Abstract:
A beverage container provided with a thermal regulation member having a sidewall extending through a beverage cavity of a container main body. The thermal regulation member contains an energy storage material that receives, stores, and transmits heat energy to and from a beverage in the beverage cavity to regulate its temperature. The energy storage material may initially absorb energy from a heated beverage having a temperature too hot for drinking, then transfers heat energy back into the beverage as it cools, keeping it within a comfortable temperature range for an extended period of time. The thermal regulation member may be selectively attachable to a stopper assembly that seals an upper opening of the beverage cavity. Alternatively, laterally extending attachment members may attach the thermal regulation member directly to a wall of the beverage cavity.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to beverage containers, and more particularly to beverage containers containing material for regulating the temperature of a liquid therein. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The optimal temperature to brew coffee, tea, and other hot beverages (e.g., ˜195° F.) is much higher than the comfortable temperature range for drinking (e.g., ˜150° F.-170° F.). This poses a problem in that many hot beverage drinkers are not able to drink their hot beverage immediately after brewing. Previously implemented solutions to this problem involve waiting for the hot beverage to cool naturally or introducing ice to the hot beverage, which dilutes the flavor. This problem is exacerbated when a user uses a drinking vessel with high thermal insulation properties (i.e., vacuum or foam insulated vessels) in an effort to keep the beverage temperature in the comfortable range once reached. 
         [0003]    More recently implemented approaches use energy storage materials to draw heat energy from heated beverages. One solution proposes to include energy storage material between the sidewalls of a drinking vessel and separated from the beverage by an inner one of the sidewalls. Another approach is to keep the thermal regulation material in a separate containment vessel or pod loosely contained in the beverage container. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a beverage container assembly including a thermal regulation member according to a first embodiment. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the thermal regulation member of  FIG. 1  removed from the beverage container main body. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the thermal regulation member of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a beverage container assembly including a thermal regulation member according to a second embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top plan view of the thermal regulation member of  FIG. 4  removed from the beverage container main body. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  illustrates a top perspective view of the thermal regulation member of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a beverage container assembly including a thermal regulation member according to a third embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    A beverage container according to the current application includes an energy storage material contained in a thermal regulation member suspended in a beverage cavity. The thermal regulation member has sidewalls exposed within the beverage cavity to maximize effective the surface area exposed to a beverage contained within the beverage cavity, thereby helping to maximize the energy transfer rate between the beverage in the beverage cavity and the energy storage material. The thermal regulation member may be configured to attach to a surface within the beverage cavity of the beverage container to prevent loose parts from colliding with the inner walls of the beverage container. The thermal regulation member may attach to a stopper or a lid of the beverage container, a bottom surface of the beverage cavity, or attach to a flexible member that suspends the thermal regulation member within the beverage cavity. The thermal regulation member may be selectively removable from and attachable to the beverage container to facilitate separate cleaning and/or storage. The energy transfer material is sealed (e.g., hermetically, fluid-tight) within the thermal regulation member to prevent contact between the beverage in the beverage cavity and the energy storage material. Attachment of the thermal regulation member within the beverage cavity may also help to prevent contact between the thermal regulation member and an interior surface of the beverage cavity to minimize noise and/or damage caused by contact of the thermal regulation member 
         [0012]    A beverage container assembly  10  according to a first embodiment is shown in  FIG. 1 . The beverage container assembly  10  includes a container main body  12  for storing a beverage and a stopper assembly  14  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) configured to attach to the main body and contain the beverage therein. The beverage container assembly  10  may further include a drinking vessel  16  configured to fit over the stopper assembly  14  and selectively attach to the container main body  12  at the upper end thereof. 
         [0013]    The container main body  12  includes a beverage cavity  18  defined by an inner cavity wall  20  extending downwardly and terminating at a bottom surface  22 . The container main body  12  includes a beverage aperture  24  through which a fluid or a semi-fluid may flow into or out of the beverage cavity  18 . The container main body  12  may be a double-walled container having an insulation cavity  26  between the inner cavity wall  20  and an outer cavity wall  28  defining an exterior surface of the container main body. The insulation cavity  26  may be hermetically sealed and contain air, insulation material, or be vacuum-sealed. The container main body  12  further includes a stopper receptacle  30  sized and shaped to removably receive the stopper assembly  14 . The container main body  12  may also include a stopper attachment portion  32  for releasably securing the stopper assembly  14  to the beverage container assembly  10 . 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the stopper assembly  14  has a sealing member  34  sized and shaped to engage in the stopper receptacle  30  and thereby seal the beverage cavity  18  to retain a fluid or a semi-fluid therein. The sealing member  34  may include assembly attachment portion  35  for selectively securing the sealing member to the container main body  12 . The assembly attachment portion  35  is a threaded attachment portion configured to engage in a complementary threaded attachment portion of the stopper attachment portion  32  in this first embodiment. However, the assembly attachment portion  35  may engage with the stopper attachment portion  32  using other complementary attachment elements known in the art, such as such as a bayonet mount or friction fit, by way of non-limiting example. The stopper assembly  14  may further include a thermal regulation member  36  sized and shaped to extend at least partially into the beverage cavity  18  when the sealing member  34  of the stopper assembly is engaged with the stopper receptacle  30 . The thermal regulation member  36  is configured to self-regulate the temperature of a fluid or a semi-fluid contained in the beverage cavity  18 , as described below in greater detail. 
         [0015]    The sealing member  34  of this first embodiment has a cylindrical shape with sidewall  38  extending downwardly from an upper end portion  40 . The sealing member  34  is provided with an insulation cavity  42  that helps to prevent heat transfer through the beverage aperture  24  when the sealing member is engaged with the stopper receptacle  30 . The insulation cavity  42  is a sealed cavity that may be filled with air, or an insulating material having a low thermal conductivity, such as fiberglass, cellulose, polyurethane foam, or polystyrene, by way of non-limiting example. Alternatively, the insulation cavity  42  may be vacuum-sealed (i.e., sealed after removal of gas). The upper end portion  40  may be provided with a handle or a textured feature to help facilitate the user to insert and rotate the stopper assembly  14  within the stopper receptacle  30 . 
         [0016]    A lower end portion  44  of the sealing member  34  may be provided with a bottom wall  46  defining a bottom end of the insulation cavity  42 . The lower end portion  44  may include a regulation member attachment portion  48  for attaching the thermal regulation member  36  to the sealing member  34 . The lower end portion  44  may include an O-ring  52  that sealingly engages a flange  50  of the main body  12  disposed between the beverage cavity  18  and the stopper receptacle  30  of the container main body  12  to seal the beverage aperture  24  and reduce heat transfer therethrough and prevent leakage of the fluid or the semi-fluid from the beverage cavity  18 . In this first embodiment, the O-ring  52  is disposed on the lower end portion  44 ; however, the O-ring may be disposed elsewhere on the sealing member  34  in other embodiments, such as on the sidewall  38 . 
         [0017]    The thermal regulation member  36  has an elongated shape sized to extend along a length of the beverage cavity  18  centrally inward of the cavity wall  20  (see  FIG. 1 ). The thermal regulation member  36  includes a cavity  54  containing an energy storage material  37 , which is described below in greater detail. The energy storage material  37  may be hermetically sealed in the cavity  54  and does not directly contact the beverage in the beverage cavity  18 . One end of the thermal regulation member  36  may include an end cap  39  sealing the energy storage material  37  in the cavity  54 . The thermal regulation member  36  has an elongated main body portion  55  with a cylindrical sidewall  56  extending between a first or upper end portion  58  and a second or lower end portion  60  opposite to the first end portion. The sidewall  56  is comprised of material with a high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum or copper. In this first embodiment, the elongated shape of the thermal regulation member  36  is a cylindrical shape with a circular or elliptical cross-section. A second end  62  of the thermal regulation member  36  at the second end portion  60  may be substantially flat or slightly concave. 
         [0018]    The first end portion  58  includes a sealing member attachment portion  64  configured to form a rigid attachment with the regulation member attachment portion  48  of the sealing member  34 . The sealing member attachment portion  64  of this first embodiment is sized and shaped to fit within regulator member attachment portion  48 . The sealing member attachment portion  64  includes a threaded sidewall  66  extending upward from the main body portion  55  and terminating at a first end  68 . The threaded sidewall  66  of this first embodiment is threadably received within a complementary threaded interior portion of the regulation member attachment portion  48 . The cavity  54  may extend into the first end portion  58  and interior of the sidewall  66 . Alternatively, the cavity  54  may end within the main body portion  55  without extending into the narrower first end portion  58 . 
         [0019]    The sealing member attachment portion  64  is configured to be selectively attachable to and removable from the sealing member  34  to facilitate separate cleaning of the thermal regulation member  36 . Selective removal of the thermal regulation member  36  from the sealing member  34  also allows the thermal regulation member to be separately heated and/or cooled. In some embodiments, the thermal regulation member  36  may be permanently attached to the sealing member  34 . Sealing member attachment portion  64  may attach to the sealing member  34  using other methods than threaded sidewalls, such as bayonet mounting, friction fit, or ferromagnetic elements, by way of non-limiting example. The sealing attachment portion  64  has a cylindrical cross-section in this first embodiment, but may have a different cross-sectional shape in other embodiments, such as a rectangular shape. 
         [0020]    When the stopper assembly  14  is inserted into and secured to the container main body  12 , the thermal regulation member  36  extends at least partially through the beverage cavity  18  so as to be in direct contact with the fluid or the semi-fluid within the beverage cavity. The sidewall  56  of the thermal regulation member  36  extends in the same direction as the cavity wall  20  along a longitudinal axis of the cavity wall and is spaced apart from the cavity wall  20  when positioned within the beverage cavity  18 . In this first embodiment, the thermal regulation member  36  is suspended from the sealing member  34  and extends downwardly in the beverage cavity  18 . The second end  62  may be spaced apart from the bottom surface  22  of the beverage cavity  18  (see  FIG. 1 ) to expose the fluid or the semi-fluid in the beverage cavity to the second end  62 . A bumper  67 , such as shown in  FIG. 4  for a second embodiment, may at least partially cover the second end portion  60  of the thermal regulation member  36 , near the second end  62 , to help prevent damage and/or noise caused by direct contact between the thermal regulation member  34  and the cavity wall  20 . 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, one or more cables (not shown) may connect the thermal regulation member  36  to the sealing member  34 . Each of the one or more cables may be a flexible or elastic member extending between an attachment point on the lower end portion  44  of the sealing member  34  and an attachment point on the first end  68  of the thermal regulation member  36 . The one or more cables may allow the thermal regulation member  36  to move within the beverage cavity  18  relative to the sealing member  34  instead of being fixed by a rigid attachment. The cable-suspended thermal regulation member  36  may include more than one bumper  67  (as shown for the second embodiment of  FIG. 4 ) to help prevent direct contact between the thermal regulation member  36  and the cavity wall  20 . 
         [0022]    In other embodiments, the thermal regulation member  36  may attach to the bottom surface  22  of the beverage cavity  18 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . The second end  62  of the thermal regulation member  36  may have an attachment portion, such as a threaded sidewall or a ferromagnetic element, that forms a rigid attachment to a corresponding attachment portion on or in the bottom surface  22 . When the thermal regulation member  36  is attached to the attachment portion on or in the bottom surface  22  of the beverage cavity  18 , the sidewall  56  of the main body portion  55  extends upwardly from the bottom surface  22 . The first end portion  58  of the thermal regulation member  36  may include a handle or other similar feature for allowing the user to position and/or attach the thermal regulation member in the beverage cavity  18 . 
         [0023]    The elongated shape of the thermal regulation member  36  may be different than a cylindrical shape without departing from the scope of the beverage container assembly described herein. The thermal regulation member  36  may have a square or rectangular cross-section, for example. In some embodiments, the thermal regulation member  36  may taper from one end to the opposite end (e.g., taper from the first end portion  58  to the second end portion  60 ). The first end  68  or the second end  62  may be rounded, or may have a convex or concave shape. 
         [0024]    The energy storage material  37  in the cavity  54  draws heat energy away from the fluid or the semi-fluid, e.g., a beverage, in the beverage cavity  18  decreasing its temperature in a short period of time. Once the beverage has cooled to a temperature range more comfortable for drinking (e.g., ˜150° F.-170° F.), the energy storage material then transfers heat energy back into the beverage, thereby keeping it within a comfortable drinking temperature range for an extended period of time. The energy storage material  37  may be a phase change material that undergoes phase changes within and around temperature ranges that are comfortable for human consumption of beverages. For example, the phase change material may maintain a solid phase in a first temperature range comfortable for human consumption of the beverage (e.g., below 170° F.). The phase change material may maintain a liquid phase in the second temperature range that is uncomfortable for human consumption of the beverage (e.g., above 170° F.). When a heated beverage heated to a temperature above the first temperature range is introduced to the phase change material in the solid phase (i.e., in the first temperature range), the phase change material draws heat energy away from the beverage, thereby lowering the temperature of the heated beverage. As the phase change material absorbs a sufficient amount of heat energy to increase its temperature above the first temperature range, the phase change material may change from the solid phase to a liquid phase as a method of storing energy. Once the heated beverage has cooled below the temperature of the phase change material, the phase change material transfers heat energy back to the heated beverage maintaining the heated beverage in the comfortable drinking temperature range for an extended period of time. Once the temperature of the phase change material drops below the second temperature range, the phase change material changes from the liquid phase back to the solid phase. The phase change material may be a phase change material known to those of ordinary skill in the art including, but not limited to, salt hydrates, paraffins, palm oil isolate, organic acids, petroleum-based waxes, and eutectics. Non-phase changing energy storage materials include, but are not limited to ethylene glycol, hydroxyethyl cellulose, food-based oils and synthetic oils. 
         [0025]    Locating the energy storage material  37  in the thermal regulation member  36  extending into the beverage cavity  18  allows the heated beverage to exchange heat energy with the energy storage material while the inner cavity wall  20  and outer wall  28  of the container main body  12  insulate the heated beverage and help to prevent heat transfer to external ambient air. Moreover, the thermal regulation member  36  extending in the beverage cavity  18  allows for a more uniform distribution of heat transfer as compared with a loosely contained vessel or pod in the beverage container. 
         [0026]    Alternatively, the thermal regulation member may be configured to attach to a beverage container assembly using outwardly extending attachment members in some embodiments. Referring to  FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 , a beverage container assembly  70  includes a thermal regulation member  72  having outwardly extending attachment members  74  for attaching the thermal regulation member to a container main body  76 . The attachment members  74  are configured to engage with the container main body  76  to attach the thermal regulation member  72  to the container main body  76 . The container main body  76  has an inner cavity wall  78  which extends downwardly from a lip  80  of the container main body and defines a beverage cavity  82 , and an outer cavity wall  79 . The thermal regulation member  72  includes a sidewall  84  extending downwardly from an upper portion  86 . The sidewall  84  at least partially encloses a cavity  88  containing the energy storage material  37  described above. The sidewall  84  may be comprised of the material having a high thermal conductivity so that heat energy may quickly and efficiently transfer between the energy storage material  37  and the fluid or the semi-fluid, e.g., a beverage, in the beverage cavity  82 . 
         [0027]    The outwardly extending attachment members  74  extend radially from the thermal regulation member  72  to engage with the cavity wall  78  and thereby attach the thermal regulation member within the container main body  76 . The attachment members  74  of this second embodiment are thin, fin-shaped structures having substantially vertically facing major surfaces. Each of the attachment members  74  may taper or narrow in thickness toward an attachment member distal end  75 . In some embodiments, the attachment members  74  may instead have a uniform thickness along their length. The attachment members  74  may be comprised of a resilient, flexible material, such as rubber, that bends or deforms when pressed against the cavity wall  78 . The attachment members  74  may have a rigid core surrounded by the resilient, flexible material in some embodiments. Each of the attachment members  74  may extend outward from a peripheral edge of a ring  90  positioned on the upper portion  86  of the thermal regulation member  72 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0028]    A widest portion of the thermal regulation member  72 , measured from the distal end  75  of one attachment member  74  to the distal end  75  of another attachment member on an opposite side of the thermal regulation member, may be wider than a widest diameter of the beverage cavity  82 . Flexible attachment members  74  may deform or bend against the cavity wall  78  when the thermal regulation member  72  is inserted in the beverage cavity  82 . The container main body  76  may include receptacles  92 , each sized and shaped to receive the attachment member distal end  75  of one of the attachment members  74 , and thereby removably secure the thermal regulation member  72  to the container main body  76 . Insertion of the ends  75  of the attachment members  74  into the receptacles  92  helps to prevent or reduce vertical and rotational movement of the thermal regulation member  72  within the beverage cavity  82 . The receptacles  92  do not extend into an insulation cavity  91  located between the inner cavity wall  78  and the outer cavity wall  79  of the container main body  76 . 
         [0029]    The inner cavity wall  78  of the container main body  76  may not include the receptacles  92  in some embodiments. The attachment members  74  may engage with the inner cavity wall  78  by friction fit in some embodiments. The attachment members  74  may include textured, roughened or high-friction distal ends  75  that abut the inner cavity wall  78  when the thermal regulation member  76  is inserted in the beverage cavity  82 . The attachment members  74  may widen toward the attachment member distal ends  75  to increase the surface area of the attachment member ends contacting the inner cavity wall  78 . The opposing cavity wall  78  may slope inwardly in the downward direction so that the beverage cavity  82  narrows to increase friction between the attachment member ends  75  and the cavity wall when the thermal regulation member  72  is inserted in the beverage cavity  82 . The friction fit between the attachment member distal end  75  and the inner cavity wall  78  also helps to prevent or reduce vertical and rotational movement of the thermal regulation member  72  within the beverage cavity  82 . In some embodiments, the attachment members  74  may be attached to and extend inward from the cavity wall  78  and engage with receptacles located on an upper portion of the container main body  76 . 
         [0030]    Other methods of attachment may be used without departing from the scope of the beverage container assemblies described herein. Alternatively, a bayonet mount may be used wherein the attachment member distal ends  75  engage in slots in the cavity wall  78 . Alternatively, ferromagnetic elements on each of the attachment member distal ends  75  may magnetically attach to the inner cavity wall  78  or a corresponding ferromagnetic element located outward of the cavity wall  78 . 
         [0031]    The attachment members  74  may be positioned to engage the container main body  76  further down in the beverage cavity  82 . The attachment members  74  may extend outwardly from a middle portion of the thermal regulation member  72  and engage with a middle portion of the cavity wall  78 . In some embodiments, the attachment members  74  may extend from a bottom portion of the thermal regulation member  72  and engage with a bottom portion of the cavity wall  78  closer to a bottom of the container main body  76 . 
         [0032]    The thermal regulation member  72  may include a handle  96  extending upwardly from the upper portion  86  of the thermal regulation member. The handle  96  allows the user to position the thermal regulation member  72  in the beverage cavity  82  and remove it from the beverage cavity. The handle  96  of this second embodiment is a narrow, fin-shaped structure projecting upwardly from and extending along an upper surface  97  of the thermal regulation member  72 . The shape and structure of the handle  96  is not particularly limited and may include shapes and features to allow the user to grab and maneuver the thermal regulation member  72  from the upper end portion  86 . 
         [0033]    The beverage container assembly  70  may further include a lid  98  that removably attaches to the container main body  76 . The lid  96  is configured to attach at the upper end of the container main body  76  to cover the beverage cavity  82 . The lid  98  includes a substantially cylindrical main body portion having a drinking aperture on an upper side thereof. The lid  98  may include a drinking aperture seal for selectively transitioning the drinking aperture between a closed position where the drinking aperture is sealed, and an open position allowing the user to drink from the drinking aperture. The lid  98  may include downwardly extending sidewall  99  having a threaded attachment portion that engages with a complementary threaded attachment portion on the container main body  76  to cover the beverage cavity  82  and the thermal regulation member  72 . In some embodiments, the attachment members  74  may engage with apertures  92  disposed on an interior facing surface of the sidewall  99 . In other embodiments, the attachment members  74  may be attached to and extend inward from the interior facing surface of the sidewall  99  and engage with receptacles located on the upper portion  86  of the thermal regulation member  72 . 
         [0034]    While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of this invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is solely defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). 
         [0035]    It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.