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.

1 . A beverage can cooler to facilitate cooling contents of the beverage can comprising:
 a cold tube adapted to securely surround the beverage can, the cold tube defining a channel slot which enables the cold tube to expand around the can so as to accommodate variations in can diameter; and   contained within the cold tube, a plurality of fins adapted to increase conductive heat dissipation, thus acting as a heatsink;   wherein the cold tube expanding around the beverage can facilitates achieving improved contact pressure and increasing surface area between the cold tube and the beverage can to increase thermal transfer from the contents of the beverage can.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage can cooler to facilitate cooling contents of the beverage can of  claim 1  further wherein the cold tube further defines a hinge which with the channel slot comprises a split design to facilitate expanding around the can so as to accommodate variations in can diameter, thereby facilitating achieving improved contact pressure and increasing surface area between the cold tube and the beverage can to increase thermal transfer from the contents of the beverage can. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage can cooler to facilitate cooling contents of the beverage can of  claim 2  further wherein the split design is biased to facilitate achieving improved contact pressure and increasing surface area between the cold tube and the beverage can to increase thermal transfer from the contents of the beverage can. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The beverage can cooler to facilitate cooling contents of the beverage can of  claim 3  further wherein the split design is biased by an elastic sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage can cooler to facilitate cooling contents of the beverage can of  claim 5  further wherein the split design is biased by an insulated elastic sleeve. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The beverage can cooler to facilitate cooling contents of the beverage can of  claim 1  further wherein the plurality of fins are curved. 
     
     
         9 . The beverage can cooler to facilitate cooling contents of the beverage can of  claim 1  further wherein the plurality of fins are tapered. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage can cooler to facilitate cooling contents of the beverage can 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. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage can cooler to facilitate cooling contents of the beverage can of  claim 1  further wherein the cold tube comprises working mass placed around the heatsink. 
     
     
         12 . The beverage can cooler to facilitate cooling contents of the beverage can of  claim 11  further wherein the working mass comprises ice formed by freezing water placed around the heatsink in a mold. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage can cooler to facilitate cooling contents of the beverage can of  claim 10  further wherein the working mass comprises antifreeze placed around the heatsink in a tube. 
     
     
         14 . 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 defined on an interior wall of the mold, the channel slot indentation adopted to cooperate with a channel slot of the heatsink, the channel slot indentation further defining fin slots adopted to cooperate with fins of the heatsink.   
     
     
         15 . The mold of  claim 14  further wherein the bottom floor defines an upwardly extending ridge that acts as a seal with the interior of the heatsink. 
     
     
         16 . The mold of  claim 14  further wherein the bottom floor defines a plurality of fin receptors into which fins of a heatsink fit. 
     
     
         17 . The mold of  claim 14  further wherein the side wall a visual fill indicator. 
     
     
         18 . The mold of  claim 14  further wherein the mold is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, thermoplastic elastomers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . A beverage can cooler to facilitate cooling contents of the beverage can comprising:
 a plurality of fins adapted to increase conductive heat dissipation, thus acting as a heatsink;   an integral tube adapted to contain the heatsink, the integral tube defining a channel slot which enables the heatsink to expand around the can so as to accommodate variations in can diameter, the integral tube being capped to contain a working mass;   wherein the channel slot expanding around the beverage can facilitates achieving improved contact pressure and increasing surface area between the integral tube and the beverage can to increase thermal transfer from the contents of the beverage can.   
     
     
         20 . The beverage can cooler to facilitate cooling contents of the beverage can of  claim 19  further wherein the heatsink further defines a hinge which with the channel slot comprises a split design to facilitate expanding around the can so as to accommodate variations in can diameter, thereby to facilitating achieving improved contact pressure and increasing surface area between the cold tube and the beverage can to increase thermal transfer from the contents of the beverage can. 
     
     
         21 . The beverage can cooler to facilitate cooling contents of the beverage can of  claim 20  further wherein the split design is biased with an elastic sleeve. 
     
     
         22 . The beverage can cooler to facilitate cooling contents of the beverage can of  claim 19  further wherein the plurality of fins are curved. 
     
     
         23 . The beverage can cooler to facilitate cooling contents of the beverage can of  claim 19  further wherein the heatsink and integral tube are 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 . A beverage can cooler to facilitate cooling contents of the beverage can comprising:
 a plurality of fins defining a channel slot adapted to facilitate expanding around the can so as to accommodate variations in can diameter, thereby achieving improved 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.   
     
     
         25 . The beverage can cooler to facilitate cooling contents of the beverage can of  claim 24  further wherein the heatsink further defines a hinge which with the channel slot comprises a split design to facilitate expanding around the can so as to accommodate variations in can diameter, thereby achieving improved contact pressure and increasing surface area between the plurality of fins and the beverage can to increase thermal transfer from the contents of the beverage can. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The beverage can cooler to facilitate cooling contents of the beverage can of  claim 24  further wherein the plurality of fins are curved. 
     
     
         28 . The beverage can cooler to facilitate cooling contents of the beverage can of  claim 24  further wherein the heat sink is contained within an integral tube adapted to securely surround the beverage can.