Dry ice drinking vessel

Abstract

The Invention is an apparatus which may be a drinking vessel to contain dry ice submerged within a beverage to create a visual effect. A partition has a first side and a second side and is adapted to contain dry ice on the first side. The partition is adapted to allow the beverage to flow from the second side of said partition to said first side of said partition when said partition is immersed in the beverage, exposing the beverage to the dry ice, creating a visual effect and chilling the beverage.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 60 / 405,468 filed Aug. 22, 2002 and U.S. utility patent application No. 10 / 645,019, filed Aug. 21, 2003, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide. When placed in a liquid that is at room temperature, the carbon dioxide absorbs heat from the liquid and undergoes a change of state, sublimating to carbon dioxide gas. The carbon dioxide gas bubbles through the liquid, chilling the air above the liquid. Water vapor in the air condenses, causing a vapor or fog to form over the liquid. The absorption of heat from the liquid chills the liquid. Carbon dioxide commonly is placed in water to create visual effects for theatrical and concert productions. [0003] It has been common practice to use dry ice as a cooling agent. Dry ice can be dangerous to touch, but is commonly used in shipping perishable item...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] The invention is a perforated partition to segregate dry ice submerged in a beverage to create a smoking, boiling effect in the beverage. The perforated partition may comprise a portion of a vessel, such as a drinking vessel. When the beverage is exposed to the dry ice, the dry ice absorbs heat from the beverage and sublimates from solid to gaseous carbon dioxide. The gaseous carbon dioxide bubbles through the beverage, making the beverage appear to boil, and causes vapor to appear above the surface of the beverage. The appearance of the vapor creates an illusion that the beverage is emitting smoke. The absorption of heat by the dry ice as it undergoes the change of state from solid to gas also cools the beverage.

[0007] The boiling, smoking visual effect of the submerged dry ice renders a beverage visually attractive. The visual effect is enhanced by lighting the drinking vessel from below, as by upward-shining light-emitting diodes installed in a tray for serving beverages. The chilling effect of the dry ice also adds to the appeal of beverages served using the drinking vessel.

[0008] The usefulness of the drinking vessel is improved and the time between preparing and serving the beverage may be extended by providing a removable cap blinding the perforations of the partition. The removable cap substantially prevents the beverage from flowing through the perforations to the dry ice. The removable cap has a tab extending above the level of the beverage, allowing a server to pull the tab and thereby remove the cap from the perforations, allowing the beverage to flow through the perforations to the dry ice. The use of the removable cap allows a server to charge the drinking vessel with dry ice and pour the beverage into the drinking vessel up to an hour before serving the beverage.

Problems solved by technology

Dry ice can be dangerous to touch, but is commonly used in shipping perishable items.

Prior art dispenser devices such as the Switzer and Eager devices filled a need for cool beverages but were only practical where a beverage was to be served to a large number of people from a single dispenser.

The prior art devices do not serve to create a visual effect.

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