AGAINSTTHEEFFECTOFSUNLIGHT

This invention relates to beverages served preferably in glasses, cups or bottles, to be enjoyed out side. More specifically the invention relates to a device for outside use and for screening of such beverages, for instance beer, against direct influence of sunlight and heat. The device is also suited as carrier of commercials in the form of texts and/or images being applied to the device's visible surfaces, to attract the viewers' attention for instance to other beverages than the one being served, from the same or other manufacturers.

It is well known that beverages, for instance beer, when served outside in glasses, cups or bottles, is exposed to relatively quick reduction in quality by influence of direct sunlight and heat. Besides being heated and thereby losing its freshness, the beer tames and acquires "flat" taste, which, to a high degree, reduces the pleasure.

From what has been said above, it can be concluded that there is a demand for a device which screens beverages, for instance beer in glasses, cups or bottles for serving outside, against direct influence of sunlight or -heat. It is also desirable that, on the device's visible sunfaces, commercials may be applied, with for instance by text and- or images, which will attract the viewer's attention for instance to other products from the same or from other manufacturers. Furthermore, the device should be suited for being manufactured in a simple

and profitable way of relatively cheap materials, preferably with a view to of mass production, disposable and convenient use.

From W094/04060 and US Patent 3769647 and 4819679, screening constructions are known, which offer shade, protect also beverages, served outside against the effect of sunlight. However, the devices described and shown differ in its principle from the device according to this invention.

The object of the invention is to produce a device for the above mentioned purpose, suited both for screening of beverages, for instance beer served outside in glasses, cups and or/ bottles, against direct influence of sunlight and -heat and the resulting reduction in quality, and to be supplied with commercials in with text and/or images on its visible surfaces which will attract the viewer's attention, for instance to other products form the same or from other manufacturers. Further the screening device is to be manufactured in a simple and a profitable way of relatively cheap and easy to handle materials, with a view to mass production and disposable use.

According to the invention this is attained by producing a sun screen device, described as "beer shadow", characterised by distinctive items as stated in the claims below.

The invention is described in greater detail below, with reference to be enclosed drawings of which :

Fifflir _β j Shows a schematic view of a sunscreen material in unfolded condition.

Fisπir© 2 Shows a schematic perspective plan of a ready and folded sunscreen with a drinking cup placed inside it.

FifiUre 3 Shows a schematic perspective plan of another version of the sunscreen according to invention, in ready, folded condition with a beverage bottle placed inside it.

According to figure 1 is shown an unfolded material, which when folded can be transformed into a finished sunscreen or "beer shadow" according to the invention, for screening from beverages, for instance beer, direct sunlight served outside in glasses, cups or bottles. With a view to mass production of the sunscreen, the material is punched out from suitable material, for instance cardboard, carton, thin metal plate for instance aluminium, or combinations of these in desirable size. The materials' height H may be vary depending on the area of usage. The material shown according to figure 1 consists of a top plate 3, two side walls 12, a back wall 15 and a bottom plate 14. The top plate 3 consists of two protruding locking flaps 4 and 5 which are applied with for instance a punched folding line 13 in the passage to the back wall 15. In each side wall 12, a punched locking slit respectively 6 and 7 is fitted, for receiving each locking flap respectively 5 and 4. At the lower edges of each side wall 12, is arranged a locking flap 1 for fitting into the opposite locking slit 2 in the bottom plate 14. In the passage between lack side wall's lower edges and the locking flaps 1 , folding lines 11 are arranged. A passage between the back wall 15 and the bottom plate 14 is also supplied with a folding line 10.

When the material is to be transformed into a sun screening device "beer shadow" according to the invention, the two side walls 12 are folded around each of its folding lines respectively 8 and 9 in the direction of the viewer

according to figure 1, and the top plate 3 is folded down, also towards the viewer, around the folding line 13 and fastened to the side walls 12 by means of its locking flaps 4 and 5 being directed through each its side walls slits 7 and 6 and respectively are bent around at the back side of the slit. The bottom plate 14 is folded upwards, also in the direction of the viewer, around the folding line 10 and attached to the side wall 12 by means of the two locking flaps 1 on each side wall are folded around the folding lines 1 1 and directed into each of their bottom plate slit 2 and being bent around the back side of the slit. The material is thereby transformed into the requested "beer shadow" according to the invention, of which the side walls 12 and the back wall 15 runs mainly towards the bottom plate 14 and the top plate 3 and mainly vertically against these, when the bottom plate 14 is mainly in horizontal position. The height of the container H can be varied as shown in figures 2 and 3, depending of the size of the drinking cup or the bottle which is to be placed into the chamber, being limited by the bottom plate 14, side walls 12, back wall 15 and top plate 3, so that the beverage is kept cold. Inside the chamber, the beverage, for instance beer, in cup or bottle, is well protected from sunlight and -heat to be kept in a cood refreshing condition for relatively long period of time.

The effect of the sun screen according to the invention may be increased by use of a special cooler which is placed between the screen and the drinking cup or bottle. For additional improvement of the function, the screen plate can be moisturized on its outer side, so that the fluid which evaporates, causes the temperature in the screening chamber to drop.

The sun screening device "beer shadow" according to invention may attain a major position as a media for carrying of commercials, of which the visible screening faces are fitted with suitable text and/or images.

Tests with the screening device according to the invention were carried out on a calm summer day with stable air temperature. Three glasses were used, each with a volume of 0,5 1. Glass no. 1 was placed in sunlight, glass no. 2 inside the screening device and glass no. 3 inside the screening device with a cooler mounted

The results appear from the following table 1 :

| Table 1: |

|τime in hours and minutes Start temp. 0:15 0:30 0:45 1 :00 1 :15 1 :30 1 :45 2:00 2: 15 2:30 ■

(Air temp. 28 28 28 29 29 30 30 30 29 29 30 1

|αiass no. 1 w/out shadow 9 12 18 23 25 27 29 31 32 32 32 1

|dass no. 2 w/shadow 9 10 11 12 15 17 19 21 23 24 24 1

|Glass no. 3 w/shdow and cooler 9 10 10 1 1 13 14 15 16 16 17