Multi-purpose insulating and protective cover for containers

Abstract

A unique one piece container cover (20) made from a single blank of flexible insulating material (36) and constructed so the tubular container cover (20) is closed at the bottom and open at the top with a flap (28) that when pulled over the enclosed container (39), integrally forms a complete seal (38) with the cover body (22) thus encapsulating the container (39) providing insulation to keep the container (39) contents either hot or cold while also protecting container (39) from outside contamination. The container cover (20) works with various sizes and shapes of bottles, containers or cans. The multipurpose cover (20) can be used without attachments for use in a bike cage, diaper bag, travel bag or the like. The cover (20) can also be fitted with various attachments for hiking, running, backpacking, golf, carrying baby bottles or the like. The cover (20) is efficient, cost effective, lightweight, durable, easy to use and clean, and can be produced in many colors with graphics.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Not Applicable FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH [0002] Not Applicable SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM [0003] Not Applicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] 1. Field of Invention [0005] This invention relates in general to insulators for beverage bottles and containers, and in particular to a multi-purpose insulator that is portable and which provides an insulating and sanitary encapsulation for many sizes and shapes of bottles, containers and cans. [0006] 2. Prior Art [0007] Leading outdoor sports activities such as biking, hiking, running, golf and snow skiing are growing at a fast pace each year. The need for clean liquid replenishment for these and other activities is essential for the health, performance and intellectual capacities of the athlete. Liquid replenishment for sports activities is available in many forms. The two most common forms are sports drinks that contain added ingredients such as electrolytes and just plain water. [000...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023] In accordance with the present invention an insulating and protecting cover for bottles and containers comprises a single piece of neoprene or any suitable flexible and insulating material that is die cut into a flat blank with a unique configuration that makes up a cover body with a closure flap. The outward edges and bottom of the body of the cover are then sewn or otherwise joined together forming a mainly tubular body configured and dimensioned to be compatible with standard-sized conventional sports bottles or beverage containers. However, it will be understood that the dimensions of the cover can be readily modified to be compatibly sized for receiving substantially any shape and size of beverage container. The cover is closed at the top with an integrally formed closing and locking flap that fits over the open, upper end of the body of the device which receives the bottle or container. A resealable fastener on the underside of the flap cooperates with a complementary mating fastener on the front of the insulating and protective cover thereby locking the cover when the closure flap is pivoted about its fixed edge, thus closing the top opening of the cover. A unique and exact cut of the blank of material at the main body opening enables a flush fit sealing of the closed flap to the cover body thereby encapsulating and sealing the container inside the cover. This encapsulation enables the temperature of the beverage in the bottle to remain constant for a longer period of time than if any portion of the bottle were exposed. The encapsulation also protects the top of the container, which may contain a valve or a constant opening, from hazardous materials such as dirt and bacteria As the stretchable cover flap is pivoted over the top of the container and is pulled down to the fastening position, a dome is created on the cover by the top of the bottle or the valve. As tests have shown, this raised dome is beneficial when riding a bike through creeks or standing water. The dome of the cover top allows the water to properly drain off the top of the cover thereby preventing the water from coming in contact with the bottle valve. Considering the normal position for riding a bike is that the rider is seated above the bicycle's bottle cages, the cover also keeps the rider's sweat from dripping onto the container valve or top that can make the drink distasteful.

Problems solved by technology

Many bottle covers sold today are molded to fit only the bottles supplied with those covers so an athlete's favorite bottle usually does not fit.

There are basic problems associated with all bottles and containers that contain liquid refreshment.

One problem is that most containers are not insulated, therefore the liquid inside the container easily gets hot or cold as the case may be.

Another problem with unprotected containers is contamination.

Containers and bottles with unprotected valves at the top of the bottle which one drinks from can get very dirty.

There are documented cases of bikers becoming sick after drinking from a bottle that had bacteria laden creek water splashed onto the valve of the bottle.

Runners, bikers and hikers have accidentally dropped their bottles in creeks and mud, in which case the valve and the liquid in the bottle is no longer sanitary and drinkable.

The liquid must then be discarded leaving the person in a potentially dangerous situation.

If one is miles away from an aid station in hot weather with no water, severe dehydration can cause weakness, delirium and even death.

The result is that grit, dirt, bacteria and mud are kicked up by the knobby tires of the mountain bike and ends up on the valve of the bottle.

Drinking from an unprotected bottle under these conditions is not only unpleasant to taste, but has led to stomach irritations and bacterial infections.

Another problem is that many sports people want a multi-functional sports bottle cover.

This leaves the top or a portion of the bottle or container uncovered and thus unprotected from the ambient temperature and outside contamination.

However the insulation is inside the bottle, which takes up valuable space and reduces the amount of water you can carry in relation to the size of the bottle.

This method is not popular with most bicyclists and especially golfers who need to keep their hands dry for their sport.

The Hielberger product is made to keep the contents cool by reducing the electromagnetic energy by the sun, but it does not address keeping a bottle warm.

Some prior art show bottle covers that apply to one use only and are not practical for multiple uses.

When a biker stops to dismount the bike and drink, as one does in many bike rides, the insulation is left on the bike and is not protecting the bottle.

Although Bonard et al. discusses the need for keeping the cap of the bottle clean, it does not entirely enclose the whole sports bottle, so insulation values would be lost.

The prior art also reveals the bottle would not be covered when taken out of the device and would lose the insulation value.

These applications obviously would not be useful for other sports such as hiking, running, or snow skiing.

Although these devices are trying to solve biking hydration problems, they have objectionable issues.

These examples are also not practical for multiple uses.

Although these prior arts are fully enclosed, they will not fulfill the needs for sports bottle covers for biking, running, hiking and baby bottles.

These prior arts cover the whole bottle, however they are made of multiple pieces which could get lost or do not possess the qualities needed to work with all the enclosed applications of biking, running, golf, hiking and baby bottles.

The Murakami et al. device would not work on a bike because it would not fit in the securing piece of a bike cage.

It would also be too difficult to open the device and access a bottle while riding.

The Slonim device is designed for portability while off of a bicycle but is not large enough to cover the top of a sports bottle.

In testing of the Roth et al. device, when inserting the storing member there was a ⅛ loss of liquid volume.

The Snyder device would probably lose the same amount of liquid volume.

Another disadvantage to this type of system is that once the refrigerant temperature is equal to the temperature of the liquid of the container, it will not cool additional liquids when refilling the bottle.

An additional problem is the refrigerant needs to be frozen to be effective.

When one is on a ride or a hike of more than one day and does not have access to a means for freezing the storing member or core for the next day's ride, then this system is not effective.

Another disadvantage is the bottle valve or container top is not covered and is subject to dirt and bacteria contamination.

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