Insulator for bottled beverages

• US 4,549,410 A
• Filed: 12/21/1984
• Issued: 10/29/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Russell, William C.
• Original Assignee: Russell, William C.
• Inventors: Russell, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Lloyd L.
• Application Number:
  US06/684,951
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: 215/13 R, 62/457, 62/529, 62/530, 62/371, 62/372
• US Class Current: 62/457.8
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/20 Lunch or picnic boxes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3886 formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls

Abstract

A unique, refrigerant-free, insulator for maintaining the temperature of beverages contained in neck ring containers, such as bottles, comprising a unitary outer shell with a bottom opening for receiving the container and a top opening for receiving the container neck ring, an insulating sleeve carried within the shell and a retaining ring surrounding the bottom shell opening for supporting the bottom of the container.

Claims

1. A refrigerant-free insulator and holder for beverages carried in containers having a neck ring comprising:

(a) a semi-rigid outer shell, the shell having a top opening to receive the container neck ring, the top opening having inner dimensions slightly smaller than the outer dimensions of the neck ring, the shell also having a bottom opening to receive the container, the bottom opening having inner dimensions slightly larger than the outer dimensions of the container body;

(b) an inner insulating sleeve carried within the shell; and

,

(c) means for supporting the bottom periphery of the container, the support means being carried within the shell and surrounding the bottom opening of the shell, the support means flexing to a position permitting insertion and removal of the container from within the shell and thereafter returning to a support position,

such that when a container is admitted into the shell through the bottom opening the neck ring of the container causes the top opening to expand to permit passage of the neck ring, thereafter the top opening contracts underneath the neck ring, the contracted top opening and support means in the support position holding the container within the shell.

2. The insulator of claim 1 wherein the side walls of the upper portion of the sleeve arc inwardly to define a top sleeve opening, the top sleeve opening having a smaller dimension than the bottom sleeve opening.

3. The insulator of claim 1 wherein the support means includes a flexible ring, the ring having a plurality of flexibly joined flaps, the flaps being inwardly directed to define an opening having inner dimensions smaller than the outer dimensions of the container body.

4. The insulator of claim 1 further including an outwardly disposed lip surrounding the top opening, the lip seating underneath the neck ring upon the contraction of the top opening of the shell.

5. A refrigerant-free insulator and holder for beverages carried in containers having a neck ring comprising:

(a) a semi-rigid outer shell, the shell having a top opening to receive the container neck ring, the top opening having inner dimensions slightly smaller than the outer dimensions of the neck ring, the shell also having a bottom opening to receive the container, the bottom opening having inner dimensions slightly larger than the outer dimensions of the container body;

(b) an inner insulating sleeve carried within the shell; and

,

(c) a flexible ring for supporting the bottom periphery of the container body, the ring surrounding the bottom opening of the shell, the ring including a plurality of flexibly joined flaps, the flaps being inwardly directed to define an opening, the opening having inner dimensions smaller than the outer dimensions of the container body;

such that when the container is admitted into the shell through the bottom opening the neck ring of the container causes the top opening to expand to permit passage of the neck ring, thereafter the top opening contracts underneath the neck ring, the contracted top opening and support means in the support position holding the container within the shell.