Insulated beverage container for both heated and chilled liquids

Abstract

The present invention is directed generally to an apparatus to insulate beverage containers, and more particularly to a design which may sustain a temperature gradient over a designed time frame. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the insulated beverage container when housing a chilled liquid beverage initially in the range of 40 degrees Fahrenheit and ambient temperature no more than 80 degrees, the temperature of the liquid beverage will not rise more than 10 degrees over a period of 45 minutes with the insulating cap sealing the top of the beverage container. Similarly, the same insulated beverage container with a heated beverage initially in the range of 170 degrees Fahrenheit, and ambient temperature no less than 20 degrees, the temperature of the liquid beverage may not cool more than 10 degrees over a period of 45 minutes with the insulating cap sealing the top of the beverage container.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An insulated beverage container comprising:
 an insulating cylinder with an open top, closed bottom, and thin walled lateral surface with dimensions to accommodate a beverage;   said closed bottom and thin walled lateral surface fabricated from a material with a thermal conductivity in the range of 0.2 to 0.35;   thickness of said closed bottom and thin walled lateral surface sufficient to generate an insulation R value in the range of 7.5 to 8.5; and   a removable insulating cap configured to liquid seal the top of the beverage when said beverage is inserted into the insulated beverage container.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the closed bottom and thin walled lateral surface are manufactured from polyurethane rubber with a thickness in the range of 20 to 30 millimeters. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the closed bottom and thin walled lateral surface are manufactured from nitrile rubber with a thickness in the range of 20 to 30 millimeters. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the closed bottom and thin walled lateral surface are manufactured from silicone rubber with a thickness in the range of 20 to 30 millimeters. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the closed bottom and thin walled lateral surface are manufactured from glass fiber filled silicone rubber with a thickness in the range of 20 to 30 millimeters. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the insulated beverage container when housing a beverage container with cooled liquid beverage initially in the range of 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit and ambient temperature no more than 80 degrees, the temperature of the liquid beverage will not rise more than 10 degrees for a period of 45 minutes with the insulating cap sealing the top of the beverage container. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the insulating cap is manufactured from polyurethane rubber, nitrile rubber, silicone rubber , or glass fiber filled silicone rubber with a thickness in the range of 20 to 30 millimeters. 
     
     
         8 . An insulated beverage container comprising:
 an insulating cylinder with an open top, bottom surface with small central drainage hole to pass spillage, and thin walled lateral surface with dimensions to accommodate a beverage;   said bottom surface and thin walled lateral surface fabricated from a material with a thermal conductivity in the range of 0.2 to 0.35;   thickness of said bottom surface and thin walled lateral surface sufficient to generate an insulation R value in the range of 7.5 to 8.5;   a removable insulating cap configured to liquid seal the top of the beverage when said beverage is inserted into the insulated beverage container; and,   said bottom surface, thin walled lateral surface, and removable top manufactured from polyurethane rubber with a thickness in the range of 20 to 30 millimeters.