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Self-chilling beverage container and methodSelf-chilling beverage container and method description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070175233, Self-chilling beverage container and method. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
PRIORITY CLAIM [0001]This application claims priority of my U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/762,228 filed Jan. 27, 2006. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]There are situations in which a person would like to have a cool drink, but ice or refrigeration is not available. That kind of situation is amply described in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,235 issued Mar. 11, 2003, entitled "Self-Chilling Portable Beverage Container Assembly, and Method". SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0003]The present invention is an iceless method of providing a chilled beverage to a customer by supplying a container that not only contains the beverage but also contains a compartment filled with a compressed gas, the gas compartment being closed by a frangible member, wherein the customer can conveniently puncture the frangible member to release the gas and thereby cool the liquid in the container before consuming the liquid. [0004]More specifically, the invention provides an apparatus system in which a beverage container has an elongated configuration and forms a beverage compartment with a mouth at one end thereof. A separate compartment extends longitudinally within the beverage compartment for receiving and storing compressed gas, the gas compartment having an end adjacent the mouth of the beverage container and a frangible member that normally covers that end of the gas compartment. A closure member normally closes the mouth of the beverage compartment and also extends over the frangible cover of the adjacent end of the gas compartment. The end of the gas compartment adjacent the mouth of the beverage compartment occupies less than the entire mouth of the beverage compartment so that when the closure member is removed, a liquid that is contained in the beverage compartment may be poured out whether or not the frangible cover of the gas compartment has first been punctured for releasing the gas in order to cool the liquid in the container. DRAWING SUMMARY [0005]FIG. 1a is a perspective view, partially in cross-section and partially exploded, showing a form of apparatus for carrying out my novel method, in which the puncturing device is normally retained in the beverage container; [0006]FIG. 1b is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1a when the frangible cover has been punctured and gas is escaping from the gas compartment; [0007]FIG. 1c is a perspective view showing the pouring of liquid from the beverage compartment after the frangible cover of the gas compartment has been punctured; [0008]FIG. 2a is a perspective view, partially in cross-section and partially exploded, showing a form of apparatus for carrying out my novel method in which the puncturing device, shown in a separate mini-view, is normally separate from the beverage container; [0009]FIG. 2b is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 2a when the frangible cover has been punctured by the puncturing device and gas is escaping from the gas compartment; and [0010]FIG. 2c is a perspective view showing the pouring of liquid from the beverage compartment after the frangible cover of the gas compartment has been punctured and the puncturing device removed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1a, 1b, and 1c [0011]As shown in FIGS. 1a, 1b, and 1c, the apparatus of the present invention includes a beverage container 10 having an elongated configuration and forming a beverage compartment 12 with a mouth 14 at one end thereof. A separate compartment 20 extends longitudinally within the beverage compartment for receiving and storing compressed gas. The gas compartment 20 has an end 22 which is adjacent the mouth of the beverage container. A frangible member 25 normally securely covers the compartment end 22. [0012]A closure member 30 normally closes the mouth of the beverage compartment 12 and also extends over the frangible cover 25 of the adjacent end of the gas compartment. Closure member 30 is preferably threaded to the top of container 10. The end 22 of the gas compartment occupies less than the entire inner area of the mouth of the beverage compartment. When the closure member 30 is removed, as shown in FIG. 1c, a liquid 40 contained in the beverage compartment may be poured out, whether or not the frangible cover 25 of the gas compartment has first been punctured for releasing the gas and thereby cooling the liquid in the container. [0013]A puncturing device 50 is normally secured inside the closure member 30, and is operable after removal of the closure member for puncturing the frangible cover of the gas compartment. FIG. 1a has a separate miniview showing a typical form of the device 50. It may, for example, be spring-loaded to prevent any inadvertent operation. The puncturing device 50 does not need a guard for its cutting point to prevent accidental injury to a user. DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 2a, 2b, and 2c [0014]In the alternate embodiment of FIG. 2 a puncturing device 60 is not permanently associated with the beverage container. This device is preferably kept by the consumer in the same manner as a can-opener or other such standard device. Again, the device preferably is spring-loaded, and may also have guard for its cutting point to prevent accidental injury to the user. Alternate Forms [0015]A significant feature of my invention is that the end of the gas compartment within the mouth of the beverage compartment occupies less than the entire width of the mouth of the beverage compartment, so that when the closure member or cap is removed, a liquid contained in the beverage compartment may be poured out whether or not the frangible cover of the gas compartment has first been punctured for releasing the gas and thereby cooling the liquid in the container. In other words, the beverage container may still be used either as an iceless container for a cooled drink, or for a drink that is not cooled. Continue reading about Self-chilling beverage container and method... Full patent description for Self-chilling beverage container and method Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Self-chilling beverage container and method patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Self-chilling beverage container and method or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Display merchandiser with conically-shaped glass Next Patent Application: Portable system for preserving labile materials Industry Class: ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Self-chilling beverage container and method patent info. 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