Abstract:
A self-contained liquid beverage container chiller utilizing a compressed gaseous coolant discharging through a series of gas coolant carrying tubes arrayed about the interior of the container for chilling drinkable liquids with a straw closure mechanism and easy on/off bottom cap for removing and replenishing the liquid beverage containers.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    A portable device for cooling liquid that is self-contained, using a compressible gas that creates a cooling atmosphere around the bottle as well as cooling the actual liquid from within the bottle as withdrawn through a straw. 
         [0002]    Portable drink coolers are commonly used to maintain beverages at refrigerated temperatures. Various devices for cooling or maintaining the temperature of beverages have been previously described and used, such as gels and other chemical refrigerants, ice, metallic plates submerged within the beverage, cooling tubes or sticks, vacuum and air gap thermoses, and foam insulative jackets. Additionally, some earlier designs used high pressure gases such as carbon dioxide, but failed to show how to release the gas without danger to the user. 
         [0003]    There are a number of problems associated with this approach. For example, ice or similar materials last only for a relatively short period of time and must be continuously replenished. The addition of ice can dilute the beverage with melt water and can alter the taste of the beverage. Moreover, coolant gases such as carbon dioxide are harmful to the environment. In all these cases, the design of the system necessitates that the liquid contents, a separate chamber, or the shell of the container be cooled, which can lead to excessive weight issues in addition to a liquid volume displacement loss within the container. In all of these cooling methods, the temperature of the liquid will tend to an equilibrium point between the temperature of the coolant and the original temperature of the liquid, but the liquid will eventually return to the exterior ambient temperature. 
         [0004]    Some of the earlier devices are described in a series of patent disclosures. U.S. Pat. No. 6,952,934 [Lee] discloses a self-cooling liquid container that uses a helical coolant gas tube to control the emitting degrees of the coolant gas thereby controlling the temperature of the beverage and cooling the liquid by evaporation of the coolant gas. However, this device is designed to cool only the liquid; it does not attempt to cool the environment outside the liquid container but within the cooler. 
         [0005]    U.S. Patent Application No. 2007/0137244 [Provencher] discloses a cooling tube that lowers the temperature of a beverage as that beverage is drawn through the cooling tube by a user. The cooling material is comprised of water, gel or another suitable freezable substance contained within the tube. The cooling tube is placed into a freezer to chill the cooling material and when the cooling tube is ready to be used the user inserts it into a beverage container. The Provencher invention does not provide a way to cool the environment around the beverage container and requires the insertion of the tube into the actual beverage which can be cumbersome. Moreover, waiting for the coolant in the tube to freeze is time consuming. 
         [0006]    Other patents that are directed to similar devices are described as follows. U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,604 [Pier, et al.] discloses a portable, handheld receptacle used for cooling beverages using natural ice as a coolant contained within insulating walls of the receptacle. The Pier invention only cools the environment outside the container for the beverage and does not chill the actual liquid. U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,110 [Worsham] discloses a bottle carrier/cooler that allows for a bottle and ice, or other refrigerant, to be placed into the carrier/cooler to keep the beverage cool. The Worsham invention does not have a cooling mechanism for the liquid inside the bottle as it only chills the exterior space surrounding the bottle. Moreover, the Worsham device does not cover the top of the bottle; the cooler only comes up to the neck of the bottle. 
         [0007]    The problems that are perceived to exist are that there is no combination of a cooler/chiller that treats both the exterior space surrounding the liquid beverage container as well as the liquid so that the liquid is not cooled sufficiently except after the expiration of some period of time for an exterior chiller to operate effectively. Alternatively, a chiller straw device can only act on the liquid being drawn through it, which restricts the total amount of liquid that can be chilled so that as more liquid is being drawn through the device the temperature of that liquid increases for the reason that the coolant cannot act on the liquid except when the coolant and liquid are in direct contact for some period of time longer than instantaneously. Also, there does not appear to be any chilling mechanism or method for cooperatively chilling the liquid beverage simultaneously with the same coolant chilling the environment immediately surrounding the beverage container. Such apparatus and cooling method would tend to significantly reduce the overall time necessary for an external chiller to bring down the temperature of the liquid beverage operating only from the exterior of the container. 
         [0008]    To overcome the problems described above, the present invention uses a disposable gas cylinder with a compressible gas, such as nitrogen, that passes through a system of tubes to cool the environment surrounding the liquid beverage container, as well as a chiller tube or tubes that helically surround the drinking straw inserted into the container and into the liquid beverage to chill the liquid inside the container. The present invention also uses a compressed gas that cools as it expands following release, and which is not harmful to the environment. The invention permits the expanding gas to chill both the overall container into which the liquid beverage container is inserted, as well as the chilling straw inserted directly into the liquid, and incorporates a means for allowing the gas to escape out of the container without harming the user. 
         [0009]    An object of the present invention is to provide a cooling system that releases a cooling gas into the walls of an overall container for providing a cooled environment for a liquid beverage container housed therein, as well as employing tubing carrying the coolant surrounding the drinking straw placed inside the liquid beverage container in order to simultaneously cool the actual liquid; providing a more uniform cooling of the beverage for the user. 
         [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a cooling system that does not emit harmful gases into the environment. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight ergonomic cooling system for liquid beverages that is easily reusable and retains its cooling for an extended period of time. 
         [0011]    Other objects will appear hereinafter. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention is directed to a self-contained cooling system for liquid beverages that cools the environment surrounding the liquid beverage container, as well as cooling the liquid itself by releasing a compressed gas through a series of connected tubing that runs along and around the interior the container, also including connected tubing that surrounds the drinking straw to cool the liquid inside the container and as the liquid is being withdrawn through the straw. The container has the appearance of a mug, with a replaceable compressed gas cylinder located within the handle portion of the mug. 
         [0013]    The present invention utilizes a disposable compressed gas cylinder, which releases the coolant in gaseous form through a tubing system that discharges the gas to expand throughout the tubing housed within the walls of the mug holding the liquid beverage container providing a cooled atmosphere for the exterior of the container within the mug. The gas, upon triggered release, exits the gas containing pressurized cylinder and enters the heat exchange manifold where it expands through a network of tubing that travels around the interior wall of the mug, chilling the entire interior space of the mug. The gas is permitted to exit from the top portion of the mug through the top cap. 
         [0014]    The liquid beverage container fits within the outer shell of the mug. The cooling tubing is housed within the wall surrounding the container cooling it from all sides. The compressed gas cylinder is located within the outer shell of the container, which cylinder can release the coolant gas into the tubes once it is triggered. Additionally, tubing connected to the cooling tubing housed in the mug wall surrounds the drinking straw that extends from the top cap of the mug to the bottom of the liquid beverage container chilling the liquid inside the container, thereby, creating a two-fold chilling effect for the user. The straw is a permanent appliance in the mug and the beverage container is interchangeable through the screw on/off bottom of the mug. The threads for removing or reattaching the bottom cap can be continuous or a bayonet type mounting. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a partial cut-away right side view of the liquid beverage cooling system of the present invention showing the compressed gas cylinder and pathway for the coolant gas through the tubing system inside the inner liner of the mug. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a partial cut-away left side view of the liquid beverage cooling system of the present invention showing the compressed gas cylinder and pathway for the coolant gas through the tubing system inside the inner liner of the mug, the path of the chiller tubes running along the sides of the drinking straw, and the exit route for the coolant gas through the top end of the mug. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a cut away top view of the upper portion of the mug showing the array of positions of the cooling tubes between the inner liner and the outer shell of the mug, the connections between the tubing sections, and the gas exhaust protruding through the top cap of the mug. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a partial cut away side view of the top portion of the mug showing the top cap and flip-up straw in the open position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is an exploded partial side view of the bottom end of the mug showing the removable bottom cap with cooperating threads for removing and reattaching the bottom cap of the mug. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. The description is not intended in a limiting sense, and is made solely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention. The various features and advantages of the present invention may be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
         [0022]    Referring now to the drawings in detail, where like numerals refer to like parts or elements, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a self-contained cooling apparatus  10  for liquid beverages that cools the spatial environment surrounding the liquid beverage container housed within the apparatus, as well as simultaneously direct cooling the liquid beverage, by the release of a compressed gas through a series of gas coolant exchange tubes  26  that run along and around the sidewalls of the container  10  extending almost completely around the container, approximately 330° to 360°, that are housed within an inner liner  14  of the container  10 . The container  10  has a shell  12  in the shape of a drinking mug, with a replaceable compressed gas cylinder  22  located within the handle portion of the mug  10 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the partial cutaway view affords an interior view of the self-contained cooling system  10 . The disposable compressed gas cylinder  22 , housed in the handle  13  of the shell  12 , releases the cooling gas through a compressed gas feed line  24 , which connects to the stainless heat exchange tubes  26 . The coolant tubes  26  carry the coolant gas throughout the inner liner  14  surrounding a liquid beverage container  30 . The gas coolant tubes  26  surround the container  30  cooling it from all sides. The inner liner  14  is an insulative layer that fits within the outer shell  12  acting as a temperature gradient reflector retaining the internal environment within the mug  10  and the exterior environment outside of the mug. 
         [0024]    The compressed gas cylinder  22  is located within the outer shell  12  of the container  10  in the handle portion  13  of the mug. The coolant exits the cylinder  22  when a manually triggered valve (not shown) is engaged entering and circulating through the coolant tubes  26  where the gas coolant expands throughout the tubing  26  traveling around inner liner  14  of the mug  10 , chilling the entire interior of the mug  10 . The coolant, still in gaseous form, is permitted to exit through the top portion of the mug  10  through an aperture  29  located in the top cap  17 . 
         [0025]    As an additional chilling mechanism, a pair of chiller tubes  32  (shown in phantom lines) surround the drinking straw  20  to cool the liquid inside the container  30 . The drinking straw  20  runs from the top cap  17  of the mug  10  to the bottom of the container  30 . The straw  20  is a permanent appliance in the mug  10  and the container  30  is interchangeable through the bottom of the mug  10  by using a screw on/off bottom cap  16 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  shows, with a cutaway view of the top of the mug  10 , the coolant dispersal tubes  26 . The coolant dispersal tubes  26  are located between the inner liner  14  and the outer shell  12  of the cooling system  10  with the distal end of the tube  26  connecting to the aperture  29  allowing the gas to escape from the container  10 . The compressed gas feed line  24  (shown in phantom lines) connects the compressed cylinder  22  to the coolant tubes  26  by fitting  28 . The various undulations of the coolant tubes  26  are shown by varying the lines from solid to phantom and back again depicting the traveling of the tubes within the liner  14  from the top of the cooling system  10  to the bottom. In this manner the greatest surface area is being covered by the coolant tubes to achieve the desired temperature reduction within the mug  10 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , an enlarged view of the top portion of the container  10 , the top cap  17  and a flip-up straw cap or valve  19  is shown in the open position. The flex straw  20  exits the container  10  and is engaged and disengaged by use of the straw cap or valve  19 . The straw  20  also extends downward into the container  30 , shown here as a bottle. The flex straw  20  protrudes from within the bottle  30  and through the top cap  17  of the mug  10 . The straw cap  19  folds down to seal off the straw  20  and is designed to fit within a curved extension on the top of the cap  17 . Also shown is the top of the container or bottle  30  that is pressed against the inside of the top cap  17  of the mug  10  so that liquid does not leak from within the container. A sealing mechanism, such as a gasket  23 , is shown on the underside of the cap assembly to provide the anti-leaking mechanism. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  shows, in an exploded view of the bottom of the mug  10 , the bottom cap  16  separated from the mug  10 . The bottom cap  16  is removed to insert or remove the liquid beverage container  30 . To properly secure the bottom cap  16  to the mug  10  circumferential threads  34  may be used with cooperating threads on both the shell  12  of the mug  10  and the inner surface of the bottom cap  16 . An alternative method of attachment of the bottom cap  16  can be a bayonet mounting with the appropriately configured extensions and receivers. When engaged the bottom cap  16  holds the liquid beverage container in a fixed position within the mug  10 , upward and tightly against the sealing means  23 , so that liquid cannot spill in the interior of the mug  10 . Further, with the bottom cap  16  securely in place, the interior space of mug  10  is completely insulated from the external environment so that the gaseous coolant can effectively chill the contents. 
         [0029]    Thus, when the gas coolant is permitted to flow from the cylinder  22  and through the coolant tubes  26 , the interior space of the mug  10 , along with the liquid beverage container  30  placed therein, will be chilled accordingly. As an added cooling effect, the drinking straw  20  has small diameter tubes  32  with the coolant gas contained therein, along the length of the straw  20  that is inserted into the container  30 . When the straw  20  is engaged (opened) by flipping upward the valve closure  19  on the top  17  of the mug  10 , liquid can be drawn upward into the straw  20  and that liquid is chilled further by the heat transfer effect between the liquid and the coolant tubes  32  on the exterior of the straw  20 . In this manner, when the liquid beverage reaches the drinker, it is sufficiently chilled to afford a pleasing, cooling effect on the drinker. 
         [0030]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as being illustrative and not restrictive, with the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing detailed description, as indicating the scope of the invention as well as all modifications which may fall within a range of equivalency which are also intended to be embraced therein.