GB2286449A

GB2286449A - A beverage cooling device

Info

Publication number: GB2286449A
Application number: GB9502293A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Johannas Cor Kouwenberg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-02-04
Filing date: 1995-02-06
Publication date: 1995-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 2015-02-06
Also published as: IE950072A1; GB2286449B; IES62942B2; IES940099A2; GB9502293D0

Abstract

A flexible sleeve-like cooling device (1) for cooling a wine bottle (2) comprises inner and outer walls (5, 6) of flexible plastics material and an intermediate wall (7) between the inner and outer walls (5, 6) all of which are joined by longitudinal seams (8) and circumferential transverse seams (12, 14) to form inner and outer compartments (9, 10). The inner compartments (9) are partly filled with a liquid coolant. A sheet of heat insulating material (11) extends circumferentially around the sleeve-like device (1) between the outer wall (6) and the intermediate wall (7), and is entrapped between the longitudinal seams (8) and the transverse seams (9, 10). The liquid coolant may be a gel formed by a mixture of water, glycol propylene and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose or a mixture of water, glycol propylene and biocide. <IMAGE>

Description

"A cooling device" The present invention relates to a cooling device, and in particular, though not limited to a cooling device for cooling or chilling a wine bottle or other beverage bottle or can.

One type of cooling device for cooling a wine bottle comprises a sleeve-like body member which comprises a plurality of inner compartments which contain a freezable or non-freezable coolant, and a layer of heat insulating material extending around the sleeve on the outer side of the inner compartments. In use, the bottle or other object to be cooled is placed within the sleeve so that the inner compartments are adjacent the outer surface of the object to be cooled. One problem with known sleeve-like cooling devices is that, in general, the inner cross-section of the sleeve does not readily adapt to the shape of the bottle, and this is a particular problem where the outer surface of the bottle is of irregular shape, for example, where the outer surface tapers.Because of this a significant area of the outer surface of the bottle may not be in contact with an inner wall of the sleeve which forms the inner compartment, thereby, reducing the cooling efficiency of the cooling device. Various attempts have been made to overcome this problem, however, none have been particularly successful.

There is therefore a need for a cooling device for a wine bottle or other beverage bottle, can, and indeed any other object which more readily accommodates bottles, cans and objects of irregular surface area.

The present invention is directed towards providing such a cooling device.

According to the invention there is provided a cooling device for cooling an object, the cooling device comprising an elongated sleeve-like member for encircling the object to be cooled, the sleeve-like member comprising a circumferentially extending inner wall for abutting the object to be cooled, a circumferentially extending outer wall, and a circumferentially extending intermediate wall disposed between the inner and outer walls, the inner, outer and intermediate walls being joined along a plurality of elongated longitudinal seams extending in a generally axial direction relative to the sleeve-like member, the longitudinal seams being spaced apart circumferentially around the sleeve-like member for forming a plurality of axially extending elongated discrete inner and outer compartments which are circumferentially spaced apart around the sleeve-like member, the inner compartments being formed between the inner and intermediate walls, and the outer compartments being formed between the outer and intermediate walls, each inner compartment containing a liquid coolant and being deformable for varying the internal cross-sectional area of the sleeve-like member and for accommodating movement of the coolant axially along the inner compartment as the cross-sectional area of the sleeve-like member varies along the axial length thereof, and a heat insulating means being located in each outer compartment, wherein the heat insulating means of all the outer compartments are formed by a sheet of heat insulating material which is disposed between the outer and intermediate walls and extends circumferentially around the sleeve-like member, the sheet of heat insulating material being secured to the outer and intermediate walls by the axially extending elongated longitudinal seams.

Preferably, the inner, outer and intermediate walls are joined along circumferentially extending transverse seams at respective axially opposite ends of the sleeve-like member, for sealing the inner and outer compartments.

Advantageously, the sheet of heat insulating material is secured to the outer and intermediate walls by the transverse seams for preventing balling of the heat insulating material.

Ideally, the inner, outer and intermediate walls are of a flexible material, for facilitating deforming of the inner compartments. Preferably, the sheet of heat insulating material is a resilient material for further facilitating deforming of the inner compartment.

Ideally, the sheet of heat insulating material is flexible also for facilitating deforming of the inner compartments.

In one aspect of the invention the sleeve-like member is deformable for accommodating different shapes of objects and for facilitating storage of the cooling device when not in use.

In one aspect of the invention each inner compartment is partly filled with the liquid coolant for accommodating objects of different and varying shape.

In another aspect of the invention the liquid coolant is a liquid with a relatively low freezing point which is lower than the freezing point of water.

Ideally, the liquid coolant remains in a liquid state down to a temperature of at least -100C, and in general, it is preferable that the liquid coolant remains in a liquid state down to a temperature of at least -180C, thereby enabling the cooling device to be cooled to a relatively low temperature for increasing its cooling capacity and efficiency, while at the same time retaining the deformable properties of the inner compartment.

In one aspect of the invention the liquid coolant is of relatively high viscosity, and advantageously, the liquid coolant is of a gel type consistency.

Preferably, the liquid coolant is non-toxic, for safety, and advantageously, the liquid coolant has an unpleasant taste also for safety.

In one aspect of the invention the liquid coolant is a mixture of water, glycol propylene and sodium carboxy methyl cellulose. Alternatively, the liquid coolant is a mixture of water, glycol propylene and biocide.

The liquid coolant is movable upwardly in the inner compartment for accommodating an object which tapers in a generally upwardly direction, and additionally, the liquid coolant is movable downwardly in the inner compartment for accommodating an object which tapers in a generally downwardly direction.

In one aspect of the invention the cooling device is for cooling the contents of a bottle. In another aspect of the invention the cooling device is for cooling a wine bottle. In a further aspect of the invention the cooling device is for cooling the contents of a can, and in a still further aspect of the invention the cooling device is for cooling a beverage can.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof which is given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cooling device according to the invention for cooling a wine bottle, Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view of the cooling device of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cooling device of Fig. 1 in use, and Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational view of the cooling device of Fig. 1 also in use.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a cooling device according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 for, in this embodiment of the invention cooling a wine bottle 2.

The cooling device 1 comprises an elongated deformable sleeve-like member 4 which in use encircles the wine bottle 2. The sleeve-like member is formed from an inner wall 5 of flexible sheet polythene material of 105 microns thickness, an outer wall 6 of flexible, non-elastic sheet aluminium foil laminated with a flexible polyester sheet, and an intermediate wall 7 of similar material to the inner wall 5 which is disposed between the inner and outer walls 5 and 6. The inner and outer walls 5 and 6 are heat welded to the intermediate wall 7 along a plurality, in this embodiment of the invention six circumferentially spaced apart axially extending longitudinal seams 8.

The seams 8 joining the inner wall 5 and intermediate wall 7 form six elongated axially extending discrete inner compartments 9 each of which contains a liquid coolant which is described below. The inner wall 5 is transparent to facilitate viewing of the liquid coolant in the inner compartment 9. The longitudinal seams 8 joining the outer wall 6 to the intermediate wall 7 form six elongated axially extending discrete outer compartments 10 in each of which is located a heat insulating means for minimising heat loss from the liquid coolant in the inner compartments 9 to the outer surrounding environment. All the heat insulating means of the outer compartments 10 are provided by one sheet of heat insulating material 11 which extends circumferentially around the sleeve-like member 4 between the outer wall 6 and the intermediate wall 7.

The sheet of insulating material 11 is described in more detail below. Both the inner compartments 9 and outer compartments 10 are deformable.

The inner compartments 9 are partly filled with the liquid coolant and remaining air is evacuated from the inner compartments 9. Accordingly, by virtue of the fact that the inner compartments 9 are deformable, variation in the inner cross-sectional area of the sleeve-like member 4 along its axial length is facilitated for accommodating wine bottles of varying and different transverse cross-sections, and also for accommodating movement of the liquid coolant axially along the inner compartments 9.

Two circumferentially extending transverse seams 12 and 14 at the top and bottom, respectively, of the sleevelike member 4 join the inner wall 5 and the outer wall 6 to the intermediate wall 7 for sealing the ends of the inner and outer compartments 9 and 10, respectively.

The sheet 11 of heat insulating material in this embodiment of the invention is provided by a flexible sheet of resilient closed cell polyethylene foam of 1 mm thickness. The sheet 11 extends completely around the sleeve-like member 4 and extends from the top edge to the bottom edge of the sleeve-like member 4. The sheet 11 is entrapped between the outer wall 6 and the intermediate wall 7, and is secured thereto by the longitudinal seams 8 and the transverse seams 12 and 14, and is thereby retained in position in the outer compartments 10.

The liquid coolant is a coolant which has a relatively low freezing point, which is well below the freezing point of water. In this embodiment of the invention the liquid coolant is a mixture of water, glycol propylene and sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, which remains in a liquid state at temperatures down to -180C. The liquid coolant is of relatively high viscosity of a gel type consistency, is non-toxic, and is coloured blue. The liquid coolant may also be provided with an unpleasant taste to discourage ingestion in the event of a leak.

In this embodiment of the invention the inner compartments 9 are not completely filled with liquid coolant, and any air in the inner compartments 9 is evacuated. Preferably, two thirds of the volume of the inner compartments 9 is filled with the liquid coolant.

In use, the cooling device 1 is placed in a deep freezer or other suitable cooling or chilling means for reducing the temperature of the coolant to an appropriate temperature, typically -100C. Once the temperature of the coolant has reached this temperature, the cooling device 1 is ready for use, and is placed around the lower portion of the wine bottle 2 as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. Because the inner compartments 9 are deformable, and the liquid coolant, since it is only cooled to a temperature of approximately -10 C is still liquid, the inner compartments 9 deform and the liquid coolant flows upwardly or downwardly axially along the inner compartments 9 so that the inner surface of the inner wall 5 substantially defines the outer surface of the wine bottle 2.In other words, the inner transverse cross-sectional area of the sleeve-like member 4 varies axially along the axial length of the member 4 for accommodating the outer shape of the wine bottle 2. As can be seen in Fig. 4 the wine bottle tapers upwardly from a position above a lower cylindrical portion, and the inner compartments 9 deform outwardly at the lower portion of the sleeve-like member 4 and inwardly at the upper portion of the sleeve-like member 4.

Additionally, the liquid coolant flows towards the upper portion of the inner compartments 9. This provides two particularly important advantages.

Firstly, by virtue of the fact that the inner compartments 9 deform for accommodating the varying transverse cross-section of the wine bottle 2, the area of the inner wall 5 in contact with the outer surface of the wine bottle 2 is significantly greater than if the inner compartments 9 did not deform to vary the inner transverse cross-sectional area of the sleevelike member 4. This needless to say, increases the heat transfer efficiency between the wine bottle and the cooling device 1.A second important advantage is achieved by virtue of the fact that the volume of liquid coolant at the upper end is greater than the volume of liquid coolant at the lower end of the inner compartments 9, thereby providing greater heat transfer efficiency between the wine bottle 2 and the cooling device 1, since the natural convention currants of the wine within the wine bottle, and any air which may circulate between the wine bottle 2 and the cooling device 1 in the area of the longitudinal seams 8 will be downwards.

Furthermore, by virtue of the fact that the laminated foil of the outer wall is non-elastic, the sleeve-like member is not stretchable in a circumferential direction, and this further facilitates and enhances the contact surface between the inner wall 5 of the inner compartments 9 and the outer surface of the wine bottle 2.

The advantage of providing the heat insulating means is that it minimises heat loss from the liquid coolant to the surrounding environment, thereby, further increasing the cooling efficiency of the cooling device. A particularly important advantage is achieved by providing the heat insulating means of all the outer compartments by one single sheet of heat insulating material. Firstly, manufacture of the cooling device is made relatively easy, simple and straightforward.

Secondly, and more importantly, the heat insulating means in each outer compartment is retained extended over the full area of the respective outer compartments and the heat insulating means do not form into a ball.

This is achieved by virtue of the fact that the sheet of heat insulating material can be entrapped and secured between the outer wall and the intermediate wall by the longitudinal and transverse seams 8, 12 and 14, respectively. Indeed, it will be appreciated that by providing the sheet of heat insulating means as one sheet, manufacture of the cooling device is facilitated by virtue of the fact that the inner, outer and intermediate walls, as well as the sheet of heat insulating material can be laid one on top of the other in the appropriate order and then heat welded together along the respective longitudinal and transverse seams.

In practice, it is envisaged that in the manufacture of the cooling device 1, panels forming the respective inner, outer and intermediate walls, and the sheet of heat insulating material will be laid flat one on top of the other in the appropriate order. The longitudinal seams 8 and the bottom transverse seam 14 will be formed, and the inner compartments charged with the relevant quantity of liquid coolant. After evacuation of air from the inner and outer compartments, the top transverse seam 12 will be formed. The panels which have been welded together along the longitudinal and transverse seams will then be folded to form the sleeve-like member 4, and the opposite side edges of the panel will be heat welded along the longitudinal seams 8 adjacent the side edges for forming the sleeve-like member 4.

While the inner wall 5, the outer wall 6 and the intermediate wall 7 have been described as being of particular types of material, and of particular thickness, other suitable sheet materials and sheet materials of other thicknesses may be used. Needless to say, any other suitable heat insulating material may be used as a heat insulating means.

Any other suitable means for joining the inner, outer, and intermediate walls besides heat welding may be used.

It will be appreciated that other suitable liquid coolants besides that described may be used, and the selection of liquid coolant will largely depend on the lowest temperature at which it is desired that the liquid coolant should remain in a liquid state.

While the cooling device has been described for cooling a wine bottle, it will readily be appreciated that the cooling device may be used for cooling any other beverage bottle, can or indeed, any other bottle, can or other object.

Claims

1. A cooling device for cooling an object, the cooling device comprising an elongated sleeve-like member for encircling the object to be cooled, the sleeve-like member comprising a circumferentially extending inner wall for abutting the object to be cooled, a circumferentially extending outer wall, and a circumferentially extending intermediate wall disposed between the inner and outer walls, the inner, outer and intermediate walls being joined along a plurality of elongated longitudinal seams extending in a generally axial direction relative to the sleeve-like member, the longitudinal seams being spaced apart circumferentially around the sleeve-like member for forming a plurality of axially extending elongated discrete inner and outer compartments which are circumferentially spaced apart around the sleeve-like member, the inner compartments being formed between the inner and intermediate walls, and the outer compartments being formed between the outer and intermediate walls, each inner compartment containing a liquid coolant and being deformable for varying the internal cross-sectional area of the sleeve-like member and for accommodating movement of the coolant axially along the inner compartment as the cross-sectional area of the sleeve-like member varies along the axial length thereof, and a heat insulating means being located in each outer compartment, wherein the heat insulating means of all the outer compartments are formed by a sheet of heat insulating material which is disposed between the outer and intermediate walls and extends circumferentially around the sleeve-like member, the sheet of heat insulating material being secured to the outer and intermediate walls by the axially extending elongated longitudinal seams.

2. A cooling device as claimed in Claim 1 in which the inner, outer and intermediate walls are joined along circumferentially extending transverse seams at respective axially opposite ends of the sleeve-like member.

3. A cooling device as claimed in Claim 2 in which the sheet of heat insulating material is secured to the outer and intermediate walls by the transverse seams.

4. A cooling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the inner, outer and intermediate walls are of a flexible material.

5. A cooling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the sheet of heat insulating material is a resilient material.

6. A cooling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the sheet of heat insulating material is flexible.

7. A cooling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the sleeve-like member is deformable.

8. A cooling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which each inner compartment is partly filled with the liquid coolant.

9. A cooling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the liquid coolant is a liquid with a relatively low freezing point which is lower than the freezing point of water.

10. A cooling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the liquid coolant remains in a liquid state down to a temperature of at least -100C.

11. A cooling device as claimed in Claim 10 in which the liquid coolant remains in a liquid state down to a temperature of at least -180C.

12. A cooling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the liquid coolant is of relatively high viscosity.

13. A cooling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the liquid coolant is of a gel type consistency.

14. A cooling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the liquid coolant is non-toxic.

15. A cooling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the liquid coolant has an unpleasant taste.

16. A cooling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the liquid coolant is a mixture of water, glycol propylene and sodium carboxy methyl cellulose.

17. A cooling device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 15 in which the liquid coolant is a mixture of water, glycol propylene and biocide.

18. A cooling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the liquid coolant is movable upwardly in the inner compartment for accommodating an object which tapers in a generally upwardly direction.

19. A cooling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the liquid coolant is movable downwardly in the inner compartment for accommodating an object which tapers in a generally downwardly direction.

20. A cooling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the cooling device is for cooling the contents of a bottle.

21. A cooling device as claimed in any Claim 20 in which the cooling device is for cooling a wine bottle.

22. A cooling device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 19 in which the cooling device is for cooling the contents of a can.

23. A cooling device as claimed in Claim 22 in which the cooling device is for cooling a beverage can.

24. A cooling device substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.