Refrigeration – Processes – Treating an article
Patent
1997-10-23
2000-10-24
Tapolcai, William E.
Refrigeration
Processes
Treating an article
62293, 62372, 12326301, F25D 308
Patent
active
061348945
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to containers.
There have been many proposals for self-heating or self-cooling containers. Generally, however, these proposals have required entirely new configurations of containers to be provided which cannot be used on existing filling lines. Such containers therefore require a heavy investment by beverage manufacturers. Other proposals require the heating or cooling means to be incorporated within the container before it is filled. This generally prevents pasteurising, sterilising, or other treatments being made on the contents of the container because of the risk of damaging or adversely affecting the heating or cooling means.
It is an object of the present invention to seek to reduce the disadvantages of prior proposals.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a container for a beverage having a tubular peripheral wall defining two spaced open ends, one open end being closed by a top member, and the other open end being closed by a base member, said peripheral wall and the top and base members defining an internal cavity for containing a beverage, wherein said base member is indented to define an external cavity which extends within said peripheral wall substantially along the longitudinal axis of said container, wherein said external cavity extends within the internal cavity, but is separated therefrom by said base member, and wherein said external cavity extends over a major part of the length of said longitudinal axis.
The external cavity may be provided in any conventional container without affecting the external configuration or size of the container, although it does reduce the capacity thereof. This means that a container of an embodiment of the invention can be filled on existing filling lines without difficulty. Furthermore, because of its longitudinal extent, the external cavity provides a large surface area in contact with the contents of the container for maximum heat transfer.
The present invention also extends to a container for a beverage having a tubular peripheral wall defining two spaced open ends, one open end being closed by a top member, and the other open end being closed by a base member, said peripheral wall and the top and base members defining an internal cavity for containing a beverage, wherein said base member is indented to define an external cavity which extends within said peripheral wall substantially along the longitudinal axis of said container, wherein said external cavity extends within the internal cavity, but is separated therefrom by said base member, and wherein an elongate insert is retained within said external cavity.
Preferably, the insert may be selected from a plurality of different inserts whereby one design of container may be arranged to be self-heating, or self-cooling, or cool retaining, or heat retaining, at the choice of the manufacturer, retailer or user in dependence upon the insert chosen.
In a preferred embodiment, the base member is formed from sheet material, preferably of a conductive material. In this respect, for good heat transfer it is important to retain good heat conductivity between the insert in the external cavity and the contents in the internal cavity of the container. Thus, the sheet material of the base member is generally metal, preferably aluminium.
In an embodiment, the sheet material of the base member is shaped to form a peripheral defining wall of said external cavity. It will be appreciated that one surface of said peripheral defining wall will be within the external cavity, and that the opposed surface of the peripheral defining wall will be within the internal cavity.
Preferably, at least said opposed surface of said peripheral defining wall has means to extend its surface area.
Such surface area extending means may be, for example, vanes or other configurations provided on said opposed surface. The use of an extended surface area aids in heat transfer.
The container, and its external cavity, may be of any appropriate shape, configuration and size. In a prefe
REFERENCES:
patent: 1897723 (1933-02-01), Free
patent: 2409279 (1946-10-01), Hiller
patent: 2914061 (1959-11-01), Del Raso
patent: 3369369 (1968-02-01), Weiss
patent: 3970068 (1976-07-01), Sato
patent: 4584848 (1986-04-01), Barnett
patent: 4640102 (1987-02-01), Tenebaum et al.
patent: 4656838 (1987-04-01), Shen
patent: 4981022 (1991-01-01), Snyder
patent: 5189892 (1993-03-01), Roberts
patent: 5467877 (1995-11-01), Smith
patent: 5502981 (1996-04-01), Sullivan
Searle Matthew J.
Taft Carden H.
LandOfFree
Method of making beverage container with heating or cooling inse does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method of making beverage container with heating or cooling inse, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method of making beverage container with heating or cooling inse will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1952372