Dry ice drinking vessel

Abstract

The Invention is an apparatus which may be a drinking vessel to contain dry ice submerged within a beverage to create a visual effect. A partition has a first side and a second side and is adapted to contain dry ice on the first side. The partition is adapted to allow the beverage to flow from the second side of said partition to said first side of said partition when said partition is immersed in the beverage, exposing the beverage to the dry ice, creating a visual effect and chilling the beverage.

1 . An apparatus to contain dry ice submerged within a beverage to create a visual effect, the apparatus comprising: 
 a. a partition having a first side and a second side;    b. said partition being adapted to contain the dry ice on said first side of said partition;    c. said partition being further adapted to allow the beverage to flow from said second side of said partition to said first side of said partition when said partition is immersed in the beverage, thereby exposing the beverage to the dry ice contained on said first side of said partition;    d. said partition being further adapted to allow a bubble of sublimated carbon dioxide gas to move through said beverage from the dry ice contained on said first side of said partition to said second side of said partition, thereby creating the visual effect.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said adaptation of said partition to contain the dry ice on said first side of said partition comprises: 
 a. a drinking vessel having a bottom, a wall engaging said bottom and an open rim defined by said wall;    b. said partition engaging said wall;    c. said partition, said wall and said bottom defining a first interior volume, said first interior volume being adapted to selectably contain the dry ice whereby the dry ice may be placed within the first interior volume and confined therein;    d. said wall, said open rim and said partition together defining a second interior volume, said second interior volume being adapted to receive the beverage.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said adaptation of said first interior volume to selectably contain the dry ice comprises: said engagement between said partition and said wall is a fixed engagement, said engagement between said bottom of said drinking vessel and said wall being a selectable engagement, said bottom of said drinking vessel having an open and a closed position, said bottom when in said open position allowing insertion of the dry ice within said first interior volume, said bottom when in said closed position forming a liquid-tight connection between said bottom and said wall and confining the dry ice within said first interior volume.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said adaptation of said partition to allow said beverage to flow from said second side to said first side and said adaptation of said partition to allow sublimated carbon dioxide to flow from said first side to said second side comprise: a perforation penetrating said partition and placing said first and said second sides of said partition in fluid and pneumatic communication.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising: a cap, said cap being adapted to selectably cover said perforation, said cap being adapted to substantially prevent said flow of the beverage through said perforation from said second side to said first side of said partition and to thereby substantially prevent contact between the dry ice located within said first interior volume and a beverage located within said second interior volume.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising: a tab, said tab being connected to said cap, said tab extending above an expected level of the beverage in said second volume whereby a server may lift said tab and remove said cap from said at least one perforation, thereby allowing the beverage to flow through said perforation and to contact the dry ice.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising: a tray, said tray having an electrical power supply and at least one electrical light, said tray being adapted to receive and to illuminate said drinking vessel.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said adaptation of said first interior volume to selectably contain the dry ice comprises: said engagement between said partition and said wall being a selectable engagement, said partition being configured such that said partition may be inserted through said open rim of said drinking vessel and placed in engagement with said wall, thereby defining said first interior volume and thereby confining the dry ice.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said adaptation of said partition to allow said beverage to flow from said second side to said first side and said adaptation of said partition to allow a bubble of sublimated carbon dioxide gas to flow from said first side to said second side comprises: a perforation, said perforation penetrating said partition, said perforation thereby placing said first and said second sides of said partition in fluid and pneumatic communication.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising: a cap, said cap being configured to selectably cover said perforation and thereby selectably prevent the flow of the beverage through said perforation from said second side to said first side of said partition.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising: a tab, said tab being connected to said cap, said tab extending above an expected level of the beverage in said second volume whereby a server may lift said tab and remove said cap from said perforation, thereby allowing the beverage to flow through said perforation and to contact the dry ice.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising: a tray, said tray having an electrical power supply, a switch, and at least one electrical light, said tray being adapted to receive and to illuminate said drinking vessel.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said adaptation of said partition to contain the dry ice on said first side of said partition comprises: 
 a. a body, said body being in selectable engagement with said partition, said body and said partition defining a first interior volume, said body and said partition having an open and a closed position, said body and said partition when in said open position allowing insertion of the dry ice into said first interior volume, said body and said partition when in said closed position confining the dry ice within said first interior volume;    b. a spring clip, said spring clip engaging said body or said partition, said spring clip being adapted to selectably and resiliently engage a wall of a drinking vessel whereby said spring clip retains said interior volume within said drinking vessel.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said adaptation of said partition to contain the dry ice on said first side of said partition comprises: 
 a. a drinking vessel having a bottom, a wall engaging said bottom and an open rim defined by said wall, said partition being in fixed engagement with said wall;    b. a first interior volume defined by said partition and said bottom, said bottom of said drinking vessel being in selectable engagement with said wall of said drinking vessel, said bottom of said drinking vessel having an open and a closed position, said bottom being configured to allow insertion of the dry ice within said first interior volume when said bottom is in said open position, said bottom being configured to form a liquid-tight connection between said bottom and said wall when said bottom is in said closed position thereby selectably confining the dry ice within said first interior volume;    c. a second interior volume defined by said open rim and said partition, said second interior volume being adapted to receive the beverage;    d. said adaptation of said partition to allow said beverage to flow from said second side to said first side and said adaptation of said partition to allow a bubble of sublimated carbon dioxide gas to flow from said first side to said second side comprise: a perforation penetrating said partition and placing said first and said second sides of said partition in fluid and pneumatic communication.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising: a cap, said cap being configured to selectably cover said perforation and to thereby substantially prevent contact between the dry ice located within said first interior volume and a beverage located within said second interior volume.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising: a tab, said tab being connected to said cap, said tab extending above an expected level of the beverage in said second volume whereby a server may lift said tab and remove said cap from said perforation, thereby allowing the beverage to flow through said perforation and to contact the dry ice.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising: a tray, said tray having an electrical power supply, a switch, and at least one electrical light, said tray being adapted to receive and to illuminate said drinking vessel.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said adaptation of said partition to contain the dry ice on said first side of said partition comprises: 
 a. a drinking vessel having a wall and an open rim defined by said wall, said partition being in fixed engagement with said wall;    b. a bottom in selectable engagement with said wall;    c. a first interior volume defined by said wall, said partition and said bottom, said bottom of said drinking vessel having an open and a closed position, said bottom when in said open position being configured to allow insertion of the dry ice within said first interior volume, said bottom when in said closed position being configured to form a liquid-tight connection between said bottom and said wall and to confine the dry ice within said first interior volume;    d. a second interior volume defined by said open rim, said wall and said partition, said second interior volume being adapted to receive the beverage;    e. said adaptation of said partition to allow the beverage to flow from said second side to said first side of said partition and said adaptation of said partition to allow said bubble of sublimated carbon dioxide gas to flow from said first side to said second side comprise: at least one perforation penetrating said partition and placing said first and said second sides of said partition in fluid and pneumatic communication;    e. a cap, said cap being configured to selectably cover said perforation and to substantially prevent the flow of the beverage through said perforation from said second side to said first side of said partition and to thereby substantially prevent contact between the dry ice located within said first interior volume and the beverage located within said second interior volume;    f. a tab, said tab being connected to said cap, said tab extending above an expected level of the beverage in said second volume whereby a server may lift said tab and remove said cap from said perforation, thereby allowing the beverage to flow through said at least one perforation and to contact the dry ice.    
   
   
       19 . An apparatus to create a visual effect within a beverage utilizing dry ice, the apparatus comprising: 
 a. a drinking vessel;    b. means to selectably contain the dry ice within said drinking vessel;    c. means to allow the beverage to contact the dry ice when the beverage is placed within said drinking vessel and to allow a bubble of sublimated carbon dioxide gas from the dry ice to pass through the beverage, thereby creating the visual effect.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 a cap, said cap removably engaging said means to allow the beverage to contact the dry ice when the beverage is placed within said drinking vessel, said cap being configured to substantially prevent the beverage from contacting the dry ice when the beverage is placed within said drinking vessel.    
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising: a tab, said tab being connected to said cap, said tab projecting above an expected level of the beverage when said beverage is placed within said drinking vessel, said tab being adapted to be gripped by a server whereby a server may remove said tab and said cap and allow the beverage to contact the dry ice.  
   
   
       22 . A method of creating a visual effect in a beverage, the method comprising: 
 a. providing a drinking vessel;    b. providing a partition within said drinking vessel, said partition defining a first interior volume, said partition being adapted to contain a dry ice within said first interior volume, said partition having a perforation penetrating through said partition;    c. placing said dry ice within said first interior volume;    d. submerging said first interior volume in the beverage, whereby said beverage flows through said perforation and contacts said dry ice and whereby sublimation of said dry ice causes a bubble of carbon dioxide gas to pass through the beverage resulting in the visual effect.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said partition cooperates with a drinking vessel wall and a drinking vessel bottom to define said first interior volume, said drinking vessel bottom having a first position and a second position, said drinking vessel bottom when in said first position being open to receive said dry ice, said drinking vessel bottom when in said second position being closed to contain said dry ice.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising: 
 a. providing a cap, said cap selectably engaging said perforation, said cap selectably preventing the beverage from flowing through said perforation;    b. providing a tab, said tab attached to said cap, said tab being adapted to be gripped by a user whereby said user may grip and remove said tab, thereby removing said cap from selectable engagement with said perforation and allowing the beverage to flow through said perforation.