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Portable cup for warming beverages

  • US 5,508,494 A
  • Filed: 11/15/1994
  • Issued: 04/16/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A beverage cup comprising;

  • (a) a container having a bottom wall, and a side wall extending upwards from the bottom wall to form an interior with an open top for containing a beverage,(b) an outer shell having a bottom wall, and a side wall extending upwards from the bottom wall to a cup-like shell with an open top that generally corresponds to the shape of and is concentric to the container with an attachment of the outer shell and the container at the peripheries of their respective open tops such that there is a thermally insulating air gap between an outer surface of the container and an inner surface of the outer shell, the container and the outer shell constructed of a low melting temperature thermoplastic polymer material that is thermally and electrically insulating, and that is subject to heat damage if contacted with the heater bar when the heater bar is in a heated condition,(c) a heater bar with an electrical resistance heating means, the heater bar extending from an outer surface of the container side wall of the container through a first aperture in the container wall, through the interior of the container, and through a second aperture in the container side wall to an outer surface of the container side wall, the heater bar disposed such that it passes through a portion of the interior at a location where it can be submerged by beverage in the container,(d) a first bushing surrounding the portion of the heater bar passing through the first(e) a second bushing surrounding the portion of the hater bar passing through the second aperture, the first and second bushings constructed and arranged to provide a liquid seal between the heater bar and the edges of the first and second apertures, respectively, the first and second bushing providing a thermal insulation between the heater bar and the material of the container to prevent the material of the container from softening and deforming from heat generated by the heating means,(f) a heat sensor contained in the wall of the container at a point such that the point is normally submerged when beverage is in the container, the heat sensor controlling a switch means that is in a default closed state to direct current to the heater means, but is opened when the temperature at the heat sensor is at or exceeds a predetermined temperature, the heat sensor disposed sufficiently proximate to the heater bar such that when the sensor and heater bar are not submerged in beverage heat generated by the heating bar will activate the sensor to open the switch means, and(g) a power cord with a first end extending to an electrical connection with the heating means and the sensor, and with a second end including a plug means for electrical connection to a power source to form an electrical supply circuit for the heater means.

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