Insulated beverage sleeve

Abstract

An apparatus and methods are provided for an insulated beverage sleeve to maintain the temperature of liquid contents within a beverage container. The sleeve includes an insulative layer between an inner layer and an outer layer that are housed within an outer cylinder. The outer cylinder is configured to withstand impacts and protect the beverage container. The inner and outer layers may be formed of polyethylene or other suitable plastic. The insulative layer is a cylindrical member of fumed silica vacuum insulation that is disposed around the inner layer and surrounded by the outer layer. A disc of fumed silica vacuum insulation is disposed at the bottom of the sleeve to cooperate with the insulative layer to surround the beverage container. Top and bottom cushions are coupled with the outer cylinder to withstand being dropped onto a hard surface such as a floor, or a tennis court.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insulated beverage sleeve, comprising:
 an insulative layer disposed between an inner layer and an outer layer;   an outer cylinder housing the outer layer;   a top cushion coupled to a top portion of the outer cylinder;   an opening in the top cushion to receive a beverage container to be inserted into an interior of the inner layer;   a bottom insulation disposed at the bottom of the interior; and   a bottom cushion coupled to a bottom portion of the outer cylinder.   
     
     
         2 . The insulated beverage sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the top cushion and the bottom cushion are configured to withstand being dropped onto a hard surface such as a floor, or a tennis court. 
     
     
         3 . The insulated beverage sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the bottom cushion and the top cushion are made of silicone or other similar impact-absorbing material. 
     
     
         4 . The insulated beverage sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cylinder is made of PVC or other similar material capable of any one or more of withstanding impacts, suppressing noise, and protecting the beverage container disposed in the interior. 
     
     
         5 . The insulated beverage sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cylinder is configured to be decorated with any of various designs, logos, diagrams, pictures, text, and the like. 
     
     
         6 . The insulated beverage sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein any one or more of the insulative layer, the inner layer, and the outer layer comprise a cylindrical member that is suitable for implementation in the insulated beverage sleeve. 
     
     
         7 . The insulated beverage sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein any one or more of the insulative layer, the inner layer, and the outer layer comprise a flat panel that may be rolled into a cylindrical shape to form a cylindrical member that is suitable for implementation in the insulated beverage sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The insulated beverage sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein any one or more of the inner layer and the outer layer are made of polyethylene or other suitable plastic. 
     
     
         9 . The insulated beverage sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the insulative layer comprises a flat panel of fumed silica vacuum insulation that may be rolled into a cylindrical shape and then disposed around the inner layer. 
     
     
         10 . The insulated beverage sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the insulative layer comprises a cylindrical member of fumed silica vacuum insulation that has an inner diameter configured to receive an exterior diameter of the inner layer. 
     
     
         11 . The insulated beverage sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the insulative layer may be affixed between an exterior surface of the inner layer and an inner surface of the outer layer. 
     
     
         12 . The insulated beverage sleeve of  claim 11 , wherein an outer surface of the outer layer may be affixed to an inner surface of the outer cylinder. 
     
     
         13 . The insulated beverage sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the interior of the inner layer is configured to slidably receive and retain the beverage container. 
     
     
         14 . The insulated beverage sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is configured to prevent the beverage container from falling out of the interior. 
     
     
         15 . The insulated beverage sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom insulation comprises a disc-shaped portion of fumed silica vacuum insulation having a diameter that cooperates with an inner diameter of the insulative layer to surround a majority of the exterior of the beverage container within the interior. 
     
     
         16 . A method for an insulated beverage sleeve, comprising:
 forming an inner layer and an outer layer;   disposing an insulative layer between the inner layer and the outer layer;   providing an outer cylinder;   housing the outer layer by way of the outer cylinder;   coupling a top cushion to a top portion of the outer cylinder;   forming an opening in the top cushion to receive a beverage container to be inserted into an interior of the inner layer;   disposing a bottom insulation at the bottom of the interior; and   coupling a bottom cushion to a bottom portion of the outer cylinder.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein disposing the insulative layer comprises rolling a flat panel of fumed silica vacuum insulation into a cylindrical shape and disposing the cylindrical shape around the inner layer. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein disposing the insulative layer comprises configuring a cylindrical member of fumed silica vacuum insulation to have an inner diameter suitable to receive an exterior diameter of the inner layer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein forming the inner layer and the outer layer includes forming any one or more of the inner layer and the outer layer of polyethylene or other suitable plastic. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein providing the outer cylinder includes forming the outer cylinder of a material capable of any one or more of withstanding impacts, suppressing noise, and protecting the beverage container disposed in the interior. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising decorating the outer cylinder with any of various designs, logos, diagrams, pictures, text, and the like.