Insulating Vessel

Abstract

A self-contained insulated vessel having a storage area defined by an inner wall and an outer wall which are spaced apart and dosed off to define a cavity therebetween. An insulating substance is contained within at least part of the cavity in order to maintain a stored item at a predetermined temperature for an extended period of time or cool a stored item with a temperature higher than the predetermined temperature of the insulating substance. The insulating vessel can include a user engagement interface for shielding a user from at least part of an exterior surface of said vessel.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention generally relates to a sell-contained vessel and the like, and more particularly, to a vessel for maintaining a stored item at a cool temperature therein.BACKGROUND[0002]The need exists for self-contained methods for storing consumable or perishable items. Ice is the most obvious solution; however melted ice leaves an undesirable effect of residual water mixing with the stored items thereby diluting the contents. Further, certain beverages or foods are not customarily served with ice. Standard containers permit excessive heat transfer through the container wall and the stored items rapidly rise to the ambient temperature, leaving the stored item in an undesirable state for consumption or other use.[0003]Inventors acknowledge that use of an insulating substance is an up and coming solution for cooling stored items. However, products incorporating an insulating substance leave significant room for improvement. For example, other coolin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]It is an advantage of the invention to provide a container causing less discomfort to the user, thereby resulting in a longer hold time. These and other advantages of the invention are accomplished by integrating a user engagement interface for the user to grip such as a material layer on at least a portion of the exterior surface. Yet another way of accomplishing user comfort and further slowing heat transfer by double walling the external cavity. So long as the insulating substance is adjacent to the inner wall, the invention will maintain its inherent cooling ability. The user engagement interface has the benefit of further shielding the stored item from external temperatures.

[0014]The present invention can take a number of different shapes with accompanying functional and / or aesthetic benefits. For example, the vessel can be a glass, shot glass, pitcher, cocktail shaker, or bowl. The component parts of the container can be adapted, configured, or customized to meet particular functional or aesthetic needs of particular users or to adapt a lid. One may also contemplate the use of this container as a shell surrounding another container.

[0015]Other independent features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications within the spirit of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0016]In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways or with various materials. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Problems solved by technology

Ice is the most obvious solution; however melted ice leaves an undesirable effect of residual water mixing with the stored items thereby diluting the contents.

Further, certain beverages or foods are not customarily served with ice.

Standard containers permit excessive heat transfer through the container wall and the stored items rapidly rise to the ambient temperature, leaving the stored item in an undesirable state for consumption or other use.

However, products incorporating an insulating substance leave significant room for improvement.

In instances where the stored item is a consumable, this potential leakage could go undetected until after the consumable is ingested by the user.

Further such seals could house bacteria that may seep into the stored item creating potential health risks.

An additional problem is that a container storing a cold item can be uncomfortable for a user to grip.

A few inadequate designs offer to address this issue by attaching a protruding handle to the container, creating a bulky device that is difficult to store and making manufacturing difficult by raising costs for molds, skill to manufacture, and time required.

Alternatively, a user may directly grip a cold container wall, therein causing the user to minimize their hold time due to discomfort thereby making the container less portable.

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