Insulating and cooling sleeve for beverage containers

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for extending the period in which a beverage is maintained within a desired temperature range. A sleeve is described having liquid absorbing material contained therein, which liquid absorbing material provides a cooling effect on a beverage container positioned within the sleeve as it absorbs liquid. The sleeve is configured with an internal wall formed of a wicking fabric material that draws moisture from the beverage container and to the liquid absorbing material to provide such cooling effect.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling sleeve comprising:
 an outer wall;   an inner wall attached to said outer wall at so as to define a closed pocket between said outer wall and said inner wall, wherein said outer wall and said inner wall define a cylinder; and   a liquid absorbing polymer within said pocket.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said liquid absorbing polymer is configured to form a gel when contacted with a liquid. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling sleeve of  claim 2 , wherein said liquid absorbing polymer is further configured to provide a cooling effect to a beverage container positioned within said cooling sleeve when said polymer is contacted with a liquid. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said liquid absorbing polymer further comprises polyacrylamide beads. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling sleeve of  claim 4 , wherein said beads are of a diameter of 1 mm to 2 mm in size. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said liquid absorbing polymer further comprises a copolymer of potassium acrylamide and potassium acrylate. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said inner wall further comprises polyester moisture wicking fabric. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling sleeve of  claim 7 , wherein said outer wall further comprises nylon or polyester fabric having a linear mass density of fibers of approximately 1000 denier. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling sleeve of  claim 1 , further comprising an elastic loop attached to said inner wall and having a closed loop diameter that is smaller than a diameter of said cylinder. 
     
     
         10 . The cooling sleeve of  claim 1 , further comprising a circular bottom wall closing a bottom end of said cylinder. 
     
     
         11 . The cooling sleeve of  claim 10 , wherein said bottom wall further comprises:
 a bottom outer wall;   a bottom inner wall attached to said bottom outer wall at so as to define a bottom closed pocket between said bottom outer wall and said bottom inner wall; and   a liquid absorbing polymer within said bottom closed pocket.   
     
     
         12 . The cooling sleeve of  claim 11 , wherein said liquid absorbing polymer within said bottom closed pocket is configured to form a gel when contacted with a liquid. 
     
     
         13 . The cooling sleeve of  claim 12 , wherein said liquid absorbing polymer within said bottom closed pocket is further configured to provide a cooling effect to a beverage container positioned within said cooling sleeve when said polymer is contacted with a liquid. 
     
     
         14 . The cooling sleeve of  claim 11 , wherein said liquid absorbing polymer within said bottom closed pocket further comprises polyacrylamide beads. 
     
     
         15 . The cooling sleeve of  claim 14 , wherein said beads of said liquid absorbing polymer within said bottom closed pocket are of a diameter of 1 mm to 2 mm in size. 
     
     
         16 . The cooling sleeve of  claim 11 , wherein said liquid absorbing polymer within said bottom closed pocket further comprises a copolymer of potassium acrylamide and potassium acrylate. 
     
     
         17 . The cooling sleeve of  claim 11 , wherein said bottom inner wall further comprises polyester moisture wicking fabric. 
     
     
         18 . The cooling sleeve of  claim 17 , wherein said bottom outer wall further comprises nylon or polyester fabric having a linear mass density of fibers of approximately 1000 denier.