FROZEN BEVERAGE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

THIS INVENTION relates to a frozen beverage device; and to methods of producing frozen beverages using the device.

The invention is particularly suitable for, but not limited to, apparatus for making frozen beverages in semi-frozen "slurry" or "slushie" form; and to such a frozen beverage device which may be used as a toy or plaything. Throughout the specification, the term "slurry" shall be used to include a mixture of liquid/semi-liquid, liquid/frozen and/or semi-liquid/frozen portions of the liquid.

2. Prior Art

Machines to produce so-called "slurry"-type drinks, eg., of well- known beverages such as "Coca-Cola", "Pepsi Cola" and "Schweppes

Lemonade" (all registered trade marks) are well-known and commonly found in take-away food outlets and convenience stores. However, these machines are expensive to manufacture and install; and are not suitable for, eg., domestic use; or for the manufacture of a wide range of "slurry"-style beverages, including alcoholic beverages such as cocktails.

International Patent Application PCT/AU2005/001895 (= International Publication WO 2006/063401) (Bucceri, Alfio) discloses an apparatus for converting a liquid in a container to a semi-frozen slurry or to frozen ice particles, where a refrigerant is contained within a refrigerant

cavity defined by at least two walls of the container, where flexing / deformation of at least one of the walls agitates the liquid to assist the conversion thereof into the semi-frozen slurry or the frozen ice particles.

While the apparatus disclosed in PCT/AU2005/001895 is effective in converting the liquid in the container into a semi-frozen slurry or the frozen ice particles, the cost of manufacture results in a product which is too expensive for the intended market; and particularly is too expensive for manufacture and sale as a disposable or "throw-away" item.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a simplified apparatus for quickly cooling beverages (or other liquids) and/or making semi-frozen "slurry" beverages, ice creams, frozen confections, ice or the like.

It is a preferred object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus which is inexpensive to manufacture and which can be disposable.

It is a further preferred object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus which can be manufactured from food-grade materials, be hygienically cleaned and be re-used many times. It is a still further preferred object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which only incorporates materials which are safe for use by children, and which can be safely and environmentally disposed of.

Other preferred objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

In one aspect, the present invention resides in an apparatus for converting a liquid into a semi-frozen or frozen "slurry" form, including: a container , having a mouth, operable to receive the liquid; a cover operable to sealably close the mouth of the container ; and at least one freezing device, having a closed body at least partially filled with a refrigerant material; so arranged that: the refrigerant material is cooled below a freezing temperature of the liquid; and when the freezing device is placed in the liquid, at least a portion of the liquid surrounding the freezing device will form an at least partially frozen layer on the exterior of the freezing device, and will be displaced therefrom when the freezing device impacts one or more walls of the container and/or the cover or lid.

Preferably, the container and the cover are formed from food- grade metal-, plastics- or polymer-material(s), which may incorporate reinforcing fibres, if to be re-usable.

The container and the cover may be insulated and/or be at least partially transparent or semi-translucent to enable the cooling process to be observed. The cover may incorporated a closable opening, operable to allow the liquid to be introduced to the container; for the at least semi-frozen slurry to be discharged from the container; and / or allow the liquid and or the slurry to be consumed by a drinking straw or the like. In this form, the container and the cover may be formed integrally, and the closure for the

closeable opening may be formed integrally with, or be attached to, the cover.

Preferably, where the apparatus is to be re-used, the container and cover are formed of metals, eg., stainless steel or aluminium; or of tough plastics- or polymer-materials, eg., polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, ABS or the like, which may be reinforced with Nylon-, polypropylene- or carbon- fibres. Where, however, the apparatus is to be a disposable (ie., "throw- away") article, the container and cover can be injection- or blow-moulded of thin plastics- or polymer-material, eg., of the type used to produce beverage containers; or formed from waxed paper or cardboard or the like.

Preferably, the container and/or the cover are provided with sealing means to seal the junction between the mouth of the container and the container and cover may be releasably connected by screw-threadable, bayonet-coupling, frictional, or other releasable-engagement method. A strainer member, preferably of the same material as the container and/or the cover, may be removably provided at the mouth of the container, to aϋow the at least semi-frozen slurry to flow into the cover, when the container is inverted, whilst retaining the freezing device(s) within the container, and before the cover is released from the container to enable consumption of the at least semi-frozen slurry.

The or each freezing device preferably has a closed body with at least one thin wall, the or each thin wall preferably formed of a material which is resiliently deformable (eg. can concertina) when impacted and/or which has at least good heat-transfer characteristics. Suitable materials for

the manufacture of the freezing device(s) includes plastics, such as low density polyethylene, silicone, thermal polyurethane (TPU), PVC, Nylon, rubber, latex, vinyl; waxed paper, TPR; or flexible metals, eg., thin stainless steel, aluminium sheet or foils. The plastics may be reinforced with Nylon-, polypropylene- or carbon-fibres.

Preferably, the freezing device(s) can have an almost unlimited range of shapes, including spheres, cubes, pyramids, cylinders, or irregular shapes including novelty shapes, eg., of cartoon- or animation-characters.

Preferably, the closed bodies have internal capacities ranging from 10 millilitres (10ml) to 50 litres (50L) or more; and the number of the freezing device(s) to be placed in the container, to at least semi-freeze the liquid in the container, is preferably selected so that the total internal capacity of the freezing device(s) is preferably in the range of 50 to 200%, more preferably 75 to 100%, of the volume of the liquid. Preferably, the maximum dimension(s) of the freezing device(s) is less than the minimum dimension(s) of the container and/or the cover.

Preferably, the or each freezing device is filled in the range of 70-90% of its' internal capacity with the refrigerant material; and suitable refrigerant materials include salt/water, salt/propylene glycol/water, propylene glycol/water, sugar / water mixtures, soft drinks or the like. Other refrigerant mixtures, which are safe if accidentally consumed, may be used. By way of example, the refrigerant materials may include 20% salt/80% water; 10% salt/3% propylene glycol/ 87% water; or 30% propylene glycol/70% water mixtures, all the percentages being on the basis of %(w/w).

The refrigerant material(s) must be capable of being cooled to a temperature, eg., preferably -18 ⁰ C or lower, which is below the freezing temperature of the liquid in the container and cover.

In a second aspect, the present invention resides in a method of forming an at least semi-frozen slurry from a liquid, using the apparatus as hereinbefore described, the method including the steps of: cooling the refrigerant material(s) in the or each freezing device, in a cooling or freezing apparatus, to a temperature below the freezing temperature of the liquid; placing the liquid in the container and/or cover; placing the or each freezing device in the container or cover, closing the mouth of the container with the cover ; and agitating the liquid in the container and/or cover to cause the or each freezing device to move through the liquid, and for a layer of the liquid to at least semi-freeze on the or each freezing device and to be displaced therefrom when the or each freezing device impacts one or more walls of the container or cover.

Preferably the liquid is agitated by shaking the container in horizontal and / or vertical directions and/or by rotation of the container about its axes; where the shaking and/or rotation is effected eg. for 30-120 seconds for a domestic apparatus; or by squeezing the deformable wall(s) of the container.

In a third aspect, the present invention resides in an at least semi-frozen slurry or frozen beverage produced by the method hereinbefore

described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To enable the invention to be fully understood, preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are respective schematic perspective views of a first embodiment of the apparatus, of the present invention, where the freezing devices are being placed in the liquid to be frozen, and where the liquid has been at least semi-frozen, respectively; FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a second embodiment of the present invention, showing the deformation of the freezing device to allow the release of the frozen particles therefrom;

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the freezing device of FIG. 3 in part-section; FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a third embodiment of the present invention showing some of the possible alternative shapes for the freezing devices;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematic side views of a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cylindrical freezing device of

FIGS. 6 and 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the first embodiment of the invention illustrated in

FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus 10 incorporates a cup 20, a cover 30 and an optional strainer 40.

In this embodiment, the container 20, the cover 30 and the strainer 40 are injection-moulded from transparent or translucent plastics- material, eg., polyethylene.

The container 20 is in the form of a cup with a frusto-conical side wall 21 terminated by a bottom wall 22 at one end and by an open mouth 23 at the other end. One or more screw threads 24 (or optional bayonet-coupling components) are provided on the inner face of the side wall 21 , adjacent the mouth 23, to releasably receive complementary screw- threads (or bayonet-coupling components) on the cover 30 to enable releasable engagement between the container 20 and the cover 30. A sealing surface or ring 25 may be provided within the open mouth 23 (and preferably above the screw-threads 24) to ensure sealed engagement between the container 20 and the cover 30.

The cover 30 is also of substantially frusto-conical configuration with a side wall 31 terminated at one end by a top wall 32 and at the other end by a screw-threaded rim 33, operable to engage the screw-threads 24 of the container 20. A strainer 40 has a peripheral rim 41 releasably located in, and clamped to, the open mouth 23 of the container 20, by the cover 30. The strainer 40 has a mesh or perforated central straining panel 42 within the peripheral rim 41 , where the holes or perforations 43 in the straining panel 42 are dimensioned to allow the at least semi-frozen slurry to pass therethrough

when the apparatus 10 is inverted - see FIG. 2 - but will restrain the freezing devices 50, 5OA within the container 20.

In this embodiment, the freezing devices 50, 5OA, to be hereinafter described in more detail, have the configuration of a sphere and of a pyramid, respectively. As will hereinafter be described with reference to FlG. 5, the freezing devices may have a wide range of alternative shapes, including irregular or novelty shapes, eg., of cartoon- or animation- characters.

Referring to the second embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the apparatus 110 has a container 120, manufactured from thin stainless steel sheet, with a cylindrical side wall 121 terminated at one end by a bottom wall 122 and at the other end by an open mouth 123.

The cover 130 is formed from transparent or translucent plastics material, eg., as hereinbefore described with a peripheral rim 133, provided with an internal sealing ring 134, arranged for sealing / frictional engagement with the portion of the side wall 121 of the container

120adjacent the open mouth 123.

The freezing device 150 has a closed body 151 of spherical shape, formed of a thin plastic-material (eg., polyurethane), with a resiliently deformable wall 152: and where the internal capacity 153 is 75-90% filled with the refrigerant material 154 comprising, eg., a 20% salt/80% water (w/w) mixture.

The refrigerant material 154 may be cooled to a temperature at or below -18 ⁰ C in a refrigerated freezer 190, before being transferred to the

container 120.

Alternatively, the freezer 190 may contain cryogenic material, such as dry ice (carbon dioxide); or a pre-cooled brine solution at / below -10 degrees Celsius; or a similar freezing material for snap-freezing of the freezing devices 150 for quick turn around of use, eg. in a bar or stadium, where conventional refrigeration would not be acceptable. Typically, in these applications, the container 120 and cover 130 would be disposable. The liquid beverage 160 would be dispensed into the container 120, the freezing device 150 added, & the cover 130 fitted. The container 120 would be shaken to form the slurry. The freezing device 150 can be removed (and be washed / refrozen for reuse); or, if disposable, disposed with the container 120 and cover 130, after the beverage slurry is consumed.

NB: The skilled addressee will appreciate that, at any one time, a number of the freezing devices 150 will be placed in the freezer 190 so as to be ready for use.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the liquid 160 in the apparatus 110 will form at least a thin layer of ice or ice crystals 161 on the exterior of the body 151 of the freezing device 150, and the thin layer of ice/ice crystals 161 will be dislodged from the body 151 when the side wall 152 impacts, and is deformed by, any of the walls 121 , 122 of the container 120; wall 132 and/or peripheral flange or rim 133 of the cover 130; and/or the strainer (which has been omitted for clarity).

The deformation of the wall 152 of the body 151 of the freezing device 150 is indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 3.

Arrows A, B, C indicate examples of the shaking and/or rotating motions which may be applied to the apparatus 110 to agitate the liquid 160 within the apparatus 110 and thereby cause the freezing device 150 to move through the liquid 160, and impact the walls to progressively convert the liquid to at least a semi-frozen slurry.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the apparatus 210 of a third embodiment has a container 220 and cover 230 of generally similar configuration to the container 20 and cover 30 of the apparatus 10 of the first embodiment. It will be noted that the side wall 221 of the container 220 has screw-threads 224 of the type hereinbefore described; and has either decorative or printed material applied to the external face 229 of the side wall 221 ; or the side wall 221 may incorporate integral formations which assist in the agitation of the liquid and/or dislodgement of the frozen ice/ice particles from the freezer device to be hereinafter described.

In this embodiment, the cover 230 has a frusto-conical side wall

231 as hereinbefore described, defined at one end by the peripheral rim 233.

However, at the other end, the top wall is replaced by an opening 232 which is selectively closable by an integrally formed hinged closure 239. The closure 239 enables the opening 232 to be selectively opened to enable liquid to be placed in the container 220; or the at least semi-frozen slurry to be discharged from the container 220 when the container is inverted; or to enable the insertion of a drinking straw for the consumption of the at least semi-frozen slurry within the container 220.

The strainer 240 has a configuration similar to the strainer 40 of the first embodiment; but an alternative strainer 240A omits the peripheral rim 241.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the freezer devices can have a wide range of shapes, including a sphere 250, pyramid 250A, cylinder 250B, cube 250C, segment 250D, snowman 250E or other cartoon- or animated- character shape, or an assembly 250B incorporating a spherical shape as per the sphere 250 with a "tail" 251 F which may pass through the opening 232 to enable the consumer to "jiggle" the freezing device 250F to assist in agitating the liquid in the container 220. the tail 251 F may also pass through the strainer 240A to enable the latter to be pulled upwardly from the bottom of the container to scrape free any ice / ice crystals on the inner face of the side wall 221 of the container 220.

The embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2; 3 and 4; and 5, have referred to relatively rigid containers 20,120,220. The agitation of the liquid can also be affected by the containers having flexible wall(s) 21 , 121 , 221 , eg. formed of silicone, polyurethane or other flexible plastics-material, so that the walls 21 , 121 , 221 can be squeezed (eg. as in the direction of arrow D in

FIG.3) against the freezing devices 50, 150, 250 to form the slurries. This can avoid need to shake the containers 20, 120, 220, thereby minimizing accidental release of the covers 30, 130, 230 as the slurries are formed.

Referring now to the fourth embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8, the apparatus 310 has a container 320 and cover 330 substantially as hereinbefore described.

The freezing device 350 is of cylindrical shape, and the cylindrical side wall 352 can "concertina", as shown in FIG. 7, to displace the ice crystals 361 formed (from the liquid 360) thereon, when the container 320 is shaken in the direction of arrow D, to cause the end walls 353, 354 of the freezing device 350 to impact the container 320 and cover 330.

In a modified form of this embodiment, the container 320 may be provided in the shape of a soft drink container, and the freezing device 350 could also be made in the same shape to make a frozen beverage from a known soft drink supplier. As hereinbefore described, the freezer devices may have a range of internal capacities, from 10 millilitres (10ml) to 50 litres (50L) or larger, depending on the intended volume of liquid to be at least semi-frozen to a slurry or completely frozen to ice particles.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, one or more freezer devices, of similar, different shape(s) can be used simultaneously to convert the liquids to the slurries and/or ice particles.

The selection of the number (and thereby total interna! capacity) of the freezer device(s) and/or the refrigerant material(s) will be dependent on the volumes and/or freezing temperatures of the liquids. For example, a higher refrigerant material/liquid ratio is required to at least semi- freeze alcoholic beverages than water-based beverages, as the alcohol tends to act as an "anti-freeze" and so slow the conversion of the liquids to the ice/ice particles. For example, the total internal capacity of the freezer device(s) to be used with alcohol-based beverages may be on a 100%: 100%

ratio (v/v) with the volume of the beverages; whereas the ratio for water- based beverages may only be 75%: 100% (v/v).

Furthermore, the number of freezer devices required will be dependent on the initial temperature of the liquids; and it is preferred that the liquids at least be reduced in temperature to, eg., 4 ⁰ C, within the refrigerator before the freezer devices are added.

Preferably, the maximum dimension of any of the freezer devices will not be equal to, or larger than, the minimum dimensions of the container and/or cover; and preferably, the volume of the container is at least three times the total volume of the freezer devices.

The shaking and/or rotation of the apparatus 10, 110, 210 may be manually, eg., for a domestic apparatus; or by machine in a semi- domestic or "commercial" application, eg., in a bar or cocktail lounge.

The apparatus may be manufactured so that it is disposable after a single use; or may be designed to be hygienically cleaned and reused many times.

As not a!! the refrigerant materia! may become liquid as it absorbs the heat from the surrounding liquid, the time the freezer devices require in the freezer 190 for re-use can be reduced. It will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that the present invention provides a simple, inexpensive, yet efficient apparatus, and method, for converting liquids, such as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, into at least semi-frozen slurries or frozen confections.

In addition, the freezing devices can enable existing

containers, eg. cocktail shakers or drink containers to produce at least semi- frozen slurry beverages.

Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described and illustrated without departing from the present invention.