Insulated holder and method for transporting beverages

Abstract

To provide a thermally insulated transport container for transporting a beverage in a ready-to-drink beverage container on demand over a short distance where temperature control is required inside the beverage container when transporting hot or cold beverages.SOLUTION: The insulated shipping container includes an insulated holder for a cup disposed or placed therein to reduce temperature changes and prevent spills during transport of the cup, the holder including one or more self-supporting resiliently deformable insulating material portions having a plurality of cup-receiving cavities, the holder being sized and dimensioned to be placed inside the shipping container for transport of a beverage. Further, said insert cover of the beverage cup is a sheet of food-grade material that is larger than or equal to the diameter of the top of the cup in which it is used, and is placed or inserted between the top of the cup and the sealing lid during use, but the cover is not sealed or otherwise secured to the cup prior to placing the lid on the cup, and is inserted only after the beverage has been poured into the cup.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the transport of beverages in ready-to-drink containers such as cups. [Background technology]

[0002] The inventor is aware of a cushion for supporting a beverage container known from the prior art, e.g., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0,278,556. The cushion also includes a cup-receiving cavity for supporting a beverage mug on a "stationary" uneven surface such as a sofa, a bed, the ground, etc. A cup-supporting insert is disposed within the lateral sleeve and presses against the base of the container. Any mug placed within the cavity will rest on the insert against the base of the container. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0,278,556 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The inventors have identified a need for an apparatus and method for road transport of beverages in ready-to-drink containers, such as cups, over short distances where temperature control is required within the container when transporting hot or cold beverages. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an insulated transport container for transporting beverages in ready-to-drink containers, such as cups, over short distances where temperature control is required inside the container when transporting hot or cold beverages, wherein an insulating cup holder is placed or positioned inside the container, the insulating holder reducing temperature variations and preventing spillage of the cup containing the beverage during transport, the holder comprising one or more free-standing, resiliently deformable insulating material portions having at least one portion with a plurality of cup receiving cavities, the holder sized and dimensioned to be placed inside the container for transporting the beverage.

[0006] The elastically deformable insulating material may be a foam or a sponge.

[0007] The elastically deformable insulating material may be natural materials such as sponges, foams, including latex, memory foam, or high density polyurethane foam, wood composites, cork, and the like.

[0008] The one or more free-standing elastically deformable insulating material sections may be in the form of a bottom layer, a middle layer, and a top layer.

[0009] These layers may be individual layers, or two or more layers may be secured together.

[0010] The plurality of cup-receiving cavities may be spaced apart from one another and extend through the intermediate layer, thereby allowing cups held therein to be maintained without interference with one another.

[0011] The diameter of the cavity is smaller than the maximum diameter of the smallest of the cups received therein, thereby allowing each cup to fit snugly within.

[0012] The insulated container may have a base portion, side walls, and a movable lid, the height between the base portion and the interior surface of the lid being greater than the height of any cup transported therein, and the top of each cup protruding from the middle layer of the insulated holder when placed in place, regardless of the varying heights of each cup.

[0013] The top of each cup may extend to a similar height above the top of the middle layer of the insulating holder.

[0014] The rigid foam or sponge structure of the insulating holder helps to provide a snug fit for cups of various sizes, improving stability and thereby preventing spills and insulating the cup and its contents during transport in either a car, motorcycle, or scooter.

[0015] The insulated container housing the insulated holder may have an upper sponge layer adjacent to the interior surface of its lid, so that during use the upper sponge layer closes the lid of each of the cups by pressing down on the lid and deforming on the lid to stabilize the lid on the cup, while leaving a gap between the upper sponge layer and the middle sponge layer in which the lid and the upper quarter of the cup are located.

[0016] The insulated container may include four polystyrene side panel inserts in or on the side walls to improve insulation inside the container when closed.

[0017] The insulated container may have a bottom sponge layer placed at or on the base of the container to help absorb small amounts of spillage or condensation that may occur during transport.

[0018] The insulating holder may be made of a flexible canvas material.

[0019] An additional polystyrene panel can be inserted into the center of the container to improve insulation and divide the container into two smaller "pockets" or halves that can be used simultaneously in the same container for hot and cold beverages.

[0020] The top sponge may have steam release holes if steam needs to be vented or released through the small holes in each of the lids that cover the cups.

[0021] The sponge or foam that makes up the holder includes typical mattress foam materials such as polyurethane foam, memory foam, and latex.

[0022] According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an insert cover for a drinking cup, said insert cover being a sheet of food grade material having a diameter greater than or equal to the top of the cup with which it is to be used, and which, in use, is placed or inserted between the top of the cup and a sealing lid to form a cover insert, provided that the cover is not sealed or otherwise secured to the cup before the lid is placed on the cup and is only inserted after a beverage has been poured into the cup.

[0023] The insert cover can be a waxed paper insert, a natural fiber / cellulose based insert, a composite sheet or polymer film based insert, a silicone based insert, or a metallic film.

[0024] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of preventing spillage of a beverage from a disposable or reusable cup when being transported, said method comprising: - pouring a beverage into a cup; - placing a cover insert for the beverage between the top rim of the cup and the clip-on lid of the cup, the cover being made of food-grade material and having a diameter equal to or greater than the top of the cup with which it will be used; In this method, the cover is not sealed or otherwise secured to the cup before the lid is placed on the cup, but is only put into place after the beverage has been poured into the cup and is held in place by gravity or the clip-on lid.

[0025] The cup in this method is usually a paper, paperboard, plastic, or other cup typically used for dispensing beverages on demand.

[0026] The cover can be a waxed paper insert, a natural fiber / cellulose based insert, a composite sheet or polymer film based insert, a silicone based insert, or a metallic film.

[0027] The present invention extends to a method of transporting a ready-to-drink beverage such as coffee, tea or a cold beverage in a cup, said method comprising closely holding said cup in a resiliently deformable insulating material placed in an outer container, and maintaining the cup in the insulating material in a predetermined vertical or substantially vertical position.

[0028] The method includes inserting a cup into a hole made of elastically deformable insulating material in an outer container to receive the cup, and closing a lid of the container having a layer of elastically deformable insulating material located therein, thereby holding the cup snugly within the elastically deformable insulating material.

[0029] The invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a plastic container box. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 illustrates a lid for a plastic container, the lid having a clip. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a view of a side panel of a container with a panel insert for dividing the container. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an intermediate sponge or foam body with a cup receiving cavity. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram of an optional removable middle sponge or foam layer for transporting other non-beverage food items that simply rest on top of the bottom sponge or foam layer. [Figure 6] 1 is a diagram of the configuration of the intermediate sponge or foam layer and cup-receiving cavity. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram of the bottom sponge of the foam layer. [Figure 8]FIG. 10 is a diagram of an upper sponge or foam layer closing the lid of a cup engaged with a middle sponge or foam layer. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram of the insulation holder assembly showing the gap between the top and middle sponge or foam layers. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 shows the assembled container with the closing lid clipped on. [Figure 11] 1 is a diagram of the diameters of the cup top, bottom, and wax paper insert. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a wax paper insert that folds over the top of the cup. [Figure 13] 1 is a diagram of an embodiment of an insulated container having a bottom foam layer, a cup-receiving cavity in a middle foam layer, a fastener for closing the container, and a top foam layer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a plastic container box 10 and FIG. 2 shows a lid 12 for the plastic container 10, said lid having a clip 14.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows the side panels of a container 16 having polystyrene panel inserts 18 to divide the container into compartments 20, 22.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows the middle sponge layer 24 of the insulating holder 25 with the cup receiving cavity 26, and FIG. 5 shows the bottom sponge layer 28 with the optional removable middle sponge layer removed for transporting other non-beverage food items that simply rest on top of the sponge layer.

[0034] In Figure 6 an embodiment is shown in which the sponge layer 24 of the insulating holder is 220mm x 330mm x 100mm high and has a hole 27 extending therethrough for receiving a cup of approximately 65mm diameter. The insulating holder is made of sponge. Figure 7 shows the bottom sponge layer 28 of this embodiment, which is approximately 20mm.

[0035] In Figure 8, an approximately 50mm thick upper sponge layer 30 closes and presses down on the lid 32 of the cup 34, which is held and engaged within the hole 27 in the middle sponge layer 24 while being spaced apart from the bottom sponge layer 28.

[0036] In FIG. 9, a container 10 with a lid 12 and clip 14 includes therein an insulating holder 25 assembly having an upper sponge layer 30, a middle sponge layer 24, a bottom sponge 28, and a gap 36 between the upper sponge layer 30 and the sponge body 24.

[0037] In Figure 10, a container 10 with lid 12 and clip 14 includes an upper sponge layer 30 with steam release holes 38 in the sponge 30, a middle sponge layer 24 with a hole 27 through which a cup is held, and an insulating holder 25 assembly with a bottom sponge 28. Different sizes of cups 34 with lids 32 are shown: a 135mm tall cup 40, a 110mm middle cup 42, and a 90mm small cup 44, all with an approximately 80mm shoulder diameter for the hole 27 (the diameter of the hole 27 is approximately 65mm). The upper sponge layer 30 presses down on the lids 32 of the cups 34, deforming them to hold them securely. The container 10 has side panels 19 with polystyrene inserts.

[0038] 11 and 12 show a cup 34 with a lid 32, with a waxed paper insert 50 inserted between the lid 32 and the cup 34 before the lid is clipped on. In this embodiment, the waxed paper insert is 110 mm in diameter at its rounded portion and has a finger tag 52 extending from it. The top of the cup is 85 mm in diameter and the bottom of the cup is 55 mm in diameter.

[0039] FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of a container 60 having an insulated container 62 with a bottom foam body 64, a cup receiving cavity 66, a fastener 68 for closing the container, and a top foam layer 70.

[0040] It is an advantage of the present invention that various aspects of the present invention allow for the delivery of hot or cold beverages while maintaining their temperature while preventing transport spillage.

Claims

1. 1. An insulated transport container for transporting hot or cold beverages in a ready-to-drink beverage container on demand over short distances where temperature control is required inside the beverage container when transporting the beverage, the insulated transport container comprising an insulated holder for a cup placed or placed therein, the insulated holder reducing temperature changes and preventing spillage of a cup containing the beverage during transport, the holder comprising one or more free-standing, resiliently deformable insulating material portions having at least one portion with a plurality of cup receiving cavities, the holder being sized and dimensioned to be placed inside the transport container for transporting the beverage.

2. 2. The insulated transport container for transporting beverages according to claim 1, wherein the elastically deformable insulating material is selected from foam and sponge.

3. 3. An insulated transport container for the transportation of beverages according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the one or more free-standing elastically deformable insulating material sections are in the form of a bottom layer, a middle layer and a top layer.

4. 4. An insulated transport container for transporting beverages according to claim 3, wherein the layers are selected from individual layers or two or more layers secured together.

5. 5. An insulated transport container for transporting beverages as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plurality of cup-receiving cavities are spaced apart from one another and extend through the intermediate layer, thereby enabling the cups held therein to be maintained without interfering with one another.

6. 6. An insulated transport container for transporting beverages as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the diameter of the cavity is smaller than the maximum diameter of the smallest of the cups to be received therein, thereby snugly fitting each cup.

7. 7. An insulated transport container for transporting beverages as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, having a base portion, side walls and a movable lid, the height between the base portion and the inner surface of the lid being greater than the height of any cup transported therein, and the upper end of each cup protruding from the intermediate layer of the insulated holder when placed in position, regardless of the varying heights of each cup.

8. 8. An insulated transport container for transporting beverages according to claim 7, wherein in use the top end of each cup projects to a similar height above the top of the intermediate layer of the insulating holder.

9. 9. An insulated transport container for transporting beverages as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, having an upper sponge layer adjacent to the inner surface of the lid of the insulated transport container, so that in use the upper sponge layer closes the lid of each of the cups, leaving a gap between the upper sponge layer and the middle sponge layer in which the lid and the upper quarter of the cup are located.

10. 10. An insulated transport container for the transport of beverages as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising four polystyrene side panel inserts in or on the side walls to improve insulation within the transport container when closed.

11. 10. An insulated transport container for transporting beverages as described in claim 9, wherein the bottom sponge layer is placed at or on the base portion of the container to help absorb small amounts of spillage or condensation that may occur during transport.

12. 12. An insulated transport container for the transport of beverages according to any one of claims 1 to 11 made of flexible canvas material.

13. 13. An insulated transport container for the transport of beverages according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein an additional polystyrene panel is inserted in the central part of the transport container to improve thermal insulation and to divide the transport container into two smaller "pockets" or halves which can be used for hot and cold beverages simultaneously in the same transport container.

14. 14. An insulated transport container for transporting beverages according to any one of claims 3 to 13, wherein the upper sponge layer has steam release holes in case steam needs to be ventilated or released through small holes in each of the lids covering the cups during use.

15. 1. An insert cover for a beverage cup, said insert cover being a sheet of food grade material having a diameter greater than or equal to the diameter of the top of the cup with which it is to be used, and which, in use, is placed or inserted between the top of the cup and a sealing lid to form a cover insert, provided that the cover is not sealed or otherwise secured to the cup before the lid is placed on the cup and is inserted only after beverage has been poured into the cup.

16. 16. The insert cover of claim 15, selected from a waxed paper insert, a natural fiber / cellulose based insert, a composite sheet or polymer film based insert, a silicone based insert, or a metal film.

17. 1. A method for preventing spillage of beverages from disposable or reusable cups when being transported, said method comprising: pouring a beverage into said cup; placing a cover insert for the beverage between the top rim of the cup and the clip-on lid of the cup, the cover being made of a food grade material and the cover being equal to or larger in diameter than the top of the cup with which it will be used; A method for preventing spillage of beverages from disposable or reusable cups when they are being transported, wherein the cover is not sealed or otherwise secured to the cup before the lid is placed on the cup, but is only put into place after the beverage has been poured into the cup and is held in place by gravity or the clip-on lid.

18. 18. A method for preventing spillage of beverages from disposable or reusable cups during transport as described in claim 17, comprising: holding the cup snugly in a resiliently deformable insulating material placed in an outer shipping container; and maintaining the cup in the insulating material in a predetermined vertical or substantially vertical position.

19. 19. A method for preventing spillage of beverages from disposable or reusable cups when being transported, as described in claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the method includes inserting the cup into a hole made in the elastically deformable insulating material in the transport container to receive the cup, and closing a lid of the transport container having a layer of elastically deformable insulating material located therein, thereby holding the cup snugly within the elastically deformable insulating material.

20. 1. An insulating holder for a cup placed or resting therein, said insulating holder reducing temperature variations and preventing spillage during transport of a cup containing a beverage, said holder comprising a free-standing, elastically deformable portion of insulating material having a plurality of cup-receiving cavities.

21. 21. An insulating holder for a cup as claimed in claim 20, wherein the holder comprises a free-standing, resiliently deformable insulating material section having a plurality of cup-receiving cavities, the top layer stabilising the lid and the cup.

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