Cooling coaster

Abstract

A cooling coaster includes a coaster body and an internal reservoir. The coaster body has an upper face, a lower face, a plurality of side faces between the upper and lower faces and a stabilizing structure. There is a lip at the upper face. A port communicates between the internal reservoir and one of the faces. A plug is configured to selective seal the port. A cooling substance is provided to the internal reservoir. A method for cooling a beverage includes providing a coaster body having an upper face, a lower face, and a plurality of side faces between the upper and lower faces, through a port, supplying a cooling substance to an internal reservoir in the coaster body and placing a plug in the port to seal the internal reservoir.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling coaster, comprising:
 a coaster body having an upper face, a lower face, a plurality of side faces between the upper and lower faces and a stabilizing structure;   a lip at the upper face;   an internal reservoir;   a port communicating between the internal reservoir and one of the faces;   a plug configured to selective seal the port; and   a cooling substance provided to the internal reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling coaster as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing structure includes a window through the coaster body. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling coaster as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the window is provided to a central zone of the coaster body. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling coaster as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the lip is provided as a depression. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling coaster as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the port communicates between the internal reservoir and one of the side faces. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling coaster as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the coaster body is formed from a plastic. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling coaster as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the coaster body is formed from polyethylene. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling coaster as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the cooling substance comprises non-toxic gel. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling coaster as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the cooling substance includes sodium polyacrylate. 
     
     
         10 . A system for cooling a beverage, comprising:
 a coaster body having an upper face, a lower face, and a plurality of side faces between the upper and lower faces;   a bore through the coaster body;   a depression in the upper face;   an internal reservoir;   a port communicating between the internal reservoir and one of the faces; and   a cooling substance provided to the internal reservoir.   
     
     
         11 . The system as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the bore is provided through the upper and lower faces. 
     
     
         12 . The system as set forth in  claim 10 , further comprising a plug configured to selectively seal the port. 
     
     
         13 . A method for cooling a beverage, comprising:
 providing a coaster body having an upper face, a lower face, and a plurality of side faces between the upper and lower faces;   through a port, supplying a cooling substance to an internal reservoir in the coaster body; and   placing a plug in the port to seal the internal reservoir.   
     
     
         14 . The method as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 subjecting the cooling substance-supplied coaster body to a freezing environment; and   withdrawing the cooling substance-supplied coaster body from the freezing environment.   
     
     
         15 . The method as set forth in  claim 14 , further comprising repeating the subjecting the cooling substance-supplied coaster body to the freezing environment. 
     
     
         16 . The method as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising conducting heat from a beverage vessel to the coaster body. 
     
     
         17 . The method as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein conducting heat from the beverage vessel further comprises bringing the beverage vessel into contact with the coaster body. 
     
     
         18 . The method as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising draining the cooling substance from the coaster body at a temperature above the freezing point of the substance. 
     
     
         19 . The method as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein supplying the cooling substance further comprises supplying sodium polyacrylate. 
     
     
         20 . The method as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein supplying the cooling substance further comprises supplying a non-toxic gel.