Container insulator

Abstract

An insulating cover for a container has a substantially cylindrical sidewall member and a contiguous bottom member. The sidewall and bottom members are preferably formed from a thin sheet of insulating material. The sidewall member has end sections that overlap in an unexpanded orientation. The bottom member has an annular portion than can be adapted to engage the bottom of the container. In another embodiment, a number of substantially identical tabs engage the bottom of the container. The tabs extend from the inner radius of the bottom member annular portion toward the axis of the sidewall member, and are spaced apart so that they do not overlap.

1 . An insulating cover for use with a container, comprising: 
 a resilient substantially cylindrical sidewall member, formed to a preselected unexpanded orientation, defining two end pieces that overlap when the cover is in the unexpanded orientation; and    a bottom member, having a continuous annular strip defining two bottom sections that overlap when the cover is in the unexpanded orientation, the annular strip having an inner radius chosen so that the strip can engage and hold the container within the cover during use without additional structure;    wherein the sidewall member and the bottom member are integrally formed from a single thin piece of insulating material.    
     
     
         2 . An insulating cover as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the material used to fabricate the cover is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene foam and polystyrene foam.  
     
     
         3 . An insulating cover as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bottom member further comprises a plurality of non-overlapping tabs, integrally formed with the annular portion and extending from the annular portion toward the axis of the cylindrical sidewall member.  
     
     
         4 . An insulating cover as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the container has a bottom rim, and wherein the annular strip is adapted to engage the bottom rim.  
     
     
         5 . An insulating cover as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the container has a bottom rim, and wherein the tabs are adapted to engage the bottom rim.