Beverage Container Enclosure with Insulating Sleeve and Sliding Cap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional beverage container enclosures, such as can koozies, fail to provide adequate thermal insulation and physical protection, leading to discomfort and vulnerability of the beverage can, especially due to thermal conductivity issues and exposure of the top of the can.
Innovation Solution
A beverage container enclosure comprising a base component with a rigid exterior shell and a thermally insulating internal sleeve, combined with a cap component that includes a gasket for sealing and a sliding tab for easy access, providing comprehensive thermal insulation and physical protection while maintaining the can's integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a thin metal can is used for beverage packaging, then the container is lightweight and durable, but thermal insulation is poor and heat transfers efficiently to the beverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested structure where an insulating sleeve is placed inside a rigid outer shell, creating a layered enclosure. The insulating sleeve is positioned within the shell, forming a nested configuration that provides both structural protection and thermal insulation without significantly increasing weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure combines different materials with complementary properties: a rigid material (such as metal or hard plastic) for the outer shell providing structural protection, and a thermally insulating material (such as foam or air gap structure) for the inner sleeve providing thermal insulation. This composite structure resolves the contradiction between weight and thermal insulation.
2Temperature
If a flexible foam koozie is used for insulation, then thermal insulation is improved, but physical protection is limited and the top of the can remains exposed
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is divided into distinct functional segments: a rigid outer shell providing structural protection, an insulating sleeve providing thermal insulation, and a separate cap assembly with opening and closing mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function while working together comprehensively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the protective function of a rigid shell with the insulating function of a foam sleeve into a single integrated enclosure structure. The rigid shell and insulating sleeve are combined in a nested configuration that simultaneously provides both physical protection and thermal insulation, overcoming the limitations of separate solutions.
3Ease of operation
If the top of the can is exposed for easy access, then ease of operation is improved, but the can becomes vulnerable to damage and heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The cap assembly incorporates a sliding or movable closing mechanism that can transition between closed and open positions. This dynamic element allows the top of the enclosure to be sealed when closed (protecting the can) and opened when access is needed (ease of operation), resolving the contradiction between protection and accessibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The enclosure effectively maintains the beverage's temperature, protects against physical damage, and allows for easy consumption without removing the can, enhancing user experience through improved thermal insulation and durability.
Implementation Method 1
a base component with a rigid exterior shell and a thermally insulating internal sleeve
Data Source
AI summary
A container enclosure for removably enclosing a container, the enclosure including a base component and a cap component configured to be removably coupled to the base component. The base component includes an outer shell having a base wall and a cylindrical sidewall extending upwardly therefrom, and an interior sleeve configured to be inserted within the outer shell. Further, the cap component includes an opening and a sliding tab configured to transition between a rearward position and a forward position to open and close the opening, respectively.