Method and apparatus for partially super-cooling a fluid

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for super-cooling a contained fluid by exposing a portion of the contained fluid to a cooling substance while leaving a portion of the contained fluid uncooled. The present invention works by causing both convection and super-cooling. A container includes at least three sections: an insulated upper chamber, referred to as a cooling chamber, which holds a cooling substance or refrigerating apparatus; a second, lower chamber, referred to as the uncooled chamber; and at least one hollow chamber that extends through and is in contact with both cooling and un-cooled chambers. The hollow chamber, referred to as a containment chamber, receives the contained (i.e., bottled or canned or otherwise contained) fluid that is to be partially super-cooled. A horizontal plane divides the cooling chamber and the uncooled chamber. In some embodiments the containment chamber is oriented at an angle to the horizontal plane, so that the containment chamber extends through the upper (cooled) and lower (uncooled) chambers.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for partially super-cooling a contained fluid, comprising:
 (a) at least one upper chamber and at least one lower chamber, between which at least one receptacle for a contained fluid resides;   (b) a horizontally oriented plane separating the upper chamber and the lower chamber,   (c) the upper chamber engaged with a cooling means;   (d) the receptacle engaged with both upper and lower chambers;   (e) the receptacle engaged with both upper and lower chambers containing a fluid, allowing the contained fluid to be in partial contact with the cooling substance, providing partial super-cooling of the contained fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the receptacle is a cylindrical, longitudinal form. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the receptacle has an inner surface and an outer surface and a longitudinal axis that is inclined at an angle to the horizontally oriented plane. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the angle is between 20 and 80 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  comprising a plurality of receptacles, each having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a longitudinal axis; with an axis disposed at an angle between 20 and 80 degrees on said horizontal plane; further comprising said inner surface surrounding an area sufficient to receive a contained fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the contained fluid is a canned or bottled beverage. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the receptacle comprises a gasket that seals between the inner surface of the receptacle and the outer surface of the contained fluid; therefore providing a barrier between the ambient air and the inside of the receptacle. 
     
     
         8 . A method of partially super-cooling a contained fluid, comprising:
 a. obtaining a contained fluid, and   b. inserting the contained fluid into the apparatus of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the contained fluid is a canned or bottled beverage.