Beverage container cover device

Abstract

A universal insulating beverage container cover device that expands to accommodate various sizes and shapes of beverage containers. The device is constructed of multiple panels of insulated material, such as stainless steel with double-wall vacuum insulation walls, that can expand and contract relative to each other depending on the size of the beverage container inserted into the container cover device. The bottom of the beverage container cover device also allows for expansion and contraction so that the size of the bottom of the drinking container can fit snuggly into the insulating beverage cover device as well.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insulating beverage container cover comprising:
 a horizontal panel having an outside edge, the outside edge defining a vertical shape of the insulating beverage container cover, wherein the horizontal panel is expandable;   a vertical wall attached to the outside edge of the horizontal panel, the vertical wall comprising a plurality of insulated element assemblies with each insulated element assembly being coupled to horizontally adjacent insulated assemblies, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of insulated element assemblies are expandable; and   a void defined by the horizontal panel and the vertical wall, wherein the void is configured to be at a first volume at rest and to expand to a second volume when a beverage container of a first size in inserted into the void.   
     
     
         2 . The insulating beverage container cover of  claim 1 , wherein the void is configured to expand to the second volume by the beverage container forcing the at least a subset of the plurality of insulated element assemblies to expand. 
     
     
         3 . The insulating beverage container cover of  claim 1 , wherein the void is configured to expand to the second volume by the beverage container forcing the at least a subset of the plurality of insulated element assemblies to expand and the expanded wall causing the horizontal panel to expand. 
     
     
         4 . The insulating beverage container cover of  claim 1 , wherein the void is configured to expand to a third volume when a beverage container of a second size is inserted into the void. 
     
     
         5 . The insulating beverage container cover of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a subset of the plurality of insulated element assemblies that are expandable include an insulating element and a connecting element, wherein the insulating element is elastically expandable. 
     
     
         6 . The insulating beverage container cover of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a subset of the plurality of insulated element assemblies that are expandable include an insulating element and a connecting element, wherein the connecting element is elastically expandable. 
     
     
         7 . The insulating beverage container cover of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a subset of the plurality of insulated element assemblies that are expandable include an insulating element and a connecting element, wherein at least one of the insulating element and the connecting element is elastically expandable. 
     
     
         8 . The insulating beverage container cover of  claim 7 , wherein each of the insulating elements is fabricated of stainless steel and includes a double-wall vacuum insulation. 
     
     
         9 . The insulating beverage container cover of  claim 8 , wherein the connecting element is an insulated material with a level of elasticity. 
     
     
         10 . The insulation beverage container cover of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of insulated element assemblies overlaps with adjacent insulated element assemblies and each of the insulated element assemblies includes an expandable element that biases each insulated element assembly towards each adjacent insulated element assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The insulating beverage container cover of  claim 10 , wherein the expandable element is a sliding tongue and groove connector. 
     
     
         12 . The insulating beverage container cover of  claim 10 , wherein the expandable element is an insulated material with a level of elasticity. 
     
     
         13 . The insulating beverage container cover of  claim 10 , wherein the expandable element is a combination of a sliding tongue and groove connector and an elastic material. 
     
     
         14 . The insulation beverage container cover of  claim 10 , wherein the expandable element is a sliding tongue and groove connector with a spring. 
     
     
         15 . The insulation beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the horizontal panel is substantially round. 
     
     
         16 . The insulation beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of insulated element assemblies comprises two or more insulated element assemblies horizontally oriented with respect to each other and two or more insulated element assemblies vertically oriented with respect to each other. 
     
     
         17 . The insulation beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of insulated element assemblies comprises two or more rows of insulated element assemblies and two or more columns of insulated element assemblies. 
     
     
         18 . An insulating beverage container cover comprising:
 a horizontal panel having an outside edge, the outside edge defining a vertical shape of the insulating beverage container cover, wherein the horizontal panel is expandable;   a vertical wall attached to the outside edge of the horizontal panel, the vertical wall comprising a plurality of insulated element assemblies with each insulated element assembly being expandably coupled to horizontally adjacent insulated assemblies; and   a void defined by the horizontal panel and the vertical wall, wherein the void is configured to be at a first volume at rest and to expand to a second volume when a beverage container of a first size in inserted into the void, thereby forcing the insulated element assemblies to expand away from the horizontally adjacent insulated assemblies.   
     
     
         19 . The insulating beverage container cover of  claim 18 , wherein the void is configured to expand to the second volume by the expanded wall causing the horizontal panel to expand. 
     
     
         20 . The insulating beverage container cover of  claim 19 , wherein at least a subset of the plurality of insulated element assemblies an insulating element and a connecting element, wherein at least one of the insulating element and the connecting element is elastically expandable.