Patent Application
20230174292
This invention relates to thermal insulation of beverage containers, and more particularly to a device for thermally maintaining temperature of plural axially aligned beverage containers.
Beverage container insulators, commonly referred to as “cozies”, “coozies” or even “koozies” are widely used to provide thermal insulation for beverage containers, such as cans and bottles. Such insulators generally frictionally axially slide over the beverage container to hold the beverage container, and also to provide an insulating exterior surface, to insulate the beverage container from ambient temperatures, and the consumers hand/fingers, and thus slowing the rate of heat transfer between the ambient environment/hands/fingers and the beverage container.
A typical “cozie”, “coozie” or “koozie” holds a single beverage container, commonly a conventional 12-ounce can. There are occasions, however, when the consumer wishes to consume, or have immediate access to, a greater volume of a contained beverage. For example, a consumer may be moving about at the beach, or in some other locale, and may not be near a convenient cooler, or refrigerator. The consumer may wish to keep that greater volume of contained beverage cool without the inconvenience of carrying an additional container, insulator or thermos.
In addition, a consumer may wish to re-seal a beverage container that has been opened, and perhaps partially consumed, so as to prevent spillage and to preserve the beverage for later consumption.
Our apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers generally provides an elongate body 10, a retention collar 30 that is threadably engaged with the body 10, a handle 50 carried by the body 10 and a puck 60 that is movable, by a user, between a first position adjacent to an opening of the body 10 and a second position adjacent to an interior bottom surface 26 of the body 10.
A principal aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, the apparatus comprising: a body 10 that is elongate and has a first end portion 11, a second end portion 12, an exterior diameter 23, and an opening 18 defined at the first end portion 11 and a closed bottom 19 at the second end portion 12. The body 10 further defines an axial tubular chamber 20 that defines an interior diameter 21 and a length 22 between the opening 18 and an interior surface 26 of the closed bottom 19. Threads 24 are defined in an outer circumferential surface 14 of the body 10 at the first end portion 11. A retention collar 30 is threadably engaged with the threads 24 defined in the first end portion 11 of the body 10, and the retention collar 30 further defines an axially aligned hole 36 that has an interior diameter 39 that is smaller than the diameter 21 of the tubular chamber 20. A handle 50 is carried on the outer circumferential surface 14 of the body 10. A puck 60 that is movable, by a user, between a first position in the tubular chamber 20 adjacent to the opening 18, and a second position in the tubular chamber 20 adjacent to the interior bottom surface 26. The puck 60 has a body 61 that has a first top portion 62 that has an upper gasket compressing ledge 69, and an interconnected second bottom portion 80 that has a lower gasket compressing ledge 85, and a compressible gasket 105 is carried between the upper gasket compressing ledge 69, and the lower gasket compressing ledge 85. The first top portion 62 is movable relative to the second bottom portion 80 which responsively compresses the compressible gasket 105 and causes the compressible gasket 105 to expand radially outwardly so as to frictionally engage with an inner circumferential surface 16 of the tubular chamber 21 to positionally secure the puck 60 in an operator desired position.
A further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, wherein the first top portion 62 of the puck 60 is axially movable relative to the second bottom portion 80 of the puck 60 to cause the compressible gasket 105 to expand radially outwardly; and the movement of the first top portion 62, relative to the second bottom portion 80 is responsive to axial twisting, and engagement of mating threads defined in the first top portion 62 and the second bottom portion 80.
A further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, wherein the first top portion 62 of the puck 60 is axially movable relative to the second bottom portion 80 of the puck 60, to cause the compressible gasket 105 to expand radially outwardly; and the axial movement of the first top portion 62, relative to the second bottom portion 80, is responsive to actuation of a cam lever 95.
A further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, wherein the handle 50 has a first end 51 that is secured to the outer circumferential surface 14 of the outer wall 13 body 10 proximate to the first end portion 11, and the handle 50 has a second end 52 that is secured to the outer circumferential surface 14 of the outer wall 13 body 10 proximate to the second end portion 12. And the handle 50 has a medial portion 53 between the first end 51 and the second end 52, and the medial portion 53 is resiliently flexible, and can be displaced radially relative to the outer circumferential surface 14 of the body 10.
A further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers and further comprising: an outer wall 13 of the body 10 defining an outer circumferential surface 14 and an exterior diameter 23; and an inner wall 15 of the body 10 defining an inner circumferential surface 16; and a void 17 between the outer wall 13 and the inner wall 15.
A further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, and further comprising: insulation 25 in the void 17 between the outer wall 13 and the inner wall 15.
A further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, and further comprising: a radially inwardly extending lip 37; and a radially inwardly extending flexible wiper 39 both carried by the retention collar 30 and both within the axially aligned hole 36.
A further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, and further comprising: a fluid sealing gasket 88 carried on a bottom exterior surface 81 of the second bottom portion 80 of the puck 60 to fluidically seal a beverage container that is immediately adjacent to the bottom exterior surface 81.
A further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, and further comprising: a rigid sleeve 120 to positionally align and positionally maintain two beverage containers relative to one another, and wherein the sleeve 120 is tubular in configuration, the rigid sleeve 120 having a body 121 with a first end portion 122, a second end portion 123, an outer wall 124 having an outer circumferential surface 125, and defining a tubular chamber 129 that has an inner circumferential surface 126 and defines an axial opening 127 at the first end portion 122, and a closed bottom 128 at the second end portion 123, the body 121 further having an exterior diameter 132. The tubular chamber 129 defines an interior diameter 130 and has an internal length 131. The exterior diameter 132 of the body 121 of the rigid sleeve 120 is less than the diameter 21 of the tubular chamber 20 of the body 10, so that the rigid sleeve 120 is axially receivable within the tubular chamber 20 of the body 10; and wherein the interior diameter 130 of the tubular channel 129 of the rigid sleeve 120 is slightly greater than a diameter of the plural beverage containers, so that the beverage containers may be slidably carried within the tubular channel 129 of the rigid sleeve 120; and wherein the exterior diameter 132 of the rigid sleeve 120, is greater than the diameter 39 of the axially aligned hole 36 defined in the retention collar 30, so that the retention collar 30 positionally maintains the rigid sleeve 120 within the tubular chamber 20 of the body 10.
A further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, and further comprising: a flexible connector boot 140 that is generally tubular in configuration, the connector boot 140 having a body 141 with a first end portion 142 that defines an axial opening 147, a second end portion 143 that defines an axial opening 148, an outer wall 140 that defines an outer circumferential surface 145, and an exterior diameter 152, and a tubular channel 149 that extends between the axial opening 147 at the first end portion 142 and the axial opening 148 at the second end portion 143, the tubular channel 149 defining an interior diameter 150 and having a channel length 151, and plural spacedly arrayed radially inwardly extending webs 153 are carried on an inner circumferential surface 146 of the tubular channel 149 to frictionally engage with outer circumferential surfaces of each beverage container engaged within the respective axial opening 147, 148 of the connector boot 140, to positionally maintain the beverage containers relative to the connector boot 140; and wherein the exterior diameter 152 of the connector boot 140 is less than the interior diameter 21 of the tubular chamber 20 of the body 10, so that the plural axially aligned beverage containers that are positionally maintained by the connector boot 140, can be axially carried within the tubular chamber 20 of the body 10.
A further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers and further comprising: a flexible connector boot 140 that is generally tubular in configuration, the connector boot 140 having a body 141 with a first end portion 142 that defines an axial opening 147, a second end portion 143 that defines an axial opening 148, an outer wall 140 that defines an outer circumferential surface 145, and an exterior diameter 152, and a tubular channel 149 that extends between the axial opening 147 at the first end portion 142 and the axial opening 148 after the second end portion 143, the tubular channel 149 defining an interior diameter 150 and having a channel length 151, and plural spacedly arrayed radially inwardly extending webs 153 are carried on an inner circumferential surface 146 of the tubular channel 149 to frictionally engage with outer circumferential surfaces of axially aligned beverage containers that are simultaneously engaged within the axial openings 147, 148 of the connector boot 140, to positionally maintain the axially outlined beverage containers relative to the connector boot 140; and wherein the exterior diameter 152 of the connector boot 140 is less than the interior diameter 130 of the tubular chamber 129 of the rigid sleeve 120, so that the plural axially aligned beverage containers that are positionally maintained by the connector boot 140 can be axially movably carried within the tubular chamber 129 of the rigid sleeve 120.
A further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, and further comprising a thermal gel carried within the void 17 between the outer wall 13 and the inner wall 15 of the body 10.
A further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, and wherein the puck 60 may be positioned, proximate to the first end portion 11 of the body to secure the plural beverage containers within the tubular chamber 20, and the puck 60 may optionally be positioned within the tubular chamber 20 adjacent to the interior bottom surface 26 so that the plural beverage containers carried within the tubular chamber 20 are proximate to the first end portion 11 of the body, and are secured there-at by the retention collar 30, and a drink orifice defined in an upper-most beverage container is assessable to the user for dispensing of a beverage from within the uppermost beverage container.
A further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers and wherein the puck 60 is carried, at least partially, within the tubular chamber 20 of the body 10, and is movable by a user between a first position adjacent to the opening 18, of the body 10 and a second position adjacent to the interior bottom surface 26, the puck 60 having a body 61 that has a first top portion 62 and a second bottom portion 80 that is movable relative to the first top portion 62, responsive to actuation of a cam lever 95; and wherein, the first top portion 62 of the puck 60 has a top exterior surface 63, an opposing bottom interior surface 73, an outer circumferential edge 68 that defines an upper gasket compressing ledge 69. A cam lever hub 64 is carried on the top exterior surface 63 of the puck 60 and defines diametrically opposed cam anchor axle slots 65 so that the cam lever 95 may extend therethrough and be pivotally moved relative to the first top portion 62. The cam lever 95 is positioned within an annular shaped depression 67 defined in the top exterior surface 63 radially outwardly of the cam lever hub 64. The bottom interior surface 73 of the first top portion 62, defines a medial chamber 72, a cam anchor passage 71, and an alignment boss 70 that extends generally axially downwardly from the bottom interior surface 73 about the medial chamber 72, and the alignment boss 70 is tapered radially inwardly. The second bottom portion 80 of the puck 60 has a top interior surface 89, a bottom exterior surface 81, an outer circumferential edge 84 that defines a lower gasket compressing ledge 85, and a recess 82 is defined in the bottom exterior surface for a cam anchor 99. The second bottom portion 80 of the puck 60 defines a medial chamber 86 that opens upwardly toward the first top portion 62. The top interior surface 89 carries an annularly shaped, upwardly extending, radially inwardly tapered boss 87 that slidably axially cooperates with and aligns with the alignment boss 70 carried by the first top end portion 62, so that the first top portion 62 and the second bottom portion 80 are axially aligned relative to one another and are axially movable relative to one another. A spring 74 is carried in the medial chamber 86 to positionally bias the first top portion 62 and the second bottom portion 80 distally/away from one another. A compressible gasket 105 is carried by the puck 60 between the upper gasket compressing ledge 69 of the first top portion 62, and the lower gasket compressing ledge 85 of the second bottom portion 80. The cam anchor 99 has a first end portion 100, a second end portion 101, a generally planar anchor disc 102 at the second end portion 101, and an axially extending anchor post 103 that is interconnected with the anchor disc 102 to extend toward the first end portion 100. An end portion of the anchor post 103, opposite the disc 102 defines a cam engaging hook 104 that engages with a non-cylindrical (not cross-sectionally circular) cam axle 98 of the cam lever 95. The cam lever 95 is pivotally movable between a first position 110, and a second position 111, relative to the annular shaped depression 67 defined in the top exterior surface 63 and when the cam lever 95 is in the first position 110 the compressible gasket 105 positioned between the upper gasket compressing ledge 69, and the lower gasket compressing ledge 85 is not compressed, and the exterior diameter 78 of the puck 60 allows the puck 60 to move axially freely within the axially aligned tubular chamber 20. When the cam lever 95 is in the second position 111, the compressible gasket 105 positioned between the upper gasket compressing ledge 69 and the lower gasket compressing ledge 85 is compressed which responsively causes the compressible gasket 105 to expand radially outwardly to have a second diameter 76 that is greater than the first diameter 78 which positionally secures the puck 60 at a desired position within the axially aligned tubular chamber 20, and seals the axially aligned tubular chamber 20.
A still further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, comprising: a body 10 that is elongate and generally cylindrical, having a first end portion 11, a second end portion 12, an outer wall 13 defining an outer circumferential surface 14 and defining an exterior diameter 23, an inner wall 15 defining an inner circumferential surface 16 and having a thermally insulated space 17 between the outer wall 13 and the inner wall 15. An axially aligned opening 18 is defined at the first end portion 11 of the body 10 and a closed bottom 19 is defined at the second end portion 12 of the body 10 spaced apart from the first end portion 11. The body 10 further defines an axially aligned tubular chamber 20 that defines an interior diameter 21, and a length 22 between the axially aligned opening 18 at the first end portion 11, and an interior surface 26 of the closed bottom 19 at the second end portion 12. Threads 24 are defined in the outer circumferential surface 14 of the outer wall 13 at the first end portion 11. A retention collar 30 that is annular in configuration has a first end portion 31, a second end portion 32, an outer circumferential surface 33 and an inner circumferential surface 34 and defines threads 35 that matingly engage with the threads 24 defined in the outer circumferential surface 14 of the body 10. The retention collar 30 further defines an axially aligned through hole 36 that defines an interior diameter 39 that is smaller than the diameter 21 of the axially aligned tubular chamber 20, and the axially aligned through hole 36 has a radially inwardly extending lip 37, and a radially inwardly extending flexible wiper 39. A handle 50 is carried on the outer circumferential surface 14 of the body 10. The handle 50 has a first end 51 that is secured to the outer circumferential surface 14 of the outer wall 13 of the body 10 proximate to the first end portion 11, and the handle 50 has the second end 52 that is secured to the outer circumferential surface 14 of the outer wall 13 of the body 10 proximate to the second end portion 12. The handle 50 further has a medial portion 53 between the first end 51 and the second end 52, and the medial portion 53 is resiliently flexible and can be displaced radially relative to the outer wall 13 of the body 10. A puck 60 is carried, at least partially, within the axially aligned tubular chamber 20 of the body 10, and is movable by a user between a first position adjacent to the opening 18, and a second position adjacent to the interior bottom surface 26. The puck 60 has a body 61 that defines an exterior diameter 78, and has a first top portion 62, a second bottom portion 80 that is movable relative to the first top portion 62, and a cam lever 95. The first top portion 62 of the puck 60 has a top exterior surface 63, an opposing bottom interior surface 73, an outer circumferential edge 68 that defines an upper gasket compressing ledge 69, and a cam lever hub 64 that is carried on the top exterior surface 63 and which defines diametrically opposed cam anchor axle slots 65 so that the cam lever 95 may extend therethrough and be pivotally moved relative to the first top portion 62. The cam lever 95 is positioned within an annular shaped depression 67 defined in the top exterior surface 63 radially outwardly of the cam lever hub 64. The bottom interior surface 73, of the first top portion 62, defines a medial chamber 72, a cam anchor passage 71, and an alignment boss 70 that extends generally axially downwardly from the bottom interior surface 73 about the medial chamber 72. The alignment boss 70 is tapered radially inwardly. The second bottom portion 80 of the puck 60 has a top interior surface 89, a bottom exterior surface 81, an outer circumferential edge 84 that defines a lower gasket compressing ledge 85, and a recess 82 defined in the bottom exterior surface for a cam anchor 99. The second bottom portion 80 of the puck 60 further defines a medial chamber 86 that opens upwardly toward the first top portion 62, and the top interior surface 89 carries an annularly shaped, axially upwardly extending, radially inwardly tapered boss 87 that slidably cooperates with, and aligns with, the alignment boss 70 carried by the first top end portion 62, so that the first top portion 62 and the second bottom portion 80 are axially aligned relative to one another, and are axially movable relative to one another. A spring 74 is carried in the medial chamber 86 to positionally bias the first top portion 62 and the second bottom portion 80 distally from one. A compressible gasket 105 is carried by the puck 60 between the upper gasket compressing ledge 69 of the first top portion 62, and the lower gasket compressing ledge 85 of the second bottom portion 80. The cam anchor 99 has a first end portion 100, a second end portion 101, a generally planar anchor disc 102 at the second end portion 101, and an axially extending anchor post 103 is interconnected with the anchor disc 102 and extends toward the first end portion 100. An end portion of the anchor post 103 opposite the anchor disc 102 defines a cam engaging hook 104 that engages with a non-cylindrical cam axle 98 of the cam lever 95. The cam lever 95 is pivotally movable between a first position 110 and a second position 111 relative to the annular shaped depression 67 defined in the top exterior surface 63 and when the cam lever 95 is in the first position 110, the compressible gasket 105 positioned between the upper gasket compressing ledge 69 and the lower gasket compressing ledge 85, is not compressed, and the exterior diameter 78 of the puck 60 allows the puck 60 to move freely axially within the axially aligned tubular chamber 20. When the cam lever 95 is in the second position 111, the compressible gasket 105 positioned between the upper gasket compressing ledge 69 and the lower gasket compressing ledge 85 is compressed which causes the compressible gasket 105 to expand radially outwardly to have a second diameter 76 that is greater than the first diameter 78 which positionally secures the puck 60 at a desired position within the axially aligned tubular chamber 20, and seals the axially aligned tubular chamber 20.
An even still further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers and wherein the length 22 of the axially aligned tubular chamber 20 of the body 10 is sufficient to fully enclose plural axially aligned beverage containers, and a portion of the puck 60.
These and other aspects of the present invention are more fully disclosed, as is required, herein.
This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of the Constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).
Our apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers generally provides an elongate body 10, a retention collar 30 that is threadably engaged with the body 10, a handle 50 carried by the body 10 and a puck 60 that is movable, between a first position adjacent to an opening of the body 10 and a second position adjacent to an interior bottom surface 26 of the body 10.
As shown in the Figures, the body 10 is elongate and generally cylindrical, and has a first end portion 11, a second end portion 12, an outer wall 13 defining an outer circumferential surface 14 and defining an exterior diameter 23. An inner wall 15 defines an inner circumferential surface 16 and a void 17 is between the outer wall 13 and the inner wall 15. An axially aligned opening 18 is defined at the first end portion 11 of the body 10 and a closed bottom 19 is defined at the second end portion 12 of the body 10 spaced apart from the first end portion 11. The body 10 further defines an axially aligned tubular chamber 20 that has an interior diameter 21, and a length 22 between the axially aligned opening 18 at the first end portion 11, and an interior surface 26 of the closed bottom 19 at the second end portion 12. Threads 24 are defined in the outer circumferential surface 14 of the outer wall 13 at the first end portion 11. The void 17 may contain and/or be at least partially filled with a thermally insulating material or gas such as, but not limited to, water, thermal gel, gas, vacuum, and/or air.
The retention collar 30 is generally annular in configuration and has a first end portion 31, a second end portion 32, an outer circumferential surface 33 and an inner circumferential surface 34 that defines threads 35 that matingly engage with the threads 24 defined in the outer circumferential surface 14 of the body 10 at the first end portion 11 thereof. The retention collar 30 further defines an axially aligned through hole 36 that has an interior diameter 39 that is smaller than the diameter 21 of the axially aligned tubular chamber 20 of the body 10. The axially aligned through hole 36 has a radially inwardly extending lip 37, and a radially inwardly extending flexible wiper 39. In some embodiments, the retention collar 30 is made of a rigid material, such as, but not limited to metal, plastic, ceramic, or glass. In some embodiments, the retention collar 30 is made of a flexible material, such as, but not limited to, rubber or elastomer.
Best shown in
As shown in the Figures, the puck 60 may have a variety of configurations, but in some embodiments, the puck 60 is carried, at least partially, within the axially aligned tubular chamber 20 of the body 10, and the puck 60 is movable by a user between a first position (
In some embodiments, shown in
In some embodiments, shown in
In some embodiments, shown in
The second bottom portion 80 of the puck 60 has a top interior surface 89, a bottom exterior surface 81, an outer circumferential edge 84 that defines a lower gasket compressing ledge 85, and a recess 82 is defined in the bottom exterior surface for a cam anchor 99. The second bottom portion 80 of the puck 60 further defines a medial chamber 86. The top interior surface 89 defines an annularly shaped, axially downwardly extending, radially inwardly tapered cavity 87 that slidably cooperates with, and aligns with, the alignment boss 70 carried by the first top end portion 62 of the puck 60, so that the first top portion 62 and the second bottom portion 80 are axially aligned relative to one another and are axially movable relative to one another.
A fluid sealing gasket 88 is carried on the bottom exterior surface 81 of the second bottom portion 80. The fluid sealing gasket 88 may be compressed against an immediately adjacent beverage container (
A compressible gasket 105 is carried by the puck 60 between the upper gasket compressing ledge 69 of the first top portion 62, and the lower gasket compressing ledge 85 of the second bottom portion 80. As shown in
The puck 60 has a plurality of interconnected and generally axially aligned components including the cam axle hub 64, the cam lever 95, the first top portion 62, the compressible gasket 105, the second bottom portion 80 and the cam anchor 99. The cam lever 95 has a semi-circular handle 96 that has a locking protrusion 97 at a generally medial position thereon, and opposing end portions of the semi-circular handle 96 each interconnect with a cam axle 98 that is non-cylindrical (is not circular in cross section) so that pivotal movement of the cam lever 95 relative to the cam lever hub 64 of the puck 60 exerts a drawing force on the cam anchor 99. The cam anchor 99 has a first end portion 100, a second end portion 101, a generally planar anchor disc 102 at the second end portion 101, and an axially extending anchor post 103 that extends toward the first end portion 100. An end portion of the anchor post 103 opposite the disc 102 defines a cam engaging hook 104 that engages with a non-cylindrical (not cross-sectionally circular) cam axle 98 of the cam lever 95.
The cam lever 95 is pivotally movable between a first position 110, and a second position 111, relative to the annular shaped depression 67 defined in the top exterior surface 63 and when the cam lever 95 is in the first position 110, the compressible gasket 105 positioned between the upper gasket compressing ledge 69, and the lower gasket compressing ledge 85 is not compressed (
In some embodiments of the puck 60, (
The length 22 of the axially aligned tubular chamber 20 of the body 10 is sufficient to fully enclose plural axially aligned beverage containers and at least a portion of the puck 60.
As shown in
As shown in
Having described the structure of my apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, its operation is briefly described.
To “load” beverage containers into the body 10, the body 10 is grasped by the user so that the opening 18 defined in the first end portion 11 is vertically above the second end portion 12. The user grasps a beverage container and axially aligns one end of the beverage container with the opening 18. The beverage container is axially “slid” into the tubular chamber 20. A second beverage container is similarly axially inserted into the tubular chamber 20 so that the two beverage containers are more fully contained within the tubular chamber 20 defined by the body 10. The puck 60 is placed within the opening 18 so that the puck 60 is partially within the tubular chamber 20, and partially extends axially outwardly from the tubular chamber 20 at the first end portion 11. The bottom exterior surface 81, carrying the fluid sealing gasket 88 there on frictionally communicates with the uppermost end of the uppermost beverage container within the tubular channel 20. The retention collar 30 is axially aligned with the puck 60 so that the puck 60 extends at least partially through the axially aligned hole 36 defined in the retention collar 30. The radially inwardly extending lip 37 and the flexible wiper 38 frictionally communicate with the puck 60 as the puck 60 partially passes into and through the axially aligned hole 36. The retention collar 30 is rotated axially so that the threads 35 defined in the retention collar 30 matingly engage with the threads 24 defined in the body 10 at the first end portion 11 of thereof. The threadable engagement of the retention collar 30 with the body 10 axially moves the puck 60 downwardly frictionally against the uppermost end portion of the uppermost beverage container to positionally secure the beverage containers within the tubular chamber 20. The cam lever 95 carried by the puck 60 is moved from the first position 110 into the second position 111 which responsively “draws” the second bottom portion 80 of the puck 60 closer to the first top portion 62 of the puck 60 which responsively compresses the O-ring gasket 105 between the upper gasket compressing ledge 69 and the lower gasket compressing ledge 85 which responsively causes the O-ring gasket 105 to expand radially outwardly to engage with the inner circumferential surface 16 of the tubular chamber 20 which responsively thermally seals the tubular chamber 20 and insulates the beverage containers within the tubular chamber.
When the user desires to consume a beverage from within one of the beverage containers, the user would reverse the above described process and remove both beverage containers from the tubular chamber 20. The puck 60, with the cam lever 95 in the first position 110 is placed within the tubular chamber 20 and allowed to “slide” axially downwardly therein so that the puck 60 rests frictionally against the interior bottom surface 26 of the tubular chamber 20. The beverage containers are then reinserted into the tubular chamber 20, as described previously. The retention collar 30 is again aligned with the beverage container that extends at least partially, axially outwardly from the first end portion 11 of the body 10. The retention collar 30 is thereupon axially rotated so as to threadably engage with the body 10. An upper end portion of the upper beverage container extends into and through the axially aligned hole 36 defined in the retention collar 30 so that the uppermost beverage container is accessible to a user for consumption. The radially inwardly extending lip 37 and the flexible wiper 38 frictionally engage with an outer circumferential surface of the beverage container to responsively positionally maintain the beverage container within the tubular chamber 20. When beverage within the first beverage container is fully consumed, the user may replace the consumed first beverage container with the second/lower beverage container that is not yet consumed by switching the positions of the two beverage containers, one, with the other.
If the user utilizes the rigid sleeve 120, the plural beverage containers are placed within the tubular chamber 129 of the rigid sleeve 120, and the rigid sleeve (containing the plural aligned beverage containers) is axially inserted into the tubular chamber 20 defined by the body 10 and is secured within the tubular chamber 20 as described above.
If the user utilizes the connector boot 140, the plural beverage containers are each engaged with one axial opening 147, 148 of the connector boot 140. It is preferable that the beverage containers are inverted, one relative to the other so that the portion of the beverage container that defines an opening for consumption of the beverage, is in a position opposite the connector boot 140. The plural beverage containers, and the connector boot 140 thereupon axially inserted into the tubular chamber 20 defined by the body 10. In the event the user intends to use both the connector boot 140 and the rigid sleeve 120, as plural beverage containers and the connector boot 140 are inserted into the tubular chamber 129 defined by the rigid sleeve 120. Thereafter, the rigid sleeve 120 which is carrying/containing the plural beverage containers and the connector boot 140 are axially inserted into the tubular chamber 20 defined by the body 10. In all instances, the retention collar 30 is used to secure the beverage containers within the body 10.
A principal object of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, the apparatus comprising: a body 10 that is elongate and has a first end portion 11, a second end portion 12, and an exterior diameter 23, and an opening 18 defined at the first end portion 11 and a closed bottom 19 at the second end portion 12, the body 10 further defining a tubular chamber 20 that defines an interior diameter 21 and a length 22 between the opening 18 and an interior surface 26 of the closed bottom 19, and threads 24 are defined in an outer circumferential surface 14 at the first end portion 11; a retention collar 30 that is threadably engaged with the threads 24 defined in the first end portion 11 of the body 10, the retention collar 30 further defining and axially aligned hole 36 that has an interior diameter 39 that is smaller than the diameter 21 of the tubular chamber 20; a handle 50 carried on the outer circumferential surface 14 of the body 10; a puck 60 that is movable, by a user, between a first position adjacent to the opening 18, and a second position adjacent to the interior bottom surface 26, the puck 60 having a body 61 that has a first top portion 62 that has an upper gasket compressing ledge 69 and an interconnected second bottom portion 80 that has a lower gasket compressing ledge 85, and compressible gasket 105 between the upper gasket compressing ledge 69, and the lower gasket compressing ledge 85, and the first top portion 62 is movable relative to the second bottom portion 80 which responsively compresses the compressible gasket 105 and causes the compressible gasket 105 to expand radially outwardly so as to frictionally engage with an inner circumferential surface 16 of the tubular chamber 21 so as to positionally secure the puck 60 in an operator desired position.
A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, and wherein the first top portion 62 of the puck 60 is axially movable relative to the second bottom portion 80 of the puck 60, to cause the compressible gasket 105 to expand radially outwardly; and the movement of the first top portion 62, relative to the second bottom portion 80 is responsive to axial twisting, and engagement of mating threads 66 and 89 defined in the first top portion 62 and the second bottom portion 80.
A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, and wherein the first top portion 62 of the puck 60 is axially movable relative to the second bottom portion 80 of the puck 60, to cause the compressible gasket 105 to expand radially outwardly; and the movement of the first top portion 62, relative to the second bottom portion 80 is responsive to actuation of a cam lever 95.
A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, and wherein the handle 50 has a first end 51 that is secured to the outer circumferential surface 14 of the outer wall 13 body 10 proximate to the first end portion 11, and a second end 52 that is secured to the outer circumferential surface 14 of the outer wall 13 body 10 proximate to the second end portion 12, with the medial portion 53 between the first end 51 and the second end 52, and the medial portion 53 is resiliently flexible, and can be displaced radially relative to the outer circumferential surface 14 of the body 10.
A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers and further comprising: an outer wall 13 of the body 10 defining an outer circumferential surface 14 and an exterior diameter 23; and an inner wall 15 of the body 10 defining an inner circumferential surface 16; and a void 17 between the outer wall 13 and the inner wall 15.
A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, and further comprising: insulation 25 in the void 17 between the outer wall 13 and the inner wall 15.
A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, and further comprising: a radially inwardly extending lip 37; and a radially inwardly extending flexible wiper 39 both carried by the retention collar 30 and within the axially aligned hole 36.
A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, further comprising: a fluid sealing gasket 88 carried on a bottom exterior surface 81 of the second bottom portion 80 to fluidically seal a beverage container adjacent to the bottom exterior surface 81.
A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, and further comprising: a sleeve 120 to positionally align and maintain two beverage containers, and wherein the sleeve 120 is tubular in configuration, the rigid sleeve 120 having a body 121 with a first end portion 122, a second end portion 123, an outer wall 124 having an outer circumferential surface 125, and defining a tubular chamber 129 that has an inner circumferential surface 126 and defines an axial opening 127 at the first end portion 122, and a closed bottom 128 at the second end portion 123, the body 121 having an exterior diameter 132, and the tubular chamber 129 defines an interior diameter 130 and an internal length 131; and wherein the exterior diameter 132 of the body 121 of the sleeve 120 is less than the diameter 21 of the tubular chamber 20 of the body 10, so that the sleeve 120 is axially receivable within the tubular chamber 20 of the body 10; and wherein the interior diameter 130 of the tubular channel 129 is greater than a diameter of the beverage containers, so that the beverage containers may be slidably carried within the tubular channel 129; and wherein the exterior diameter 132 of the sleeve 120, is greater than the diameter 39 of the axially aligned hole 36 defined in the retention collar 30, so that the retention collar 30 positionally maintains the sleeve 120 within the tubular chamber 20 of the body 10.
A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, and further comprising: a connector boot 140 that is generally tubular in configuration, the connector boot 140 having a body 141 with a first end portion 142 that defines an axial opening 147, a second end portion 143 that defines an axial opening 148, an outer wall 140 that defines an outer circumferential surface 145, and an exterior diameter 152, and a tubular channel 149 that extends between the first end portion 142 and the second end portion 143, the tubular channel 149 defining an interior diameter 150 and having a channel length 151, and plural spacedly arrayed radially inwardly extending webs 153 are carried on an inner circumferential surface 146 of the tubular channel 149 to frictionally engage with outer circumferential surfaces of axially aligned beverage containers that are simultaneously engaged within the axial openings 147, 148 of the connector boot 140, to positionally maintain the axially outlined beverage containers relative to the connector boot 140; and wherein the exterior diameter 152 of the connector boot 140 is less than the interior diameter 21 of the tubular chamber 20 of the body 10, so that the plural axially aligned beverage containers that are positionally maintained by the connector boot 140 can be axially movably carried within the tubular chamber 20 of the body 10.
A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers and further comprising: a connector boot 140 that is generally tubular in configuration, the connector boot 140 having a body 141 with a first end portion 142 that defines an axial opening 147, a second end portion 143 that defines an axial opening 148, an outer wall 140 that defines an outer circumferential surface 145, and an exterior diameter 152, and a tubular channel 149 that extends between the first end portion 142 and the second end portion 143, the tubular channel 149 defining an interior diameter 150 and having a channel length 151, and plural spacedly arrayed radially inwardly extending webs 153 are carried on an inner circumferential surface 146 of the tubular channel 149 to frictionally engage with outer circumferential surfaces of axially aligned beverage containers that are simultaneously engaged within the axial openings 147, 148 of the connector boot 140, to positionally maintain the axially outlined beverage containers relative to the connector boot 140; and wherein the exterior diameter 152 of the connector boot 140 is less than the interior diameter 130 of the tubular chamber 129 of the sleeve 120, so that the plural axially aligned beverage containers that are positionally maintained by the connector boot 140 can be axially movably carried within the tubular chamber 129 of the sleeve 120.
A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, and further comprising: a thermal gel carried within the void 17 between the outer wall 13 and the inner wall 15 of the body 10.
A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, and wherein the puck 60 may be positioned, proximate to the first end portion 11 of the body so as to secure plural beverage containers within the tubular chamber 20, and the puck 60 may optionally be positioned within the tubular chamber 20 adjacent to the interior bottom surface 26 so that the beverage containers carried within the tubular chamber 20 are proximate to the first end portion 11 of the body, and are secured thereat by the retention collar 30, and a drink orifice defined in an upper-most beverage container is assessable to the user for dispensing of a beverage from within the beverage container.
A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers and wherein the puck 60 is carried, at least partially, within the tubular chamber 20 of the body 10, and is movable by a user between a first position adjacent to the opening 18, of the body 10 and a second position adjacent to the interior bottom surface 26, the puck 60 having a body 61 that has a first top portion 62 and a second bottom portion 80 that is movable relative to the first top portion 62 and a cam lever 95; and wherein, the first top portion 62 of the puck 60 has a top exterior surface 63, an opposing bottom interior surface 73, an outer circumferential edge 68 that defines an upper gasket compressing ledge 69, and a cam lever hub 64 that is carried on the top exterior surface 63 and which defines diametrically opposed cam anchor axle slots 65 so that the cam lever 95 may extend therethrough and be pivotally moved relative to the first top portion 62, and the cam lever 95 is positioned within an annular shaped depression 67 defined in the top exterior surface 63 radially outwardly of the cam lever hub 64, and the bottom interior surface 73, of the first top portion 62, defines a medial chamber 72, a cam anchor passage 71, and an alignment boss 70 that extends generally axially downwardly from the bottom interior surface 73 about the medial chamber 72 and is tapered radially inwardly; and the second bottom portion 80 of the puck 60 has a top interior surface 89, a bottom exterior surface 81, an outer circumferential edge 84 that defines a lower gasket compressing ledge 85, and a recess 82 defined in the bottom exterior surface for a cam anchor 99, the second bottom portion 80 of the puck 60 further defining a medial chamber 86 that opens upwardly toward the first top portion 62, the top interior surface 89 carrying an annularly shaped, upwardly extending, radially inwardly tapered boss 87 that slidably cooperates with and aligns with the alignment boss 70 carried by the first top end portion 62, so that the first top portion 62 and the second bottom portion 80 are axially aligned relative to one another and are axially movable relative to one another, and a spring 74 is carried in the medial chamber 86 to positionally bias the first top portion 62 and the second bottom portion 80 distally from one another; and a compressible gasket 105 is carried by the puck 60 between the upper gasket compressing ledge 69 of the first top portion 62, and the lower gasket compressing ledge 85 of the second bottom portion 80; and the cam anchor 99 has a first end portion 100, a second end portion 101, a generally planar anchor disc 102 at the second end portion 101 and an axially extending anchor post 103 that is interconnected with the anchor disc 102 to extend toward the first end portion 100, and an end portion of the anchor post 103 opposite the disc 102 defines a cam engaging hook 104 that engages with a non-cylindrical cam axle 98 of the cam lever 95; and wherein the cam lever 95 is pivotally movable between a first position 110 and a second position 111 relative to the annular shaped depression 67 defined in the top exterior surface 63 and wherein, in the first position 110 the compressible gasket 105 positioned between the upper gasket compressing ledge 69, and the lower gasket compressing ledge 85 is not compressed, and the exterior diameter 78 of the puck 60 allows the puck 60 to move freely axially within the axially aligned tubular chamber 20, and when the cam lever 95 is in the second position 111, the compressible gasket 105 positioned between the upper gasket compressing ledge 69 and the lower gasket compressing ledge 85 is compressed which causes the fluid sealing gasket 88 to expand radially outwardly to have a second diameter 76 that is greater than the first diameter 78 which positionally secures the puck 60 at a desired position within the axially aligned tubular chamber 20, and seals the axially aligned tubular chamber 20.
A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers, comprising: a body 10 that is elongate and generally cylindrical, having a first end portion 11, a second end portion 12, an outer wall 13 defining an outer circumferential surface 14 and defining an exterior diameter 23, an inner wall 15 defining an inner circumferential surface 16 with a void 17 between the outer wall 13 and the inner wall 15, and an axially aligned opening 18 defined at the first end portion 11 of the body 10 and a closed bottom 19 at the second end portion 12 of the body 10 spaced apart from the first end portion 11, the body 10 further defining an axially aligned tubular chamber 20 that defines an interior diameter 21, and a length 22 between the axially aligned opening 18 at the first end portion 11, and an interior surface 26 of the closed bottom 19 at the second end portion 12, and threads 24 are defined in the outer circumferential surface 14 of the outer wall 13 at the first end portion 11; a retention collar 30 that is annular in configuration and having a first end portion 31, a second end portion 32, an outer circumferential surface 33 and an inner circumferential surface 34 that defines threads 35 that matingly engage with the threads 24 defined in the outer circumferential surface 14 of the body 10 at the first end portion 11, the retention collar 30 further defining and axially aligned through hole 36 that defines an interior diameter 39 that is smaller than the diameter 21 of the axially aligned tubular chamber 20, and the axially aligned through hole 36 has a radially inwardly extending lip 37 and a radially inwardly extending flexible wiper 39; a handle 50 carried on the outer circumferential surface 14 of the body 10, the handle 50 having a first end 51 that is secured to the outer circumferential surface 14 of the outer wall 13 of the body 10 proximate to the first end portion 11, and a second end 52 that is secured to the outer circumferential surface 14 of the outer wall 13 of the body 10 proximate to the second end portion 12, with a medial portion 53 between the first end 51 and the second end 52, and the medial portion 53 is resiliently flexible and can be displaced radially outwardly from the outer wall 13 of the body 10; a puck 60 that is carried, at least partially, within the axially aligned tubular chamber 20 of the body 10, and is movable by a user between a first position adjacent to the opening 18, and a second position adjacent to the interior bottom surface 26, the puck 60 having a body 61 that defines an exterior diameter 78, and has a first top portion 62, a second bottom portion 80 that is movable relative to the first top portion 62, and a cam lever 95, and the first top portion 62 of the puck 60 has a top exterior surface 63, an opposing bottom interior surface 73, an outer circumferential edge 68 that defines an upper gasket compressing ledge 69, and a cam lever hub 64 that is carried on the top exterior surface 63 and which defines diametrically opposed cam anchor axle slots 65 so that the cam lever 95 may extend therethrough and be pivotally moved relative to the first top portion 62, and the cam lever 95 is positioned within an annular shaped depression 67 defined in the top exterior surface 63 radially outwardly of the cam lever hub 64, and the bottom interior surface 73, of the first top portion 62, defines a medial chamber 72, a cam anchor passage 71, and an alignment boss 70 that extends generally axially downwardly from the bottom interior surface 73 about the medial chamber 72 and is tapered radially inwardly, and the second bottom portion 80 of the puck 60 has a top interior surface 89, a bottom exterior surface 81, an outer circumferential edge 84 that defines a lower gasket compressing ledge 85, and a recess 82 defined in the bottom exterior surface for a cam anchor 99, the second bottom portion 80 of the puck 60 further defining a medial chamber 86 that opens upwardly toward the first top portion 62, the top interior surface 89 carrying an annularly shaped, upwardly extending, radially inwardly tapered boss 87 that slidably cooperates with and aligns with the alignment boss 70 carried by the first top end portion 62, so that the first top portion 62 and the second bottom portion 80 are axially aligned relative to one another and are axially movable relative to one another, and a spring 74 is carried in the medial chamber 86 to positionally bias the first top portion 62 and the second bottom portion 80 distally from one another, and a compressible gasket 105 is carried by the puck 60 between the upper gasket compressing ledge 69 of the first top portion 62, and the lower gasket compressing ledge 85 of the second bottom portion 80, and the cam anchor 99 has a first end portion 100, a second end portion 101, a generally planar anchor disc 102 at the second end portion 101 and an axially extending anchor post 103 that is interconnected with the anchor disc 102 to extend toward the first end portion 100, and an end portion of the anchor post 103 opposite the disc 102 defines a cam engaging hook 104 that engages with a non-cylindrical cam axle 98 of the cam lever 95; and wherein the cam lever 95 is pivotally movable between a first position 110 and a second position 111 relative to the annular shaped depression 67 defined in the top exterior surface 63 and wherein, in the first position 110 the compressible gasket 105 positioned between the upper gasket compressing ledge 69, and the lower gasket compressing ledge 85 is not compressed, and the exterior diameter 78 of the puck 60 allows the puck 60 to move freely axially within the axially aligned tubular chamber 20, and when the cam lever 95 is in the second position 111, the compressible gasket 105 positioned between the upper gasket compressing ledge 69 and the lower gasket compressing ledge 85 is compressed which causes the fluid sealing gasket 88 to expand radially outwardly to have a second diameter 76 that is greater than the first diameter 78 which positionally secures the puck 60 at a desired position within the axially aligned tubular chamber 20, and seals the axially aligned tubular chamber 20.
A still object aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers and wherein length 22 of the axially aligned tubular chamber 20 of the body 10 is sufficient to fully enclose plural axially aligned beverage containers and the puck 60.
An even still object aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for containing, positioning and thermally insulating plural axially aligned beverage containers and wherein length 22 of the axially aligned tubular chamber 20 of the body 10 is sufficient to fully enclose two axially aligned beverage containers and the puck 60. [REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
This application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/285,356, filed Dec. 2, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63285356 | Dec 2021 | US |
