Disposable sleeve for a container

Abstract

A disposable sleeve for a container includes a liner for contacting the container and defining an inner surface and an outer surface. The disposable sleeve also includes a heating element disposed between the inner and outer surfaces to provide heat to the container via a heat-generating reaction, and a frictional material having a coefficient of static friction between 0.5 and 2. The frictional material is disposed on the inner surface for direct contact with the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A disposable sleeve for a container comprising:
 a liner for contacting the container and defining an inner surface and an outer surface,   a heating element disposed between said inner and outer surfaces to provide heat to the container via a heat-generating reaction, and   a frictional material having a coefficient of static friction from 0.5 to 2,   wherein said frictional material is disposed on said inner surface for direct contact with the container.   
     
     
         2 . The disposable sleeve as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said liner comprises a stretchable material having a Young's modulus less than 5 GPa. 
     
     
         3 . The disposable sleeve as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said stretchable material comprises cotton, polyester, spandex, vinyl, nylon, rubber, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The disposable sleeve as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said liner comprises a porous material having an average voids volume from 25% to 90% and an average pore diameter from 5 μm to 50 μm. 
     
     
         5 . The disposable sleeve as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said porous material is chosen from cardboard, Styrofoam, cork, wood, plastic, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The disposable sleeve as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising an attachment mechanism coupled to said liner for adjustably contacting the container by extending around said container and fastening to itself. 
     
     
         7 . The disposable sleeve as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said attachment mechanism is chosen from a Velcro fastener, a belt fastener, an adhesive fastener, an interlocking tab fastener, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The disposable sleeve as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said heat-generating reaction is an oxygen-activated reaction. 
     
     
         9 . The disposable sleeve as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said oxygen-activated reaction utilizes oxidation of iron. 
     
     
         10 . The disposable sleeve as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said frictional material is chosen from an epoxy-resin, a rubber, a wax, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A method of forming a disposable sleeve for a container wherein the disposable sleeve comprises a heating element to provide heat to the container via a heat-generating reaction, and a frictional material having a coefficient of static friction from 0.5 to 2, said method comprising the steps of:
 forming a liner for contacting the container and defining an inner surface and an outer surface;   disposing the heating element between the inner and outer surfaces; and   disposing the frictional material on the inner surface for direct contact with the container.   
     
     
         12 . The method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the liner comprises a stretchable material having a Young's modulus less than 5 GPa. 
     
     
         13 . The method as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the stretchable material comprises cotton, polyester, spandex, vinyl, nylon, rubber, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the liner comprises a porous material having an average voids volume from 25% to 90% and an average pore diameter from 5 μm to 50 μm. 
     
     
         15 . The method as set forth in  claim 14  wherein the porous material is chosen from cardboard, Styrofoam, cork, wood, plastic, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method as set forth in  claim 11  further comprising a step of coupling an attachment mechanism to the liner for adjustably contacting the container by extending around said container and fastening to itself. 
     
     
         17 . The method as set forth in  claim 16  wherein the attachment mechanism is chosen from a Velcro fastener, a belt fastener, a single hook-and-loop fastener, an adhesive fastener, an interlocking tab fastener, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the heat-generating reaction is an oxygen-activated reaction. 
     
     
         19 . The method as set forth in  claim 18  wherein the oxygen-activated reaction utilizes oxidation of iron. 
     
     
         20 . The method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the frictional material is chosen from an epoxy-resin, a rubber, a wax, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The method as set forth in  claim 11  further comprising a step of sealing the liner after disposing the heating element between the inner and outer surfaces. 
     
     
         22 . The method as set forth in  claim 11  further comprising a step of fastening a part of the disposable sleeve to itself. 
     
     
         23 . A system for retaining heat within a container comprising:
 a container;   a disposable sleeve for contacting the container, said disposable sleeve comprising:
 a liner defining an inner surface and an outer surface, 
 a heating element disposed between said inner and outer surfaces to provide heat to the container via a heat-generating reaction, and 
 a frictional material having a coefficient of static friction from 0.5 to 2, 
 wherein said frictional material is disposed on said inner surface for direct contact with the container.