THE FIELD OF THE ART

The present invention relates to a container for consumable liquids incorporating a receptacle adapted to water-tightly fit in an upside- down orientation within the container after having being filled with a material that has a relatively low or relatively high temperature, thereby enabling heat exchange with the liquid contained in a main space of the container, around and above the receptacle, and providing a pleasurable consumption or maintenance thereof at a desired temperature, wherein the water-tight fitting of the receptacle in the liquid container averts leakage and possibility of dilution of the heat exchanging material contained in the receptacle in the consumable liquid contained in the container. The invention further relates to a method and a device for a convenient, precise fit and fast assembly of the receptacle within the container in a process of preparing a plurality of containers for liquids provided with the receptacles filled with the heat exchanging medium adapted to adjust and maintain the temperature of the liquids at a desired level for an extended period of time.

THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The temperature of potable or non-potable liquids is a significant parameter either because of specifications that determine their storage and maintenance or because of consumer requirements.

Nowadays, consumable liquids have to come in direct contact with additional substances which act as temperature-modifying materials in order to provide a temperature acceptable by the consumers during consumption thereof. However, this direct contact of the material adapted to provide temperature adjustment with the consumable substances, often leads to a gradual deterioration in the quality, quantity, composition and taste of the latter. In addition, this method requires that the temperature adjusting material to be equitably potable or compatible with the consumable substance, since both substances are being consumed at the same time due to their intermixing.

An example of the widely-used method for the adjustment of the temperature of consumable substances described hereinabove is the use of ice as a cooling medium in serving of beverages, alcoholic drinks, etc., wherein, when ice comes in direct contact with the consumable substance (e.g. coffee or juice or alcoholic drink) and it is rather rapidly transformed into water, the undesirable effect of an obvious deterioration of the quality, quantity, consistency and taste of the consumable substance is apparent.

An alternative method of cooling a consumable substance without mixing the same with a temperature adjusting material is to keep it in a refrigerator before consuming, but it is unlikely to maintain the cool property thereof during a consumption that may take some time.

It therefore becomes evident that, in order to maintain a consumable liquid at a satisfactory temperature throughout a prolonged consumption thereof, it is necessary to employ a cooling or heating source that would be served within the consumable liquid, however without it being mixed with the consumable liquid and therefore allowing consumption of the latter within a satisfactorily extended period of time at a desirably constant temperature throughout. Various devices have therefore been used to adjust and/or maintain the temperature of a liquid at a desirable temperature throughout a rather extended period of consumption. By way of example, CN-201271074 discloses a drinking cup with a closed conical inner liner projected outwards and arranged at the middle of the bottom of the cup, wherein when the cup is used, the inner liner is filled with ice cubes or hot water and this enables desirable cooling or heating of the drink according to requirements. US-5,799,501 discloses a beverage cooling device comprising a main body filled with a freezable material, a suction cup being attached to an open beverage container and the main body, after being sufficiently cooled, it is being threadably attached to the suction cup. US-2014/0054010 discloses a container chilling apparatus that comprises a base holding a chilling agent and has a top contoured to fit the bottom of a container, such as a canned beverage. WO-01/96795 also discloses a canned and bottled beverage holder, wherein beverage cans or bottles are inserted within a container wherein they are being chilled through contact with ice chilling agent.

These and other devices of this kind of the prior art are however deficient, among others in that they are either complex or they are related to merely providing a cooling and no heating capacity of the consumable liquids or consumption of canned beverages only or in that they do not provide solutions for alternatively tilting the container to drink or sipping the content thereof using a straw. Most documents in the prior art relate to use with reusable apparatuses and not to disposable containers offered for a single use. Moreover none of the documents of the prior art discloses an integrated novel system of serving drinks and beverages in disposable or reusable containers incorporating a receptacle containing a cooling or heating agent and being provided with means of securely and water tightly fitting into the container, the receptacle having a tapering configuration from the top to the bottom thereof and an inverse orientation in relation to the container of the consumable liquid that provides an enhanced efficiency in a continuous, prolonged, yet moderate heat being transferred between the consumable liquid of the container and the non- consumable material of the receptacle.

The object of the present invention is to provide a container for consumable liquids incorporating a receptacle being filled with a non- consumable material that has a temperature, relatively lower or relatively higher than the temperature of the consumable liquid contained in the container, thereby establishing a continuous heat exchange that results in the consumable liquid within the container approaching the temperature of the non-consumable material contained in the receptacle, such temperature being maintained for an extended period of time, appropriate for allowing consumption of the consumable liquid that might be a beverage or a drink contained in the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide the container for consumable liquids with the container being filled with the consumable liquid and the receptacle being filled with the non-consumable material being configured with their transverse section tapering from the top to the bottom thereof, whereby, as the receptacle is being fitted into the container in an upside-down orientation, an ample space is provided for contact of the consumable liquid contained in the container with the surface area of the receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to propose a device of a simple tubular member adapted to being used in a process of sequentially assembling a container for a consumable liquid with a receptacle filled with a non-consumable material that is intended to impart to the consumable liquid a required approximately constant desired temperature throughout a prolonged period of consumption. It is also an object of the invention to propose a method for serving consumable liquids, beverages or drinks in a domestic or professional environment using a plurality of containers, receptacles and at least one tubular member employed in the assembly thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be made apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a frontal cross sectional view of the liquid container of the invention adapted to be filled with a consumable, potable or non- potable liquid substance, the liquid container incorporating a receptacle adapted to be filled with a non-consumable substance having a temperature such as to enable heat exchange with the liquid contained in the liquid container.

Fig. la shows a frontal cross sectional view of the liquid container of the invention prior to incorporation of the receptacle shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the receptacle, which, according to a first embodiment of the invention, is provided with an open mouth extending at a peripheral edge member adapted to be used in water- tightly fitting of the receptacle proximally to the bottom of the liquid container.

Fig. 2a shows a frontal cross sectional view of the receptacle depicted in Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the receptacle adapted to be filled with a non-consumable heat exchanging substance and of an independent item of peripheral edge member thereof, wherein the peripheral edge member is depicted in a perspective view taken from the bottom and is intended to being assembled with the receptacle according to a second embodiment of the invention. Fig. 3a shows a perspective view taken from the top of the peripheral edge member depicted in Fig. 3 and Fig. 3b shows a cross sectional view of the same.

Figs. 3c and 3d show a detail proximally to the bottom of the receptacle that is provided with an air exhaust centrally located hole and orifice respectively.

Fig. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the receptacle and of a membrane being used to cover and seal the top mouth end thereof.

Fig. 4a shows in perspective the receptacle of the invention provided with an arrangement of columnar recesses with a peripheral edge member, the receptacle being provided with an arrangement of air exhaust holes or orifices at the top thereof at the upper ends of the columnar recesses.

Fig. 4b shows in perspective the receptacle of Fig. 4a with the top thereof covered with a membrane.

Fig. 4c shows in perspective the receptacle of the invention provided with an arrangement of columnar recesses without a peripheral edge member, the receptacle being provided with an arrangement of air exhaust holes or orifices at the top thereof at the upper ends of the columnar recesses.

Fig. 4d shows in perspective the receptacle of Fig. 4c with the top thereof covered with a membrane.

Fig. 5 shows a preferred embodiment of a disposable version of the liquid container incorporating the receptacle of the invention.

Fig. 5a shows the disposable version of the liquid container incorporating the receptacle of the invention of Fig. 5 being further provided with a dome like top cover that comprises an opening for the insertion therein of a straw used to sip the liquid content thereof.

Fig. 6a shows in perspective an exploded view of a device employed in the process of assembling the liquid container with the receptacle of the invention.

Fig. 6b shows in perspective an assembled view of the device of Fig. 6a.

Figs. 7a-7e show the sequential steps of the process of assembly of the liquid container of the invention incorporating the receptacle being filled with a material adapted to provide temperature adjustment of the liquid contained in the container.

Figs. 8a and 8b show in perspective employment of the device of Fig. 6b in a process of assembling a peripheral edge member onto the open top of a receptacle prior to using the latter in the process depicted in Figs. 7a-7e.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 shows a frontal cross sectional view of the liquid container 1 of the invention adapted to be filled with a consumable, potable or non- potable liquid substance, the liquid container 1 incorporating a receptacle 2 adapted to be filled with a non-consumable substance having a temperature such as to enable heat exchange with the liquid contained in the liquid container 1, wherein the assembly of the liquid container 1 and receptacle 2 is denoted by reference numeral 1,2.

The liquid container 1 depicted in Fig. la comprises circumferential side walls 5 defining a chamber 3 adapted to being filled with a consumable liquid, wherein a longitudinal centrally extending axis (χχ ^' ) passes through the center of an open mouth 10 and a closed bottom 10a of the liquid container 1. The exterior appearance of the liquid container 1, as illustratively shown in Fig. la, is that of a conventional container of this kind, typically of a glass or cup used to serve beverages (coffee, tea, etc.) or alcoholic drinks (beer, etc.), whilst the interior thereof is characterized in that it is adapted to incorporate the receptacle 2 being filled with a non-consumable substance having a temperature such as to enable heat exchange with the liquid contained in the liquid container 1.

The receptacle 2 illustrated in Figs. 2, 2a comprises a chamber 4 that is adapted to being filled with a non-consumable solid and/or liquid substance, a longitudinal centrally extending axis (yy ^' ) passing through the center of an open mouth 9 and a closed bottom 9a thereof. The receptacle 2 is, as shown in Fig. 1, arranged to be positioned within the chamber 3 of the liquid container 1 in an upside-down orientation with its chamber 4 extending upwardly within the chamber 3 and its longitudinal centrally extending axis (yy ^' ) aligned with the longitudinal centrally extending axis (χχ ^' ) of the liquid container 1. A peripheral edge member 6 is provided around the open mouth 9 of the receptacle 2, such peripheral edge member 6 being adapted to effect a water-tight fit of the receptacle with the circumferential side walls 5 of the liquid container 1 proximally to the bottom 10a thereof.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention as depicted in Fig. 3, the peripheral edge member 6 constitutes an independent item that is adapted to be fitted around the rim of the open mouth end 9 of the receptacle 2. As the peripheral edge member 6 water-tightly fits proximally to the bottom of liquid container 1, the desirable effect of averting leakage and dilution of the non-consumable heat exchanging substance contained in chamber 4 of the receptacle 2 into the consumable liquid substance contained in chamber 3 of the container 1 is obtained. The non-consumable solid and/or liquid substance contained in the chamber 4 of the receptacle 2 has a temperature, relatively lower or relatively higher than the temperature of the consumable liquid substance contained in the chamber 3 of the container 1 and therefore a continuous heat exchange takes place so that the consumable liquid substance within the chamber 3 approaches the temperature of the non-consumable substance contained within the chamber 4, such temperature being maintained for an extended period of time, such period of time being, by way of example, appropriate for allowing consumption of a beverage or a drink contained in chamber 3 of the liquid container 1.

As mentioned hereinabove, a main space of the chamber 3 of the liquid container 1, around and above the receptacle 2 fitted therein, is being filled with a consumable, potable or non-potable, liquid substance and a continuous heat exchange takes place between this liquid substance and the non-consumable substance contained in the receptacle 2 with a scope of achieving and maintaining a desired temperature of the consumable liquid contained in the container 1 for a reasonably extended period of time that is appropriate for completion of the consumption of the consumable liquid contained in the container 1.

In accordance with the invention, when the consumable liquid is a beverage (e.g. coffee or tea, etc.) that is intended to be consumed as a cool beverage, the chamber 4 of the receptacle 2 is filled with ice and as the consumable beverage is already cool when poured into the chamber 3 of the container 1 the temperature gradient that determines the rate of the heat being transferred from the consumable liquid contained in chamber 3 to the non-consumable material (ice) contained in chamber 4 of the receptacle 2 is rather moderate and therefore an appropriately sufficient period of time elapses to allow a pleasant consumption of the ice-cold beverage or drink contained in the liquid container 1.

Alternatively, when the consumable liquid is a beverage (e.g. coffee or tea, etc.) that is intended to be consumed as a hot beverage, the chamber 4 of the receptacle 2 is filled with an appropriately hot substance, such as preheated rock granules, and as the consumable beverage is already hot when poured into the chamber 3 of the container 1, the temperature gradient that determines the rate of the heat being transferred from the consumable liquid contained in chamber 3 to the non-consumable material (preheated rock granules) contained in chamber 4 of the receptacle 2 is rather moderate and an appropriately sufficient period of time elapses to allow a pleasant consumption of the hot beverage contained in the liquid container 1.

It is obvious that due to the effect of the invention of averting dilution of the material contained in chamber 4 of the receptacle 2 with the liquid contained in chamber 3 of the container 1, the cold or hot beverage or drink contained in chamber 3 of the container 1 can be consumed whilst maintaining a steady unaltered superior quality and taste thereof.

The receptacles 2 can be delivered ready for use with the peripheral edge member 6 being configured as a homogeneous continuation of the receptacle 2 in the perimeter of the open mouth 9 at the top thereof as illustrated in Fig. 2. Alternatively the peripheral edge member 6 might be an independent item that is being assembled onto the open mouth 9 of the receptacle 2. Whilst a ready to deliver receptacle 2 incorporating the peripheral edge member 6 is particularly suitable for applications in which the receptacle 2 is a disposable item proposed for a single use, the alternative embodiment of an independent peripheral edge member 6 is advantageously proposed in cases where the peripheral edge member 6 is not disposable, but reusable and made of a robust material, such as hard plastic or metal or other material and the receptacle 2 may be fitted in a liquid container 1 also not disposable, but reusable.

In the embodiment of the peripheral edge member 6 being an independent item, as shown in Fig. 3 and in Figs. 3a, 3b, this independent item is being configured as a double ring member with an outer circumferential wall 7 and an inner circumferential wall 8, the inner circumferential wall 8 extending beyond the double wall structure thereby forming a platform 16 whereupon sits a circumferential extension 19 of the open mouth 9 of the receptacle 2 during assembly of the peripheral edge member 6 as an independent item with a reusable or disposable receptacle 2.

It is herein noted that air entrapment within chamber 4 of the receptacle 2 might occur during the process of water-tight fitting thereof onto the side walls 5 of the container 1 and possible change of the volume of the heat exchanging material content of receptacle 2 might also occur during use of the receptacle 2 with a heat transfer process taking place with the liquid content of container 1. It is therefore deemed appropriate to provide one or more air exhaust openings in the receptacle 2 that would ensure air discharge and avert exertion of undesirable pressures onto the walls of chamber 4 of the receptacle 2 that would lead to deformation thereof. As illustrated in Fig. 3c, a hole 14 is illustratively opened at the bottom 9a of the receptacle 2 and preferably at the center thereof. The hole 14 has a very small diameter, such as to allow discharge of air whilst averting discharge of the solid and/or liquid content of chamber 4 of the receptacle 2. Fig. 3d illustrates an alternative configuration wherein a needle is employed to puncture the material around the hole 14 and form an orifice 15 around the same.

Fig. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the receptacle 2 adapted to receive a membrane 20 that is being used to cover and seal the top mouth end 9a thereof.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the receptacle 2 is constructed with a plurality of columnar recesses 21 that extend from the bottom 9a to the top 9 thereof, such columnar recesses 21 being equidistantly arranged at the circumference of the receptacle. These columnar recesses 21 serve the purpose of strengthening the structure of the receptacle, whilst at the same time they provide enhancement of the surface area of the receptacle that advantageously enhances the heat transfer capacity thereof.

A receptacle with three equidistantly arranged columnar recesses 21 is illustratively shown in the perspective view of Fig. 4c for a receptacle 2 without a peripheral edge member 6 and accordingly in Fig. 4a for a receptacle 2 incorporating a peripheral edge member 6 as a homogeneous continuation thereof. Figs. 4a and 4c illustratively show the receptacles being provided with three air exhaust holes 14 respectively located at the ends of the three columnar recesses 21 at the level of the open mouth end 9, which are equidistantly arranged around the circumference of the receptacle 2. Figs. 4b and 4d respectively show the receptacles depicted in Figs. 4a and 4c being provided with a membrane 20 that covers and seals the open mouth end 9 thereof, such membrane 20 being employed, by way of example, when the receptacles 2 are filled with water and are stored in deep freezing with a scope of transforming water into ice and render the receptacle 2 ready to be fitted into a liquid container 1 to be used in performing the function of adjustment of the temperature of the liquid contained in the container. It is possible that each receptacle 2 is provided with both the holes 14 being located at the upper surface of the open mouth end 9 thereof and with a further hole 14 or orifice 15 at the bottom 9a of the same.

It is noted that as shown in Fig. 1 both the liquid container 1 and the receptacle 2 are preferably configured with their transverse section tapering from the top to the bottom thereof and due to the insertion of the receptacle 2 in an upside-down orientation into the container 1 an ample space is provided for contact of the consumable liquid with the surface area of the receptacle 2, thereby ensuring an efficient heat transfer process in between the consumable liquid content of container 1 and the surface area of the receptacle 2.

Fig. 5 shows a preferred embodiment of a disposable version of the liquid container 1 incorporating the receptacle 2 of the invention. It will be appreciated that usage of the device 1,2 of Fig. 5 allows handily drinking of the liquid content (beverage or other) through tilting of the open top 10 of the container. Further, Fig. 5a shows the disposable version of the liquid container 1 incorporating the receptacle 2 of the invention being further provided with a dome like top cover 18 that comprises an opening for the insertion therein of a straw 17 used to sip the liquid content thereof. It will be appreciated that, due to this configuration of inversely tapered side walls of the container 1 and the receptacle 2, the straw 17 can be handily inserted within the container to be used in sipping the consumable beverage contained therein.

The method of construction and preparation of the liquid container of the invention that incorporates the receptacle that is being filled with the heat exchanging medium adapted to adjust and maintain the temperature of the liquid content of the container at a desired level comprises the following sequential operating steps: • A first step of filling the chamber 4 of the receptacle 2 with the non-consumable solid or liquid substance that constitutes the heat exchanging medium and has a predetermined relatively low or relatively high temperature such as to effect cooling or heating of the consumable liquid that will fill the chamber 3 of the liquid container 1 and will therefore lie around and above the chamber 4 of the receptacle 2. By way of example, this non-consumable solid or liquid substance that constitutes the heat exchanging medium is ice when a cooling operation is the desired effect or preheated rock granules when the desired effect is a heating operation.

• A second step of approaching the open mouth 10 of the liquid container 1 above the open mouth 9 of the receptacle 2 that has been filled with the non-consumable solid or liquid substance and orientation thereof with its longitudinal centrally extending axis (χχ ^' ) aligned with the longitudinal centrally extending axis (yy ^' ) of the receptacle 2.

• A third step of moving the liquid container 1 in the direction of alignment of the longitudinal centrally extending axis (χχ ^' ) thereof with the longitudinal centrally extending axis (yy ^' ) of the receptacle 2 until the peripheral edge member 6 of the receptacle 2 water-tightly fits at the circumferential side walls 5 proximally to the bottom 10a of the liquid container 1.

• A fourth step of inverting the liquid container 1 with the receptacle 2 filled with the non-consumable solid or liquid substance incorporated therein, and filling the chamber 3 of the liquid container 1 with the consumable liquid substance that is either potable or non-potable. It is herein noted that the abovementioned first step of filling the chamber 4 of the receptacle 2 with the non-consumable solid or liquid substance that constitutes the heat exchanging medium might be manifested prior to the process of construction and preparation of the liquid container of the invention, i.e. a plurality of receptacles filled with the non-consumable solid or liquid substance might be stored under deep freezing and received ready to use in the remaining steps of the process described hereinabove. In this case it is proposed to cover the receptacles 2 with a membrane 20 as shown in Figs. 4b or 4d.

The assembly of the receptacle 2 with the liquid container 1 might be implemented in various manners including a manual process or an automated mechanical process. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention a device providing an advantageously fast and precise assembly of the receptacles 2 within the containers 1 is proposed and is particularly useful in applications of coffee shops and bars wherein a plurality of beverages and drinks have to be offered.

It is herein noted that the invention proposes a novel system for serving beverages and drinks in a domestic and most importantly in a professional environment of coffee shops, bars, restaurants and related shops, this system comprising at least one item of the aforementioned device having the configuration of a tubular member (11) and accessories thereof being described hereinafter and a plurality of liquid containers (1), receptacles (2) and if necessary additional independent items of reusable peripheral edge members (6).

As shown in Fig. 6a, the device providing such advantageously fast and precise assembly of the receptacles 2 within the containers 1 is a simple tubular member 11 that has a diameter and length such as to allow insertion therein, through one mouth thereof, of the receptacle 2 and subsequent fitting of the container 1 thereupon to provide the final product of a liquid container 1 with a receptacle 2 mounted therein. As shown in Figs. 6a, an elastic ring member 12 is mounted onto an upper mouth end of the tubular member 11 and an elastic supporting base 13 with circumferentially arranged holes is provided at the bottom thereof and fixing bolts can be used to fixedly mount the supporting base 13 of tubular member 11 onto a planar surface.

Figs. 7a-7e show the sequential steps of the process of assembly of the liquid container of the invention incorporating the receptacle wherein the device presented in Figs. 6a, 6b is being employed. This process comprises:

• A first step of placement of the receptacle 2 onto the open mouth end with the elastic ring member 12 of the tubular member 11, whereby the peripheral edge member 6 surrounds the exterior of the tubular member 11 and chamber 4 of the receptacle is vertically oriented within the tubular member 11, the chamber 4 of the receptacle 2 being subsequently filled with the non- consumable solid or liquid substance that constitutes the heat exchanging medium (Fig. 7a, 7b).

• A second step of approaching the open mouth 10 of the liquid container 1 above the open mouth 9 of the receptacle 2 that has been filled with the non-consumable solid or liquid substance and orientation thereof with its longitudinal centrally extending axis (χχ ^' ) aligned with the longitudinal centrally extending axis (yy ^' ) of the receptacle 2 (Fig. 7b).

• A third step of moving the liquid container 1 in the direction of alignment of the longitudinal centrally extending axis ( ^{χχ '} ) thereof with the longitudinal centrally extending axis (yy ^' ) of the receptacle 2 until the peripheral edge 6 of the receptacle 2 water- tightly fits at the circumferential side walls 5 proximally to the bottom 10a of the liquid container 1 (Fig. 7c).

• A fourth step of removing the assembly 1, 2 of the liquid container and receptacle incorporated therein from the tubular member 11 (Fig. 7d) and inverting the same (Fig. 7e) for eventually filling the chamber 3 thereof with the consumable liquid (beverage, drink or other) and offered for drinking.

Figs. 8a and 8b show in perspective employment of the device of Fig. 6b in a process of assembling a peripheral edge member when provided as an independent item onto the open top of a receptacle 2 prior to using the latter in the process depicted in Figs. 7a-7e.

In Fig. 8a, the peripheral edge member 6 is placed onto the open mouth end of the tubular member 11 so that the circumferential outer wall 7 thereof abuts the rim of the elastic ring member 12 mounted onto the upper mouth end of the tubular member 11 and the circumferential inner wall 8 extends upwardly. Subsequently, Fig. 8b shows a receptacle 2 placed vertically upwardly the upper mouth end of the tubular member 11 with an arrow indicating that it is going to be inserted into the tubular member, whereby the circumferential extension 19 of the open mouth 9 of the receptacle 2 fits onto the upwardly extending circumferential wall 8 of the peripheral edge member 6 and thereby the independent item of the peripheral edge member 6 is fixedly assembled with the receptacle 2.