Thermodynamic container

• US 8,205,468 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2009
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ThermoBuffer, LLC
• Original Assignee: ThermoBuffer, LLC
• Inventors: Hemminger, Orin L., Cavanaugh, Megan L., Henslee, Brian E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Application Number:
  US12/454,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20090283533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 624/572, 624/573, 624/576, 623/71, 623/72, 220/592.17, 220/592.2, 220/592.25, 220/592.27, 220/254.5
• US Class Current: 62/457.3
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00046 Drinking-through lids
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00092 circular
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00231 made of several pieces
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/022 only on the inside, or a part turned to the inside, of the mouth of the container B65D43/0216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0895 one part of the hinge being integral with the hinged closure and the other part with the base element, without any other additional hinge element
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/248 the valve being opened or closed by imparting a motion to the valve stem B65D47/244, B65D47/245 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3809 provided with liquid material between double walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3872 provided with liquid material between double walls

Abstract

A thermodynamic container for regulating the temperature of a liquid. An exemplary embodiment may include an inner layer of a thermal buffering material and an outer layer of insulation. The thermal buffering layer may include a phase change material and/or a non-phase change material. Some exemplary embodiments may include lid, which may include insulation, a thermal buffering layer, and/or a drinking port.

Claims

1. A beverage container comprising:

a cup portion including an interior for holding a beverage and an open top, where the cup portion includes an inner layer including a first portion of a thermal buffering material and an outer insulative layer; and

a lid for covering the open top, the lid including

a lid body releasably engagable with the cup portion proximate the open top,

an open button extending upwardly from the body,

a peg extending substantially axially through the body, a first end of the peg engaging the open button,

a seal body mounted to a second end of the peg, the seal body releasably sealing against an annular rim on the lid body when the open button and the peg are in a closed position, and the seal body being axially spaced apart from the annular rim when the open button and the peg are in an open position,

a spring arranged to bias the open button towards the closed position, and

a drinking port selectively isolatable from the interior of the cup portion by the seal body and the annular rim.

2. The container of claim 1, further comprising a close button extending substantially radially from the lid body;

wherein a tab extending from the close button is arranged to latch the open button in the open position; and

wherein depressing the close button releases the tab from the open button.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid includes a second portion of the thermal buffering material.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein the second portion of the thermal buffering material is disposed in at least one of the seal body and the peg.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the cup portion includes a thermally conductive inner wall at least partially interposing the interior and the first portion of the phase change material, a middle wall at least partially interposing the first portion of the phase change material and the insulative layer, and an outer wall at least partially interposing the insulative layer and the ambient environment.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the thermal buffering material includes a phase change material;

and wherein the phase change material has a melting point at approximately a predetermined desired beverage consumption temperature.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the thermal buffering material includes a non phase change material in a desired operating range.

8. A beverage container comprising:

a cup portion including an interior for holding a beverage and an open top; and

a lid releasably enlargeable with the cup portion for covering the open top, the lid including a selectively sealable drinking port and a first portion of a thermal buffering material ;

wherein the lid includes a protrusion extending into the interior of the cup portion; and

wherein the first portion of the thermal buffering material is disposed in the protrusion.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the cup portion includes a second portion of the thermal buffering material.

10. The container of claim 9, wherein the cup portion includes a thermally conductive inner wall at least partially interposing the interior and the second portion of the thermal buffering material, a middle wall at least partially interposing the second portion of the thermal buffering material and an insulative layer, and an outer wall at least partially interposing the insulative layer and the ambient environment.

11. The container of claim 10, wherein the insulative layer includes a vacuum insulative layer.

12. The container of claim 8, wherein the thermal buffering material includes a phase change material;

and wherein the phase change material has a melting point at approximately a predetermined desired beverage consumption temperature.

13. The container of claim 8, wherein the thermal buffering material includes a non phase change material.