Insulating Vessel

Abstract

A self-contained insulated vessel having a storage area defined by an inner wall and an outer wall which are spaced apart and dosed off to define a cavity therebetween. An insulating substance is contained within at least part of the cavity in order to maintain a stored item at a predetermined temperature for an extended period of time or cool a stored item with a temperature higher than the predetermined temperature of the insulating substance. The insulating vessel can include a user engagement interface for shielding a user from at least part of an exterior surface of said vessel.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention generally relates to a sell-contained vessel and the like, and more particularly, to a vessel for maintaining a stored item at a cool temperature therein.BACKGROUND[0002]The need exists for self-contained methods for storing consumable or perishable items. Ice is the most obvious solution; however melted ice leaves an undesirable effect of residual water mixing with the stored items thereby diluting the contents. Further, certain beverages or foods are not customarily served with ice. Standard containers permit excessive heat transfer through the container wall and the stored items rapidly rise to the ambient temperature, leaving the stored item in an undesirable state for consumption or other use.[0003]Inventors acknowledge that use of an insulating substance is an up and coming solution for cooling stored items. However, products incorporating an insulating substance leave significant room for improvement. For example, other coolin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a container that provides better user comfort and longer hold time. It achieves this by integrating a user engagement interface for the user to grip, such as a material layer on at least a portion of the exterior surface. The container can be shaped in various forms like a glass, shot glass, pitcher, cocktail shaker, or bowl. It has a double walling that slows down heat transfer and maintains its cooling ability as long as the insulating substance is adjacent to the inner wall. The user engagement interface also provides protection from external temperatures. The container can be adapted or customized based on the needs of different users or for specific functional or aesthetic purposes. The container can also be used as a shell surrounding another container. The invention is not limited to the specific details and embodiments described and can be practiced in different ways or with different materials.

Problems solved by technology

Ice is the most obvious solution; however melted ice leaves an undesirable effect of residual water mixing with the stored items thereby diluting the contents.

Further, certain beverages or foods are not customarily served with ice.

Standard containers permit excessive heat transfer through the container wall and the stored items rapidly rise to the ambient temperature, leaving the stored item in an undesirable state for consumption or other use.

However, products incorporating an insulating substance leave significant room for improvement.

In instances where the stored item is a consumable, this potential leakage could go undetected until after the consumable is ingested by the user.

Further such seals could house bacteria that may seep into the stored item creating potential health risks.

An additional problem is that a container storing a cold item can be uncomfortable for a user to grip.

A few inadequate designs offer to address this issue by attaching a protruding handle to the container, creating a bulky device that is difficult to store and making manufacturing difficult by raising costs for molds, skill to manufacture, and time required.

Alternatively, a user may directly grip a cold container wall, therein causing the user to minimize their hold time due to discomfort thereby making the container less portable.

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