Temperature-regulating apparatus for liquids

Abstract

A temperature-regulating apparatus which can rapidly chill a beverage by exposing it to a large surface area of the device interior which has a cooling gel embedded within its walls. The user pours their liquid into the device and monitors the projected temperature dropping until they reach an optimal temperature. Once optimal temperature is reached, the users will pour the liquid out of the device to end the cooling processes. Thus a superior liquid cooling solution is provided that can rapidly chill a beverage to an optimal temperature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A temperature-regulating apparatus which can rapidly cool a beverage to a desired temperature T, comprising:
 one or more inner portions having an outer shell and a cavity, the outer shell being formed from a conductive material configured to facilitate a heat transfer process; and   a temperature-regulating gel positioned within the cavity covering at least 50% of a cross sectional surface area, the temperature-regulating gel being configured to absorb heat from the beverage through the conductive material of the outer shell to rapidly cool the beverage within the inner portions to the desired temperature T in less than 5 minutes.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermometer system configured to continuously monitor a temperature of the beverage and continuously display the temperature as it cools. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the thermometer system is further configured to estimate a future temperature of the beverage based on a rate of change of the temperature of the beverage and estimate time required to pour the beverage from the temperature-regulating apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the thermometer system is further configured to provide an indication when to pour the beverage from the temperature-regulating device in order to have liquid poured at the desired temperature T. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the indication can be in the form of a temperature reading on the display, a light displaying on the temperature-regulating device and/or the thermometer display, a color change of the thermometer display, or the like. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature-regulating gel is selected from the group consisting of water, phase change material (PCMs), sodium chloride, propylene glycol, and the like. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a fill hole configured to allow the beverage to be poured into the apparatus and a spout configured to allow the beverage to be poured out of the apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the fill hole and the spout are the same. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an exterior formed from a non-conductive material. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a handle coupled to the exterior. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the thermometer system includes a thermometer probe and a thermometer display. 
     
     
         12 . A temperature-regulating apparatus which can rapidly cool a beverage to a desired temperature T, comprising:
 an exterior formed from a non-conductive material;   an interior having one or more inner portions including an outer shell and a cavity, the outer shell being formed from a conductive material configured to facilitate a heat transfer process;   a fill hole configured to allow the beverage to be poured into the apparatus;   a spout configured to allow the beverage to be poured out of the apparatus;   a temperature-regulating gel positioned within the cavity covering at least 50% of a cross sectional surface area, the temperature-regulating gel being configured to rapidly cool the beverage within the inner portions to the desired temperature T in less than 5 minutes by absorbing heat from the beverage through the conductive material of the outer shell.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a thermometer system configured to continuously monitor a temperature of the beverage and continuously display the temperature as it cools. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the thermometer system is further configured to estimate a future temperature of the beverage and provide an indication to the user of when to pour the beverage from the temperature-regulating device in order to have liquid poured at the desired temperature T. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the indication can be in the form of a temperature reading on the display, a light displaying on the temperature-regulating device and/or the thermometer display, a color change of the thermometer display, or the like 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the indication when to pour at the desired temperature T includes an estimate of a future temperature of the beverage based on a rate of change of the temperature of the beverage and the estimated time required to remove the liquid from the temperature-regulating apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the temperature-regulating gel is selected from the group consisting of water, phase change material (PCMs), sodium chloride, propylene glycol, and the like. 
     
     
         18 . A method of using a temperature-regulating apparatus to rapidly cool a beverage to a desired temperature T, comprising:
 removing the temperature-regulating apparatus from a cold environment;   introducing a beverage into the temperature-regulating apparatus having:
 one or more inner portions having an outer shell and a cavity, the outer shell being formed from a conductive material configured to facilitate a heat transfer process; and 
 a temperature-regulating gel positioned within the cavity covering at least 50% of a cross sectional surface area, the temperature-regulating gel being configured to absorb heat from the beverage through the conductive material; 
   cooling the beverage within the temperature-regulating apparatus to the desired temperature T in less than 5 minutes with the temperature-regulating gel; and   pouring the beverage from the temperature-regulating apparatus.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising monitoring a temperature display until the beverage temperature reaches the desired temperature T and providing an indication when to pour the beverage from the temperature-regulating device in order to have liquid poured at the desired temperature T. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein monitoring a temperature display includes estimating a future temperature of the beverage at the time the beverage is removed from the temperature-regulating device.