) a second cavity containing a liquid, (iii) a third cavity containing an endothermic cooling agent or composition that will react when contacted with the liquid to absorb heat, (iv) a rupturable membrane or barrier means separating the second and third cavities, (v) a openable closure or tear panel or means attached to the bottom end that provides tamper-free access to the inner compartment while preventing accidental activation of the cooling mechanism, (vi) a hollow, porous but rigid puncturing means located in its un-activated state within the third cavity and having a sharpened end for rupturing the membrane or barrier separating the second and third cavities, which further comprises a hollow tube of which one end is sharpened to a point and the other end is blunt and having sidewalls punctured by a series of openings or orifices that allow the passage of liquids from the second cavity throughout the contents of the third cavity to promote rapid diffusion and ensure complete and thorough contact between the solid and liquid components or reactants, (vi) a flexible diaphragm attached to or comprising the bottom end of the inner compartment and accessible through the openable closure or tear panel having an interior-oriented surface and an exterior-oriented surface whereby the interior-oriented surface is affixed to the non-sharpened end of the puncturing means, (vii) a cooling mechanism comprising the compressible diaphragm attached to the puncturing means that is activated by compressing the diaphragm towards the interior of the inner compartment to allow the puncturing means to penetrate the membrane separating the two cavities such that the liquid from the second cavity gains access to the cooling agent in the third cavity and (viii) a static spring mixer consisting of compressed spring held in its compressed state by a solvent-soluble tape or glue where the solvent is typically water located in the third cavity containing the cooling agent adjacent to the interior surface of the flexible diaphragm such that the static spring mixer expands to mix the contents of the second and third cavities upon activation by water. 
         [0016]    According to an embodiment of the invention, a self-cooling container as described above whereby a layer of insulation is affixed to the interior or the exterior surface of the sidewall of the outer compartment. 
         [0017]    According to another embodiment of the invention, a self-cooling container as described above has an openable closure means on the surface of the top end of the outer compartment comprising a rupturable tear panel or pull tab which may be ruptured to provide access to the liquid stored within the first cavity whereby (i) the pull tab has a front end and a bottom end and (ii) the back end of the pull tab is placed adjacent to the rupturable tear panel such that when the front end of the pull tab is pulled away from the top end of the outer compartment, the rupturable tear panel ruptures and moves into the first cavity, provide access to the liquid stored within. 
         [0018]    According to another embodiment of the invention, a self-cooling container as described above has an openable closure means consisting of a cap that can be firmly attached to top end of the outer compartment to form a sealed unit comprising: (i) a threaded cap equipped with a female -threaded fitting or other female-threaded means having an exterior surface and an interior surface such that the cap when screwed onto the self-cooling container will create a self-contained unit, (ii) a seal or gasket affixed to the interior surface of the cap that can also cover the opening of the outer compartment to create an isolated first cavity within the outer compartment that can contain any enclosed beverage or liquid without leakage or spillage and without any contamination from the environment even when the liquid is pressurized under those pressures typical of a carbonated beverage, (iii) a top end of the outer compartment equipped with a male-threaded fitting or other male threaded means that can mate with the threaded cap when screwed together to form a tight-fitting seal between the cap, the gasket, the top end of the outer compartment and the first cavity of the outer compartment. 
         [0019]    According to another embodiment of the invention, a self-cooling container as described above has the inner compartment directly and permanently attached to the bottom end of the outer compartment and in direct contact with the liquid contained within the outer compartment and located within the first cavity of the outer compartment. As shown above, the inner compartment is self-contained without any seals or penetrations between the contents of the inner compartment and the contents of the first cavity of the outer compartment so that contamination of a beverage with cooling agent is virtually eliminated. With respect to the inner compartment, the flexible diaphragm is affixed to the bottom of the inner compartment to create a completely self-contained unit that can be activated by the consumer with no contact between the consumer and contents of the inner compartment. As an additional safety feature, the flexible diaphragm and contact interface with the consumer with respect to activating the cooling mechanism is completely separated from the pull tab at the top of the container whereby the consumer accesses the beverage. By these features, the self-cooling container is made safe to use. 
         [0020]    According to another embodiment of the invention, a self-cooling container as described above has the inner compartment in direct contact with the expanded exterior surface of the bottom end of the outer compartment such that the inner compartment is removable without loss of the liquid contained within the first cavity of the outer compartment. The bottom end of the outer compartment is expanded to displace some of the volume of the first cavity that contains the liquid to be cooled such that a fourth cavity is formed that does not contain any liquid and is open to the environment. The fourth cavity conforms to the shape of the inner compartment and is made to hold the inner compartment in place. The inner compartment can be held in place within the self-cooling container by a pressure seal attached to the circumference of the bottom end of the sidewall of the inner compartment or by modifying the bottom end of the sidewall to form a male threaded fitting that can be screwed into a female threaded fitting formed as a modification of the bottom expanded end of the outer container. In this manner a separate cooling device or insert that comprises the cooling mechanism, the static spring mixer, the cooling agent, the separating barrier and the liquid to activate the cooling agent can all be manufactured separately from the container holding the beverage to be cooled, and thus the described cooling device can be inserted into and removed from the beverage container for ease of use and to promote efficiency with respect to the manufacturing of the container and the device and with respect to the recycling and reuse of the containers and the spent cooling materials. 
         [0021]    According to another embodiment of the invention, a self-cooling container as described above is affixed with a balloon containing the liquid that is positioned to occupy all of the interior space of the second cavity such that the balloon forms the membrane or barrier that separates the liquid in the second cavity from the cooling agent in the third cavity. 
         [0022]    According to another embodiment of the invention, a self-cooling container as described above is modified to allow the hollow, porous and rigid puncturing means to be extended through the flexible diaphragm to the open environment to allow a porous conduit between the cavities of the inner compartment and the environment. In this modification, the puncturing means, which in its unmodified state can be visualized as a hollow tube of which one end is sharpened to a point and the other end is blunt and having sidewalls punctured by a series of openings or orifices that allow the passage of liquids, is connected by its blunt end to a removable plug that is fitted into an orifice located in the center of the flexible diaphragm. The plug can be held in place within the flexible diaphragm by a pressure seal attached to the circumference of the bottom end of the plug or by modifying the bottom end of the plug to form a male threaded fitting that can be screwed into a female threaded fitting formed as a modification of the orifice within the flexible diaphragm. The plugs and the fittings serve as a safety device and minimize the risk of contact between the consumer and the contents of the cooling device when the consumer activates the device. The puncturing means is further modified by forming a raised rib extending around the circumference of the sidewall of the hollow tube below the sharpened area or by forming a threaded means in the same area such that the rib or threaded means connects with the groves of the female fitting within the flexible diaphragm when the puncturing means is extended through the orifice of the diaphragm, thus securing the extended puncturing means in place within the flexible diaphragm such that the contents of the inner compartment will flow through the series of openings within the sidewall of the hollow puncturing means in a predictable and controlled manner and not leak out around the orifice. 
         [0023]    According to still another embodiment of the invention, a self-cooling container as described above is first activated to chill the liquid or beverage contained within the outer container and after completion of this functionality, the removable plug affixed to the porous hollow tube of the puncturing means is loosened from the orifice in the flexible diaphragm and the puncturing means extended through the orifice and secured in place in the extended position. The spent liquid coolant which may have residual value can now flow through the openings in the sidewall of the puncturing means without spillage. Where the spent liquid coolant has residual value as a fertilizer, which is commonly the case for the most effective, inexpensive and safe-to-use cooling agents, the container equipped with the extended puncturing means can be inserted into the soil or media containing the plants to be fertilized and the liquid fertilizer can then flow through the openings in a slow and controlled way to provide a controlled release of nutrients in a manner designed to enhance plant growth. In this mode, the self-chilling container promotes the reuse and recycling of the spent cooling agent and facilitates the recycling and enhances the residual value of the container and its contents. 
         [0024]    The self-chilling container disclosed herein thus provides several additional benefits, some of which are detailed below. For example, since self-chilling beverages do not have to be refrigerated to provide a chilled liquid, their use may reduce the cost borne by retailers of beverage containers to store and market the beverage containers at low temperatures. Self-cooling beverage containers may similarly reduce or eliminate the need for vending machines that employ traditional refrigeration methods to store the beverage containers at low temperatures. Notably, as the self-chilling beverage container does not use electricity or refrigerant gas to chill the beverage within the container, the self-chilling beverage container has less adverse impact upon the environment compared to a traditional chilled beverage can. The beverages within self-chilling containers may also be chilled in a significantly shorter amount of time as compared to customary refrigeration methods. When traditional beverage containers are placed in freezers to chill them at a faster rate, the containers often explode upon freezing and expansion of the contents contained within, while a self-chilling container as described herein is not prone to exploding when placed in a freezer or stored in below-freezing temperatures in an unheated warehouse. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    The objects of the present invention and the associated advantages thereof will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the following drawings in which: 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a self-chilling beverage container. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a vertical cross-section through an insulated self-chilling beverage container illustrating the inner compartment coupled to the outer compartment and illustrating: the first cavity containing the beverage; the second cavity containing the liquid activating material; the third cavity containing the cooling agent; the hollow, porous puncturing means; the static spring mixer; the flexible diaphragm; and the closed tear panel. 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a vertical cross-section through an insulated self-chilling beverage container illustrating the opening of the access tear panel and illustrating the puncturing means puncturing the rupturable membrane and showing the flow of liquid from the first cavity into the second cavity through the ruptured membrane and through the openings in the puncturing means. 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a vertical cross-section through an insulated self-chilling beverage container illustrating the expansion of the static spring mixer and subsequent mixing of the contents of the inner compartment. 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a vertical cross-section through the lower half of the inner compartment of the self-chilling beverage container illustrating: the puncturing means; the compressed static spring mixer; the barrier membrane fixed between the second and the third cavities; the un-activated flexible diaphragm; and the closed tear panel. 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  illustrates the compressed static spring mixer held in place by the solvent-activated tape and the expanded static spring mixer. 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  illustrates one embodiment of the cooling mechanism where the puncturing means is permanently affixed to the flexible diaphragm and another embodiment of the cooling mechanism where the puncturing means is affixed to a removable plug inserted into the flexible diaphragm. 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  is a vertical cross-section through an insulated self-chilling beverage container illustrating the outer compartment with the first cavity containing the beverage and an expanded bottom end forming a fourth cavity modified with a female-threaded means in which is inserted the threaded cooling device. 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  is a vertical cross-section through a self-chilling beverage container illustrating the outer compartment with the first cavity containing the beverage and an expanded bottom end forming a fourth cavity modified with a female-threaded means, and an illustration of the cooling device insert having: the second cavity containing the liquid activating material; the third cavity containing the cooling agent; the hollow, porous puncturing means; the static spring mixer; the flexible diaphragm; and the bottom end of the sidewall modified with a male-threaded means. 
           [0035]      FIG. 10  is a vertical cross-section through an insulated self-chilling beverage container illustrating the outer compartment with the first cavity containing the beverage and an expanded bottom end forming a fourth cavity in which is inserted the cooling device equipped with a pressure seal. 
           [0036]      FIG. 11  is a vertical cross-section through an insulated self-chilling beverage container illustrating the outer compartment with the first cavity containing the beverage and an expanded bottom end forming a fourth cavity and an illustration of the cooling device insert having: the second cavity containing the liquid activating material; the third cavity containing the cooling agent; the hollow, porous puncturing means; the static spring mixer; the flexible diaphragm; and the bottom end of the sidewall equipped with a pressure seal. 
           [0037]      FIG. 12  is a vertical cross-section through a self-chilling beverage bottle illustrating the inner compartment coupled to the outer compartment and illustrating: the first cavity containing the beverage; the second cavity containing the liquid activating material; the third cavity containing the cooling agent; the hollow, porous puncturing means; the static spring mixer; the flexible diaphragm; and the tear panel. 
           [0038]      FIG. 13  illustrates the fully extended removable plug containing the puncturing means secured within the flexible diaphragm. 
           [0039]      FIG. 14  illustrates the self-chilling beverage container where the fully extended removable plug containing the puncturing means is inserted into soil surrounding plants such that the spent liquid cooling agent can flow from the device into the soil. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0040]    With reference to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a self-cooling container  5  particularly suited for carbonated soft drinks, fruit drinks, beer and other similar beverages. Preferably, the container  5  is a can constructed of conventional materials such as aluminum or other suitable materials, or a bottle constructed of a plastic material such as polycarbonate as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . With reference to  FIG. 2 , the container  5  has an outer compartment  10  having a top end  11 , a bottom end  12  and at least one sidewall  13 , an optional insulation means  14 , an outer compartment  10  that encloses a first cavity  16  that contains a beverage  17  to be cooled, an openable closure means  18  and an inner compartment  19  that contains the liquid activating agent  20 , the cooling agent  21 , a barrier or rupturable membrane  22  that separates the liquid activating agent  20  from the cooling agent  21 , a puncturing means  23  for rupturing the membrane  22  in order to initiate the cooling process, a compressed static spring mixer  24 , a flexible diaphragm  25  used to apply force to the puncturing means  23  and an openable closure or tear panel  26  that prevents accidental activation of the cooling mechanism. A close view of the lower half of the inner compartment  19  of the self-chilling beverage container  15  illustrating the puncturing means  23 , the compressed static spring mixer  24 , the barrier membrane  22  fixed between the second and the third cavities  30  and  31 , the un-activated flexible diaphragm  25 , and the closed tear panel  26  is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0041]    With further reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the openable closure means  18  typically consists of a pull tab  6  coupled to the top end  11  of the outer compartment  10  and is generally opened by pulling up on the tab  6  to pivot the tab  6  such that the tab  6  breaks a rupturable tear panel  7  incorporated into the top end  11  of the outer compartment  10 , allowing access to the beverage  17  contained within the first cavity  16 . Typically, the openable closure means  18  is made from the same materials commonly used to manufacture metal cans including steel, aluminum and alloys. 
         [0042]    Alternatively, and in reference to  FIG. 12 , the openable closure means  18  may consist of a cap that can be firmly attached to top end  11  of the outer compartment  10  to farm a sealed unit comprising: (i) a threaded cap equipped with a female -threaded fitting or other female-threaded means having an exterior surface and an interior surface such that the cap when screwed onto the self-cooling container  5  will create a self-contained unit, (ii) a seal or gasket affixed to the interior surface of the cap that can also cover the opening of the outer compartment  10  to create an isolated first cavity  16  within the outer compartment  10  that can contain any enclosed beverage  17  or liquid without leakage or spillage and without any contamination from the environment even when the liquid is pressurized under those pressures typical of a carbonated beverage, (iii) a top end  11  of the outer compartment  10  equipped with a male-threaded fitting or other male threaded means that can mate with the threaded cap when screwed together to form a tight-fitting seal between the cap, the gasket, the top end  11  of the outer compartment  10  and the first cavity  16  of the outer compartment  10 . 
         [0043]    With further reference to  FIG. 2 , the inner compartment  19  is positioned adjacent to the bottom end  12  of the outer compartment  10  and has at least one sidewall  27 , a top end  28  and a bottom end  29 . The inner compartment  19  also contains a second cavity  30  that contains the liquid activating agent  20  and a third cavity  31  that contains the cooling agent  21 . The liquid activating agent  20  in the second cavity  30  can be any suitable liquid which will react with the cooling agent  21  in the third cavity  31  such that the mixture will absorb heat and will typically be water although other inorganic and organic liquids can be used depending upon the selection of the cooling agent  21 . The cooling agent  21  can be any material which reacts on contact with the liquid activating agent  20  in the second cavity  30  to absorb heat. This chemical reaction or related dissolution process, known as an endothermic reaction or process, comprises the means by which the mixture of cooling agent  21  and liquid  20  cools the beverage  17  held in the first cavity  16  of the outer compartment  10  by heat transfer through the wall of inner compartment  19  from the beverage  17 . To facilitate heat transfer from the beverage  17 , the inner compartment  19  should be constructed of a suitable heat transfer material and is preferably made from materials such as steel, aluminum or other metal alloys. 
         [0044]    A wide variety of endothermic chemical compounds can be used as cooling agents in this invention and such chemicals are disclosed in the prior art. When the liquid activating agent  20  is water, typical cooling agents  21  include urea, potassium fluoride dihydrate, potassium chloride, potassium bromide, potassium iodide, potassium nitrite, potassium nitrate, potassium thiosulfate pentahydrate, potassium cyanide, potassium cyanate, potassium thiocyanide, sodium perchlorite, sodium perchlorate, sodium perchlorite dihydrate, sodium bromide dihydrate, sodium nitrite, sodium nitrate, sodium acetate trihydrate, sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate, sodium cyanide dihydrate, sodium cyanate, ammonium chloride, ammonium bromide, ammonium iodide, ammonium iodate, ammonium nitrite, ammonium nitrate, ammonium cyanide, ammonium thiocyanide, silver nitrate, rubidium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, ammonium polyphosphate, ammonium pyrophosphate and ammonium metaphosphate. The selection of a cooling agent  21  is based upon performance, cost, toxicity, safety and recyclability, and the preferred cooling agent contains a nitrogen compound, a potassium compound and a phosphorus compound and can be reused as a liquid fertilizer when no longer useful as a coolant. To accomplish this goal, various additives such as surfactants and thicken agents including guar and xanthate gums are added to the cooling agent to improve the performance of the spent coolant as a liquid fertilizer. 
         [0045]    With further reference to  FIG. 2 , the insulation means  14  may be coupled to the interior and exterior surfaces of the sidewall  13  of the outer compartment  10  to insulate the beverage  17  within the first cavity  16  from heat. The insulation means  14  is typically made out of a non-toxic material such as expanded polystyrene especially when it is applied to the interior surface of the sidewall  13  where the material would come in contact with the beverage  17 . 
         [0046]    The barrier or rupturable membrane  22  shown in  FIG. 2  that separates the liquid activating agent  20  from the cooling agent  21  is coupled to the sidewall  27  of the inner compartment  19  and divides an area formed by the sidewall  27  and the top and bottom ends  28  and  29  into a second cavity  30  and third cavity  31 . The second cavity  30  and the third cavity  31  can be of different sizes and the rupturable membrane  22  is made out of material that can be punctured by the puncturing means  23 , including rubber, elastomers, latex, polychlororprene, films, plastics etc. The rupturable membrane  22  is sufficiently durability to keep the contents of the second cavity  30  from coming into contact with the contents of the third cavity  31  during normal handling. 
         [0047]    Alternatively, the rupturable membrane  22  may consist of a balloon containing the liquid  20  that is positioned to occupy all of the interior space of the second cavity  30  such that the balloon forms the membrane or barrier  22  that separates the liquid  20  in the second cavity  30  from the cooling agent  21  in the third cavity  31 . 
         [0048]    The puncturing means  23  shown in  FIG. 2  comprises a hollow, porous but rigid cylindrical tube  32  having a top end  33 , a bottom end  34  and at least one sidewall  35 . The top end  33  of the tube  32  is sharpened to a point and the bottom end  34  is blunt. The tube  32  has an internal diameter between 0.125 and 0.5 inches and is of sufficient length to be able to extend at least 0.25 inches into the second cavity  30  from the third cavity  31  after having penetrated the rupturable membrane  22  upon activation. At rest the puncturing means  23  is of sufficient length to extend within around 0.25 inches below the rupturable membrane  22 . The bottom end  34  of the puncturing means  23  is coupled or attached to the interior surface of the flexible diaphragm  25  by a housing  36  such that the housing  36  orients the puncturing means  23  to move vertically upward towards the rupturable membrane  22  without moving significantly side-to-side. The tube  32  is penetrated by a series of openings or orifices  37  through the sidewall  35  of the tube  32  such that any liquid  20  moving through the hollow core of the tube  32  can be distributed in a uniform manner from the hollow core into the third cavity  31 . 
         [0049]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , when upward force is applied to the flexible diaphragm  25  attached to the puncturing means  23 , the puncturing means  23  is driven through the membrane  22  which ruptures and allows the passage of some of the liquid  20  from the second cavity  30  directly into the top of the third cavity  31  and also throughout all parts of the third cavity  31  through the core of the hollow tube  32  and out through the openings  37  in the sidewalls  35  of the tube  32  to promote rapid diffusion and ensure complete and thorough contact between the cooling agents  21  in the third cavity  31  and liquid activation agents  20  in the second cavity  30 . 
         [0050]    With respect to the inner compartment  19 , the flexible diaphragm  25  is affixed to the bottom of the inner compartment  19  to create a completely self-contained unit that can be activated by the consumer with no contact between the consumer and contents of the inner compartment  19 . As an additional safety feature, the flexible diaphragm  25  and contact interface with the consumer with respect to activating the cooling mechanism is completely separated from the pull tab  6  at the top of the container  5  whereby the consumer accesses the beverage  17 . By these features, the self-cooling container  5  is made safe to use. 
         [0051]    The compressed static spring mixer  24  illustrated in  FIG.2  comprises a compressed spring  38  placed but not permanently attached at the bottom of the third cavity  31  and on top of the interior surface of the flexible diaphragm  25 . The compressed spring is held in its compressed state by a solvent-soluble tape or glue  39  whereby the solvent is typically water, and has sufficient tensile strength to be able to spring open and push through into the second cavity  30  from the third cavity  31  while overcoming any resistance presented by remnants of the ruptured membrane  22 . A close view of the compressed spring  38  secured with the solvent-activated tape  39  and the uncompressed spring  40  is shown in  FIG. 6 . The compressed spring  38  is activated into becoming a static mixer when solvent dissolves or loosens the solvent soluble tape  39  that holds the spring  38  in its compressed state. The compressed spring  38  can be made of various materials including steel, aluminum, carbon fiber and plastic such that the material has sufficient tensile strength to be effective as a static mixer when the spring is uncoiled. The water soluble tape or glue  39  is well known to those familiar with the prior art and can be procured from various suppliers such as 3M. Alternatively, if the liquid activating agent  20  is not water, then the tape or glue  39  used to secure the compressed spring  38  must be soluble in the non-aqueous liquid activating agent  20 . There are many examples shown in the technical literature of tapes and glues that are soluble in liquids other than water and can be used for this invention in the event that the liquid activating agent  20  is an alcohol, ketone, acetate or hydrocarbon or the like. 
         [0052]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , when liquid loosens or dissolves the tape  39 , the spring  38  uncoils with sufficient force to roil the liquid coolant mixture  20  and  21  and improve the contact between clumps of undissolved cooling agent  21  in the third cavity  31  and isolated pockets of liquid activation agent  20  in the second cavity  30 . The uncoiled spring  40  is now free to move throughout the inner compartment  19  and when the self-chilling container  5  is shaken up and down after activation of the cooling mechanism and cooling process, the uncoiled spring  40  continues to improve mixing within the inner compartment  19  by moving from the top to the bottom of the inner compartment  19 , breaking up any remaining clumps of undissolved material and improving the transfer of heat from the beverage  17  in the first cavity  16  through the sidewall  27  of the inner compartment  19  by creating turbulent mixing forces that promote efficient heat transfer through boundary layers adjacent to the interior and exterior surfaces of the inner compartment  19 . 
         [0053]    Although other mechanical mixing means are described in the prior art, the static spring mixer  24  described herein is a significant improvement over other such devices because it simple, inexpensive, free of complex and unreliable drivers or rubber bands that may deteriorate and break or other such motive forces and can be easily inserted into the third cavity  31  of the inner compartment  19  during manufacture. 
         [0054]    With further reference to  FIG. 2 , an openable closure or tear panel  26  is shown that prevents accidental activation of the cooling mechanism. This tear panel  26  can be any material which will prevent access to flexible diaphragm  25  until it is desirable to access the flexible diaphragm  25  and activate the cooling mechanism. The tear panel  26  can be an adhesive foil, a plastic cap or the like which can be pealed back, opened, or otherwise removed by the consumer. The tear panel  26  is shown in the opened position in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 2 through 5  describe a self-cooling container  5  whereby the flexible diaphragm  25  is sealed off from the environment. In another embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 7 , the flexible diaphragm  25  is modified to allow the puncturing means  23  to be extended through the flexible diaphragm  25  to the open environment to allow a porous conduit between the cavities  30  and  31  of the inner compartment and the environment. In this modification, the puncturing means  23 , which in its unmodified state can be visualized as a hollow tube  32  of which the top end  33  is sharpened to a point and the bottom end  34  is blunt and having sidewalls  35  punctured by a series of openings or orifices  37  that allow the passage of liquids  20 , is connected by its blunt end  34  to a removable plug  41  that is fitted into an orifice  42  located in the center of the flexible diaphragm  25 . The plug  41  can be held in place within the flexible diaphragm  25  by a pressure seal  43  attached to the circumference of the bottom end of the plug  41  or by modifying the bottom end of the plug  41  to form a male threaded fitting  44  that can be screwed into a female-threaded fitting  45  formed as a modification of the orifice  42  within the flexible diaphragm  25 . The plug  41  and the fittings  44  and  45  serve as a safety device and minimize the risk of contact between the consumer and the contents of the cooling device when the consumer activates the device. 
         [0056]    The puncturing means  23  is further modified by forming a raised rib  46  extending around the circumference of the sidewall of the hollow tube  32  below the sharpened area or by forming a threaded means  46  in the same area such that the rib or threaded means  46  connects with the groves of the female fitting  45  within the flexible diaphragm  25  when the puncturing means  23  is extended through the orifice  42  of the diaphragm  25 , thus securing the extended puncturing means  23  in place within the flexible diaphragm  25  such that the contents of the inner compartment  19  will flow through the series of openings  37  within the sidewall  35  of the hollow puncturing means  23  in a predictable and controlled manner and not leak out around the orifice  42 . 
         [0057]    In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the removable plug  41  affixed to the porous hollow tube  32  of the puncturing means  23  is loosened from the orifice  41  in the flexible diaphragm  25  and the puncturing means  23  extended through the orifice  41  and secured in place in the extended position. The spent liquid coolant  20  and  21  which may have residual value can now flow through the openings  37  in the sidewall  35  of the puncturing means  23  without spillage. Where the spent liquid coolant  20  and  21  has residual value as a fertilizer, which is commonly the case for the most effective, inexpensive and safe-to-use cooling agents  21 , the container  5  equipped with the extended puncturing means  23  can be inserted into the soil or media  47  containing the plants  48  to be fertilized and the liquid fertilizer  20  and  21  can then flow through the openings  37  in a slow and controlled way to provide a controlled release of nutrients in a manner designed to enhance plant growth. In this mode, the self-chilling container  5  promotes the reuse and recycling of the spent cooling agent  20  and  21  and facilitates the recycling and enhances the residual value of the container  5  and its contents. 
         [0058]      FIGS. 2 through 7  describe a self-cooling container  5  whereby the inner compartment  19  is directly and permanently attached to the bottom end  12  of the outer compartment  10  and in direct contact with the beverage or liquid  17  contained within the outer compartment  10  and located within the first cavity  16  of the outer compartment  10 . In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 8 through 11 , a self-cooling container  5  as described above has the inner compartment  19  in direct contact with the expanded exterior surface of the bottom end  12  of the outer compartment  10  such that the inner compartment  19  is removable without loss of the liquid  17  contained within the first cavity  16  of the outer compartment  10 . The bottom end  12  of the outer compartment  10  is expanded to displace some of the volume of the first cavity  16  that contains the liquid  17  to be cooled such that a fourth cavity  15  is formed that does not contain any liquid and is open to the environment. The fourth cavity  15  conforms to the shape of the inner compartment  19  and is made to hold the inner compartment  19  in place. As illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the inner compartment  19  can be held in place within the self-cooling container  10  by a pressure seal  49  attached to the circumference of the bottom end  29  of the sidewall  27  of the inner compartment  19  or as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , by modifying the bottom end  29  of the sidewall  27  to form a male threaded fitting  50  that can be screwed into a female threaded fitting  51  formed as a modification of the bottom expanded end  12  of the outer container  10 . In this manner a separate cooling device or insert  51  that comprises the cooling mechanism, the static spring mixer  24 , the cooling agent  21 , the separating barrier  22  and the liquid  20  to activate the cooling agent  21  can all be manufactured separately from the container  5  holding the beverage  17  to be cooled, and thus the described cooling device  51  can be inserted into and removed from the beverage container  5  for ease of use and to promote efficiency with respect to the manufacturing of the container  5  and the device  51  and with respect to the recycling and reuse of the containers  5  and  51 , and the spent cooling materials  20  and  21 . 
         [0059]    With respect to the above, the operation of the present self-cooling container  5  is safe and simple. A customer first pulls away the tear panel  26  located at the bottom of the container  5  to gain access to the cooling mechanism, applies pressure to the flexible diaphragm  25  with their finger thereby causing the force to be exerted upon the puncturing means and rupturing the rupturable membrane  22 . Once the membrane  22  is ruptured, the liquid  20  from second cavity  30  enters the third cavity  31  and reacts or solubilizes the cooling agent  21  in the third cavity  31  initiating an endothermic reaction that absorbs heat from the beverage and cools the beverage. The liquid  20  from the second cavity  30  also travels to the compressed spring  38  and dissolves the solvent-activated tape  39  and the spring  38  is uncoiled with sufficient force to thoroughly mix the materials in the inner compartment  19  speed up the cooling process. The beverage is consumed through the openable closure means  18  by pulling on the pull tab  6  or unscrewing the bottle cap. After consuming the beverage  17 , the consumer may then recycle the self-chilling container  5  as a unit or as in one embodiment, remove the cooling device  51  from the self-cooling container  5  and recycle the cooling device  51  and the remaining component of the self-cooling container  5  separately. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the consumer may loosen the plug  41  from the flexible diaphragm  25  from either the self-cooling container  5  or the removable cooling device  51  equipped with a removable plug  41  and extend the hollow and porous tube  32  of the puncturing means  23  to a secure position within the orifice  42  of the flexible diaphragm  25 . The self-cooling container  5  so affixed can then be inserted into the soil or media  47  to provide a controlled release of nutrients in a manner designed to enhance plant growth, thus facilitating the reuse of the spent coolant. 
         [0060]    While the preferred form of the present invention has been shown and described above, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject invention is not limited by the Figures and that the scope of the invention includes modifications, variations and equivalents which fall within the scope the attached claims. Moreover, it should be understood that the individual components of the invention include equivalent embodiments without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 2