Insulated tubular can cooler

Abstract

A device for keeping canned drinks cold includes a tube having a diameter only slightly larger than the diameter of a can. A disclosed tube is long enough to accommodate six cans stacked end-to-end. At least one end of the tube has a removable cap. An insulating foam encases a major portion of the tube to provide thermal insulation and, optionally, to enable the device to float.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooler for storing and dispensing a predetermined number of drink cans, each can having a height and a maximum diameter, said cooler comprising:
 a tube having an upper end and a lower end, said tube having an outer diameter and an inner diameter that is greater than the maximum diameter of a can, and said upper end of said tube being open;   a thermally insulating sleeve disposed around said tube; and   an upper cap for selectively opening and closing said upper end of said tube.   
     
     
         2 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said lower end of said tube is open, said cooler further comprising a lower cap for selectively opening and closing said lower end of said tube. 
     
     
         3 . The cooler of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said upper end of said tube is threaded; and   wherein said upper cap is threaded so as to threadingly mate with said threaded upper end of said tube,   whereby said upper cap can be screwed on and off to selectively close or open said upper end of said tube.   
     
     
         4 . The cooler of  claim 3 ,
 wherein said tube further comprises an open lower end, said cooler further comprising a lower cap for selectively opening and closing said lower end of said tube;   wherein said lower end of said tube is threaded; and   wherein said lower cap is threaded so as to threadingly mate with said threaded lower end of said tube;   whereby said lower cap can be screwed on and off said lower end of said tube to selectively close or open said lower end of the tube.   
     
     
         5 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said thermally insulated sleeve is made of thermally insulating, foamed thermoplastic. 
     
     
         6 . The cooler of  claim 5 , wherein said foamed, thermoplastic sleeve is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene foam and ethylene vinyl acetate foam. 
     
     
         7 . The cooler of  claim 5 , wherein said thermally insulating sleeve is from 0.25 inches to 3 inches thick. 
     
     
         8 . The cooler of  claim 6 , wherein said thermally insulating sleeve is from 0.5 inches to 3 inches thick. 
     
     
         9 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said thermally insulating sleeve is sufficiently buoyant to cause said cooler to float in water. 
     
     
         10 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said upper cap is tethered to said tube to prevent said upper cap from becoming separated from said tube. 
     
     
         11 . The cooler of  claim 2 , wherein said upper and lower caps are tethered to said tube to prevent said caps from becoming separated from said tube. 
     
     
         12 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said tube is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, acrylic, polycarbonate, thermoplastics, thermoset resins, nylon, and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene. 
     
     
         13 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said tube has an inner diameter greater than 2.60 inches (66.167 mm). 
     
     
         14 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said tube has an inner diameter of from 2.68 inches to 5 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper flange extending outwardly from said upper end of said tube, said upper flange having an outer diameter;
 wherein said upper cap has a diameter larger than said outer diameter of said tube;   wherein said cap has an inwardly extending undercut defining an opening with a diameter of less than said outer diameter of said upper flange;   wherein at least a portion of said upper cap is made of a deformable, resilient material; and   wherein when said upper cap is applied onto said upper end of said tube, said upper cap deforms so that said undercut of said upper cap clears said upper flange, and returns to its original configuration with said undercut of said upper cap being captured beneath said upper flange.   
     
     
         16 . The cooler of  claim 2 , further comprising a lower flange extending outwardly from said lower end of said tube, said lower flange having an outer diameter;
 wherein said lower cap has a diameter larger than said outer diameter of said tube;   wherein said lower cap has an inwardly extending undercut defining an opening with a diameter of less than said outer diameter of said lower flange;   wherein at least a portion of said lower cap is made of a deformable, resilient material; and   wherein when said lower cap is applied onto said lower end of said tube, said lower cap deforms so that said undercut of said lower cap clears said lower flange, and returns to its original configuration with said undercut of said lower cap being captured beneath said lower flange.