Related Applications

[0001] This application is a nonprovisional of, and claims the benefit of priority from, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 /798,306, filed March 15, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety

Copyright Notice

[0002] © 2012 Jeff Summers. A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR § 1 .71 (d), (e).

Technical Field

[0003] The present application is directed to the field of beverage containers, and, in particular, temperature influencing beverage containers for ready-to-drink beverages.

Background

[0004] There is growing demand for complex, yet convenient beverages outside of traditional sales establishments. In the expanding alcoholic beverage market, as but one example, off-premise consumers are showing increasing appetite for at- home cocktails and spirits that can be prepared without the mess and up-front cost of a fully stocked home bar that must contain a variety of spirits, mixers, and specific ingredients in order to make cocktails.

Summary

[0005] Consistent with the present subject matter, one or more beverage container embodiments can offer secure, pre-prepared beverages in a substantially ready-to-consume, influenced temperature delivery mechanism. [0006] Additional aspects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007] The drawings presented below illustrate multiple exemplary embodiments consistent with the present subject matter. The specific embodiments presented below are set forth only for illustrative purposes and to facilitate discussion. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, alterations, subtractions, and/or additions could be made to one or more components of the embodiments specifically illustrated herein without departing from the scope of the present application.

Detailed Description

[0008] While those skilled in the art will appreciate there are many potentially available variations within the scope of the present subject matter, the following description presents a couple alternative embodiments of novel and nonobvious beverage containers for illustrative purposes and to facilitate discussion.

[0009] For example a first beverage container embodiment can be constructed and/or configured to exhibit the following characteristics:

[0010] Some exemplary container and chilling technology aspects can include the following. A container can hold drinks / beverages. A container can be deposable or reusable. A container can have a bottom and walls with a top. The shape can be varied with simple to elaborate designs. A top can be attached with twist cap or can be permanent with a twist lock or adhesive. A top / cap can employ a push-down opening and closing toggle mechanism. A cap can be opened to drink directly from the container by pushing down on one side of the toggle. A cap can be closed by pushing down on opposite side of toggle. An opening on the toggle can be configured in a substantially oval shaped to allow liquid to flow out similar to drinking from a traditional glass or bottle. Inside a container can be several (number can vary with type of beverage, total liquid contents to be chilled in the container, and/or other factors) hermetically sealed pouches that hold water and/or a non-toxic water based liquid.

[0011] Additional exemplary container and chilling technology aspects can include the following, as but a few examples. The pouches can be sized

approximately ten percent larger than needed to hold the liquid inside in order to accommodate the liquid in its future frozen state. The liquid filled pouches can be removably attached to the interior wall of the container with an adhesive during assembly in manufacturing. The pouches can become detached from the side walls by shaking or moving the container rapidly prior to consuming the liquid contents. The container can be filled with alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages and the cap can be sealed to the container after filling the liquid (during manufacturing or off- premise) to keep the liquid contents contained and/or secure. The consumer can place the containers in a freezer or ice chest or other freezing apparatus so that the pouches inside the container can freeze while the alcohol beverage contained within the container chills to a very cold or even partially frozen state while the pouches freeze substantially completely. It can be advantageous for the pouches to be attached to the container wall while freezing to minimize the time to freeze. When the pouches are detached they can be substantially free to move throughout the inside of the container which can facilitate keeping the beverage colder for a longer period of time. The detached pouches can also be constructed and/or configured to make noise similar to traditional ice cubes moving around in a drink when being consumed or shaken. The contact of the substantially chilled alcohol liquid surrounding the pouches can help keep the pouches frozen longer because the alcohol does not completely freeze and maintains a very cold temperature. The sealed pouches do not allow the liquid to exit while it melts, which eliminates the dilution effects of traditional ice cubes when they come in direct contact with the beverage. The container can be kept closed after freezing and it is also can be suggested to be kept closed prior to consuming, as well as to close it after taking each drink, to minimize the amount of air allowed into the container to minimize the warming of the liquid and the melting of the frozen pouches. The container can be made from various plastics and or glass or metals. If plastics are used in the constructions, it can be thick enough to maintain a colder interior environment in the container.

[0012] The Following presents select aspects of a second, alternative beverage container embodiment, consistent with the present subject matter:

[0013] Container can be pre-filled with 2 ready-to-drink alcohol cocktails for convenience and responsible drinking for consumers as per the most current government guidelines. Because the drinks can be pre-mixed with the ideal amount of alcohol, consumers do not have to guess on the correct amounts of alcohol to use, which is a major issue in over consumption of alcohol in off-premise drinking (i.e., not in bars, clubs, restaurants, sports venues, and/or other retail

establishments, etc.).

[0014] Security top, analogous to medicine container. One of the biggest issues in alcohol consumption today at private events, parties, and public events is the potential for date drugging.

[0015] The "Magic Ice" cooling packets can provide convenience, a better tasting drink, and the ability to consume the drink at a much slower pace, because the ice does not melt into the drink as the ice is individually wrapped to prevent it from diluting the drink during its melting process. The ice also lasts much longer before it melts because no Oxygen contacts the ice directly, (oxygen causes ice to melt in a normal environment), because of the protective wrapping surrounding the ice.

[0016] The versatility of the Container and Magic Ice, also gives the consumer several options to freeze the drink in a freezer or ice chest, then to remove it and place it in the refrigerator for many hours. Tests have been as long as 10 hours. When removed from the refrigerator, the ice is still significantly frozen and the drink can remain at an ideal temperature for consuming. For example present

embodiments can be taken camping and kept in an ice chest for days, and when removed, still be ready to drink and they can stay that way for the same duration as when removed from a freezer (e.g., for the 90 plus minutes, on average).

[0017] Ice-Stop. One or more embodiments of this feature can help prevent the ice/cooling packets from blocking the opening; and also the ice does not come in contact with the consumers, mouth/teeth, which can yield significant advantages to the drinking experience.

[0018] Current "RTD" ("Ready To Drink" is the industry term for drinks that are pre- mixed) products are actually ready to pour, not drink, as the current products still have to be placed into a container, glass, add ice and condiments to serve it.

Present embodiments can be designed to drink directly from the container, which can more convenient, better for the environment, and beneficial, in that no additional mixing and serving containers need to be used or water wasted in their preparation, use, or washing. No need to replace melting ice to keep the drink cold when consumed at a moderate, responsible rate. Present embodiments can be sold at sport venues, concerts, etc because such embodiments can be ready to drink, and can last 90 to 120 minutes (in one example) at the ideal temperature for consumption when purchased from the vendor. There is nothing even similar on the market.

[0019] It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, only be determined with reference to the claims made thereto.