Patent Application
20220371811
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of beverage containers. More specifically, embodiments of the disclosure relate to an apparatus and methods for an insulated beverage bottle configured to maintain the temperature of liquid contents and exhibit reduced sound upon being dropped onto a hard surface such as a tennis court.
Personal beverage bottles have become very popular and thus have moved beyond the common beverage bottle packed with a school lunch or in a lunch box. For example, gym members typically carry their own beverage bottles for keeping hydrated during exercising. Further, hikers, bikers, walkers, commuters, tourists, and many others, carry personal beverage bottles as they go on their way. Many conventional beverage bottles are configured to keep beverages cold during warm weather, as well as prevent dripping or leaking between uses. These conventional beverage bottles generally include some form of insulation to slow down heat transfer through the walls of the bottle. Given the popularity of personal beverage bottles, there is continuous desire to improve the performance and utility of beverage bottles.
An apparatus and methods are provided for an insulated beverage bottle to maintain the temperature of liquid contents and exhibit reduced sound upon being dropped onto a hard surface such as a tennis court. The insulated bottle includes a bottom cushion and a top cushion that are coupled to an outer cylinder. The outer cylinder and the top and bottom cushions exhibit impact resistance and noise suppression properties. A double-walled container is disposed inside the outer cylinder. An insulative material is disposed between the doubled-walled container and the outer cylinder. The insulative comprises fumed silica vacuum insulation that surrounds a majority of the exterior of the double-walled cylinder. A top lid is threadably joined with the insulated bottle such that liquid contents may be stored in an interior of the bottle. A straw holder provides access to a straw and prevents liquid contents from leaking out of the bottle.
In an exemplary embodiment, an insulated bottle comprises: a bottom cushion and a top cushion coupled to an outer cylinder; a top lid for sealing to a top portion of the outer cylinder; a double-walled container disposed within the outer cylinder; and an insulative material disposed between the doubled-walled container and the outer cylinder.
In another exemplary embodiment, the outer cylinder comprises a material capable of withstanding impacts and protecting interior components comprising the bottle. In another exemplary embodiment, the bottom cushion comprises a material capable of withstanding being dropped onto a hard surface. In another exemplary embodiment, the top cushion comprises a material capable of withstanding being dropped onto a hard surface. In another exemplary embodiment, the outer cylinder and the top cushion and the bottom cushion are configured to exhibit impact resistance and noise suppression properties.
In another exemplary embodiment, the top lid is configured to threadably join with the bottle such that liquid contents may be stored in an interior of the bottle. In another exemplary embodiment, the top lid includes any of various seals for preventing liquid contents from leaking out of the bottle. In another exemplary embodiment, a straw holder is disposed in the top lid and configured to provide access to a straw and prevent the liquid contents from leaking out of the interior of the bottle between uses. In another exemplary embodiment, the top lid includes a handle that is configured to prevent the bottle from rolling on a hard surface.
In another exemplary embodiment, the double-walled container includes an inner container and an outer container that are coupled together such that a space is disposed between the inner container and the outer container. In another exemplary embodiment, the double-walled container comprises a vacuum insulated container. In another exemplary embodiment, a portion of fumed silica vacuum insulation is disposed between the inner container and the outer container. In another exemplary embodiment, the insulative material is configured to hinder heat transfer between an inner container comprising the double-walled container and outside the double-walled container.
In another exemplary embodiment, the insulative material includes a sidewall insulation comprising a cylinder of fumed silica vacuum insulation that has an inner diameter configured to receive the outer container. In another exemplary embodiment, the insulative material includes a bottom insulation disposed between a bottom of the double-walled container and the bottom cushion. In another exemplary embodiment, the bottom insulation comprises a disc-shaped portion of fumed silica vacuum insulation having a diameter that cooperates with the sidewall insulation to surround the exterior of the double-walled cylinder.
In an exemplary embodiment, a method for an insulated bottle comprises: disposing a sidewall insulation along an inner surface of an outer cylinder; inserting a double-walled container inside the sidewall insulation; placing a bottom insulation at a bottom of the double-walled containers; coupling a bottom cushion with a bottom of the outer cylinder; coupling a top cushion with a top of the outer cylinder; and sealing a top lid with a top of the double-walled container.
In another exemplary embodiment, disposing includes forming the sidewall insulation as a flat panel of fumed silica vacuum insulation. In another exemplary embodiment, placing includes forming the bottom insulation as a disc-shaped portion of fumed silica vacuum insulation having a diameter that cooperates with the sidewall insulation to surround the exterior of the double-walled cylinder. In another exemplary embodiment, sealing includes threadably joining the top lid with the double-walled container such that liquid contents may be stored in an interior of the double-walled container.
These and other features of the concepts provided herein may be better understood with reference to the drawings, description, and appended claims.
The drawings refer to embodiments of the present disclosure in which:
While the present disclosure is subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. The present disclosure should be understood to not be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that the insulated beverage bottle and methods disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, specific numeric references such as “first bottle,” may be made. However, the specific numeric reference should not be interpreted as a literal sequential order but rather interpreted that the “first bottle” is different than a “second bottle.” Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The term “coupled” is defined as meaning connected either directly to the component or indirectly to the component through another component. Further, as used herein, the terms “about,” “approximately,” or “substantially” for any numerical values or ranges indicate a suitable dimensional tolerance that allows the part or collection of components to function for its intended purpose as described herein.
In general, conventional beverage bottles are configured to be hand carried and maintain the temperature of liquid contents, as well as prevent dripping or leaking between uses. These conventional beverage bottles generally include some form of insulation to slow down heat transfer through the walls of the bottle. Given the popularity of personal beverage bottles, there is a continuous desire to improve the performance and utility of beverage bottles. Embodiments herein provide an insulated beverage bottle configured to maintain the temperature of liquid contents and exhibit reduced sound upon being dropped onto a hard surface such as a tennis court.
The top lid 116 generally is of a variety of lid that may be threadably joined with the bottle 100 such that liquid contents may be stored in an interior of the bottle 100. As best shown in
As shown in
An insulative material may be disposed around a majority of the double-walled container 140 to further reduce heat transfer between the inner container 144 and outside the outer container 148. As shown in
In some embodiments, a portion of insulation may be disposed between the inner container 144 and the outer container 148. For example, in some embodiments, a flat panel of fumed silica vacuum insulation or a preformed cylinder of fumed silica vacuum insulation may be inserted between the inner and outer containers 144, 148 before the containers are welded together at the lip 152, as described herein. In some embodiments, air may be evacuated from the space between the inner and outer containers 144, 148 after insertion of the fumed vacuum insulation and then the inner and outer containers 144, 148 may be welded or otherwise fastened together at the lip 152 to maintain the vacuum between the containers 144, 148.
As further shown in
The opening 168 further allows the straw 124 to extend from the straw holder 120 into the liquid contents stored within the inner container 144. A bottom lid portion 176 is configured to couple the straw holder 120 with the top lid 116. As shown in
In some embodiments, such as the illustrated embodiment of
While the insulated beverage bottle and methods have been described in terms of particular variations and illustrative figures, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the insulated beverage bottle is not limited to the variations or figures described. In addition, where methods and steps described above indicate certain events occurring in certain order, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the ordering of certain steps may be modified and that such modifications are in accordance with the variations of the insulated beverage bottle. Additionally, certain of the steps may be performed concurrently in a parallel process, when possible, as well as performed sequentially as described above. To the extent there are variations of the insulated beverage bottle, which are within the spirit of the disclosure or equivalent to the insulated beverage bottle found in the claims, it is the intent that this patent will cover those variations as well. Therefore, the present disclosure is to be understood as not limited by the specific embodiments described herein, but only by scope of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application, entitled “Insulated Beverage Bottle,” filed on May 18, 2021, and having application Ser. No. 63/190,064, the entirety of said application being incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63190064 | May 2021 | US |
