Expandable beverage cup insulator

Abstract

An insulator for beverage container includes flexible, insulating panels held together by elastic strips. The panels are held together to form a generally conical shape with an opening for receiving and supporting the beverage container. The elastic strips stretch to allow the insulator to expand to accept beverage containers of different sizes and shapes.

1 . A thermal insulator comprising: 
 an insulating panel comprising an insulating material and having a connecting end; and    an elastic strip comprising an elastic material that is more elastic than the insulating material and is configured to attach to the connecting end so as to form a generally cylindrical holder having an opening for receiving a beverage container.    
   
   
       2 . The thermal insulator of  claim 1 , wherein the generally cylindrical holder tapers down from the opening.  
   
   
       3 . The thermal insulator of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating panel comprises a neoprene material.  
   
   
       4 . The thermal insulator of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic strip comprises spandex fibers.  
   
   
       5 . The thermal insulator of  claim 1 , wherein the panel and the elastic strip are configured to be reversible.  
   
   
       6 . The thermal insulator of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic strip has a width greater than about one millimeter when relaxed.  
   
   
       7 . The thermal insulator of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic strip is configured to stretch to a width of over about two millimeters.  
   
   
       8 . The thermal insulator of  claim 1 , further comprising a base.  
   
   
       9 . The thermal insulator of  claim 8 , wherein the base comprises a strap.  
   
   
       10 . The thermal insulator of  claim 9 , wherein the strap comprises at least one of the elastic strip or a second elastic strip.  
   
   
       11 . The thermal insulator of  claim 8 , wherein the base is constructed from an expandable material.  
   
   
       12 . The thermal insulator of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid configured to fit over the opening.  
   
   
       13 . The thermal insulator of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic strip overlaps a portion of the connecting end of the insulating panel.  
   
   
       14 . The thermal insulator of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic strip abuts the connecting end of the insulating panel.  
   
   
       15 . The thermal insulator of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating panel comprises a neoprene material.  
   
   
       16 . The thermal insulator of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating panel comprises a an aperture that increases an ability of the insulating panel to stretch to accommodate the beverage container.  
   
   
       17 . The thermal insulator of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal insulator is collapsible.  
   
   
       18 . A thermal insulator comprising: 
 an insulating panel comprising an insulating material, wherein the insulating panel is configured to be formed into a generally cylindrical holder having an opening for receiving a beverage container, and wherein the insulating panel includes an aperture that increases an ability of the insulating panel to stretch to accommodate a beverage container.