Self-cooling container

• US 4,802,343 A
• Filed: 07/01/1987
• Issued: 02/07/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coca-Cola Company The One Coca-Cola Plaza NW Atlanta Georgia 30313
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Rudick, Arthur G., Gupta, Ashis S., Heenan, Richard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Lloyd L.
• Application Number:
  US07/068,876
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 62/4, 62/294, 62/394, 62/400
• US Class Current: 62/294
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/805 Cans
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/007 Bottles or cans
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 5/02 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally

Abstract

A self-cooling container is provided having a hollow body with a cooling chamber and directing means for directing the flow of a portion of a beverage therein in contact with the cooling chamber to cool predominantly the next-to-be-consumed portion of the beverage.

Claims

1. A self-cooling container comprising:

(a) a hollow body for the storage of a beverage,

(b) opening means on said hollow body for providing an opening therein for dispensing said beverage therethrough,

(c) a cooling chamber within said hollow body and affixed thereto and having cooling means therein, and

(d) a directing means within said hollow body for directing said beverage to flow into direct contact with said cooling chamber prior to being dispensed from said container.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said directing means limits the access of said beverage to said opening means.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein said directing means comprises an elongated member inside of said body and extending vertically downwardly from the top of said container.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein said directing means is a separator extending across the circumference of said container from the top of said container to a point short of the bottom of said container allowing sufficient flow of said beverage to said opening means.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein said separator is an integral part of the top of said container.

6. The container of claim 2 wherein said separator comprises a cup having a base with the base of said cup affixed to the top of said hollow body.

7. The container of claim 6 wherein said cup includes an indented portion running vertically along said cup to allow access of said beverage to said opening means.

8. The container of claim 6 wherein said cup is around said cooling chamber and said beverage is drawn from between said cup and said cooling chamber to said opening means.

9. The container of claim 8 wherein a drinking tube is inserted into said opening means for drawing said beverage.

10. The container of claim 1 wherein said cooling chamber comprises a first compartment containing a liquid and a second compartment containing a chemical that will react when contacted with said liquid separated by a rupturable separator means and means for rupturing said rupturable separator means.

11. The container of claim 10 wherein said means for rupturing is connected to said first compartment.

12. The container of claim 11 wherein said means for rupturing are accessible through an openable closure means located on said hollow body and adjacent to said cooling chamber.

13. The container of claim 12 wherein said means for rupturing includes a flexible wall forming a part of said first compartment.

14. The container of claim 13 wherein said flexible wall can be pushed inward to create sufficient pressure on said liquid to rupture said rupturable separator means.

15. The container of claim 14 wherein said flexible wall includes a flexible rolling diaphragm.

16. The container of claim 13 including a cutting member connected to said flexible wall for rupturing said rupturable separator means when said cutting member is placed in contact with said rupturable separator means.

17. The container of claim 16 wherein said cutting member is a pin.

18. The container of claim 13 wherein said flexible wall is a gas permeable membrane and said second compartment includes a chemical mixing means.

19. The container of claim 10 wherein said first compartment is an elastomer balloon inserted into said cooling chamber.

20. The container of claim 19 including a cutting member connected to said opening means for rupturing said elastomer balloon when said opening means is opened.

21. A self-cooling container comprising:

(a) a hollow body for the storage of a beverage having first and second ends,

(b) opening means on said first end for dispensing said beverage,

(c) a cooling chamber within said hollow body and affixed to said second end having cooling means therein, and

(d) directing means comprising a cup inserted over said cooling chamber, the base of said cup affixed to said first end, said cup having an opening in alignment with said opening means and positioned to direct said beverage along said cooling chamber and out through said opening means.

22. The container of claim 21 wherein said container includes a drinking tube inserted into said opening means and into said opening of said directing means for drawing said beverage pass said cooling chamber and out of said hollow body.

23. The container of claim 22 wherein said opening is located on an horizontally extending base on said cup.

24. The container of claim 21 wherein said cooling chamber comprises a first compartment containing a liquid and a second compartment containing a chemical that will react when contacted with said liquid separated by a rupturable separator means and means for rupturing said rupturable separator means.

25. The container of claim 24 wherein said means for rupturing is connected to said first compartment.

26. The container of claim 25 wherein said means for rupturing are accessible through a openable closure means located on said hollow body and adjacent to said cooling chamber.

27. The container of claim 26 wherein said means for rupturing includes a flexible wall forming a part of said first compartment.

28. The container of claim 27 wherein said flexible wall can be pushed inward to create sufficient pressure on said liquid to rupture said rupturable separator means.

29. The container of claim 28 wherein said flexible wall includes a flexible rolling diaphragm.