Convertible Insulator for a Bottle or a Can

Abstract

A beverage insulator configurable to insulate a bottle in a bottle configuration, and a can in a can configuration, is disclosed. The beverage insulator includes a body for receiving and insulating a bottle or a can, and one or more foldable members to insulate a bottle neck in the bottle configuration, and a can in the can configuration. The can configuration allows a user to comfortably drink from the can without the foldable members interfering with the user's normal drinking action. The bottle configuration substantially insulates a bottle from a bottom of the bottle to a neck of the bottle.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A convertible insulator for insulating a bottle or a can comprising:
 an insulating body that defines an internal space configured to receive a bottle or a can;   one or more foldable members attached to the body, the one or more foldable members configured to insulate a neck of a bottle in a first configuration, and configured to fold away from the first configuration to a second configuration to insulate a can; and   a fastening mechanism to fasten the one or more foldable members about the neck of the bottle.   
     
     
         2 . The insulator of  claim 1 , where the body includes a substantially closed bottom portion to hold a bottom of a can or bottle and a substantially open top portion opposite the bottom portion. 
     
     
         3 . The insulator of  claim 1 , where the body is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         4 . The insulator of  claim 1 , where the fastening mechanism includes hook and loop fasteners to fasten the one or more foldable members about the neck of the bottle. 
     
     
         5 . The insulator of  claim 1 , where the fastening mechanism includes two hook and loop fasteners disposed on each of the foldable members. 
     
     
         6 . The insulator of  claim 1 , where the one or more foldable members fold about a waist of the body to the second configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The insulator of  claim 6 , where the waist is configured to expose a drinking portion of a standard 355 ml canned beverage when the one or more foldable members are folded to the second configuration. 
     
     
         8 . An insulator for insulating a bottle or a can, convertible between a bottle configuration and a can configuration, the insulator comprising:
 an insulating body that defines an internal space configured to receive a bottle or a can; and   one or more foldable members attached to the body, the one or more foldable members configured to surround a neck of a bottle in a first configuration, and configured to fold away from the first configuration to a second configuration to unobstruct a consumer drinking out of a received can   a fastening mechanism to secure the one or more foldable members around a neck of a bottle received in the insulating body.   
     
     
         9 . The insulator of  claim 8 , where the body includes a substantially closed bottom portion and a substantially open top portion. 
     
     
         10 . The insulator of  claim 8 , where the body is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         11 . The insulator of  claim 8 , where the fastening mechanism includes hook and loop fasteners to fasten the one or more foldable members to surround and insulate the neck of the bottle. 
     
     
         12 . The insulator of  claim 8 , where the fastening mechanism includes a set of two hook and loop fasteners disposed on each of the foldable members, each set being configured to mate with another set. 
     
     
         13 . The insulator of  claim 8 , where the one or more foldable members fold about a waist of the body inward toward the inner space. 
     
     
         14 . The insulator of  claim 15 , where the waist is configured to expose a drinking portion of a standard 355 ml canned beverage when the foldable members are in the second configuration. 
     
     
         15 . An insulator for insulating a bottle or a can, convertible between a bottle configuration and a can configuration, the insulator comprising:
 an insulating body that defines an internal space configured to receive a bottle or a can;   one or more foldable members attached to the body, the one or more foldable members configured to surround a neck of a bottle in a first configuration, and configured to fold away from the first configuration to a second configuration to unobstruct a consumer drinking out of a received can.   
     
     
         16 . The insulator of  claim 15 , where in the first configuration, the insulator substantially covers a received bottle from a bottom of the bottle to a neck of the bottle. 
     
     
         17 . The insulator of  claim 15 , where in the second configuration, a received can causes the one or more foldable members to be sandwiched between the received can and the body. 
     
     
         18 . The insulator of  claim 15 , where in the second configuration, a received can experiences insulation from both the body and the one or more foldable members. 
     
     
         19 . The insulator of  claim 15 , further comprising a fastening mechanism including a set of two hook and loop fasteners disposed on each of the foldable members, each set being configured to mate with another set.