Thermal Metal Growler

Abstract

A container comprising an inner bottle and an outer bottle each preferably made of stainless steel. The bottles nested and each having a neck portion and connected at their necks so as to minimize thermal conductivity between the inner bottle and outer bottle and to form an air tight enclosed vacuum between the inner bottle and outer bottle. Preferably the outer bottle has a volume of between 102% and 130% of the inner bottle and the inner bottle has a volume of between 26 and 80 ounces. The container can be sealed and reused to permit efficient use as a growler for beer.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to thermal metal containers principally for use in the purchase of beer from a brewery or pub off of a tap, such containers commonly known as growlers.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]In the beer trade there is a modern resurgence of smaller craft breweries and a growing appreciation of small batch beers. Many of these breweries have very limited bottling or no bottling, selling much of their production by the keg or on site through brew pubs. While this is an economical way to produce beer for sale through pubs and restaurants, individuals are rarely capable of managing a 5 or more gallon keg purchase to enjoy these craft beers in their home or in remote locations such as when participating in outdoor activities such as camping or rafting.[0003]Similarly, it is common to find many beers available on tap in a pub that are not available in a grocery store, and many customers find the taste of beer from a keg to be superior to that of bee...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]It is a principal object of the present invention to provide for a metal thermal bottle adapted for use with beer with the thermal properties of keeping chilled liquids cold, preserving carbonation and being of a proper size for use as a growler.

[0013]Another object of the invention is to provide for a spatially efficient container without excessive differentials between and inner bottle and an outer bottle such that appropriate volumes of liquid might be transported without unnecessary bulk.

[0015]A resealable cap is fitted to the nested bottles, such as with a threaded cap, sealing the contents of the inner bottle such that beer or other carbonated liquid can be retained without losing its carbonation.

Problems solved by technology

Many of these breweries have very limited bottling or no bottling, selling much of their production by the keg or on site through brew pubs.

While this is an economical way to produce beer for sale through pubs and restaurants, individuals are rarely capable of managing a 5 or more gallon keg purchase to enjoy these craft beers in their home or in remote locations such as when participating in outdoor activities such as camping or rafting.

However, the costs of and complications of maintaining kegged beer for personal consumption can be prohibitive, much less the costs and complications of keeping a wide selection of beers available in kegs for personal consumption.

A problem with traditional and common growlers is that the glass material is fragile and provides only limited thermal protection, requiring the beer in such a growler to be carefully handled and quickly refrigerated after purchase.

While a pasteurized bottle of common beer might suffer nominally by being briefly warmed in transit and then re-cooled for consumption, this is not the case with many craft beers whose flavor can be irretrievably damaged through thermal shock.

While thermal bottles are well known, the common thermal bottle is bulky, has a glass inner bottle and provides a less than adequate volume, often less than 22 oz, focusing on maximum thermal retention to keep hot liquids, such as coffee, at maximum temperature for extended periods of time.

Larger thermal vessels designed for non-industrial liquids are not designed to be air tight to allow for the preservation of the beer's carbonation.

As well, the prior art, being either made entirely of glass, or with a glass inner bottle was fragile and was not suitable for use in a rugged environment such as when camping or whitewater rafting.

Prior art such as U.S. Pat. No. 672,025 to Walsh et al., failed to provide sufficient thermal insulation, using added ice for cooling, failed to provide a sealing or capping that would retain the carbonation in beer, and was bulky with a notable volumetric differential between the inner and the outer container walls.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,583 to Kelley et al. also fails to provide the utility of a singular container which is spatially efficient with thermal properties that may be sealed to preserve the temperature and carbonation of beer.

Prior thermal bottles teach generally to this relatively bulky, excessively insulated type bottle that is innately inappropriate for use in the storage or transport of beer.

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