Insulation sleeve for beverage containers

Abstract

An insulating sleeve for a beverage container includes a flexible shell member that is collapsible into a flat panel configuration when not in use. The shell member includes a foam layer, and a liquid permeable skin layer applied to the foam layer at an inner circumferential surface thereof. The shell member is relatively thin yet provides the thermal insulating efficiency of heaver and thicker beverage container sleeves.

1 . An insulating sleeve for a beverage container, comprising
 a shell member, said shell member collapsible into a flat panel configuration when not in use;   said shell member comprising a foam layer, and a skin layer applied to said foam layer at an inner circumferential surface;   said shell member comprising a total basis weight of less than about 400.0 gsm and a thermal efficiency factor A determined as a function of said basis weight of least about 0.05.   
   
   
       2 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 1 , further comprising a second skin layer applied to an outer circumferential surface of said foam layer. 
   
   
       3 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 1 , wherein said shell member comprises a total basis weight of less than about 200.0 gsm. 
   
   
       4 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 2 , wherein said thermal efficiency factor A is at least about 0.075 
   
   
       5 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 4 , wherein said thermal efficiency factor A is at least about 0.09 
   
   
       6 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve has a bulk in its flat panel configuration of less than about 7.0 mm. 
   
   
       7 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve has a bulk in its flat panel configuration of less than about 5.0 mm. 
   
   
       8 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve has a bulk in its flat panel configuration of less than about 4.0 mm. 
   
   
       9 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve has a single layer thickness of less than about 4.0 mm. 
   
   
       10 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve has a single layer thickness of less than about 3.0 mm. 
   
   
       11 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve has a total weight of less than about 6.0 grams. 
   
   
       12 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 11 , wherein said sleeve has a thermal efficiency factor B determined as a function of said total weight of less of least about 2.50. 
   
   
       13 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 12 , wherein said sleeve has a total weight of less than about 4.5 grams and a thermal efficiency factor B of at least about 3.50. 
   
   
       14 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 12 , wherein said sleeve has a total weight of less than about 5.5 grams and a thermal efficiency factor B of at least about 3.00. 
   
   
       15 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 12 , wherein said sleeve has an inner diameter of less than about 210 mm. 
   
   
       16 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 15 , wherein said sleeve is extensible and has an inner diameter of less than about 204 mm, wherein said sleeve extends in use to encircle a beverage can having a diameter of at least about 204 mm. 
   
   
       17 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 16 , wherein said sleeve has a circumferential extension of less than about 5%. 
   
   
       18 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 16 , wherein said foam layer comprises an apertured foam having a pattern of apertures defined therethrough. 
   
   
       19 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 18 , further comprising a second skin layer applied to an outer circumferential surface of said foam layer. 
   
   
       20 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 18 , wherein said outer circumferential surface of said foam layer is exposed such that upon extending said sleeve around a beverage container, said apertures open and provide said sleeve with a grip enhancing surface. 
   
   
       21 . An insulating sleeve for a beverage container, comprising
 an extensible shell member, said shell member collapsible into a flat panel configuration when not in use, said shell member extensible in a circumferential direction to accommodate a beverage container inserted into said sleeve;   said shell member further comprising a foam layer, and further comprising a pattern of passages defined therethrough;   skin layers applied to inner and outer circumferential surfaces of said shell member such that said foam layer is sandwiched between said skin layers; and   wherein upon said shell member extending, said passages open to define expanded cells in said foam layer closed at opposite ends thereof by said skin layers, said closed expanded cells and foam layer providing said sleeve with a total thermal insulating efficiency.   
   
   
       22 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 21 , wherein said foam layer comprises a slit apertured foam with a pattern of slits defined therethrough. 
   
   
       23 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 21 , wherein said inner skin layer comprises an extensible liquid permeable material. 
   
   
       24 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 21 , wherein said outer skin layer comprises an extensible liquid impermeable material. 
   
   
       25 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 21 , wherein said foam layer has a basis weight of less than about 180 gsm, and said shell member comprises a total basis weight of less than about 400.0 gsm. 
   
   
       26 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 25 , wherein said shell member comprises a total basis weight of less than about 200.0 gsm. 
   
   
       27 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 21 , wherein said sleeve has a bulk in its flat panel configuration of less than about 7.0 mm. 
   
   
       28 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 21 , wherein said sleeve has a bulk in its flat panel configuration of less than about 5.0 mm. 
   
   
       29 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 21 , wherein said sleeve has a bulk in its flat panel configuration of less than about 4.0 mm. 
   
   
       30 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 21 , wherein said sleeve has a single layer thickness of less than about 4.0 mm. 
   
   
       31 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 21 , wherein said sleeve has a single layer thickness of less than about 3.0 mm. 
   
   
       32 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 21 , wherein said sleeve has a total weight of less than about 6.0 grams. 
   
   
       33 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 21 , wherein said sleeve has a total weight of less than about 4.5 grams. 
   
   
       34 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 33 , wherein said sleeve has a circumferential extension of less than about 10%. 
   
   
       35 . An insulating sleeve for a beverage container, comprising
 an extensible shell member, said shell member collapsible into a flat panel configuration when not in use, said shell member extensible in a circumferential direction to accommodate a beverage container inserted into said sleeve;   said shell member further comprising a foam layer with a pattern of passages defined therethrough;   a inner skin layer applied to an inner circumferential surface of said shell member, an outer circumferential surface of said foam layer being exposed; and   wherein upon said shell member extending, said passages open and provide a grip enhancing surface to a user on said outer circumferential surface of said foam layer.   
   
   
       36 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 35 , wherein said foam layer comprises a slit apertured foam with a pattern of slits defined therethrough. 
   
   
       37 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 35 , wherein said inner skin layer comprises an extensible liquid permeable material. 
   
   
       38 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 35 , wherein said foam layer has a basis weight of less than about 180 gsm, and said shell member comprises a total basis weight of less than about 400.0 gsm. 
   
   
       39 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 38 , wherein said shell member comprises a total basis weight of less than about 200.0 gsm. 
   
   
       40 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 35 , wherein said sleeve has a bulk in its flat panel configuration of less than about 4.0 mm. 
   
   
       41 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 35 , wherein said sleeve has a single layer thickness of less than about 3.0 mm. 
   
   
       42 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 35 , wherein said sleeve has a total weight of less than about 4.5 grams. 
   
   
       43 . The insulating sleeve as in  claim 32 , wherein said sleeve has a circumferential extension of less than about 10%.