Drinking vessels with removable cooling devices

Abstract

In one embodiment, a beverage container comprises a vessel having an interior that is adapted to hold a beverage. The vessel has a closed bottom end and an open top end. The bottom end defines a cavity that is fluidly sealed from the interior of the vessel. A cooling element is configured to be coupled to the vessel and to fit within the cavity. A base comprises a bottom member and a stem extending vertically upward from the bottom member. The base includes a connector that is configured to be coupled to the cooling element or vice versa.

1 . A beverage container, comprising: 
 a vessel having an interior that is adapted to hold a beverage, wherein the vessel has a closed bottom end and an open top end, and wherein the bottom end defines a cavity that is fluidly sealed from the interior of the vessel;    a cooling element that is configured to be coupled to the vessel and to fit within the cavity; and    a base comprising a bottom member and a stem extending vertically upward from the bottom member, wherein the base includes a connector that is configured to be coupled to the cooling element.    
   
   
       2 . A container as in  claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a threaded end on the stem, wherein the cooling element includes a threaded section, and wherein the threaded end on the stem is configured to be screwed into the threaded section of the cooling element.  
   
   
       3 . A container as in  claim 2 , wherein the threaded section of the cooling element has threads, and wherein an angle defined by the threads is about 65 degrees to about 75 degrees.  
   
   
       4 . A container as in  claim 2 , wherein the cooling element also includes a threaded section, wherein the vessel includes a threaded section at the bottom end, and wherein the threaded section of the cooling element is configured to be screwed into the threaded section of the vessel.  
   
   
       5 . A container as in  claim 4 , wherein the threaded section of the cooling element has threads, and wherein an angle defined by the threads is about 45 degrees to about 90 degrees.  
   
   
       6 . A container as in  claim 4 , wherein the base and the vessel are constructed of glass, and wherein the cooling element is constructed of a material that is different from glass.  
   
   
       7 . A container as in  claim 6 , wherein the cooling element is constructed of an acrylic.  
   
   
       8 . A container as in  claim 7 , wherein the acrylic has a durometer of about 30 to about 40.  
   
   
       9 . A container as in  claim 1 , wherein the base and the vessel are constructed of a material selected from a group consisting of glass, plastics and acrylics.  
   
   
       10 . A container as in  claim 1 , wherein the vessel has a shape selected from a group consisting of a mug, a regular wine glass, a red wine glass, a white wine glass, a martini glass, a tumbler, a stein glass, a margarita glass, a brandy snifter, a water glass, a beer glass and a champagne glass.  
   
   
       11 . A container as in  claim 2 , wherein the cooling element has a bottom end and a top end, and wherein the bottom end tapers inward and mates with a mating taper on the base.  
   
   
       12 . A container as in  claim 11 , wherein the top end of the cooling element is generally hemispherical in geometry.  
   
   
       13 . A container as in  claim 12 , wherein the bottom end of the vessel includes a generally hemispherical surface that partially defines the interior of the vessel.  
   
   
       14 . A beverage container kit comprising: 
 a vessel having an interior that is adapted to hold a beverage, wherein the vessel has a closed bottom end and an open top end, and wherein the bottom end defines a cavity that is fluidly sealed from the interior of the vessel;    a cooling element that is configured to be coupled to the vessel and to fit within the cavity;    a base comprising a bottom member and a stem extending vertically upward from the bottom member, wherein the base includes a connector that is configured to be coupled to the cooling element; and    a tray having a plurality of holding regions for holding cooling elements, whereby the tray may be placed in a freezer to cool the cooling elements.    
   
   
       15 . A kit as in  claim 14 , wherein the tray includes a plurality of recesses integrally formed in the tray to define the holding regions.  
   
   
       16 . A kit as in  claim 15 , wherein the recesses are in a shape selected from a group consisting of semi-cylindrical, ice cube shaped, pyramidal and semi-spherical.  
   
   
       17 . A kit as in  claim 14 , wherein the base further comprises a bottom member and a stem extending vertically upward from the bottom member.  
   
   
       18 . A kit as in  claim 17 , wherein the connector comprises a threaded end on the stem, wherein the cooling element includes a threaded section, and wherein the threaded end on the stem is configured to be screwed into the threaded section of the cooling element.  
   
   
       19 . A kit as in  claim 18 , wherein the cooling element also includes a threaded section, wherein the vessel includes a threaded section at the bottom end, and wherein the threaded section of the cooling element is configured to be screwed into the threaded section of the vessel.  
   
   
       20 . A beverage container, comprising: 
 a vessel having an interior that is adapted to hold a beverage, wherein the vessel has a closed bottom end and an open top end, and wherein the bottom end defines a cavity that is fluidly sealed from the interior of the vessel, a cooling element that is configured to fit within the cavity;    a base comprising a bottom member and a stem extending vertically upward from the bottom member, wherein the base includes a connector that is configured to be coupled to the bottom end of the vessel and to enclose the cooling element within the cavity.    
   
   
       21 . A container as in  claim 20 , wherein the connector comprises a threaded end on the stem, wherein the cavity includes a threaded section, and wherein the threaded end is configured to be screwed up into the cavity using the threaded section.  
   
   
       22 . A container as in  claim 20 , wherein the cavity is generally cylindrical in geometry and extends vertically upward into the interior of the vessel, and wherein the cooling element comprises a cylinder that is filled with a cooling substance.  
   
   
       23 . A beverage container as in  claim 21 , wherein the connector and the vessel are constructed of a material selected from a group consisting of glass, hard plastic, and glass coated with hard plastic.  
   
   
       24 . A container as in  claim 20 , wherein the vessel has a shape selected from a group consisting of a mug, a regular wine glass, a red wine glass, a white wine glass, a martini glass, a tumbler, a stein glass, a margarita glass, a brandy snifter and a champagne glass.  
   
   
       25 . A beverage container comprising: 
 a vessel having an interior that is adapted to hold a beverage, wherein the vessel has a closed bottom end and an open top end, and wherein the bottom end defines a generally hemispherical cavity that is fluidly sealed from the interior of the vessel;    a generally hemispherical cooling element that is configured to fit within the cavity;    a base having a connector that is configured to be coupled to the bottom end of the vessel and to enclose the cooling element within the cavity.    
   
   
       26 . A beverage container as in  claim 25 , wherein the bottom end includes a generally hemispherical surface that partially defines the interior of the vessel.  
   
   
       27 . A beverage container as in  claim 26 , wherein the connector comprises threads on the base, and wherein the bottom end of the vessel includes threads to permit the base to be screwed into the vessel.  
   
   
       28 . A beverage container kit comprising: 
 a vessel having an interior that is adapted to hold a beverage, wherein the vessel has a closed bottom end and an open top end, and wherein the bottom end defines a cavity that is fluidly sealed from the interior of the vessel;    a cooling element that is configured to fit within the cavity;    a base comprising a connector that is configured to be coupled to the bottom end of the vessel and to enclose the cooling element within the cavity,    a tray having a plurality of holding regions for holding cooling elements, whereby the tray may be placed in a freezer to cool the cooling elements.    
   
   
       29 . A kit as in  claim 28 , wherein the tray includes a plurality of recesses integrally formed in the tray to define the holding regions.  
   
   
       30 . A kit as in  claim 29 , wherein the recesses are in a shape selected from a group consisting of semi-cylindrical and semi-spherical.  
   
   
       31 . A kit as in  claim 28 , wherein the base further comprises a bottom member and a stem extending vertically upward from the bottom member.  
   
   
       32 . A kit as in  claim 31 , wherein the connector comprises a threaded end on the stem, wherein the cavity includes a threaded section, and wherein the threaded end is configured to be screwed up into the cavity using the threaded section.