Beverage containers, heat transfer pad, and related system and methods

• US 10,244,880 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2017
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mumford, John Robert
• Original Assignee: Mumford, John Robert
• Inventors: Mumford, John Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick, Anthony D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, Raven
• Application Number:
  US15/626,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20170360227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 22059216, 215372, 215374, 215377
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2255 Details related to the connection between the liquid containing part and the supporting part
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2288 with means for keeping liquid cool or hot
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/025 using primary and secondary refrigeration systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/0841 external to the container for a beverage, e.g. a bottle, can, drinking glass or pitcher
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/0845 below the product
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/06 Movable containers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/08 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/008 Drinking glasses

Abstract

A beverage container includes a base, a stem, and a bowl. The base has a base lateral dimension parallel to the horizontal supporting plane. The stem extends upwardly from a stem lower end coupled to the base to a stem upper end. The stem has a heat pipe extending between the stem lower end and the stem upper end. The stem has a stem lateral dimension smaller than the base lateral dimension. The bowl is coupled to the stem upper end and extends upwardly of the stem. The bowl defines a liquid chamber having an upper opening. Other beverage containers, systems, methods, and heat transfer pads are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A beverage container comprising:

a base having a base lateral dimension;

a stem extending upwardly from a stem lower end coupled to the base to a stem upper end, the stem having a heat pipe extending between the stem lower end and the stem upper end, and the stem having a stem lateral dimension smaller than the base lateral dimension; and

a bowl coupled to the stem upper end and extending upwardly of the stem, the bowl defining a liquid chamber having an upper opening.

2. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein:

the base includes a base conductive element thermally coupled to the heat pipe.

3. The beverage container of claim 2, wherein:

the base conductive element is made of a base conductor material having a thermal conductivity of at least 10 W/(m K) at 20°

C.

4. The beverage container of claim 2, wherein:

the base conductor material comprises metal.

5. The beverage container of claim 2, wherein:

the base includes;

a base outer element; and

a base conductive element thermally coupled to the heat pipe,

the base conductive element has a base conductive element lower end and a base conductive element upper end,

the base outer element overlays at least a portion of the base conductive element upper end, and

the base conductive element lower end includes an exposed base conductive element contact surface.

6. The beverage container of claim 5 wherein:

the base has a base lower end, and

the base conductive element contact surface is recessed from the base lower end.

7. The beverage container of claim 5 wherein:

the base outer element extends laterally outwardly of the base conductive element.

8. The beverage container of claim 1 wherein:

the stem includes a stem sleeve, and the heat pipe is at least partially positioned within the stem sleeve.

9. The beverage container of claim 8 wherein:

the stem sleeve is spaced apart from the heat pipe between the stem upper end and the stem lower end.

10. The beverage container of claim 9 wherein:

the heat pipe has a heat pipe outer surface facing the stem sleeve, and

a majority of the stem sleeve is spaced apart from the heat pipe outer surface.

11. The beverage container of claim 8 wherein:

the stem sleeve is made of a stem sleeve material comprising metal.

12. The beverage container of claim 9 wherein:

the stem sleeve is spaced apart from the heat pipe by a hermetically sealed space.

13. The beverage container of claim 12 wherein:

the sealed space contains a gas.

14. The beverage container of claim 12 wherein:

the sealed space is substantially evacuated of gas.

15. The beverage container of claim 1 wherein:

the bowl includes a substantially transparent portion.

16. The beverage container of claim 15 wherein:

the bowl includes a bowl bottom, and the bowl bottom includes the reflective portion.

17. The beverage container of claim 1 wherein:

the bowl includes a bowl bottom, and the bowl bottom is thermally coupled to the heat pipe.

18. The beverage container of claim 17 wherein:

the bowl bottom is thermally coupled to the heat pipe by thermal adhesive.

19. The beverage container of claim 1 wherein:

the stem upper end is coupled to the bowl by a fastener,

the base, the stem, and the fastener collectively define a support assembling comprising an inner subassembly received in an outer subassembly,

the inner subassembly includes the heat pipe, and

the inner subassembly is spaced apart from the outer subassembly by a contiguous space which extends within at least the fastener and the stem.

20. The beverage container of claim 19 wherein:

the space is hermetically sealed.

21. The beverage container of claim 20 wherein:

the sealed space is substantially evacuated of gas.

22. A method of making a beverage container, the method comprising:

providing a base defining a lower horizontal supporting plane;

providing a stem extending from a stem lower end to a stem upper end, the stem having a heat pipe extending between the stem lower end and the stem upper end;

providing a bowl defining a liquid chamber having an upper opening;

coupling the stem lower end to the base; and

coupling the stem upper end to the bowl.