Abstract
The currently disclosed invention consists of a system for rapidly chilling a beverage within a drinking container while it is being consumed. The preferred embodiment consists of two straight plastic tubes, one fitting inside the other, with ice contained between the outer tube and the inner tube, wherein beverage can be drawn up through the inner tube in the manner of a drinking straw. The tubes are created by extrusion molding, with an optional weight located within the outer tube, surrounding the base of the inner tube, and encased in plastic. Other embodiments of this system are possible, as are described within the specification incorporated herein.
Claims
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16. A self chilling beverage system which comprises: a non-mechanical cooling unit to lower the temperature of a designated beverage when combined with either a specially designed beverage container, or with a personal beverage container.
17. The self chilling beverage system of claim 16 which comprises a removable ice tube designed to fit inside a beverage container with a removable lid, said beverage container incorporating tube guides on the upper edge of said beverage container allowing said removable ice tube to be secured in position within said beverage container.
18. The self chilling beverage system of claim 17 in which said removable lid incorporates an underside and an upper side, a drinking opening located within the boundaries of said removable lid, a drinking opening cover incorporating an upper surface and a lower surface, said drinking opening cover being capable of alternating between an open and closed position with regard to said drinking opening, said drinking opening cover being attached to the underside of said removable lid by use of an attaching tab and an attaching means, a slide handle located on the upper surface of said drinking opening cover to alternate said drinking opening cover between the open and closed positions, and a lifting indentation or lifting protrusion to remove said removable lid from said beverage container.
19. The self chilling beverage system of claim 17 wherein said removable ice tube comprises an ice holding chamber, a beverage conducting channel, and open areas for beverage flow.
20. The self chilling beverage system of claim 19, wherein said removable ice tube incorporates an upper opening to be used for drinking, said upper opening being available for use whether or not said removable lid is affixed to said beverage container, as said removable lid incorporates a drinking opening with a drinking opening cover which can be in an open position for drinking.
21. The self chilling beverage system of claim 19, wherein said removable ice tube is in the form of a weighted removable ice tube, comprising a plastic housing enclosing an ice holding chamber, with a permanent drinking straw in either a straight or spiral configuration, positioned within said ice holding chamber of said removable ice tube in such a way that said permanent drinking straw is surrounded by an identical thickness of ice in every direction, and a weight is positioned inside the lower extremity of said plastic housing directly below said ice holding chamber, circled around said permanent drinking straw near the bottom, partially or totally encased in plastic to prevent exposure to the beverage in said beverage container and the liquid in said ice holding chamber, said weight positioned in such a way as to contribute to a lower center of gravity for said beverage container, or any drinking vessel in which said weighted removable ice tube might be used, allowing said weighted removable ice tube to remain in position within said beverage container without rising and losing contact with said beverage or causing said container to tip from a center of gravity which is too high, and allowing said weighted removable ice tube to be used in a variety of personal drinking utensils in addition to said beverage container.
22. The self chilling beverage system of claim 21 wherein said weighted removable ice tube incorporates said permanent drinking straw within said weighted ice tube, with said upper opening containing a tip to enable a short disposable drinking straw, with a section to adapt to different angles for additional drinking comfort, to be inserted, for use in consuming the beverage within said beverage container.
23. The self chilling beverage system of claim 21, wherein said weighted removable ice tube incorporates said permanent drinking straw positioned in the exact center of said ice holding chamber within said weighted removable ice tube, the exact center of said ice holding chamber being that point where all diameters of said ice holding chamber meet when crossing said ice holding chamber, ensuring that said permanent drinking straw would be completely surrounded by a layer of ice having a uniform thickness on all sides, wherein said permanent drinking straw is of sufficient diameter to allow a full length disposable drinking straw to be inserted within said permanent drinking straw.
24. The self chilling beverage system of claim 21, wherein said plastic housing of said weighted removable ice tube is molded in an upper section and a lower section allowing an expandable insert to be glued or sonic welded in place between said upper section and said lower section, wherein said expandable insert allows said weighted removable ice tube to expand upward without breaking if necessitated by the expansion of the water inside said ice holding chamber during the freezing process.
25. The self chilling beverage system of claim 17 wherein an adapted beverage cup is positioned inside said beverage container in such a way as to create an ice holding chamber between the inner wall of said beverage container and the outer wall of said adapted beverage cup, and a removable lid.
26. The self chilling beverage system of claim 25, wherein said adapted beverage cup incorporating an annular body consisting of a base and a wall including an outer surface and an inner surface, is positioned as the inside wall of said ice holding chamber, wherein a spiral beverage conducting channel is positioned around the outer surface of said adapted beverage cup within said ice holding chamber in such a way that said spiral beverage conducting channel is contacted by ice on three sides, increasing the cooling effect created by said ice holding chamber.
27. The self chilling beverage system of claim 26, wherein said spiral beverage conducting channel, having an upper extremity and a lower extremity, incorporates a beverage feed opening at said lower extremity to allow beverage to enter said spiral beverage conducting channel, and a beverage tube opening at said upper extremity which allows said beverage to exit said spiral beverage conducting channel through a disposable drinking straw holder molded into the upper edge of the beverage container, said beverage tube opening so designed as to be used as a drinking means if desired.
28. The self chilling beverage system of claim 16 comprising a magnetic beverage container with an inside surface and an outside surface, wherein a magnet attracting metal strip or strips can be secured into indented areas around said outside surface of said magnetic beverage container at one or a plurality of levels.
29. The self chilling beverage system of claim 28, incorporating one or a plurality of ice holding units which are formed in a semi-circular shape, the outside surface of said semi-circular units being covered with foam or another insulating material, and incorporating a stick on magnetic strip to form a magnetic attraction with said magnet attracting metal strip or strips mounted around the outside surface of said magnetic beverage container, and contact points being included on said ice holding unit which make contact with said metal strip or strips on said magnetic beverage container, securing said ice holding unit in place.
30. The self chilling beverage system of claim 16, wherein said semi-circular ice holding units which do not incorporate magnetic strips or a foam covering on said outer surfaces of said ice holding units and said beverage container incorporates clips on the inside wall of said beverage container, allowing said semi-circular ice holding units to be inserted inside said beverage container and attached to said clips.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0063] FIG. 1 shows a side cutaway view of a self chilling beverage system incorporating a beverage cup, a removable ice tube and a removable lid with a drinking opening.
[0064] FIG. 2 shows a side view of said removable ice tube, as it would be seen if it were not inserted within said self chilling beverage container.
[0065] FIG. 3 shows a side view of said removable lid, with said drinking opening.
[0066] FIG. 4 shows a down view of said removable lid with said drinking opening cover in the closed position.
[0067] FIG. 5 shows a down view of said drinking opening cover as it would appear if not attached to said snap on lid.
[0068] FIG. 6 shows a down view of said removable lid with said drinking opening cover in the open position.
[0069] FIG. 7 shows a side cutaway view of said self chilling beverage system incorporating an adapted beverage cup, a spiral beverage conducting channel, and a removable lid.
[0070] FIG. 8 shows a down view of an ice holding unit to be attached to the outside of a magnetic beverage container.
[0071] FIG. 9 shows a down view of said magnetic beverage container.
[0072] FIG. 10 shows a side view of said ice holding unit as seen from the inside of the curve.
[0073] FIG. 11 shows a side view of said magnetic beverage container.
[0074] FIG. 12 shows a side view of a disposable drinking straw with a bendable section.
[0075] FIG. 13 shows a side cutaway view of a weighted removable ice tube which is designed to allow it to be used in a regular glass, cup, or mug, if desired, without a special cup being required, said weighted removable ice tube containing a permanent drinking straw.
[0076] FIG. 14 shows a down view of said weighted removable ice tube.
[0077] FIG. 15 shows a side view of one embodiment of said disposable drinking straw.
[0078] FIG. 16 shows a down view of said weighted removable ice tube illustrating a permanent drinking straw located in the center of said ice holding chamber filled with ice.
[0079] FIG. 17 shows a side cutaway view of said weighted removable ice tube with said disposable drinking straw inserted within said permanent drinking straw inside said ice holding chamber.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0080] FIG. 1 is a side cutaway view of the beverage container 1 incorporating a removable ice tube 12 and a removable lid 2, which could be solid, or could incorporate drinking opening 6 and drinking opening cover 7 as illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6. Lid guides 3 keep said removable lid 2 in a secure position for safe and spill free drinking. Drinking opening 6 is positioned along the outer edge of said removable lid 2 as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, for easy access by the user. Said removable lid 2 also incorporates a drinking opening cover 7 which is shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 show said drinking opening cover 7 in the closed and open positions respectively. In this embodiment said drinking opening cover 7 is attached to the underside of said removable lid 2 by use of an attaching means 9, also shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6. A slide handle 8, incorporated into said drinking opening cover 7 is visible above the top of said removable lid. Removable ice tube 12 is shown in position within said beverage container 1, secured in position by tube guide 11, which is attached to the inside of said beverage container 1 preferably by sonic welding. Said removable ice tube 12 extends nearly to the bottom of said beverage container 1, to enable it to be completely surrounded by the beverage inside said beverage container 1. Said removable ice tube 12 consists of a beverage conducting channel 14, surrounded by an ice holding chamber 13, which is filled with water which turns to ice when said removable ice tube 12 is placed inside of a refrigerator freezer compartment or large freezer unit between uses. Said ice holding chamber 13 is enclosed within a plastic housing 32. A narrow strip on one side of said beverage conducting channel 14 is not covered by said ice holding chamber 13. This section is open to the beverage contained within said beverage container 1, where open areas for beverage flow 15 allow beverage to travel from said beverage container 1 into said beverage conducting channel 14 to be cooled as it travels upward to said drinking opening 6, so it will be cold when consumed. This also insures that said beverage will remain in its original state, rather than being watered down by melting ice. Cooling action would also radiate outward through said plastic housing 32, allowing the beverage contained within said beverage container 1 to begin the cooling process before being drawn into said beverage conducting channel 14, accelerating the cooling speed of said beverage when the drinking process begins. If desired, an insulating material such as but not limited to styrofoam, could be incorporated around the outside of said beverage container 1, in a space molded into the unit specifically for this purpose, reducing the lessening of cooling effect by radiation of warmer temperatures from the surrounding air into said beverage container 1.
[0081] FIG. 2 shows a side view of said removable ice tube 12, as it would be seen if it were not inserted within said beverage container 1. The inner section of the unit is shown without said plastic housing 32 containing said ice holding chamber 13, to make it easier to see said open areas for beverage flow 15, and the process by which they operate.
[0082] FIG. 3 shows a side view of said removable lid 2, with said drinking opening 6 which is not visible in this figure. Said slide handle 8, incorporated into said drinking opening cover 7 is visible above the top edge of said removable lid 2. A lifting indentation 4 is shown positioned on the side of said removable lid 2, allowing said removable lid 2 to be removed when desired by the action of pulling up on said lifting indentation 4 with the fingers.
[0083] FIG. 4 shows a down view of said removable lid 2 with said drinking opening cover 7 in the closed position in relation to said drinking opening 6. Said drinking opening cover 7 is positioned on the underside of said removable lid 2, attached to the underside of said removable lid 2 by attaching means 9. Drinking opening 6 is shown positioned along the outer edge of said removable lid 2 for easy access by the user. Said drinking opening cover 7 extends slightly beyond the edge of said drinking opening 6 to prevent said beverage from leaking out when said drinking opening cover 7 is closed. Its outer boundaries are indicated in the drawing by dotted lines A lifting protrusion 5 is shown positioned on the side of said removable lid 2, allowing said removable lid 2 to be removed when desired by the action of pulling up on said lifting protrusion 5 with the fingers. If desired said lifting indentation 4 could be used instead of said lifting protrusion 5.
[0084] FIG. 5 shows a down view of said drinking opening cover 7 as it would appear if not attached to said removable lid 2. Attaching tab 10, incorporating an opening for said attaching means 9, is shown as part of said drinking opening cover 7. Said slide handle 8 is also shown.
[0085] FIG. 6 shows a down view of said removable lid 2 with said drinking opening cover 7 in the open position in relation to said drinking opening 6. Said drinking opening cover 7 is positioned on the underside of said removable lid 2, attached to the underside of said removable lid 2 by attaching means 9. Drinking opening 6 is shown positioned along the outer edge of said removable lid 2 for easy access by the user. Said drinking opening cover 7 extends slightly beyond the edge of said drinking opening 6 to prevent said beverage from leaking out when said drinking opening cover 7 is closed. The outer boundaries of drinking opening cover 7 are indicated in the drawing by dotted lines. Said lifting protrusion 5 is shown positioned on the side of said removable lid 2, allowing said removable lid 2 to be removed when desired by the action of pulling up on said lifting protrusion 5 with the fingers. If desired said lifting indentation 4 could be used instead of said lifting protrusion 5.
[0086] FIG. 7 is a side cutaway view of said self chilling beverage system 1, comprising said beverage container 1, an adapted beverage cup 16 which is inserted inside said beverage container 1, a spiral beverage conducting channel 17, and a removable lid 2. Said beverage container 1 in the embodiment illustrated herein consists of an outer wall 19 with said adapted beverage cup 16 inserted within said outer wall 19, leaving a space between said outer wall 19 and said adapted beverage cup 16, which performs as said ice holding chamber 13 when it is filled with water and the entire unit is placed inside a refrigerator freezer compartment or large freezer unit. Said adapted beverage cup 16 incorporates a spiral beverage conducting channel 17, which travels from the lower extremity of said adapted beverage cup 16 circling the outside of said adapted beverage cup 16 all the way to the upper extremity, culminating in a beverage tube opening 20, which connects to disposable drinking straw holder 21 at the upper edge of said adapted beverage cup 16. The current illustration shows a straight disposable drinking straw 22 inserted within said disposable drinking straw holder 21. Said spiral beverage conducting channel 17 is located inside said ice holding chamber 13, causing said spiral beverage conducting channel 17 to be surrounded by ice on three sides. This allows beverage traveling upward through said spiral beverage conducting channel 17 to be exposed to the temperature of the ice within said ice holding chamber 13 which chills said beverage as it passes through said spiral beverage conducting channel 17, allowing it to reach the user of said self chilling beverage system as a perfectly chilled beverage without a prolonged wait, and allowing said beverage to remain in its original state, and not be watered down by melting ice. Cooling action from the ice contained in ice holding chamber 13 would also radiate inward through the outside of said adapted beverage cup 16, to begin the cooling process of the beverage inside said adapted beverage cup 16 before said beverage is drawn into said spiral beverage conducting channel 17, accelerating the cooling speed of said beverage when the drinking process begins. If desired, an indented spiral path could be molded into the outer wall of said adapted beverage cup 16 to allow said spiral beverage conducting channel 17 more exposure within said adapted beverage cup 16. Said spiral beverage conducting channel 17 incorporates a beverage feed opening 18 on the lower extremity, which allows said beverage to be drawn up into said spiral beverage conducting channel 17 when drinking, and allows excess beverage to return to said adapted beverage cup 16 when said spiral beverage conducting channel 17 is not being used for drinking. Between uses said self chilling beverage container may be rinsed by removing said removable lid 2, and placed inside a refrigerator freezer compartment, or inside a large freezer unit, to return to its frozen state and be ready for future use.
[0087] FIG. 8 shows a down view of an ice holding unit 23 to be attached to the outside of a magnetic beverage container 27. Said ice holding unit comprises an outer wall 19, and an outer foam cover 24, which prevents cold generated by the ice inside said ice holding unit 23 from being lost to the outside air, but instead directs it toward the beverage contained inside the magnetic beverage container 27, illustrated in FIG. 11. An adhesive magnet strip 25 is attached to the inner curved surface of said ice holding unit 23. Contact points 26 bring said ice holding unit 23 into contact with said magnetic beverage container 27, allowing cold from the ice inside said ice holding unit 23 to radiate inward, chilling the beverage contained within said magnetic beverage container 27. If desired, said ice holding unit 23 could be manufactured without said outer foam cover 24, and said adhesive magnet strip 25, allowing said ice holding unit 23 to be inserted into an alternative adaptation of said magnetic beverage container 27, which does not include the indented metal strip illustrated in FIG. 11, and secured by clips inside said beverage container to allow the beverage contained inside said alternative adaptation of said magnetic beverage container 27 to be chilled before drinking. One ice holding unit 23 could be attached to said magnetic beverage container 27, two ice holding units 23 could be used, one on each side of said magnetic beverage container 27, or if desired several smaller ice holding units 23 could be spaced around the inside of said magnetic beverage container for increased cooling effect.
[0088] FIG. 9 shows a down view of said magnetic beverage container 27. Said ice holding unit 23 could be attached magnetically to the outside of said magnetic beverage container 27, or if the adhesive magnetic strip is omitted, said ice holding unit 23 could be inserted on the inside of an alternative adaptation of said magnetic beverage container 27, and secured by clips inside said alternative adaptation of said magnetic beverage container 27, allowing said beverage to be chilled before drinking.
[0089] FIG. 10 shows a side view of said ice holding unit 23, as seen from the inside of the curve. Said outer foam cover 24 is visible on the ends of said ice holding unit 23. Said adhesive magnet strip 25 is shown located in the center of said ice holding unit 23, with contact points 26 located above and below said adhesive magnet strip 25 where said ice holding unit 23 comes into contact with said magnetic beverage container 27, allowing cold generated by ice within said ice holding unit 23 to penetrate into the beverage within said magnetic beverage container 27. The width of said adhesive magnet strip 25 would be determined by the amount of magnetic attraction required to securely attach said adhesive magnet strip 25 to said magnetic beverage container 27. Said ice holding unit 23 would extend upward and downward from said adhesive magnet strip for a sufficient distance to allow the required cooling effect to occur. Changes in these dimensions would not alter the scope of the invention and would not disqualify any particular embodiment from the protection offered by any patent granted to the invention.
[0090] FIG. 11 shows a side view of said magnetic beverage container 27. Said magnetic beverage container 27 could be constructed of a material such as aluminum, glass, or plastic, or any other material which has a high conductivity for cold. A metal band 28 is shown circling the outside of said magnetic beverage container 27. Said metal band is constructed of a metal, such as thin steel sheeting, which is susceptible to magnetic attraction, allowing said ice holding units 23 to be attached to said magnetic beverage container 27. Said metal band is shown as being indented into the circumference of said magnetic beverage holder 27, allowing the outer side of said ice holding unit 23 to be flush with the outside of said magnetic beverage container 27, giving more surface area for cold absorbtion. If desired, more than one indented metal band 28 could be positioned around the outer circumference of said magnetic beverage container 27, at different heights, allowing for an even more effective cooling process.
[0091] FIG. 12 shows a side view of a disposable drinking straw 22. The illustration shows said disposable drinking straw 22 incorporating an optional bendable section 30 which allows the angle of the disposable drinking straw 22 to be changed to make drinking easier. Said disposable drinking straw 22 could also be constructed as one straight, solid piece if desired, for which see the embodiment of the disposable drinking straw 22 shown in FIG. 15.
[0092] FIG. 13 shows a side cutaway view of a weighted removable ice tube 29, which is designed to allow it to be used in a regular glass, cup, or mug, if desired, without a special cup being required, since the weight of said anchoring weight 33 would serve to hold said weighted removable ice tube 29 upright and stationary, making use of a customized beverage container unnecessary. Said weighted removable ice tube 29 contains a permanent drinking straw 34. Said permanent drinking straw 34 is illustrated as a straight tube in the center of said weighted removable ice tube 29, but if desired said permanent drinking straw 34 could be molded in a narrow spiral ascending through the center of said weighted removable ice tube 29, to allow said beverage more time and distance to be exposed to the cooling effects of said ice holding chamber 13. In this case, only the shortened version of said disposable drinking straw 22 could be used. Said weighted removable ice tube 29 consists of a plastic housing 32 with said permanent drinking straw 34 centered in a vertical alignment within said plastic housing 32. The upper extremity of said permanent drinking straw 34 incorporates a tip for securing disposable drinking straw 31 to hold disposable drinking straw 22. Use of said disposable drinking straw 22 is suggested, but not required, since, if desired, the user of the unit could simply drink from said tip for securing disposable drinking straw 31 in the same manner as one would drink from the drinking tip of a sports bottle. On its lower extremity, said weighted removable ice tube 29 incorporates an anchoring weight 33 which is molded in the form of a ring which fits around the base of said permanent drinking straw 34. Said anchoring weight 33 could be made of a heavy material, including but not limited to metal or heavy plastic, coated with clear plastic, and separated by a wall of plastic from said beverage tube opening 19, as illustrated in FIG. 17, to prevent it from coming into contact with said beverage, thus eliminating the risk of contaminating said beverage.
[0093] The exact weight of said anchoring weight 33 would be determined by the amount of weight required to hold said weighted removable ice tube 29 securely inside a beverage container without allowing it to float to the top or move around within said beverage container, which would interfere with the cooling effect. Between said plastic housing 32 and said permanent drinking straw 34 is ice holding chamber 13 which is filled with water, which freezes when the unit is placed inside the freezer compartment of a refrigerator or inside a large freezer unit. If desired, a special rack could be designed to hold said weighted removable ice tubes 29 when units are placed within said freezing compartment, to save space. When said beverage is consumed by being drawn upward through said permanent drinking straw 34, the passage of said beverage through the ice surrounding said permanent drinking straw 34, causes said beverage to become chilled, without the danger of being watered down by melting ice. Cooling action would also radiate outward through said plastic housing 32, allowing the beverage contained within said beverage container to begin the cooling process before being drawn into said permanent drinking straw 34, accelerating the cooling speed of said beverage when the drinking process begins. Said permanent drinking straw 34 may protrude slightly through the bottom of said plastic housing 32, to allow beverage to pass into said permanent drinking straw 34 when it is in use and to return to the glass or mug in which it is positioned when said permanent drinking straw 34 is not in use. Between uses, said weighted removable ice tube 29 can be removed from the cup, glass, or mug, rinsed, and placed within a refrigerator freezer compartment, or a large freezer unit to be ready for its next use.
[0094] FIG. 14 shows a down view of said weighted removable ice tube 29, showing said plastic housing 32, surrounding said permanent drinking straw 34, with said ice holding chamber 13 positioned between said plastic housing 32 and said permanent drinking straw 34, which is located in the exact center of said ice holding chamber 13, with the exact center of said ice holding chamber being that point where all diameters of said ice holding chamber meet when crossing said ice holding chamber. Said ice holding chamber is shown as being filled with ice. Said permanent drinking straw 34 is hollow, to allow beverage to pass through when drinking, and also allowing said disposable drinking straw 22 to be inserted inside said permanent drinking straw 34 if desired.
[0095] FIG. 15 shows a side view of one embodiment of said disposable drinking straw 22. The length and diameter of said disposable drinking straw 22 can vary depending upon which embodiment it is being used with. Said disposable drinking straw 22 may or may not contain said optional bendable section for disposable drinking straw 30. Differing size parameters, or the inclusion or omission of said optional bendable section for disposable drinking straw 30 do not change the scope of the invention, and would not disqualify any particular embodiment from the protection offered by any patent granted to the invention.
[0096] FIG. 16 shows a down view of said weighted removable ice tube 29 illustrating a permanent drinking straw 34 located in the exact center of said ice holding chamber 13, which is shown as being filled with ice. Said permanent drinking straw 34 is hollow, allowing said disposable drinking straw 22 to be inserted inside said permanent drinking straw 34 if desired, as illustrated in FIG. 17.
[0097] FIG. 17 shows a side cutaway view of said weighted removable ice tube 29 with said disposable drinking straw 22 inserted within said permanent drinking straw 34, which is located in the exact center of said ice holding chamber 13. Said anchoring weight 33 is located within the bottom section of plastic housing 32, surrounded by plastic, preventing it from being exposed to the beverage within the container into which said weighted removable ice tube has been placed. The exact weight of said anchoring weight 33 would be determined by the amount of weight required to hold said weighted removable ice tube 29 securely inside a beverage container without allowing it to float to the top which would interfere with the cooling effect, or move around inside the container which would interfere with the stability of the container since the lowered center of gravity afforded by the weight would make the container less likely to tip and cause the contents to spill. Said permanent drinking straw is open on the lower end, which is located even with, or possibly extending slightly below the lower extremity of said weighted removable ice tube 29, allowing beverage to be drawn up, either through said permanent drinking straw 34 or through said disposable drinking straw 22 when it is inserted into said permanent drinking straw 34. Said plastic housing 32 may be divided into two sections just below the upper extremity of said plastic housing 32. An optional expandable insert 35 molded of a flexible material, such as but not limited to urethane or silicone, may be located between these two sections, to allow for expansion of the water inside said ice holding chamber 13 when it freezes, preventing breakage of said plastic housing 32 or said permanent drinking straw 34 by the increasing pressure of said freezing water. Between uses, said weighted removable ice tube 29 can be removed from the cup, glass, or mug, rinsed, and placed within a refrigerator freezer compartment, or a large freezer unit to be ready for its next use.
[0098] It should be emphasized that the present invention is not limited to the specific materials or configurations listed in the specification. Any other materials or configurations which could be used without altering the performance and intent of the invention would be acceptable alternatives. Therefore the invention need not be limited to the specific materials and configurations illustrated herein to be covered by this specification. All alternative modifications and variations of the present invention which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention are intended to be afforded equal protection under any patent granted for this invention.
[0099] The currently described invention is not limited to those embodiments described herein. Any design which obtains the desired results, and does not depart from the spirit and scope of the currently described invention would be considered to fall under the protection of any patents applied to this invention.
