Beverage can cooler

Abstract

In accordance with the principals of the present invention, a frozen tube is adapted to securely surround the can, the frozen tube utilizing high heat capacity/thermal mass to wick heat from the beverage in the can. Contained within the frozen tube, a plurality of fins are provided thus acting as a heatsink. The presence of the fins act as a heatsink by increasing convective, conductive, and radiative heat dissipation if used in the absence of the frozen tube and conductive heat dissipation if used with the frozen tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A beverage can cooler comprising:
 a cold tube adapted to securely surround the beverage can; and   contained within the cold tube, a plurality of fins adapted to increase conductive heat dissipation, thus acting as a heatsink.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage can cooler of  claim 1  further wherein the heatsink further comprises a split design to facilitate expanding around the can and achieving contact pressure/surface area for condition between the two elements conducting thermal transfer. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage can cooler of  claim 2  further wherein the split design is biased to facilitate achieving contact pressure/surface area for condition between the two elements conducting thermal transfer. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage can cooler of  claim 2  further wherein the heatsink defines a hinge to achieving contact pressure/surface area for condition between the two elements conducting thermal transfer. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage can cooler of  claim 1  further wherein the plurality of fins are curved. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage can cooler of  claim 1  further wherein the plurality of fins are tapered. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage can cooler of  claim 1  further wherein the heatsink is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, silver, gold, tungsten, diamond, cubic boron arsenide, graphite, steel, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The beverage can cooler of  claim 1  further wherein the cold tube comprises ice formed by freezing water placed around the heatsink in a mold. 
     
     
         9 . A mold adapted to be used with a heatsink, the mold comprising:
 a bottom floor defining a seal with an interior of the heatsink; and   a channel slot indentation and a hinge indentation defined on an interior wall of the mold, the channel slot indentation adopted to cooperate with a channel slot of the heatsink and the hinge indentation adopted to cooperate with a hinge of the heatsink, the channel slot indentation and the hinge indentation further defined fin slots adopted to cooperate with fins of the heatsink.   
     
     
         10 . The mold of  claim 9  further wherein the bottom floor defines a upwardly extending ridge that acts as a seal with the interior of the heatsink. 
     
     
         11 . The mold of  claim 9  further wherein the bottom floor defines a plurality of fin receptors into which fins of a heatsink fit. 
     
     
         12 . The mold of  claim 9  further wherein the side wall a visual fill indicator. 
     
     
         13 . The mold of  claim 12  further wherein the visual fill indicator comprises fill lines. 
     
     
         14 . The mold of  claim 8  further wherein the mold is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, thermoplastic elastomers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A beverage can cooler comprising:
 a plurality of fins adapted to increase conductive heat dissipation, thus acting as a heatsink;   a mold adapted to contain the heatsink, the mold having a bottom floor defining a plurality of fin receptors adapted to receive the plurality of fins.   
     
     
         16 . The beverage can cooler of  claim 15  further wherein the heatsink further comprises a split design to facilitate expanding around the can and achieving contact pressure/surface area for condition between the two elements conducting thermal transfer. 
     
     
         17 . The beverage can cooler of  claim 15  further wherein the plurality of fins are curved. 
     
     
         18 . A beverage can cooler comprising
 a plurality of fins adapted to facilitate expanding around the can and achieving contact pressure and increasing surface area between the plurality of fins and the can,   the plurality of fins increasing convective, conductive, and radiative heat dissipation, thus acting as a heatsink, the heatsink comprised of a material having good heat transfer capabilities.   
     
     
         19 . The beverage can cooler of  claim 18  further wherein the heatsink further comprises a split design to facilitate expanding around the can and achieving contact pressure/surface area for condition between the two elements conducting thermal transfer. 
     
     
         20 . The beverage can cooler of  claim 19  further wherein the split design is biased to facilitate achieving contact pressure/surface area for condition between the two elements conducting thermal transfer. 
     
     
         21 . The beverage can cooler of  claim 19  further wherein the heatsink defines a hinge to achieving contact pressure/surface area for condition between the two elements conducting thermal transfer. 
     
     
         22 . The beverage can cooler of  claim 18  further wherein the plurality of fins are curved. 
     
     
         23 . The beverage can cooler of  claim 18  further wherein the heatsink is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, silver, gold, tungsten, diamond, cubic boron arsenide, graphite, steel, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The beverage can cooler of  claim 18  further wherein the heat sink is contained within a cold tube adapted to securely surround the beverage can.