Beverage insulating device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage insulation methods, such as fabric or foam containers and transferring drinks to thermally insulated tumblers, fail to provide both insulation and additional cooling, leading to beverages warming during consumption.
Innovation Solution
A reusable beverage insulating device featuring a semi-rigid, pressure-expandable plastic inner container filled with an insulator or refrigerant, which fits inside an outer container, providing both cooling and insulation by surrounding the beverage and allowing for expansion of the cooling fluid as it freezes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If fabric or foam containers are used to surround or encapsulate cans or bottles, then insulation is improved, but additional cooling capability is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines insulation and cooling functions into a single integrated device by placing an inner container filled with refrigerant material inside an outer container, allowing the system to simultaneously insulate and actively cool the beverage
Solution Approach 2:
The inner container serves multiple functions: it acts as both an insulating barrier and a refrigeration unit by containing phase-change material that actively cools the beverage, making the device versatile for different temperature maintenance needs
2Temperature
If the beverage is transferred to a thermally insulated tumbler or mug, then insulation is improved, but portability and reusability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a nested structure where the inner container is placed inside the outer container, creating a compact, portable device that maintains insulation while being easy to transport and store
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates a flexible, collapsible inner container that can be compressed for storage and expanded for use, enhancing portability while maintaining insulation performance
3Temperature
If the inner container is filled with refrigerant material, then cooling capability is improved, but volume for beverage is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant material is placed only in the inner container surrounding the beverage, providing localized cooling where needed while maximizing the central beverage volume
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses phase-change material in the inner container that absorbs heat during melting, providing efficient cooling with minimal material volume, thus preserving maximum beverage capacity
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
Effectively keeps beverages cold for longer by simultaneously insulating and cooling the beverage, maintaining a lower temperature during consumption while being portable and reusable.
Implementation Method 1
The inner container may include a void that provides a volume in the inner container to allow for expansion of the fluid inside of the inner container as the fluid is frozen
Implementation Method 2
as the fluid is frozen
Implementation Method 3
The inner container may be filled with an insulator or refrigerant material to increase the thermal resistance across the inner container
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage insulating device to cool a beverage in a bottle or can includes an outer container, a lid, and an inner container. The inner container may be filled with an insulator or refrigerant material to increase the thermal resistance across the inner container. The size and shape of the inner container may allow the inner container to surround at least a portion of the beverage while also fitting inside the outer container. The lid fits over the bottle or can and securely engages with the outer container to allow the beverage insulating device to simultaneously cool and insulate the beverage while also allowing consumption of the beverage.