Thermally Insulating Beverage Container Sleeve Which Doubles as a Throwable Toy

Abstract

A beverage container sleeve ( 201 ) is provided which comprises a hollow body ( 209 ) having a bulbous exterior surface ( 211 ). The body has an interior compartment ( 203 ) adapted to receive a beverage container.

1 . A beverage container sleeve, comprising:
 a hollow body having a bulbous exterior surface and having an interior compartment adapted to receive a beverage container.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage container sleeve of  claim 1 , in combination with a beverage container; wherein said body has an opening which is complimentary in shape to at least a portion of the exterior surface of said beverage container, and wherein said beverage container is disposed within said opening. 
     
     
         3 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The combination of claim  4 , wherein said beverage container is a can or bottle having an exterior surface, and wherein a portion of said exterior surface is cylindrical. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage container sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said body comprises a foamed polymeric material. 
     
     
         8 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The beverage container sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said body has a first opening on a first end thereof, and wherein said first opening is essentially circular,. wherein said body has a second opening on a second end thereof, wherein said second opening is essentially circular, and wherein said first and second ends are opposing ends of said body. 
     
     
         11 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The beverage container sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said exterior surface has lacing disposed on a portion thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage container sleeve of  claim 15 , wherein said lacing is disposed on one side of a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body and which bisects the length of said body. 
     
     
         17 . The beverage container sleeve of  claim 15 , wherein said body has first and second opposing openings, and wherein said lacing is disposed closer to said second opening than said first opening. 
     
     
         18 . The beverage container sleeve of  claim 17 , wherein said first opening has a larger diameter than said second opening. 
     
     
         19 . The beverage container sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said body has an interior surface which is essentially described by a right cylinder. 
     
     
         20 . The beverage container sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said body has an interior surface comprising first and second regions, and wherein said interior surface in said first region is essentially described by a first right cylinder, wherein said interior surface in said second region is essentially described by a second right cylinder, and wherein said first right cylinder has a larger diameter than said second right cylinder. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The beverage container of  claim 20 , wherein said first right cylinder has a height of about 2 to about 6 inches. 
     
     
         23 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The beverage container of  claim 21 , wherein said second right cylinder has a height of about 0.25 to about 1.25 inches. 
     
     
         26 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The beverage container sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said body is essentially annular in any cross-sectional plane taken perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         29 . The beverage container sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said body has first and second opposing openings, and wherein said body is thicker, in any cross-sectional plane taken perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, in a first region adjacent to said first opening than in a second region adjacent to said second opening. 
     
     
         30 . The beverage container sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the maximum thickness of said body, as measured along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body, is t 1max  for a first half of said body and t 2max  for a second half of said body, and wherein t 2max  >t 1max . 
     
     
         31 . The beverage container sleeve of  claim 30 , wherein the difference
     d   max   =t   2max   −t   1max      
       is within the range of about 0.15 to about 0.5 inches. 
     
     
         32 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The beverage container sleeve of  claim 31 , wherein said body has an interior surface comprising first and second regions, wherein said interior surface in said first region is essentially described by a first right cylinder, and wherein t 1max  and t 2max  occur in the first region. 
     
     
         35 . The beverage container sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of said body is resilient. 
     
     
         36 . A beverage container sleeve, comprising:
 a body comprising a foamed polymeric material, said body having a first end with a first, essentially circular opening therein and a second end with a second, essentially circular opening therein, wherein the diameter of the second opening is smaller than the diameter of the first opening, wherein the maximum thickness of said body, as measured along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body, is t 1max  for a first half of said body and t 2max  for a second half of said body, and wherein t 2max >t 1max .