Electrically heated beverage container

• US 5,283,420 A
• Filed: 05/06/1991
• Issued: 02/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bartolino P. Montalto
• Original Assignee: Bartolino P. Montalto
• Inventors: Montalto, Bartolino P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bartis, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US07/660,690
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 219/436, 219/438, 219/441, 219/442, 219/432, 219/433, 219/505, 219/530, 219/540, 392/444
• US Class Current: 219/432
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2288 with means for keeping liquid cool or hot
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2472 of the cordless type, i.e. whereby the cup can be plugged into an electrically-powered base element
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/141 Conductive ceramics, e.g. metal oxides, metal carbides, barium titanate, ferrites, zirconia, vitrous compounds
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/929 Connecting base plate or shelf type holder

Abstract

A plastic drinking container and holding stand for maintaining a heated beverage at a suitable elevated drinking temperature includes a thin metallic cup-shaped insert having a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) ceramic heater affixed to the bottom wall thereof. An electrically non-conductive plastic sleeve encapsulates the insert and ceramic heater and has a thick outer shell with a thick bottom providing good thermal insulation characteristics and a film-like inner shell permitting rapid heat transfer from the metal insert to the beverage in the container. A pair of electrical contact pins extend into a linear groove on the bottom of the container for mating with spring contacts located between a pair of linear guides at the top of the holding stand and adapted to be received in the linear container groove. An upstanding tab on the stand engages a recess in the container groove to positively restrain the container against movement when mounted on the stand.

Claims

1. An electrically heated container and holding stand for receiving and thermally maintaining a hot beverage consisting of the following:

a cup-shaped container comprising,

a self limiting, positive temperature coefficient generally disc shaped ceramic heater,

a thin, thermally and electrically conductive insert which includes a bottom section, an upwardly extending wall section, and an open top section,

said ceramic heater being mounted in electrical contact with the external side of the bottom portion of the said insert by means of soldering,

electrical contact pins electrically affixed to the said external side of the bottom portion of the insert and to the bottom surface of said ceramic heater,

an electrically nonconductive sleeve encapsulating the said insert, ceramic heater, and a portion of the electrical contacts,

the sleeve being comprised of a thick outer shell having a thick bottom portion and a film-like inner shell which conforms to the shape of the said insert,

the film-like inner shell permitting good heat transferring ability from the thin metal insert to a liquid beverage adapted to be received in the container,

the film-like inner shell allowing a gradual and even heating of the beverage as not to burn the liquid,

the thick outer shell providing good insulating characteristics as well as protecting the consumer from scalding themselves,

the bottom portion of the thick outer shell including an angled groove that leads to a linear groove for guiding and positively restraining the container on a mating holding stand,

the nonencapsulated portions of the contact pins protruding into the linear groove and without extending below the plane of the bottom portion of the thick outer shell,

said linear groove being provided with a recess adapted to accept an upwardly extending tab on a holding stand and a mechanical stop, the recess and stop adapted to prevent the container from accidentally moving while mounted on the stand and insuring proper positioning of the contact pins relative to the stand,

a holding stand for receiving said electrically heated container, comprising a base which includes a bottom portion and a wall portion that extends upwardly from the said bottom portion,

an upper face joined to the wall portion as to support said heated container when it is placed onto it,

parallel spaced apart linear guides extending upwardly from said upper face adapted to be received in said linear groove of said container for orienting the container, a divider section between said guides and defining a pair of linear grooves therebetween, said linear grooves each housing a spring contact adapted to electrically engage one of the contact pins of the container seated on the base,

a hole extending from the bottom of each groove through to the interior of base for fastening said spring contacts and current conducting wires by means of a rivet,

the current conducting wires attached to the spring contacts passing through a hole in the upwardly extending wall portion of the base and being controlled by an in-line switch that leads to a conventional power source connector,

the grooves themselves being narrowly spaced to guard against any foreign object coming in direct touch with the electrical spring contacts, and an upwardly extending angular tab on said divider section adapted to engage the recess in said linear container groove for positively restraining the container against movement when mounted on the holding stand.