Abstract
A mechanical apparatus comprised of a plurality of pods in the form of an annular cylindrical sleeve, a cup and a ring cap. Whereas, the pods containing liquid are to be frozen for the purpose of dynamically discharging its thermal energy to a drink object placed within. The pods of the annular cylindrical sleeve are joined to each other by removable latitudinal elastic bands. Thus allowing the annular cylindrical sleeve to instantly expand/contract to grip varying sizes drink object. In operation, a charged (frozen ice) annular cylindrical sleeve is disposed in the cup; a ring cap is installed to cup to cover and protect the discharging of thermal energy therein from ambient conditions. A drink object in the form of canned or bottled may be inserted in the apparatus to receive desired chill temperature for an extended length of time in ambient conditions.
Claims
1. An apparatus for the purpose of chilling a canned or bottled object, it is comprising: a. a cup like structure for receiving; b. a removable chiller of the form annular cylindrical sleeve capable of receiving a cylindrical object, for which both are placed inside said cup like structure; then c. a removable ring cap to latch onto said cup like structure to cover the chamber within.
2. The removable chiller of claim 1, wherein the removable chiller further comprising of a plurality of identical pods, whereas identical pods are collectively joined on equal spacing by removable latitudinal elastic bands.
3-13. (canceled)
14. The removable chiller of claim 1, wherein the removable chiller further comprising of a plurality of identical pods, whereas each identical pod has through holes from convex side to concave side.
15. The removable chiller of claim 1, wherein the removable chiller further comprising of a plurality of identical pods, whereas each identical pod has ridge structures on concave side.
16. The ridge structures on each of identical pod of claim 15, wherein said the ridge structures are to be made thicker or none, whereas to increase/decrease the separation space between a cylindrical object and said removable chiller's inner compartment.
17. The removable latitudinal elastic bands of claim 2, wherein said each removable latitudinal elastic band has mushroom shape pins on equal spacing along inner circumference.
18. The through holes on each of identical pod of claim 14, wherein said the through holes facilitate the attachment of the mushroom shape pins of said removable latitudinal elastic bands.
19. The removable latitudinal elastic bands of claim 2, wherein said removable latitudinal elastic bands are classified as flexible rings.
20. The removable latitudinal elastic bands of claim 2, wherein said removable latitudinal elastic bands are attached transversely on convex sides of identical pods.
21. The removable latitudinal elastic bands of claim 2, wherein said removable latitudinal elastic bands exert radial compression force upon a cylindrical object placed within said removable chiller.
22. The removable latitudinal elastic bands of claim 2, wherein said removable latitudinal elastic bands enable said removable chiller's interior compartment to expand/contract readily and uniformly when receiving/removing a cylindrical object.
23. The removable ring cap of claim 1, wherein said removable ring cap has flexible seal structure on inner diameter to perform as ring wiper when receiving/removing a cylindrical object within said cup.
24. The removable ring cap of claim 1, wherein said removable ring cap has through holes to relieve suction when receiving/removing a cylindrical object within said cup.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantage thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is an exploded cross sectional front elevation view of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the removable ring cap.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the removable chiller.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the removable chiller in normal state.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a single pod with removable latitudinal elastic bands attached.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional front elevation view of a pod taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 5.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a blown up of DETAIL K shown in FIG. 7.
[0022] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the invention with the removable ring cap not shown to illustrate the relationship of the removable chiller inside the cup.
[0023] FIG. 10 is a cross sectional front elevation view of the invention taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 9 showing a typical bottle fully inserted.
[0024] FIG. 11 is a cross sectional front elevation view of the invention taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 9 showing a large diameter bottle fully inserted.
[0025] FIG. 12 is a cross sectional front elevation view of the invention taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 9 showing a typical bottle partly inserted/lifted.
[0026] FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the removable chiller in expanded state.
[0027] FIG. 14 is a top plan view of a single pod with ridge structures on concave side.
[0028] FIG. 15 is a top plan view of a single pod without ridge structures on concave side.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an embodiment of an apparatus of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a main body portion 1, a removable chiller 2, and a removable ring cap 3.
[0030] To make reading and identifying the elements easier to follow; from here on: the main body portion 1, a removable chiller 2, and a removable ring cap 3 will be referred as a cup 1, a chiller 2, and a cap 3 respectively.
[0031] The main body portion 1 is a cup structure designed to receive a chiller 2, a cap 3, and a drink object to be inserted and chilled (FIGS. 10-12). The cup 1 (FIGS. 1 & 2) is preferably constructed singularly of thermoplastic resins such as Acrylic, Tritan, Polycarbonate, ABS etc. All depended, but not limited to, on the desired strength, durability, cosmetically, availability and cost factor. It is further noted that the cup 1 also be made of metals such as Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Titanium etc. for high-end market. For the art world, the cup 1 may also be made of crystal or glass that is similar to the techniques of making vases completed with artful colors, patterns and shapes.
[0032] On the inside and at the bottom of cup 1 is a raised diameter 11 (FIGS. 2 & 9) designed to centrally position the chiller 2 upon being inserted into cup 1. Additionally, a ledge 12 (FIGS. 1, 2 & 9), inside and near the top, is served as a dead stop position for the cap 3 (FIGS. 1, 2 & 3) to its defined location. These two features of the cup provided for clear functions and absolute placements for other components to be included within.
[0033] The chiller 2 (FIGS. 1, 2 & 4) comprises of plurality of identical pods 21 (FIGS. 1 & 5 & 13) with removable latitudinal elastic bands 4 (FIGS. 1, 2 & 6, 8). Each identical pod 21 is an exact fraction of an annular cylindrical or chiller 2 (FIG. 5). All identical pods 21 are collectively joined side by side on equal spacing by removable latitudinal elastic bands 4 (FIG. 6) to form an annular cylindrical or chiller 2. The identical pod 21 is generally constructed of any thermoplastic resins such as PET, HDPE, LDPE etc. All depended, but not limited to, on the desired strength, durability, availability, and cost factor. Next, each identical pod is filled with liquid 22 (FIGS. 7 & 8) to no more than 90% of its volume for completion. Liquid 22 may be of variety of types such as plain water, distilled water or chemically formulated liquid to control the result of the frozen ice condition thereafter. The techniques for filling identical pods 21 with liquid 22 then sealing the hole are readily known, thus it is not discussed here.
[0034] Each identical pod 21 has ridges 211 (FIG. 6) that run along its vertical height on concave side. These ridges 211 are designed to keep a drink object from making full surface contact with the concave side of identical pods 21. The thickness 213 of the ridges 211 (FIGS. 5, 7, 13 & 14) is selected to provide more or less separation of space between the drink object and the chiller 2's inner compartment. Having more separation space, hence the thicker 213 will result in less effective thermal discharging to be received by the drink object from chiller 2. Oppositely, whereas, in the absence of ridges 211 on identical pods 21 (FIG. 15) allow for full surface contact, between drink object and chiller 2's inner compartment. This condition results in most effective thermal discharging to be received by drink object. Thus, the presence of ridges (FIG. 14) or without ridges (FIG. 15) plays an important role for chiller 2. Next, a ramp 212 (FIGS. 6 & 7) is included at the top on the concave side of each identical pod 21. Thus, a resulting conical ramp 212 (FIGS. 5 & 9) is formed on the annular cylindrical or chiller 2. The inside diameter of chiller 2, either with ridges or without ridges, is formulated to be equal to the smallest diameter of a drink object known. Thus, the conical ramp 212 is designed to readily accept a large diameter drink object to be inserted into chiller 2. Lastly, each identical pod 21 has through-holes (FIG. 8) from convex to concave sides for attachment of mushroom shape pins 41 (FIG. 6) on inner circumference of removable latitudinal elastic bands 4.
[0035] The chiller 2 comprises of plurality of identical pods 21 (FIG. 5) joined on equal spacing by removable latitudinal elastic bands 4 (FIGS. 4, 6-8). The removable latitudinal elastic band 4 is preferably made of Rubber like materials such as Neoprene, EPDM, Silicone etc. that possessed high UV tolerant, wide temperature range, good elongation and retention characteristics. There are mushroom shape pins 41 (FIGS. 6-8) on inner circumference of the removable latitudinal elastic band 4. The removable latitudinal elastic bands 4 (FIG. 6) have many important functions for the invention. First, the mushroom shape pins 41 allow for a quick assembly of pods 21 to form an annular cylindrical or chiller 2. Second, the equal spacing of the mushroom shape pins 41 defines the exact positions for identical pods 21 when assembling them together. The result is a perfect annular cylinder by definition. Third, even more important condition is the removable latitudinal elastic bands 4 are designed to exert gripping action to the inserted drink object when placed inside chiller 2. Naturally, the gripping action produces a direct contact of the ridges 211 with the inserted drink object. Fourth, the removable latitudinal elastic bands 4 automatically enable for immediate expansion/contraction of the chiller 2's interior compartment, when receiving/removing drink object. Lastly, any failed identical pod 21 or elastic band 4 can quickly be detached and replaced because of the through-holes and mushroom shape pins 41 design.
[0036] As more fully illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 & 10-12, the cap 3 contributes to the importance of the invention; by capping and sealing, the dissipation rate of the thermal energy from the inserted drink object and the chiller 2 is trapped, delayed, circulated and insulated from ambient conditions. The cap 3 is preferably constructed of Neoprene, EPDM, Silicone etc. that possesses high UV tolerance, wide temperature range, good elongation and retention characteristics. Its inner opening 33 is designed to be smaller than the smallest known diameter of a drink object to be used. There are through-holes 31 (FIGS. 1-3 & 10-12) on the cap 3. The through-holes 31 are designed to relieve suction caused by the directed and sealed contact of the inner lip 32 of cap 3 (FIG. 12) with the drink object while being inserted/lifted in cup 1. Furthermore, the action of the inner lip 32 of cap 3, when in the directed and sealed contact with the drink object, also makes a wiping effect as the drink object being inserted/lifted. The wiping effect acts to remove particles and/or condensations deposited on the drink object's outer surface.
[0037] FIGS. 2 & 10-12 shown an annular space 5. The annular space 5 allows for contraction or expansion of the chiller 2 when receiving a different diameter drink object for each use.
[0038] A quick look at FIG. 1, one will note the simplicity of the design and the use of the invention. Prior to usage, the chiller 2 is frozen to an icy condition. It is placed inside cup 1 and automatically fallen in centered position by the raised diameter 11 (FIG. 2). Next, the cap 3 is pressed down inside the cup 1 until it lands on ledge 12 (FIG. 2) for a defined dead stop. And now, a pre-chilled drink object is inserted into cup 1 through the inner opening 33 of cap 3 to receive the discharging of thermal energy from the chiller 2. The discharged thermal energy keeps the pre-chilled drink object at a desired temperature for extended length of time in ambient conditions. The drink object may be inserted/lifted at will with no cause and effect to the apparatus.
[0039] As known from above, the embodiment of the invention illustrated and detailed the simple, effectiveness and usefulness of an apparatus to deliver the desired chill temperature to any drink object in the form of canned or bottled.
[0040] It will be apparent that many applications will lend themselves to utilization of this invention. Although, the invention is particularly suited for chilling drink object of canned or bottled; the invention could be modified and utilized for other industries.
[0041] While certain novel features of this invention have shown and described in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and modifications in the forms and details of the apparatus illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.
