Removable temperature regulating mechanism

Abstract

A container (e.g. a bottle) with a removable temperature regulating mechanism. The temperature regulating mechanism includes phase change material. The temperature regulating mechanism may maintain a liquid (e.g. sports drinks) stored in the bottle at a substantially consistent temperature (e.g. approximately 1-3 degrees Celsius) for a reasonable period of time.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a container; and   an interface on the outside of the container configured to receive and attach a temperature regulating mechanism that comprises phase change material.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a bottle. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the container is configured to store liquid. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the temperature regulating mechanism is configured to maintain the liquid at a predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined temperature is below room temperature. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the liquid is sports drink and the predetermined temperature is between approximately 1 and 3 degrees Celsius. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the appearance of the phase change material indicates if the temperature of the liquid is at approximately the predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the liquid is at approximately the predetermined temperature if the phase change material is in a solid non-transparent state; and   the liquid is above the predetermined temperature if the phase change material is in a liquid substantially transparent state.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the melting point of the phase change material is at approximately the predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein temperature regulating mechanism comprises a case that contains the phase change material. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the case is substantially transparent. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of claim of  claim 10 , wherein the case is non-transparent. 
   
   
       13 . An apparatus comprising a temperature regulating mechanism, wherein:
 the temperature regulating mechanism comprises phase change material; and   the temperature regulating mechanism is configured to be coupled to the outside of a container.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the container is a bottle. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the container is configured to store liquid. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the temperature regulating mechanism is configured to maintain the liquid at a predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined temperature is below room temperature. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid is sports drink and the predetermined temperature is between approximately 1 and 3 degrees Celsius. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the appearance of the phase change material indicates if the temperature of the liquid is at approximately the predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the liquid is at approximately the predetermined temperature if the phase change material is in a solid non-transparent state; and   the liquid is above the predetermined temperature if the phase change material is in a liquid substantially transparent state.   
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the melting point of the phase change material is at approximately the predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein temperature regulating mechanism comprises a case that contains the phase change material. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the case is substantially transparent. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of claim of  claim 22 , wherein the case is non-transparent.