Stacked Can Cooler Venting for Insulation and Easy Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage can holding and cooling systems are inefficient in maintaining temperature and protecting cans from bumps and spills, particularly for stacked arrangements.
Innovation Solution
A cylindrical can cooler with a flexible insulative material body, featuring an open top and closed bottom with an aperture to prevent vacuum, designed to hold two cans in a stacked or tandem arrangement, providing insulation and protection while allowing for easy handling and consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a tight-fitting cooler is used to hold cans securely, then protection from bumps and spills is improved, but vacuum formation inside the cooler worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful vacuum effect by providing an aperture in the bottom of the cooler that allows air to enter the interior space. This prevents vacuum formation when cans are inserted in a tight-fitting cooler, while the cooler still provides secure protection from bumps and spills.
2Temperature
If insulation material is added to maintain temperature, then temperature preservation is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible insulative material to form the body of the cooler. This single component simultaneously provides both the structural housing and the thermal insulation, eliminating the need for separate insulation layers and simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining temperature preservation.
3Quantity of substance
If the cooler is designed to hold two cans in stacked arrangement, then beverage capacity is improved, but ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from holding cans side-by-side (horizontal arrangement) to holding cans in a stacked vertical arrangement. This dimensional change allows two cans to be held in a compact space while maintaining easy access, as the top can can be removed and consumed without disturbing the bottom can.
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 can cooler effectively maintains the temperature of beverages for a longer period, protects cans from damage, and facilitates easy transportation and consumption, reducing the need to return to a refrigerator for re-supply.
Implementation Method 1
The cooler has a cylindrical configuration including a body with an open top, a closed bottom, and an interior space. The body has a cylindrical sleeve and a bottom... insulates the cans to preserve cold or hot temperature of can contents as long as practicable
Implementation Method 2
The bottom has an aperture for preventing or reducing vacuum on the inside of the cooler caused by tight fitting cans
Data Source
AI summary
A cooler for holding two cans, particular beverage cans containing beer, soft drinks or the like, in a stacked or tandem arrangement. The cooler holds the cans snuggly, keeping them safe from bumps and the like, and also insulates the cans to preserve cold or hot temperature of can contents as long as practicable. The cooler has a cylindrical configuration including a body with an open top, a closed bottom, and as interior space. The body has a cylindrical sleeve and a bottom, which is either in the form of a separate panel or unitary with the sleeve. The bottom has an aperture for preventing or reducing vacuum on the inside of the cooler. A method of using the cooler is also disclosed.