Device for cooling beverages

Abstract

Cooling device (1) for any drinking vessel (2), comprising a lid (3) for covering the opening of the drinking vessel (2), and a cooling element (4), characterized in that the cooling device (1) has a sunshade (6) which is arranged in an edge region of the underside of the lid (3) which faces downwards during operation, and that the cooling element (4) is arranged in a central region of said underside.

Description

Introduction

[0001] The invention relates to a device for cooling beverages. In particular, the invention relates to a device for attaching to a drinking vessel containing a beverage to be kept cool. State of the art and disadvantages

[0002] Devices for cooling liquids, especially beverages, are known from many areas of technology. They can actively generate a cooling effect, i.e., by supplying energy (e.g., refrigerators), or passively cool by first being cooled themselves and then being placed on or in the medium to be cooled (e.g., ice cubes, cooling elements).

[0003] Active cooling devices are generally used to chill beverages before consumption; once the beverage has been poured, passive cooling is more practical. However, cooling with ice cubes is only acceptable for certain beverages; this method is unsuitable for drinks like wine or beer.

[0004] It is also known that direct sunlight can lead to a strong heating of beverages in a drinking vessel.

[0005] A device for protecting drinking glasses from sunlight is known from German patent application DE 20 2011 101 660 U1. The device comprises a support plate on which the drinking glass or food can be placed, and a rod to which a shade sail or similar object can be attached as sun protection. This protection is positioned between the glass and the side from which the sunlight is coming. This reduces the heating of the glass. A similar device is also known from German patent application BE 1015064 A3. However, neither of these devices can cool the glass or its contents.

[0006] CN 20 2959856 U discloses an ice-fillable cooling container with a lid into which a drinking vessel can be screwed, so that the vessel is approximately half-enclosed. The drinking vessel itself also has a lid. In this way, the beverage is passively cooled for an extended period, which is desirable, for example, on outings. A disadvantage of this solution is that the drinking vessel must be compatible with the cooling container, and the latter is relatively bulky. Therefore, the device is primarily intended for users for whom the space required for the device is less important than the longest possible passive cooling effect. Furthermore, the device is not suitable for use with just any drinking vessel. Problem of the invention and solution

[0007] The invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a device that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0008] The invention is intended to provide a device for cooling beverages, which is compatible with any drinking vessel. It should allow the beverage to be cooled while being as small as possible.

[0009] The problem is solved by a device according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims, the following description, and the figures. Description

[0010] First, the cooling device according to the invention is described. This is followed by a description of its use.

[0011] The cooling device is designed for use with any drinking vessel, such as a wine or beer glass, but also a water glass. The cooling device includes a lid to cover the opening of the drinking vessel, and it is understood that the lid should extend slightly beyond the upper rim of the drinking vessel, for example by 0.5 to 1 cm.

[0012] The cooling device also includes a cooling element.

[0013] The cooling device is characterized by the inclusion of a sunshade, which is located at the edge of the underside of the lid that faces downwards during operation. The sunshade thus serves to protect the contents of the container from direct sunlight. Advantageously, it can extend slightly beyond half the circumference of the drinking vessel; a completely circumferential design is also possible, but not preferred, as this obscures the contents of the drinking vessel. Furthermore, the side of the sunshade facing away from the sun contributes only minimally to radiation protection and is therefore unnecessary. A smaller circumference for the side cover is also conceivable. The corresponding angle, viewed from above, can be, for example, 90°, 100°, 110°, ... 360°.It is clear that the sunshade must be positioned far enough from the vertical axis of the drinking vessel that it just touches it, or is further away from it when the lid is on the opening. Preferably, the sunshade is designed like a vertical shield. However, it can also be designed, for example, like a truncated cone segment, provided that the drinking vessel still fits under the lid.

[0014] According to the invention, the cooling element is also arranged in a central area of ​​the underside. This means that it points towards the beverage, thus achieving optimal cooling. Depending on the fill level of the drinking vessel, the cooling element may be located directly above the surface of the beverage or even extend into it, resulting in even better cooling. The thickness of the cooling element is preferably 0.5 to 2 cm, and particularly preferably approximately 1 cm. The cooling element is particularly preferably removable from the lid and / or cleanable together with it. The cooling element can preferably consist of or comprise a material with high heat capacity, for example, salt water or propylene glycol enclosed in a plastic casing. The cooling element can be disc-shaped.It can have a round cross-section; however, to increase its circumference, it can also be shaped differently, for example, star-shaped. The side facing the beverage can be smooth, which facilitates cleaning. Alternatively, it can be rough or equipped with cooling fins or similar features to absorb heat from the beverage more quickly, even with a cooling element of the same size.

[0015] The invention thus avoids the disadvantages known from the prior art.

[0016] The invention provides a device for cooling beverages that is compatible with any drinking vessel. No specific design matching between the drinking vessel and the device is necessary, as long as the lid can be placed over the opening, the cooling element can be accommodated within it, and one side of the drinking vessel can be shaded. It allows the beverage to be cooled while maintaining a small size, since the cooling component is located inside the drinking vessel.

[0017] Various embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below.

[0018] In one embodiment, the cooling element is a passive cooling element. By cooling it before use, it is brought to a suitable temperature, for example, between -20°C and +10°C. Depending on the design, this is done either together with the lid or separately; in the latter case, the cooling element is attached to the lid before its intended use. The advantage of this embodiment is its particularly simple, robust, and cost-effective solution.

[0019] In another embodiment, the cooling element is an active cooling element. Such a cooling element does not necessarily need to be pre-cooled, but can continuously cool the beverage during use (until the energy source is depleted), which is particularly advantageous for prolonged and / or repeated use. It is clear that a suitable energy supply must be provided in this case. For example, an electrically operated Peltier element could be used as an active cooling element. Alternatively, the cooling effect could be provided by chemical energy.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the cooling device includes a solar cell to supply energy to the active cooling element, which must then be electrically operable. Since the cooling device is used particularly on warm, sunny days, sufficient solar radiation is generally available, which can then be appropriately converted into electrical energy and supplied to the cooling element. With this solution, energy for cooling can potentially be provided for the entire time the cooling device could be used.

[0021] Preferably, the solar cell is arranged on the top of the lid and / or on the outside of the sunshade. These two surfaces are already present, so they not only provide passive protection from sunlight but also support active cooling. Moreover, these sides are typically the ones directly exposed to sunlight. Curved solar cells are advantageous for use with side sunshades.

[0022] In another embodiment, the edge of the lid interacts with a circumferential groove in the sunshade. This means that the edge is designed so that the lid can be attached to it by means of a groove present in the lid. In this case, the lid is placed onto the sunshade.

[0023] In another embodiment, the edge of the sunshade interacts with a circumferential groove in the lid. In this case, the sunshade is placed onto the lid.

[0024] Preferably, the (partial) height of the sunshade extending above the underside of the lid corresponds to the height of the part of the drinking vessel intended for holding the beverage, or it is no more than, for example, 10%, 20%, 25%, or 30% below this height. Particularly in the case of wine or champagne glasses with long stems, it is not necessary for the sunshade to extend further than the top of the stem; this is achieved by appropriately dimensioning the height of the sunshade. The sunshade can thus preferably have a height of 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, or 10 cm.

[0025] In another embodiment, the cooling element is attached to the underside of the lid by means of several spring hooks. Preferably, three such spring hooks are provided, which grip the cooling element so that it remains attached to the lid and does not fall into the beverage. Preferably, the spring hooks are pivotable so that they can be released as needed to remove the cooling element from the lid. This allows the cooling element to be easily replaced or cleaned.

[0026] The lid and sunshade are preferably made of plastic. However, it is also possible to manufacture one or both components from compostable materials such as cardboard, although their lifespan will then be limited. It is also conceivable to print the components on the outside, similar to beer mats, for example for advertising purposes.

[0027] The use of the cooling device to cool a beverage in a drinking vessel will now be described. This includes the following steps, which do not necessarily have to be carried out in this order: - Arranging a cooling element on the underside of a lid; - Arranging a sunshade on one edge of the lid; - Placing the lid on an opening of the drinking vessel so that it is closed, with the cooling element pointing towards the drink, thus cooling the drink; - Rotate the lid to a position where the sunshade is positioned between the beverage-containing part of the drinking vessel and the sun, thus protecting the inside of the drinking vessel from direct sunlight. It is understood that the lid can be rotated on its own, or the drinking vessel together with the cooling device.

[0028] In this way, a beverage in a drinking vessel is efficiently kept at a temperature conducive to enjoyment. To avoid repetition, please refer to the explanations above.

[0029] If the cooling element is actively designed so that it can be operated with electrical energy, then, according to a preferred embodiment, it is supplied with energy by means of a solar cell arranged on the top of the lid and / or on the outside of the sunshade. In this way, prolonged cooling of the beverage is possible without having to replace the cooling element. Again, reference is made to the explanations above to avoid repetition. Character description

[0030] The invention is explained below using figures as examples. Fig. 1 a side view of the cooling device according to the invention on a drinking vessel; Fig. 2 A detailed view of the connection point between the lid and the sunshade.

[0031] In the Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a side view of the cooling device 1 according to the invention on a drinking vessel 2. The drinking vessel 2, designed here as a wine glass, is closed at its upper rim (opening) with a lid 3. A cooling element 4 is arranged on the underside of the central area of ​​the lid 3, which is attached to the underside by spring hooks 5. The thickness of the cooling element 4 is dimensioned such that it is located above the liquid level of the largely filled drinking vessel.

[0032] The cooling device 1 also has a sunshade 6. This is arranged on the underside of the lid 3 at its edge. It is slightly spaced from the outside of the drinking vessel 2, leaving a gap of approximately 1 to 10 mm.

[0033] The height of the sunshade 6 corresponds to the height of the part of the drinking vessel 2 intended for holding the beverage, or is slightly less than this height. In this way, the cooling device 1 is relatively small, but still fulfills its purpose sufficiently.

[0034] The edge of the cover 3 interacts with a circumferential groove 7 of the sunshade 6. This is clearly shown in the detailed view of the connection point between the cover 3 and the sunshade 6 according to... Fig. 2. The edge of the lid 3, which serves as a spring 8, is slightly thickened in this case and engages with the groove 7 located at the upper end of the sunshade in a snap-fit ​​manner, so that the two components 3 and 6 can be connected sufficiently firmly, but can also be separated if necessary. This is particularly advantageous in the case of shipping the cooling device 1; here, the lid 3 with the cooling element 4 and the sunshade 6 can be laid flat on top of each other. Preferably, the sunshade 6 is made of a flexible material, so that it is manufactured as a flat part that only takes on its curved shape when connected to the lid 3. Assembly is preferably carried out without tools. In the Fig. 2 The interaction of spring hook 5 and cooling element 4 is also evident. The spring hook is preferably flexible, so that the cooling element 4 can be released by bending it. Reference symbol list 1 cooling device 2 Drinking vessels 3 lids 4 cooling elements 5 spring hooks 6 Sun protection 7 Nut 8 springs QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 20 2011 101 660 U1

[0005] CN 20 2959856 U

[0006]

Claims

[1] Cooling device (1) for any drinking vessel (2), comprising a lid (3) for covering the opening of the drinking vessel (2), and a cooling element (4), characterized by , that the cooling device (1) has a sunshade (6) which is arranged in an edge area of ​​the underside of the cover (3) which faces downwards during operation, and that the cooling element (4) is arranged in a central area of ​​said underside. [2] Cooling device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cooling element (4) is a passive cooling element. [3] Cooling device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cooling element (4) is an active cooling element. [4] Cooling device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the cooling device (1) comprises a solar cell for supplying energy to the cooling element (4). [5] Cooling device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the solar cell is arranged on a top side of the lid (3), and / or on an outside side of the sunshade (6). [6] Cooling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the edge of the lid (3) interacts with a circumferential groove (7) of the sunshade (6). [7] Cooling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sunshade (6) corresponds to the height of the part of the drinking vessel (2) intended to hold the beverage, or is less than 25% below it. [8] Cooling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling element (4) is attached to the underside of the lid (3) by means of several spring hooks (5).

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