bottle cooler

Abstract

Bottle cooler (1) for storing a chilled bottle in such a way that the temperature of the contents of the bottle remains as constant as possible or increases only slowly, comprising an inner container (3) in which the bottle can be placed, so that the inner container (3) surrounds the bottle like a shell, wherein the inner container (3) has a first opening (4) along its longitudinal axis (L) on one side for inserting the bottle into the inner container (3) and a storage base (5) for placing the bottle on the other side along its longitudinal axis (L), and an outer shell (6) surrounding the inner container (3) in the area between the first opening (4) and the storage base (5), so that the bottle placed in the inner container (3) is surrounded by a double wall formed by the outer shell (6) and the inner container (3).wherein the outer shell (6) is connected to the inner container (3) in the region of the first opening (4) and surrounds a second opening (8) opposite and / or on the bottom side of the longitudinal axis (L), with which the outer shell (6) can be placed completely resting on a flat surface.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a bottle cooler for storing a chilled bottle in such a way that the temperature of the contents of the bottle remains as constant as possible or increases only slowly.

[0002] From the prior art, for example, DE 74 23 092 U discloses a bottle cooler in the form of an insulated vessel which surrounds the bottle with a double-walled casing, the walls of which in turn enclose an airtight chamber which is filled with argon or another noble gas for better insulation.

[0003] The object of the invention is to propose a practical bottle cooler that can be produced as simply and cost-effectively as possible.

[0004] The object is achieved, starting from a bottle cooler of the type mentioned at the outset, by the features of claim 1 or by a bottle cooler system according to claim 9.

[0005] Advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention are possible by the measures mentioned in the dependent claims.

[0006] Bottle and wine coolers are available in various designs. The bottle cooler according to the invention is an insulated container in which a chilled bottle is placed, the temperature of which should not rise too quickly given the ambient temperature at room temperature. These storage containers, usually referred to as wine coolers or bottle coolers, are used, for example, in restaurants to place chilled bottles of white wine, sparkling wine, mineral water, or the like on the tables, so that they are ready to hand for refilling. However, the bottle contents should not warm up to room temperature in the shortest possible time; rather, the temperature should be maintained at a certain level for as long as possible and remain within the recommended or desired temperature range for drinking. The bottle cooler according to the invention does not have its own cooling device, such as electric cooling, but merely insulates.However, it is conceivable to fill the bottle cooler with ice, for example, which sits on the outside surface of the bottle and thus actively cools it.

[0007] The bottle cooler according to the invention has an outer shell and an inner container. The bottle is placed into the inner container. At the upper edge, the inner container is provided with a first opening through which the bottle can be placed into the inner container. At the bottom, the inner container has a shelf on which the bottle is placed. The inner container is surrounded laterally by the outer shell, so that the inner container and outer shell form double-walled insulation from the environment for the placed bottle. In the area of ​​the first opening, the inner container and outer shell are connected to one another. They can merge directly into one another. Around the first opening, the outer shell and inner container can be continuously connected to form an uninterrupted edge.

[0008] The bottle cooler according to the invention is open at the bottom. The space between the outer shell and the inner container, which forms the interior of the bottle cooler, is closed, with the exception of the second opening at the bottom. If the bottle cooler is placed on a level surface, the lower edge of the outer shell, which surrounds the second opening, can be flush with the surface, at least provided the surface is flat and, if necessary, completely closed. The space between the outer shell and the inner container thus forms a basically closed area, and air exchange with the environment is reduced. The air in the space between the outer shell and the inner container, as well as the double wall, surprisingly suffice for adequate insulation.

[0009] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottle cooler is constructed in one piece, which can also advantageously improve thermal insulation because no additional joints need to be sealed through which additional heat can penetrate. If the bottle cooler is made of plastic in one embodiment, it can also be produced in large quantities as an injection-molded part. Furthermore, plastic is generally a good thermal insulator.

[0010] The outer shell can extend further down than the inner container to prevent the bottle cooler from resting on the inner container's shelf, and to create an air cushion between the table or other surface on which the bottle cooler stands and the shelf. This provides better insulation so that the bottle doesn't heat up too quickly through the floor.

[0011] In a particularly advantageous manner, the inner container and outer casing can be truncated cone-shaped. With regard to the outer casing, this generally increases the stability on a surface if the truncated cone widens towards the base. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottle cooler can be designed to be stackable. Two bottle coolers can be stacked one inside the other by inserting the upper section of a second bottle cooler through the second opening of another, the first bottle cooler. If the outer casing is truncated cone-shaped with a diameter that increases towards the base, while the inner container is truncated cone-shaped with a diameter that decreases in the same direction, they form a receptacle with a V-shaped cross-section, into which the upper section with the first opening of an identically constructed bottle cooler can be inserted.Any number of identical bottle coolers of this design can be nested and stacked. As a stack or bottle cooler system, the bottle coolers can be stored in a space-saving manner. Example:

[0012] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and is explained in more detail below with further details and advantages.

[0013] In detail: Fig. 1: schematic section through a two stacked bottle cooler according to the invention and Fig. 2: a perspective view of a bottle cooler according to the invention.

[0014] Fig. Figure 1 shows two identical bottle coolers 1 according to the invention, placed one inside the other, forming a bottle cooler system 2. The bottle coolers 1 are thus stacked one inside the other for space-saving storage. The cooled bottle is placed in the inner container 3 of the bottle cooler 1 by placing it over the first opening 4 into the inner container 3, specifically on its storage base 5. The inner container 3 is closed, except for the upper first opening 4, so that no warm air can reach the bottle from below.

[0015] In the area of ​​the first opening 4, the inner container 3 is bent outwards and extends downwards as an outer casing 6. The outer casing 6 extends so far that the bottle cooler 1, when placed on a level surface, does not rest on the storage base 5, but rather an air cushion 7 is located between the support surface and the storage base 5. The bottle cooler 1 is placed on a level surface (a table, for example) in such a way that the second opening 8 is covered and the interior 9 is essentially closed off. The bottle cooler 1 is constructed in one piece. It can therefore be manufactured cost-effectively from plastic using a single injection mold. In addition, the bottle cooler 1, as shown in Fig. 1, can be stacked to save space. The V-shaped sections between the outer shell 6 and the inner container 3 are inserted into one another.

[0016] The longitudinal axis L is shown in dashed lines.

[0017] A perspective view of a transparent bottle cooler 1 is shown in Fig. 2. Outer shell 6 and inner container 3 form a V-shaped double wall. List of reference symbols 1 bottle cooler 2 bottle cooler system 3 inner containers 4 first opening 5 storage shelves 6 Outer jacket 7 air cushions 8 second opening 9 Interior L Longitudinal axis QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

[0000] DE 74 23 092 U

[0002]

Claims

[1] Bottle cooler (1) for storing a chilled bottle in such a way that the temperature of the contents of the bottle remains as constant as possible or increases only slowly, comprising an inner container (3) in which the bottle can be placed, so that the inner container (3) surrounds the bottle like a shell, wherein the inner container (3) has, along its longitudinal axis (L), on one side a first opening (4) for inserting the bottle into the inner container (3) and, on the other side along its longitudinal axis (L), a storage base (5) for placing the bottle, and an outer shell (6) which surrounds the inner container (3) in the area between the first opening (4) and the storage base (5), so that the bottle placed in the inner container (3) is surrounded by a double wall formed by the outer shell (6) and the inner container (3).wherein the outer shell (6) is connected to the inner container (3) in the region of the first opening (4) and surrounds a second opening (8) opposite and / or on the bottom side of the longitudinal axis (L), with which the outer shell (6) can be placed completely resting on a flat surface. [2] Bottle cooler (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the bottle cooler (1) is formed as a single piece with the outer casing (6), inner container (3) and storage base (5). [3] Bottle cooler (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the bottle cooler (1) is made as an injection-molded plastic part. [4] Bottle cooler (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the outer shell (6) and / or the inner container (3) is / are frustoconical. [5] Bottle cooler (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the diameter of the outer shell (6) increases from the area of ​​the first opening (4) to the second opening (8). [6] Bottle cooler (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the diameter of the inner container (6) decreases from the area of ​​the first opening (4) to the storage base (5). [7] Bottle cooler (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the outer shell (6) extends so far that it laterally covers the inner container (3) beyond the storage base (5), so that the storage base (5) of the inner container (3) lies above the level and thus in the interior space (9) formed thereby between the level, the outer shell (6) and the inner container (3) when the bottle cooler (1) is placed on a level with the second opening (8). [8] Bottle cooler (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the bottle cooler (1) is designed to be stackable, so that a first of the bottle coolers (1) can be stacked with a second, identically constructed bottle cooler (1) by pushing the second bottle cooler (1) with the side on which the first opening (4) is located through the second opening (8) of the first bottle cooler (1), so that the inner container (3) of the first bottle cooler (1) is pushed into the inner container (3) of the second bottle cooler (1) and the outer casing (6) of the first bottle cooler (1) is pushed over the outer casing (6) of the first bottle cooler (1), so that the second bottle cooler (1) is located at least partially between the inner container (3) and the outer casing (6) of the first bottle cooler (1). [9] Bottle cooler system (2) comprising at least two bottle coolers (1) according to claim 8.

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