Container insulator capable of being rolled-up

Abstract

An insulative sleeve for use with containers, such as beverage containers, is formed of flexible material that can be wound up for storage, but can be easily deployed for use. The sleeve includes a flexible body that is easily wound up and hook-and-loop fasteners to maintain the body in a wound up configuration. The sleeve further includes a cord and clip so it can be attached to a user for transportation.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to the general art of containers, and to the particular field of insulative sleeves for containers. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] At the present time many drinks such as beers, soft drinks, fruit juices, coffee, tea and the like are sold in metal cans. The can containing the beverage is frequently stored in a refrigerator or a cooler, for example, to bring the beverage to a desired temperature for consuming the beverage. The thin metal of a drink can is not a particularly good insulator and during hot days the coolness of a chilled can and drink can be quickly lost. Upon removal of the can from the cooling source, the beverage in the can changes temperature over time. Further, during consumption of the beverage, the drinker's body temperature, transmitted through the hand holding the can, also changes the temperature of the beverage over time. The beverage in a normal container such as a glass cup or an easy-...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] Using the sleeve embodying the present invention will permit the sleeve to be easily stored when not in use, but easily deployable for use. Thus, the sleeve embodying the present invention is convenient for use and for storage.

Problems solved by technology

The thin metal of a drink can is not a particularly good insulator and during hot days the coolness of a chilled can and drink can be quickly lost.

Further, during consumption of the beverage, the drinker's body temperature, transmitted through the hand holding the can, also changes the temperature of the beverage over time.

For example, when hot tea is poured into a glass after infusion, it will be hard for a user to grasp tightly the hot container.

Tea or coffee will have the best smell and taste in the first infusion, but the high temperature of the container will detract from this experience.

But such cold containers often sweat, and water condenses on the surface of the container.

This condensed water will wet a user's hand thereby creating an uncomfortable feeling.

The standard insulated beverage holder occupies somewhat more than the volume of the container which it is designed to hold, thereby making it inconvenient to ship, display for sale or store between uses.

A user may have difficulty in grasping the sleeve because the size of the sleeve is too large for his or her hand to grip comfortably.

Often, the sleeve is made from a material that provides little frictional resistance when gripped, further increasing the difficulty of grasping the holder.

Beverage insulators come in many configurations and sizes made of many different insulative materials and many are quite expensive.

Such beverage insulators such as stiff foamed plastic obviously can not collapse as this would be destructive of the molded beverage insulator form.

Further, wrap around beverage insulators must constantly be grasped firmly on the beverage container, since, not having a bottom, a beverage container can slip through and out the bottom not only losing the drink but creating a spilled mess.

Still further, many of the beverage insulators having bottoms do not provide stable support for the beverage container when placed on a supporting surface.

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