GB2426235A

GB2426235A - A beverage container

Info

Publication number: GB2426235A
Application number: GB0510056A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leigh David Carter
Original assignee: Diageo Ireland ULC
Current assignee: Diageo Ireland ULC
Priority date: 2005-05-17
Filing date: 2005-05-17
Publication date: 2006-11-22
Anticipated expiration: 2025-05-17
Also published as: WO2006123099A1; GB0510056D0; GB2426235B

Abstract

A beverage container (10) includes a plurality of chambers or segments (11). The container is transformable between a first, flat or open shape and a second, closed shape where the chambers are packed together to resemble a bottle. A fastening means (13) holds the container in its closed bottle shape. Contents are accessed by a spout (12) in the usual way. The container includes an insulating outer wall (14) whereby the beverage may be chilled readily with the container in the open shape and kept chilled in the closed shape. The chambers (11) are preferably in communication with one another and a spout (12) and cap (15) are provided.

Description

A BEVERAGE CONTAINER

The present invention relates to a beverage container, more specifically a beverage container that features improved refrigeration attributes.

Beverage containers, e.g. bottles (made from plastic, glass or metal), are well known. Also well known are devices to keep bottles cool when they have been refrigerated, such as "chilly bins" that provide an insulated box within which to place many unitised containers. Chilly bins can be further filled with ice so the interior itself provides a temporary refrigeration function. However, a common observation is that the contents of a (normally cylindrical) bottle can take some time to cool.

A solution is to reduce the wall thickness (and hence its insulation properties) or to change the materials of a bottle.

However, at the same time as content cooling time is decreased, so is the time that it takes for the contents to warm up again once outside a refrigerated environment.

To our knowledge there exists no beverage container that provides a function to reduce cooling time while also making provision for the contents to stay cooler longer.

In one broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a beverage container Lransformable between a first and second shape wherein the first shape presents an exposed surface and the second shape at least partially conceals that exposed surface.

In a preferred form the beverage container includes an insulated surface opposed to the exposed surface, whereby, when the container is transformed into its second shape the insulated surface becomes an outer wall.

Preferably the container includes a spout means providing access to the contents of the container.

Preferably the container includes a fastening means to hold said container in its second shape.

In a second broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a beverage container including a plurality of chambers, the container being transformable between a first shape or open position where the chambers are arranged in series and a second shape or closed position where the chambers are packed together.

In a preferred form a fastening means is provided to join adjacent chambers when the container is in a closed position.

The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings that illustrate preferred embodiments of the beverage container according to the present invention, wherein:- Figure 1 is a general view of a beverage container according to the present invention in a first "open position", Figure 2 is a general view of the beverage container in a second "closed" position, Figure 3 is a side detail view of the embodiment from Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the beverage container according to the present invention.

A general view of a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by Figure 1. The beverage container is generally denoted 10 and is comprised of a series of chambers or segments 11 lying adjacent to one another. In the illustrated embodiment there are five segments ha to lie, however, the design may be adjusted as desired to have more or less chambers 11.

Segments 11 in the illustrated embodiment are generally elongate prisms with a triangular cross section as illustrated by Figure 3. This enables the segments to come together and form a more familiar bottle shape as illustrated by Figure 2. A spout 12 extends from at least one of the segments to permit access to the contents C (liquid as shown in Figure 3) In Figure 2 a fastening means 13 in the form of a clip/clasp is provided to hold the container 10 in its second "bottle" shape. The fastening means 13 may be in many forms, from an appended clasp as illustrated to a separate component such as a moulded or elastic band around the outer circumference of the "bottle" to hold segments 11 together.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that when container 10 is in its first "flat" shape, heat transfer between the surrounding atmosphere and contents C will be increased because of the greater surface area.

In fact, the walls of sections 11 can be especially thin/flexible to improve heat transfer on the "exposed surface area" visible in Figure 1. It will be appreciated that this exposed surface is substantially hidden when container 10 is rolled up into the bottle shape of Figure 2.

The fastening means may include an eyelet or hook (not illustrated) to facilitate hanging the "flat" beverage container in a refrigerator or freezer. Multiple flat packs may hang together during their cooling stage.

Eyelets or other means to enable hanging could be appended to any appropriate part of the package.

The action of rolling container 10 into a bottle immediately reduces its heat transfer efficiency because the total surface area reduces to less than half of the first shape. In typical use it is intended that the "flat" first shape of Figure 1 will be placed in a refrigerator or freezer until it cools down or freezes, then taken out and rolled up into a bottle that will retain its temperature for longer.

In the preferred embodiment, to further reduce heat transfer (i.e. to slow the contents C warming up), the underneath surface (as viewed in Figure 1) , that is opposing the exposed surface exhibits increased insulating properties. This insulated surface becomes the outer wall 14 shown by Figure 2, which also has the fastening means 13 moulded therewith.

Wall 14 may be a thicker plastic or special composite to insulate the contents C within. The triangular ends of sections 11 may also be made of a similar insulated material. In a practical, mass produced, example wall 14 will probably include printed or embossed advertising/information connected with the beverage contents.

In the illustrated example, spout 12 includes a generally conventional cap 15 which the user removes for drinking.

Cap 15 may also be of a "sipper" type with a pop-up closure means.

The container 10 according to the present invention has a novelty value to the consumer, but also practical features such as the ability to stack in the first "open" shape (for storage/transport) that may be more efficient than a conventional bottle (cylindrical) shape. The container may also have application in broader fields of packaging, such as chemicals/pharmaceuticals etc. The embodiment illustrated by Figure 3 shows fluid communication between sections 11 at points 16 where the adjacent sections join at a corner of the triangular prism, therefore, in this example it is supposed that container 10 will have a single content type C. However, advanced embodiments, either with access by a separate spout (12) to each section 11 or with a rupturable membrane at point 16 to mix the contents of the container on demand, may be developed. For novelty value, each of segments ha to ile could contain a liquid of different colour and/or flavour. Keeping flavours in separate compartments has the added advantage of staying fresh for longer.

The broadest interpretation of the invention involves the container being transformable between two shapes, one with a large surface area for increased heat transfer (most likely to cool the contents but also conceivably for heating), and a second compact shape. The general shape of segments 11 may vary and be flexible so they "squash" together. However, the concept of the invention can be applied to a single flat chamber that is rolled up, having a spiral end view as illustrated by Figure 4.

Figure 4 otherwise includes similar features like a fastening means 13 to hold the "second" shape together and, optionally, insulated outer wall 14, and a spout position 12.

Insulated wall 14 may extend only about the externally visible surface (between fastening points) or to the centre of the spiral.

The present invention can be implemented by available manufacturing techniques. It will most likely be moulded from a flexible thermoplastic with an insulating wall integrally molded therewith.

Design considerations may be taken into account in the filling process. For example, beverages (being made substantially of water) will tend to expand upon freezing. It may be desirable to deliberately under fill the chambers or even provide a concave surface to the triangular prism shape of the chambers 11 to accommodate expansion.

Claims

What We Claim Is: 1. A beverage container transformable between a first

and second shape wherein the first shape presents an exposed surface and the second shape at least partially conceals that exposed surface.
2. A beverage container including a plurality of chambers, the container being transformable between a first shape or open position where the chambers are arranged in series and a second shape or closed position where the chambers are packed together.
3. The beverage container of claim 2 wherein the chambers are each a substantially elongate triangular prism.
4. The beverage container of any one of the preceding claims wherein the second shape (closed position) resembles a bottle.
5. The beverage container of any one of the preceding claims including an insulated surface opposed to the exposed surface, whereby, when the container is transformed into its second shape the insulated surface becomes an outer wall.
6. The beverage container of any one of the preceding claims including a spout means.
7. The beverage container of any one of the preceding claims including a fastening means to hold said container in its second shape.
8. The beverage container of claim 7 wherein the fastening means is a clip.
9. The beverage container of claim 7 wherein the fastening means is a band surrounding said container in its second shape.
10. The beverage container of claim 2 wherein there is fluid communication between adjacent chambers.
11. The beverage container of claim 2 wherein there in a rupturable membrane between adjacent chambers.
12. A container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.