INSULATED CONTAINER APPARATUSES AND DEVICES

Abstract

Apparatuses and devices for preventing heat transfer through fluids contained in a fluid container are disclosed. The device comprises an insulation sleeve having at least one wall and a gripping ring having an inner surface configured to grip the fluid container and an outer surface configured to couple with an inner surface of the insulation sleeve. The insulation sleeve includes a first coupling mechanism and the gripping ring includes a second coupling mechanism. The first coupling mechanism and the second coupling mechanism are configured to couple with each other to snugly fit the insulation sleeve and the gripping ring over the fluid container.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to containers containing fluids such as beverages. More specifically, the present invention relates to insulated container apparatuses and devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fluids such as beverages like tea, coffee or wines are always poured in different types of containers such as glasses, cups, mugs, wine glass, and so on for consumption. These days, manufacturers thereof tend to provide aesthetic view to such containers as the consumers serve the drinks or fluids in such containers to the guests thereof. The fluids contained in the containers may sometimes be served as hot or too cold.

There may be some challenges faced by the user/guests consuming the drinks/fluids while holding the container. For example, cold wine while served in wine glass may develop water droplets on the outer walls of the wine glass, causing wetness to hands of the user and hence discomfort thereto. People usually talk while holding the drinks and the coldness of the drink may subside by transfer of heat from hand of the user to the wine glass, thereby reducing the taste as it is no longer cold and not enjoyable. Similarly, the coldness from the drink may transfer to hands of the user holding the wine glass, causing discomfort thereto. Hence, it is required to maintain the temperature of the cold drinks when served in different containers such as wine glass. Likewise serving cold shakes in glasses and consuming may face challenges as that aforesaid.

In similar instances, a hot beverage may be served in a cup or a glass heating the outer walls of the container, thereby causing discomfort to the hand of the user holding the container. Sometimes, the container and the hot fluids contained therein may fall down out of sudden from hands of the user if the walls of the container are too hot. Hence, there is a need of insulating the containers in both the cases of hot and liquid fluids contained in the container.

Conventionally, the consumers used to hold the containers with a piece of cloth or tissue paper to avoid transfer of heat from hands to the drink in the container. Such conventional method is also used to avoid transferring coldness of the drink to the hands of the user. However, the method is not an appropriate solution and also gives an awkward look especially in social gatherings like parties.

Many liquid containers are available in the market which are manufactured to have insulated walls to prevent heat transfer with the liquid. Few other insulation mechanisms are available which prevents transfer of heat between the container and the drink/fluid. However, such insulated apparatuses are made up from a material which provides complete insulation to the container like a glass hiding the entire aesthetic view of the glass.

Moreover, many insulation mechanisms do not support the container tightly or safely. The container may slip and fall out of the insulating mechanism causing breakage and potential injury. The insulating mechanisms do not grip well to many beverage containers made of common materials and are therefore at risk for spill and breakage and injury.

Hence, there is a need for an insulation mechanism in which fits different sizes of the fluid containers which may be not adhere to currently available insulating mechanisms and without affecting aesthetic view thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device for insulating a container containing fluids.

According to one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided an insulation device for preventing heat transfer through fluids contained in a fluid container. The insulation device comprises of an insulation sleeve having at least one wall and a gripping ring having an inner surface configured to grip the fluid container and an outer surface configured to couple with an inner surface of the insulation sleeve.

As appropriate, the inner surface of the insulation sleeve includes a first coupling mechanism and the outer surface of the gripping ring includes a second coupling mechanism configured to couple with the first coupling mechanism of the insulation sleeve.

As appropriate, the fluid is either cold or hot as compared to the fluid container and wherein the heat transfer takes place to or from the fluid, respectively.

As appropriate, the insulation sleeve further includes a bottom of at least one wall.

As appropriate, the first coupling mechanism comprises a first screw thread and the second coupling mechanism comprises a second screw thread configured to engage with the first screw thread when the sleeve is turned in a clockwise direction about the fluid container.

As appropriate, the first coupling mechanism comprises a first pattern engraved within the inner surface of the insulation sleeve and the second coupling mechanism comprises a second pattern embossed on the outer surface of the gripping ring, wherein the second pattern and the first pattern form a male-female connector, respectively.

As appropriate, the first coupling mechanism comprises a first pattern embossed on the outer surface of the insulation sleeve and the second coupling mechanism comprises a second pattern engraved within the inner surface of the gripping ring, wherein the first pattern and the second pattern form a male-female connector, respectively.

As appropriate, a space is provided between the inner surface and the outer surface of the gripping ring forming a pocket sleeve for accommodating the wall of the insulation sleeve, wherein the insulation sleeve snugly fits within the pocket sleeve.

As appropriate, the insulation sleeve comprises an inner wall, an outer wall and a third pattern on the surface between the inner and the outer wall. The gripping ring comprises a fourth pattern on the surface between the inner surface and the outer surface. The third pattern and the fourth pattern form a male-female connector, respectively.

According to an alternative aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, an insulated container apparatus is provided for preventing heat transfer through fluids. The insulated container comprises of a fluid container configured for containing fluids having different temperature than the fluid container, an insulation sleeve having at least one wall and a gripping ring having an inner surface configured to grip the fluid container and an outer surface configured to couple with an inner surface of the insulation sleeve.

As appropriate, the fluid container may be a glass, a tumbler, a flask, a cup, a bottle and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the embodiments and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, purely by way of example, to the accompanying drawings.

With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of selected embodiments only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding; the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several selected embodiments may be put into practice.

As used in this specification, the singular indefinite articles “a”, “an”, and the definite article “the” should be considered to include or otherwise cover both single and plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. In other words, these articles are applicable to one or more referents. As used in this specification, the term “or” is generally employed to include or otherwise cover “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates an insulation device 100 including a gripping ring 102 and an insulation sleeve 104;

FIG. 2 illustrates the insulation device 100 along with a container 106;

FIG. 3 illustrates another aspect of engagement of the gripping ring 302 with the insulation sleeve 304;

FIG. 4 illustrates yet another aspect of engagement of the gripping ring 402 with the insulation sleeve 404;

FIG. 5 illustrates another aspect of engagement of the gripping ring 502 with the insulation sleeve 504;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a front view and a side view, respectively, of an insulated glass container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 6C and 6D illustrate a top and a bottom view, respectively, of an insulated glass container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7A illustrates front view of another aspect of an insulated glass container 700;

FIGS. 7B and 7C illustrate exemplary side views of the insulated glass container 700;

FIG. 7D illustrates the separated parts of the insulated glass container 700; and

FIGS. 7E and 7F illustrate the top view and the bottom view of the insulated glass container 700, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an insulation device 100 for insulating the containers (not shown in FIG. 1) containing fluids. The container can be a glass, a tumbler, a flask, a cup, a bottle and the like. The device 100 includes a gripping ring 102 and an insulation sleeve 104. The ring 102 is defined by a hollow member having a circular head 102A extended to be overhung by a portion 102B of smaller outer diameter as that of the head 102A such that the ring 102 is a T-shape. The ring 102 is flexible and adapted to fit waist of a container of different sizes. For example, the ring 102 is configured to grip a glass container 106 as shown in FIG. 2. The ring 102 is further also configured to couple with the sleeve 104.

Smooth glass such as used in glass containers is notoriously difficult to grip using typical materials. It is therefore a particular feature of embodiments of the gripping ring 102 that it may have an inner surface of a glass adhering material such as a polymer, rubber, silicone, and/or combinations thereof.

The insulation sleeve 104 is configured to prevent heat transfer therethrough. Accordingly, the insulation sleeve 104 may include a double wall enclosing an insulation cavity. Optionally the insulation cavity within the double wall of the insulation sleeve may contain a vacuum, alternatively, the insulation cavity within the double wall of the insulation sleeve may contain an insulating material such as trapped air, foam, polymer, aerogel or a combination thereof.

The insulation sleeve 104 is further defined by a member that is configured to cover a part of the container 106. The part of the container 106 specifically defines the portion which is hold by a user consuming the drink/fluid from the container 106. The sleeve 104 can be of any shape depending upon the shape and size of the container 106 which will be discussed herein below in conjunction with preceding illustrations. As shown in FIG. 2, the sleeve 104 is devised of round shape to fit the round bottom portion of the container 106. As the ring 102 slides on to touch the waist of the container 106, the sleeve 104 is coupled with the ring 102 from the bottom. The sleeve 104 can engage with the ring 102 with any methods described in the art. It is contemplated that the embodiments and aspects thereof described herein below for coupling of the sleeve 104 with the ring 102 are merely exemplary for the persons skilled in the art to understand the present invention.

In an aspect, an inner surface of the sleeve 104 includes a first coupling mechanism and an outer surface of the ring 102 includes a second coupling mechanism configured to couple with that of the first coupling mechanism. As shown in FIG. 1, the first coupling mechanism includes a plurality of screw threads 104A which are grooved on the inner surface of the sleeve 104 thereof to be engaged with the outer surface of the ring 102. The second coupling mechanism of the ring 102 also includes a plurality of screw threads 102C on the outer surface of the ring 102 disposed skirting the portion 102B thereof. The threads 104A and 102C are disposed such that both the threads 104A and 102C align with each other. For example, the threads 104A and 102C engage with each other when the sleeve 104 turns in a clockwise direction about the container 106 and the ring 102. In such a case, the ring 102 may firstly slide over the container 106, followed by the sleeve 104.

In some aspects, the threads 104A may be disposed on the outer surface of the sleeve 104 while the threads 102C may be disposed on inner portion of either of the head 102A. In the aspect, the threads 102C and 104A may engage with each other likewise. In such an aspect, the sleeve 104 may firstly slide over the container 106 from bottom, followed by the ring 102 from top. As the sleeve 104 and the ring 102 engage with each other, the sleeve 104 and the ring 102 cover a substantial lower portion of the container 106 which is hold by the user as shown in FIG. 6A. The side view of such an engagement can also be viewed in FIG. 6B. FIGS. 6C and 6D illustrate top and bottom view of the insulated glass container, respectively.

In some aspects, the ring 102 and the sleeve 104 may be devoid of any screw threads. A single-walled sleeve 104 may be disposed on the waist of the container 106 by slipping onto its outer surface. The ring 102 may then be inserted to snugly fit on the outer surface of the sleeve 104. The sleeve snugly fits between the outer wall of the container 106 and the inner surface of the ring 102.

FIG. 3 illustrates another aspect of engagement of the gripping ring 302 with the insulation sleeve 304. In the aspect, a pattern 302D may be embossed to skirt on the outer surface of the ring 302. Similar pattern 304B may be engraved within the inner surface of the sleeve 304. Such patterns 302D and 304B form a male-female connector. These patterns may be of any design or shape. Examples of such patterns may include such as but are not limited to slits of any shape such as rectangular, triangular, circular, and so on.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, the ring 302 may firstly slide over the container 306 from the top followed by the sleeve 304 from the bottom, or vice versa. The patterns 302D and 304B are configured to snap-fit with each other, thereby interlocking the sleeve 304 and the ring 302 over the glass container 306.

In an alternative aspect, the pattern may be embossed over the inner surface area of the ring 302 while the corresponding pattern may be engraved on the outer surface of the sleeve 304. Hence, in the above aspects, the patterns are configured to snap-fit with each other, thereby interlocking the sleeve 304 and the ring 302.

In another aspect as shown in FIG. 4, the gripping ring 402 is double walled having an outer wall 402D and an inner wall 402E such that there is a space between the two walls 402D and 402E defining a pocket sleeve of the ring 402. The walls 402D and 402E are open-ended from the bottom, hence defining a pocket sleeve including two walls. As the pocket sleeve is void, a single walled insulation sleeve 404 can just be inserted within the pocket sleeve of the ring 402 and may be engaged therein by suction of the walls 402D and 402E.

A further aspect of the invention is shown in FIG. 5 wherein the insulation sleeve 504 has a pattern 504B on its upper periphery of the surface 504C. The pattern 504B has small rectangular portions 504D protruding out from the surface 504C. The ring 502 has a correspondingly similar pattern 502B on the lower periphery of the surface 502C. The pattern 502B has small holes to accommodate the rectangular portions 504D of the insulation sleeve 504. Examples of the pattern may include such as but are not limited to an irregular matrix, slits, and any shape-oriented modules configured for connecting, and so on. The pattern 504B of the sleeve 504 may be configured to interlock with the pattern 502B of the ring 502 such that the two patterns snap-fit into each other.

In some embodiments, the liquid container 106 may be of any shape such as including but are not limited to square, rectangular, oval, and so on. An insulated glass container 700 of rectangular shape having the ring and the sleeve adapted thereto is shown in FIG. 7A which illustrate the front view of the insulated glass container 700. Exemplary side views of the insulated glass container 700 are shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C. FIG. 7D illustrate the separated parts of the insulated glass container 700 having a glass container 706, a gripping ring 702 and an insulation sleeve 704. The sleeve 704 is configured to insulate the entire bottom of the glass container 706. FIGS. 7E and 7F illustrates the top view and the bottom view of the insulated glass container 700, respectively.

In the preferred embodiments, the gripping ring 102 may be made up of soft flexible materials selected from a group consisting of one or more of polymer, rubber, silicone, and/or combinations thereof. The insulation sleeve 104 may be constructed from hard materials selected from a group consisting of one or more of metals, alloys, polypropylene, and/or combinations thereof. In the above embodiments, the insulation mechanism of the gripping ring 102 and the insulation sleeve 104 may be configured to prevent heat transfer from the hands of the user to a cold liquid. Alternatively, the insulation mechanism may be configured to prevent heat transfer to the hands of the user from a hot liquid. The container 106 may be made from any material that is well known in the art. Examples of the materials may include such as but are not limited to glass, plastic, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, silver, and so on.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention and its advantages has been disclosed in the above detailed description, the invention is not limited there to but only by the scope of the appended claim.

As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the present invention may easily be produced in other specific forms without departing from its essential characteristics. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered as merely illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. An insulation system for preventing heat transfer between a beverage and its environment, the system including a fluid container for containing a liquid, a detachable insulation sleeve for preventing heat transfer therethrough thereby maintaining temperature of the fluid contained within the fluid container, and a gripping ring for securing the fluid container within the insulation device, wherein the gripping ring comprises a glass adhering polymer material including: an inner surface configured to grip a glass surface of the fluid container, andan outer surface configured to couple with an inner surface of the insulation sleeve, and the gripping ring is configured to fit snuggly between the insulation sleeve and the fluid container, the gripping ring comprising:the fluid container comprises a glass container;the insulation sleeve comprises: a portion configured to cover a part of the glass container containing fluid, anda double wall enclosing an insulation cavity.

2. The insulation system of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the insulation sleeve includes a first coupling mechanism and the outer surface of the gripping ring includes a second coupling mechanism configured to couple with the first coupling mechanism of the insulation sleeve.

3. The insulation system of claim 2, wherein the first coupling mechanism comprises a first screw thread and the second coupling mechanism comprises a second screw thread configured to engage with the first screw thread when the sleeve is turned in a clockwise direction about the fluid container.

4. The insulation system of claim 2, wherein the first coupling mechanism comprises a first pattern engraved within the inner surface of the insulation sleeve and the second coupling mechanism comprises a second pattern embossed on the outer surface of the gripping ring, wherein the second pattern and the first pattern form a male-female connector, respectively.

5. The insulation system of claim 2, wherein the first coupling mechanism comprises a first pattern embossed on the outer surface of the insulation sleeve and the second coupling mechanism comprises a second pattern engraved within the inner surface of the gripping ring, wherein the first pattern and the second pattern form a male-female connector, respectively.

6. The insulation device of claim 1, wherein said insulation cavity contains a vacuum.

7. The insulation device of claim 1, wherein said insulation cavity contains an insulating material selected from a group consisting of: trapped air, foam, polymer, aerogel or a combination thereof.

8. The insulation system of claim 1, wherein the insulation sleeve further includes a bottom of at least one wall.

9. The insulation system of claim 1, wherein the insulation sleeve is constructed from a hard material selected from a group consisting of one or more of metals, alloys, polypropylene, and/or combinations thereof.

10. The insulation system of claim 1, wherein the gripping ring is constructed from a soft flexible material selected from a group consisting of one or more of polymer, rubber, silicone, and/or combinations thereof.

11. The insulation system of claim 1, wherein the glass container comprises a waist and the gripping ring is adapted to fit the waist of the container.

12. An insulation sleeve for preventing heat transfer therethrough comprising: a member configured to cover a part of a container;a double wall enclosing an insulation cavity; anda gripping ring comprising: an inner surface configured to grip the surface of fluid container, andan outer surface configured to couple with an inner surface of the insulation sleeve.

13. The insulation sleeve of claim 12 wherein the gripping ring is constructed from a glass adhering polymer material.

14. The insulation sleeve of claim 12 wherein the gripping ring is constructed from a soft flexible material selected from a group consisting of one or more of polymer, rubber, silicone, and/or combinations thereof.

15. The insulation sleeve of claim 14 wherein said insulation cavity contains a vacuum.

16. The insulation sleeve of claim 16 wherein said insulation cavity contains an insulating material selected from a group consisting of: trapped air, foam, polymer, aerogel or a combination thereof.

17. The insulation sleeve of claim 12 wherein the insulation sleeve further includes a bottom of at least one wall.

18. The insulation sleeve of claim 12 wherein the insulation sleeve is constructed from a hard material selected from a group consisting of one or more of metals, alloys, polypropylene, and/or combinations thereof.

19. The insulation sleeve of claim 12 wherein the gripping ring is adapted to fit a waist of the container.

20. The insulation sleeve of claim 12 wherein the double wall has an inner surface including a first coupling mechanism and the gripping ring has an outer surface including second coupling mechanism configured to couple with the first coupling mechanism of the insulation sleeve.