Portable Beverage Chilling Device

Abstract

A portable device for cooling a beverage-containing container, comprises a heat transfer liner, a heat barrier shell, a heat exchanger and a receiver. The heat transfer liner has an inner diameter selected to receive a beverage container, such as a can or a bottle. The heat barrier shell has an inner diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the heat transfer liner, so that the heat barrier shell can coaxially receive the heat transfer liner. A heat exchanger is disposed in an annulus between the heat transfer liner and the heat barrier shell. The heat exchanger is adapted to receive a heat transfer medium for cooling a beverage contained in the beverage container. The device also has a connection member adapted for directly or indirectly connecting at least one of the heat transfer liner and the barrier shell to a receiver for receiving a heat transfer medium. The receiver is further adapted to be in fluid communication with the heat exchanger.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A portable device for cooling a beverage-containing container, comprising:
 a heat transfer liner having a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter, the first inner diameter being selected to receive a beverage container;   a heat barrier shell having a second inner diameter; the second inner diameter being larger than the first outer diameter for coaxially receiving the heat transfer liner;   an annulus between the heat transfer liner and the heat barrier shell;   a heat exchanger disposed in the annulus for receiving a heat transfer medium for cooling a beverage contained in the beverage container; and   a connection member adapted for directly or indirectly connecting at least one of the heat transfer liner and the barrier shell to a receiver for receiving a heat transfer medium, the receiver further adapted to be in fluid communication with the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The portable device of  claim 1 , further comprising the receiver having a recess for receiving the heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         3 . The portable device of  claim 2 , wherein the recess in the receiver is adapted to receive a canister containing the heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         4 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is formed of tubing. 
     
     
         5 . The portable device of  claim 4 , wherein the tubing is formed in a helix coaxial with the heat transfer liner. 
     
     
         6 . The portable device of  claim 4 , wherein the tubing is formed in longitudinal wrappings parallel to the length of the heat transfer liner. 
     
     
         7 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is formed of particulates packed in the annulus to provide a tortuous path for the heat transfer medium for cooling the beverage, the particulates selected from the group consisting of metal powders, granules, agglomerates, and beads, ceramic powders, granules, agglomerates, and beads, plastic powders, granules, agglomerates, and beads, and composites and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The portable device of  claim 7 , wherein the heat exchanger further comprises fins incorporated with at least one of the heat transfer liner and the heat barrier shell, the fins cooperating with the particulates to provide the tortuous path for the heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         9 . The portable device of  claim 7 , wherein the heat exchanger further comprises at least one carrier for packing the particulates. 
     
     
         10 . The portable device of  claim 9 , wherein the heat transfer liner is integral with a surface of the carrier opposing the heat barrier shell. 
     
     
         11 . The portable device of  claim 9 , wherein the carrier has one or more fins incorporated internally for cooperating with the particulates to provide a tortuous path for the heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         12 . The portable device of  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold fluidly connected to opposing ends of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is formed of one or more sections of a monolithic material selected from the group consisting of metal, glass, ceramic, plastic, polymers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The portable device of  claim 13 , wherein the monolithic material is selected from the group consisting of reticulated foam, a sintered body, a shaped body formed by heating, a shaped body formed by compacting, a shaped body formed by fusing, a shaped body formed by a chemical process, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The portable device of  claim 13 , wherein the heat transfer liner is integral with a surface of the monolithic material opposing the heat barrier shell. 
     
     
         16 . The portable device of  claim 15 , wherein the heat barrier shell is integral with an outer surface of the monolithic material. 
     
     
         17 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a carrier for holding freezable gel and for providing a path for fluid flow of the heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         18 . The portable device of  claim 1 , further comprising a reservoir for capturing spent heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         19 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the heat barrier shell is a double-walled assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The portable device of  claim 19 , further comprising a reservoir for capturing spent medium, the reservoir disposed within the double-walled assembly of the heat barrier shell. 
     
     
         21 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the heat barrier shell is formed of an insulating material. 
     
     
         22 . The portable device of  claim 2 , wherein the receiver is detachable from the portable device once a desired amount of heat transfer medium has been communicated to the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         23 . The portable device of  claim 2 , further comprising a heat transfer medium supply system including a valve communicating with the recess. 
     
     
         24 . The portable device of  claim 3 , further comprising a heat transfer medium supply system including a valve communicating with the canister. 
     
     
         25 . The portable device of  claim 23 , wherein the heat transfer medium supply system further comprises a valve communicating with the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         26 . The portable device of  claim 24 , wherein the heat transfer medium supply system further comprises a valve communicating with the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         27 . The portable device of  claim 25 , wherein the heat transfer medium supply system further comprises an actuator operational by a user for controlling the heat transfer medium supply system. 
     
     
         28 . The portable device of  claim 26 , wherein the heat transfer medium supply system further comprises an actuator operational by a user for controlling the heat transfer medium supply system. 
     
     
         29 . The portable device of  claim 23 , wherein the heat transfer medium supply system is disposed in the receiver. 
     
     
         30 . The portable device of  claim 24 , wherein the heat transfer medium supply system is disposed in the receiver. 
     
     
         31 . The portable device of  claim 23 , wherein the heat transfer medium supply system further comprises a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         32 . The portable device of  claim 24 , wherein the heat transfer medium supply system further comprises a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         33 . The portable device of  claim 1 , further comprising a vent for spent heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         34 . The portable device of  claim 33 , wherein the vent is disposed in the heat barrier shell. 
     
     
         35 . The portable device of  claim 33 , wherein the vent is disposed in the annulus. 
     
     
         36 . The portable device of  claim 33 , wherein the vent is provided with a flow control mechanism. 
     
     
         37 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer liner, the heat barrier shell and the heat exchanger are formed as a unitary structure. 
     
     
         38 . The portable device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more lights. 
     
     
         39 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver is incorporated in a heat transfer medium charging station. 
     
     
         40 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver is incorporated in a beverage holder of a vehicle.