Self-cooling containers for liquids

• US 7,107,783 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2003
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Porous Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Advanced Porous Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Kevorkian, Gregory J., Smolko, Daniel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOERRLER, WILLIAM CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US10/453,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20040007553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 623/04, 623/15, 623/16, 62/60, 624/573, 624/574, 623/71
• US Class Current: 62/315
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0053 Cooled garments
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/04 Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of two straps passing over the two shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/18 of rigid material
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/20 of flexible material; Collapsible or stackable cups
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2266 Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2272 from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/18 Drinking straws or the like as integral parts of drinking containers A47G19/2266; for therapeutic purposes A61J15/00 ; adapted to emerge from drinking containers when opened B65D77/283
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2400/027 Non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 9/04 with means for supplying air
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/323 the container comprising internally a dip tube through which the contents pass
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2205/00 Venting means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/06 with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages with slidable spouts B65D47/26
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/242 moving helically
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/265 between planar parts B65D47/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/1616 by means of a filter
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/18 providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient with thermal insulation B65D81/38; ice-boxes with cooling means F25D
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3886 formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/803 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/806 Dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/808 : Glasses
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/26 : Refrigerating devices for cooling wearing apparel, e.g. garments, hats, shoes or gloves
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 7/00 : Devices using evaporation effects without recovery of the vapour butter or cheese dishes with cooling devices A47G19/26
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 5/00 : Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, using the cooling effect of natural or forced evaporation

Abstract

Disclosed are self-cooling containers for beverages and other liquids. Such containers comprise porous matrices as elements of the container bodies to effect the cooling of contained liquids by pervaporation. The liquid vapor can pass through the porous matrix directly to the environment or to a collector or trap comprising an absorbent material in contact with the container. Also disclosed are self-cooling containers incorporating insulative sleeves that reduce radiative warming of container surfaces yet permit sufficient pervaporative flux to cool containers residing within such sleeves.

Claims

1. A container for liquids comprising:

a container body comprising one or more walls;

wherein at least a portion of said one or more walls comprises a hydrophobic porous matrix that allows for the passage of vapor from a liquid within said container such that pervaporation or evaporation of said vapor cools said liquid within said container; and

a regenerable or disposable outer layer directly adjacent to at least portion of said container body, said layer comprising a desiccant or an absorbent material that absorbs moisture or other fluid resulting from said evaporation or pervaporation.

2. A container for liquids according to claim 1 wherein said porous matrix comprises a membrane.

3. A container for liquids according to claim 1 wherein said porous matrix comprises a porous sintered matrix.

4. A container for liquids according to claim 1 wherein said porous matrix is fabricated from a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylenes, polypropylenes, ethylene copolymers, polymethylpentenes, polybutylenes, and blends thereof.

5. A container for liquids according to claim 1 wherein said porous matrix is fabricated from a polymer selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylfluoride, polyvinylidinefluoride, polyethylenetetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene, polyperfluoroalkoxyethylene, polyvinylchloride, chlorinatedpolyvinylchloride, polyvinyldichloride and blends thereof.

6. A container for liquids according to claim 1 wherein said porous matrix is fabricated from a blend of a fluorinated additive with a non-fluorinated plastic resin.

7. A container for liquids according to claim 1 wherein said porous matrix is fabricated from a silicone polymer or fluorosilicone polymer.

8. A container for liquids according to claim 1 wherein said porous matrix has a thickness of 0.025 to 7.0 mm.

9. A container for liquids according to claim 1 wherein said porous matrix has a thickness of 0.05 to 3.0 mm.

10. A container for liquids according to claim 1 wherein said porous matrix has a pore size of 0.05 to 500 μ

m.

11. A container for liquids according to claim 1 wherein said porous matrix has pore size of 0.1 to 100 μ

m.

12. A container for liquids according to claim 1 wherein said porous matrix has percent porosity of 10 to 90%.

13. A container for liquids according to claim 1 wherein said porous matrix has percent porosity of 30 to 70%.

14. A container for liquids according to claim 1 wherein said portion of said one or more walls is 5 to 100% of the total wall area of said container.

15. A container for liquids according to claim 1 wherein said porous matrix is comprised of hollow or expanded particles which are fused or adhered together to reduce the thermal conductivity of said porous matrix.

16. A container for liquids according to claim 1, wherein said hydrophobic porous matrix has a pleated structure.

17. A container for liquids comprising:

a container body comprising one or more walls;

wherein at least a portion of said one or more walls comprises a hydrophobic porous matrix that allows for the passage of vapor from a liquid within said container such that pervaporation or evaporation of said vapor cools said liquid within said container; and

an insulating sleeve surrounding at least a portion of said one or more walls.

18. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said porous matrix comprises a membrane.

19. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said porous matrix comprises a porous sintered matrix.

20. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said porous matrix is fabricated from a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylenes, polypropylenes, ethylene copolymers, polymethylpentenes, polybutylenes, and blends thereof.

21. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said porous matrix is fabricated from a polymer selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylfluoride, polyvinylidinefluoride, polyethylenetetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene, polyperfluoroalkoxyethylene, polyvinylchloride, chlorinatedpolyvinylchloride, polyvinyldichloride and blends thereof.

22. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said porous matrix is fabricated from a blend of a fluorinated additive with a non-fluorinated plastic resin.

23. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said porous matrix is fabricated from a silicone polymer or fluorosilicone polymer.

24. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said porous matrix has a thickness of 0.025 to 7.0 mm.

25. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said porous matrix has a thickness of 0.05 to 3.0 mm.

26. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said porous matrix has a pore size of 0.05 to 500 μ

m.

27. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said porous matrix has pore size of 0.1 to 100 μ

m.

28. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said porous matrix has percent porosity of 10 to 90%.

29. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said porous matrix has percent porosity of 30 to 70%.

30. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said portion of said one or more walls is 5 to 100% of the total wall area of said container.

31. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said porous matrix is comprised of hollow or expanded particles which are fused or adhered together to reduce the thermal conductivity of said porous matrix.

32. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said porous matrix has a pleated structure.

33. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said insulating sleeve comprises a porous insulative material.

34. A container for liquids according to claim 17, wherein said porous insulative material is open-cell porous insulative material.

35. A container for liquids according to claim 17, wherein said insulating sleeve is generally tubular and has one or more openings in the wall thereof, whereby the sleeve may be rotated about the container to selectively cover or expose portions of said porous matrix.

38. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said porous matrix comprises a porous hydrophilic membrane laminated to a porous hydrophobic membrane.

39. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said second surface is rendered hydrophilic by a process selected from the group consisting of plasma etching, chemical etching, impregnation with wetting agents, and application of hydrophilic coatings.

40. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said porous matrix has a thickness of 0.025 to 7.0 mm.

41. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said porous matrix has a thickness of 0.05 to 3.0 mm.

42. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said porous matrix has a pore size of 0.05 to 500 μ

m.

43. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said porous matrix has pore size of 0.1 to 100 μ

m.

44. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said porous matrix has percent porosity of 10 to 95%.

45. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said porous matrix has percent porosity of 30 to 70%.

46. A container for liquids according to claim 17, wherein said portion of said one or more walls is 5 to 100% of the total wall area of said container.

47. A container for liquids according to claim 17 wherein said porous matrix has a pleated structure.

36. A container for liquids comprising:

a container body comprising one or more walls;

wherein at least a portion of said one or more walls comprises a porous matrix having a first surface and a second surface wherein said first surface is a hydrophobic surface and said second surface is a hydrophilic surface; and

wherein said porous matrix allows for the passage of vapor from a liquid within said container such that pervaporation or evaporation of said vapor cools said liquid within said container.

37. A container for liquids according to claim 36 wherein said porous matrix is oriented such that said hydrophilic surface faces the interior of the container.